Chapter Eleven

Maximus

Listening absently to the excited chatter around me, I wiped the countertop as the pride collectively tidied up the kitchen post Tim’s culinary skills test on how best to cook the rhubarb, and make it tastier than him. I didn’t believe he’d succeeded, but I wasn’t prepared to let anyone’s lips near him to test the theory. I stopped mid-wipe as it dawned on me that something was wrong.

“Why are you standing like someone told you to pose like a statue?” Randy asked as he walked past and looked at me up and down.

“I…” I tilted my head and banged on my ear with my empty hand.

“What is it?” Apollo had his back to me, but he had always been more attuned to me than the others. “Did you get cum in your ears, too?”

“I can’t hear Tim,” I explained slowly, repeating the action.

“That can’t be a bad thing,” Burke muttered. “All that singing could drive a bull nuts.” He chuckled. “See what I did there!”

“Whatever,” Apollo said distractedly as he turned and walked over to me. “You look a little pale.”

“Something is wrong, Apollo.”

I got an icy feeling at the base of my skull, which sent a wave of goosebumps over my body. My stalk needed me. I roared as I shifted into my lion and shook out my mane. I charged towards the front door before I could register what my intention was.

“Clothes, Maxi! Clothes would be good if you don’t wanna scare the neighbors with your impressive cock,” Leonidis yelled after me.

I snarled at him. I didn’t care about clothes. Something was wrong with my stalk, and I had to get to him. He needed his alpha lion.

“You… mon… hey you.” A bobbing figure running towards me, all arms and legs, shouted, “Yes, you. Are you Tim’s lion?”

If I was human, I’d have rolled my eyes. Of course, I was his lion. What the hell did he think these four legs, sharp teeth, and huge mane were about? I wanted to bolt past him, but he knew Tim. I stopped and inclined my head. He wasn’t part of my pride. I couldn’t talk to him in this form, but that didn’t seem to bother him.

“He’s not right,” he panted as he reached me. “He’s wilting. You’ve got to save him.”

I had no idea what wilting meant. Couldn’t they just stick him in water or something?

“Hurry, man. He won’t last much longer.”

Where is he? I asked in my panic.

How the hell I expected him to hear me when he wasn’t one of my pride showed how upset I was. A second later, like he guessed, he pointed in the direction he’d come from. It was the way that led to the main street and right where all the shops were. Great! The newest resident of the town flashing his mane for the world to see. This would be fun… not!

I didn’t care. I took off running, eating up the distance in my lion form, knowing nothing would stop me from finding my mate. There was some kind of commotion behind me and a loud moo that had to be Burke, but my only concern was Tim. I also figured Burke was with the others, so he would be fine.

Taking the next corner at speed, I ignored the pain from the pads of my feet as they scraped on the asphalt. My only focus was reaching my mate. I caught sight of Tim half lying on a seat and half on Crimson, the shop owner. His head was nestled in her breasts and my human got a little pissy. I roared and the couple of cars that hadn’t noticed the great big fucking lion charging toward them slammed on the brakes.

Loud gasps came from those who I passed, followed by the sound of screeching tires. What they thought of a lion pounding the streets, I didn’t know, and I didn’t care. None of it mattered as I skidded to a halt in front of Tim and dropped to my knees, shifting at the same time. I winced when they hit the ground and dragged a limp Tim from Crimson’s arms, announcing gruffly, “He’s mine,” for all to hear.

“Why yes, we know, young man. I sent Ricky to get you. Tim needs you—”

“What’s wrong with him?” I demanded, at a loss as to why Tim looked so dreadful after only leaving me half an hour ago looking fine and perky.

At that point, Tim opened his eyes and gave me a wan smile. “Look, lots of lionesses,” he crooned and collapsed against me. “All naked. Do you see that, Crimson?”

“It’s hard to miss, Twirlie,” she said dryly.

“I’m a lion, not a lioness.” Now I was beyond worried. How could my stalk mistake me for a lioness?

“Have you mated properly?” Crimson asked, all firm tone and bristling behavior, like it was her business.

“Of course we have,” I snapped, a little concerned when I wasn’t actually sure what a rhubarb stalk classed as mating, and if any or all of what we’d done was mating. We hadn’t actually had that discussion. I’d heard rumors about how the fingerlings do it, but no one believed they were real. I mean, how could a potato vibrating up your ass be part of a ritual?

Shit, would I need to have Tim’s stalk up my ass? I winced at the thought.

“We… could try that,” he murmured against my neck. “I’d be gentle.”

“Try what?” Crimson asked.

“Stop being nosy,” I said, blushing when my cock decided Tim trying anything on me was a great idea. It clearly didn’t have an issue with Tim fucking me.

A small lion rushed up beside me, a jacket in his mouth, and dumped it at my feet.

At least put this on, he snapped through our pride link before rushing away again.

I struggled into it without disturbing Tim, but it was far too small for me. I might as well have stayed naked. Let’s face it, it was too late to save my dignity. I did my best to use the flap of the jacket to hide my junk, but it was pointless.

“It is my business when he’s one of my stalks!”

“I’m his… pride… now,” Tim whispered, his lips moving to suck on my neck near my scar.

“You are?” The sharpness of Crimson’s voice made my ears ache. “That’s what’s wrong with you, Twirlie. You aren’t my stalk anymore.”

“No, he’s mine,” I reiterated loud enough to make sure they heard three counties over, baring my fangs. “Omega and mate.” I felt an odd satisfaction from Crimson at my declaration.

“Then I can’t heal him. Have you bitten him?” she continued, like I hadn’t said a word.

“Seriously, why is that any of your business?” Had I? In the way she spoke, it kind of inferred it was different to maybe what we did? And we’d done everything and more besides.

Tim, how do you mate?

Tim had closed his eyes. I wasn’t even sure he was conscious. The deafening silence was back in my head and my anxiety levels at having to ask the woman eyeing me like she was about to clout me around the ear didn’t help.

“Do I need to ask again?” Her head tilt and narrow-eyed stare were enough to get me scowling.

“I bit his stalk.” I was positive I’d bitten his stalk more than once, if that’s what she meant.

“Don’t mon…lions need to bite in their human form?”

Ohhhh fuck! I’d forgotten to think about how lions mated. My pride would never let me live it down.

I glanced at Tim and with no thought to the audience gathering around us, realizing none of whom were my pride. I tugged aside Tim’s T-shirt and bit his neck. The sweetest blood filled my mouth and the scent of cum and custard followed as the man in my arms groaned long and low. His eyelids fluttered and my cock went supersonic.

It waved at the crowd, and I was positive there were audible gasps at its performance, but Tim held my attention as I swallowed several mouthfuls of his blood before my fangs released. I lapped at the wound until it started to heal.

Then a pair of eyes held my gaze as he groaned anew. “Soil, I need you in the soil. Dirty and naked.”

“And on that note, my job is done,” said Crimson, only I ignored her.

I’d give my mate whatever he needed. “Where?” I growled past my fangs. “Tell me!”