From Pack to Pride by Amber Kell

Chapter One
    “I can’t believe you did that.” Adrian stared at his brother as if he’d never seen him before. He looked around Kade’s office, his head spinning as he absorbed this sudden shift in reality.
    Nothing was out of place in the masculine wood panelled room. Same soft throw rugs, same desk their father had used before Kade. No changes because his brother was a fanatic about traditions. Traditions he was breaking by sending his wolf shifter brother to go live with the lions.
    Maybe he fell asleep after his heavy meal and he was dreaming. Yes, that must be it.
    Surely his brother wouldn’t sell him off to a bunch of fur balls. He could see maybe another canine pack, wolves or coyoteshell, he’d even take the group of dog shifters that lived in the alley behind the ice cream shop downtown.
    But cats!
    He was in hell.
    Adrian examined Kade carefully hoping to see some external sign that his brother and alpha had completely lost his fucking mind.
    Nope, the man still looked the same. Dark hair, green eyes identical to Adrian’s, and a dimpled smile, but he’d obviously lost his marbles.
    Adrian sighed.
    His day had started out so marvellously too with a nice run with his fellow pack mates that resulted in taking down a wounded deer. He couldn’t think of a nicer way to start the day.
    Now his evil brother had ruined it.
    “What? It makes perfect sense.” Kade looked innocently back at him. A look the powerful alpha wolf totally couldn’t pull off.
    “You sold me to the pussycats!”
    “You’re exaggerating,” Kade protested. “I made a peace agreement between two packs.”
    FROM PACK TO PRIDE
    Amber Kell
    6
    “Well Mr. Peacekeeper. Lions packs are called prides,” Adrian sneered. “If you’re going to sell me out at least know something about the creatures you’re sacrificing me to.”
    “Sacrificing is such a strong word,” Kade said with an infuriating smile.
    “Who’s sacrificing?” Helen, Kade’s mate, asked walking into the room.
    As usual the alpha mate was dressed in a pair of paint splattered denim capris and a loose white smock top. Adrian always thought of that outfit as her work uniform. As an artist Helen almost always wore some version of the same outfit. She said in order to create she had to be comfortable. Before she mated with Kade she used to work in the nude, but the protective alpha had put an end to that practice. A fact she complained about daily just to give Kade a hard time.
    “Brain trust here made a pact to give me to the lion pride in exchange for peace between the lions and the wolves.”
    “Have some respect for your alpha,” Helen snapped. Her golden brows formed a frown on her smooth forehead as she looked from brother to brother.
    Kade flashed him a smug smile. The impact was lost when his mate smacked him across the back of the head.
    “What were you thinking?” Helen demanded.
    “I was thinking I could get my brother out of danger and find him a mate to protect him from Olson. That wolf has it in for you, bro. He won’t be happy until you’re belly up beneath his fangs.”
    “I can take care of myself,” Adrian said through gritted teeth. “I do know some self-defence.”
    “Olson is twice your size and three times as vicious,” Kade said. “I’m not going to stand by and let that bastard rip you apart. After you turn twenty-five, pack rules say you’ll have to fight him if he challenges you and there will be nothing I can do. Nothing . Next week you turn twenty-five! If I get you out of here before then, he can’t challenge you.”
    “Oddly enough I know both the pack rules and when I turn twenty-five. I can take this guy,” Adrian insisted.
    “He’s right, Adrian,” Helen said. “I might not agree with my wonderful husband’s technique, but I have to admit I am worried about Olson. Besides, the lion alpha is completely gorgeous,” she added with a wicked smile.
    FROM PACK TO PRIDE
    Amber Kell
    7
    “Hey! I’m right