Page 14 of Stalk of the Town

Leonidis ran his tongue over those same teeth, color leaching from his skin. His eyes widened. “The wilt!”

There was panic coming at the pride, and then the sounds of sneakers and booted feet running through the house came moments later and the room filled. I loved my pride, I really did.

Only it was Burke I watched when he clutched at his belly, looking decidedly peaky. “What is it? What happened now?”

He groaned and bent forward, and water gushed from between his legs, soaking his sweatpants. A puddle developed between his legs on the floor.

“Babies… babies… coming…” Ricky stammered, his eyes so wide they ate up his entire face, before he ran around in a circle, arms flapping. “We’re having babies. We’re having babies… oh to Great Rhu we need help,” he screeched.

One drama, for now, replaced another.

Tim rolled his eyes at Ricky. “Stop being so dramatic and go call Doc Picker.”

Ricky shook his head, his arms going around Burke, who whined, his legs buckling under him. “You do it. I’m not leaving my mate.”

“We need to get him outside and into the soil,” Maximus said, clearly taking charge, which was good because I was feeling more than a little queasy about the reality of what was going to happen. Why had I thought I needed to be here for this?

“Drew, grab the left side and help Ricky take Burke outside.”

Maximus had the ‘don’t argue, just do it’ face, so I got up reluctantly and stepped around the puddle. I tucked my shoulder under Burke’s arm and wrapped my arm around his waist over Ricky’s. “Let’s go.”

“What do you want me to do?” Apollo asked as we got to the door.

“Ring Doc Picker and tell him about Burke.”

“I could go get him,” Glass offered as we exited the house.

“Someone do something,” Ricky called back, looking at me with terrified eyes.

“Ricky, stalk of my heart, you’re gonna have to dial back the panic, the babies are pushing to climb a damn pole,” Burke gasped between moans.

“Sorry,” he murmured, directing us in the opposite direction to the pole in the garden.

There was no way anyone would want to see a mini bull giving birth on a pole.

I shuddered, my imagination running wild at thoughts of a gaping ass and babies hanging from it above my head. Nope… just no.

“Honest, you lot need to stop thinking,” Burke complained as we stopped at the section of ground that he used with Ricky when his mate wanted to stalk out.

It was my turn to apologize. “Sorry.” I glanced at the turned soil. “Is here okay?”

Burke nodded, already sinking to the ground.

“We need to get your pants off,” I murmured, trying to haul Burke back up.

“Scissors,” he moaned, “use scissors.”

The second his knees hit the soil, I darted for the house and burst into the kitchen. “Scissors, we need some, now!”

“What the heck?” Tim blanched as he held the cub in his arms.

Leonidis remained sitting, holding the parcel. “Guys… hey… shit… something’s happening!” he squealed.

“We know… oh they’re splitting.” Tim danced his way to Leonidis.

“Splitting… what the heck does that mean?”

“They are doing what stalks do naturally,” Tim explained, like Leonidis was acting silly.

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