Page 31 of Sticky for You

“I’m so sorry, Crimson.”

I led Bart to the counter and was ready to join Ricky by the door when Crimson waved me over.

“You’re part of the alpha pride of the town. It’s time I had help. Stay if Bart agrees. Ricky, please stay too.”

The old stalk nodded, but he seemed a little out of it. I exchanged a worried glance with Crimson and Ricky. I suddenly realized I was a stalk of importance now. With Maximus came responsibilities, not just endless fucking. I swallowed hard. Wow! The endless playlist in my head stuttered a little.

Are you alright?

Maximus’s sudden concern warmed me all over and my small stalk gave a little wiggle.

I’m okay. Just a little concerned about Bart. He’s the oldest stalk in town.

Do you need me to help?

I had the best lion ever. No. But I’ll call if I do. Ricky is here too.

I won’t tell Burke.

I felt as if he wrapped me in a huge furry hug, then he was gone.

I guided Bart to the counter. As he sat down, I sniffed, trying not to make it obvious. He didn’t smell right, either. Less rhubarby than usual.

“I saw you this morning, Bart, and you were fine,” Crimson said. “What happened?”

“Someone tried to c-r-u-m-b-l-e me. A monster. Like his lion.” He stabbed a gnarly string at me.

I stared at him. No, that couldn’t be right. Maximus wouldn’t do that. He understood the importance of rhubarb. “There’s no way he’d do that,” I blurted out.

“Are you saying one of the new pride tried to put you in the pan?” Crimson asked carefully.

Bart waved his hand. “No, no. Not one of my new neighbor monsters. I mean, they’re kinda weird, but they’re polite enough. No, this was a monster from out of town. Not one of us. I had to run away, and that’s difficult for an old stalk like me.”

I understood two things which made me want to wiggle with glee if this wasn’t so serious. One, Bart called Maximus and his pride one of us, part of Valentine. My new pride would be thrilled. Two, we had a monster in town.

A real monster.

Crimson clicked her tongue. “When did this happen?”

“This morning. Early. The monster drove out of town.” Bart shuddered. “I was scared to my rhubarbs, I don’t mind telling you. It was enough to scare the rhubarb right out of me. It’s not my time for the pan yet.”

She made soothing noises and promised to find the monster before it hurt anyone else in the town. “Did you see anything, Ricky?”

He shook his head. “After I left Burke… the pride house, I went for a run. I needed time to think.”

No need to guess what that blush was about or who he needed to think about.

Maximus burst through the door, Burke on his heels, nearly sending Ricky flying.

I stared at Maximus. “What are you doing here?”

“I felt your worry. I knew you needed me.”

Oh yeah, what a perk this was. “And what are you doing here?” I asked Burke, trying my best to keep my thoughts to myself, not wanting to ruin Ricky’s surprise.

The bull looked confused. “I… uh… I guess I’m following my alpha.” He made the cutest little snuffling noise, which was explained when his gaze locked on Ricky.

I rolled my eyes. “Uh-huh.”