All Kitten Aside: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Paranormal Dating Agency Book 11) (3 page)

Andi glared at the group of women who’d taken it upon themselves to show up at her office. They were older matrons of her pride. Elders.

“Miranda, we need to speak to you,” Shantelle, the oldest of the elders, spoke. Her adoptive niece, Claudia, helped her to walk. Claudia was quiet, shy, and disliked commotion. Andi could already see the girl’s eyes wide with fear due to the large gathering of loud women.

“Shantelle, did it ever cross your mind to speak to Naya and set up some time?” She slammed her open notebook closed. No use letting them see that she’d been making a list of things to discuss with the man Gerri was sending her. What she really wanted was a contract, but it would probably turn off a man to be handed one of those upon first meeting.

Shantelle sat on one of the chairs across from Andi, the other women gathered behind the matron in a show of support. This was one of the reasons Andi had such a hard time getting her pride to listen. The men thought she was up for grabs like some free meal at a local restaurant and the women wanted her to do what they said because they were elders. It was enough to make her lioness want to bite some hides off.

“Miranda, it has come to our attention that you have several of our sons wanting to court you,” one of the women who stood behind Shantelle said. Lulu. She wasn’t a troublemaker, but she adored her son, Josh, who was one of the pride guards.

“Lulu,” she took a breath to let out her frustration and not disrespect the older woman. “I can make my own choices. I don’t need anyone here looking for a man for me.”

“Be that as it may,” Shantelle started, “you have caused quite a frenzy amongst the males. They are ready to fight each other in the hopes of getting your attention and hopefully approval for mating.”

Andi shot to her feet. Her chair shoved back and slammed against the wall. “Has everyone in this place lost their fucking mind?”

Shantelle sighed. “Calm down, child. We are here to help you stop this madness.”

“I don’t need any help. I have this under control.” She went around her desk and stopped in front of Shantelle. “I’ll have a mate within the week.”

Shantelle raised her brows. The other women gasped and even Claudia glanced at her with surprise.

“I’m glad this will finally be put to rest. Who have you chosen?” Shantelle asked.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Andi replied. “Now, I have to go. I’m doing a check of the cabins down by the river and want to make sure I order supplies before the day is out.”

Shantelle’s smile showed off the wrinkles around her lips and eyes. “Go on, girl. We’ve learned you’re a doer and don’t like putting things off. But if you need help, I am here.”

She nodded and walked out of her office, leaving the women silently chatting behind her. Naya came up to her side like she always did, ready to assist.

“Those cabins need complete rehab, Andi,” Naya said.

“I’m heading out there and checking them out myself.” Andi started walking. She’d been down by the cabins enough times she could do the walk with her eyes closed in the dark. “When I get back, we’ll discuss supplies and hiring someone to do the work.”

“Wait!” Naya called out.

Andi stopped and turned to see Naya rushing toward her, her curls bouncing around her shoulders. She glanced around and then gave Andi a worried look. “Belinda is worried. Maybe stop by and make sure Catherine is okay.”

She frowned and squinted at the sun’s glare. “Cat’s going through her first heat?”

Naya gave a sharp nod. “Belinda being so much older, she can’t ensure her granddaughter is safe from anyone of these boys just showing up and taking advantage of the girl.” Naya gripped her arm, the light of her own lioness coming to life. “You know this is a difficult time for a female. She can’t help wanting to breed. But with time she’ll learn not to just take any male.”

“Yeah. I understand. I’ll pop in and check on her. The last thing poor Cat needs is to end up unable to turn a male away due to her condition.”

“Thank you,” Naya gave a slight sigh of relief. “Are you taking the fast route?”

She nodded and swiped sweaty palms on her jeans. Damn, it was unusually hot for the season. Then again, she was so close to her own heat it was insane. She hoped whoever Gerri had in mind worked out. “I’m going down the road and then cutting through straight down the hill. I’ll be back before sundown. Maybe I can give Cat a few pointers on how to make things more bearable for herself. If she has a boyfriend, now’s the time to see if he’s the one her lioness wants.”

“Okay, I’ll see you later.”

FIVE

Andi turned back to the dirt road. One of the things she appreciated about living in the remote Pennsylvania town of Rock Canyon was that they had their own community without worrying about too many humans in the area. Though her pride had nothing against humans, they’d rather keep to themselves.

She darted down the road toward the cabins. The cabins were far apart so it would take her a while to get through seeing each one, but she was Prima and took her job seriously. Everyone knew she had a head for keeping the pride business running smoothly. Her multiple degrees in business and accounting helped her ensure the financial stability of her pack while at the same time teach her members how to grow their money.

Having a pride that used their skills to own small businesses and to ensure the sustainability of their small town was a big deal for them. She worked damn hard to get them all to help each other.

Her mind thought back to her years in college. She’d been so naïve. For a while, she’d dated a human man and forced herself to be what he wanted. Docile and quiet. What a joke. Their relationship didn’t last long, but it had been impactful.

At first, his need to tell her to lose weight was somewhat off-putting. Since he was human, he didn’t know she was in extremely perfect health and her curves were something she was proud of. After a while, it seemed he’d gotten over her voluptuous body. Or so she thought.

She remembered clearly his asking her to marry him. She’d thought that was what she’d wanted, to be a wife and to be his partner, but then she’d gone out with him and seen how he’d expected her to not voice her opinion.

The fucker had told her to shut up, that her thoughts weren’t required during the conversation. When someone brought up weight, he had the gall to bring back his thoughts on her body and how much better she’d look in a smaller dress size. She’d told him if size didn’t matter when it came to his dick, then it shouldn’t matter when it came to her jeans.

There had been an awkward silence after that. It had taken all she had not to rip his neck open in front of his friends and let her lioness tear him limb from limb to assert her alpha status. She learned then that human men might not understand her kind. And she had no patience for stupid, bossy men who wanted to change her and put her down because of her body size or because she was a woman who led a group of people who depended on her. She wouldn’t allow anyone to make her think she wasn’t good enough to lead her pride.

She had to do what she needed for herself. Leaders led. Andi needed a man, yes, but more for her to have a partner in name and someone to give her the kids her lioness wanted so badly. Other than that, she could handle her pride on her own. The issue was finding a male lion her lioness wanted. She so hoped Gerri had found someone for her picky, bitchy cat.

Zigzagging her way through the trees, she inhaled her favorite scent. Spring. She needed to figure out what to do about her males losing their objectivity and starting to act like she was only a piece of…pussy.

She might have one, but that did not define her as a person. Not to mention it annoyed the shit out of her when they made it seem like she was supposed to pick one of them and let him be in charge of her pride. Good fucking luck with that one. She’d walked what felt like forever before she started slowly going down a steep ravine off the main road.

Perhaps walking wasn’t the best way to do things, but she needed to clear her head and other than shifting, walking provided her the time, space, and peace of mind to do that. Not to mention she could dive into the trees and not be bothered for a while. Sometimes a lioness needed quiet and alone time.

She was close to Belinda’s cabin, the outline of it easily seen ahead. Sounds of trees and bushes shaking and crunching surrounded her and forced her to stop in her tracks. The lioness pushed to the surface. Something was very wrong. The human side told her to run while the animal side argued for her to shift.

Her instincts were usually spot on when it came to listening to her lioness, but this was her land. Whoever dared to come with any ill will, she needed to speak and make them know who was in charge.

Out of nowhere, Josh and a few of his friends slipped from between the trees. She glanced around, seeing them forming a circle around her, slowly closing in. Four men. Young. Stupid. Her pride members.

“What are you doing here, Josh?” Her voice never wavered and she met his gaze without flinching. This was her turf. She was the Prima of the pride and there was no way in fucking hell she’d let some little boy try to intimidate her. Not now, not ever.

“Miranda, you need to choose a mate,” he inhaled sharply. The action was followed by a lick of his lips. “Fuck, Andi. You’re coming into heat and I can’t take this much longer.”

Did this piece of shit really think he’d just come up on her and she’d give herself to him because he brought his friends? He was so very fucking wrong. She gave a loud growl and curled her hands into fists. “Josh, you better rethink coming any closer.”

He stopped for a second. She saw the lion in his eyes. His beast wanted her, no matter the cost. This wouldn’t end well for anyone. Her lioness was prepped to push out of the skin. She wanted out, and she wanted out now.

“Hurry it up,” one of his friend’s said. She remembered him, but his name wouldn’t come to her at that moment. “We want Cat now. You said this wouldn’t take long then we could have her.”

Those words froze the blood in her veins. Cat was barely fifteen. She stayed with her grandmother most of the time, helping care for her. How they knew she was in heat worried her more than her own skin at that moment.

“You can wait,” Josh growled. “Cat isn’t going anywhere.” He started taking off his shirt slowly, his large muscles bulging with every movement of his arms. He was a good looking guy, but she didn’t want him. Why was it so hard for this moron to realize his getting naked was not going to make her want him either?

She especially disliked his inability to understand her words. If she said no, then it was no. Period. End of story. Josh was hardheaded and used to getting his way with women. Right now, his attention was focused on her and what he saw as his due for being the biggest lion in the pride.

Her mother used to tell her to be careful with men. Some of them just didn’t understand that a woman could make up her mind and choose not to share herself with him. That was Josh’s problem. He refused to understand. The boy had little common sense. It was sad, too, he was five years younger than Andi and had more body than brains.

Her instinct told her to go, but the alpha in her stood firm. “Josh, go back to the main house. I have business to attend to.” She clenched her jaw and hissed. “You’re getting in my fucking way, and I’m losing patience quickly.”

He shook his head and continued stripping. The guys to either side of her moved closer. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed them fidgeting. Josh spoke again. “I think you need to be convinced into seeing that taking me for a mate won’t be such a bad thing.”

The lioness in her wanted to rip his fucking face off and lick his blood off her paws. She, on the other hand, wanted to ensure Cat’s safety. The only way to do that was to run and keep them away from the young one.

She saw an opening and took it, darting to her right when the guy moved to her left, closer to the one behind her. She wasn’t stupid. She couldn’t fight all of them like this. The lioness needed out. She could kill each one-on-one, but when faced with four men in a shot, she’d be overpowered. Any man would be.

SIX

She’d caught them off guard. Idiots. Only kids would assume she’d stand there and let Josh do whatever he wanted with her. The sound of a loud growl came from behind her. The lioness argued with her to stand and fight. That beast was going to get her killed.

Andi knew better than to listen to her now. Dashing through the trees, she moved closer to the road, trying to get them away from the cabin. She did a quick glance back. They were still hot on her tail and way too close to the cabin, which she could see just up ahead.

A loud growl sounded out of nowhere. Josh was close and coming at her fast. Branches cut at her arms. A new set of crunching leaves were followed by a growl sound from her right.

They’d spread out, trying to cage her in again. Lord save her from horny-ridden men-boys. The lioness urged her to shift, but she damn well loved her jeans and didn’t want to rip them to shreds. She’d just bought them!

Fucking hell! The lioness won. She got a burst of speed and let the bones crack, muscles tense, and skin turned to fur so flawlessly, she didn’t slow. Now she ran on all fours. A loud hiss escaped from her lioness. Pissed wasn’t even the word at this point. Andi wanted blood.

Someone tackled her to the ground. One of the men chasing her. She knew by his scent it was Josh.

“Relax and let it happen,”
he said through their animal bond.

“Fuck you!”
She wiggled underneath, her animal’s body shaking from anger. All her life, she’d been taught to stand up for herself and her people, and this asshole was not going to be the first to make her feel weaker because she was female.

As she struggled to get him off, she could hear the other lions talking through their animals.

“We’re not far off,”
one guy said.
“I want to get my hands on Cat.”

“Don’t worry, brother,”
a different one said.
“I’ll hold her down for you.”

“What about the old woman?”
a third asked.
“Do I just kill her and this way we all have our way with the kitten?”

Andi growled loudly, her lioness ready to kill all four men but most especially the one breathing over the back of her head, trying damn hard to bite down on the back of her neck to hold her still for mating.

His hind legs pushed at hers to spread her open for ease of entry. She continued to shake, not holding still long enough for him to be able to do more than lay on top of her.

“Stop this, Andi,”
Josh said into her head.
“Things will be easier once I’m in charge. You’ll get all the dick you need and a man that can lead for you. And baby, I know you need some cock. No woman is ever this uptight once I’ve fucked her a few times.”

That motherfucker! She doubled her efforts. The other three stared toward the cabin not far off. Oh how she wished she could find the strength to kill them all at that moment. Her lioness continued to fight, but she didn’t see herself going anywhere with Josh’s much larger body pinning her down.

“Get off,”
she hissed at him.

“I plan to get off inside your tight pussy, sweet thing.”
Josh laughed in her head.
“You’ve been playing hard to get for far too long. I can’t wait to finally have you be mine.”

Her mind screamed for her to get up. Her body strained to the point of pain. She would rather die than let him beat her at being alpha. Even if it was because he used his larger body to dominate. That would only teach her that anyone could take control from her.

She shook her head from side to side and he slid just a little. The movement caused him to place a paw next to her head. Finally. A break. She opened her mouth wide and clamped down on his paw, locking her jaw shut. The disgusting sound of bones breaking became a balm to her angry soul.

He yanked, but she had his paw in her mouth and wasn’t letting go.
Fuck you, dick face
. This was what he got for trying to take a position rightly hers, in the worst possible way.

He howled in pain, but things only moved faster at that point. One of the other guys rushed up to try and paw at her face, hoping to get her to let go. He was going to have to shred her muzzle apart before she did that.

The other two came closer. She’d slackened her jaw to grab at a new place and break Josh’s paw into smaller bits when something rushed into the pile and shoved Josh off her. She was up fast, glancing around for the missile that hit them.

She didn’t see anyone, but two of the guys were gone. That left Josh and another. Josh was on the ground, licking at his paw and crying in pain. He might have a larger body, but when it came to fighting, he knew nothing about it.

The other lion came at her, his teeth bared and in full attack mode. She ran into the trees. He chased her down. Her animal was doing all kinds of crazy things and she didn’t know why. It ordered her to move and get this kid out of the way.

She was able to lose him and find a spot to hide. Once he passed, she jumped, dug her claws into his back and bit down on his coat. He cried out and tried to shake her off, but Andi’s lioness was good at hunting and fighting. She dug her claws deeper and yanked, pulling ribbons of the lion’s hide with her razor sharp claws.

The lion gave a good shove and she fell off him. She watched as he took off, running away. She rushed back to the spot she’d left Josh, but he wasn’t there. Her immediate thoughts went to Cat. She darted through the trees toward the cabin.

God, if something happened to Cat or Belinda, she’d never let herself live it down. These people counted on her to protect them. She skidded to a stop when one of the other lions jumped from between the trees. He was bloodied and limping.

She knew she hadn’t done that. He didn’t even bother looking at her. He rushed forward as much as he could with his very broken hind leg. Then, she saw him.

What in the hell? A massive black wolf stood at the top of a rock not far ahead of her. He glanced at her and licked his bloodied muzzle. She didn’t have to ask to know that wasn’t his blood. This was what had knocked Josh off her and had given her a chance to fight. A wolf.

Her lioness did something she’d never done before, she went quiet. The move left Andi shifting from lioness to human and covered in blood. She was too angry to worry about the fact she was naked.

The wolf watched her for a long moment before he, too, shifted. Then he was this massive guy that could give Josh a run for his money in height and girth. Even at almost thirty feet away, she saw how good looking he was. Too bad he was on private land.

“What are you doing here?” she snapped, ignoring her lioness’s interest in the wolf. Nope. Not happening. That was one can of worms she wasn’t going to open.

“Saving your ass, it seems,” he said with a thick rumble. The fucker had a southern accent that went against living in Pennsylvania. Clearly, he wasn’t from around there, was he? Not that she cared or anything. He was trespassing.

“I had things under control,” she lied. She totally didn’t. If he hadn’t shown up, she would’ve had to fight all those guys on her own. That would’ve sucked balls.

He smirked, which on a mouth covered in blood should not have looked sexy, but it did. Obviously, she had bigger mental problems than she realized if she found a wolf shifter covered in her attacker’s blood something to swoon over.

“Sweetheart, you didn’t have shit under control.” He started walking toward her. No, not walking, prowling. Like the wolf was still the one making the moves. Fucking hell, why was she now getting turned on over this?

She stood her ground. Man, she wanted to cover herself so badly. Nakedness wasn’t a big deal in her pride. This guy? He made her feel like she was putting on a strip show.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” she murmured. Damn, the urge to cross her arms over her chest screamed, but she ignored it. Luckily her mass of long hair covered some of her naked chest. She tried not to think about anything lower or she’d turn all kind of colors. “What are you doing here anyway?”

He barked a low growly laugh that her stupid lioness found adorable. Bitch. “I was riding down and stopped to look at the sign up the street. My bike’s GPS was acting up so I had to look at my phone when I heard all the commotion.” His blue eyes glowed with his animal’s power. Goddamn that was sexy. No, no it wasn’t. He was a trespasser. A wolf. All wrong.