When An Alpha Purrs (A Lion's Pride, #1)

by Eve Langlais

Scared of this woman and her scissors? Never. And his lion reinforced this with a very masculine rawr.

Later, she’d blame her hands for momentarily taking on a mind of their own and snipping. At least for once, it wasn’t her mouth getting her into trouble. However, instigating it didn’t mean she’d stay to face the consequences. Not when the big guy looked fit to kill. Listening to her sense of preservation, which screamed, “Run, you idiot!”, Kira dropped her scissors and bolted. Out the front door of the barbershop she streaked, barely noting the gaped mouths of the other patrons, as well as those of her uncle and cousin who also worked there. The street noise proved varied and chaotic—engines humming, brakes screeching, voices chattering, the city teeming with life—but in spite of all this, she still heard the slam of a door hitting a wall, the chime of the bells strung on it, ringing in warning. Even more worrisome was a bellowed, “Get your ass back here, woman!” The imp in her, which apparently harbored a death wish, flashed him a finger. Was that a roar?

Things couldn’t be any worse. Not only was a huge hunk of his hair missing from his precious mane, but Arik had lost her trail. Him, a master hunter, evaded by a human. His lion hung his head in shame.

His beta convulsed with mirth, not at all daunted by Arik’s glower and tapping fingers. “This is not amusing.” “Oh, come on, dude. Of all the people to have a hair mishap, you are the worst.” “I look like an idiot.” “Only because you didn’t let her finish hacking the rest off.” His fingers froze as he took his gaze off the screen for a moment to address the travesty. “Cut off my mane?” Was his beta delusional? “Well, yeah. You know, to even it out so it doesn’t show.” A growl rumbled forth, more beast than man, his lion not at all on board with any more trimming. “Okay, if you’re not keen on that, then what about a hair weave? Maybe we could get you a platinum one, or pink for contrast since you’re being such a prissy princess about it.” That did it. A lion could take only so much. Arik dove over his desk and tackled his beta. Over they went with a thump and a tangle of limbs. As he was slamming Hayder’s head off the floor, snarling, “Take it back!” to his beta’s chortled, “We’ll get your nails done while they’re weaving,” Leo strode in.

“He started it!” Arik stabbed a finger at his beta. He had no problem assigning blame. Delegation was something an alpha did well.

Felines were king when it came to acting as if embarrassing positions weren’t accidental at all.

“I’m actually more of a dog lover.” “Cats are nicer.” “They’re snotty creatures who think they own you.” How well she already knew his breed.

Kira was special. And not in the ‘she needed medication to stop hearing the voices’ kind of way. She was unique,

Please note that the hunk sitting across from you may cause heart palpitations, clammy hands, wet panties, and a hunger for things not meant to be eaten in public.

Alas, fate conspired against him. The bitch. She was probably in cahoots with the female members of his pride.

You are not cowed by my evident awesomeness.

If he hadn’t liked the guy so much, Arik would have torn open his stomach, spilled his guts, and fed him to the sewer rats. Stupid friend, first ruining his naptime and now starving the local rodent population.

“Don’t come crying to me when she makes you wear an ugly sweater at Christmas.” “I won’t cry because I’ll make sure you and I have matching ones, given to you publicly, so you can’t refuse. I’ll have Hayder take a picture, and I’ll post it on every social media site I find.”

“And just where do you think you’re going?” he asked. He didn’t find her answer of “back to jail” as funny as the women did.

What worse could you do?” “I could have shut your pie hole with my cock.” “You would have needed more than that to keep me quiet. I’ve seen the size of your hands and feet.”