Alex stroked his nose under her chin, and then lumbered off into the underbrush. It startled her that they were roughly the same size. She’d thought he would be bigger, but they really were snout to snout. He paused momentarily to look back at her as if to say, Well?

Cyn lumbered off after him, content to play follow the leader. She did chuff out a laugh when her posse of Pumas scrambled to keep up, the ones who’d chosen to stay human having the hardest time. But even her bodyguards couldn’t distract her from the whole new world that had opened up to her senses. Her sight didn’t seem to be any different than her human form, but her heightened hearing and sense of smell were almost overwhelming. It was going to take time to sort out everything she was experiencing. She just hoped the next time she changed Julian was at her side. As cute as Alex was, she missed her mate.

Chapter Seventeen

Julian groaned as Cyn helped him settle on the sofa. “Thank fuck. I fucking hate hospitals.”

She lifted his feet up onto some propped up pillows and covered him with a throw he’d never seen before but smelled distinctly of her. “You were only allowed out as soon as you were on the condition that you would rest.”

“I will. I promise.” Hell, he could barely walk. What did she think he was going to do, juggle chainsaws? They’d managed to keep him in the hospital for two days, and if he’d stayed any longer than that, he would’ve lost his mind. There was no way he’d be able to recuperate around all those people.

She muttered something under her breath, something in Spanish that ended in cabrón, and stalked off toward the kitchen. She’d been stubbornly opposed to his leaving the hospital until he’d explained to her what staying there was doing to him. She still wasn’t sure she’d made the right decision in helping him convince the doctors to release him, but she’d see. Already he was stronger, his Bear calmer. Getting away from all of the sick and the wounded would help his recovery immensely.

The doorbell rang, startling him, but he didn’t even bother trying to stand up to answer it. He wouldn’t be able to make his way to the door anyway. Not without falling flat on his ass. Cyn stomped by him, still muttering in Spanish. He pitied anyone on the other side of the door. His mate was spoiling for a fight.

He heard Cyn gasp as she opened the door. “Oh, hi.”

“Hello, Cyn.” In breezed Emma Cannon, Curana of the Halle Puma Pride. Her dark brown hair was tied up in a long, bouncy ponytail. Her crimson V-neck shirt and dark gray jeans hugged every curve. In her hands were three pizza boxes, the rich scent of spicy meat, melted cheese and ripe tomato sauce making his mouth water.

She was followed swiftly by her mate, the blonde haired, blue-eyed Halle Alpha. Max had five more pizza boxes, and from the scent Julian could tell at least one of them was his favorite Hawaiian style. Max followed his tiny mate right into Julian’s kitchen, smiling cheerfully at Cyn and nodding to Julian. “Hey, Julian. Sorry about this.”

The doorbell rang before he could respond.

“Did I mention the others will be here soon?” Max glided, catlike, right over to Julian’s favorite chair. He settled himself in and immediately pulled his mate onto his lap.

Julian frowned at Emma. “You haven’t been getting enough iron.”

Emma’s eyes went wide with a clear message that, if Julian valued his balls, he’d stay quiet.

“Emma?” Max’s attention was completely focused on his Curana, barely acknowledging Simon and Becky Holt as they carried even more pizza into Julian’s kitchen.

“I’m fine, Max.” She wiggled her butt, clearly trying to distract him. From the way Max’s nostrils flared it was working.

“You’ve been tired a lot lately.” Max stroked a hand over Emma’s hip, stilling her. His golden gaze suddenly stabbed into Julian as a white mist surrounded the Alpha pair. “Tell me what’s wrong with my mate.”

He could hear Simon and Becky groaning as their Alpha’s power washed over the room. Cyn actually went to her knees, unable to hold under the weight.

Julian smiled, and yawned.

Emma slapped Max’s arm. “Knock it off, Lion-O.”

The white mist dissipated, along with the weight of Max’s displeasure. “I’m sorry, but if it was your mate what would you do?”

Julian stared at Emma for a few moments before answering Max’s question. “I’d let her tell me when she was damn good and ready.”

Max sat up a little straighter, comprehension slowly beginning to dawn in his expression, when the doorbell rang again. “Emma?”

“Shh.” She stroked Max’s cheek, her gaze tender. “We’ll talk when we get home. I promise.”

Poor Max looked dazed as Adrian and Sheri walked in the front door, carrying enough soda to drown the Pittsburgh Steelers. Or rather, Adrian was carrying it. Sheri had her seeing-eye dog, Jerry, guiding her through the house. She waved to the room in general. “Hi, everyone. Gabe and Sarah are right behind us.”

Sarah dashed into the house and right up to the Alpha pair. “What’s wrong?”

Max smiled into his mate’s eyes and caressed her stomach. “Absolutely nothing.”

“Think you have all the answers, don’t you, Lion-O?” But Julian noticed Emma wasn’t pushing her mate’s hand away. On the contrary, her fingers stroked across the back of it as she gazed fondly into blue eyes still speckled with gold.

Max’s answering grin was chock full of lazy arrogance. “I do.”

Julian yawned again. This time it wasn’t faked. “Not that I’m not thrilled to see all of you, but why the hell are you here?”

“Because you couldn’t come to our house.” The look Emma shot him said that answer should be obvious.

“Rick and Belle should be here in about fifteen minutes, and Tabby and Alex are on their way.” Gabe began dragging chairs from the kitchen and dining room into the living room.

“So we’re having an impromptu pizza party because…?” Cyn crossed her arms and began tapping her foot. She had that stubborn look on her face, the one that said she’d better get answers and soon.

“Pride meeting. Well, Pride and Pack, since Tabby’s technically both.” Emma patted Max’s arm and stood, heading straight for the kitchen. “Do you guys have any paper plates and cups?”

“But we’re not Pride.” Cyn looked as confused as Julian.

“Not yet,” Becky giggled.

“When I told Gary that you, Glory and Tabby were under my protection, I meant it.” Max crossed his arms over his chest and practically dared Cyn to question him further.

Her gaze landed on Julian, and an unholy grin crossed her face. “Does that protection extend to my mate?”

Max’s answering smile was as full of evil as only a cat could manage. “It does now.”

Julian thumped his head on the sofa with a groan. Wonderful. Now he was being protected by Pumas and Foxes and Bears, oh my. He wondered if he could sell tickets to this little three-ring circus.

“I had forgotten about that.” Sarah stared thoughtfully at Cyn. “Maybe that’s why I could feel the shooter so clearly.”

“Because there were three Pride members there.” Max nodded sagely. Julian figured the man was bullshitting. Max liked to pretend he was the uber-wise Alpha, but Julian—

Wait. When did Cyn become Pride?

Alex and Tabby walked into his house as if they owned it, not even bothering to use the doorbell. Any thought of irritation vanished when he saw who was with them. “Glory!”

Glory was immediately surrounded by overly solicitous kitties. She was settled into Julian’s favorite chair, which Max rapidly vacated, and handed a drink and a slice of pizza that had her wrinkling her nose. She set the plate aside on the side table and turned watery baby blues toward Max. “Where’s Ryan?”

Wow. Talk about an uncomfortable silence.

“We haven’t got a clue.” Gabe shared a long, uncomfortable look with Adrian, the Halle Marshall. “It’s like he just disappeared.”