Jezebel's Lion(19)

He got out of the car as the time came for the bell to go and winced as his broken ribs protested. Brandon had let his lion loose last night, and they’d fought creatures that usually Brandon would need backup to help kill. Both he and his lion weren’t happy to have to drop their mate back at her parents’ house and not his home, their home now. Brandon didn’t want to come home to an empty bed and house. He knew if he hadn’t mated her he wouldn’t be feeling as crazy as he was. Brandon’s lion was prowling, eager to touch their mate, to breathe in their combined scent, to touch his lips to hers. His dad was right in giving him a break from working the clubs until he could get this sorted.

The mass of students swarmed out of the school. Brandon stood by his car, a coiled spring, ready to pounce on his mate. Britney and Mac came over to him. Britney wrung her hands the closer she got. She glanced at Mac.

“You tell him, Mac.”

“Hell no. I want to live. He won’t kill you. You’re his sister. He loves you.”

Britney shot a glare at Mac, and Brandon broke on a roar. “What the hell is going on?”

Britney took a step away from him. “Jess had a free period, and so did Travis. They left early to go shopping.”

“What?”

“She didn’t know you were picking her up though. Really, bro, you should have told her.”

“Where? Which mall?” he snarled.

“Maybe you should wait until she goes home?” Mac’s comment had him turning to him ready to lunge. He held his hands up. “Okay, looks like we are going to the mall, Britney. There is no way we can let your brother go by himself. He’s likely to kill poor Travis.”

Britney giggled and covered it with a cough as he growled at her. “How about you follow Mac and me?”

Brandon knew he needed to calm down, so he nodded and got back in his car. He reminded his lion that their mate was human, and she didn’t know what going out by herself meant let alone with another male.

The drive to the mall was done in busy traffic. With it being close to Christmas, the malls were filling up. He found a parking spot closer than Britney and Mac. He didn’t bother waiting for them. Brandon got out of his car, locked it, and walked into the mall dialing Jezebel’s mobile.

“Hello.”

“Where are you?” Clearing his throat when he realized how rough his voice sounded, he sighed. “Jezebel, I’m in the mall that you’re in. I ran into Mac and Britney, and they told me you’re here.”

“Hi, Brandon, I was going to call you. I didn’t realize how late it was. I guess I got sidetracked. Poor Travis, I’ve been dragging him around everywhere.”

Eager to be with his mate, he let his lion out just enough that his senses picked up more smells in the hopes he might find hers. “Where are you? I’ll come to you.”

He heard her laugh. “We just walked into the Siren lingerie store.”

Brandon knew where that was. He wasn’t far. He practically ran to the shop.

“Poor Travis is blushing so much we may get asked to leave.” Jezebel giggled.

“I’ll be there in a moment.” He hung up before he broke the phone from the deadly grip he had on it.

The shop came into sight, and he pushed through the mass of people and charged into the shop. The sales assistant’s eyes lit up at the sight of him. “Can I help you?” Her gaze devoured him.

Brandon ignored the sales assistant for a moment and searched for Jezebel. He moved further into the store and spotted Travis standing nervously near a changing room. His lion roared in his head. The smell of their mate was very faint. He prowled toward Travis. If he’d seen Jezebel in anything he’d tear him to shreds.

The sales assistant came and stood in front of him. “Sir, you can’t go back there. Can I help you?”

Brandon narrowed his eyes on the woman and knew they would be flashing from green to gold. “Yes, I can go back there. My mate … girlfriend is back there.” He picked the woman up and moved her out of his way.

Travis’s eyes widened when he saw him, and he opened his mouth to say something but shut it when Brandon walked straight into the changing room he knew Jezebel was in. Jezebel stood in a sexy little red lacy number. She didn’t smell right. He gathered her to him, not caring where they were, and breathed her in. Jezebel reeked of Travis.

“Brandon, get out and let me get changed. You could have waited for me outside. You didn’t have to come in here.”

“You don’t smell like me. What has Travis done to you?” His voice sounded gravelly and animal-like even to him.

“Ma’am, are you okay in there? Sir, you have to come out.” The sales assistant’s voice had him battling for control.