December 18th
Branch let out a loud ‘oof’ as Mira careened into him.
“I thought you could skate,” he complained as she nearly tumbled them both.
Mira grinned up at him. “No, I said it sounded like fun. I’ve never been ice skating in my life.”
Branch grunted. He could attest to that. She was as graceful as two giraffes tied together who were also learning how to skate for the first time.
“Just keep your feet straight.”
He firmly took her hands, gently pulling her along like she was a sleigh. Good job he was a reindeer – made pulling ungainly objects second nature. Not that she was ungainly – not really. It was actually quite sweet watching her stumbling across the ice. No matter how many times she fell over or crashed into someone, she never lost her smile.
“Okay, I think I’m ready for a solo skate,” she said, her smile widening even more.
“Are you sure?”
“Definitely.”
“Okay.”
Reluctantly, he let go of her hands, and she started off steadily enough, taking a few hesitant skates, only wobbling a little. But a second later she started skating full steam, plowing directly into an unsuspecting Roger who was sitting on the edge of the rink talking into his cell.
Branch had to chew his cheek not to laugh. Roger’s horrified expression as Mira hit him had been priceless. He started to move towards them, to ensure that Mira was uninjured and that Roger didn’t put his hands anywhere off limits – lest he wanted to lose one of them – when Ariel waved at him that she was going to rescue Mira.
He chuffed as he scented two of his herd approaching – Wayne and Kara. They were newly mated and ordinarily made him nauseous with their lovey-dovey attitudes. But he supposed it was too late to skate in the other direction. Was it? Yes, it probably was.
“Alpha,” trilled Kara.
Wayne echoed his mate and Branch gave them an absent nod.
“Congratulations on your mate,” gushed Kara. “She’s really lovely. I’m sure you two will be very happy – as happy as we are I’m sure.”
Wayne leaned down and whispered something in Kara’s ear, which unfortunately Branch heard and was choosing to pretend he didn’t.
Kara squealed with laughter, loud enough to nearly burst an eardrum, and Branch gave them both a glower that they completely missed.
Kara sobered a little and elbowed Wayne. “It’s so nice to see you here. We thought you’d never show up to any of the herd events. We thought you didn’t… ah…”
Branch frowned at her and Wayne shook his head at her, telling her to shut up.
“Didn’t what?” prompted Branch.
“Ummm…”
Kara’s cheeks bloomed bright red, and Wayne cleared his throat. “Some members of the herd believed that you were… well, no longer interested in being Alpha.”
Branch scowled in surprise and looked around at various herd mates.
“We mean no offense, Alpha,” murmured Kara in a small voice. “It’s just that in recent years you have stopped attending all herd events and even herd meetings. We barely see you anymore.”
Branch was going to argue that he had been busy, but he stopped and merely gave them a look – an alpha look. They shrank a little from that look.
“But that doesn’t matter now,” said Wayne hastily.
“No, now that Mira’s here I’m sure things will be different,” added Kara, returning to her usual bubbly self.
Branch gave them a dismissive nod, and the two of them skated away in each other’s arms.
He returned his attention to where Mira was apologizing to Roger, who was currently clutching his groin. Branch didn’t bother to withhold his chuckle at that. If anyone deserved a kick in the nuts, it was Roger he thought evilly.
Mira caught sight of Branch watching and gave him a jovial wave. Her enjoyment was not diminished by nearly maiming one of the herd. It certainly increased Branch’s enjoyment. He gave her a half-wave in return.
He thought about what Kara and Wayne told him. True he had not had much time for the many herd events over the past few years, but their business took up a lot of his time. Since Janelle’s death, he had not really wanted to socialize much. Even before then, he thought honestly. Janelle had never really been interested in attending family parties or events like this. If it were a skydiving trip, then yes, she’d probably have agreed to that. She liked doing what she liked, and that was it, and Branch was the same. He didn’t tend to do things just to make others happy if he didn’t want to – well, maybe his mother now and again so that she didn’t cry at him.
But he was here now, and he didn’t really want to be. He wasn’t so selfish that he wouldn’t make the odd small sacrifice for his herd. He was getting mated when he didn’t really want to, wasn’t he? Some would say that was a huge sacrifice. Right? He didn’t want to be mated to Mira, did he?
He watched as she slammed into Harlan. Luckily, he was steady enough just to catch her… in his arms… which were now wrapped around her. Branch didn’t even realize he was skating in their direction until he reached them.
*
“See, wasn’t that fun?”
Branch looked at her in disbelief. “You fell over thirty-two times.”
“Yes, and it was fun!”
Mira laughed at the expression on his face. Ice skating turned out to be a lot more difficult than she imagined, but she had still enjoyed it. All of Branch’s herd were either just amazing on skates or had lots of practice – probably a little of both, but none of them minded picking her up when she fell down. Though Branch wasn’t too keen when any other men tried to pick her up.
“I’d be amazed if you aren’t covered in bruises,” he said censoriously.
Mira pushed the sleeves of her sweater up to her elbows and inspected her forearms. “Looks okay.”
Branch snagged one of her wrists and brought her arm up to his face for a closer look. Mira held her breath as he ran a finger along her arm. A pleasurable shiver danced down her spine.
“Maybe,” he conceded. “But you didn’t fall on your arms.”
His eyes seemed to darken with desire. Mira withheld a moan as she imagined him caressing her where she did indeed fall. His fingers would stroke her cheeks before perhaps delving lower to where her honey seeped, begging for attention…
Impulsively, she leaned towards him, her lips seeking his, and Branch dropped her wrist.
“This is just business,” he said gruffly, and coldly turned away from her.
Mira flinched as if a cold bucket of water had been thrown over her.
“Of course,” she murmured in agreement.
She pushed her sleeves down her arms and forced a smile on her face. She shouldn’t let her desires spiral away from her. She was doing this for her sister, and he was doing it for his herd. Branch could walk away from her at the drop of a hat. That was all there was to it, and she should not forget that otherwise she really would be in danger.
“I better go – Temp worries about me.”
Her sister did indeed stay up pacing until Mira got home. She acted in a motherly way that would be quite foreign to their actual mother.
“I’ll walk you to your door.”
Mira thought about saying no, of insisting he not, but that was just being silly. She was already a little embarrassed and disappointed by his rejection, but she didn’t really want him to think it had affected her.
Mira beamed at him. “Thanks, I appreciate it... dude.”
Branch paused but then nodded and quickly got out the car to jog around and open her door. She had actually never used the word dude in her life – sounded very strange coming out of her mouth. But hey, if they wanted to keep things impersonal, she would keep them impersonal.