Chapter Nineteen

Apollo

Clinging to Glass as we sat in the kitchen four hours later, after the weirdest questioning by Sheriff Butch, who seemed to know there was someone missing from the rampage in town. He'd counted us out as he'd gone through the list of witnesses. Not that we'd been witnesses to anything.

Seeing my mate with a black hood, handcuffed and a big pot boiling, was enough to give me nightmares for months. Amell was one crazy lion. Yet Butch had warned that if they got some fancy suit involved, then things could get tricky as lawyers working for the shifter council could side with Amell. The lion asshole could sound real convincing. They all professed that they were pranking us. Glass had little recollection of what had initially happened, but he'd spoken about what he could remember when he'd woken. They had planned to put him in the pan and then blame us.

They would have succeeded if we'd been another minute. The barn they'd barricaded themselves in was sturdy and the sheriff had gotten there before us, so we'd had to stand back. I'd made as much noise as possible to let my mate know I was there for him. It was all I had.

I kept my insecurities to myself and totally got why Leonidis hadn't followed us, knowing it was Amell we were dealing with. No one else brought it up, as we would never want Leonidis to feel that kind of pressure to face the monster. I could see he was using the excuse of busy work not to engage in the conversation about Glass' experience, which was fine. He'd kept himself busy in the kitchen making mountains of food for all the stalks who kept coming to the door, wanting to check in on Glass.

He was a popular stalk in town. I'd had a few moments—okay, a lot—of jealousy with all the hugging and touching that others did to my stalk.

You're the only one who's important to me.

Good.

I snuggled into his arms, wondering how we could get out of sitting through another load of visitors at the sound of more knocking.

"Has anyone seen Red come in yet?" Tim asked, plonking himself down on Maximus, his hand cupping his belly. It was a habit he'd developed over the last few days, as the pregnancy became more noticeable. A protective move was what it seemed like to me. After the recent events, who could blame him?

Would I be the same when I got pregnant?

Wanting some little stalks, my love?

Maybe cubs?

He chuckled at me, and Tim's eyebrows rose. "You think it's funny that Red hasn't bothered to come and see if you're alright after the rhubarbnapping?"

Glass's smile disappeared. "Now that you come to mention it, yeah, it is."

"He's been acting weird, and he's not responding to me either," Tim pointed out, but to who I wasn't sure when he was reaching for the plate of hash browns Leonidis had placed on the table.

Glass shifted on the seat and pulled me a little closer, his chin resting on top of my head. "Actually, now I'm thinking about it, it is odd. Has anyone seen him leave the house?"

Tim took a big mouthful and then moved the hot food around his tongue as he panted, trying to cool it down. He chewed twice, swallowed and frowned at Glass. "I haven't! He loves being outside. Heck, he was always up with the rhubarbs."

The noise in the kitchen increased as Crimson appeared. "My, what a drama-filled day. Your pride sure does like to keep us on our toes."

I tensed, thinking about what Amell had discussed in front of Glass. Would they want us to leave? Was the asshole going to get his wish after all?

Don't be silly. No one is leaving.

Crimson glanced about, smiling, so I relaxed because ‘happy' was good. Happy is good, right?

Crimson is a protective alpha, she would never cast anyone out. He kissed my cheek and nuzzled me. Now stop worrying.

He added enough of a growly demand to get my cock perking right up.

To distract myself with such a big audience, I looked at Tim going back to the topic of conversation, right as Gordon came into the kitchen carrying several stacks of dishes. "Do you think Red is okay? He used to visit us, but he's not been here…" I scratched my head, looking at the others for help.

"Been a while," Randy muttered, his long pink locks shielding most of his face.

"Wasn't it just before the last time someone tried to grab him?" Maximus questioned.

"I think I need to go check up on him. Maybe he's traumatized, reliving his near miss with Amell's pride, because of what happened to Glass?" Tim wriggled off Maximus.

"I'll go," said Gordon

I twisted my head to look at him. Our randy goat never went out and especially not alone.

"I'll come with you," I offered, when no one else said a word.

He shook his head, not looking at anyone. "Nah, it's fine. I know where he is."

He did?

I looked at the others as Gordon strode out the back door, saying no more. "Shouldn't one of us go with him?" I suggested. Gordon really struggled to keep his hormones in check and Red was an attractive stalk.

Is he now?

Not as gorgeous as you.

Good save.

Sir… was it?

Are you after a spanking?

Blushing, scenting up the kitchen, I fluttered my eyelashes at him. Maybe.

"Leave him be, he's been acting odd too, maybe he just needs some time alone," Maximus said, his gaze on the door, bringing me back to the original conversation.

I didn't point out he wasn't going to be alone if he went to see Red. I had other things on my mind.

So would it be rude to leave and finish what we started this morning?