Chapter 3
Don’t Stop Believin’
My mate blinked several times before finally speaking.
“Out? Like on a date?”
I smiled, leaning in and not hiding the fact I was basking in her delicious, peachy, spicy scent.
“Yes, peaches,” I replied, the nickname slipping out as I tried to stop my mouth from watering. “On a date. With me. Tonight.”
She stared at me in disbelief before taking a deep breath.
“The kids—”
“Will have a lovely time with Briar watching movies and eating junk food. She said herself that it’s spaghetti night, so she was already planning on coming over.”
I pulled out my phone to text and make sure she was available. I wasn’t surprised when she responded immediately with a bunch of emojis and saying yes, she’d watch the kids and plan an epic age-appropriate spooky movie marathon night.
I passed my phone to Stevie who looked shocked I’d already gotten to Briar and slightly annoyed I’d been too quick for any excuses she had.
Starting off great, Thrakh. Good job.
I gave the big chonk of a cat sprawled across the table a quick pet, swiped my phone back from her before standing, then walked toward the door swiftly.
“I’ll pick you up at seven thirty,” I called back over my shoulder, ignoring the way she looked like she was about to argue with me, or goddess-forbid change her mind.
Not that she’d actually agreed.
I left the café before she had a chance to do either.
The rest of the day passed slower than a turtle crossing the road.
I had a few meetings at the rec center, mostly around budgets, despite the fact our economy was composed of paranormal beings with longer lifespans than humans who hoarded wealth like it was going to disappear.
We didn’t have major money concerns like the human municipalities, but we still had a budget and needed to source funds from local benefactors when needed.
This time of year, it was always needed. Maplewicket went all out from October to December for Samhain, Harvest, and Yule. We were named on more than one of those fancy travel lists as a “must-see” for any New England traveler.
All in all, it was a boring day. There was no fall ball practice, no coaches’ meeting, and nothing to entertain me apart from planning my date with Stevie meticulously.
Every detail was locked in, and I wouldn’t deviate.
By the time I pulled up to the Carew house, I was set on how I’d court my mate, and hopefully before the night was over she’d wear my bite proudly on her neck so the rest of these bastards around town would know she was claimed by a fierce orc and to stay the fuck away from her.
I smothered a growl, cursing this orc mating ritual bullshit. Orc biology was a bitch when it came to mating. I wasn’t normally jealous or over the top, but since scenting Stevie last night, it was like I was a hormonal teenager again.
Rage sizzled under my skin at the idea of her being with anyone else other than me.
I’d almost said fuck it and stalked her around town to wherever she needed to go.
But I didn’t.
I was good.
Fine.
Court. Rut. Bite. Court. Rut. Bite.
Well, kind of. My inner monologue needed some work.
I only hoped Stevie would feel the same way and not kick me to the curb after my stellar start the night before.
I’d had to endure many orc biology lessons in school and was beyond thankful I’d actually paid attention during the mate identification parts. So far the book was spot on.
Can’t stop thinking about her? Check.
Dick constantly hard? Check.
Knot swelling more than it ever has? Check.
Tunnel vision and unable to focus on anything else but her? Check.
I think the kids would call me a simp, especially since I reprimanded her after first meeting, as if I had the right, until her sweet peach scent overwhelmed me and I lost every ounce of anger instantly.
I wasn’t even sure Stevie wanted to go on this date or if she was too shocked or polite to say no since I ran away before she had a chance to think it all through.
But I wasn’t going to ruin my chances now that I was prepared.
I’d have her underneath me, begging for my bite and my cock before the night was done.
I knocked on the big Carew House oak door and waited, listening to the chaos inside and smiling at the family bickering.
I’d always wanted a big family since I didn’t have any siblings or blood family growing up.
Orcs were built for clan life, not for solitude, but when you were dropped off in the nearest town right out of the womb and lucky enough that they hadn’t turned you away or into some science experiment, you didn’t have much choice but to build your own clan.
Which I’d been building in Maplewicket since I was a youngling.
“Hey, coach,” Chester greeted me before catching an excited Marigold mid-air as she made a break for the open door.
“Hey, kid.” I stood by the entryway and waited for Stevie, focusing on not squishing the bouquet of wildflowers bursting with burnt orange, warm yellow, and deep red petals.
Courting 101 included gift giving, and flowers were a classic.
The orange reminded me of Stevie’s hair, which also involved visions of it wrapped around my fist as she choked on my c—
“Are those for me?” Marigold, thankfully, interrupted my inappropriate and ungentlemanly train of thought as she climbed down from her brother to blink her big blue eyes up at me.
“Nope,” I answered.
Disappointment covered her face before she tried to hide it with a smile.
“These are for you,” I corrected before pulling a smaller bouquet of blue and purple wildflowers from behind my back.
The surprise was worth it. I barely caught the little vampire as she leaped into my arms with a big hug and a thank you.
“My daddy brings me flowers every week. I missed them last week,” she whispered, probably hoping no one else heard.
I put her down, and she skipped away with the flowers toward the kitchen probably looking for a vase.
“That was adorable,” Briar said into the silence. “And sad as fuck.” She turned toward Chester. “What day did your dad bring her flowers? I’ll start bringing them myself.”
“No need, I got it covered,” I interjected.
“Big ’ol softie, huh, coach?” Chester chuckled.
“Better start icing those calves from the speed drills I’ll have you running.” I gave him a good coach glare. “I’ll show you a softie,” I mumbled.
He mimed zipping his mouth shut before following his sister into the kitchen.
“That was incredibly sweet. Where was this guy last night?” Stevie asked as she walked out from behind the corner.
I swallowed the curse word at the sight of her.
Her curly burnt orange hair was let loose, flowing free down past her shoulders.
She wore a tight silver dress that hugged her perfect curves in ways that had me hoping that my growing erection wouldn’t show in my black jeans.
“That Thrakh was having a bad day,” I answered, giving her a full smile hoping that she wasn’t put off by the sight of my tusks. “And he hopes you’ll forgive him before the night is up.”
“Good luck, buddy.” Briar chuckled before placing her hands on her hips like she was about to give me a stern talking to. “Have her home by midnight, or I’ll send the wolves after you.”
She used her index and middle finger to point from her eyes to mine. I chuckled but knew Briar’s threat was real.
“Yes, ma’am.”