Chapter Sixteen

Tim

In my rhubarb form, I sat propped up on Crimson’s counter, catching up with the town gossip. I’d left Maximus to deal with his raging bull while I went on the hunt for Ricky, but Crimson had waved me in for a chat.

I feel kinda guilty for the way I switched from being your stalk to a part of Maximus’s pride without passing go.

She waved her hand dismissively. “My stalk has grown up. I’m used to it. You don’t know how many stalks I’ve seen mate, and leave my bunch. It’s a rite of passage, Twirlie. I’m used to it by now. But it’s time you introduced Maximus to your mom. She’s going to be upset she missed all the excitement.”

I looked at her glistening eyes and the way she couldn’t meet my gaze, realizing she wasn’t anywhere near as laid back as she was trying to make out.

I wriggled over to her and nuzzled her hand. I’m not going anywhere. The pride is just bedding down to join us. It’s the first time they’ve found somewhere that accepts them for who they are.

Crimson gave a non-committal hum. I waved my fuzzy hairs at her because I knew that hum and I didn’t like it. I shifted because if we were going to have a hard conversation; I wanted it face-to-face. My clothes were under the counter, and I dressed quickly, pulling the t-shirt over my head.

But just as I was ready to question her stalk-to-stalk, the door of the store opened and Ricky came in, leading Bart, who shuffled behind him. Ricky looked worriedly at Bart, who was stringy but always smiling, and looked sort of out of it.

“What’s wrong?” I said to Ricky.

“I found him wandering down the road, mumbling to himself. He kept talking about the pan. I thought Crimson could help.”

“What’s wrong, Bart?” Crimson asked.

Concerned, I rushed over to him, taking his hands in mine. “Are you alright? Are you hurt?”

He blinked, as if he hadn’t expected me to be there, and I realized I was stabbing my size sevens over my former alpha.

“I’m so sorry, Crimson.”

I led Bart to the counter and was ready to join Ricky by the door when Crimson waved me over.

“You’re part of the alpha pride of the town. It’s time I had help. Stay if Bart agrees. Ricky, please stay too.”

The old stalk nodded, but he seemed a little out of it. I exchanged a worried glance with Crimson and Ricky. I suddenly realized I was a stalk of importance now. With Maximus came responsibilities, not just endless fucking. I swallowed hard. Wow ! The endless playlist in my head stuttered a little.

Are you alright?

Maximus’s sudden concern warmed me all over and my small stalk gave a little wiggle.

I’m okay. Just a little concerned about Bart. He’s the oldest stalk in town.

Do you need me to help?

I had the best lion ever. No. But I’ll call if I do. Ricky is here too.

I won’t tell Burke.

I felt as if he wrapped me in a huge furry hug, then he was gone.

I guided Bart to the counter. As he sat down, I sniffed, trying not to make it obvious. He didn’t smell right, either. Less rhubarby than usual.

“I saw you this morning, Bart, and you were fine,” Crimson said. “What happened?”

“Someone tried to c-r-u-m-b-l-e me. A monster. Like his lion.” He stabbed a gnarly string at me.

I stared at him. No, that couldn’t be right. Maximus wouldn’t do that. He understood the importance of rhubarb. “There’s no way he’d do that,” I blurted out.

“Are you saying one of the new pride tried to put you in the pan?” Crimson asked carefully.

Bart waved his hand. “No, no. Not one of my new neighbor monsters. I mean, they’re kinda weird, but they’re polite enough. No, this was a monster from out of town. Not one of us. I had to run away, and that’s difficult for an old stalk like me.”

I understood two things which made me want to wiggle with glee if this wasn’t so serious. One, Bart called Maximus and his pride one of us, part of Valentine. My new pride would be thrilled. Two, we had a monster in town.

A real monster.

Crimson clicked her tongue. “When did this happen?”

“This morning. Early. The monster drove out of town.” Bart shuddered. “I was scared to my rhubarbs, I don’t mind telling you. It was enough to scare the rhubarb right out of me. It’s not my time for the pan yet.”

She made soothing noises and promised to find the monster before it hurt anyone else in the town. “Did you see anything, Ricky?”

He shook his head. “After I left Burke… the pride house, I went for a run. I needed time to think.”

No need to guess what that blush was about or who he needed to think about.

Maximus burst through the door, Burke on his heels, nearly sending Ricky flying.

I stared at Maximus. “What are you doing here?”

“I felt your worry. I knew you needed me.”

Oh yeah, what a perk this was. “And what are you doing here?” I asked Burke, trying my best to keep my thoughts to myself, not wanting to ruin Ricky’s surprise.

The bull looked confused. “I… uh… I guess I’m following my alpha.” He made the cutest little snuffling noise, which was explained when his gaze locked on Ricky.

I rolled my eyes. “Uh-huh.”

Maximus hurried over to me and put his arms around me. I leaned against his muscular body, feeling suddenly weary again. Maybe I needed more time in the dirt.

I can take you there.

Later, my mate. I had other monsters to fry right now, or we’d all end up in the c-r-u-m-b-l-e.

“Why were you worried?” Maximus demanded out loud, and I caught that he was upset about my monster thought. I wasn’t meaning you. There are other monsters that came to town.

I encouraged Bart to tell his story again. He stumbled through the explanation, and I couldn’t miss the worry in Maximus’s beautiful eyes.

“Do you know who the monster could be?” I asked.

“Maybe.”

This time he didn’t contradict my use of ‘monster’.

“We’ll put the town on alert,” Crimson said. “Maximus, could I have a word?”

I frowned, wondering why I wasn’t involved in this conversation.

“We’ll walk Bart home,” Burke said, Ricky by his side.

Ricky nodded, looking excited at the idea. “Come on, Bart. We’ll take care of you.”

“You’re good stalks,” Bart mumbled, leaning on Burke as he got to his feet. “You’re kinda soft. Can I scratch you behind the ears?”

I held back my laughter at Burke’s wave of fury, but he let Bart pet him and Ricky beamed at him.

They left the store, leaving me like a Billy-no-stalk in the middle of the store. The adrenaline took a downward spike, it had to have done, because suddenly my legs wobbled, and I would have crashed to the floor if Maximus hadn’t rushed over and grabbed my hands.

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

I opened my mouth and closed it again. What the heckity-heck was going on inside my stomach? It felt like the last stalk of the year disco in there. I swallowed hard because between the leg wobble and the YMCA inside my guts, I wanted to hurl.

“Twirlie. Talk to me,” he insisted. “You’re scaring the crap out of me.”

But the words still wouldn’t come.

Crimson sighed. “Men! What your mate is trying and failing to tell you is—”

“I’m pregnant?” I said indignantly. “What the living stalk, Maximus? You knocked me up already?”