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Kell
    54
    Kevin looked away for a moment, walking to the large glass balcony doors. “When I was eighteen, I was tossed out of my mother’s pride. I know it’s the lion way, but it was the worst feeling I’d ever felt. One minute I was a loved and cosseted lion cub, the next I was unwanted and alone in the world. I promised myself I would never make my children feel that way. Before I joined Talan’s pack, I made him swear that my boys could stay as long as they didn’t challenge him for alpha position. I want them to make the choice to move on instead of being shoved out of the pride. We might be part animal, but we’re part human too.
    When I thought you rejected me, all of those old feelings came back.”
    “Oh, honey.” Payce went over to his mate. “I never meant you to feel I didn’t want you.” He turned his reluctant lover to face him. “You’re a little overwhelming, babe.” Kevin’s eyes regained some of their sparkle.
    Payce decided to chance it, he leant in for a kiss. Relief rushed through him when Kevin didn’t pull away. “I will always want you. Just because we fight, don’t think it means you’re unwanted. I might be frustrated with you or angry but I will always want you. When you pull away, I can feel it in here.” Payce touched the spot over his heart. “It’s painful for both of us.”
    Kevin’s eyes glowed sadly. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, darlin’.”
    “I know.” Payce wrapped his arms around his mate, soaking in his scent. “We just need to get used to belonging together. Any new relationship is hard. Being bound together doesn’t mean we magically understand each other. Like anything else it will take a lot of work.”
    Kevin nodded against his shoulder.
    A soft chiming had Kevin reaching for his phone. Glancing at the number, he stepped away from Payce. “Sorry, I’ve gotta take this.” Payce listened to Kevin’s side of the conversation, which apparently involved building some sort of centre. He enjoyed watching his lover pace as he talked; he could see the lion stalking underneath each step.
    So sexy.
    Payce’s own phone rang. He didn’t recognise the number. Looking up, he saw Kevin’s eyes on him.
    Shrugging, Payce pressed the connect button.
    A PRIDEFUL MATE
    Amber Kell
    55
    “I have your friend.” The voice was deep, raspy and completely unrecognisable.
    “What friend?”
    “The coyote.”
    Payce swallowed the lump in his throat. Dennis, his only friend, was in danger. “What do you want?”
    “All of you fucking shifters dead. You’re an abomination.”
    “So you’re going to kill Dennis no matter what I do?” There was a pause. “I’ll send him to you in little pieces if you don’t go where I tell you.
    Feel free to bring your fancy lion friend with you. The more shifters the merrier.” The man’s chilling laughter froze Payce’s heart.
    Fuck.
    “Here’s the address.”
    Payce scrambled to grab a hotel pen and a piece of stationary. Quickly scratching down the address, he agreed to the time and place before the connection was cut and he collapsed on the bed.
    Kevin was there in seconds, stroking his forehead with his large, warm fingers. “What’s going on?”
    “Apparently I’m being stalked by shifter haters. They have my friend Dennis. He’s a coyote.”
    “Don’t worry we’ll get him back.”
    Payce opened his eyes to look at his mate’s worried expression. “He said I could bring you, the more shifters the merrier. Apparently he isn’t concerned with confronting the two of us.”
    “The more shifters the merrier, huh?” A sly expression crossed Kevin’s face, unsettling on the usually friendly shifter. “Let me make a few phone calls.” An hour later they were speeding down the street to an address in the warehouse district. Neither of them decided to call the police because a stressed Dennis might have shifted and neither of them wanted to explain to the human police that there were other creatures in the