Page 18 of Loving the Lion

Bachar heard the note of confusion in Tarek’s voice and laughed.

“Have I not told you before that you should lose yourself in a woman’s arms for the night, my friend? There is no other feeling like it.” Bachar sighed and allowed himself to sink into the heated leather seats. That warmth would have to suffice until he could wrap himself in Sally’s sweetly, scented arms once again.

Tarek frowned at him. For more reasons than he could ever share with the man he considered his alpha and a friend, Tarek knew he could never risk spending the night in a woman’s arms the way Bachar suggested. Losing his senses in the smell and taste of her, oblivious to everything around him. Too much danger lurked in the shadows as Tarek had discovered more than once during his long life.

But he wondered if his friend was ready to admit just how much Sally actually meant to him. He’d sensed no claiming fever in the alpha this morning, so that meant the man had not bonded with his mate last night. Was the man going to sacrifice his chance at happiness to keep his pride safe? The humans were a threat, but one that could be easily contained if Bachar removed the restraints he’d placed on Tarek on how the pride was to deal with them. Or maybe he needed a small nudge, Tarek thought. “So Sally is just another whore who—”

His alpha let out a loud roar that had Tarek’s hands jerking at the wheel and his wolf clawing to be let out. It was the roar of a predatory male protecting what was his. Even as he brought the vehicle back under control, a large hand closed around his throat, and a rush of heat fanned the side of his face where Bachar’s open mouth—with fully elongated fangs—pressed.

“She. Is. My. Mate.” Bachar’s words were slurred as he forced them out, his animal so near the surface that Tarek actually thought the man would shift. At the speed they were traveling, they would both suffer grave, if not fatal, injuries. If Bachar shifted Tarek would be forced to do the same to defend himself. No doubt their vehicle would plunge over the rocky side of the cliff. He stayed perfectly still, easing his foot from the accelerator. “Alpha.”

Bachar fought through the buzzing in his head; fought to gain control of his lion as the animal threatened to emerge. He heard Tarek call to him. Knew he had to respond. As his senses returned, he realized what he had done—or almost done.

“Well, shit,” he cursed as he eased his hand from around his security chief’s throat and sat back in the leather seat that had provided so much comfort just seconds before. Now, it only added to the heat rushing over his skin.

“Well, shit, indeed.” With any other man, especially Keair, the snarky remark would have been accompanied by a sniggering smile. Not with Tarek. The wolf’s hands were steady as he continued to drive as if a near fatal attack by his alpha had not just occurred.

“Just so we’re clear, Tarek, Sally is my mate, and she will be treated with respect.”

“Of course, Alpha. I meant no disrespect.”

“I know, it’s just—”

“You cannot control the animal.”

“Right. But you’ll realize it someday. When you meet your mate.”

“I don’t think so.”

Bachar grunted. “Let me assure you, your animal will be just as out of control as mine when she comes into your life.”

“I will have no mate.”

“What?” Bachar gave his full attention to the man who was more than just a member of his pride. He considered the lone wolf a friend as well. “Why do you say that?”

Tarek remained silent, and Bachar thought he wasn’t going to answer. Then he heard the low, softly spoken words. Words he would never have thought to hear from the other man. “I am not worthy of a mate.”

“Tarek…” He knew the wolf’s past was riddled with pain. He’d been about to go rogue when Bachar had discovered him living on the mountain all those years ago. But he hadn’t asked about that past. Maybe that had been a mistaken on his part.

“We are here.” Tarek slowed and pulled into the circular area in front of the hotel. He sat with the engine running, his attention focused ahead. Bachar wanted to stay and talk to him, but the call of his mate pulled at his lion. He cursed softly and exited the four wheel drive. He did lean back in before closing the door. “This conversation is not over, my friend.”

He infused his tone with the power of his alpha so that the wolf would know he meant business. As expected, he received no answer. He shut the door and watched for a brief moment as Tarek drove away. Now that he had found his mate, he knew he needed to actively seek mates for those males around him. Maybe, with mated shifters, the humans surrounding them would be more likely to accept them.

Now that he had his mate—his Sally—his thoughts were rushing to grow his pride where couples—and cubs—could flourish. Not just make money. For years, he realized, he had merely been existing. Surviving.

That, he thought with a smile on his face at the prospect of seeing Sally again, was about to change.

Bachar’s good mood lasted as long as it took him to arrive at his suite and discover that Sally was no longer there. Immediately, his lion began to pace, the animal as agitated as Bachar had ever felt. He rushed back down the stairs, too impatient to wait for the elevator. Daniel was not at the front desk. Instead, there was a man he had never seen before. A human. Bachar frowned. While he left the hiring and firing of personnel within the many pride businesses to the individual managers, he emphasized the importance of having shifters in jobs where discretion and security were important.

“Where’s Daniel?”

The man looked up from the computer, a bored and lazy expression on his face. “I don’t know.” The words and I don’t care, were strongly implied. The man’s attitude infuriated both Bachar and his cat, especially with the worry building inside of him concerning Sally.

He leaned closer planning to rip the man a new one. That’s when he scented her. She had been here, probably stood right where he was standing, and not too long ago.

“Where the hell is my mate?” The roar that left Bachar’s throat would have rivaled his brothers in the wild. The man jumped, startled, and almost fell from the stool on which he had been sitting. It also brought several other employees running from the back. Before they got to them, Bachar was up and over the counter, his hand around the human’s throat, lifting him from the floor. The man clawed at his throat as his air was slowly cut off from the tightening of Bachar’s hand.

“Where is she?” From the fear in the man’s eyes, Bachar knew he didn’t have to explain who he was looking for, nor was Bachar left in any doubt as to this man’s involvement.