Page 8 of Rumble of the Crumble (The Rhubarb Effect)

Butch

So maybe that wasn’t taking things as slow as I’d planned. But my mate needed something I could provide. That was okay, wasn’t it? As Leonidis was sleeping peacefully now, I guessed it was more than okay.

When I’d felt his distress, the temptation to drive straight back to the pride house was there, but I didn’t know if Leonidis would welcome me there. So I tried something I’d only read about, and it worked. Projecting was a talent, like with the thoughts, and I grinned at how easily I’d managed, loving his shocked response. So this stalk could teach a lion new tricks and have some fun doing it until he got comfortable with me.

I cleaned up the mess on my belly with an old T-shirt and dropped it on the floor. I needed to do laundry before I ran out of clothes. It would mean getting up early and doing it before work.

Like my sweet mate, I felt relaxed and sleepy, and I hoped he’d be willing to do it again. Real soon. We can go as slow as he wants, but I’m more than willing to help his restless needs.

I fell asleep smiling as I replayed our encounter in my mind. I knew lions can’t purr, I’d checked, but now our link was open, his sleepy breathing sounded almost like a slow purr to me and it lulled me to sleep.

The loud buzz of my phone tore into a dream about my mate. Muscle memory made me reach out, finding the phone unerringly on the nightstand in the same place I put it every night. I’d missed too many calls before I trained myself to put the phone in the same place.

“Sheriff?” The voice of our dispatcher barked in my ear before I’d said a word.

I sat up, realizing it was only three a.m., and knuckled my eyes. “Honey? What’s wrong?”

“There’s a fire at the pride house. The fire house is already there.”

We so rarely had fires, Valentine Growville shared a firehouse with the next town.

Leonidis! I screamed his name in terror through our link, leaping out of bed and hurrying to my chest.

I’m okay, Butch. We’re out.

Is everyone okay? The babies?

Rage boiled in me at the thought of someone trying to kill the babies.

The babies are safe too. He sounded scared, but also furious.

I’m on my way.

You don’t—

I do!

“Sheriff?”

I’d forgotten I remained connected to dispatch. “Sorry, Honey. I’m on my way to the pride house.”

“Okay. I’ll let them know.”

I didn’t bother to tell her they already knew. I disconnected the call, finished dressing, and grabbed my badge and weapon. I’d never shot anyone, Valentine Growville wasn’t that kind of town, but right this minute, I’d put a bullet in anyone who tried to hurt my mate and my new pride.

You know we can all hear this? Tim sounded amused.

I grunted, glad they couldn’t see me blush. No, I’d forgotten I was now part of pride central.

Leave the sheriff alone , Maximus ordered.

He fits right in, Gordon said.

I said nothing. I knew how to filter out the town. In my position, I had to. I’d forgotten I needed to do that to the pride now, too.

Leonidis said nothing, but I felt something new from him. Pride. I’d declared myself a protector of my new pride, and he loved that.

I’ll be there in a minute, I said, hoping it was just to him.

He sent a wave of need to me. Not lust. Need for me to be there for him.

I arrived at the pride house, having driven like a crazy stalk to find it surrounded by fire tenders, ambulances, and police cruisers. It looked as if half the county had answered the call.

A uniformed stalk put his hand up to stop me as I approached, then he recognized me. “Sorry, sheriff.”

He stepped back to let me pass through until I reached the pride.

From the lights trained on the house, it looked intact, but the firefighters were still spraying foam and water on one corner. I knew from experience they wouldn’t be able to return to the house for a while. Leonidis and another pair could stay with me. Red and Goliath could do the same.

I ignored everyone, searching through the crowd until I found the one shifter I cared about.

Leonidis.

Covered in soot and holding a chicken, he was the best sight in the world. When he spotted me, he loped over, clutching Clucky under one arm. Considering the hen was in the arms of one of the few creatures who would eat it, Clucky seemed remarkably content.

“Should I ask?” I said as I reached him, eyeing the chicken, who looked like he wanted to peck my eye out.

“Burke was worried about Clucky.”

As if that explained everything. Knowing the relationship between the bull and the hen, it explained it all.

Leonidis’s mouth quirked up at one corner. “Burke lost it when Tartie made a crack about barbeque chicken.”

I winced. “And the stalk is still breathing?”

“Just. Ricky had to hold Burke back from throwing Tartie into the flames. And only because Tartie promised to build a palatial coop for Clucky once we’re allowed back.”

That reminded me why I was really here.

“Tell me what happened,” I asked gently.

“I’m not sure,” Leonidis admitted. “I was out cold.” He coughed, and we both eyed each other for a moment before he continued. “I woke up to Randy shaking me hard and the sound of the smoke detector. We were the last two to get out. Someone set a fire in our kitchen.”

He sounded distraught, and I was sure part of that was losing the kitchen. It was such an important part of pride life.

I pressed my lips together. I was done with this. “Have you been checked out for smoke inhalation?”

“I’m fine, I promise.”

That sounded like a brush off.

“What about the babies?”

“Doc Picker is taking care of them. They’re well away from the house and being protected at Goliath and Drew’s place. They’re fine, I swear.”

“Take me to Maximus.”

Leonidis nodded. He led me over to the alpha lion, who was deep in conversation with Crimson.

Then I turned to the nearest EMT, a sweet-faced young woman. “Leonidis needs to be checked for smoke inhalation. Don’t let him leave the ambulance until he’s been thoroughly assessed.” My mate looked like he’d swallowed something sour. It was my responsibility as his mate to take care of him, no matter what. I took Clucky from him and gave him a kiss on the end of his nose before pushing him in the direction of the EMT. “I’ll be back to you as soon as I’ve spoken to Maximus.”

“Minus the chicken,” the EMT said.

“Without the chicken,” I agreed, keeping my amusement to myself.

I turned and headed over to Maximus and Crimson, handing the chicken to Glass on the way. I knew better than to give him to Tartie.

Glass didn’t look thrilled to be babysitting Clucky, but he didn’t protest.

“Why aren’t you with your mate?” Crimson demanded, eyeing me like she’d often done when I was a young stalk, causing trouble.

“He’s with the EMT,” I muttered defensively.

“You should be with him. He needs you.”

I knew that, but I’d made sure he was being taken care of, hadn’t I? I was the sheriff, and I had a job to do. A job that required me to protect everyone.

Maximus gave me a sympathetic look. “Give him a break, Crimson. He’s the sheriff. I want to be with Tim and my babies, but I’m needed here.”

I mouthed a thank you and cut to the chase. “It’s time we put a stop to this.”

Maximus’s shoulders slumped. “It’s time the pride left. It’s too dangerous for Valentine with us here.”

“So you can just take the danger to another town?” Crimson snapped. “I don’t think so.”

“I agree with Crimson,” I said, giving him a hard stare. They were not leaving with my mate. Hell, no.

Maximus stared at me. “Your mate nearly died. We can’t carry on like this.”

“I agree.” I curled my lip. “It’s time we turned the tables on the monsters.”