Pride, Chapter 9
The Northern Pride formed to give some of the female Alpha Hybrids a safe place where they could live, and thrive, away from the aggressive advances of weaker males.
The idea of Mates was like a fairy tale to them, until one of their own finds hers on a business trip.
Agust was happy working as a chef in his mother's restaurant in South Korea, but dropped everything to be with his Mate. After a tense introduction to her Pride, he makes himself at home and finds he fits in with the women his Mate considers her sisters.
Now that he’s met them, he suspects the females of the Northern Pride might actually have Mates; his brother and friends from his Pride back in Korea.
Chapter 9
The next morning Seokjin, Namjoon and Jungkook met in the kitchen to start their day. Between the three of them they figured out how to use the fancy coffee maker. They deemed it a pain in the ass, but decided it was worth the work once they got a taste.
“I suppose it’s just a matter of getting used to something new,” Namjoon said in his wise-old-man voice,
“I’m going to head out to the swing by the lake. It looks like a peaceful place to enjoy my coffee and book before everyone else is awake.”
“I think I’ll go have a little run. Check out the area a little and get my blood pumping,” Seokjin said as he stretched his arms over his head.
Jungkook chuckled and said,
“I would give you shit and say that it’s the only thing you’re going to be pumping in the near future, but that would backfire on me.” He stood and finished his drink and put the cup in the sink, “Let me grab my shoes and I’ll go with you.”
Over in Rayne’s little cottage, she, Rokki and Scarlett were just starting to wake up after a long night of listening to Scarlett complain about her mate not immediately making her scream in ecstasy. But, she took comfort in the fact that he was sleeping in her room. He didn’t want to kick her out of her own bed, but she insisted,
“If we aren’t going to be together for this first night, the least I can do is make sure you are surrounded by comfort. I know your scent comforts me. It’s the least I can do.”
The three women were well accustomed to sharing a bed, and fell asleep watching movies with each other and the others a few times a week, so it wasn’t like they were being put out. In fact, it was comforting for them to be with members of their Pride, and after a day like that, they needed the familiarity of each other. Well. Rayne and Rokki needed it. Scarlett just dealt with it.
“Ugh. I need coffee,” Scarlett said as she stretched from her spot in between the two taller women. Of course, she made sure to stretch in every way possible that would wake up her sisters. Rayne grumbled back at her as she was pushed further into the wall by the woman’s behind, and Rokki threatened violence if Scar actually succeeded in shoving her off of the side of the bed.
“Have I mentioned lately how disgusting it is that you are so chipper in the morning?” Rayne grouched as she rolled onto her back and rubbed her hands over her face.
“Come on, bitches!” Scarlett said with a giggle as she scooted off the bottom of the bed, “The sun is shining and our Mates are waiting!”
Rayne growled in displeasure and rolled back over. Her attempts to pull the covers back over her head were thwarted when Scarlett pulled the blankets off the bed completely.
Rokki sat up and stared at the wall, not at all ready to face the day. She zoned out and was wondering if Rayne might have some juice in her mini fridge when Scarlett let out a startled gasp as she looked out the sliding glass door,
“Um,” she giggled in a very schoolgirl manner, “You two need to see this.”
Rokki sighed and had to fight the urge to stomp her feet as she went to see what could have Scar reacting like that. What she saw when she got there had her choking on her own spit. That was enough to garner Rayne’s attention, so she rolled off the bed and joined the other two at the door.
What she saw had her frozen to the spot.
Seokjin and Jungkook were standing in the grass, sweaty and shirtless. They were both breathing heavily and stretching their legs, having apparently gone for a run that morning.
Scarlett continued giggling while watching her sisters' reactions to their Mates looking so delicious.
Rokki’s eyes got wide and she watched the man that was destined to be hers stretch his muscles. She drank in every dip and bulge, and fantasized about being able to run her tongue along every bit of the exposed skin she saw. She whined, and sent Scarlett into a fit of laughter.
Scar looked at Rayne, positive she’d roll her eyes and laugh along with her at their shy sister’s reaction…
But what she found was Rayne scowling at her Mate. Jungkook was stretching his hamstrings, looking golden and sexy for all to see. How dare he look so damn good? Every cut, every line, every curve of him seemed to be pure muscle, and in the morning light he looked like a God. Even his hair looked magnificent.
Rayne was caught between several emotions. On top of the list was lust and wanting. That was HER man. Then there was irritation, need, possessiveness and anger. In that order.
“I can feel my Mate,” said Seokjin as he pulled his arm across his body to stretch his shoulder, “She’s watching me. I like it.” He wanted to acknowledge her, but thought she might run again so he chose to bask in her gaze, instead. He even turned to make sure to give a good shot of his backside when he bent to touch his toes.
“I can feel Rayne watching me, too,” Jungkook chuckled knowingly. He worked hard on his body, and it pleased him that his Mate was enjoying it, too.
He, though, didn’t wait. Jungkook turned his head and made eye contact with Rayne. They stared at each other without blinking. She was well aware that he was throwing her challenge back at her, and her independent side decided it would be best to push back.
She was actually relieved when Seokjin finally turned and winked at Rokki, because being caught ogling her Mate like that made the woman jump back and trip over her own feet, which forced Rayne to break the eye challenge -slash- eye fuck she had going with her own Mate to make sure her sister was ok.
Well. She and Scarlett made sure Rokki was fine once they were done laughing, anyway.
“I hate you two.”
“Come on, Rokki! Even you have to admit that was funny! All he did was wink, for heaven's sake!”
“I still hate you two.”
“Rayne! Stop laughing and help me out, here!”
Scarlett tried hard to keep a straight face as she attempted to placate Rokki, but Rayne had no such luck.
She wiped away the tears and crouched down to pat the embarrassed woman on the shoulder,
“It’s ok, Rok. I’ve heard you only jump a little at first.”
Rokki shoved Rayne over, and that sent the woman into a fit of even harder laughter.
Seokjin and Jungkook had gone inside to get cleaned up by the time Scarlett finally got herself together enough to wrangle the other two up and head to the big house for breakfast.
“Come on you two. I want breakfast burritos.”
Once they were in the big house, though, Scarlett opened the fridge and realized they didn’t have enough eggs to make breakfast for so many people,
“All of that planning and grocery shopping and we forget the eggs,” she sighed in exasperation.
Rayne was fighting a losing battle to ignore her Mate’s scent. It was all she could smell. It felt like it covered her like a cozy blanket she wanted to snuggle into, so when the opportunity to get away for a moment came, she jumped on it,
“I’ll give Bam a call,” she said as she stood, “He always has a ton of eggs on hand.”
Scarlett and Rokki started on the bacon and the rest of the ingredients, and Rayne got to get a breath of fresh air.
Namjoon heard the girls and met Rayne on his way back to the house,
“Good morning, Rayne,” he said with a bright smile, “How are you this morning?”
Although she was hesitant about having all of these males on their property, Rayne was all smiles and happy to be seeing someone other than her Mate at that moment,
“Morning, Namjoon. I’m good. Scarlett and Rokki are getting breakfast started. I just have to run to our neighbor’s to get more eggs. I’ll be back in a bit.”
Namjoon chuckled and looked at her attire,
“Are you friendly enough with this neighbor to be going in your pajamas?”
Rayne laughed, “I’d completely forgotten about that, actually. Honestly, Bam probably wouldn’t even care, but I guess I should throw on something more appropriate.”
Inside the kitchen, Seokjin and Jungkook had reappeared and sat at the little kitchen table with their coffee. Rokki opened the windows before they came downstairs to get some fresh air, and dilute her Mate’s scent, before they started cooking.
“Who’s Bam?” he asked no one in particular as he watched his Mate go into her cottage.
“Bam? He lives down the road. He owns a ranch, and we buy all of our meat and eggs from him. Rayne is going to go get some more eggs for our breakfast.”
This displeased him greatly. Who was this male? Was he unattached? Were he and Rayne more than just business acquaintances? Jungkook’s jealousy led the charge as he got up and went out to wait for his Mate to reappear.
Namjoon smirked as he passed his friend. He could smell the jealousy coming off of him, and could only guess why. But he had his own mate on his mind. As he walked into the kitchen, all he saw was his Mate. His Scarlett. She was bustling around the kitchen in her pajamas, prepping the ingredients they’d need for breakfast with her hair in a messy bun on the top of her head. It was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.
Scarlett stopped dead when his scent reached her. It wasn’t embarrassment that turned her cheeks a pretty pink color. It was feminine knowing. Her body’s way of acknowledging her Alpha.
Namjoon inhaled deeply, taking his Mate’s scent. He was fighting a losing battle with himself to refrain from completing their union until a time he felt was more appropriate, but the longer he was in her presence, the closer that time came.
Rokki was quite proud of herself as she turned the bacon. She hadn’t burned herself or broken anything since her Mate came into the room. He sat at the little table by the windows, sipping his coffee and watching her work. She still felt nervous, but the weight his gaze held was more familiar than it was the day before. She even chanced a peek his way a couple of times.
To his credit, Seokjin had kept his winking and flirting to a minimum since he and Jungkook sat with them. Even if he found Rokki’s reactions to be adorable, he decided it was safer for everyone around if he didn’t antagonize her while she had sharp things within reach. But, he was on the lookout for any opportunity to flirt with his Mate.
In fact, Seokjin was determined to not spend another night without his woman in his arms.
Jungkook was patiently sitting at the patio table when Rayne came out of her cottage with her phone at her ear,
“Thanks, Bam. I’ll be right over,” she laughed, obviously comfortable with the man she was talking with, “Yes, right now. I’m leaving right now. I swear I’m walking to the car with keys in hand as we speak. Ok. Bye.”
She made eye contact with her Mate as she pressed the end button. Rayne only paused for a moment, but it was long enough for Jungkook to make his move. With a deep, displeased snarl, he jumped up and pulled his Mate into his arms. She barely had enough time to gasp before his mouth was on her neck, spreading his scent and making sure any unmated male would know that she was HIS.
Rayne’s eyes rolled back and she dug her nails into his upper arms. The little touch of pain and the quiet moan she didn’t even know she made spurred Jungkook on. His original plan was only to scent her, but that was quickly morphed into biting and sucking on her skin. And when he moved to kiss her lips, there was no hesitation… she kissed him back.
Rayne’s senses were filled with her Mate. Touch. Smell. Sound. It was natural to add taste to the list, and as their tongues caressed, the carnal urge to scent her Mate moved her without thought.
Jungkook’s hand held the back of her head as she ran her tongue up and down the tendon below his ear. His low, sensual growl vibrated through her body and touched her in places she thought had dried up and blown away a long time ago.
She was lost to instinct.
The hand that Jungkook didn’t have tangled in her hair slid down to her backside where he filled his palm with her ass and pulled her body tight against his own.
Rayne’s body shuddered when he growled again. She pulled her head back and looked her Mate in the eyes.
Jungkook leaned in and rubbed his nose gently on hers before kissing her again, afraid she would regain her clarity and leave if he gave her too much time to think.
It was Luna that inadvertently came to the rescue, though. Excited to see her mom and her new Alpha, the long haired black cat enthusiastically rubbed her body across their legs, only to do the “flop and roll” when they pulled their lips apart to look down at her.
It was that moment of fresh air that brought Rayne back to herself. She pulled away from Jungkook and cleared her throat,
“I have to go get eggs.”
It was the perfect excuse to get away. She was almost to the door of the big house when his curiosity got the better of him,
“Who’s Bam?”
Rayne stopped in her tracks. The pieces suddenly came together, and she knew why he had jumped on her like that. She turned and glared at her Mate,
“All of that was because I’m meeting with a man you don’t know?” she huffed out an unamused laugh, “And here I thought you wanted me. I’ll know better next time.”
She pulled open the door and stomped through the house before he could respond.
Jungkook ran a frustrated hand through his hair as he heard a vehicle speed away. He’d messed that up royally. He didn’t feel too terrible about it though. She still carried his scent, and that satisfied his inner Alpha. Even better than that, he realized as he inhaled, she’d scented him, as well.
He smiled and picked up Luna to give the cat some love, despite her interrupting a stellar make out session with his Mate. Rayne may have stomped away, but Jungkook knew he finally had her emotions in play, and that was a huge step toward claiming his woman.
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