The Jaguar’s Arranged Mate

Chapter 13

Miera had fought as if her life, and the life of her unborn baby, depended on it. A small part of her wished she had never left her bed, but she would never be able to live with herself if she had been a coward. She was heir. She would be alpha one day. She wouldn’t run away and hide. Fighting was in her blood.

Was she more cautious than she had been during the battle in the warehouse? Absolutely. She didn’t have a death wish. In her weakened state, it would be easy for her to be killed. Hell, the Brutal Claws could strike down were-jaguars who were in their prime.

But she still fought. Fury that they would attack the hospital filled her, and she channeled that into energy. At first, there were so many Brutal Claws facing against her and the few were-jaguars who had turned up to fight them, but as they slowly cut down the Brutal Claws, more and more Blood Roses and Teal Warriors joined them.

Just when it seemed like they had won, that all of the Brutal Claws had finally been killed, more showed up, and they were bigger and stronger and taller. Monsters instead of were-jaguars. Plus, they wore armor.

Battling them was a nightmare. Even though they outnumbered them for once, and they could team up to fight them, the armor made it so hard to land any blows. To her right, Teal Warriors tackled one and stripped him of his armor to kill him. A sound tactic, and it helped to kill another one.

And the last, but only after that Brutal Claw had ripped out the throat of Beric’s father, the alpha of the Teal Warriors.

Miera rushed to his side. He stared at her, then closed his eyes.

Cold washed over her, and she shivered. Where was Beric? She dimly recalled him heading inside the hospital. Was he still alive, or had he fallen too? Numb. A part of her felt numb, and she couldn’t move, rooted to the spot.

And then Beric was standing beside her, nuzzling his father, and she wanted to weep. She could feel Beric’s pain, although she also couldn’t imagine what he was going through. If her father had been the one to fall, would she be able to handle the mantle of being alpha right now? With the Brutal Claws breathing down their necks, who knew how much longer any of them would have?

Beric’s body shuddered, and he transformed from jaguar to human. He stood and twisted around to see all of them there. “I’m alpha now,” he said, his voice odd, almost detached.

She also shifted and went to touch him, but he didn’t seem to even realize she was there.

“Gather everyone to the mess hall, everyone who is healthy enough,” he instructed a Teal Warrior.

The were-jaguar rushed off.

Beric stared down at his father.

“What can I do to help?” she asked.

He shook his head, gaze remaining on his father. “I’m beyond needing help,” he said, his voice still detached.

What was that supposed to mean?

“We’re married now,” she said. “Let me—”

“You need to heal. And to stop fighting.”

“Stop?” She couldn’t have heard him right. “How can you expect—”

“I expect you to listen to me.” His gaze finally landed on her face. His expression was unreadable. “I outrank you now. I’m alpha. You’re—”

“Just an heir,” she said bitterly. “We’re married, but we aren’t equals, is that what you’re saying?”

“I have work to do.” After one last look at his father, Beric pressed his way through the crowd.

Now that the battle had ended, Miera could feel the burden of her new injuries, and her old ones, weighing her down. Beric did have a point to some extent. She did need to rest more. She was pushing herself almost too hard, and considering she was pregnant, she had to watch and be careful.

Even so, she ordered for all of the bodies to be gathered together, separated based on their packs. The Blood Roses they would bring back to their home to be buried. Beric could determine what to do with his dead. As for the Brutal Claws, they would all be burned.

She waited to see the fire burning and watched the flames for a long while before she stirred herself to go to the mess hall. She’d taken too long, however, and no one remained inside. With a sigh, she turned to leave.

“Miera.”

She stilled, recognizing the voice. “Charles.”

Turning around, she spied the were-jaguar approaching from the back of the mess hall. His body was covered in small bandages and bruises, but he walked easily enough. He stopped a few feet from her. “You saved me.”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

“It…” Her stomach cramped uncomfortably, and she rubbed it.

Charles stepped toward her.

She glowered at him. “Don’t you touch me,” she snapped.

He held up his hands and backed up a few paces. “I don’t understand,” he protested. “You seemed to be quite insistent when you told me you wouldn’t ever see me again, but then, the first time you do, you rush to my rescue—”

“I already regret saving you,” she retorted. Another cramp, this one so painful it took her breath away. She really did need to be more careful.

“No, you don’t.” He grinned.

“I’ll wipe that smile off your face if you don’t knock it off,” she warned. Her fingers twitched, curling and uncurling into fists.

“Now, now, is that any way to treat the—”

“You may have supplied the sperm, but that’s it. You will never have anything to do with the child.”

“The child is half mine.”

“No.” She shook her head, her fingers changing into claws before she even realized it. “The child is half Beric’s.”

“He might be your husband, but he didn’t impregnate you.”

“What the hell do you want, Charles?” she all but roared.

“I just want you to admit it.” He held out his hands as if he was defenseless. She knew better.