Primal

Primal

book 2 Pride Riders

By

Kassanna

Copyright © 2014 Kassanna

All Rights Reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously. This is an explicit and erotic novel intended for the enjoyment of adult readers only.

Chapter One

Shay rolled her shoulders and grabbed the closest thing to her—a square liquor bottle half filled with amber liquid. She slammed it against the edge of the bar. Glass shattered and small shards flew everywhere. A tangy aroma of malt and spices filled the air as the fluid splashed to the floor while spraying tiny droplets against her hands and clothing. She held the jagged remains in front of her. Adrenaline poured through her veins in anticipation of a fight. The barrel chested bartender she’d been talking to earlier leaped over the counter and placed himself between her and a big-ass tiger. Spirals of smoke rose from the thin cigar dangling from his lips. She leaned to the side to see around the guy.

He glanced over his shoulder and groaned. Did you have to be so hasty? That was perfectly aged Irish whisky, He grumbled as he turned to face the animal. Decent shit is hard to come by around here. Louder he continued. Trace, you need to get a hold of yourself, son. You’re gripped by a mating thrall. Lock your damn tiger down, now.

She darted her head between the old guy and the humongous beast where, if she wasn’t mistaken, a man stood moments ago. Shay shook her head and pursed her lips. What the fuck had her cousin gotten them into now?

The fella in front of her fanned his hands forward and spoke calmly. The language he used escaped her. The dialect was quick and the words unfamiliar. Deep, uncontrollable laughter drew her attention to a tall, blond cutie wearing dark-rimmed glasses. They teetered on the tip of his nose as his tall, lithe frame doubled over in laughter. She checked out the room. Almost all of the men populating the place were attractive. Shay absently pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and refocused on the cat a few feet away from her.

Next time Nae fed her a story, no matter how unbelievable, she would take it with a grain of salt. Here she thought her cousin was just trying to keep her from coming to find her. She owed Nae an apology for all the derogatory names she’d called her while chatting with her on the phone the other day.

The tiger prowled forward.

Shay tightened her grip on the neck of the broken bottle, prepared to gut a bitch if necessary. No way in hell was she going to stand there and become some animal’s dinner. I’m just going to leave now. She took a few cautious steps back and hit a wall. Her heart beat in double time, so hard she could feel it in her throat as she inched toward the door.

His lips peeled back to expose lengthy incisors. He roared. The black painted picture window trembled in its frame. Stemware hanging above the counter tinkled and everyone stopped talking. People stood and drifted from their seats, forming a half circle around them. She peered at various faces and noted the interest, yet no one but the older guy had the balls to intervene. To her horror, the animal leapt over the bartender and ran at her.

Whatever you do, don’t damn run, someone yelled.

Fuck that.

Shay dropped her bag and planted her feet. She raised her arm as the beast came at her. He leapt to on his hind legs and she sank to her knees scraping his downy soft fur-covered underbelly with the jagged edge of the glass, grazing his nuts. Massive paws hit the wall behind her and long claws sunk into the wall above her head. Shay glanced up. You want kittens one day right, Felix? ‘Cause I will neuter your ass right the fuck now. Sweat beaded her brow and her hand trembled, a vibrant spot of red appeared in the white fur. She continued to ramble. Listen, Felix, you have every right to be pissed. I mean, if I had to turn into an animal, I’d be a little peeved too. Well maybe not, because I can think of a few people I’d like to disembowel, but you’re not one of them, so if you back the fuck off and let me walk out that door I promise no harm, no foul. I know nothing about you – well – only what Nae told me. She paused. Forget I said that. Look, I’ll go my merry way. Shay snapped her jaw shut then added. Sorry, you make me nervous and that is not a good thing considering what I have in my hand and where the hell it’s aimed.

The beast dropped to its haunches in front of her and she jerked her hand back to keep from cutting him. He flicked out his protracted tongue and swiped it across his maw. She stared into his pale ice blue irises and saw recognition in them in the way his brow ridge came together. His stare was unsettling. Without breaking eye contact she reached over and slid her arm through the strap of her overnight bag. I’m just going to grab my bag. She swallowed.

He slapped a massive paw on the soft-sided case before she could heft it.

Shay narrowed her eyes, if she wasn’t mistaken she would swear the bastard was smirking. His thin black lips lifted on one side. She sucked in a deep breath. No matter the form, men were fucking idiots. She tugged on her bag. The sound of fabric ripping reached her ears and annoyance filled her. Hey, can anybody call off the guard cat? Shay yelled out to the crowd.

Trace, son, let the nice lady have her stuff. The bartender appeared at the big beast’s side.

Son, well that’s seven ways to shady. Look. She held up a hand. I only want to get my cell to call my cousin. I think she gave me the wrong address or my GPS is possessed. Either way I should be at her house and definitely not here.

The tiger opened his mouth and yawned before dropping to his belly.

Patrons dispersed, returning to their seats. The old guy shrugged. I tried. He sighed. There is nothing more I can do. Trace ain’t budging and the only one he might listen to is El. I already called him. My suggestion is to stay still until we can get this situation resolved. He moved toward the bar.

What the hell just happened? Where are you going? Hello, a little help here. She spoke to the bartender’s back as he ambled away.

He shook his head furiously and glanced at the tiger. That’s thirteen hundred pounds of solid muscle and right now that tiger is focused soleyon you. At the moment you’re not worth the fight I’d have with him that would ensure if I tried to draw his attention away.

No one is going to help you. There isn’t a body in here that is stupid enough to take on Trace, except El. The sexy blond fella with the nerdy glasses scratched his chin. Man, that battle would be epic. He stared down at her from his position behind the beast. I’m Aristotle, but my friends call me Ari.

El? Shay lifted her hands in question. Look, I’m open to suggestions here, Ari.

El is our Pride Alpha. He’s recently mated to Nae. I think you may know her, you two favor each other. And it’s your scent that’s driving Trace feral. You smell like catnip. It’s tantalizing. Ari grinned wide.

The cat whipped his tail, threading it between Ari’s legs and jerking the appendage back.

Ari hit the floor with a hard thump. Ouch, asshole! I was trying to explain why you’re acting like a damn fool, he huffed

The tiger glanced over his shoulder and reared up on his front legs.

Calm the hell down. I don’t want her even if she does smell… Ari sniffed the air. Sweet, shit, lady are you in heat? His eyes widened.

Ah hell! The bartender leaned on the counter and shook his head. No wonder dumbass won’t let anyone near her. Walk away, Ari, before you’re picking your intestines off the floor. At the moment the only person who might talk some sense into Trace is El.

Shay pivoted her head between the men. Nae said they could all turn into cat so why could somebody just become a effing animal and hold back the Tiger long enough for her to get gone. She blew out a breath. Shay need to find her cousin, snatch her ass and get them both