Chapter 24

Rane

“I see,” Rane said, frowning at the ground. He was sitting in the locker room, elbows on his thighs, hands on Sandy’s hips, holding onto her as she stood between his legs, rubbing his back. The rest of the team had already left, gone to the field to start warmups, but she had asked for some time.

It was game day. Their last game in their home stadium for the rest of the season. Every game hereafter, regardless of who they were facing, would be in their stadiums. Up until the last which, always, was played on Holotulle regardless of which teams were involved. That was just how the schedule happened to fall this year.

Sandy had come down from the private box before today’s game started to tell him everything Drevor told her. Including the fact that his mother let him go.

Rane felt bad, surprising himself. He hadn’t meant for Drevor to sacrifice anything for him, even just his employment.

“I’m sorry. About his job,” he clarified quickly.

She nodded. “He says we owe him.”

He chuckled. “Yeah. We do.”

Silence fell between them. Sandy cocked her head, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak. To address the other part of the message.

“Are you still scared?” She asked, so sweet as she pet his flattened crest.

“Are you not?”

“Of having children? No way. If there’s anything my grandmother taught me, more than sass or standing your ground, it’s how to give love freely. To nurture and protect. That comes as easily to me as breathing.”

He chuckled, resting his forehead on her belly.

He couldn’t help but agree. Wasn’t that what she had done for him? The moment she saw that he needed her help, that he needed someone , she immediately stepped into the role. She defended him, encouraged him.

Even now, she was looking out for him. She could leave, if she was willing to leave him behind. But she wouldn’t do it because she couldn’t sacrifice him to save herself.

Of course, she’d be an excellent mother. There’s no other female he could imagine trusting his young with.

In this belly. So soft and sweet. He pressed a kiss to it. Imagining life growing there. His young growing safe and warm under her heart.

He wanted it.

But the fear was still ice in his veins. It was tension in his hands as he tightened his grip. A sickness in his belly demanding to be purged.

Because he didn’t know if he could be a good father, but he knew that his mother would be a terrible grandmother. He couldn’t allow her to even meet his young. If she got her hands on them, he would never be able to see them.

“Rane…”

“I’m sorry,” he gasped, wrapping his arms around her, squeezing her close, trying to suffocate himself against her belly. Maybe end all this fear and misery. “I just…”

“It’s okay.”

“No. It’s… I feel like I can’t breathe.”

“We don’t have to do it.”

“But… it’s a way out.”

Drevor and Sandy had planned the route for him so easily. Once she had their young, they could mate and she could claim guardianship over him. After that, Sandy, not Elffa, would be the only one capable of putting in his appeal. He had no doubt she’d do it too. Not a single part of him was afraid that she would control him as Elffa did.

And, if that’s what she wanted, would he really care? He’d be happier in Sandy’s hands than he would in his mother’s.

He even knew he could trust his young to her…

But there was still that chance. That possibility. His mother was shrewd. She’d left nothing up to chance in her quest to keep control over him. Did he really think she wouldn’t try just as hard to claim his young?

And there was that period of time in which Sandy carried their young, before she gave birth, that she would be vulnerable. He couldn’t imagine his mother would just be content to let things develop. She’d do whatever she had to in order to maintain her control.

Though Rane had no proof, he was fairly certain that his mother had somehow convinced the tribunal to keep him under guardianship. Either through friendship or bribery or even just simple manipulation. She had to have done so. She wouldn’t let that risk exist if she could help it.

So, what would she do to claim his young?

“Rane, we don’t have to-”

“Can I think about it?”

He cut her off before she could reject the idea completely. He had to consider it. Some part of him knew he had to do it. That he was just buying time.

But he couldn’t banish the fear.

Maybe, if he could just think about it though…

“Okay,” Sandy capitulated, still stroking his crest. “Take all the time you need. And if you decide you don’t want to do it, that’s fine.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She reached down, cupping his face so she could tilt his head back to look up at her. She was smiling so warmly. Not disappointed or annoyed with him or anything. “We’re in this together, Rane. No matter what. Right?”

“Yeah…” he breathed, enchanted by her.

What was he so afraid of…?

Sandy was strong. She was powerful. If his mother was going to do everything to claim their young, Sandy would work just as hard to keep them. She was so much more incredible than him. She’d be brave and confident and untouchable.

She deserved a mate just as fearless, just as determined.

“Get out there and warm up,” she ordered, stepping back from him. Smiling. Unconcerned, because she didn’t fear Elffa. Not at all.

And if he trusted her, why should he fear his mother?

Sandy left him alone there. Going to join the others in their private box by herself.

Rane got to his feet and, more by muscle memory than conscious thought, left the locker room to go join his team for warmups.

It was hard to focus though. And his team immediately noticed.

Everything felt off. Wrong.

They had barely run through half their usual warmup drills when Sal flew over and knocked him, hard, upside the back of the head.

“Ow,” he grumbled, looking at his captain.

“What is with you?” He demanded to know as the others came flying up to join them. An impromptu team meeting.

“Nothing,” he grunted. “I’m fine. Let’s get back to it.”

“Don’t even think about it,” Sal growled, grabbing his chest strap, yanking him back before he could get away. “You’re more hormonal than a breeding female. What bit you on the ass now?”

“It’s nothing.” Rane jerked free, glaring at him. “I’m fine.”

“No.” Sal crossed his arms, glaring. “We’re not doing this stupid thing again where you say everything is okay and we all just accept it. I want a damn answer, Rane.”

“Oh, finally ,” Louve rolled his head as Arus and the others glared at him – determined, not angry. “I’m so sick of treating Rane like he’s made of glass. Can we knock some sense into him now?”

“We have a game…” Rane tried to divert their attention.

“Yeah, one we’re going to lose if you keep playing like that,” Sal punched him in the chest. Not hard enough to send him flying, but hard enough to send a message.

“Is it hard to talk about?” Arus asked, head tilted curiously.

“It’s fine,” Rane snapped, annoyed now.

Sal snarled, his irritation rising along with his crest. “No! I told you! I’m done with your evasiveness and refusing to answer questions. The only reason I let you get away with this for so long is because your mother begged me for understanding.”

Anger hit him then. Hard and harsh, harder than Sal’s punch. Striking so hard, it knocked away all the confusion, fear, and indecision. The only thing it left in its wake was a bitter disgust and the sudden disinterest in this game, this team, in anyone around him.

Everyone except for Sandy. The only person in this entire universe who cared about him enough to even just pay attention .

“Rane, please,” Sal grabbed his shoulder this time. Firm but pleading. A friend reaching out. “I am begging you to get ahold of yourself. You were doing so well! I don’t know what’s going on with you, but your mother-”

Rane smacked his arm away, laughing with a vicious smile. “Oh, yes, my darling mother has pleaded my case to you many times, hasn’t she?”

“Rane-”

“No,” he was the one to cut him off this time, holding out his arms. “You’re right. I should focus on the game! Let’s not waste time. The only reason you put up with me is because I win championships, isn’t that correct?”

“Rane, stop it!”

“So, let’s get out there and win!” He declared, fist up, crest tightly pressed down.

“Rane, get back here!”

He wasn’t listening anymore. He turned from them before Sal could grab him again and dropped out of the sphere. Warmups were nearly done anyway.

The moment gravity took hold of him and his feet hit the ground, he looked up. From here, he couldn’t see into any of the private boxes, but he knew exactly where his mother sat. Where she watched over him. Pulling the strings she had on him. He glared at the glass, almost certain he could feel her eyes on him in return.

He turned his back on her and returned to the locker room where he shut himself in one of the showers until it was time for the game to start.

Maybe he was being immature, not wanting to deal with his team anymore and hiding from them. But it suddenly felt like he had stepped off the edge of a cliff. Like he had finally been pushed too far and they really didn’t matter anymore.

Only Sandy mattered.

He’d get her pregnant. He’d do it the first chance they had. And then, he’d insist she leave the planet for the safety of herself and their young. His mother would torment him, he had no doubt, but Sandy and their young would be safe. From there, it would only be a matter of time. No indignity or injustice his mother could subject him to would change that.

So, he would play. He would win. He would protect his female.

Those were the only things he could do, so he would do them so well, no one would ever be able to suggest that he hadn’t done his duty.

The warning buzzer went off in the locker room, alerting them it was time to re-enter the sphere. He left the shower, unsurprised to find his team all standing there, waiting. Sal tried to say something, but he walked right past, ignoring them.

If they had questions, they could ask his mother. He was sure that she would have some kind of answer for them.

The lineup demonstration was quick as it ever was. He didn’t bother with fancy tricks or showy moves this time. He rose when his name was called and immediately dropped into his position. The other team had already taken their places.

It was a brutal game.