Page 14 of Once Upon a Dance Club Wish

As I ran, the bucket I carried smacked me in the knee. I remembered my promise to Walter. He’d been nothing but kind to me, so I had to fulfill my last obligation to him before I left.

At the well, I pumped water into the bucket as tears streamed down my face. I’d really hoped things with Holden would have worked out. I hadn’t known him long, but I’d really put a lot of faith in my wish.

No more. No more wishing on birthday candles or the first star I saw in the sky. And definitely no more throwing coins into fountains. All a waste of time and money, hoping for things that would never happen.

With a full bucket, I trudged back to Walter’s place, my body feeling empty in comparison. Sure, it had taken Walter three tries to find his perfect mate, but I didn’t want to wait around to find the next. I would return to my world, somehow find the funds to move across the country, and start over. I was willing to do it in the forest, so I could do it there, too.

As I approached the cottage, I wiped the tears from my cheeks. Maybe that was what I needed to realize all along; I needed to get away from what I knew to find the happy ending I wanted.

A shifter I recognized, but couldn’t remember their name, met me at the door and took the bucket from me. The kids raced out the door then, hooting about another baby and no longer seeming terrified about their father being in labor.

The youngest tugged on my hand. “When are you going to have a baby?”

I gulped, swallowing the lump in my throat and trying to keep my tears at bay. “I...I don’t know.”

He shrugged. “Maybe the other outer-worlder will have a baby soon. Holden brought him here early in the morning. They woke us up before Daddy started having the baby.”

The vices tightened once again, my heart shattering to pieces. I had to leave right away. Yet, when I turned around, I saw Holden heading up the path toward us. And he was alone.

Chapter Twelve

Holden

I hadn’t planned on leaving Nelson in bed. Hadn’t planned on having him wake up alone. I definitely hadn’t planned for everything that happened after. Ahmed had admitted he hadn’t fully instructed me on what to do when outer-worlders arrived, but he did say to take them to see Walter before anyone else.

So, when I heard an outer-worlder shouting as I dozed off beside Nelson, I knew what I had to do.

When I reached the meadow, the man caught me by surprise. Instead of appearing with only the clothes he wore, like Nelson, the new outer-worlder popped into our world with cases and bags filled with belongings. His face seemed to sparkle in an odd way, like diluted magic had changed his appearance.

“Yoo-hoo!” He waved his hand like he had a hard time keeping his wrist straight. “I’m here. I’ve arrived at the entrance to the Enchanted Forest, and I’m ready to meet my mate.”

I tried to smile at him, but it was a weary effort due to my tiredness from moving the day before and my want to be back in bed with my future mate. “Hey, I’m Holden, Security Officer for the Enchanted Forest. I will take you to meet Walter, the first outer-worlder who came to live here, and then to Banir, the head of the forest council.”

“Oh, Banir, what’s he like?” The man leaned forward and cocked his head to the side. “Is he looking for a mate? I like a man in charge.”

“Yes, yes, he is.” A burst of energy rushed through me with the hope this outer-worlder was the one Ahmed had chosen to be Banir’s mate. Then maybe the head of the council wouldn’t be so patronizing toward Nelson and me.

I picked up some of the belongings the man had brought with him. “Follow me and I’ll take you to meet Walter now.”

“Tell me...” He tapped my shoulder from behind. “Do all the people of the Enchanted Forest wear as little as you?”

Miffs, that had been one thing Nelson had commented on when he’d first arrived. Maybe I needed some outer-world clothing for when I greeted their residents. I was thankful I’d at least remembered to wear my garment. “Yes. We don’t find the need for a lot of clothing.”

The man gave an excited giggle. “Oh, just like going to a Muscle from the Jungle show. I’m going to love it here.”

Walking ahead, I tried to figure out what the man was talking about but had no clue. I needed to ask Nelson when I returned to him.

Though asleep when I arrived, Walter still got up to talk to the new outer-worlder. Lonnie, according to Walter. I’d forgotten to ask his name in my sluggish state. After leaving the very pregnant former outer-worlder to get some more rest, I grabbed the luggage again and led Lonnie toward the village to meet Banir. He seemed to have no reservations about living in our world or being mated to the head of the council. Though I wondered if that would change when he met the squirrel shifter.

Chauncey, the minotaur guard of Banir, stopped us as we approached the leader’s hut. “He’s sleeping. What do you want?”

I nudged my hand toward Lonnie. “New outer-worlder has arrived. And he is anxious to meet Banir.”

Chauncey scowled. “This isn’t going to be like the last time, is it? Because there’s no point in waking him only to be disappointed.”

Lonnie stepped forward, placing his finger on the minotaur’s wide chest. “I’ll have you know that Banir will not be disappointed with me. I came here to be his mate. So let me meet him.”

Chauncey’s eyes widened. “You are definitely not like the other outer-worlder. A good challenge for Banir, I think.” He disappeared inside the hut before coming back out moments later with the head of the forest council. “May I present to you, Leader Banir.”

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