Snippet #2468550

Kateri

Feeling admittedly shaken by the encounter Kateri was quiet on the way back. She wasn’t sure why exactly but the blatant honesty in the tiger’s affection unnerved her. Sure she was used to the proclamations of the pack members, but everything about Brandon whether he was in the driver’s seat or the tiger made her responsive.

And at the same time she was frustrated with him. The polar opposite behaviour between the two sides was aggravating, she never knew which she was getting. The human side wouldn’t have sneezed at the idea of her talking to another male, but the tiger had practically leap out of his skin when faced with the challenge of another man attempting to court her.

And until both sides of him agreed on it she wasn’t accepting the mate proposal.

Sneaking a look at him from the corner of her eye she chewed at her lower lip thoughtfully. Well there was no doubt about it the man was easy on the eyes. He was the traditional tall, dark and handsome. A strong jaw and broad shouldered he looked like he should have the strength of a lycan. And when he smiled he really was dreamy. Realizing he was smiling at her Kateri blushed and adverted her eyes. The tiger chuckled, a low sensual rumble in his chest. It made her shiver.

“I see it’s not just the cat who sees a potential mate,” he commented smugly, reaching over to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “You should just accept it.”

Kat moved her head and glared at him full on. “Potential maybe, but I’m not chaining myself to someone who lusts for me one minute and bites my head off the next,” she snapped walking up the stairs.

The tiger grabbed her shoulder, turning her around and backing her up to the door. Lifting her chin to make her look at him, the tiger smirked. Kateri was surprised that the slight tilt of his lips made her heart rate flutter and she suddenly wanted to feel those lips on hers again.

“Brandon feels the same lust for you as I do, he’s just fighting it,” the tiger murmured.

“Prove it,” Kateri challenged, her chest rising and falling with each breath. The smell of him made her feel lightheaded and she recognized the influence of her own cat stroking the desires of her subconscious. Stubble had started on his cheeks giving him a distinctly rugged look.

He kissed her again, and this time she melted immediately. His lips were a flame that ignited fire through her veins and made her moan as she arched into him. Their lips parted reluctantly and Kateri’s eyes flicked open to see the iris change from gold to brown. It took her a moment to register it and then she blinked and it hit her like a brick. Fuck, she thought scrambling to reach for the doorknob without breaking eye contact. Finding it she twisted and pushed the door open, stepping backward to make sure she didn’t fall.

“G-great chat,” she said awkwardly. “I’m going to bed, see you in the morning Bran-bran.”

Turning she fled, taking about a second to reach Jason’s bedroom door. Once inside she closed it behind her back and sighed touching her chest. Her heart was absolutely pounding, beating fiercely in her chest like a hammer. Closing her eyes she tried to calm down and lifted her face to the ceiling. “Stupid Jace, if you hadn’t of gotten yourself killed then you’d be the one dealing with this,” she muttered. Okay, well maybe he wouldn’t be dealing with the hormonal pull toward Brandon.

Are you sure? You’re still an omega so this is your speciality, Jace’s voice rang in her ears. They’d often been able to hear each other’s thoughts when he was alive if they meant the communication to be open. The pack bond coupled with the twin bond was particularly strong with this. But since he died she’d told herself that it was just her imagination, thinking of his voice when she needed someone like him to reason with her.

“Yes I’m sure,” she snorted back. Walking away from the door she flopped onto his bed and growled to herself. “You wouldn’t have let the guy within 10 feet of me once you realized he was practically in the rutt.”

She imagined him chuckling and then the false connection ended. Kicking her shoes off she sat up and peeled off the rest of her clothes until she was down to panties. Snagging one of Jace’s old shirts she pulled it on. Despite being twins Jace had taken all of the height genes so the shirt hung down just a touch past her butt. And then she climbed into bed and tried again to sleep, knowing at least this time the tiger wouldn’t be waking her up with water.

“Jerk face,” she grumbled sleepily.

Dawn was just on the verge of the horizon when Kateri woke, her inner clock telling her it was time to get up. Yawning she sat up and stretched languidly before getting to her feet. She needed training clothes, then a shower and then fresh clothes. Glancing at the clock se figured Brandon would still be asleep so popping in for clothes wouldn’t be too bad.

Slipping out of Jace’s room she crossed the hall to her bedroom door and tapped on it softly. “Bran I just have to get some clothes, you don’t have to get up yet but make sure your private bits are covered,” she warned giving him a few minutes before pushing the door open. Having grown up in this house she knew how to move through it silently. Soon enough she was bent over rummaging through a dresser for the things she needed. And then she felt warmth graze over her derriere and froze, blushing.

“I must say, I’ll be truly content when this is all mine,” Brandon’s voice rumbled sleepily.

Straightening with her clothing hugged to her chest Kat turned seeing the mischievous glitter of gold in the dimly lit room. Her eye twitched and she kicked him off the bed. “Cut it out perv!” she hissed, remembering to keep quiet because her parents could still be asleep. If the thud of a 6-foot man made of muscle hitting the floor hadn’t woken them up anyways. Blushing from head to toe she grabbed the last thing she needed from the drawer and fled the room.

Sighing when she was in the hall with the door closed she failed to notice her mother standing right in front of her. When she looked up she blushed again.

“Nothing romantic between you hm?” Natalie purred.

“Mom!” Kat exclaimed, trying to whisper as she pushed passed her mother to return to Jason’s room. “It’s not like that at all! I just needed my clothes!”

“Kateri, you can be honest with us. After all you’re a grown woman,” Natalie said, sighing exasperatedly.

“I’m not lying!” Kat whined closing the door. Pulling on a pair of black yoga pants and a yellow tank top she headed out barefoot. Telling her mom she was going to train she headed outside to behind the house where she would have space. There the suitors had already gathered. They knew the drill. If they could beat her she’d go on a date with them. So far, no dates. Cracking her neck Kat smiled jovially.

“Alright boys lets do this!” she cheered and they charged. It was a little unfair for them to attack all at once but Kat liked it better that way – this way it was a challenge. She was the only cheetah left on their lands who could be a potential suitor so none of them could match her for speed which gave her an obvious angle. Soon she was weaving and dodging and throwing in attacks where she could to subdue her opponents. The men gave battle cries with vigour but Kat kept quiet – this in its own way was training and cops didn’t shout when they attacked.