His Purrfect Mate Read online

  Someone kicked the door. Anton got to his feet and walked toward it. “Breakfast.”

  Shannon backed up. The last time someone had come through that door it had been that werewolf woman. She hoped another one hadn’t shown up to make threats. The door opened and the blond guy stepped inside holding a tray. He nodded at Anton and then turned his gaze on Shannon to run it slowly down her body.

  A vicious snarl made the guy yank his attention from Shannon.

  “Don’t look at her, Yon,” Anton threatened.

  Yon paled. “Shit.”

  “Give me the tray and leave.”

  “Why are you acting so nuts? I’m not hitting on her.”

  Anton grabbed the tray. “Leave.” The order came out harsh and scary sounding.

  The muscular blond stumbled back, hit the corner of the doorframe, and softly swore. “You marked her, didn’t you? You’re acting nuts. You didn’t mind me being near her yesterday.”

  “Keep your mouth muzzled and I only want you to deliver food to her. My business is no one else’s. Are we clear?”

  “Perfectly.” Yon fled.

  Shannon’s eyebrows arched at the strange interaction. Anton kicked the door closed, turned with tray in hand, and scowled at her. “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “I’m sorry. Now I’m the grouchy one. I didn’t like him looking at you.”

  “Was I in danger?”

  “No.” He strode to the counter. “I feel very possessive of you. It’s got to be the marking thing.” He slammed the tray down. “I guess it makes me a little crazy. I just wanted to punch him for even daring to glance your way.”

  “Wow.”

  “What?”

  “Your fangs are showing.”

  “Sorry. Damn.” A hand lifted to feel his sharp points and then it dropped to his side. “Marking is scary stuff. I heard it was bad but I really wanted to knock him down the stairs. He thinks you’re attractive.”

  “He didn’t say anything.”

  “He didn’t have to. His nose flared and his eyes darkened. Trust me. He thinks you’re sexy and would love to touch you.” He paused. “And I didn’t like it one bit.”

  “I’m not interested in him. Does that help? Blonds aren’t my type.”

  “Are werewolves?”

  “Well, no. At least not until you.”

  “Good.” His fangs receded and he seemed to calm. “Let’s eat. I’m sorry I have to leave you alone. Once the heat starts we take a break from most things and I’ll have some time off. Not much work gets done this time of year.”

  She took a seat next to him at the counter. “Shifter holiday, huh?”

  A chuckle escaped him. “At least for werewolves.”

  “So the bar downstairs will be closed?”

  “It will be this year. Last year my brother kept it open and lost a lot of money due to repairs.”

  Shannon gave him a curious look.

  “We get pretty aggressive when we’re horny. Not a good mix when you’ve got a bunch of single werewolf males, with fewer females to try to impress enough to allow the males to fuck them. We also get a lot of out-of-town visitors from smaller places who are looking to find women to hook up with during the heat. There were a lot of fights. I’m running things now and have decided to close the bar once the mating heat starts. They can battle it out in the woods instead of inside.”

  “Don’t the humans around here notice anything weird or suspect what you are?”

  “It’s an annual thing that’s gone on forever. They just assume it’s a busy tourist season. They sure don’t mind the money it brings in. We eat a hell of a lot and fill up the motel down the street.”

  “A rowdy tourist season.”

  “Yeah.” He grinned. “But we keep away from the humans for the most part. I’ll have to work a few nights during the heat but I won’t be gone long.”

  “You have another job besides running the bar?”

  “I’m a Harris, and this is our pack. We patrol at night to make sure no visiting weres go after any local human women. It’s been known to happen despite it being against our laws. We’re never to do anything to risk humans discovering what we are. My brothers and I have split shifts with some of the pack enforcers. Of course, we own a lot of land that’s private property for the runnings, to make sure humans don’t accidentally stumble into that.”

  “What are those?”

  He hesitated. “I don’t think you want to know and I’m not going to be a part of it, so it’s nothing for you to be concerned about.”

  “Now I’m really curious.”

  He picked up his fork, his attention on his food, and took a bite. Shannon waited for a response, not eating. She watched his throat work as he swallowed.

  “That bad, huh?”

  He finally looked at her. “It’s for single weres. At night they go into our woods and run.”

  “That’s not so bad.”

  “To fuck.”

  “Oh.” Her cheeks warmed. “Got it. Kind of like chasing a female.”

  “Kind of. Yeah. Chasing goes on. Fights.”

  “And? I suspect it’s more than that.”

  “It’s a free-for-all, okay?” He finally met her gaze. “Think werewolf orgy.”

  To avoid his gaze, she focused on her food as she picked up her fork. “Do you ever attend them?”

  The silence stretched. “I went to a few before I was expected to find a mate and that shit with my father started, when he began making the schedule for me to meet women from other packs.”

  “I see.” She really didn’t. The idea of him going to a running made her a little sick at heart. It sounded a little disgusting to her way of thinking.

  “It’s a good way for males and females to hook up, test each other out to see if they’re possible mates. Humans have spring break. Tell me a lot of sex isn’t going on then.”

  “True.”

  “Ever go to spring break?”

  “No.”

  They ate in silence until Anton stood. “I have to go to that pack meeting and then I have some errands to run. Yon will bring you lunch in a few hours if I’m not back yet. Don’t talk to him.”

  She gaped at him.

  “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. He’s starting to feel the mating heat. He’s not hooked up with anyone either. He knows I marked you but hormones make any male stupid. I just don’t want you to be polite to him and have him believe you would welcome any advances. We’re not human. Remember that.”

  “I promise to glare at him.” She smiled. “How is that?”

  Anton surprised her by leaning over to brush a feathery kiss on her forehead. “Perfect. You’re safe here. Make yourself at home. I have cable and every channel. Just don’t leave.”

  “I won’t.”

  He backed up, studied her closely, and then seemed assured she meant it. He spun away and walked to the dresser. She watched him pull on a tank top and socks. He sat on the edge of his bed to shove his feet inside boots then gave her a grin before he strode out the door.

  Shannon’s shoulders slumped after he left. She closed her eyes, trying to determine if she felt any different since she’d been marked. It obviously affected Anton but she didn’t sense any changes in herself.

  * * * * *

  Anton snarled at Carl, holding the pup above the floor, and everyone inside the room watched him in stunned silence. “I told you to leave her alone.”

  The pup paled. “She’s just―”

  “Under my protection.” He snarled, shook the pup, and slammed him against the wall. “I see your friends aren’t here. Were they too frightened to face me?”

  The pup frantically nodded, his eyes wide with terror.

  “They should be. I want you, them, and the rogues you took to her place at the pack meeting tree in an hour. If you make me hunt you down, I’m really going to be angry. You don’t want that. I’m just going to yell, issue orders, and make threats. Make me track you down and the