Howls and Home Runs (Mascot Matchups #1)

6. Wilder

Chapter six

Wilder

“ D on’t scream, I won’t hurt you!” I rush out in a panic. The color drains from Lainey’s face and her eyes roll to the back of her head before she collapses. Lunging forward, I carefully catch her in my paws before she hits the floor.

Shit. Cradling her in my arms, I carry her over to the bench and lay her down, her head in my lap and her body stretched along the cool wood. “Lainey? Lainey are you alright?” Her eyes flutter as she comes to, then go wide as she tries to sit up quickly. I gently stop her with my paw.

“Slow down, you’re ok. I’m not going to hurt you. You just fainted.” She allows me to guide her head back into my lap, her eyes never leaving mine. I can feel her fear.

“W-Wilder? You’re alive?!” Her body starts to shake, making my hollow chest ache. That’s new.

I carefully place my paw on the side of her face for comfort, not totally sure if it’s for hers or my own.

“Alive-ish. Not quite like you, but yes. Are you alright?”

Her eyes search mine frantically as if she’s waiting for a punchline, then snorts loudly, making my fur bristle at the sound. Is she laughing at me? I straighten and tilt my head at her laughter.

“What’s so funny?”

It comes out a little more unpleasant than I mean it to. Lainey startles, blankly staring back at me at the same time she slowly sits up.

“It was you! The whining-the breeze! The liquid! It was you this whole time!” She rushes out short sentences between quick breaths, but feels less afraid now. My fur relaxes back to its normal state as her emotions turn from bitter to something more palatable.

Lainey jumps up off the bench, standing in front of me. “But how? When? Have you been alive this whole time?!” Her eyes rove over my body and face, trying to make sense of it all.

“I’m not sure when but I do know it was some time ago.. My handlers, I think they brought me life with their emotions and it made me– “ I gesture up and down my body with my paw, “this. One day I had thoughts and feelings of my own and they grew more complex with each handler.”

Lainey circles me on the bench, taking me in, as she chews on her thumb. I sit still, well mostly still. My damn tail starts to wag and my nose twitches as her scent wraps around me, both calming and arousing me at the same time. I almost lose my mind when I see her small pink tongue darting out against the back of her thumb. She breaks the silence, and my dirty thoughts, as she stops in front of me again.

“Does anyone know?” Lainey inspects my features again, her brows furrowed in concentration, when her emotions hit me like a fastball. Curiosity . Her sweet scent, potent now, enveloping my senses. I snap my muzzle closed before drool drips from my jaws.

“Only you.” My voice shakes as I stare into her soft green eyes. The color of sage brush, gentle and calm. They meet mine cautiously before she reaches out to stroke my face. Meeting her hand halfway I nuzzle against it instinctively. I’ve craved her touch since the moment her dainty fingers stroked my fur for the first time. Lainey pauses at the increased contact, pulling her hand back at first, then hums continuing to stroke my face of her own accord.

We remain together for a few minutes, with her petting me and me savoring her touch, imprinting this moment in my memory. Just us, sweet silence and- whistling? Damn it. Jett Blackthorne.

Jett’s footsteps echo down the hallway. “Quick!” She whispers, removing my head. Letting my body drape over the bench as a normal mascot suit would. The locker room door flies open, his whistling echoes even louder as the shrill notes bounce off the metal lockers.

“Jett!” Lainey gasps as she turns towards the door. He takes one of his earbuds out and smiles at her. A growl forms deep in my throat but I don’t let it escape. Strike one.

“Lainey, hey! I was just picking up my new jersey. It needed some extra stitches.” He flexes an arm like he’s showing off something impressive. His thick mustache tipping upwards with his lip into a smirk. I refrain from rolling my plastic eyes. When Lainey doesn’t preen at the display he changes the subject, looking behind her. “You practicing with Wilder?” Jett’s eyes graze over Lainey’s frame voraciously when she twists to glance back at me before returning to him. Strike two.

“Yep! Coach Reynar told me I should come in and get to know him before the season starts.” I can feel the tension in Lainey’s body as her arms slowly constrict around my head. A bitter taste flooding my taste buds .

“Cool.” Jett grabs his jersey from the rack, tossing it over his shoulder, before stepping into her space. He brushes a stray strand of her fiery hair behind her ear, lingering there for far too long.

“Aren’t you scared to be alone in here? I could stay- help you get familiar with Wilder and the stadium. I know all the cool spots.“ Jett’s tone mocking how she addresses me, Lainey’s discomfort grows. He presses closer to Lainey’s body. Strike three. The growl in my throat escapes and Lainey tenses, her eyes darting down towards my head still in her hands.

“I’m all good, thank you though, Jett!”

He falters at the rejection for just a moment. Before stepping backwards, finally granting her some breathing room, he has the audacity to ruffle the fur between my ears. Asshole.

Lainey’s shoulders relax and her grip on my head softens as Jett and his mustache back away. A mustache I would very much like to rip off his face right now.

Jett whistles while walking backwards towards the locker room door. “He looks better now. More scary. Grrrr.” Attempting a growl while holding his hands up like mock claws, he winks at Lainey. “See you at practice then, Lainey.”

Lainey forces a smile as he disappears through the door. Once closed she lets out a breath, turning towards my body, my head still nestled between her palms.

“That was close.” Fucking Jett Blackthorne.