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Authors: Vivi Andrews
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deliberate in their actions, productive when they needed to be, enjoying a lazy reprieve when they didn’t. The pace of life here was a replica of their Serengeti cousins rather than the frenzied, worker-bee mentality of the average American human.
It had taken some getting used to for Landon, but he had come to love it, though he’d never felt that he truly belonged. Until last night. Until Ava.
Somehow she had made him feel like one of them. He had been searching for an in, trying to earn the acceptance that he’d already been granted, and then last night, between one heartbeat and the next, Ava had brought him home. He didn’t want to lose that feeling any more than he wanted to lose her. Though, now that he felt like a true member of the pride, he knew he would not lose that sense.
Losing Ava was a much more real danger.
How was it that the woman he’d been seeking, the one he knew instinctively was meant to be his mate, didn’t want the position? Could she have so little awareness of her own value?
She was extraordinary, and it fell to him to convince her of that. If he didn’t die of starvation first.
She was soundly asleep. Maybe if he slipped out quickly to grab them some food, he could be back before she—
His thoughts broke off as the door to the bungalow slammed open, ricocheting off the wall with a deafening bang .
Ava sat up, abruptly awake. Landon shoved her behind him, already crouched to protect her, as Caleb, the second oldest, and largest, of Ava’s four brothers burst into the room.
“Ava’s missing!” he shouted then stumbled to a halt when he recognized his sister’s pale eyes peering at him over Landon’s shoulder.
Michael, the youngest of the four, plowed into Caleb’s back as he stormed into the room behind him. Then he looked up and saw what had shocked his brother into immobility.
Michael reacted first. He shifted instantaneously, one moment a large, heavily muscled young man, the next a massive, dark golden lion with a jet black mane that had still not grown to full maturity. Caleb shifted a fraction of a second later. Larger than his brother, with streaks of reds and browns in his dark mane, he was fully grown and a much more formidable opponent.
Caleb snarled and instinct consumed Landon. Something threatened his mate.
He launched himself off the bed, shifting in mid leap to land in front of them on all fours, roaring his rage, his hackles high beneath his own golden mane.
Caleb matched his height at the shoulder, but his body was heavier. Landon knew his superior speed and maneuverability would be little advantage with Michael there, younger but still dangerous in his own right, to even out the fight. In the blind rage filling his mind, there was no question as to whether he would fight them. He would protect his mate.
Caleb shifted his weight on his haunches. Landon braced to receive the attack, when suddenly a small white lioness leapt between them, hissing at the dark pair and batting a paw at Caleb’s muzzle. Her claws were not extended, but the big lion jerked his head back and coughed in surprise and anger.
Landon snarled to hear the aggressive sound directed at his mate, but Ava’s small, lithe form crowded him back, pressing him away from her brothers. She rubbed her head beneath his chin and leaned her slight body against his, maintaining herself as a barrier between him and the other lions. Landon let her herd him away, reason slowly returning as he realized her brothers would never hurt her, no matter how his instincts might scream otherwise.
Ava purred loudly, the vibration soothing him. She shoved against his body until he lay down, separated by the length of the room from her brothers. She then turned and hissed angrily in their direction. Both of the lions took a step back, their taken-aback reactions oddly human.
Caleb shifted back first, hastily reaching for the clothing that had been all but destroyed by his rapid shift. Nudity was not
It had taken some getting used to for Landon, but he had come to love it, though he’d never felt that he truly belonged. Until last night. Until Ava.
Somehow she had made him feel like one of them. He had been searching for an in, trying to earn the acceptance that he’d already been granted, and then last night, between one heartbeat and the next, Ava had brought him home. He didn’t want to lose that feeling any more than he wanted to lose her. Though, now that he felt like a true member of the pride, he knew he would not lose that sense.
Losing Ava was a much more real danger.
How was it that the woman he’d been seeking, the one he knew instinctively was meant to be his mate, didn’t want the position? Could she have so little awareness of her own value?
She was extraordinary, and it fell to him to convince her of that. If he didn’t die of starvation first.
She was soundly asleep. Maybe if he slipped out quickly to grab them some food, he could be back before she—
His thoughts broke off as the door to the bungalow slammed open, ricocheting off the wall with a deafening bang .
Ava sat up, abruptly awake. Landon shoved her behind him, already crouched to protect her, as Caleb, the second oldest, and largest, of Ava’s four brothers burst into the room.
“Ava’s missing!” he shouted then stumbled to a halt when he recognized his sister’s pale eyes peering at him over Landon’s shoulder.
Michael, the youngest of the four, plowed into Caleb’s back as he stormed into the room behind him. Then he looked up and saw what had shocked his brother into immobility.
Michael reacted first. He shifted instantaneously, one moment a large, heavily muscled young man, the next a massive, dark golden lion with a jet black mane that had still not grown to full maturity. Caleb shifted a fraction of a second later. Larger than his brother, with streaks of reds and browns in his dark mane, he was fully grown and a much more formidable opponent.
Caleb snarled and instinct consumed Landon. Something threatened his mate.
He launched himself off the bed, shifting in mid leap to land in front of them on all fours, roaring his rage, his hackles high beneath his own golden mane.
Caleb matched his height at the shoulder, but his body was heavier. Landon knew his superior speed and maneuverability would be little advantage with Michael there, younger but still dangerous in his own right, to even out the fight. In the blind rage filling his mind, there was no question as to whether he would fight them. He would protect his mate.
Caleb shifted his weight on his haunches. Landon braced to receive the attack, when suddenly a small white lioness leapt between them, hissing at the dark pair and batting a paw at Caleb’s muzzle. Her claws were not extended, but the big lion jerked his head back and coughed in surprise and anger.
Landon snarled to hear the aggressive sound directed at his mate, but Ava’s small, lithe form crowded him back, pressing him away from her brothers. She rubbed her head beneath his chin and leaned her slight body against his, maintaining herself as a barrier between him and the other lions. Landon let her herd him away, reason slowly returning as he realized her brothers would never hurt her, no matter how his instincts might scream otherwise.
Ava purred loudly, the vibration soothing him. She shoved against his body until he lay down, separated by the length of the room from her brothers. She then turned and hissed angrily in their direction. Both of the lions took a step back, their taken-aback reactions oddly human.
Caleb shifted back first, hastily reaching for the clothing that had been all but destroyed by his rapid shift. Nudity was not
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