Jungle Freakn' Bride (21 page)

“That was stupid what you did.”

She cocked open an eye to see Chaob frowning down at her with his arms crossed over his massive chest. “I was doing fine until that stupid snake got in the way.”

“Pure luck,” he growled. “Do you have any idea how many perils you barely skirted on your way here?”

“I guess saying
I don’t recall seeing any
would be the wrong answer?”

“You are stronger now, datura. Stronger, faster, more agile
,
and yes
,
capable of great healing, but you are not invincible. You are also untrained, unknowledg
e
able
,
and stubborn. Very stubborn
,
and in some respects
,
stupid. There are dangers out here. Dangers you cannot even imagine.”

“Apparently.”

“Do not try and act as if this is nothing,” he practically roared. “You could have died if I’d not arrived.”

“But I didn’t. And you saved me. My hero?” She tried a weak smile, but it did nothing to counter his glower.

“This is not amusing.”

“I never said it was. Just like I don’t find it funny that you won’t let me go find my sister.”

“Can you not trust Acat will keep your sister safe?”

“Safe from harm, but not from getting claimed as some guy
’
s mate,” she exclaimed, springing to her feet to stand before him, toe to toe. “Why can’t you understand that I can’t just let that happen without at least attempting to stop it?”

“And if you
’d
died in the process
? How would that have helped?
” he shouted back. “You are not ready to travel alone in the jungle. There are so many things hiding here that you know nothing about.”

“Then come with me.”

“You expect me to escort you after what you did?” He rubbed his head
,
which only bore a slight red mark on the temple. Fast healing indeed.

She still winced at the reminder. “Um, what if I said
pretty please
?”

He growled.

“With a cherry on top?”

“You are trying my patience, which believe me
,
takes quite a bit.”

“I just want to see her.”

Chaob turned away
and p
aced.
He stopped and h
eld himself still as he stared down at the huge snake carcass.
Carlie winced as he p
unched a tree trunk.
H
e
didn’t even rub his knuckles after, but he did
sigh
in defeat
. “If I agree to bring you, will you follow me and obey without question?” He turned to face her, his golden eyes intent.

“Follow
,
yes. Obey? I’m not a dog.”

“No, you are a jaguar, a member of
my
tribe
,
and as such
,
you will have to learn to follow some basic semblance of order.”

“Or else?” She bristled at his implied threat.

“Don’t make me show you,” he snapped
,
then
turned on his heel and strode away, naked cheeks flexing. He stooped to grab the bag that fell during his fight and donned it along with his thong.

Carlie
scrambled to find her attire, also lost in the tussle. She shuddered as she pulled part of it from under the body of the dead snake. Okay, so he had a point. The jungle was dangerous and she
had gotten
a little cocky. Maybe a lot cocky, but he couldn’t just expect her to roll over and turn into some obedient little tribal wife who would obey his every whim and order. Carlie possessed too much pride for that, but she also had enough common sense to know when she’d stepped out of her element and owed someone an apology.

Tying on her itty bitty triangles, she approached his tense back and placed her hand on it. The muscle under her fingers rippled. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I acted rashly.”

He whirled and caught her hand, pressing it to his chest. “Yes
,
you did. But, as your mate, I should have also placed more merit on your angst for your sister.”

“Yes
,
you should have.”

“Don’t push it.”

She bit her lip, and he shook his head as he let out a low chuckle. “Fate surely had some ulterior motive when she paired you with us.”

“Maybe you pissed fate off and I’m your punishment.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the tips
of her fingers
. “Torture
,
yes, with your modern ways, but never think you’re not a prize worth her weight in gold and jewels. Despite our differences, I think you are the perfect bride. Not just for me and Acat, but the entire tribe.”

For some reason, his praise warmed her through and through, not that she replied. But, neither could she forget it.

Don’t go falling for him,
s
he warned herself. Unfortunately, she had a feeling it was too late. Much too late
,
and the realization frightened her almost more than the spider
and snake combined
.

Acat
sensed
his bride before he saw her. With lithe
feline
grace
,
she dropped from a tree in the path of the sister he’d located.
His admiration at how quickly she adapted to her new self was tempered by annoyance.
What is she doing here?
With a growl, he rounded on Chaob who came up silently behind him.

“I thought I told you to bring her to the village or stay in the ruins
?
” he snapped.
Anywhere but here with the sibling he’d come to fetch.
He could already predict trouble
.

Sheepish, and at the same time defiant, Chaob met his glare. “She distracted me with a rock to the head and took off. By the time I caught up, we were closer to your group than home.”

“She bested you?” Acat couldn’t help his snort of derision
,
which in turn
,
tightened Chaob’s lips.

“Our bride is not some meek female willing to obey our every command.”

“So I’ve noticed.”
A trait he both admired and disliked
, even as he often provoked her
.

“I see you found the sister. Any problems?”

Acat knew Chaob eyed his bruised eye. A lucky shot.
“None, unless you count the fact two of the wolves who accompanied
Carlie’s sister
a
re
claiming her as bride.”
Talk about a bit of a surprise.
And of course,
G
randfather wasn’t answering his satellite phone despite his repeated calls and texts done perched atop the highest bough
Acat
could find to support his w
eight
. Worldwide service his furry ass.

At the news of two claimants, and canine ones at that,
Chaob’s brows shot up. “Truly?” He chuckled. “Carlie will not like that at all.”

“Indeed. However, if it is the will of the gods, then even she cannot gainsay their choice.”

“Really? Because she seems intent on trying,” his beta remarked dryly as he gestured to their mate who
appeared
involved in a serious discussion with her s
till stunned
-
looking s
ister.
A few pounds heavier and slightly taller, the family resemblance was remarkable, and yet, Acat only had eyes for his bride
,
h
is determined
-
to
-
driv
e-
him
-
crazy
bride.

“That woman will be the death of me,” Acat growled.

“Maybe, but she’ll sure make life interesting in the meantime. What are you going to do about the
fact Carlie’s sister
has
men
already
claiming her
?
There doesn’t seem much point in toting her back.
Her or her partners.
”

“Grandfather said to bring her
to the village
.”

“But that was before he knew she’d end up claimed by wolves.”

“Bedded
,
yes. Claimed
,
no.”

“What are you saying?” Understanding dawned and
Chaob whistled.
“You’re bringing them all back to the village
. You want them to fight for their right to claim her as bride.
”

Acat grinned at Chaob’s
horrified
expression. “
Just t
he woman and the two wolves in question.
Let
our tribe leader
deal with the problem. He’s the one who created it by bringing them to the forest in the first place. Besides, aren’t you curious to see who will prevail in a battle?”

They both glanced back at the bulky forms of the
male
outsiders being carried on stretchers by warriors of the tribe.
Blindfolded to keep their village a secret
and bound in vines to prevent attack or escape
, a person could tell they’d put up a mighty fight.
Just ask his still throbbing eye.

“Jaguar versus wolf? Could end up interesting,” Chaob mused.

“Very.
We’ll have to get ringside seats.”

“
But what about our bride?
She won’t like it. Any of it.
”

“
What choice does she have
?
If the mating fever has begun, there is only one possible outcome. And besides, in a sense,
if the wolves win,
she’ll get her wish. Her sister will leave the jungle.”

“As the mate of
dogs?
I don’t think she’ll agree with that.
”

Acat shrugged. “
It is none of Carlie’s affair who her sister chooses to mate with.
Besides, she’ll be too busy with her new life to worry about her younger sister.
”

“It’s not the later that worries me as much as the now. You do realize we won’t be able to keep her away from Ruth now that she knows we have her.”

“
So
we l
et
our bride
have her reunion with her sister
and r
eassure herself all is well.
”

“Aren’t you afraid she’ll spill our secrets?”

“And if she does? I
’m sure the wolves will ensure
their female keeps
what she learns to herself
. It is in everyone’s best interest
that Ruth
doesn’t tell the wrong person
what she knows
.”

“And if Carlie demands to return with her?”

Never!
She’s mine.
Eyeing his bride, Acat’s jaw tightened.
“
She is not going anywhere.
She belongs
here with
us.”

“Correction, old friend
–
she is mated to us, but as for belonging
in the jungle
…”

Doubt reached out cold tendrils. Acat shook them off. “She’ll learn to adapt like the other brides.”

“
What
if she doesn’t? C
an we force her to stay if she
’s determined to
return to the modern world
?
Her world?
”

Therein lay the biggest question. Tradition stated the females live within the village itself, protected at all times by warriors. But Carlie wasn’t their usual bride. Even Acat knew keeping her tied to the usual life of home and hearth wouldn’t
prove
easy.
I
also
won’t always be around to keep an eye on her,
e
s
pecially not given how much he and
Chaob
worked and traveled outside those boundaries, keeping the
tribal
interests safe.
I guess Chaob and I will have to take turns
from now on
. Split our time between our work and the village
so she’s never truly alone
.

The idea didn’t sit well. He’d always done things with Chaob at his side.
However
, now they had a mate. They couldn’
t exactly leave her unguarded
, and not because he didn’t trust his people
.
Carlie didn’t seem like the type to sit patiently and wait for his return.