The Maverick Pride Tales - Chapter 142: Chapter 142

She’d just had a full-blown panic attack and in front of a complete stranger.
“Not at all,” the stranger smiled. “Now, I told you to call me Uncle Uzzi, but let me formally introduce myself. I am Uzzi Stregovich of Uncle Uzzi’s Magical Matchmaking Service.”
“Oh my Gods! You’re famous,” she gasped.
“Ha ha. Well, it is nice to be recognized, Annabeth Golden. But come now, listen, I think I have a solution to at least one of your problems.”
“You do?”
“I believe so, sweet Annabeth.”
“You know, I’ve heard of you a lot lately,” Annabeth told him, cutting him off. “You’re like the rock star of matchmakers!”
Uncle Uzzi smiled widely, then laughed at the apt description. He leaned forward, and Annabeth did the same, meeting his sapphire stare with her own clear, amber-hued gaze.
“You mentioned the inconvenient timing of your heat cycle and having no boyfriend. Now, I know of a Witch and a scientist who have teamed together to make custom elixirs for stopping said cycle, but that will take time. I am afraid it won’t be ready for this weekend,” he began.
“But that’s amazing. If you have any information, I would be happy to reach out to them,” she said, nodding.
“Indeed, I do. It is part of why I am here to meet with some members of your Pride. I am, of course, also here to offer my services as a matchmaker for those interested. Now for another, rather personal question,” he began. “Do you like sex, Annabeth?”
“Sex?” she squeaked. Annabeth felt her cheeks burning. This was so embarrassing. The man was like a sweet grandfather figure, but here he was, talking about nookie and darn it, how was she supposed to reply?
“Y-yes,” she said awkwardly. “I mean, yes. I can talk about this. I am an adult. Anyway, what’s not to like?”
The Lioness blushed, and nodded, convinced he wasn’t getting fresh with her. Not this sweet old man.
“Good. And love?”
“Oh, um, sure, I think it exists, but I’ve never actually been in love, Uncle Uzzi.”
“Never?”
“No,” she said, and shook her head ruefully. Annabeth looked down at herself and sighed.
“Most men I date think I should be grateful that they even notice me. I get propositioned, but no one has ever made a declaration of love to me before. I doubt it will ever happen to someone like me.”
“And just why not? What is wrong with you?”
“Mr. Stregovich⁠—”
“What did I say? Call me Uncle Uzzi, please,” he said, offering a kind smile. Annabeth blushed again and nodded, tucking her hair behind her ears.
“Okay, I’ll explain,” she said, more for herself than for him. “I’m a Golden. My sisters and I have a reputation in this pride, and well, a lot of the males—okay, all of them—steer clear when it comes to us.”
“Why is that?”
“Welllll,” she began. Oh, how to explain? “Uncle Uzzi, my sisters and I have been known to play pranks, get in trouble, and did I mention that whole phrase there is no fury like a woman scorned thing is literally about us?”
“You all sound positively delightful,” he said with a grin.
“Well, thank you, I think, but no Lion male feels that way. Especially not any Lion in the Blue Valley Pride, I can assure you. Also, there are the obvious reasons I am still single. I mean, duh,” she said, looking down at herself.
“What reasons? You will have to explain.”
“Oh, come on. Fine, I will say it, but understand I totally love my body. It’s just, well, men want the unattainable and I’m not exactly a model here. I have thick thighs, no gap, except for the label on some of my jeans at home. Also, I have a huge appetite, Uncle Uzzi. I eat. And I mean, I eat actual food. Last date I went on, the guy demanded I pay for it since I ordered more food than he did.”
That had been one helluva night, and Annabeth’s pride still hurt a little. The guy had been a Shifter too. You’d think he would’ve been used to a woman who could pack away three orders of wings with no problem.
Sigh.
“Sounds like you’ve been dating the wrong men, Annabeth. Now, I know exactly what you need, but first, let’s solve your traveling problems,” the male Witch said and nodded.
“Alright, I suppose. But forgive me if I am not exactly hopeful.”
“Nonsense. First, you do not have to beg forgiveness. Second, there is always hope, little one. Now, I assume you have no problem being around Shifters since you are a Lioness?”
“Of course not. Are we talking about mates? Cause I always imagined I would mate with a big, sexy Lion. But the Golden reputation has been a major cockblocker, er, pussyblocker?” Annabeth whispered, wondering which word was correct.
“I think pussyblocker might be apt considering you are feline,” Uncle Uzzi replied with a grin. “Now, tell me more about your family while I send this message.”
“Well, my mother, Patricia, is, well, let’s just say she has a certain image most people run from. Rumor is she is dating someone, but she won’t tell any of us who.”
“Ah yes, I know her well. I am actually supposed to have lunch with her later today,” Uncle Uzzi confessed.
“With Mom? Why? Is she looking for a mate?”
“Don’t you worry about that, dear. You said you’d dreamed of mating a Lion, but are you open to other Shifters as well?”
“I mean, I guess so, but I don’t want anyone who would change me.”
“How do you mean?”
“I mean, most Shifter females I run into are svelte and muscular. My sister Toni has a body like a goddess. But not me. My sister, Adrianna, spent three years in a miserable relationship trying to fit a man who would never accept her. I won’t do that. I guess what I am saying is I won’t mold myself into something new for a man,” she stated, and shrugged.
“Good for you, Annabeth. And no real man will ever ask you to do that. Now, I see you, dear, and I have a pretty good idea what I am doing. DO you trust me?”
“Yes, surprisingly, I do,” she said and cleared her throat. “You know, few women my age will say this out loud, but I am perfectly happy with myself. I don’t want some meathead suggesting I start exercising or stop eating carbs—heaven forbid. And I don’t want to pretend to like jazz or sculptures or whatever either.”
“I would never set you up with a guy like that, Annabeth,” Uncle Uzzi said seriously. “What I am thinking is that you need someone to see you through your heat cycle, and you need a ride to the convention. Is that accurate?”
“Well, I suppose that is accurate. I would definitely be happy if I could see my heat through with someone who wasn’t, you know, coerced or bribed by my mother.”
The last time she’d had this discussion with her mother, Patricia Golden had advertised for a stud for her young daughter. Literally. Her ad read “seeking stud to sex up a fine feline—must be packing ten inches or more” and the bad news did not end there.
Humans got ahold of the supposedly Shifter-only newspaper, and they thought it was a cat breeding service.
Sad meow.
Annabeth still received phone calls to that effect. Humiliating? You bet. Especially since no one in the Pride had answered the ad. Her sisters had come to the rescue, telling everyone it was a gag. But it hurt then, and it hurt now.
“I see,” Uncle Uzzi said. “What about finding your mate? Is that a priority?”
“I would love to find my mate,” Annabeth confessed in a low voice. “But I don’t think I have one. Not everyone gets a fated mate, Uncle Uzzi, surely you see that in your line of work?”
“Quite the contrary, love,” Uncle Uzzi replied kindly. “Let’s talk pragmatics. Just tell me about the kind of man you are looking for to spend your heat with. I don’t want you to worry about a thing.”
Annabeth’s eyes took on a dreamy glow as she summoned the image of her fated mate in her mind. Detailed lists she’d outlined from the time she was a cub appeared in her eidetic brain.
“Okay, so I will go with my vanity list first. I want a man who is good looking—obviously. I am as much a fan of muscles and a handsome face as the next female. But I also prefer a man to have brains, a sense of humor, interests in things other than sports and scratching his own balls,” she said, and Uncle Uzzi laughed.
“And should he be good in bed?”
“Yes,” Annabeth confirmed, and felt her face positively flame. “I am not a virgin, but I’ve found sex to be seriously lacking since college. If a man could make me burn for him, like do the job so I didn’t have to finish myself after, hell, I would be incredibly surprised.”
“How do you mean?”
“Guys my age usually expect the woman to do it all,” she blurted. “I mean, what the hell? Put in a little effort, for fuck’s sake,” she said and covered her mouth with her hands. “Sorry, I have a terrible potty mouth sometimes.”
Uncle Uzzi took her hand and squeezed it, laughing out loud. The older man shook his head and wiped his eyes, shooting a text off before looking back at Annabeth.
“Sorry about that. My dear, may I say I can tell you are going to be a delightful handful, Annabeth Golden. And I think I have just the man for you.”
Annabeth stared wide-eyed at Uncle Uzzi and swallowed before nodding her head.
“Okay. I’m game.”
“Good,” replied the Witch, his blue eyes sparkling with magic. “Very good.”