Unbearably Cute: A Pawsitively Purrfect Match: Matchmaking Cats of the Goddesses, #3

One

BYGUL WAS THE top matchmaking cat at Pawsitively Purrfect Matches. That might seem a tad arrogant for him to claim, but since everyone else agreed with him, he was just being truthful and that was all.

Bygul had a number of earthbound cats assigned to him at the moment, all of them needing human companions. These were the matches PPM was known for and Bygul, like all the other working cats of PPM, specialized in these types of matches.

What set Bygul apart from the rest of them, though, was his additional specialization in love matches.

The goddesses hadn’t exactly approved in the beginning. They considered love matches to be their domain, but when Bygul pointed out that a love match made by the cat of a goddess was really the same as a love match made by the goddess herself, they began to see the possibilities.

Unfortunately, those possibilities included having Bygul train fifty other matchmaking cats to make their own love matches on behalf of the goddesses.

This was when Bygul’s purrfectly wonderful job acquired a few additional, not-so-purrfect responsibilities.

Being asked to train others might seem like a compliment at first, but Bygul knew the truth.

It was punishment!

He was being punished for his excellence, which was entirely unfair.

At first, there seemed to be no escaping his fate.

However, after weeks of trying to train unruly cats in the art of romance (and failing miserably), the unexpected happened.

It was a miracle really.

Slowly, one by one, the cats began to lose interest in learning how to make love matches and stopped showing up for classes.

This was excellent news as far as Bygul was concerned. In a matter of weeks, he’d gone from fifty trainees to only three.

Unfortunately, those final three were the most stubborn of the lot and they showed no signs of giving up anytime soon.

That was when he began plotting against them. With the nicest of intentions, of course. He was only trying to save them from a lifetime of failure and disappointment, after all.

Hopefully, the goddesses would notice if the cats made a disastrous match, or if they failed to make one at all, and would release all of them (but most especially Bygul) from this training nightmare.

To get started, all he needed was a suitably impossible matchmaking mission.

Happily, he had the perfect candidate in mind.

Grumpy, unruly, rude, loud, obnoxious, alpha bear shifter Mason Worcester.

The bear’s personality was bad enough, but add in his penchant for throwing other shifters through windows and doors and off rooftops and over the side of mountains and the results were clear.

Mason Worcester was (and Bygul did not use this word lightly) unmatchable.

Which made him the purrfect target.

You want to what? Jefferson exclaimed incredulously.

Well, you don’t have to say it like that. Kate had no idea why her mate was so astonished. It was a perfectly brilliant idea.

You’re mad, Jefferson said, and I won’t be a party to it. It’s cruel.

It’s a kitten, not a torture device.

Exactly. A poor, defenseless kitten you’re planning to feed to your psycho brother.

Rude! Kate let a minuscule roar escape and smirked when Jefferson leapt backwards, clearing the span of the office in one leap.

At the same time, her assistant, Nick, jumped, sending his chair flying out from under him and dumping him on the floor. He glared over his shoulder at Kate, but she didn’t know why he was so upset.

It’s not like he wasn’t used to it by now.

If he didn’t like it, he shouldn’t sit down in the first place. He had a standing desk for a reason, after all.

Besides, that roar had been halfhearted at best. Why, the windows had barely rattled—she glanced through them to the garage below—and the mechanics hadn’t even hit the deck this time.

I tried to stop her, Cleocatra, Jefferson said mournfully.

Kate whirled and glared at him.

He was cradling his black kitten in his arms, stroking her fur and crooning to her in that way he had, the one that made Cleocatra believe she was the center of his world, something that also made her a holy terror when she felt someone else (usually Kate) was attempting to usurp her role as queen of his universe.

Which, to be honest, Kate did quite often, especially since the way he stroked Cleocatra made Kate imagine all sorts of naughty things involving him stroking her.

I can’t be held responsible for the tragedy to come, Cleocatra, Jefferson said as he slowly stroked his hand down the kitten’s back. I’ve done my best and now we must all suffer for my failures.

Oh, for heaven’s sake. She was surrounded by drama queens. What are you going on about now?

Jefferson ignored the question and continued his one-sided conversation with the kitten. Just remember when the poor kitten gets eaten, or worse, tossed through a window— he sent a scorching look her way —it’s all Kate’s fault.

"My brother would never⁠—"

"As someone he’s thrown through a window—not once, but twice, mind you—I have to respectfully disagree. He would. "

"You were a stranger he’d never met before and you were kissing me, his baby sister. What did you expect?"

Uh, for him to kindly wait until I stopped kissing you and then to introduce himself politely?

Kate stared at him incredulously. You do know my brother is an alpha bear, right?

So?

Kate rolled her eyes.

And while we’re on the subject, what about the second time? So maybe he didn’t know who I was the first time he launched me through the air, but that second time was pure maliciousness.

Kate turned away so her mate wouldn’t see the smirk on her face. Oh, stop being such a baby. The point is, yes, my brother might toss you around a bit every once in a while⁠—

"A bit?"

—but he would never hurt a sweet kitten. He adores Cleocatra, you know that.

I know he’s trying to steal her from me, Jefferson growled, but for what reason I have no idea. What would a psycho–bear want with a tiny kitten anyway? Nothing good, that’s for sure.

Oh, for heaven’s sake. Melodramatic much?

All I’m saying is maybe you should consider a python or an alligator or — what am I saying? Your psycho brother’s the top of every food chain, so really it’s better if you choose an entirely different gift for him. No pets for the apex predator!

Kate snickered. It’s not like I’m suggesting we give him Cleocatra.

The kitten, who was now perched on Jefferson’s shoulder, turned her entire body so that she was facing Kate and bared her fangs.

Little monster!

Every time Kate thought she’d finally won the kitten over, Cleocatra went out of her way to prove that she only tolerated Kate and could, in fact, shred her to ribbons at any moment.

Kate lifted her lip, planning to unleash just one of her fangs when she caught sight of the amused look on Jefferson’s face and scowled instead.

He should be defending his mate’s honor instead of finding amusement in the antics of a tiny little beast who was constantly riling up her bear.

Anyway, Kate growled, glaring at the two of them, I’m going to the rescue organization and I’m choosing a kitten for my brother. Are you coming along or not?

Not, Jefferson said decisively, as he turned and strode toward the office door. Even if I didn’t have a garage full of repairs, I still would have nothing to do with this plan to feed a defenseless kitten to that psychotic bear.

My brother isn’t⁠—

The door slammed, cutting off her protest.

Dude, Nick said. "You’re brother’s so psychotic."

Kate snickered. Stop it. He is not.

Okay, fine. He’s out of control, overbearing, outrageously rude… come on, help me out here.

I mean, all of that is true, but that doesn’t make him psychotic.

No, but throwing people off a cliff kind of does.

He only ever did that once and it was totally justifiable. Assuming it even happened. I maintain the possibility of his innocence.

Nick raised an eyebrow.

Besides, Dorian forgave him.

Eventually. After he woke from that coma. How long did it take him again? A year?

Oh, don’t exaggerate. It was only ten months.

What were they fighting about again? Raisinets? Junior Mints?

Milk Duds. The last box. I mean, who could blame him? He was a hungry bear. Everyone knows you don’t get between a bear and his food.

"But the food was Dorian’s. And let’s not forget that Dorian’s a bear too."

"Sure, but Dorian wasn’t the alpha bear."

Neither was Mason. At least, not then.

"Are you insinuating that it wasn’t obvious my brother was an alpha bear from the moment he