Rise of the Underdogs: KADEN

“If I Was…”

Akita hummed quietly in the seat beside me on the third date, a contented look on her face as she settled in. She genuinely liked my truck. A sturdy, old F-250 with a diesel engine that had seen its fair share of kilometres but never failed to get me from point A to point B.

My Reliable Randy, as I’d come to call it, wore a metallic blue-green coat of paint that still managed to shimmer on sunny days. The windows were lightly tinted, just enough to keep things private in case the truck ever doubled as a bed for the night. The ignition switch had a personality of its own, only working when I threatened it and called its mother a toaster.

It was a running joke, but sometimes I wondered if the truck actually understood.

Yes, I was being a brat about it all, but that was half the fun.

As we drove along, Akita suddenly turned to me with a grin. “If I was a snack, what would I be?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

The question caught me off guard, and I glanced over at her, momentarily distracted from the road ahead. “Sorry?” I replied, still focused on driving us to my uncle’s restaurant and trying to process the playful tone in her voice.

Akita’s smile widened. “It’s our third date, and I wanted to have some fun. So, let’s talk snackies.” Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I couldn’t help but laugh at her spontaneity as we continued our drive.

“Okay, I’m down,” Gods, I sounded like a freaking puppy. “I always wanted a Mate that kept things interesting.”

‘Technically not nineteen. Therefore technically not an full adult by Canadian standards.’ Malachite remarked, clear amusement in his voice. He didn’t miss a beat as he continued with commentary only I could hear. ‘Therefore, you are technically a pup.’

I couldn’t help but snicker at that, the laughter bubbling up before I could stop it. Akita glanced over at me, an eyebrow raised in confusion—as if she was wondering whether I’d finally lost my mind. Maybe I had. But really, who was going to call me on it?

And just like that, the John Cena intro song started blaring in my head. Typical. Neil would absolutely jump at the chance to prove me wrong.

Akita glanced over, her tone shifting as she asked, “Something wrong?”

I shook my head, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. “No, I’m just thinking about the question,” I said, my mind still caught up in the playful energy from before. I shot her a mischievous look. “Wanna make it even more interesting?”

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. She shifted in her seat, twisting so she was almost facing me, the seatbelt snug around her like a hug.

For a ridiculous moment, I found myself envious of a strip of woven fabric. Jealous of an inanimate object simply because it was touching her in a way I wanted to. The thought was absurd, yet the feeling lingered. A brief flash of longing that caught me off guard before I shook it off, trying to focus back on the playful tension building between us.

“I’m listening,” she said, a grin spreading across her face. “I mean, if it’s really good, we could make it a family game and then we’d get to laugh at my overbearing brothers.”

I chuckled, nodding in agreement. “That’s pretty much it. Whenever one of us throws out a question, the other has to answer with the first thing that pops into their head. No hesitation. No overthinking. No filtering your thoughts. Just blurt out whatever comes to mind, even if it sounds ridiculous. It’s all about honesty, even if it’s a little messy, like verbal vomit.”

“That’s… that actually sounds like a really, really fun night of watching my brothers squirm,” she giggled. The sound like music to my ears as my heart thumped to an unsteady rhythm.

An overwhelming rush of gratitude washed over me, echoing through the connection I shared with my wolf. ‘Goddess, thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You sent an honest, hard-working, smart, and fun girl to my host!’ His voice rang with a kind of joy I hadn’t felt from him in ages. His eyes glittering with delight as the realization hit us both. Akita found just as much amusement in riling up her brothers as I did with mine. There was something comforting—almost exhilarating—about that shared understanding.

For a moment, it felt like the universe was on our side, aligning our quirks and joys in perfect harmony.

It was hard not to laugh at my wolf’s exuberance. Still, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes affectionately at his antics. ‘Seriously, Chite?’ I sent back, amused at his sudden burst of devotion. Deep down, I knew he was being sincere, but did he really have to start praying to Goddess Artemis right now? His gratitude was genuine, but his timing—well, it was as dramatic as ever.

“So, if I was a snack, what would I be?” she asked again, her eyes dancing with a mischievous spark. The question hung in the air between us, both playful and loaded.

I couldn’t help but groan. A sound that was half amusement, half something else entirely, a want that lingered just below the surface. I didn’t hesitate, letting the first thing that came to mind tumble out. “Honey Buns. Sweet, sticky, sugary, Honey Buns.” The words tumbled out honestly, my mouth watering at the thought. “That’s what you smell like to me.” It was the truth. Her presence was as tempting and comforting as that irresistible treat, and I couldn’t help but let that honesty show.

The pause between us wasn’t long, but I noticed the blush that coloured her cheeks, catching the moment out of the corner of my eye. Despite the fact that two of her brothers were trailing behind us that night, she was clearly enjoying herself.

“My turn!” I couldn’t hide my eagerness if I tried. “Same question: if I was a snack, what would I be?”

She barely hesitated before answering, “Ah! Caramel,” her response automatic and honest. The blush on her face brightened, deepening from pink to a vibrant apple red. “Cause you’re sweet with a dry sense of humour and you got paired with a wolf who thinks the same as you. And…” Her face became even more flushed, the colour intensifying, “and you’re wrapped in chocolate.”

That… that was…

“That’s actually a good way to describe me. Wow, that was honesty at it’s finest.”

“Okay,” she giggled again, folding her legs under her slender body. “If I was a gameshow?”

Oh, that was a good one.

“The Dating Game.”

Throwing back her head, she laughed. Loud and free, she laughed. “There’s an actual show with that name? What the heck? Well, you would be Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Cause no one wants the life of a royal, but they all want the money.”

We pulled into the parking lot of Uncle Ray’s building. An opulent, expensive, and atmospheric place where money got you a seat fast, but knowing the family got you VIP treatment.

“The last time wee were here, we talked about our siblings.” She commented, reaching for the handle before stopping. She glanced at me, uncertain.

“You’re not a damsel. You’re not weak either, Akita. Don’t wait for others to open the path when you have me backing you. Pry the damn thing open yourself and set the world on fire if you have to, but you don’t need to wait for me to do anything” I reminded her.

My Mate glanced at me, her lips twitching into a grin. “You really care, don’t you?”

“Just not always for my own sanity or safety. That can…” deep breath in, slow breath out. Control the stutter. Just like Eileen coached me to do. “That can change depending on who I’m fighting beside.”

“I thought you had a stutter?” Kita said suddenly, slipping out as I got to her side of the truck. I held out my arm, laughing as she hooked her hand in the crook of my elbow.

“I totally do, but I’m learning to control it. I’ve been meeting with Mrs. Forrest every week. It’s… it’s getting better, but the stutter is still prominent when I’m more emotional than normal.” I explained.

Controlling my stutter had been an ongoing process. Ever since Eileen first reached out to help, I had committed to weekly meetings with her. During those sessions, she had taught me valuable techniques to manage my speech, especially when my emotions ran high. Although I had seen improvement, the stutter remained noticeable whenever I was feeling more emotional than usual. Still, I had gradually learned to keep it in check, and the progress gave me hope for even better days ahead.

Akita breathed a laugh, “she’s good like that. So, if you’re overly emotional or stressed, I’d know based on how you talk?”

“Yuppers,” I shot back. “My stutter will show when I talk if I’m really upset or anxious. If I’m angry, I shy away from people. Period. I don’t wanna talk, sing, laugh, or do f**k all when I’m pissed. Happy? Well, that’s now.”

“I make you happy?”

“Deliriously.”