Page 5 of Rumble of the Crumble

“You’ve finally pulled your head out of your asses,” Glass said. “Well done.”

From Butch’s expression, he didn’t take the compliment well. “Do that to us again and I’ll feed you to the pan to make c-r-u-m-b-l-e,” he growled, totally meaning it and making me feel a little giddy.

The three stalks, all mated to members of my pride, shivered at the thought. I’d quickly learned it was the worst curse you could aim at a rhubarb. No rhubarb shifter ever wanted to end up in the pan.

“Don’t do that,” Red begged, all wide eyes.

“What were you playing at?” Butch growled as he rolled down the window fully. “I expect this behavior from Tim, not you guys.”

“You stopped suddenly,” Glass said. “We stopped to see if you were alright.”

I was touched they cared enough to check, despite how much I really wanted the kiss.

“Then Tartie leaned over to press the horn when it looked as if you were gonna kiss,” Red added, throwing the sheepshearer under the bus without a second thought.

“Thanks,” Tartie said dryly.

Red smirked at him. “You’re welcome.”

Butch sighed and turned to me. “Let’s go.”

Leaving the smirking stalks behind sounded like the best idea ever if it came with the kiss.

Butch drove away without another word. “I’m sorry,” he said, as we reached Main Street.

“What for?” I asked, confused. What was he apologizing for?

“Those three.”

I shrugged. “They cared enough to check on us.”

“Which is the only reason I didn’t arrest them,” he growled.

I patted his thigh, touching him for the first time that wasn’t under stress. It was… nice. “Forget about it.” Then I couldn’t help smirking at the thought of Maximus getting the call that three of the omega stalks were in lockup for nearly giving the sheriff a concussion. Especially Glass, who was destined to be the next alpha of Valentine. I’d love to be a fly on the wall for that call.

Butch sighed, but his lips twitched. “You think I’m overreacting?”

My smile faded. “You were about to kiss me, and they ruined the moment.”

His grunt told me I was correct.

“At least you didn’t get cockblocked by a chicken like Tartie did,” I pointed out.

Butch’s sour expression changed into a chuckle. We’d all heard the story of Tartie nearly ending up as dinner for a hungry chicken. If it hadn’t been for Burke’s spectacular maternal meltdown, Clucky would have been a midnight snack for me, Apollo, and Maximus. I swear Tartie still had a secret desire to do evil things to the chicken.

“Life is never quiet with the pride,” he said ruefully.

“Do you regret us coming to Valentine?” I asked. “We brought trouble to the town.”

Butch took so long to answer, my heart sank. I was sure he was going to say yes. “You did,” he agreed. “But if you’d never come to Valentine, I wouldn’t have met my fated mate.”

I leaned against the passenger window, staring at the few houses in the town. “I can’t be your fated mate. Two alphas can’t be mated.”

“You’re saying the Great Rhu got our mating wrong?” He didn’t sound angry, more curious.

“Maybe. You know I don’t want a mate because…” I couldn’t finish the sentence. “You should ask Great Rhu to find you someone else.” It really was for the best.

“We’ll see ‘bout that,” Butch said as he drove up to a small one-story like most of the homes in Valentine. No one needed a lot of space as most of the residents took their stalk form and slept in the soil. “How about we fire up the grill and chill?”

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