Chapter 26

Brexl

As much as I wanted to continue my exploration of Taylor in the furs, I also did not want her to miss out on the Day of Valentine activities.

“We should join the others in the clearing. I want to see you play miniature ball.”

I said as I pushed Taylor’s hair back away from her face.

“It’s miniature golf,” she laughed. I knew that, but I enjoyed seeing her smile when I got it wrong.

She and I got dressed and walked to the entrance. When we walked outside, we were greeted by a chill wind and the laughter of our entire dekes.

The miniature golf seemed to be the most popular event. Jax was wrapped around Sarah as he put his hands over hers so she could teach him how to properly swing the strange stick the hu-mans called a golf club.

His tail was wrapped around her leg, and both of them were blushing furiously.

Anusha, Fatima, and Beatrice were laughing as their small ball kept missing the hole.

Rhaz was on the outskirts of the clearing, looking like he was doing his best not to look at Beatrice and failing.

Lumod held the canoe on the stream steady as Hai got in, but instead of joining her, he shifted into his aquatic form and swam in front of her, doing tricks and showing off. Hai laughed and cheered him on.

Orsu was hovering over Julie as if she were as fragile as a flower.

“He will relax over time,” Tarak assured her and Gabby agreed.

“I don’t know if I will relax at all over the next five months. Julie is so tiny,” Orsu whined.

“I’m not that tiny,” she laughed and led him by the hand to walk with her around the clearing with her.

Drovo and Kayla were next on the canoe ride. He held the boat steady for her and then got in himself. She settled in against him as they slowly drifted down the stream.

Jelly was grazing happily next to Talia and Sozu. Talia had her hands on Sozu’s hips. “Sway a little slower.”

“Maybe you should show me how you do it again.” Sozu sounded overly hopeful.

“You just want to watch me dance,” she chided him.

“No really! I think it’ll help! I think I should put my hands on your hips this time.”

Talia gave him a coy smile. “I know what you’re up to.”

“Is it working? Are you feeling the love on this day of Valentine?” he smiled back.

“Maybe.” Talia blushed as she demonstrated her people’s traditional dance again.

The older couples of our dekes were also attempting miniature golf and were actually quite good at it.

Ashley was the only one missing from our gathering, which was strange. She was usually the person who was the most enthusiastic about events that the dekes put together.

Axon sat alone, holding a gift. He had clearly noticed Ashley’s absence as well.

I felt like I was twice as tall as I walked through the clearing, holding Taylor’s hand. To everyone else, it would have looked like nothing had changed between Taylor and I, but to me, my entire world had changed. I had not yet asked her to be my mate for real, but I would be soon.

I looked over at Gabby as she patted her rounded belly and wondered if Taylor accepted me as her mate, if she would want to have children with me as well.

I’d never allowed myself to dream of being a sire. I never thought I’d be worthy of having a mate, but now...now I looked forward to it more than anything. I wanted to be the sire I never had. My grandparents did a good job, and I am grateful to them, but I’ve always carried an ache in my chest over the loss of my sire. He didn’t have to die. He chose to leave me. I would not make the same choice. I would stay with my child no matter what may come our way.

“Over here! We have a set of clubs for you two!” Fatima waved us over.

Taylor picked up one stick and handed me the other.

“Okay, so what you’re gonna want to do is just tap the ball lightly toward the hole. Watch me.”

Taylor looked beautiful as ever as she leaned down and tapped the small ball. It rolled down the mat toward the hole and almost made it in.

“Now you try.” Taylor moved so I could take her place where she was standing.

I set down my small ball and lined up my stick just as Taylor had lined up hers. Tap it lightly, I reminded myself. That shouldn’t be too hard.

I was wrong. My tap was more like an aggressive whack, and my ball went sailing through the clearing.

“Ouch!”

And it hit Beatrice on the head.

I heard a threatening growl from behind me and turned just in time to see Rhaz lunge in my direction.

Before I could even realize what was happening, he had pinned me to the ground, fully shifted in his badger form.

“You hurt her.” he snarled past his elongated fangs.

“Rhaz! Enough!” Tarak shouted as he ran toward us.

Rhaz blinked and shook his head as if he were coming out of a haze.

“I’m...I’m sorry.” He looked at his clawed fingers in disbelief, as if he had no idea he’d even shifted.

“I’m sorry.” He stood to his feet and extended a hand to help me up.

I didn’t know what to say. Rhaz had never lunged at me before. None of us had attacked each other in our shifter forms before.

He did not wait for my reply. Instead, he ran off into the forest looking ashamed.

“Are you alright?” Taylor was by my side, checking me over, as soon as Rhaz gone.

“I am well. He did not hurt me,” I assured her. “Perhaps miniature golf is not a game for me.”

“Let’s take a canoe ride then,” she encouraged, and I happily agreed.

But first we walked to Beatrice, where I apologized for my mistake.

“I’m sorry for hitting you with the ball.”

Neelu was applying a salve to the bump that was forming near her temple.

“It’s okay. It was an accident.” She gave me a weak smile before looking toward the forest in the direction Rhaz had gone.

“Shall we keep playing?” she asked her small group.

“If that’s what you want,” Anusha replied, looking concerned.

“It is. Thank you Neelu, for the salve.”

Beatrice picked her club back up and walked to where she’d been before. Everyone went back to what they were doing and Taylor and I headed for the water.