“I’ll heal. It’s nothing. It won’t even leave a scar.” He nuzzled the side of her face. “I’m just happy you don’t have claws.”

His hold on her changed enough that she could wrap her legs around his hips. It made her feel better to totally press against him. “I’m sorry,” she sniffed again. “I didn’t mean to do that.”

“Shush. It’s okay.” He turned his head. “Get that bitch out of here, Rave. Now. Handle it.”

“I won’t leave.” Deana’s voice still sounded masculine. “She will. If you insult my pack this way I’ll make sure my father demands retribution.”

Anton turned, holding Shannon. “I don’t want you. Would you prefer to be with a guy who will think of it as something distasteful? It’s not personal. You’re beautiful, Deana. Is that your name? Any male who wasn’t involved with a woman would be lucky to be given the opportunity to test a mating with you but as you can see, I already have someone.”

“She’s a cat shifter,” Deana spat the words as if it were a great insult. “That’s sick.”

“She’s mostly human. That’s why the scent of her is so faint that you didn’t detect it immediately. She can’t shift. She’s not an enemy of mine.” He paused. “She matters a lot to me. I’m sorry that you aren’t happy with being offered my younger brother but I did you a favor by not sending my brother Von to meet you. You’d have no chance at finding a future with him. He lost his true mate a long time ago and never allows himself to feel anything toward other women. Rave there isn’t attached to anyone. He’s a strong male, a prime mate candidate, and he’s the main enforcer of our pack. You won’t find a better fighter. He may appear mellow but you’ve never seen him enraged.”

Shannon felt safe enough to turn her head to watch the terrifying female werewolf. Deana’s features had shifted back but her fangs still dented her human-looking mouth.

“You’re the future alpha of this pack. I’m the strongest daughter of the Mortell Pack. We would be a good match. I could be your alpha bitch and help you hold your pack when you take control.” She shot a hateful sneer at Shannon. “That is dinner.”

Shannon trembled from fear. She wondered if the woman meant that literally. Do shifters eat each other if they are from different races? Anton’s arms tightened around her and he nuzzled her cheek with his jaw to comfort her.

“She’s under my protection and you will not insult her. This is my home. I’ve offered you the best candidate our pack has to offer who is available to test a mating with you. Deal with that. I’m taken.”

“Shit,” Rave rasped. “Does Mom know? Dad?”

“Shut up,” Anton demanded.

“Damn. Okay. That’s what I figured.” Rave met Shannon’s gaze and gave her a tense smile. “Nice to meet you.”

Her mouth parted but no words came out.

Anton sighed. “She’s terrified. She can’t shift but her instincts are present. Obviously. You saw how fast she can move when fear grips her. Terror makes her climb and try to get away from whatever scared her.”

“That’s why she’s wrapped around you as if she’s a second skin.” Rave laughed. “I guess dating her means you’re going to get laid a lot. You terrify everyone, and with her constantly wrapped around your waist, it means she won’t be able to get away from you every time you raise your voice. That’s really convenient.”

“Damn it, Rave. Stop with the jokes. Does this seem the time for them?”

“Probably not, but damn, Bro, you’ve got to admit that this is priceless.” He chuckled. “She’s really cute. Her hair is beautiful and her eyes are amazing.”

“I won’t be insulted this way,” Deana huffed. “I’m calling my father.” She spun and stormed out of the apartment. Her high-heeled boots struck loudly on the stairs as she retreated.

“Fuck,” Rave sighed, all traces of humor gone. “You know what that means. She’s going to call her daddy who will in turn call to chew out our dad’s ass. If our parents didn’t know about your sexy little cat before, they will real soon. I wouldn’t want to be you.”

Anton growled. “Great. It’s Mom I’m worried about.”

“Oh man.” Rave shivered. “She will come here to verify if it’s true.” He reached back and jerked a key ring off his belt. “Take her to my cabin if you need a place to hide out.” He removed a key and tossed it.

Anton released Shannon with one arm to catch the key. His arm wrapped back around her with it fisted inside his palm. “Thanks, but I won’t need it. This is my home.”

“It may be but sometimes it’s better to run than fight. Our parents aren’t aware of the cabin as far as I know. Braden was there last so I’m not sure what condition he left it in but I’d take food. That kid can eat.”

“I refuse to hide out as if I’ve done something wrong that I’ll be grounded over. I’m an adult. I’ll deal with our parents.”

“Better to have a backup plan in case you need one. That’s my life motto. I can’t say I’m upset that bitch just rejected me. Did you see that leather outfit?” He shuddered. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she owns whips and chains, her idea of a fun, sexy time being to draw blood and attempt to restrain me to a bed. Not my thing. The only one getting tied down in my book is women who like to wiggle around too much while I’m eating them.”

Shock widened Shannon’s gaze as she stared at Anton’s brother. He glanced at her and grinned.

“I’m talking o**l s*x, kitten.” He chuckled. “That’s a cute name for her. Appropriate.”

“Don’t call her that. She doesn’t like it.”

“You called her that.”

Anton softly growled. “Rave, it’s time for you to leave.”

“Do you want me to hold her for you while you go try to talk that bitch out of calling to tell her daddy about you? It may be a good idea. You could avoid a lot of hell if our parents don’t find out you’re harboring someone they’ll consider an enemy.”

“No.” Anton took a step back. “You aren’t touching Shannon.”

“I wouldn’t hurt her. I seriously mean it.” Rave’s features hardened, all humor disappearing. “I won’t hit on her either. My tongue will stay inside my mouth and my zipper will remain up. You might consider going after that bitch to stop her. Our parents aren’t going to be happy that you’ve got her here. I don’t know what will be worse—that she’s part puma or that she’s mostly human. You’re the future alpha of the pack and they are going to pitch a fit, worried that you’ll decide to keep her past mating heat. That’s a serious commitment to make since you’re going to have her in your bed over the next few weeks. It’s one thing to experiment with a one-night stand but you’ve obviously chosen her to share the heat with.”

“I haven’t,” Anton denied. “A few of our pups discovered her and stole her to hunt in the woods. I drove her home after I saved her from them. I thought she’d be safe but they visited her apartment and tore it up. I brought her here to protect her until I can rid her of the threat.”

“It’s too close to mating heat.” Rave crossed his arms over his chest. “If it hits with her here you’re going to take her and once it starts you know how it is. She’s in your home. This isn’t running into the woods to nail any female offering it up for a free-for-all. You’re attaching her scent to you too strongly for your wolf to want any other bitch or I guess I should say she-cat, in her case. You won’t be able to get enough of her and if you try to fight the urge, it could turn ugly. Denying what your animal demands in mating heat tends to cause accidental true mating. Ask Grady about that. He tried to deny his wolf with Mika and he lost control until he claimed her permanently. It worked out for them but he passed on being alpha. You don’t have that option.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“They’d never allow her to hold the position of alpha bitch, Anton. She’s part puma. Mom would go insane and I can’t see our father taking it well either. Then there’s the reaction from our entire pack to consider.”

“Damn it,” Anton snarled. “Just go. I’m protecting her, not anything more.”

Rave sniffed. “Is that what I smell? Your version of guarding her body? The lust is strong in here.”

“Just leave.” Anton spun around, moved toward the kitchen, and sighed. “Please close the door on your way out.”

“Use the cabin if the shit hits the fan. Good luck, Bro. You know I love you and support you regardless of pack politics. I always have your back.”

Anton halted but he didn’t glance at this brother. “Thanks. I love you too.”

“You make a cute couple.” The door slammed closed.

Shannon peered up at Anton. He looked angry when he met her gaze. “It will be fine. There’s nothing my parents can do to you. You’re totally safe.”

She really doubted it. “You should just let me go stay with my mom.”

He shook his head. “It’s not happening.”

Chapter Seven

“Who was that woman?” Shannon allowed Anton to set her on top of the counter.

He released her, stepped back, and frowned. “Mating heat is about to start. Other packs wish to unite with ours. Different ones send a woman here to see if I’ll hit it off with her.”

Shannon silently gawked at him. She finally found her voice. “As in you take her to dinner and get to know her? She wasn’t exactly dressed, well, to go out anywhere unless it’s to a strip bar. That outfit left little to the imagination. I can’t believe she goes out in public.”

His dark head turned away and she would have sworn she saw him blush. “Not exactly.” He glanced back at her and crossed his arms over his chest.

It sank in slowly. “Oh my. You’re supposed to have sex with them?”

“Yeah.”

Emotions flooded forth, mostly jealousy. The idea of Anton with other women just didn’t sit well with her. The scary beauty queen the other pack had sent made her feel worse. That woman was  p**n -star hot in her skintight leather jumpsuit. She’d been about as different in appearance from Shannon as she could get. It also became clear that the guy probably had slept with a lot of women in his lifetime.

“Every year you have to sleep with one woman to see if she’s a possible mate?”

He glanced away again. “Not just one.”

She knew the color drained from her face. “How many women are you supposed to sleep with during this heat thing?”

“There are a lot of packs out there who would love it if their daughter mated with the future alpha of our pack. We are stronger than most and have prime territory. I get sent one every day from the different packs during mating heat. They schedule the days with my father.”

“How long did you say this thing lasts?”

“Anywhere from ten to fifteen days. It depends on the year. It’s difficult to predict. Sex is an effective way to test if we’re mates.”

Her shock turned to a sick twist of her stomach. “I’m leaving.” She shoved off the counter, landed on her feet, and walked for the door.

Anton moved faster than she could, his body blocked the only exit, and he frowned down at her when she halted. “It’s not safe for you to go.”

Embarrassment and humiliation battled her emotions. She refused to look into his eyes, instead focused on the mouth that had been on her body recently. She’d thought they might have had something special, perhaps the beginning of something real, but instead he just had sex with a lot of women. He had to be one serious player to take sex that casually. She’d almost allowed him to f**k her. She would have if he hadn’t halted it.