CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Standing in front of his fireplace, Tate glanced at each of his family members, who were spread around the room in various poses. Their wary expressions weren’t a surprise. Tate had sent them each a text, asking them to meet him at his home—mysterious, yes, but he’d wanted to share his news with them all at once.

“Is everything all right?” asked Vinnie.

Tate nodded. “Better than all right.”

A smile split his sister’s lips. “Let me guess … You got your act together and fixed things with Havana?”

“In a manner of speaking,” said Tate. “She’s my true mate.”

A shocked silence momentarily fell over the room.

Elle gawked. “Seriously? How cool.”

Ingrid clasped her hands together, her face a study in delight. She crossed right to Tate, pulled him into a hug, and smacked a kiss to his cheek. “This is just fabulous.Darlin’, I’m so happy for you. Havana’s my kind of girl—strong, fierce, protective of the people in her circle. Many of the males in our pride will be jealous as hell that you snapped her up.”

“I suspected she was your mate when you almost went ape-shit yesterday after hearing she’d been shot,” Luke said to him, his mouth curved. “I hoped I was right. It’s about time you and your cat settled down.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Vinnie stood and slapped Tate’s back. “Congratulations, son. I’m pleased for you.”

“Same here,” said Damian, smiling. “Havana’s hot as hell.” He raised his hands when Tate narrowed his eyes. “So I’m told,” Damian quickly added.

“Where’s your claiming bite?” asked Luke.

“We haven’t gotten around to claiming each other yet,” said Tate. “She can’t feel the bond. She’s not denying that it’s there—her gut is telling her we are mates.”

Elle drummed her fingers on her thigh. “What do you think is blocking the frequency?”

Tate shrugged. “I’m not sure yet, but I suspect the fact that her devil slammed a mental door on me has a lot to do with it. The animal was rightfully pissed when I gave Havana up.”

“Ah,” said Ingrid with a slow nod. “Well, you’ll win the devil over in time. And your cat will help. You should let the animals run together and see if he can soften her up a little.”

Tate had had the same thought. The devil might not be as upset with his feline as she was with him.

Vinnie tilted his head. “You know, Tate, I was worried you might never recognize your true mate. Don’t think I didn’t know how wary you were of true-mate bonds. You’ve clearly overcome that wariness now, which is good. But don’t let it creep back in, son. Having a mate, being so intricately connected to her, is a beautiful thing. Let it happen. Don’t fight it. You’ll never regret it, not even for a single moment.”

“I don’t imagine that I will,” said Tate.

“Good.” Vinnie returned to his chair. “She’ll make a strong Alpha female. Keeping a pride of pallas cats in line is no easy thing, but she’ll manage it just fine. She’s already an Alpha, in her way. Those girls of hers would follow her anywhere.”

Tate nodded. “She thinks of them as family.”

“She won’t join the pride if Aspen and Bailey aren’t also allowed to join. She’d feel as though she was abandoning them,” Vinnie pointed out.

“I already know that, which is why I’m planning to offer them a place in the pride.”

“I doubt any of our pride mates will object to it. We’ve all gotten to know Aspen and Bailey a little since they moved into your building. I’ve only heard people say good things about them. The three are a little on the crazy side, sure, but we pallas cats like crazy. Even Valentina likes them, and she’s not easy to please.”

“I personally think they’re great,” said Elle. “God,I’m so happy you’ve found your mate, Tate. We haven’t had a lot to smile about recently. This news rocks.”

“Agreed,” said Luke. “So, Tate, how easy do you think it’ll be to convince Havana to move at your pace? Because I just know you’d move her into your house today if you thought she’d be up for it.”

Well of course he would. “It’ll take time, but I can be patient. I know better than to put pressure on a female as dominant as Havana—it never works well.”

Luke pursed his lips. “In other words, you’ll act like there’s no rush but do shit like gradually move her things to your place, center all your charm on her, and insert yourself into her life so that you’re firmly under her skin. Like a tic.”

Well, yeah, but Tate decided against admitting it. “If she wants to take things slow, we’ll take it slow.”

Elle snorted. “You are so full of it.”

Vinnie lifted a brow at Tate. “I assume you have no problem with this news circulating amongst the pride.”

Tate shook his head. “No problem at all.” He was proud to be able to declare that Havana Ramos was his mate. And the more people who knew she was off-limits, the better.

“Good,” said Vinnie. “Because your grandmother would have trouble not sharing it with the world.”

Ingrid only rolled her eyes.

“Ashlynn’s gonna shit a brick when she hears about this,” said Damian, sounding positively delighted. “After all she’s done, I’m kind of liking that idea.”

“Me, too.” Elle frowned at their youngest brother. “And I have to say I’m disappointed in you, Damian. Despite all the dark, destructive powers you possess, you never did anything to avenge Tate. Never put a hex on her. Never turned her into a toad. Never even gave her stomach poisoning. What kind of Antichrist are you?”

“One that exists only in your totally whacked head,” Damian retorted.

Elle scowled. “Don’t you try gaslighting me. And don’t call me whacked.”

“Don’t call me the Antichrist.”

“Do you prefer Beelzebub? Lucifer? Abaddon?”

“What I’d prefer is to have a sister who isn’t neurotic or paranoid and doesn’t have back flab.”

Elle sucked in a breath. “I do not have back flab.”

“Oh, you do, and that’s no surprise. Your idea of a balanced diet is having a candy bar in each hand.”

“Enough,” Vinnie bit out. “You know, I had hopes that the arguments would cease now that you’re both older, but those hopes are starting to die.”

Elle hmphed. “As will we all when he unleashes his evil—”

“Oh my God,” Damian burst out.

Elle snorted. “He ain’t gonna help you, oh bringer of darkness.”

Tate couldn’t help but smile. His family was crazy. It was part of why he loved them.

Watching from the corner of the rec center’s café as a male shifter loudly kicked up a fuss about the hot coffee that had been spilled all over his lap, Havana flicked a look at Bailey. “You realize that Corbin isn’t going to buy that you ‘accidentally’ knocked over Randy’s drink in passing, right?”

The mamba only shrugged, clearly enjoying the spectacle. “If the asshole hadn’t acted like a total cock toward Aspen again, I wouldn’t have felt the need to scald his dick. I hope he gets blisters. Big ones.”

Aspen’s grin was a little feral. “Bitch-slapping him earlier was fun but, yeah, this is way better.”

Havana might have felt a little sympathy for Randy if he hadn’t confronted Aspen for a second time, verbally blasting her for “fucking up” his relationship with Camden and calling her everything from a whore to a slut. Why Randy was surprised that Camden dumped him for fronting Aspen a few days back, Havana didn’t know. It wasn’t exactly a secret that the tiger never tolerated anyone even trying to upset Aspen. “Has Camden heard that Randy got all up in your shit again?”

“Not that I’m aware of,” said Aspen.

“Maybe if you personally told Camden about this second stunt, the cranky tiger would stop sulking that you didn’t tell him about the first,” said Bailey.

Aspen frowned. “I’m no tattle-tale.”

Hearing her cell ring, Havana pulled it out of her pocket. Tate. Just like that, her stomach fluttered. She answered, “Hey.”

“Hey, baby,” he said, his voice warm and deep and rumbly. “My family wants us all to get together at my place tonight to celebrate you and I finding each other. Ingrid was planning on cooking something special, but I know how much you love Chinese food, so I said we could all order a takeout if you’re up for it?”

“Like I’d ever turn down Chinese food.” And it warmed her that he’d pick that over a home-cooked meal.

“Invite your girls. Camden, too, if you’d like. I want both our families there.”

She smiled, liking that he understood how important Aspen and Bailey were to her. Even Camden, despite his insistence on holding himself apart, mattered to her. “They’ll be there.” Mostly because they were too nosy to miss it.

“Good. Everyone is planning to turn up at seven.”

That gave her a couple of hours to do laundry and stuff. “Seven works.”

“I’m on my way to the center to pick you up. I shouldn’t be more than ten minutes. And before you tell me you’re quite capable of driving yourself home, I’m aware of that. I’m not doing this out of overprotectiveness. I’m doing it because I’ve been jonesing to see you all day.”

She felt one side of her mouth hitch up. “All right. See you soon.”

“Soon,” he agreed. Then she had dead air.

“I’m guessing that was Tate,” said Aspen. “Your face only goes all soft like that when you’re talking to him.”

Havana felt her brow furrow. “My face does not go soft. And yes, it was Tate. He wants me to invite you two and Camden to his house tonight. His family wants to celebrate that he and I found each other. We’re doing that with Chinese takeout, because my man knows me well.”

“Well I’ll be there,” said Bailey.

Aspen pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Me, too. I’ll text Camden and check if he’s up for it.”

“Okay, good. Also, Tate’s on his way to pick me up from work just because.”

Bailey’s eyes lit up. “That means I can drive home the car he gave you, right?”

“Loaned, he loaned it to me.”

Bailey snorted. “If you don’t think he’ll try pushing you to keep it, you’re dumb. Tate is an Alpha, Havana. That means his level of protectiveness toward you will be off the charts. He’ll need to know that you’re as safe as you can possibly be. You know that.”

Aspen nodded. “My advice? Just roll with it, Vana. You’re both natural-born alphas, which means you’ll clash over certain stuff. Choose your battles wisely rather than butting heads with him all the time. You won’t get him to compromise on matters of your safety—no mate ever would, especially not an Alpha.”

“Pure truth,” said Bailey. “And you have to admit that having bulletproof windows is just plain cool.”

Havana folded her arms over her chest. “Hmm.”

It wasn’t long before he arrived at the center. Havana had expected him to text her once he pulled up outside, but he came right into the building and tracked her down, and then hauled her close right in front of God and everyone.

“Hey.” He dipped his head and kissed her. “Hmm, needed that.”

She smiled. “Always happy to be of service.” She didn’t fail to notice how many female eyes drifted his way. She could understand it. He was one of those people you just couldn’t help but look at. That didn’t mean she was good with them ogling him—especially when she was right there. It was just plain disrespectful.

She could be the bigger person and just ignore it. But even as she told herself that, she tossed some frowns at the oglers. They averted their gazes quick enough.

He slid his hand up her back. “You ready to go?”

“I am. Bailey’s going to drive the car you loaned me back to the complex.”

He interlinked his fingers with Havana’s. “I figured she would.”

After saying her goodbyes to Bailey and Aspen, Havana allowed Tate to lead her outside.

Opening the rear passenger door of the SUV, he said, “In you go, baby.” Once she was inside, he slid in beside her while Luke took the front passenger seat. In the driver’s seat, Farrell briefly greeted her as he switched on the engine.

Tate took her hand. “Come back to my place with me.”

She pursed her lips. “Hmm, what’s my incentive?”

“There’ll be food. And sex. Lots and lots of sex.”

“Then I’m in. Sounds better than laundry.”

Tate smiled, satisfied. He wanted some time alone with her. Wanted some uninterrupted time with her. Wanted them to be at a place where people like Dieter wouldn’t show up.

It wasn’t long before they arrived at his house. As he planned to stay home the rest of the day, he politely dismissed Farrell. Luke didn’t see the point of leaving, since he’d be attending the takeout celebratory meal, so the Beta opted for hanging out in the back yard.

When she and Tate were finally inside the house and he’d closed the door firmly shut behind them, his cat rumbled a contented sound, pleased to have her in his lair. Just the same, something in Tate relaxed. And not just because she’d be safe here. He’d always liked having her on his personal slice of territory, but he liked it a fuck of a lot more now that he’d finally acknowledged that she was his mate. It gave him a deep sense of peace that settled into every bone.

He liked that her scent would mark his things and linger after she left. Liked that he no longer had to worry about giving her mixed signals—he could touch her as much as he wanted, could ask her to spend the night in his bed, could pepper her with the many questions that had floated around his brain for months.

Right then, Tate really wanted to tumble her into bed, but he wrestled down the urge. It mattered to him that she felt comfortable here, and he worried that it would taint things for her that he’d only ever brought her here to hook up before now. He wanted her to see this place as her future home, and that meant making her feel at home. He doubted that burying himself inside her right this moment would be the best way to communicate that things were different now.

Walking up behind her, he slid his arms around her waist and rested his chin in the crook of her neck. “Beer? Water? Soda? Coffee?”

“A beer would be good.”

He kissed her temple and then retrieved two beers from the fridge. After passing her one bottle, he took her hand, led her to the sofa, and sank onto the soft leather. His beer in one hand, he patted his thigh with the other. “Sit with me.”

Careful not to spill her own drink, she straddled him and rested one hand on his chest.

He hummed, content that he had her right where he wanted her. He sipped from her mouth. Soft. Slow. Lazy. A deep, raw need stirred to life inside him and tightened his body, but he kept his hunger for her in check. Later. He’d fuck her into oblivion later.

Despite being hard as a rock, he felt … at ease. Everything about her both incited and settled him. Her incredibly soft skin, her luscious scent, her addictive taste, the way her body seemed to fit against his just right. She pleased every single one of his senses in the best way.

He tossed back a mouthful of beer and smoothed his hand up her back. “How was your day?” Watching her throat work as she took a swig of beer, he felt his gut clench.

“Good. Yours?”

“Fine. It’s always destined to be a good day when you get to tell your family you’ve found your mate. Mine are very happy for us. They’re confident you’ll make a good Alpha female.”

She tensed, her eyes widening.

He felt his mouth quirk. “When you accepted that we’re mates, you hadn’t considered that you’d naturally run the pride alongside me at some point.”

“It all got a bit lost under the wave of info that’s drifting around my brain,” she admitted.

“It’s not like being an Alpha will be new to you. You might not have an official clan, but it’s close enough to count.”

“Being the Alpha of three is a lot different from being the Alpha of a full-on pride.”

“You can handle it.” He rubbed her thigh. “Aspen and Bailey are of course welcome to join the pride. I know you’d never want to leave them behind, and I would never ask it of you. Do you think they will join?”

“Yes, though they might be a little leery. We’ve been loners a long time. They’re not used to answering to anyone other than me.”

“Camden is welcome to join as well, by the way.” He tilted his head. “I’ve got to say, you don’t look so enthusiastic about being part of my pride.”

“It’s nothing personal. It’s just …” She trailed off, sighing. “People assume that being a loner is terrible. For me, life was better after I became one.”

“You had a bad experience with your childhood clan?”

“You could say that. The members didn’t really support each other or work together. We weren’t a unit. There were divides. There was no sense of belonging or kinship. Every family was out for themselves. And looking back, I can see that the Alpha male liked it that way. People are easier to control if they’re not united.”

Tate squeezed her hip. “I’m sorry you were born into such a shitty excuse for a clan, baby. My pride is nothing like that.”

“I know. I’ve seen that for myself. I’m not saying I won’t join your pride if we mate—”

“When we mate.”

“When we mate,” she corrected. “I just want you to understand why you shouldn’t take it to heart that I won’t jump for joy at the prospect of no longer being a loner.”

Okay, he could see why she’d feel that way. He could also see that this could possibly jam the frequency of their bond if he didn’t deal with it. He resolved right then that he’d ensure she got to know his family and pride mates better so that she’d feel more at ease with them. Hopefully that would dim her reluctance.

“Will you tell me more about your past?” he asked. “I’m hoping you trust me enough to share it with me. I want to know you. I want to know everything about you.”

Havana almost smiled. How often had she wished he’d say that? Too many to count. Her body relaxed a little more into his. “I want you to know me, just as I want to know you. If you have any questions, just ask.”

He knocked back more beer. “All right. Let’s start with an easy question. Is your name really Havana Ramos?”

“Yes. You look surprised.”

“A lot of loners change their names,” he pointed out.

“Usually only those who are in hiding or get up to shady shit.”

“True. Where are you from?”

“Vancouver. My father was Spanish. He transferred to my mother’s clan in Canada after they mated. They met when she was vacationing in Spain.” Just thinking of her parents made her chest ache like a bitch. She took another fast swig of her drink.

“You talk of them in the past tense,” he noted, his voice low and soft. “What happened?”

She fingered his collar. “It’s not a pretty story.”

“It’s your story. Which means I want to hear it. But we don’t have to speak of it now if it’s too hard for you.”

Her stomach rolled at the thought of revisiting that time in her life. Setting it aside for a while sounded good to her. But how could she and Tate ever build anything if she didn’t let him in? The answer was … they couldn’t.

She took in a preparatory breath that was a lot shakier than she’d have liked. “Our Alpha was an asshole. Yasiel either didn’t know the difference between leading and bullying, or he just didn’t care. My older brother, Rolando, dated Yasiel’s daughter, Neoma.”

Thinking of Rolando made a sad smile pluck at Havana’s mouth. He’d been an overly protective big brother. Oh, he’d teased and pushed her buttons at times like only a sibling would, but he’d never let anyone say a bad word to or about her. She’d adored and looked up to him.

“Neoma was a sweet girl,” Havana went on. “Rolando fell hard for her. So when her father declared he was entering her into an arranged mating, Rolando was devastated. Neoma begged her mother to intervene, but the Alpha female rarely contradicted Yasiel. Rolando had been so sure she’d stand up for her daughter.”

“But she didn’t, did she?”

Havana shook her head. She’d always wondered if the rest of what happened could have been prevented if Neoma’s mother had just spoken up for her only child. “Rolando tried convincing Yasiel to change his mind. But the Alpha didn’t give a shit what my brother or Neoma wanted. He was determined to solidify his alliance with another clan, and he had no compunction about using Neoma to do so.”

Tate rubbed her thigh. “Sad as it is, it’s not an uncommon practice.”

“No, it isn’t. No one should ever be used as a bargaining chip. Neoma was terrified of the male she’d been promised to. He was like her father, only worse. Rolando was determined to save her, but Yasiel wouldn’t budge. So … Rolando challenged him.”

Tate’s brows hitched up. “Your brother had a shitload of courage and honor.”

“He did, but those traits didn’t help him during the duel. Rolando was strong, but he was no alpha. Yasiel outmatched him in every way.” As she’d watched it play out that night with the rest of the crowd, she’d flinched at every bite, scratch, and blow he’d received. His cries of pain had been like red-hot knives stabbing her chest. “Rolando submitted when it was clear he had no prayer of winning the duel. But Yasiel killed him anyway.”

A thunderous expression twisted Tate’s face. “The fuck?”

She understood his shock and outrage. If a shifter submitted during a duel, their opponent backed off—that was how it worked. Or how it should work. But, unlike her brother, Yasiel possessed no integrity. He’d wanted to punish Rolando for challenging him. He’d wanted to scare the rest of the clan into towing the line.

A muscle in his cheek ticking, Tate curved his hand around her nape and gave it a comforting squeeze. “You don’t have to tell me anything else. I can guess the rest anyway. You and your parents abandoned the clan, but you tragically lost them at some point over the years,” he said, his voice humming with anger.

She appreciated the “out” he’d offered, but she’d rather tell the full story now than revisit it later. “I wish it had happened that way. But it was so much worse than that. My dad, Manuel, was so furious and devastated in his grief, he attacked Yasiel the moment Rolando stopped breathing. Then it was a huge pile-on—enforcers jumped in to protect Yasiel, my relatives jumped in to defend my father and avenge my brother. My mother stayed with me, crying and yelling warnings at Manuel to duck or watch his back or move aside.

“It was just … chaos. Pure chaos.” The air had stank of blood, anger, fear, and pain. She’d never forget the screams. Never. “Yasiel and his enforcers tore my father and extended family members apart right there in front of everyone.”

Tate’s eyes fell closed for a brief moment. He tugged her closer and slid his hand around to cup her face. “Baby,” he said simply, the word laced with so much warmth and compassion it almost brought tears to her eyes.

Ignoring the ache in her throat, she went on, “Me and my mother were branded traitors and shunned. She tried to hold on, but she couldn’t. I don’t think it was just the breaking of the true-mate bond that ate at her strength. I think she was just so heartbroken. She died a few weeks later. Then I was alone.”

He muttered a low curse. “How old were you?”

“Twelve.”

His jaw hardened. “You were on your own at the age of twelve?”

She nodded and took a steadying swig of her beer. “I drifted for a while before ending up here. I was living on the streets when one of the regulars from the center found me and brought me to Corbin.”

“Is your old Alpha still alive?”

“Probably. I considered going back there many times to kill him. But my devil was a mess after what he did. It was hard to get her to move forward. I worried that if I went back there even to avenge my family, it would undo all the work I’d done to help her heal.” She inhaled deeply. “So now you know it all.”

Rage beat in Tate’s blood, but he kept it buried. She didn’t need to be dealing with his anger right then. This wasn’t about him. It was about her. Careful not to jostle her, he leaned forward and planted his beer on the coffee table. He did the same with her own bottle and then sank back into the sofa, keeping her flush against him, tucking her face against his throat.

Neither spoke a word as he skimmed his hands over her back, shoulders, and nape—soothing, comforting, gentling, and wishing he could absorb her grief.

It wrecked him to think she’d lost her entire family. Wrecked him that her brother, father, and several other relatives were slaughtered right in front of her. Worse, she’d not only then been disowned by the very people who should have protected her, she’d had to watch her mother die … leaving her all alone.

Alone. At age twelve.

Tate tightened his grip on her nape. “I don’t even know what to say.” What did you say to someone who’d lost their entire family, especially in such a tragic fashion?

“You don’t need to say anything. It happened a long time ago.”

“That doesn’t make your grief any less important. I know what it’s like to lose a parent, but I didn’t see my mother suffer the way you did your father and brother.”

“That doesn’t make it easier for you that you lost your mom than it does for me.” Havana stroked his chest. “I’m sorry she was taken from you.”

Tate pressed his mouth to her hair. “I watched my dad deteriorate after her death, so I do know how hard it was for you to watch your mother weaken.”

“It takes a strong person to hold on after they lose their mate.” Havana lifted her head. “My mother … she loved me. She didn’t want me to be alone. But she wasn’t strong. I don’t blame her for not holding on. I don’t blame the bond for how it weakened her, either. It just … it is what it is. And even if they’d been human, I don’t think she’d have survived the loss of my dad. They were so wrapped up in each other, so completely woven into each other’s being, that I honestly felt left out sometimes. Rolando once said the same thing.”

“My parents were close and tight,” said Tate, sliding his hand over her hair. “But not to the point that they made more time for themselves as a couple than they did for me and my siblings.” And he really didn’t like that her parents were very much the opposite, but he didn’t say that. They were gone now. Criticizing their parenting would only upset her.

She shrugged. “I guess all couples are that little bit different. You don’t need to be mad at them. They did love me and my brother, they just …”

Loved each other more, she didn’t say but Tate heard. And of course she’d sensed that he was unhappy with them—his mate was too observant.

As she rested her head on his chest and burrowed into him, he tightened his arms around her. “Never again, baby. You’ll never be alone like that again, I swear it you.” His cat squirmed to get closer to her, hating that she was hurting. The feline wanted to comfort and rub up against her, wanted to have time with her devil and give the animal that same comfort.

They stayed like that for a while, saying nothing.

Tate waited until she lifted her head again before he said, “My cat wants to officially meet your devil tonight. Would she be up for that?”

A slow smile curved Havana’s mouth. “Yes. She’d like that.”

He smiled right back. “Good. We eat takeout with our families first. Then we shift.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

The evening went well. The meal was rowdy, but in a good way. There was a lot of talking, laughing, and even some playful shit talk. The latter was mostly between Elle and Damian, which never failed to exasperate their father.

Each of Tate’s relatives kissed Havana’s cheek and hugged her, welcoming her into their family, making it clear that they believed she’d make a good Alpha for their pride. Bailey was pretty well behaved, all things considered. But she did watch Luke closely. Not with sexual interest, which was fortunate, since he’d been off the market for years—and for very good reason. Bailey observed him like he was a ticking bomb. The Beta often regarded the mamba through narrowed eyes but said little to her.

Camden appeared eager to leave, but he wasn’t rude to anyone and didn’t once try to hurry Aspen out of the house. Which meant the bearcat had probably warned him not to in advance.

Later, after they’d all demolished their meal and cleaned up their mess, people began to trickle out of the house until only Tate and Havana remained.

Tate palmed her ass. “Ready to let our animals out now?”

She hummed. “Sure.”

He held out his hand, smiling when his mate took it without hesitation. He led her through the house and out into the backyard. A human would take one look at it and describe it as wild and neglected. Tall, weedy grass. Mossy, thick trees. Bulky, prickly shrubberies. Nonsensical-looking rockeries. It was an ideal playground for a pallas cat, though. Tate believed Havana’s animal would like it just the same.

He turned to fully face her. “You shift first.” He wanted to get a good look at her devil. Maybe even give her a few strokes, if she’d let him.

Havana’s face scrunched up. “I don’t think that’s a good idea yet. She’s too … edgy.”

“She doesn’t quite trust that I won’t hurt you again,” he understood. “That’s fair. I don’t like it, but I get it.” And he only had himself to blame.

“She just needs a little time.”

“Then I’ll give it to her.” Tate shed his clothes, his blood heating as he watched Havana do the same. He had all kinds of plans for that body later. “Quick warning: my cat’s probably going to rub himself all over you.”

She let out a soft “of course he will” snort. “I consider myself warned.”

Bones snapped and popped as Tate withdrew, giving his animal supremacy. Moments later, a pallas cat stood in Tate’s place.

Havana smiled down at the feline as he shook his fur. She’d heard it said that pallas cats looked a lot like stuffed plush toys, and she could agree with that statement.

She could also agree that they were a combination of odd and cute. Tate’s cat was no exception. He had small tufty ears, an abundance of rich long gray fur, black stripes across his cheeks, dark snow-leopard-like spots on his forehead, a bushy black-tipped tail that sported distinctive dark rings, and patches of white-cream fur on his throat, chin, and inner ears.

She knelt down. “Well, hey.” His amber eyes—their pupils strangely round rather than vertical—locked with hers as he padded over to her, wearing every pallas cat’s trademark cranky look.

He butted her knee, so she took the hint and stroked her fingers through his beautiful fur, admiring the white fluffy ends that made it look like his coat was topped with frost. Just as Tate had warned her that he would, the cat rubbed against her, leaving his scent all over her—purring the entire time. When he was done scent-marking her, he pulled back and blinked up at her.

“Ah, you want to see my devil now. Okay.” She gave control over to her inner animal, shifting forms in an instant.

The cat stepped forward and sniffed the devil, gently butting her nose with his. She haughtily lifted her chin, not easily charmed. He slowly circled her, sniffing and rubbing and chuffing.

She let her mouth gape open as she gave him a cautioning growl. Then she ran. He remained hot on her heels as they rushed through the grass, clambered over rocks, squeezed through gaps in the bushes, and skirted around trees.

They played for a while—pouncing, wrestling, rolling. Later, after lapping at the clean pond water, the pallas cat felt his human push for supremacy. The cat let out a disgruntled growl but didn’t fight. He pulled back, allowing his human half to surface.

Tate stared down at the devil as she licked at her paw. She might be a vicious little thing, but he thought she was cute as hell. Like all devil shifters, she was thick and squat, though more in proportion than full-blooded Tasmanian devils. She had a large head, long claws, a tail roughly half the length of her body, and forelegs which were a little longer than her hind legs. Her fur was pure black, but she had a single white patch on her chest that he wanted to stroke.

He didn’t dare touch her right then, though. Because as she locked her dark gaze with his, Tate could clearly sense what Havana had tried to tell him—the devil wasn’t ready for that yet. She was still reserving judgment for now.

“I’ll win back your trust,” he promised her.

The animal only sniffed. Then bones popped and snapped, and Havana stood before him.

“Your devil’s not going to make this easy for me, is she?”

Havana tilted her head, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Would you expect any different?”

“No, I guess not.” He pulled her close and swept his hand down her back. “Stay with me tonight.”

She slid her hands up his chest. “I’ll expect you to make it worth my while.”

He smiled and stroked her ass. “If you mean you want me to fuck you to sleep, I can do that.”

“I really don’t think you could, actually. I mean, I never fall asleep straight after sex.”

“Hmm, I accept your challenge.”

He also won.