AllFreeNovel
Share Us
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.
