concepts of treating people with respect and seeing the positives in everyone. But hearing Ronald’s story, and his obvious heartbreak over his brother… Yeah, Kee didn’t know what he could do against mating sickness, but he’d give anything at all a damn good try.
“He’s through there.” They were back at the small house Ronald shared with Roger – Kee, Seth, Ra, Eagle, Doc and his mate Deputy Joe, and Dian. Ra had got someone, another rabbit, to take their kids, so at least they weren’t crowding into the apartment, but it was still a tight fit. Doc and his mate immediately went through to the bedroom indicated. Ronald was staring at Mrs. Hooper who’d turned up with a huge basket of her ready-made meals, as if she was a goddess.
“There’s never an excuse for anyone to go hungry in this town, never!” Mrs. Hooper said harshly, dumping her basket on the small table. “If you need food, you come and see me. You can sweep floors, stock shelves, do whatever, but you do not go hungry in this town, you hear me.”
“Yes, ma’am. Definitely, ma’am. Thank you so much.” Ronald’s head was bobbing up and down like a yo-yo. “Oh, yum, stew. I’ll heat some for Roger too, ma’am. I can’t thank you enough, ma’am, honestly.”
Mrs. Hooper snorted and left through the back door of the small apartment with a swirl of her considerable skirts. Kee felt better knowing that the two rabbits would at least have food for the foreseeable future. He looked around, unsure on what he could actually do. Ronald’s whimpers of pleasure as he unpacked the food reminded Kee of times he’d rather forget.
The apartment was compact, but the two rabbits had done what they could with the space. There was only the one three-seater couch in the living room, along with a small tv and a radio sharing space on what looked like an old dressing table. There was no sign of computer equipment or any of the other gadgets so many young people deemed necessities, but everything was clean and tidy. The kitchen was equally sparse. There was a small microwave sitting on the counter, a bar fridge under it and a small set of shelves screwed to the wall holding two each of mugs, plates and bowls.
“It’s not much, but it’s ours,” Ronald said, clasping a bowl of stew and a fork like a lifeline.
“I know how important a home is,” Kee said softly. “There have been times when I haven’t had one at all and slept in my car. Finding somewhere where I could actually stay for good…” He blinked rapidly. “Today’s town hall meeting meant the world to me.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t mean to hijack that.” Roland eyed him warily. “It’s just, fuck, I’ll believe in the powers of unicorn horns and pixie dust if something can make Roger better.”
“Did Roger care for this Reckless person?” Seth asked. He’d been standing looking out the window with Ra.
“He cared about the idea of having a mate. He didn’t know the wolf at the time,” Ronald said quietly. “I remember the night he scented him in the bar. He was so excited, thinking about what he’d wear next time he saw him and how… how our lives would be so much better once we - he said we - had some security in our lives.”
“I’m not surprised he’s so down now then,” Kee said. “Ideally, that is what a true mate should be – solid, reliable and dependable. Our protection against the world.”
Dian who’d been standing silently thus far, draped an arm across his shoulders. “Do you know if this Reckless person inhaled Roger’s scent at all?”
“He wouldn’t have been able to help himself.” Ronald scraped out the bottom of his bowl and got up, rinsing it in the sink. “Roger might have got a bit enthusiastic that second time, but what guy doesn’t want to jump on their mate when they first speak to them?”
“I know the feeling.”
Surprisingly, it was Ra who’d spoken up, causing Seth to giggle. “He hasn’t stopped. He still keeps jumping on me.”
“The thing is,” Kee jumped in quickly, “if this Reckless wolf person has scented Roger, he’s going to have the worst case of blue balls possible. His wolf won’t let him touch another person, male or female, and for wolf shifters that’s like the highest form of torture they can think of.”
“He deserves it,” Ronald said darkly. “You didn’t see Roger when he came home that