Brawn - Laurann Dohner [103]
Brawn grinned. “To impress our females and to be assigned private homes instead of having to be housed with many males in the dorms? It’s the price for being a high-ranked male in our society.”
“Ah.” Bestial chuckled. “That’s right. The females were my only reason.” Bestial’s smile faded. “How are you holding up?”
Brawn hated the fact that Bestial knew everything about Becca and worried about him. No secrets were kept from council members. He shrugged. “She wants nothing to do with me. I reacted badly when I saw her and I blew it. She hasn’t asked to speak to me and I’m under orders to stay away. You know that.”
“How are you going to handle this Tiger thing?”
Brawn frowned. “What about Tiger?”
Bestial’s eyes widened. “You weren’t told?”
“Told what?” His gut twisted. “Is he spending time with her?” Jealousy hit hard and fast.
Bestial softly cursed. “Damn. I can see why they might not have informed you of what Trisha decided but she is our doctor.” Bestial sat back in his chair and pointed. “You will want to sit.”
Brawn lowered into his chair. “What is going on? What wasn’t I told?”
“Trisha is worried about Becca not having a mate to care for her. She has assigned someone to live with her and be with her around the clock. Flame admitted he was attracted to the female so he was out. Tiger was picked because he gets along with humans.”
Rage burned hotly through Brawn. “What?” He shot back to his feet.
“Sit back down if you want to hear the rest.”
Brawn sat hard, his chair creaked and it didn’t help when his hands gripped the arms of it strongly enough to break them. “Flame is interested in my female?” He’d kick his ass. He’d make him hurt. He’d—”
“It will be Tiger who lives with your female and cares for her. He’ll take her for walks, make sure she eats and sleeps. Slade said his female always had sore muscles so Tiger has been told to rub her shoulders, her lower back and her legs if she has ankle swelling.”
A snarl tore from Brawn at the thought of another male putting his hands on his Becca. He’d rip Tiger’s hands off. He’d—
“He was not happy to be asked at first but he agreed for the baby’s sake and because he knew the female wouldn’t fear him since he checks on her often.”
Brawn saw red or would, he decided, when he made Tiger bleed. “What? He does? She allows his visits? How often?”
Bestial assessed Brawn. “Often. She’s alone and everyone worries. You should have been told a male had been assigned to your female but perhaps they didn’t want to alarm you. I believed it was wrong to keep it from you but now you know.”
The words made Brawn narrow his eyes. “You admit they planned to keep it from me? You purposely told me just now but acted as if I already knew. What kind of deception are you trying to pull?”
“You got me.” Bestial grinned. “I didn’t agree with the vote and I’d want to know before another male moved in with my female. She’s attractive, lonely and vulnerable. Tiger is good with humans, knows them better than we do and it wouldn’t be the first time a male who has sworn human females hold no appeal ends up mated to one. He’ll put his hands on her. Can you imagine that? Another male touching the female you planted your seed inside.”
Brawn shot to his feet. “It won’t happen.”
“I didn’t think you’d allow it. I’m your friend and I didn’t want you to lose her to another male, even if he is a good one.”
“I’m better and she’s mine.” Brawn’s hands fisted. “Call Tiger and tell him if he has touched her to run fast and far. Very far.”
He stormed for the door but heard Bestial laugh. “Go get her. Show her who she belongs to. I’m glad I never will get tangled with a human. They just don’t make sense. She should have picked you to care for her over another male.”
“Shut up,” he snarled, opening the door.
“Perhaps you need instructions about sex? Has it been so long you forgot how to please a female?”
Brawn roared, furious at his friend for even suggesting such a thing and ran. The hotel wasn’t far and he wanted to get to Becca fast. If Tiger had