Pride Before the Fall (7 page)

"It changes nothing!" Vivian screamed.

"It changes everything and you damn well know it. Stop being so fucking stupid."

Vivian cut Amilynn off with a swift slap across her face.

Ami grabbed her face and looked at Vivian with wide, red-rimmed eyes. "You stubborn bitch!"

Vivian was appalled at her actions. She reached for Ami, but she backed away. Conall stepped in between the girls and put his hand on Vivian's shoulder.

"Ami, I'm sorry. Oh God, I'm so sorry." Vivian ran her hands through her hair, wishing she could just pull it all out. She sat down on the couch and closed her eyes, trying to regain control.

"You're an idiot, Vivian," Amilynn said with a shaky voice. "All three of us look at Ty and Mel wishing we could have that. We
pray
for a mate who will cherish us the way they love each other and now you can have it." She steeled her resolve so no tears fell from her eyes. "You can have a man who will love you more than anything on this earth. He wants you, Vivian, even with all the crap that might come with you. How can you just throw that away?"

"I'd throw away much more to protect my family," Vivian said, her own emotions making her voice quiver.

Amilynn gave her a cold stare. "And who will protect us from you? Who's going to protect us from the bitterness that you'll harbor for the rest of your life?"

"Ami," Conall warned. Amilynn was on the verge of crossing a line with her alpha.

"No, I'm right and she knows it." Ami looked back at Vivian. "Don't blame your fears and unhappiness on us, not when you know how to get rid of both." She went into her room and slammed the door.

Vivian and Conall stared at each other. So much history had passed between them, and somehow, he was always the last man standing when her rage came out to play. "Please leave me alone," she begged. "I don't want to hurt you too."

Conall wrapped two arms the size of tree trunks around her and held her close. "After all I've done to you, you're due for some vengeance. Do your worst, alpha lady." He kissed the top of her head.

"I don't deserve any of you."

"I know. You deserve much better."

Vivian stayed there for a long time taking in the strength of Conall's affection. He had given up everything the night he and Amilynn rescued her family. Conall could have had women, money, influence and everything he wanted by being Trace's pet. He was too good, too honest and honorable. It was a testament to his character that he stood by Vivian when she was at her worst.

But he had an opinion to share.

"Just say it," Vivian said, breaking the awkward silence.

"You will go to this cabin. And when you get there, pick up the damn phone and call your mate."

Vivian hissed at his direct order.

"Hush," he whispered, tightening his arms around her. "You know as well as I do that you having a mate changes everything. Whether the woman concedes or not, he's your cat's choice. It's time to stop running, V."

"I can't."

Conall reached down and cupped her cheek, bringing her eyes to his. "You can. And you will."

"We can't stay here, Conall. He
will
find us. And when he does, he'll come with every assassin he's got."

"Then you should solidify your mating with Kasey and make sure we're part of his Pack. We're going to need his soldiers."

Vivian leaned back and scowled at him. "Are you telling me that you want to join Kasey's Pack? You
want
to bring Trace and all his troubles here?"

Conall pushed a lock of hair out of her face. "I'm saying we don't have a choice. You can't be away from your mate, V. Both of you will suffer from separation. And God knows where you go, your family goes. Kasey understands every aspect, I assure you. He's smart. He's considered all the options."

"And what if I don't want a
canine
as a mate?" Vivian sneered.

"I think it's the only mate you'll take." He pulled her head back down on his chest so he didn't have to see her face when he spoke. "I've seen how vicious the cat can be. You've been downright hostile to every other feline alpha we've had contact with over the last few years. You don't trust males of your own kind—not even me, deep down—so your cat went for the next best thing. He's what you need."

"Conall," Vivian whispered, wrapping an arm around his neck. In truth, if Vivian would let him, Conall would be with her in a heartbeat. Trace had known this when he presented Vivian as his prize. But that plan had been twisted when he realized Conall wasn't the monster Trace wanted him to be.

There had been such a fight when Conall saw Vivian for the first time, strapped to a table, naked, bruised and bleeding. Despite the fact both Conall and Trace were lions, Conall couldn't win in a fight of claws and teeth. He was too conscientious of who he was hurting when they battled. That was the cousin he'd played with as a child. In the end, Conall had been nearly killed and he was forced to take Vivian.

"Just get it over with," she'd whispered when he climbed up on the table. Her eyes were dead and cold, fogged over with the desire for death to take her out of this misery.

"I'll be gentle, I promise."

And he had been every time. Conall had whispered of escape and plotting Trace's murder while pretending to kiss her neck. Vivian never responded. She simply turned her head to the side and stared at the bastard who watched his cousin fuck her. Vivian was planning her own justice and she looked Trace right in the eyes every time he raped her or beat her. Never did she give him the satisfaction of tears or screaming. Vivian took everything he gave her with cold eyes promising revenge.

Looking at him now, this man that had known her so many times, she knew the guilt and shame he carried in his heart. All he wanted was to right the wrongs he'd done against her. Perhaps if the cat weren't so damaged, Conall might have been her mate.

Vivian took his head between her hands. "It's not your fault." She looked deep into sad blue eyes. "It's not because of you. If you had resisted, he would have done much worse to us both. He's manipulative and evil and he knew how much it hurt you to take me. But after what he and his men did, you were relief."

"I'm right though. Your cat chose someone so different because of all that."

"Maybe. But not because of
you
." Knowing it would take more than words to reassure him, she leaned closer and pressed her lips to his. Instantly her cat became agitated: this was not her mate. Vivian mentally calmed her and gave Conall a long, slow, affectionate kiss.

When she released him, he arched a brow and smirked. "If your big, bad mate gets pissed off about that, I'm blaming it all on you."

Vivian laughed and smacked another kiss on his cheek. "He can get over it. You and I have a history not even mating can undo."

Conall smiled and pushed back her mass of hair from her shoulder. "You bet. Now go to that cabin before those hormones of yours get us both into a bad situation."

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Kasey sat at the conference table the next day surrounded by his advisory council. At the moment, they were all gawking at him as if he had three heads. Except for Nina. The petite black bear's jaw was on the floor.

"What do you mean you found your
mate
?" Her guard had dropped just long enough for the council to smell her jealousy. It fumigated the room. Nina had been after him for years. "Who? What is she?" Kasey could all but hear the wheels turning in her head.

"Nina, please let him speak." Sampson. He couldn't stand Nina's infatuation with his brother-in-law. How many times had Kasey made it clear that his wolf was not interested in the bear?

"Her name is Vivian Blake and she's a cat. A tigress, to be specific." The room exploded with questions.

"How did cats get into the territory?"

"How did he meet her?"

"Was he sure?"

"Why didn't the council know about her?"

Lifting a hand, Kasey quieted the four other people besides Sampson, who had been privy to the cat's arrival and Kasey's mating. He relayed the whole story to his council, leaving out the intimate details. Again, when he finished, his council stared at him like he was mad.

Finally, Ian, a polar bear who had been friends with Kasey's father long before his Clan merged with the wolves, broke the silence. "Well, I think congratulations are in order." His effort to be happy for Kasey was not unnoticed. Ian was uncomfortable, as were they all, but he knew once a shifter's animal claimed a mate, there was no negating the claim. "When can we meet her, my boy?"

"Uh, that's the complicated part."

"What's complicated about it?" Nina shot out, her voice full of contempt towards a woman she'd never met. Clayton, a grizzly, tried to quiet her down.

"I'm sure all of you are aware of the feline Pride located in Nevada." Kasey looked to each of them for confirmation.

"A powerful Pride," Clayton confirmed. "That's the alpha that was nearly murdered by..." he paused, his expression morphing into deep concern. "You don't mean to tell us that Vivian is part of the rebel group that fled, do you?"

"I wouldn't call them rebels. Refugees perhaps. Vivian did what she had to do to get herself and her family out alive. It's too bad she didn't finish off that sonofabitch when she had the chance."

"Vivian is an alpha killer!" Nina came out of her chair. "Kasey, you must be out of your mind! How do you know she's not planning to do the same to you? She could be tricking you, seducing you into a trap!"
 

Laughter rang out in the room and Kasey looked over to his right.
 

Leave it to Sampson to put that insulted rage on Nina's face. "You think this is funny? This is your brother and your alpha that's in danger!"

Sampson wiped his eyes and slowly stopped laughing. "If you only knew what you were talking about, you would know that Vivian has not seduced anyone. She can hardly stand to be around him," he chuckled. "Why don't you settle your fur and let the man continue?"

Nina gave an indignant huff and sat back down, turning her nose up at Sampson.

Kasey tried not to be annoyed that Sampson pointed out the fact his mate had rejected him, even if she had his best interest at heart. "Vivian and her family left Nevada because their alpha was not the saint he appears to be. In fact, he is a depraved, sick monster who likes to rape and torture women."

A gasp came from Helena, a submissive wolf and Kasey's aunt. "That's terrible! Did he hurt Vivian?"

"Out of respect for my mate, I won't betray what was told to me in confidence. The fact is, Trace betrayed the oath every alpha makes to protect his people. Vivian did what she had to. The only mistake she made was not making sure he was dead before she took off. She has been on the run with her Pride for years and I mean to see that end."

Alias came to the edge of his seat. "Do I understand that you would bring on the wrath of a powerful feline Pride and possibly war to our doorstep all for a
woman
?" He had been against the Pride settling in the territory to start with.

"For his
mate
," Clayton corrected before Kasey could speak. "And what man wouldn't go to war for the woman he is destined to be with? Of all people, Alias, I would expect you to understand the deep connection of mates and how devastating it is to be separated from them."

"Brave words for a lifelong bachelor," Alias glowered at the bear. "Your alpha asks you to accept this woman as his mate. Don't you see what that means for the Pack? It means that we shall have a feline for a leader. Alpha's mate has alpha's rank. It is much different than any of us taking on an outsider as a mate. This woman will have power and privilege handed to her on a silver platter."

"What's really bothering you, Alias?" Kasey leaned back in his chair, his chin resting in his fist. The look on his face was less than inviting.

"I simply seek what is best for the Pack, Kasey. I've looked after your interests for many decades and your father's before you."

"And you have been paid well to do so." The growl in Kasey's tone had Alias bowing his head.

"Yes, I have. And I am thankful."

Kasey stood up, Sampson with him. "I did not come here to ask permission. I came here to inform or warn, whichever way you choose to see it. Vivian has not warmed up to the idea either. She fears the same thing you do: bringing trouble to our Pack. It worries her so much that she denies the wishes of her animal. I don't know about you, but to me that says she is already looking out for us. I expect my council to greet my mate with open arms. Vivian and her family will be welcomed here. They have been on the run for a long time and I plan to give them a home, a place to plant roots and raise families. If that means I have to cut a few of the strings attached, fine. She is my mate. I will have her. End of story."

Kasey made to leave the room when Helena stopped him. She put her hand on his face. "Don't be upset, nephew mine. Everything will work out. I look forward to meeting the woman who has stolen your heart."

Kasey kissed her temple and then the back of her hand. "Thank you. I'm sorry if I seem on edge."

Helena smiled lovingly. "It's understandable. Mating can be tough, even on an alpha."

If Helena only knew the half of it, Kasey thought as he paced his room that night. Word had been received that the cabin in the mountains was being used and none of his guards recognized the scent. Sampson gave express orders for all sentinels to give that cabin a wide berth. The last thing they needed was their alpha attacking a soldier because he got too close to Vivian while she was in heat.

* * * * *

 
Kasey thought he was going to lose his mind three days in. He was in a pendulum of moods, back and forth between raging hostility and wanting to mate anything female. By day four, he'd locked himself in his apartment in the alpha house and told everyone to leave him the fuck alone except for Sampson, who was keeping an eye out on that cabin. He virtually lived under the cold spray of the shower. And his wolf: goddamn! That bastard was making his life difficult. He wanted his mate and didn't understand why Kasey was being a puss and not charging into that cabin and screwing Vivian's brains out.