Chapter Twelve

Holden

I hadn't planned on leaving Nelson in bed. Hadn't planned on having him wake up alone. I definitely hadn't planned for everything that happened after. Ahmed had admitted he hadn't fully instructed me on what to do when outer-worlders arrived, but he did say to take them to see Walter before anyone else.

So, when I heard an outer-worlder shouting as I dozed off beside Nelson, I knew what I had to do.

When I reached the meadow, the man caught me by surprise. Instead of appearing with only the clothes he wore, like Nelson, the new outer-worlder popped into our world with cases and bags filled with belongings. His face seemed to sparkle in an odd way, like diluted magic had changed his appearance.

"Yoo-hoo!" He waved his hand like he had a hard time keeping his wrist straight. "I'm here. I've arrived at the entrance to the Enchanted Forest, and I'm ready to meet my mate."

I tried to smile at him, but it was a weary effort due to my tiredness from moving the day before and my want to be back in bed with my future mate. "Hey, I'm Holden, Security Officer for the Enchanted Forest. I will take you to meet Walter, the first outer-worlder who came to live here, and then to Banir, the head of the forest council."

"Oh, Banir, what's he like?" The man leaned forward and cocked his head to the side. "Is he looking for a mate? I like a man in charge."

"Yes, yes, he is." A burst of energy rushed through me with the hope this outer-worlder was the one Ahmed had chosen to be Banir's mate. Then maybe the head of the council wouldn't be so patronizing toward Nelson and me.

I picked up some of the belongings the man had brought with him. "Follow me and I'll take you to meet Walter now."

"Tell me..." He tapped my shoulder from behind. "Do all the people of the Enchanted Forest wear as little as you?"

Miffs, that had been one thing Nelson had commented on when he'd first arrived. Maybe I needed some outer-world clothing for when I greeted their residents. I was thankful I'd at least remembered to wear my garment. "Yes. We don't find the need for a lot of clothing."

The man gave an excited giggle. "Oh, just like going to a Muscle from the Jungle show. I'm going to love it here."

Walking ahead, I tried to figure out what the man was talking about but had no clue. I needed to ask Nelson when I returned to him.

Though asleep when I arrived, Walter still got up to talk to the new outer-worlder. Lonnie, according to Walter. I'd forgotten to ask his name in my sluggish state. After leaving the very pregnant former outer-worlder to get some more rest, I grabbed the luggage again and led Lonnie toward the village to meet Banir. He seemed to have no reservations about living in our world or being mated to the head of the council. Though I wondered if that would change when he met the squirrel shifter.

Chauncey, the minotaur guard of Banir, stopped us as we approached the leader's hut. "He's sleeping. What do you want?"

I nudged my hand toward Lonnie. "New outer-worlder has arrived. And he is anxious to meet Banir."

Chauncey scowled. "This isn't going to be like the last time, is it? Because there's no point in waking him only to be disappointed."

Lonnie stepped forward, placing his finger on the minotaur's wide chest. "I'll have you know that Banir will not be disappointed with me. I came here to be his mate. So let me meet him."

Chauncey's eyes widened. "You are definitely not like the other outer-worlder. A good challenge for Banir, I think." He disappeared inside the hut before coming back out moments later with the head of the forest council. "May I present to you, Leader Banir."

"It is my honor." Lonnie bowed, stretching one leg out behind him and one arm across his chest. "I must say, as leader of this place, you deserve much nicer accommodations. Perhaps a hut double this size for our future family. Or maybe a living space built up in the trees."

Banir's attraction was instant, him suddenly calling for an immediate mating ceremony. I didn't have time to return to Nelson to tell him what was happening, too wrapped up in preparing Banir and Lonnie to be instantly united before anything or anyone could come between them.

At some point during the ceremony, I saw my future mate, but only for a moment. After we'd left the new couple to do the actual mating on their own, I heard talk that Walter had gone into labor. Guessing that to be the reason Nelson had come to the village in the first place, I left after him, hoping to catch him at the home of the original outer-worlder, and help where I could.

As I reached the clearing in the woods, I headed up the path toward the cottage. I spotted Nelson outside, chatting with Walter's children, probably keeping them occupied while their father gave birth to another. When he spotted me, his bottom lip quivered for a moment before he clenched his fists, and his eyes set in hard determination. Had something happened to the baby?

I quickened my steps until I reached him. "What happened? Is everything okay?"

"I guess so." Nelson scowled before glancing down at his feet. "Walter's having a baby. I'm sure you'll have one soon with your new mate."

"New mate?" My mind raced, trying to understand his words. "I don't have a new mate. Only you. Whenever you're ready."

With his hands on his hips, he shifted his weight to one side. "Then who was the guy you brought here early this morning? The one I saw you with in the village? You were holding his hand during your mating ceremony. Shouldn't you be with him now?"

"Lonnie?" I wanted to laugh at the misunderstanding but decided against it with the hurt and anger radiating off Nelson. "He's with his actual mate right now, completing the ceremony. He arrived last night after you fell asleep. I did not want to leave you then, but it's my responsibility here."

Nelson crossed his arms. "So, who's mate is he, then?"

"Banir's." I reached out to cup his elbow for some kind of contact before pulling my hand away again. "They had an instant attraction. Chauncey and I were surprised."

After wiping his palms on his pants, Nelson pouted. "You were holding his hand though. I thought..."

"I was also holding Vern's hand on the other side. It was part of the ceremony." One I hoped to have with my own future mate very soon.

"Oh." He shuffled forward until he was close enough for me to pull him into my arms.

I did. "I'm sorry I left without saying anything and didn't have a chance to return to you before the ceremony."

He rested his head on my shoulder. "I'm sorry I thought you'd chosen someone else."

I kissed his forehead before shaking my head. "Only you. I'm likely to meet a lot of outer-worlders with Ahmed's cards working to bring you all here, but you're the only outer-worlder for me."

He looked up and we kissed until I felt a tugging on the string of my garment. I glanced to my side to find Walter's oldest child there.

"Is that how a baby gets in his tummy?"

Nelson and I chuckled together.

"No." I ruffled the little guy's hair. "It involves a whole lot more. Once I'm sure your daddy and your new sibling are okay, I'd like to take my future mate home to practice."

Nelson squeezed my hand and smiled. "I think that would be a great idea."