BUNNY

The days following the date with Keegan had been perfect. We spent our nights together, either in his room or mine. Even if the future was uncertain, I was happy with the relationship we had. Spending time with my alpha made me happy. However, competition week had started at The Ranch, making all of us busy tending to the guests and their horses. It wasn’t our first rodeo, but it was still overwhelming, especially now since I didn’t have time to see Keegan through the day. But somehow, he managed to escape for short times a day to see me before meeting me in our rooms for the night. Even our sex life has been diminished. Tiredness from the day overcame us, and we spent our nights sleeping in each other's arms. But to be honest, it was healing for me. Just sleeping around my alpha’s scent was enough to make me content.

As usual, my main duty during the competition week was tending to the barns. I took care of our horses and cleaned their stalls when they were out there competing. I made sure to change the hay, make sure they had enough water, and also, as a bonus, some reward snacks for their hard work. I placed extras on Moonbeam’s stall because he needed the extra energy. Emil had competitions the whole week, and his horse needed the fuel. As I walked out of the stall, I heard steps coming inside the barn. My lips arched in a smile, thinking it must be Keegan.

“Came to give me a surprise?” I said in a flirty tone, but when I looked back, standing there was a confused alpha I knew too well. “Oh! Samir, it’s you.”

‘Ugh. Not this annoying guy.’ My animal self said in my mind, irritated. And I didn’t blame him, I could already predict how this conversation was going to go. 

“Hello, Meadow. Were you expecting someone else?” Samir asked with curious brown eyes. 

“Not really. Are you here to check your horse? I thought competitors left their horses in the other barn.” I mentioned, trying to act nonchalant with him.

“Knight is already in his stall resting.” He mentioned, and I noticed how his eyes were looking up and down at me. 

“Then why are you here?” I fully turned around with an arched brow.

“I came to look for you, Meadow. I haven't seen you since I arrived.” The black haired alpha said, taking a few steps closer to me. 

“Oh, well. I have been busy, as always.” I said and walked the other way to make space between us. I sensed from his pheromone release that he was trying to get his way with me, and I wouldn’t allow him that.

“Don’t you get tired?” He asked with a sigh.

“Of what?” I asked, confused.

“Of all of this. Tending to the horses, taking care of the other animals, and being the Beackman’s employee.” He said with a disgusted tone.

“Why would I get tired? I love my job.” I sincerely said. 

“But you also love riding.” Samir mentioned. Annoyed, I rolled my eyes. 

“Don’t start again, Samir. I thought you gave up already.” I said, frowning at him.

“I would never. Come to my team. We can win so many awards together, Meadow.” He said, determined to get me to join him. “The world would finally see you and admire you as they should.”

“No, thank you. I have enough now. I am happy here, and I don’t need nothing more, Samir.” I said with a huff of frustration and tried to walk away from him. The alpha gripped my wrist, pulling me against a wall and cornering me. 

“Why can’t you see it? You have so much potential, and you are letting it wither away in this ranch.” Samir said with a frown, anger, and frustration showed in his face at my stubbornness. He thought I would be easy. That his pheromones would work on me, but he was so wrong. 

“What I do with my life shouldn’t matter to you, Samir. I have told you many times I don’t like to compete.” I stood my ground, firm and never looking away from his eyes. Not showing a single sign of yielding to him. “And I will never go professional. So give up already.”

“Why won’t you just—“ He started to say, but was interrupted.

“Is everything okay here?” Just hearing his voice made me tremble. I looked over Samir’s shoulder to find Keegan standing close to us with a frown on his face. “Is there a problem?”

‘Our hero. He looks so hot today.’ Mir purred. I softly pushed Samir away from me and managed to escape from his grasp. 

“No. Everything is okay, Keegan.” I said with a soft smile to my alpha. I could sense the anger in him. Should I be turned on by it? Probably not, but I was. 

“Nothing is happening, Owen.” Samir said with a huff. Another one. Keegan was not going to be happy at all.

“I am not Owen, I’m Keegan. His twin brother.” My alpha said in a serious tone. He walked up to me, grabbed my waist, and pulled me closer to him. I did my best not to moan at that. “Do you have a problem with my Bunbun?”

‘He referred to us as his.’ Mir freaked out in my mind. I blushed, completely enamored by how possessive and jealous my alpha was being. 

“Your Bunbun? What?” Samir said, confused, looking between both of us. I saw the exact moment he realized he could never have me. Maybe Keegan showing up was the best way to get him to stop bothering me.

“There’s no problem, babe.” I said to Keegan, placing my hand on his chest, and then turned to look at Samir. “He was just leaving, right?”

“Yeah…I am.” He said with a frown and then turned, walking out of the barn. I let out a deep sigh. Was I finally free from Samir Li? I hoped so.

“Are you okay? Did he do anything to you?” Keegan asked, worried about me. 

“Yes, I’m okay. And no, he didn’t do anything. You arrived at the right time.” I explained and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

“Who was that anyways?” He asked with a frown, still annoyed by Samir.

“That’s Samir Li. He is one of the contestants in the competition. He is Emil’s rival.” I mentioned, and instead of making it better, Keegan let out an angry growl. The sound made me shiver.

“That was him? The one who wants to take you away?” He asked with anger.

“How do you know that?” I asked, I took his face in my hands, and caressed his cheeks with my thumbs to make him calm down. His hands on my waist gripped tighter. 

“Dad told me. Who does he think he is trying to make a move on my Bunbun?” He huffed, angry.

“Is that jealousy I sense from you?” I said with a cheeky smile, my hands still on his cheeks.

“Yes. I am jealous, and I want to beat the shit out of him.” He said with a frown, looking into my eyes. I wanted to kiss him so bad.

“You don’t have to. I only have one alpha I like.” I said with a soft smile and released some of my pheromones to soothe his anger. His expression calmed down. 

“Who do I need to beat up?” He said jokingly, and I let out a chuckle.

“No one, silly.” I said with a giggle and then joined our lips in a soft kiss.

“I know we have been busy because of the competition season, but do you want to go on a date with me tomorrow?” Keegan asked after breaking the kiss apart.

“I would love to. What do you have planned?” I asked with curiosity.

“There’s a lake close to here. We can ride our horses there. Would you like that?” He suggested with a smile, and I nodded.

“You riding a horse? Sounds sexy. I’m in.” I said with a flirty grin.

“Perfect. Now let me kiss you some more before I leave so you can finish your work.” He said into my lips and then fulfilled his wish, kissing the hell out of me.

~oOoOo~

I could still feel Keegan’s lips against mine even after the hours had passed since then. I had managed to finish my work, and since it was laundry day, I was back in my room folding my freshly dried clothes. Keegan told me he wouldn’t be able to make it earlier to my room because he was working on The Ranch’s website. I had been a bit disappointed because I expected a continuation of what happened in the barn, but I would have to wait for that. I was taken away from my thoughts at the sound of my door being slammed open. Emil walked in with a worried and annoyed look on his face.

“Are you okay, Meadow? I heard Samir came onto you again.” My friend said with worry.

“I’m okay. Keegan showed up at the right time.” I explained, and my friend let out a deep sigh, taking a seat on my bed. 

“I just can’t believe that asshole. Why is he so persistent? Why can’t he give up? I hate him so much.” Emil said with anger, and by the end, his voice broke. I turned to him. 

“Emil? Are…” Before I could finish my question, I noticed tears running down his cheeks. I approached him and sat next to him on the bed. “Are you crying? What’s wrong?”

“I just…hate him…” Emil sobbed, covering his eyes with his hands.

“I guess the stress from the competition is coming to you. It’s okay, boo. Cry all you want.” I said to my friend, taking him into my arms in a hug. I caressed his back, trying to comfort him. Emil calmed down later, and after breaking the hug apart, he spoke once again.

“It’s not the competition stress.” He said with a sigh. “There is something else. Something I have been hiding for years.”

“What is it?” I asked with curiosity, but also concern. Emil was always open to me, but lately he had been acting strange, and now I was going to find out why. Was I prepared for what he had to tell me? Not at all.

“I found my fated mate. I know who he is.” Emil confessed, and I let out a gasp.

“What?! You found him? Since when?” I couldn’t help asking questions. 

“Since I turned nineteen…” He answered, looking the other way.

“Who is it?” I asked, but he didn’t answer. I took Emil’s hand in mine. “You can tell me, Em. I promise not to tell anyone.”

“Samir…” He whispered.

“What?” I thought I had heard it wrong.

“It’s Samir. My fated mate is Samir fucking Li.” He said out loud with a frown.

“Oh…Oh!” Was all I could say, and then my brain took its time to process it. I frowned annoyed. All this time, Samir’s mate was there, but he still went for me. I was stunned and also almost seeing red. I wanted to beat the shit out of that alpha now. “What the fuck? If he is your mate, then why doesn’t he go for you?”

“I don’t know. I would love to know that.” He said, frustrated. “He is always behind you, but I know for sure he knows we are fated. It’s been seven fucking years too.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t realize this sooner, Emil. And if that asshole doesn’t want you, then he can fuck off. He is missing out on a gorgeous mate.” I sincerely said and kept cursing Samir in my mind. Even Mir was cursing at him in my mind.

“Honestly, yes. He can fuck off. I’m tired of waiting for him to realize I am right here. I’m done with him.” Emil said, decided to move on, and then he turned to look back at me. “And Meadow, I know you are scared about your future with Keegan, but there’s something I’m sure of. If the God/dess made you fated, that means you will find a way to solve your problems and be together.”

“Thank you, Em. I like to think that too.” I said with a soft smile and then hugged him once again. He was trying to act strong, but I knew he was hurting.