Meredith's Pride [Galactic Nuptials 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove) by Missy Martine Page A

about Athaw? Isn’t she their mother?” asked Mer.
    Delsin shook his head. “Preyta was their mother, and the female alpha of our pride.”
    Mer walked over and put his arms around Delsin, giving him a hug. “That is good news. I’m glad everyone is okay.”
    Delsin put his arm around Mer’s shoulders and turned him to face Knoton. “Our mate took down the alpha and incapacitated him before we arrived.” He spent several minutes relaying the story Mer had told him about stabbing Honaw.
    Knoton’s eyes grew wide as he bowed slightly toward Mer. “That’s amazing, Mer. You have the heart and soul of a pride mate.”
    Mer could feel his face heating and moved to stand behind Delsin. He looked up when Hakan walked through the door.
    Delsin moved to clasp his pride mate by the arm. “Welcome home. Where are the females?”
    “Etu is guiding them from the landing strip. He wanted me to come ahead and let you know they’d be here shortly in case you needed to make ready for their arrival.”
    “You and Knoton get the cubs dressed and bring them out here. The mothers will be anxious to reunite with their children. Then, after everyone is fed and cleaned up, we’ll have a pride meeting and make plans for our return to Linnaeus.”
    An hour later Mer bounced Keme on his shoulder, trying to get a belch from the baby who’d just finished a bottle of milk. Taima happily stomped around the room, banging two sticks together like a drum major in a Thanksgiving Day Macy’s parade. The cubs’ reunion with their mothers had been tearful and blessedly short. The women had wanted to take their children somewhere private to count toes, or whatever it was that women did to make sure their babies were in one piece.
    Delsin had asked Mer to get Keme and Taima ready for dinner while he had a meeting with the men Zintssar sent to help out. The dinner was to be in honor of the Arridians, and Mer was taking special care to make the cubs look their best.
    Keme expelled her excess gas with all the grace of a barnyard pig. Mer chuckled, and cuddled her close. “Okay, you guys ready?” Taima looked up, babbled for a moment, and then headed for the door. Chuckling, Mer took his hand and started down the hall. As he neared the open door of the nursery, he stopped. He could hear the women talking. He’d been introduced earlier when everyone first arrived. The females were polite but distant and distrustful, holding their babies well away from him. The one introduced as Athaw tried to take Keme and Taima, but they screamed bloody murder and reached for Mer. When she persisted, Delsin had growled and told her to back down. She’d looked alarmed and backed down, but shot Mer a murderous look. He knew he shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but he couldn’t seem to make himself move away. He listened to the women.
    “The way I see it, Misko, you should mate with Knoton. He clearly shows a preference for you.” Athaw’s voice was loud and distinct.
    “Whatever,” Misko said. “He’s a fine man. I certainly have no desire for anything alpha. Give me a nice nobody to spend the rest of my life with.”
    “Hula, you should mate with Hakan. I’ve seen the way he looks at you when he thinks no one is looking.”
    Hula sobbed. “I’m not sure I want another mate. Ours have only been gone a few weeks.”
    “It doesn’t matter,” said Athaw. “The pride will be stronger with all of us mated instead of single lions.”
    Hula sniffed. “I guess you’re right. I’ll do whatever is necessary for the pride.”
    “Good.”
    “What about you, Athaw?” asked Hula.
    “Since Preyta didn’t survive, I’ll mate with the alpha brothers and be mother to Keme and Taima.”
    “You’re forgetting Mer,” said Misko. “Knoton told us they sent for Mer to be their mate and the cubs have clearly bonded with him.”
    Athaw laughed. “He’s not their mate. I looked, and there’s no mate bite.”
    Mer took a step closer to the room. What the hell is a