19. NINETEEN
NINETEEN
Colton
Twenty-five seconds left on the play clock, and I stare at the faces of my teammates. We’re tired, we’re sweaty, but I haven’t seen everyone this energized all season—maybe longer.
“All right team. Time to unleash the wildcat.” Coach holds my gaze a moment longer than the others, a tiny nod of his head acknowledging the success of my suggestion to hold our shift until mid-play.
We’ve had our opponents on the back foot the whole game, and we are four points behind, forty yards out. Everything rides on this play.
We break the huddle and take our position, and I’m thrilled when two of the other team’s shifters cover me; the stocky bear shifter staying close while their werewolf defensive end locks onto me, ready to hunt me down if I break away.
Too bad it won’t be me they have to chase.
I tense, making it look like I might make a run for the ball.
The whistle blows and I dart off the line, hurtling forward and catching the bear off guard and ducking beneath his tackle. I call for the ball, but Xavier ignores me, knowing the play.
As the wolf decides I’m his target and rushes forward, Reid shifts into his graceful half-lion form, sprinting forward.
He leaps to catch the pass, and the next few seconds are a blur.
He’s too fast for the remaining human defenders, dodging their attempts to block him.
The final shifter is all that stands between us and victory.
The alligator shifter’s solid skin makes him all but immune to Reid’s claws, but his arms are short.
He steps into my teammate’s path, but Reid simply dodges, leaping and bounding away, keeping the ball tucked beneath his arm.
Just like that, Reid trots over the line and a cheer goes up from the stadium.
The whistle blows and we stare at each other for a moment in disbelief. Our first win of the season. Not a moment too soon with only one game to go, but I’ll take it.
There’s a road to recovery where there was only dense forest before.
We’re still celebrating in the locker room, everyone talking and laughing, calling out jokes and banter back and forth, more lighthearted than I’ve seen the team in forever.
I hardly notice my phone buzzing with a call. It’s only when it stops that I notice. I snatch it up and check, frowning when I see it’s from Natalia.
I call back immediately, wrapping a towel around my waist and stepping into the shower block to try to hear her.
“Oh hi. I’m sorry. Are you busy?” She sounds worried. I don’t like that one bit.
“Game just finished. Sorry it’s loud in here, but I can talk. Is everything OK?”
Xavier jostles me. “Leave off, Hester. You can call your mama and tell her the good news in a minute.”
I ignore him. Natalia is saying something I can’t hear. “...probably nothing, but I just feel so odd, you know?”
I press my finger into my ear to drown out the whoops and laughter. “Odd like how?”
“Just a little hot and uh… strange. I checked and Jayden doesn’t have a temperature. He’s feeding well. I might just be coming down with something.”
My protective instincts kick right in, and my bull rises to the surface. Pulling the phone away from my ear, I shout, “Could you all calm the fuck down for a moment?”
There’s a stunned pause for half a moment, then laughter breaks out again. “What’s eating you, man?”
Rolling my eyes, I tuck the towel tighter and step out into the passage. I was hoping to get some space to talk in peace, but of course reporters are already crowding around waiting to catch the players as we exit the locker room. I groan as several flashes go off from various cameras.
Coach Rodgers beckons me toward him. “Everything alright, Hester?”
“I don’t know. It’s my… nanny…” I almost said mate, but Natalia is still on the other end of the line, listening.
“Use the manager’s room.” He guides me toward a small office, ushering me inside and shutting the door behind me, finally letting me talk in peace. “Sorry. I can hear you now. Do you want me to come home?”
“No. No, I think I’m fine. I guess I’m just talking it through. I don’t want to put Jayden at risk.”
I frown. “I don’t like the thought of you sick and alone.”
“You’ll be home on Monday,” she says, but I hear the tightness in her voice, the worry.
“No. Fuck that. I’ll be home tonight.”
“No, Colton. I’m fine.”
“You’re not though. I know you. You wouldn’t have called unless you were really worried.”
She’s silent on the other end of the line, which is as good as a confirmation.
“I’m going to ring my parents and get them to come help you with Jayden, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I expect her to argue more. What she does worries me even more.
Her voice has a tremor in it as she speaks. “OK. Thank you.”
Fuck.
I need to be on a flight like yesterday. My mate needs me.
Like an asshole, I don’t turn my phone into Airplane Mode when the flight takes off. I flick the screen on and check the message when a notification buzzes in my pocket.
Mom: We have Jayden. He’s fine. How quickly can you get here?
I frown. Those sentences together can mean only one thing: there really is something the matter.
I type back quickly: What is it?
There’s a pause while my mom is typing. She’s always been a slow typer, but today it is agonizing waiting for her message.
Mom: You don’t need to worry, but you do need to get home. I’ll explain when you get here.
What? That’s it? Doesn’t she know there are another three hours on this flight?
Colton: Mom, please just tell me what’s wrong with Natalia. Should I call a doctor? Send an ambulance? What?
Mom: Would you stop panicking? I told you she’s fine. Or she will be.
I pinch my fingers over the bridge of my nose in frustration. And then, because my Mom is old and sometimes the only thing that will get through to her is blunt force, I turn on the shouty capitals.
Colton: JUST TELL ME WHAT IS HAPPENING
Mom: She’s in heat.
I stare at the message, trying to make the two sides of my brain talk to each other.
One side is screaming fuck yes thinking about rutting my mate, burying my cock inside her, and knotting her until she’s stuffed full of my cum, the other is worried I’ve misread.
That I’ve got it wrong. That there really is something badly wrong and I’m going to be rushing Natalia to hospital when I get home.
Colton: You’re sure?
Mom: Do you think I was born yesterday? I know an omega in heat when I smell one. Get home. We will take care of your baby boy.
Shiiiiiiiiiiit.
I’m five parts excited to one hundred parts scared as hell.
I’m scared Natalia won’t want me to help her through it.
I’m scared this will somehow make things worse between us, when I’d already decided on a plan.
I’m scared I’ll somehow do it wrong and she’ll hate it, even though every time I’ve touched her, her body lights up just like mine does for her.
I start when the flight attendant taps my shoulder. “What can I get you to drink, sir?”
I can’t even respond to her. I’m still staring down at my phone in astonishment.
Natalia in heat!
Wait, does this mean she really is a shifter after all?
I have so many questions, but more than anything I need her in my arms.