Epilogue
Striker
I bounced on my toes, ignoring the weird stretch in my legs because of it.
Our team was hitting all of their goals and absolutely killing it at the Skin to Fur Tournament.
They had practiced so hard. I got texts from parents telling me how their kids were running drills even on non-practice days and were dialed in on their nutrition. They were determined to win, even though I’d drilled into them how winning wasn’t the only thing to take away from a competition.
It sure did help though.
At the event itself, coaches had to stay beyond the perimeter, so as not to interfere. It was hard. When the kids did well, I wanted to run over and hug them, but that wasn’t possible.
I got a lot of air high-fives and thumbs-ups and saw creative dances of joy.
The kids were doing incredibly.
I turned around to check on Wulf. He was the absolute cutest with Amy in her carrier, strapped to his chest. Her little flower hat shielded her from the blinding sun.
He and I were doing well for two first-time parents with hectic schedules.
With Wulf as owner and part owner of two businesses, his schedule was nuts.
I was full-time coaching since they’d raised my pay from barely above volunteer to a decent salary.
It involved some travel to other areas to help with the program.
More hectic but worth it in the end.
By the end of the day, everyone was exhausted. We had taken fourteen medals in total, and everyone on the team won at least one. My chest inflated with pride.
Andrew won a medal for best sportsmanship.
He really was the best at encouraging everyone even when he was not feeling up to running.
That kid inspired me.
“Ready to go?” Wulf asked from behind me. I’d taken a moment, once the stands and the field were empty, to bask in the wins and also to just be here. This was the place I’d once seen myself being a star and now I was beyond happy to see others become stars in their own right.
“Not quite. Do you mind waiting just a few minutes?”
“Not at all.” He settled into a seat in the bottom row, cuddling Amy. “Do what you need to.”
I stripped down and shifted. I’d creamed of running under these banners my whole life and even if my two-legged form didn’t have the ability, my wolf deserved his chance.
Giving him control, I moved into the background while he tore around the track, leaping hurdles, nearly flying.
It was magic, even if it didn’t count. I returned to my mate’s side, shifted, and dressed again.
Wulf held up a stopwatch he’d used when I needed him to help me get times on the kids.
He showed me the time and I gasped. “That’s faster than I ever did before. My wolf still has the magic.”
“You both do. I think you need to show the kids one day for inspiration.” He slipped the straps of our baby’s wrap down his shoulders. “Time to go?”
“Yeah. I’m good. Let’s go, mate.”
Wulf handed me Amy and she baby-babbled all the way home.
Wulf and Amy made everything I’d been through worth it.