From Pack to Pride by Amber Kell Page B

cautioning glance at Adrian, Helen opened the door. “Good evening, Olson.”
    “Evening, alpha mate,” Olson said.
    Olson’s voice was properly respectful, but Adrian knew he would rip out her jugular in a second if he thought it would get him one step closer to the alpha position.
    The shifter walked into the room, stopping when he saw Adrian. His eyes glowed a bright yellow as his wolf peeked out from behind his polite human façade. After a moment of staring, he gave Adrian a stiff nod. Adrian had to admire the other man’s control even as he disliked him.
    FROM PACK TO PRIDE
    Amber Kell
    9
    Olson was biding his time, but Adrian had seen that look before when pack members were culling the weakest animal in the herd. The older wolf wanted him dead and Olson wouldn’t be too particular about how it happened.
    “Evening, Olson,” Adrian said. He made sure to look Olson straight in the eyes, knowing it would make Olson want to slash Adrian open with his bare claws.
    “Adrian,” Olson sneered.
    Pleased with his night’s work Adrian left the room with a spring in his step. A bounce he quickly lost as he realised he was leaving behind everything he’d ever known to go live with a bunch of cats.
    “I bet they get fur balls,” he said, morosely.
    * * * *
    Talan sprawled on his massive couch staring at the picture in his hand. His eyes faithfully traced the glossy black hair and piercing green eyes of the man in the photo.
    Damn, he was beautiful.
    It wasn’t a word he usually attributed to men, but there was no other word for the wolf that would be his mate. He longed to bite the tender junction between neck and shoulder and claim the man as his.
    Damn. Talan’s cock responded to the vision in his head. He wondered if his mate would taste salty or sweet when he sucked him down.
    “Still mooning over that wolf?” Talla asked as she walked into the room. Not bothering to wait for an invitation, she plopped down beside her brother and looked at the picture with him. “For a puppy he sure is pretty.”
    “Pretty?” Talan tilted his head as he examined the picture closer. “Nope. He’s beautiful and he’s all mine,” he said with satisfaction.
    “He does have an out, you know,” Talla reminded him. “The alpha was quite clear that if his brother was unhappy he would call him back home.”
    “Sneaky wolf.” Talan frowned. “I’ve got to get Adrian to commit before the six months are over because there’s no way I’m letting him go once he gets here. He’s mine and no one is going to take him away from me.”
    FROM PACK TO PRIDE
    Amber Kell
    10
    “The wolf alpha is just looking out for his brother.” Talan nodded. He got that, he did, but he didn’t have to like it. “I also don’t like what he told us about that Olson guy. Adrian turned twenty-five yesterday, he can now be legally challenged. If that wolf comes around here, I’ll kill him. I won’t have him touching my mate.” Talan let his displeasure show with a low rumbling growl.
    “He still has to pick you to be his mate.”
    “Did you come here to ruin my day? Because I was happy all by myself.” Talla smirked. “You and your picture?”
    “That’s right and we’ll be very happy together until tomorrow.” Talan gave her a wide smile. “Then I can play with the real thing.”
    “Pitiful.” Talla shook her head as she looked at her brother. “There are others who are going to be interested in him, you know.”
    Talan’s fangs popped out. “They’d best keep their interest to themselves.”
    “You’re going to be difficult about this, aren’t you? It won’t be easy getting a pride of lions to accept a wolf as your mate.”
    “Anyone who doesn’t like it can leave,” Talan said, indifferently.
    Talla sighed. “Some might try to battle to be your mate.” Talan shook his head. “You don’t understand, Talla. He’s my fated mate. I felt it as soon as I saw his picture. No one can argue with my mate choice once we are