Page 75 of Baseball and Shifters
“Stone said Kara had two tails,” he explains. “Said he saw her fox form the first time he met her, she damn near bowled him over.”
Derrick blinks, as shocked by the news as I was. “Wait… Two tails?”
Lucas whistles low. “Which means multiple fated mates, just like you.”
“And no one has ever mentioned it before?” Bas asks.
I shake my head. We all exchange heavy glances. “No. I thought it was just my father, and no one has ever told me differently. I never even considered it was a possibility until Derrick mentioned that there had never been a fox with only one tail before.”
“So, her second mate…” Bas trails off, exchanging a look with Derrick. “Where are they?”
Derrick shakes his head not wanting to say what I assume we’re all thinking.
“Knowing what I know about my father, her second mate is either in hiding or dead. My father never would have shared a mate. That I know for sure.”
“And if she met and rejected him before you were born that would explain why she didn’t make it through your birth. It wouldn’t be the first case of a rejection causing death,” Derrick supplies. “If they were bonded and he died I’m not sure how she made it long enough to have you.”
No one speaks for a moment. The weight of the realization that my father is most likely the cause of my mother’s death hangs in the air.
After a few moments, Bas breaks the silence. “I don’t think I’ve ever hated someone as much as I hate your father.”
“You and me both,” mutters Liam, clenching his jaw. “It’s bad enough that he’s a cold-hearted asshole. But to take away herfated mate, to be the root cause of her death, and then to top it all off by raising you like you’re some sort of broken burden…”
He cuts himself off with a deep growl, I see the anger and the grief he has for me swirling in his stormy blue eyes.
“Hey.” Lucas’s hand finds mine, warm and grounding. “You’re not alone in this. Remember.” He lifts his dog tag from where it hangs on his neck and my hand instantly flies to where my matching tag hangs.
“I’m calling my dad as soon as class ends,” Derrick adds, his voice firm and determined. “He’ll have access to records, old files, if there’s a name for this mystery mate we’ll find it.”
My eyes tear up at their unwavering support. I can’t believe I was ever afraid of having mates, now my biggest fear is losing them.
The tension lingers, but slowly we all begin to eat. Bas passes around sandwiches, and we share a large bag of chips between us. Despite today's revelations, the moment is perfect. The sun shines through the tree above us, casting rays of gold over my guys. I admire each of my mates as I munch away on the delicious sandwich, it’s nothing super fancy but man this turkey and cheese sandwich has just the right toppings to hit the spot.
I’m halfway through my sandwich when something bright and bizarre catches my eye. Across the quad someone I’m pretty sure is Trent is power walking towards the campus clinic sporting a full head of shoulder length pink hair. He’s practically glowing in the sunlight, shoulder-length neon pink locks bouncing with every indignant step. The contrast with his usually smug demeanor makes the sight even more hilarious.
“No freaking way.” My words draw the attention of all four of my mates.
One by one, as if they choreographed it, they all look where I’m staring then directly back at me with matching mischievous grins.
“Oh my fates,” I whisper-shout. “ThatisTrent! What did you guys do?”
“We told you revenge would be had, didn’t we?” Liam snarks with a shrug.
Bas turns his attention back towards Trent and lets out a low whistle. “Man, look at that bounce. I told you guys adding that enchantment would make it worth it.”
Lucas laughs so hard, he falls over. Between gasps, I catch the words “neon Barbie” and “Lisa Frank nightmare” and I can’t help but agree.
I cover my face, trying, and failing, not to laugh. “That is so mean. What exactly did you guys do?”
Derrick smiles like the cat that nabbed the cream. “It’s just a little spelled shampoo. No matter what he does, cut it, shave it off, dye it again, it’ll be right back to its shiny pink shoulder-length glory within an hour. It’s set to fade in about a week give or take… unless.”
“Unless what?” I cross my arms, trying to remain serious, despite the fact that all I want to do is join Lucas in his fit of laughter.
“Unless he takes a basic reversal spell,” Liam supplies.
“If he does that, he’ll go bald. Like from his head to his toes… in both forms,” Bas continues, “and if he takes that route, it will last two weeks, or two years. The instructions on that bit weren’t exactly definitive.”
“And to be clear, if he goes to the clinic, they’re going to give him?” I prod, already knowing the answer.
