My Lycan Mate of Suicide Forest

Chapter 33 - Piggy-back

Graeme laughed lightly at May's question while August's expression turned to one of surprise. The woman gasped.

"She is your mate, oh I knew it. I can see by the way you look at her. And there's an energy around you two, isn't there? But I never thought I'd see the day," she grabbed their hands and squeezed them both in hers. August saw the woman's eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"My sweet Graeme, thank the Goddess. I'm so happy for you. I'm so happy for you both," she pulled August in to a one-armed hug and kissed her head. "This calls for a celebration. Sit, both of you," she gestured toward the table. "You won't need these," she laughed to herself and plucked the menus off the table. "Just wait, just wait. I'll send you out all of the best," she giggled and left them.

August's face felt warm when the whirlwind of the woman's affection retreated, and it didn't cool any under Graeme's eyes.

"Quiet, huh?" August teased, looking down into her lap.

"See, and this is with the private space. Just imagine being in the restaurant," he said.

"Does everyone treat you like this?"

"No, not everyone. I've known May since I was small," he replied.

A short time later plate after plate after plate of food began arriving on the empty tables surrounding the couple, and August's eyes grew larger and larger as it didn't cease. It appeared that the old woman had sent them one of everything off of the menu.

Graeme took August's empty plate that had been placed in front of her by one of the servers. "Allow me to get you started," he said before returning it back to her with a number of different pizza slices and pastas. He seated himself with a similar plate across from her.

"Wow, I—I don't know where to begin," August gaped, a small laugh sputtering out of her lips as she unfolded a napkin in her lap.

Graeme watched with satisfaction as August tried everything he set before her, and then he brought her a second plate of new slices and pastas to try. As always, May's skills didn't disappoint.

"What do you think?" Graeme asked as August took a drink of her water.

"I'm not sure there are words to convey my emotions for this food right now," she laughed. "You sure knew what you were doing bringing me here. Well-played."

"I don't know what you mean," he smiled back.

"Sure you do. How could anyone consider this a bad day?" she said.

"Just wait, there's dessert on that far table over there," Graeme pointed to the corner for August to groan a reply. Just when she thought her eyes couldn't get any wider or her stomach fuller, a dessert plate appeared in front of her.

Finally pushing her plate away, August said, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Graeme, but I think I've found my real mate in that cannoli donut right there."

"Not if I can help it," he replied and grabbed the remainder of the pastry for it to disappear in his own mouth where a powdered sugar grin spread across his face.

"That was the love of my life! How could you?" she gasped.

"Hmm, you can do better," he replied with his mouth still full.

"You could at least hide the evidence," she smiled, reaching across the table to wipe the powdered sugar off of his lips before meeting his eyes again that had turned deeper with her touch. She sat back and folded her hands in her lap.

"May will be happy to know you enjoyed it," Graeme said.

August sighed happily. "What will happen to all the left-overs? I feel guilty for it."

"They'll take it to the guys doing perimeter runs in the area," Graeme replied.

"Perimeter runs?" she asked for him to nod. "Even with the Grimm protecting this place, that's needed?"

"Occasionally there are those who wander too far," he said simply.

After sharing thanks and compliments and hugs with May, the two started walking on their way again. "Come back soon you two!" The old woman called from the door for them to wave again in response.

"I'll figure out a car next week so we don't have to walk everywhere," Graeme offered as their shoes crunched together over the spent forest leaves. A yellow carpet had fallen for them, guiding the way.

"I don't mind it," August replied, hands tucked in her jacket pockets.

"If I'm doing work with the council, we'll need it anyway," he said. 'We.' It was a word he had said a few times now referencing the future. "Plus, you've turned slow on me," he said teasingly.

"You stuffed me full of food! What do you expect?" She laughed.

"Here, come jump on," he said, squatting down and patting himself on the back.

"What?" she laughed. "Are you serious? Piggy-back?"

"The field is kind of far from here. You shouldn't be walking all the way," he said. She paused her steps, watching his squatted form with amusement.

"I know you're tired, August. You're still getting your strength back. Come," he assured her. "Or do you want to be carried like a princess?" He straightened up and turned toward her.

"No, no, piggy is fine," she rolled her eyes, giggling and backing away from his outstretched arms. He smiled and turned to offer his back for her to jump on, and she obliged him. Having her legs wrapped around him had her blushing again, but at least she was saved from turning redder under his eyes.

"Hang on tight," he said with his hands supporting her legs at his sides, and once she secured her arms around his neck, he ran swiftly as if a grown woman wasn't hitching a ride along with him. August saw the trees pass in a blur as he picked up speed, and she had to tuck her head into his shoulder against the wind that picked up around them.

After some time passed by like this, August felt him slow down, and she thought he had at last grown tired. Instead, his attention seemed to have shifted to listen to something in the woods.

Before she could register what happened, he had shifted her around so that she was now against his chest with her arms folded against him. Then Graeme froze, his eyes unfocused as he listened.

What had he heard? August instinctively held her breath under him, trying to hear the noise that had captured his attention, but there was nothing she could pick up with her own ears.