Page 4 of Stalk of the Town

Chapter Five

Goliath

Nothing helped with the feeling of separation I had from my llama. From the moment I’d gotten out of the soil the day before, I’d been struggling. I was too scared to talk to Crimson in case she gave me that look of disappointment. It was one she’d perfected to make any wayward stalk stick to the rules. Only I’d never been good at following orders when I liked to wander.

So here I was driving around looking for an excuse to get to the pride house. I wasn’t ashamed to use Tartie. I’d been paying real close attention to all the stalks who were living at the pride house. And when I’d figured out Tartie was heading to collect his shears and drop by and see Crimson to alert her to the intruder, I’d stalked him.

I came to a stop in front of Tartie, giving him a friendly smile of welcome. He and I went way back to being young stalks. He had so many stories from his travels I loved to listen to, so when he was home we usually spent some time together. I didn’t need to talk; he did it all for me.

I cranked down the window slowly. “Damn thing is stuck,” I grumbled for good measure, hoping he’d not suspect how my heart was leaping about like a young stalk rolling in the soil. “Where are you off to so early? Leaving town again?” Could he hear the lie?

“I’m on my way to the pride house.”

I gave a slow blink, thinking how such a crowded house wasn’t something Tartie liked; he, like me, preferred space and our own company.

Not anymore.

“Kinda busy there for you, ain’t it?”

He beamed at me. “I’ve met my fated mate. A sweet ram. He’s perfect.”

I knew that, but I nodded, revealing how happy I was for him, ‘cause I was. “Congratulations. Great Rhu blessed you.”

I hesitated, then shook off the thought that I was using my friend to meet my mate, officially. “Hop in,” I said, keeping the excitement out of my voice. “I’ll give you a ride.”

A blush heated my cheeks as he swept off the trash on the seat into the footwell and climbed in. I didn’t think about such things. I had no one to please but me. What would my mate think about my mess?

Was I making a mistake when I hadn’t cleaned up my place? It was too late now… wasn’t it?

The second we drew to a stop outside the house, nothing would have prevented me from leaving without my mate, when he was all I could smell, even inside my old Chevy.

Tartie squinted at me. “You alright there, Goliath. Do you have a cold?”

Here goes. “I can smell something, Tartie. It smells amazing. Like candy. Like… those ole fashioned love hearts.” I’d done a lot of research on finding out exactly what Drew smelled of. My home was littered with boxes of different candies I’d special ordered to find his intoxicating smell.

Tartie stared at me, a furrow appearing as his brows drew together. “Come on in and let’s introduce you to the pride.” He hopped out of the truck as soon as he opened the door, then looked at me. “I have a feeling you’re gonna find a surprise inside.”

Here goes nothing.

At the door, Tartie knocked, and I shuffled from foot to foot as the seconds ticked down, and I struggled to find a way to breathe properly to get my chest to move normally.

“Is somebody going to let Tartie in?” someone called from inside.

My hearing was good. There were some mumblings, then a voice grew louder. “I know. We all know, but you didn’t seem inclined to answer the door. Leonidis is still hiding, Burke and Ricky, along with Apollo and Glass are in the soil, everyone else is with the sheriff, what’s a lla—”

The gorgeous man who opened the door stopped speaking, and his jaw hung open as he stared at me. Was it good he’d gone silent?

Was that what was supposed to happen when one officially met their mate?

“This is my friend Goliath. He offered me a lift and—”

It was too much, and my instincts took over before I could talk some rhubarb sense into myself, I rumbled, “You’re mine.” I lifted Drew clear off the ground and my insides shook from the shock of electricity that traveled straight to my cock. His hands clutched at my wide shoulders, and I wished I was naked and…

“I knew it,” Tartie said, grinning.

“I… yes… big… oh…” Drew slumped in my arms, his head lolled to the side.

There was a squeal, only I was already moving, tucking Drew into my enormous body, spinning around, heading back down the path, needing to be alone to check Drew over thoroughly, and without an audience.

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