A Prideful Mate (5 page)

Gathering a collection of shirts, pants and shorts, Payce grabbed some extra socks and his favourite pair of shoes.

“Here’s your suitcase, darlin’.”

Payce had never felt so relieved to hear a southern drawl in his life.

A PRIDEFUL MATE

Amber Kell

32

“Thanks.” He accepted the suitcase and set it down on the bed. Looking at the pile of clothes next to the suitcase overwhelmed Payce.

Memories of the afternoon and how close he’d got to death rushed at him. Even a shifter can’t heal from being blown into bits. If he’d been a little less eager to see Kevin and pressed the alarm closer to his truck, he would’ve been killed.

He didn’t even realise he’d collapsed until Kevin’s arms surrounded him and he heard his lover talking in his ear.

“I’ve got you. You’ve had a hell of a day, darlin’. I don’t think my heart can take anything else. We’ll go talk to that nice cop tomorrow then hightail it out of town. No one is gonna get my mate.”

A PRIDEFUL MATE

Amber Kell

33

Chapter Four

The next morning, after a hurried breakfast, Kevin threw their suitcases into the cab of his truck and took Payce to the police station. After Payce gave his report, which was short and sweet since he didn’t know who was after him, the lion grabbed his mate and got the hell out of town.

He didn’t care if the police wanted a follow up, he wasn’t going to leave his mate some place he could be injured and possibly killed. If someone wanted to kill Payce, they’d have to get past Kevin. He wasn’t going to leave his lover alone.

If the killer showed up in Kevin’s town, word of a stranger would get back to him. At home he would have his pride to stand beside him. He had no doubt Talan would help him protect his own. The alpha was excellent about keeping his people safe. As Payce was Kevin’s mate Talan would extend him the same courtesy.

At least he hoped he would.

Shit.

It was too late for second thoughts.

Few words were spoken between the men, but they both knew where their thoughts lay. Who was trying to kill Payce and why?

Kevin smiled as he pulled up in front of the lion’s mansion, happy to be home and looking forward to seeing his children again. Even that short separation had felt like forever.

“Fuck, you live here?”

He turned to see his mate looking at the house with wide eyes. Five lions lay on the deck sunning, but Kevin could see Tia in the doorway. He knew it must make her twitchy to wait until they got out of the car.

Curious cat.

“No,
we
live here. Come on darlin’, let me introduce you to the family.” He might not have grown up with this bunch of lions, but they were the family of his heart.

A PRIDEFUL MATE

Amber Kell

34

Grabbing Payce’s suitcase, he slid out of the cab, waiting for his mate to get out before taking any steps towards the door.

“Daddy!” Chase tore across the yard and threw himself into his father’s arms.

Kevin grabbed his son, easily lifting him up into the air before giving him a big hug.

“I missed you, little guy,” he whispered into his son’s honey-coloured hair.

“I missed you too, Daddy,” Chase said. Peeking over Kevin’s shoulder, he whispered,

“Is that your mate?”

“Yep.”

“He’s not a lion.”

“Nope, he’s a jaguar.”

“I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t a lion.”

“That’s not true, little man, you’ve met Adrian. He’s a wolf.” Chase looked at him with a disapproving gaze. “I mean another cat, Daddy. I’ve only met lion cats.”

“That’s true.”

Chase waved at Payce. “Hi, Daddy-mate.” He rushed the words together like they were one.

Payce’s laugh lightened Kevin’s heart. His mate had been so closed off during the ride Kevin worried about him.

“Hello.”

“I’m Chase.”

“Hello, Chase.”

“I’m a lion.”

Payce walked closer to Kevin as if to see his son better. “So I’ve heard. Just like your daddy.”

Chase nodded. “Some day I’m going to have a mane like Daddy. Have you seen his mane? It’s huge.” Chase separated his hands an impossibly long distance apart.

“Not yet, but I hope to soon.”

“Maybe tomorrow.”

“Why tomorrow?” Kevin asked.

“Because Mommy said we was going to have a feast tonight.” A PRIDEFUL MATE

Amber Kell

35

“Ahhh.”

“Daddy!” Quinn tore from the house.

Kevin passed Chase over to Payce in time to catch his flying seven-year-old as he leapt into Kevin’s arms.

“I missed you too,” Kevin laughed.

Quinn’s skinny arms wrapped tight around Kevin until breathing was a luxury.

“Let your daddy go, Quinn. He’s got to breathe.” Payce’s voice was soft but firm.

Immediately Quinn let him go. “Sorry Daddy.”

“That’s okay.” He was happy his sons were so pleased to see him back. It was the first time he’d been away from them since they were babies.

Quinn took his hand, an unusual act from his usually reserved son. Kevin was surprised to see Payce was still carrying Chase. The pair appeared to be having a whispered conversation.

Quinn tugged on his hand to get his attention.

“What?”

“Is that your mate?”

“Yes.”

Quinn’s gold eyes took in Payce as he carried Chase effortlessly towards the house.

“He’s strong.”

“Yes, he is.”

“That’s good.” Quinn nodded his head sagely. “A mate should be strong.”

“What about Adrian, would you say he’s strong?” Kevin was fascinated by this new maturity in his son.

Quinn shook his head. “Talan said Adrian is something better.”

“What’s that?”

“Vicious. Talan said sometimes it’s better to be sneaky than to be strong, but you know what I think?”

“What?” He was dying to find out what his son thought.

“I think it’s best to be both. That’s what my mate will be, vicious
and
strong.”

“Yeah, do you think it’ll be a man or a woman?” Some werelions knew early what their mate would be, others searched their entire life.

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Amber Kell

36

Quinn’s forehead wrinkled as he concentrated. “I don’t know.”

“Well, you’re young. Time will tell.” He didn’t want to share with his son that some people had both. He could learn later about sexuality. Right now, he still had puberty in his future.

As soon as they reached the house, the kids ran off to play. Kevin heard roars as they shifted.

“No teeth or claws!” he shouted after them.

Payce didn’t know what to say about the lion house. It was certainly the largest house he’d ever been in, but it still felt like a home.

“Back off, woman!” a voice shouted down the hall.

“Uh, oh. Sounds like Adrian needs backup.” Kevin placed Payce’s bag neatly by the stairs and headed towards the noise.

A low snarl had Kevin picking up his pace. Curiosity made Payce follow.

“Tia, you know better than to bug Adrian when he’s cooking. I’ll tell your sisters that you made him ruin his baking.”

“You wouldn’t.” The woman’s voice was so appalled, Payce had to hold back his laugh.

He lost all urge towards amusement when he walked into the room to find Kevin confronting a drop dead gorgeous lioness, hovering over a pretty, dark-haired man.

When the unknown man looked over at him, Payce was struck by the beauty of the man’s green eyes.
Wow, this must be the famous Adrian.
He was distracted enough by the attractive cook that it took him a moment to realise the woman standing beside his mate was Kevin’s kids’ mother.

“You must be Payce.”

Before he could say yes or no, he had an armful of female lion. She smelt faintly like Kevin, which made his hackles rise.

“Step slowly back, Tia.”

The lioness didn’t question Kevin’s order. She took one slow step after another until she was out of Payce’s arms.

Payce couldn’t take the stress any more. Almost getting killed, finding his mate, finding out his mate had kids. He shifted into his jaguar.

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Amber Kell

37

“Holy crap, he’s a panther,” Tia said with wide eyes.

“No, he’s a black jaguar. I read about those once.” Kevin’s voice was remarkably calm.

“They kill their prey by crushing their skulls,” Adrian offered.

Payce growled at Tia.

“Fuck, I bet you smell like me,” Kevin said. “I didn’t think of that. Jaguar’s are loners but very territorial. He considers me part of his territory.”

“What should I do?” Tia asked.

“Stay still. I’ll take care of this.”

Without another word, Kevin stripped off his clothes and shifted.

Inside, Payce shook with nerves as the enormous lion bared his fangs.

His mate was a glorious creature. Kevin’s mane flared out around his head. Payce almost wished he had fingers so he could pet it, but his jaguar half wanted to kill the female.

She was a threat. She bore Kevin his children. She smelt like him. She must be killed so Kevin could never return to her.

Payce moved towards her only to be herded away by the lion.

Kevin growled.

Payce sat and tilted his head. What was the problem? His cat mind couldn’t understand. Once the woman was killed the obstacle to their mating was removed. He didn’t understand why the lion wasn’t on his side. Dodging to one side, he was blocked by the lion and knocked on his rump.

Payce settled his head on his paws, placing himself subserviently lower than the big lion. He understood how the bigger cat was in charge, but why didn’t he kill her? The interloper must die.

He tried to leap at her only to be smacked down.

Letting out a confused yowl, Payce swiped at the lion, keeping his claws in. He was upset, not stupid.

A voice pierced through his brain.

Stop it.

NO! She smells like my mate. She must die.

She carries the genes of my children.

A PRIDEFUL MATE

Amber Kell

38

They are born, she is no longer important
, Payce argued. Why couldn’t his mate see his logic?

You can’t kill the mother of my children. They still need nurturing.

Payce’s cat caught on that word. Nurturing, his human half liked being nurtured.

Images of the small lion children skittered across his head.

Nice children.

Yes, nice children need their mother,
Kevin whispered in his head.

Payce thought about it for a moment. His cat half was all for killing the woman, but his human half was slowly winning.

You can’t kill my boys’ mother
. Kevin’s voice was firm and commanding.

Payce noticed Kevin’s psychic voice didn’t have any hint of the south. Looking at the implacable lion, the jaguar spun on its heel and ran in the opposite direction. He needed a run.

Payce ran and ran until the cat couldn’t catch its breath any more. He leapt onto a low hanging branch, using it as a starting point to reach a higher branch.

“Get your furry ass down here!” he heard Kevin bellow below.

Payce sprawled across the sturdy branch and looked smugly down at his mate. In his lion form Kevin was too heavy to climb up the trees so his mate had transformed back into a man. Flicking his tail back and forth, the jaguar watched the human rant down below.

“I mean it Payce, get down here now!”

The jaguar debated for a moment.

“Now!”

Leaping lightly to the ground, Payce walked up to the handsome golden man.

“You are never to attack Tia.” The pretty lion man was frowning at him.

He didn’t want frowns. Payce jumped up, placed his large paws on Kevin’s shoulders and licked the man from neck to forehead.

“Ewww and ouch. Sandpaper tongue.” The golden man stepped back. “Change.” Payce shifted back to his human shape, shivering at the sudden lack of fur. “I’m really sorry.” Wrapping his arms around himself, Payce looked at Kevin through his lashes. “I didn’t mean to, but I hugged her and she smelt like you, and I lost it. I-I don’t have the best control over my cat,” he confessed.

A PRIDEFUL MATE

Amber Kell

39

“We’ll have to work on that then, won’t we darlin’.” Payce nodded. He’d agree to anything if it would get Kevin to look at him with happy, sparkling eyes again. He looked down, ashamed at losing control in front of his mate. Jaguars should be strong, not dependent on another to keep him safe. He was a failure as a shifter.

Damaged. Not worthy of his powerful, kind mate.

The shock of Kevin’s warm skin wrapped around him, sent jolts of delight throughout Payce’s body. He let out the breath he’d been holding and leant against his mate, breathing in his wonderful scent.

“I need you,” he admitted. If Kevin rejected him because he lacked control, pieces of his heart would break off, never to be found again.

“I need you too, darlin’,” Kevin whispered in his ear. “We’ll work on your control. I’m surprised my children didn’t trigger you.”

Payce shrugged. “I guess my cat doesn’t see them as a danger for your affections.”

“You shouldn’t see Tia that way either, hon. We’ve never been more than close friends starting a family while we tried to find our mates. Tia didn’t want to wait for kids any longer, and I knew I wouldn’t get another chance since I knew my mate was a man. We love our kids but we don’t love each other, not like I love you.” Kevin tilted Payce’s face up until he was forced to look into the lion’s eyes.

They sparkled, easing the knot twisting in Payce’s stomach.

“We’ll get through this and be stronger in the end. Now, I think you’ve got an apology to make.”

Payce nodded. “I do want to get along with Tia. I don’t want your boys’ mother to hate me.”

“She doesn’t hate you none,” Kevin declared, “but she is a little miffed. I don’t suppose you’ve got a recipe for a kickass chocolate cookie.” Payce laughed. “I don’t bake.”

“Shame. That worked for Adrian.”