Page 46 of Baseball and Shifters

She must sense him even without the bond because she turns and their eyes lock for a moment before he makes an about face and goes back the way he came.

Guess not. Fucking coward.

“What’s his problem? He seems even more skittish around me than I was when we all first met,” Rachel grumbles.

“He’ll come around, Moonbeam, don’t worry,” Lucas says.

“Come around to what?” Her brows furrow and it’s too adorable the way she looks at Lucas like he’s lost his mind. “Oh fuck. You think he’s my final mate, don’t you?”

We all laugh out loud at the indignation in her voice. It doesn’t sound like she’s too thrilled about the idea.

“Well, you are my mate, Moonbeam…” Lucas explains, though by the look on her face, his explanation is pretty lacking. “Male multiples in wolves typically share a mate. Liam’s my twin… you’re my mate… exo facto you’rehismate.”

“And he’s avoiding me like the plague because he doesn’t want me to be his mate.”

The way she says it, so matter of fact, so accepting, like she expected him not to want her, has my tiger bristling.

“No, Moonbeam. It’s not about you, sweet girl. Liam is dealing with some issues. That’s all. Call it ‘oldest child syndrome’. It’s notyou. He doesn’t want a mate at all.”

She freezes and I feel an echo of her pain through the bond.

“It’s not! Oh God, I’m fucking this all up. I’m sorry, Moonbeam. Like I said he’ll come around. He just has to get over his own insecurities.”

Derrick’s arms tighten around her and she relaxes back into his chest.

“What do you mean oldest child syndrome? I thought you were the oldest,” she mutters.

“Well, yeah, but we haveelevenyounger siblings, remember? That’s a lot of pressure when we were just kids ourselves,” I try to explain better.

“It’s his loss, Emerald. He can take all the time he wants to come to his senses, just means one less person I have to share you with,” D murmurs in her ear before kissing her neck.

Her face flushes, but she doesn’t say anything, just takes the sandwich I was trying to give her before Liam knocked our date off track.

She takes a big bite and moans. “Man, I love this sandwich.”

“Fuck, Firefly. You can’t do that,” I groan.

“What?” She glances around wide-eyed taking in the hungry expressions on each of our faces. “Ohhh. Sorry.” She shrugs.

Her innocent response breaks the tension in the air and we all turn our focus to the food. For a few moments at least.

“So, I’ve been thinking,” Lucas says, breaking the comfortable silence. “I know you can’t come to every game, especially away games, but what would you think about watching them on TV? You can stay in your dorm and watch with the girls.”

“They’re televised?” she asks, surprised.

“Sports are kinda a big deal here, Moonbeam. Of course, they’re televised,” Lucas chuckles.

“Well, why didn’t you say so sooner? I don’t mind watching you play. I just wasn’t comfortable being out in public like that. I’m used to being locked away in my room, ok? Just being in public like this is new and sometimes overwhelming to me.”

“What was that about being locked away in your room?” Derrick growls.

“Did I say that? I meant… I’m just a homebody. That’s all.”

“That’s not all. Don’t lie to me, Emerald.”

“My father’s controlling, ok? Can we not talk about that right now?”

My tiger roars in my head, more than ready to avenge our mate.

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