Meredith's Pride [Galactic Nuptials 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove)

Galactic Nuptials 3

Meredith’s Pride

Meredith Carter is lonely and just wants to find someone to love. The nice people at Galactic Nuptials assure him that some of their clients prefer male mates.

The leader of the Chaarta pride sent all their cubs into hiding with Delsin and Etu when the war started. Now, they’re all that’s left of their pride. They’re desperate for a mate to care for the five small young ones. When they find the picture of the lovely creature with long brown hair in Galactic Nuptial’s catalog, they know they’ve found their mate.

It’s too bad they didn’t read the small print. What’re they going to do when they find out "Meredith" can be a male’s name too?

Genre:
Alternative (M/M or F/F), Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Science Fiction
Length:
34,323 words
 

Galactic Nuptials 3

Missy Martine

MENAGE AMOUR

MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

IMPRINT: Ménage Amour ManLove

MEREDITH’S PRIDE

E-book ISBN: 978-1-62241-821-3

First E-book Publication: November 2012

Cover design by Harris Channing

All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

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PUBLISHER

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers

Dear Readers,

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Meredith’s Pride
by Missy Martine from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

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My thanks to all the writers at Siren-BookStrand who write paranormal M/M fiction. My enjoyment of your books made me want to create my own shape-shifter M/M story. I’d also like to say thank you to my very loyal readers. Your e-mails showing your support always brighten my day.

MEREDITH’S PRIDE

Galactic Nuptials 3

MISSY MARTINE

Copyright © 2012

Meredith Wesley Carter shuffled back and forth on his feet in front of Korona Casteel’s desk. The striking redhead was looking at him with sympathy in her eyes, and it was making him uncomfortable. This was his second meeting with the assistant administrator of Galactic Nuptials. He took a deep breath and pressed his hand against his belly in an attempt to stop the fluttering. “Miss Casteel, do you think I’m wasting my time?” Galactic Nuptials’ advertisements boasted they could find mates for anyone.

“Meredith, I’ve explained to you that I can’t guarantee that we’ll find you a mate, but I can say that many of the species we deal with take males as mates. Some even prefer them.” She reached out and patted him on the arm. “It’s not out of the realm of possibility. You just have to be patient.”

He sighed, his eyes closing for a moment, and then gave her a weak smile. “All right then. I’ll just wait to hear from you.” Not wanting to see the pity in her gaze, he turned and left the office. If he didn’t hurry he’d be late for his job at the coffee shop. It wasn’t much, but it was all he had in his life. He’d been on his own since the age of fifteen when his family tossed him out for being gay. All he’d ever wanted was someone to love. When he’d turned twenty-five last month, he’d seen the Galactic Nuptials’ advertisement and decided to give them a try.
Come on, Mer. Suck it up. Don’t be so negative. Give the woman a chance to find your Prince Charming.
Snickering, he headed for the bus stop.

* * * *

Delsin strolled through the transport station on Kilara, exploring the fairly new facility. Concrete walls with steel railings and pillars made for an impressive structure. Wooden packing crates covered in labels were stacked haphazardly up and down the concourse while brightly colored signs indicating shops and taverns enticed travelers. Security guards circulated with handheld holo screens scanning everyone. Everything had gleaming surfaces with very little trash or dirt marring the area.

Rotating yellow lights signaled cargo moving across the vast room. Delsin winced when a ship, idling before takeoff, drowned out the voices of the many people. With his enhanced hearing, he could still hear glasses clinking, coins changing hands and music playing. The stench of body odors was almost unbearable, the acrid smell of hot metal making the delicate skin of his nostrils burn.

Delsin, and three of his pride mates, were charged with escorting and protecting five young cubs of the Chaarta Pride. Their leaders were at war with the Mkata Pride, and it was imperative to keep the young cubs safe. He watched baby Taima trying to walk in the heavier gravity and chuckled. Taima was the only son of Chayton, their pride alpha. Some day the little tyke would take his father’s place.

Delsin stretched, rolling his shoulders after their long flight, feeling floor vibrations through his boots. His eyes widened when he spotted his old friend, Salanon. The man turned up in the strangest places, but had never admitted to being from any one world.
Maybe he can suggest a safe place to take the cubs.
Hurrying to catch his friend, Delsin ducked to pass beneath a low overhang, brushing against a humanoid man in an attempt to avoid contact with a species that appeared distasteful to his eye. The huge alien was gray with a porous skin. His head craned up as he wandered through the crowds, apparently scanning the monitor displays.

“Greetings, Salanon. Have you been well?” He’d learned not to ask anything about the man’s business. He seldom admitted to anything, and was almost always working some kind of angle.

“Delsin, my friend. What are you doing here?”

Delsin sighed. “I’m on a mission for my alpha.”

“Ah, how are Chayton and his beautiful mate?”

“They’re involved in a war right now.”

“War with who?”

“Linnaeus, our home world, supports two prides. Mkata, the rival pride, is making an effort to take over the planet. Chayton sent me, along with Etu and Hakan, to hide and protect the pride’s cubs. We have five small ones with us.”

“Males or females?”

“We have three males and two females.”

“I know the leader of Mkata. Honaw can be ruthless, but only to outsiders. Why would he turn against his own kind?”

“Honaw wanted to mate with Preyta, even though she wasn’t his fated mate. She chose Chayton instead, and he didn’t take it well. Rumor is he’s going to kill Chayton and take her for himself. He wants to raise Chayton’s cubs as his own.”

“Sounds like he’s gone mad. Where are the females of your pride? Why aren’t they with their cubs?”

“Chayton tried to send the females away into hiding, but they refused to leave. They wanted to stay and fight for their homes. It was one argument he couldn’t win.”

“I know you’re not staying here. Kilara is a Federation agricultural planet.”

“We’re just waiting to be cleared to pass through the Kolladian wormhole. Truthfully, I’m not sure where we’re heading. We’ve got to find a safe, preferably nearly deserted planet to hide the cubs until the war is over. You wouldn’t happen to know of such a place, would you?”

Salanon bent his head closer and lowered his voice. “Not far from here is a deserted world. It’s called Teekia. You could go there, but it can be dangerous. It has some interesting indigenous wildlife that could be a problem.”

Delsin shook his head. “No, that’s not a good idea. Chayton would gut me if I let anything happen to the little dears.”

Salanon threw back his head and laughed. “Sorry I couldn’t be of any help. I must go now, but if you need anything just get word to me and I’ll come and bring reinforcements.”

Delsin reached out and clasped his arm. “Thank you, my friend. Stay safe.” He watched as Salanon made his way to the front entrance, his eyes widening when he recognized one of the pride’s trading partners. He jumped when a hand closed on his shoulder.

“Is that Zintssar?” asked Etu.

“Yes.” Delsin sighed and waved his hand at the Royal Prince of Arridia.

“Who’s that with him?”

Delsin shrugged and watched Zintssar make his way across the crowded room. When they drew near, he reached out and took Zintssar’s hand. “Greetings, friend. It’s good to see you.”

Zintssar smiled and nodded at Etu. “It’s good to see both of you.” He motioned to the tall stranger behind him. “This is my friend, Andon.” His hand moved to Andon’s shoulder. “Andon, these are my friends Delsin and Etu from Linnaeus.”

Delsin and his brother put forth their hands in greeting. He smiled when the stranger accepted their gesture.

“Greetings, friends of Zin. Are you planning on settling here as well?” asked Andon.