Pride Before the Fall (2 page)

His mate's voice was a soft, sweet soprano. "Ty," Melissa whispered, slowly walking in front of him and taking the sweater. "Come on, baby, it's okay. He didn't know." She gave Sampson a nod of thanks, then touched Tyrone's cheek. The adoring smile she gave him could move the earth. "He just surprised me. It's okay. Let's go." The cat's hand moved so fast Kasey didn't see where Tyrone stashed the knife. Without another word, Melissa led him out of the office.

"I'm sorry. I should've warned you. He's rather protective," Vivian said after they exited the room.

Sampson brushed it off. "As any man should be with his mate."

With another nod to Kasey, Vivian Blake left his office. It would be weeks before her scent would leave his thoughts.

CHAPTER TWO

"He's different than the others," Vivian said to her family as they drove back to the ratty apartments they'd rented.

Kasey Blackburn had been much more than Vivian expected. The power most alphas possessed was faint in comparison to the wolf she'd just met. His potency was like another physical being in the room. On several occasions the energy of it washed over her body as a caress. He was the first alpha they'd been required to meet with face-to-face. The others had been fine with a phone call. He was also the only alpha to have such upscale offices in the heart of a city. It was obvious he was a businessman and his Pack was doing well due in no small part to that fact.

More than anything, she'd noticed how breathtaking he was. He was suave and sexy in a way that set him far above any other man she'd ever met. Even with gray-kissed black hair and crow's feet forming around his eyes, he was still in his prime for a shifter. His rich blue-gray eyes had connected with hers as soon as she'd walked into his office and she'd seen the wolf looking back at her.

Blackburn's reputation preceded him. Vivian hadn't wanted to go into his jurisdiction until she absolutely had to. Unfortunately, it was now necessary. Kasey's Pack wouldn't offer them protection and she knew that. But any shifter who entered his territory had to be accounted for and maybe, just maybe, if Trace's men followed them here, Vivian would be alerted.

"It's because he's a dog," Conall joked from the driver's seat. Their Pride had stuck to feline lands as much as possible.

"Naw," Amilynn shook her head. "V's right. This guy has his shit together. Even
I
didn't ruffle his feathers."

"And you were really trying today," Melissa giggled.

"I hate it when you do that," Ty mumbled at his sister.

Ami rolled her eyes. "Do what?"

"Play the psycho-slut card. It's unnecessary."

"Whatever. He didn't buy it so what does it matter?" Ami propped her army boots up on the dash of the dilapidated old suburban.

"He's smart." Vivian stared out the window and leaned her head back.

Melissa leaned closer into Ty's arms and regarded her big sister. "What's on your mind, V?"

Vivian smiled at her and shook her head. "Nothing, sweetheart. I'm just tired of all this relocating every other year."

Melissa nodded her head. She knew all too well the burden her older sister carried as the alpha of their band of misfits. It wasn't easy to have the responsibility of everyone's safety and happiness on your shoulders.
 

Vivian thought about the man who had so generously allowed them to stay and run in his realm. Kasey was the kind of man she'd never dream of landing, but secretly wished she could. In their Pride in Nevada, she'd been one of the few overly dominant females. Sure, there were women who could keep up with the men, but few who could overpower them. She'd been pegged early on and her parents did their damnedest to "socialize and feminize" her. Piano and dance lessons, pearls and lace, manners and etiquette or she was punished. Vivian had been scared to be herself until she was nearly sixteen.

That was when her parents and teachers had realized she was not going to be tamed. Vivian had been pulled from the human school system and put in a special private school run on Pride lands. It was a program specifically for Pride soldiers and dominant females. The girls were trained in combat and taught to use their sexuality like a weapon. Vivian had excelled in hand-to-hand fighting and close proximity assassinations. By the time she was eighteen, Vivian could kill a man with her bare hands in fifteen different ways while blindfolded and wearing high heels. She was at the top of her class and Trace, the Pride alpha, took notice. It had been his biggest mistake.

Few men had ever pinged on Vivian's radar. Submissive or less dominant men were an instant turn off. Kasey, however, caused her radar to sound all the internal alarms. For the last few years, she'd focused solely on keeping her family safe. It was all she cared about. They moved from Pride territory to Pride territory as necessary. She had met more than one feline alpha across the country. Most of the time, she took either Amilynn or Conall but never the whole Pride like today. More than one of the old pervs had offered to take her in as his plaything in exchange for protection for the Pride. Every time, she refused—usually with claws.

With this wolf, she had brought the whole Pride, unsure of what to expect. He hadn't offered to 'play' with her like the other alphas. Perhaps he didn't care for cats? Or, perhaps what she did for a living turned him off. Not that she cared what people thought of her occupation, but it still stung that Kasey showed no signs of sexual attraction. He was a stunning man. Perhaps he had higher standards. Amazing, Vivian thought, that she could sing to hundreds and dance for money, but under the microscope of one male she was unexpectedly unsure of herself.

CHAPTER THREE

It didn't take long for the Pride to take Kasey up on his offer to run free range for a while. He smiled to himself as he answered his cell phone.

"This is Kasey."

"I'm just letting you know that my Pride will be taking a walk in the woods for the next couple days."

The husky voice sent his blood pooling in low places. "Why, Vivian, what a delight to speak to you again."

If her pause was any indication, his cordial greeting threw her off balance. "Um, thanks. Do you have any other shifters besides wolves and bears around here that we need to be aware of? Deer? Elk?"

"No. All the other animals around here are natural. There is a wonderful herd of elk deep on the inside. You could have some real fun with them."

"Perfect." His wolf's ears picked up a spike in her voice. She was excited about hunting.

"You know, Vivian, if you are looking for a challenge you should come over some time and we could—"

"Spare me." Her voice said she meant business. "Let me guess what you're about to say. I could come over and we could take a tumble under the sheets, have some fun. In exchange you would offer my family protection. But that offer only lasts as long as I please you, right?" she scoffed. "Save it. You think you're the first alpha to offer?"

"Judging by your bitterness, I'd say no. But that wasn't the train of thought I was on."

"Right, okay. You keep all your offers to yourself and leave us the hell alone."

Kasey growled into the phone before he could control the animal within. "Miss Blake, was that a threat?" His tone darkened, reminding her just who she was dealing with.

"I'm simply giving you a heads up that we will be out. Good day, Mr. Blackburn."

With that she hung up. Kasey looked at his cell phone knowing damn well that he would not be letting this kitty cat run around his mountains unchecked. It was time to measure up the Pride.

The next morning he took Sampson and Alias out to stalk the Pride as they hunted. The three wolves carefully scented the mountains for both cats and humans. They found the trail about the time they scented a herd of elk. Creeping up to a peak where the cats couldn't see or smell them, they got a bird's eye view of their hunt.

They are used to hunting together,
Sampson said telepathically.
Look at their formation. The two leopards are on the outer rim, the little one is moving around to block off the creek. Damn, that's a big lion.

It has to be Conall,
Kasey said. But where was Vivian?

The four cats erupted at the elk herd and took down a cow efficiently. It was a quick and effective example of teamwork.

Nicely done,
Alias said with true appreciation in his voice.
But they seem to be missing one. You mean to tell me the alpha female lets her pathetic little Pride do the dirty work for her? Such an alpha.

His snide laughter rang in Kasey's head. He began to search the edge of the clearing. Vivian was close, but where?

With a burst of speed so lightning fast the three wolves nearly missed it, a gargantuan tiger flew from the cover of the trees and targeted the largest bull in the herd. In one move the tiger pounced, closed her massive jaws around the neck and snapped it, killing the elk instantly.

Holy shit!

Where the hell did she come from?

She's a mammoth!

The wolves sat paralyzed for moment. The tiger must have weighed five or six hundred pounds. The bull appeared nothing more than a white tail deer under her paws. They were even more surprised when she dragged the carcass over to where her family fed and laid it down. She then began to guard the others while they feasted.

Would you like to retract your previous statement, Alias?
Kasey asked with clear approval of Vivian's actions in his voice.
She lets her Pride eat before she does. Guards them even. I'd say that is the heart of a true leader, wouldn't you, to take care of those under her protection before herself?

With an indignant huff, Alias rolled his canine eyes.
There is nothing left to see here.
The solid black wolf sauntered off.

Sampson and Kasey kept watching the Pride as they ate. When the tiger was satisfied that the coast was clear, she sat next to the others and had her fill of elk meat. When the kill was devoured, the cats began to romp and play. The two wolves laughed when the tiger laid out the male lion just as easily as she did the little snow leopard.

Hard to believe that same being was the beautiful woman who sat in my office, isn't it?
Kasey laughed.

If I didn't know you better, I'd say you were developing affection for the cat.
Sampson was not judgmental or ridiculing his friend. He was the one person Kasey trusted completely. As his brother-in-law, it was Sampson who knew him best.

The cat is amazing. The woman takes my breath away. I've never had the thoughts she brings to my head.

Do you believe she is your mate, my brother?

I don't know, Sampson.
It was a lie. Kasey knew his animal had claimed Vivian at first sight.
I just don't know. But when I see her or think about her, my heart and body ache to claim her as mine.

This makes me happy to hear.
Sampson nudged Kasey with his brown muzzle.
I feared you would be a virgin your whole life.
There was laughter in his voice, but Kasey snipped at his leg in reprimand anyway.

Just before he left, Kasey looked down the ledge at the Pride. They lay together, piled on the body of the giant tigress. Her wide head rested on the stomach of the lion, the two leopards lounged their bodies on her, and the little one tucked safely by her belly. They had enjoyed their meal and play, and now they lazed in the sun. Kasey looked on and the large head of the tigress shifted to peer right up at him.

Two feline eyes, yellow in color met his grayish blues. The cat didn't alert the others, who remained obliviously content. She merely gave him a slight nod to acknowledge his presence and rested her head back on the napping lion.

CHAPTER FOUR

She prowled the stage, a huntress in search of prey.

Kasey had seen the show twice already and every night, when Vivian graced the stage, his heart leaped in his chest. There might have been two others on stage, but his focus was on her. The woman was sex and feline elegance in human form. Her reddish-brown hair fell past her shoulders in a cascade of loose curls. Her eyes were hazel globes of fire and passion, the eyes of a wild jungle cat ready to pounce. The top she wore was nothing more than a leopard print bra with fringe.

It was enough to drive a man insane. And there was an abundance of insane men in this place. Vivian's hips, covered in tight black leather pants, sashayed and pumped to each beat of bass as she and her two companions made their way down a short catwalk. The three women moved in sync, their choreography well rehearsed and performed. When Vivian began to sing, Kasey's entire body was held captive under her spell, making blood pump to low places.

The woman was amazing. Every show he'd seen was the same, yet each had been different. He had her sensual dance moves and the husky tones of her voice memorized. Why such a talented group of performers were here night after night in this tourist trap of a city was beyond his reasoning. The trio worked in perfect harmony like they were part of the same brain.

A vicious smile came to his mouth when the three women pulled up some schmuck out of the audience and gave him a thrill he would never forget. The potbellied man with receding hair and glasses sat in a chair while the temptresses danced around him, rubbing him like he was the king of their universe. Kasey could smell the poor fool's arousal from the back of the theatre where he watched. When he noticed Vivian looking at him, the sudden urge to rip the loser's head off disappeared. She might have been giving the man on stage a thrill, but she was dancing for Kasey.

Vivian dipped her hips down to the floor and rolled her body up the man's leg provocatively and their stage guest nearly came in his pants. He stumbled when Vivian took his hand, led him to his seat and kissed his cheek, flashing one of her million watt smiles.
 

Kasey nearly choked. Her tempting lips drove him to the point of losing his self-control. How would those full lips feel wrapped around his cock?

His thoughts were interrupted by the wolf sliding in the booth next to him. "Boss."