Chapter 8
The following day, the rains came. Perfect weather for touch football.
Luna, Tak’s horse, was munching hay in the barn, where she preferred to rest during heavy rain.
When we did something as a family, we coordinated our schedules in advance so everyone could make the necessary arrangements with their jobs, classes, or meetings.
Football was a great way to blow off steam.
We also went swimming, but I preferred sports, since I couldn’t swim.
Even though we had transitioned to touch football in recent years so we didn’t have to tackle everyone to the ground—although that was entirely optional—Cecilia never joined.
She preferred badminton, Frisbee, and anything that didn’t involve rough contact.
Archer was incredibly protective, and when he wasn’t around, Krys kept an eye on her.
I wasn’t sure if they’d made an arrangement about that, but it showed his character.
Cecilia might’ve needed protection, but her mare sure didn’t. That black cloud of mischief loved biting my wolf’s tail and racing off.
Three days had passed since the brawl at the Rabbit Lounge.
We heard rumors about Marvin taking a beating.
Tak’s wolf ran all the way to the bar that night and not only cornered him but terrified the man so much that he was petrified of shifting.
Doing so could’ve provoked a death match, and most Shifters didn’t have the balls to stand up to a powerful alpha.
Tak returned home after the confrontation. Wolves were frisky after a fight, and when I went downstairs in the middle of the night for more cookies, the pink apron on the living room floor was gone.
“Five-minute break!” Tak called out.
Everyone plodded to the fence where Cecilia was watching. Her red umbrella shielded her from the rain.
The pasture was a combination of grass, puddles, and mud.
As I walked toward the group, Krys gripped the hem of his wet T-shirt and stripped it off. I stopped in my tracks and watched him pull an ice-cold bottle of water from the cooler. After chugging it, he scooped two handfuls of melted ice water from the chest and splashed it all over his face.
The universe was either trying to torture me or provide fantasy material for future reference.
Krys’s lean muscles and steely gaze could put a shiver down a killer’s spine.
If he had any scars or tattoos, I’d never seen them.
He walked with an air of authority and never averted his eyes.
When he meant to look at you, he looked right at you.
Everyone had on their play clothes. Quinn’s muddy cargo pants weren’t holding out so well in this heavy rain.
I wiped my wet face and slicked back my dirty-blond hair. Even dirtier now after face-planting into a mud puddle.
Melody swung her attention down to my crotch. “How are those working out? Any rips?”
The black compression shorts were stretchy, and I tugged at them. “It feels like someone’s hugging my balls.”
“They’re supposed to be a little tight,” she said before drinking her water.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to order these on the internet?”
“Look, I need something to offer the men. They only stop in to buy their girlfriends jewelry. The young boys like my sneakers, but the men around here don’t.
The swimsuits were a failure, and they’re not into my style of clothes or bedazzled hats, so I’m trying every angle.
A lot of guys work out. Maybe I’ll lose money on it, but I won’t know until I try.
If all goes well and they don’t come apart at the seams, I’ll figure out colors and design a logo with a moon or something cool.
” She twirled her wet hair around her finger while staring at my shorts.
“They’re good for circulation, but I’m not sure if they’ll hold together. ”
I adjusted my crotch, which made everyone avert their eyes. “I’ll let you know if I burst free on the field. Maybe I need more physical contact.” I grabbed a bottle of water and leaned against the fence. “You definitely need color options. I look better in white.”
Archer laughed and turned away. “That’s more than I care to see. White would be a nightmare.”
Melody chomped on an ice cube. “You’ll be modeling them next, only it’ll be in front of your clients. I need someone to promote my product.”
He gave her a cold stare. “Over my dead body. You can see his entire package—the sausage and the meatballs. That’s a hard no.”
When everyone’s gaze swung down to my platter, I flashed a charismatic grin and turned slowly to model every glorious angle. After I reached a full turn, Krys’s gaze focused on a nearby tree. It crushed my ego.
Guess he doesn’t like what he sees.
Quinn leaned against the fence, and when she bent over to wipe off a clump of mud from her pants, her tousled red hair swung forward. “I’m having fun, but I wish this rain would let up! It’s getting hard to run in these. They’re five extra pounds when wet.”
“There’s always naked football,” I suggested.
Salem stepped up to Quinn and wrapped his arms around her. “I’ll be your shelter.”
Eden seemed less enthusiastic as she adjusted her hair scarf. “I’m sorry, guys. I need to leave.”
“You can’t!” Melody argued. “We’re in the lead.”
She tucked her arm around Lucian. “Truth be told, I’d rather stay here and finish, but I have a meeting with Connor I can’t postpone.”
Melody frowned. “Then Hope needs to join, or it’ll be uneven—seven to eight.”
Hope was busy watching the kids, who were probably littering the game room with their toys. No way was she giving up her cozy dry spot to roll around in the mud.
“Be good, baby.” Eden kissed Lucian on the mouth, and his smoky gaze locked on her when she pulled back. She laughed softly and slicked back his ebony hair. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m sorry I have to go, but I didn’t think the game would go on this long.”
“That’s not the look I’m giving you, female.” His eyes skated down to her wet shirt, her nipples visible through the pale blue fabric.
Lakota gripped Lucian’s collar and pulled him away. “Don’t even think about bailing on us, Uncle.”
“Someone needs to,” Krys pointed out. “The numbers aren’t even.”
Mel threw her empty water bottle into the cooler. “Yeah, but Lucian’s on our team. Someone on your team has to go.”
Joy wiped the mud off her knees. “I’ll go. I’m too pooped to continue.”
Atticus lifted her playfully off the ground. “Shall I carry you?”
“No, you shall not,” I quipped before slapping his butt. “I can’t decide if you all want to play football or fool around in the mud, but Virgil Nightingale is down for both.”
When Atticus kissed his mate, Krys shook his head.
We always gave each other looks at the dinner table when the pack started all the lovey-dovey stuff.
I would make kissy lips, he would shake his head, and when someone uttered an over-the-top romantic line, we covered our faces to hide our laughter.
Childish? Perhaps. But it was nice having a friend who understood. Krys would find a mate eventually, and then who would I have to share looks with? Catcher?
While Joy and Eden trudged through the pasture to the gate, Krys clapped his hands and marched to the open field. “Break time’s over.”
Team captains selected their teammates. Since everyone had different skills, the teams were never the same group of people. Today, Mercy and Robyn wanted to play on the same team as their mates, so Tak picked all of them in addition to Archer and Krys.
While their team lined up, ours formed a huddle. The first team that made ten touchdowns was declared the winner, and since there was no other way to make points, that simplified things. The only rules were no using gifts or shifting.
When Melody squeezed her wet hair, blue dye drizzled onto her shirt. “This sucks. I like waiting at least three days before I wash my hair after a new dye job. Whose idea was it to schedule football on a rainy day?”
Salem was the quarterback and not very knowledgeable about sports in general, but he knew everyone’s strengths and weaknesses. “I’ll pretend I’m about to pass. Virgil, go long and wide to the right. Lakota, run like you’re the one I’m passing to.”
Lakota frowned. “I’m not?”
Salem arched his eyebrows and smiled. “Tak’s been on you all day since you’re making the big plays.” He flicked his eyes to Lucian. “When Virgil’s out far enough, I’ll pass it to Lucian, since he can throw farther than me. Atticus, keep Bear away.”
Lakota wiped his face. “Virgil can’t catch. Pass it to me.”
“Salem’s right,” Melody cut in. “Tak’s eyeballing you right now like a meal because he knows you’ll go for the winning play. He’ll never see it coming.”
I glanced over my shoulder when Mercy yelped. Bear must’ve pinched her butt by the way they were laughing at each other. Nothing got wolves more amorous than either fighting or competing in any sports activity that involved chasing and tackling.
Quinn flipped back her wet hair. “I’ll try to keep Mercy off your butt. She’s fast today. Someone gave her extra coffee.”
When we lined up, my stomach knotted. No one ever gave me the winning pass. I pretended it was just another play and adjusted my stretchy shorts before taking my place.
“Set… hut!”
Atticus snapped the ball to Salem, who jogged backward while the rest of them blocked.
Lakota took off like a shot, and when Tak went for him, Melody desperately tried to block.
I sprinted to the right—all eyes were on Lakota.
I worried about Montana, since I’d been blocking him most of the game, but he and Atticus were in a tussle.
When Krys noticed me waiting for the throw, his eyes narrowed, and he sprinted in my direction.
“Oh shit.”
I waved frantically. Salem passed the ball to Lucian, and then Lucian threw it. The ball spiraled toward me in slow motion, but all I could see in my peripheral was a killing machine barreling toward me.