Rutting Season

3

Racyn’s mind wandered back to the woman that had bumped into him that morning. She was small, with dark curls and brown eyes. Not his normal type, but something about her had caught his attention. It excited him. Maybe she was the one. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, trying to calm the rush of adrenaline he felt thinking about the possibility. Every year it was harder to endure without a mate, and this time it was progressing quicker. He didn't want to go through another one without a mate but he also didn't want to be with someone just for convenience.

“Hey man, where’s your head,” his cousin Jessie asked, pulling him back to the present. He gave him a tight smile, rolled his shoulders and sighed, “Just thinking about this week. I don't think I can handle doing this another year. I need to find a mate this season. I'm losing control.”

Jessie gave him a knowing look, “It tough, but you're strong enough to handle this. Try to relax and have a good time meeting the potentials. Anyone catch your eye?” Racyn stood from his chair and paced the room. “Maybe. I don't know yet.”

An alarm beeped and Jessie turned it off. Well that's your cue. Time to woo the ladies. By the end of the night the options may already be dwindling. Make good use of your time.” Racyn grabbed his suit jacket and rolled his eyes. “This isn't my first go at it. I know better than most what it’s like. What are you going to do the rest of the night?”

Jessie waves his had to dismiss him. “I’m going to sleep. Once you have kids of your own, you will see how precious it is.” Racyn laughed and left his room.

The talent was always the event he hated most. So humiliating. It was an outdated tradition in his opinion, but it couldn't be avoided. The music floated through the doors as he entered. It was already full of people and he greeted each one with a smile as he walked down the left side of the room.

A red headed woman stopped him, “Good evening. It’s Racyn right?” He took her offered hand and pressed a quick kiss to her knuckles. “Yes, I’m afraid we haven't been introduced.” She laughed lightly, a sound he was sure she intended to be seductive but sounded fake to his ears.

“I’m Zara. I hope you don't find this too forward, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to speak to you.” He gave her a reassuring smile, he didn't mind a woman that knew what she wanted. He just didn't like fake ones. “Not at all. Would you care to join me in a dance later tonight? I’d love to learn more about you.”

Her green eyes glimmered in anticipation, “I would love to.” He said his goodbye and made his way to the back of the stage where he would wait to ”show off his talents”.

He listened behind the stage as each man took turns displaying his talent. His jaw clenched and unclenched in anticipation. It wasn't that he didn't have talents. He was good at many things, he just hate how demeaning it felt. It was embarrassing. He was never one to show off. Maybe that's why he hadn't found the right woman. This year he decided to go with singing.

He had avoided it all these years because it felt too personal to get on stage and sing. Tonight though, he had a plan. He was going to find the pretty brown eyes girl from this morning and sing to her. As long as she didn't have some horrible reaction, it would give him something to distract him from the rest of the room. If he was lucky, she would like his voice enough to give him some of her time.

Finally, it was his turn to take the stage and it struck him that his song choice may not have been the best. It was an old song and a very personal on to sing to a woman he had barely spoken to.

Now was a little too late to change his mind. They already had his music. He could sing without it but he couldn't seem to think on his toes well enough to come up with an alternative. Thank Goddess his mother had insisted they all take lesson. At least he wouldn't embarrass himself by sounding terrible.

He took a drink of water and the microphone the stage hand offered and walked on stage with all the confidence of an alpha instead of a man stressed about finding a mate.

As the music started his eyes searched the room. They landed on the one person he was most interested in seeing just as the word began.

“Wise men say

Only fools, only fools rush in

Oh, but I, but I, I can't help falling in love with you,” his bass baritone echoed through the room and he felt all eyes on him, but the only ones he could see where hers.

She was standing in the middle of the room talking to a group of ladies about her age, seemingly unimpressed with whatever talent the last guy had displayed. As his words flowed, her eyes found him looking directly at her.

“Shall I stay?

Would it be, would it be a sin?

If I can't help falling in love with you.”

He didn't know what her reaction was going to be but he relaxed a little more when she smiled. One of her friends gave her an elbow and must have said something to tease her because she blushed and shook her head. He grinned back at her, acknowledging the teasing she must be getting.

“Like a river flows

Surely to the sea

Darling, so it goes

Some things, you know, are meant to be”

The song was basically a declaration and they didn't even know each other. He should feel guilty about embarrassing her but he didn't. He likes mowing the other guys would see him as competition for her. Maybe they would keep their distance.

Her eyes never left his as he finished the song. It felt intense, like she as seeing into his soul. He finished the song.

“Take my hand

Take my whole life too

For I can"t help falling in love with you

For I can't help falling in love with you.”

As the last note ended there as an eruption of applause. Apparently he had made quite an impression on the ladies. The noise broke the spell between them and she turned, moving to the back of the room.

He wasn't bothered by it. Happy to finally be done with the talent portion of the week, he decided to return to his room until the ball.

As he exited out of the side door a bit of conversation caught his attention and he stopped. “Dear all eyes were on you. Honestly, it was quite a performance, but the way he never took his eye off you, it definitely means something. Don't you agree Tomas?”

A man joined the conversation, “Don’t put too much in it Kyla. Can't you see you're stressing her out?” Then she responded, “No, I’m fine really. Honestly mom, I don't even know him. It was just a song. A beautiful cover of a romantic song, but not meant for me. Now, I just need to go home and get out of this dress. If he’s interested in getting to know me, he will find me at the ball. He will be disappointed to learn I’m not set on finding a mate this season.”