Tiger Stripes And Wolf Bites

Page 3

I just ignored the overprotective stance. "Yes sir, I'm sorry for causing such trouble." I said turning my attention back to the Alpha. He gave me an amused smile.

"I thought I was supposed to apologizing to you. Or that was my impression." He looked granny who cradled her shot gun lovingly obviously waiting for him to do just that. "You have my and my packs apologies for any stress you have been under due to my pack members intrusion here." Granny satisfied that he'd done what she'd wanted put her shot up above her chair and sat down.

"Now, stop standing there like a bunch of nincompoops and sit down." The alpha sat across from granny. Before we could move the other man stepped up.

"I'm Nathan. These two would belong to me." He said looking at my mates.

"It's good to meet you sir."

"Please, you are family, call me Nate or even dad if you want. I hear it a lot so one more won't be anything new." I chuckled. I was really starting to like these people. Nate sat on the couch Brice sat next to him Brayden beside his brother I started to sit on the floor but I was pulled into Brayden's lap my legs over his and Brice's laps both.

"Now," Granny started looking at Ryan who hadn't moved or said a word. "Why did you barge into my house threatening the man who's going to make me a great grandma finally." Ryan jumped to his feet.

"Do you know who this little shit is?" Granny retch above her head and pulled her shotgun back down laying across her lap pointed in Ryan's direction. He sat back down eyeing the shotgun with trepidation.

"If you insult him one more time I'm going to start in the dark meat." I had my own personal shot gun wielding guardian angel.

"Who do you think he is?" The alpha asked.

"I don't think, I know who he is. Two nights ago I get a call from a cousin of mine up north he's asking me to keep an eye out for a tiger, a tiger that might be headed toward us. I'm thinking 'who cares the tigers don't bother us anymore. Then I find out that this particular tiger is Lula's son, and we all know that name." I looked around at the wolves. At the clouded looks of the wolves I frowned. Now was not the moment to tell them my mothers name had been Lula. Something was up they knew who she was. "She and her father killed dozens of us during the wars." Brayden held me closer sharing a look with Brice.

"How do they know this?" The alpha asked.

"The clan leader, Marcus, is his lover it's his brats he carries. He wanted the wolves to know so they wouldn't just kill him on sight up there. They apparently have known for sometime who this tiger really is. When it came out that he had left and hadn't gone north Ty called me thinking that I'd keep an eye out. I knew as soon as he told me that this little..." Ryan shot granny and her shot gun a look. "I knew it was him." Brice eased my legs from his lap and sat forward.

"Did you tell them he was here?"

"You are damn right I did." Brice shot across the room grabbing Ryan by the shirt and hauling him to his feet.

"You dumb bastard." Brice turned and shoved him through his grandmothers still open front door. I shoved from Brayden's arms and dashed out behind Brice. Brayden caught me and picked me up so I couldn't interfere. "They'll come here looking for him. Do you know what you've done. They'll want him back." Brice said shoving the man again.

"So let them have him. He can go back to them and raise the little bastards he carries." Brice growled deep and lunged at Ryan shifting as he went. The two fought not drawing their punches.

"Stop him Brayden." I said struggling to get free of Brayden's arms. I looked up at me mate but Brayden was watching his brother. "Brice will get hurt."

"It's our right to protect you. Ryan made his choice." I looked a the alpha.

"Can't you stop him?"

"Brayden is right, he threatened you multiple times and has done things that can lead to you and you cubs being injured even killed it's their right to protect you however they see fit."

"Even if that's killing another member of your pack?"

"If he doesn't kill him Ryan will face the decision of the pack, but our laws are absolute when it comes to our mates. He threatened not only a pack members mate, but a mate pregnant, his actions would at the very least get him severely beaten and forced out of the pack."

"That's better than killing him." I protested.

"It's not that simple." I watched Brice and Ryan fight as the alpha explained. "Your mates are beta enforcers, fifth generation in this pack they'll step into their fathers role someday. They are well liked well respected. If Brice doesn't kill him the pack will most likely call for his death anyway you are their mate and we put aside our trouble and hatred for the tigers a long time ago." I heard a yelp and saw my mate dart back favoring his leg only to rush forward again. Ryan's small victory had him egging Brice on which was a mistake I realized as Brice lowered his head and lunged taking Ryan down with the mans throat in my mates jaws.

"No, Brayden do something. He'll kill him." Brayden looked down at me finally.

"He wants you dead why are you bargaining for his life?"

"Because I've seen what killing someone does to you. I don't want Brice to have to go through that."

"It's not his, or my first kill Luke. We've been enforcers for years now." I realized what he was implying. They might not be at war but wolves killed rogues and such that threatened the pack. Both of my mates had taken lives. I was sad to know that they'd had that happen to them. I looked back at Brice and saw him drop Ryan's lifeless body. He came to Brayden and I. Brayden kneeled down setting me on his knee as Brice shifted back kneeling in front of me. He had blood on his mouth and scratches on his arms and torso. The worst was the bite to his leg. Brice bowed his head.

"I'm sorry Luke I know you didn't want me to kill him, but I couldn't let him go not after betraying us, the pack, and even trying to harm you himself. I slid from Brayden's knee and put myself in Brice's arms pressing my cheek against his chest.

"I know. Alpha explained it to me. I'm sorry you had to do it. Taking a life always changes a person. I don't want to see you lose yourself to darkness. I've seen it happen." Brice tilted my chin up so I was looking at him.

"As long as I have you to ground me, I'll never be lost." I got my first real kiss from my mate. It was full of promises for the future and I was happy that he was alright. Brayden moved closer to us. I turned to him only to be rewarded with a kiss from his as well. It was different then Brice's but just as full. I was once again sandwiched between them. I had a feeling it was going to be a habit. We stood, I only came to his shoulder, and I realized that Brice after shifting was now naked. Clothes never survived the shift. I gasped and put myself in front of him so he couldn't be seen by the others.

"While I enjoy the hug it's hard to go anywhere like this." Brice said. He tried to move but I hugged tighter. Brayden chuckled behind me.

"It' s nice he's okay but can we go back inside now?" Brice tipped my head back and looked at me.

"Okay, what's going on?"

"Your naked."

"So, I'm related to most of the people here and having powdered my butt a time or two I'm sure the alpha won't be scandalized. I glared at him letting out a growl.

"Mine." I said through clenched teeth. I heard both of my mates chuckle. I glared at them. Granny appeared with a pair of cut of sweats.

"Remember hon, I've been around awhile." She said seeing my surprised look. Brice slid them on and I finally let him lead me back inside. When I was once again settled in their laps they started discussing what they wanted to do about the threat headed our way. The last thing I heard was that with me expecting and the threat coming I needed to be moved further into pack land.