by Lily Thomas
“You’ll never find a mate with that attitude!” Mira called out from behind him.
He wished he could yell back that he had already found her, but he couldn’t. Not yet at least.
What he needed was to find Rir and fill him in on everything that was happening.
“Daerk.”
Daerk refrained from growling. It was Brog’s voice calling out for him. Turning on his heel, he looked behind him to find Brog bearing down on him. He didn’t look thrilled to see Daerk, but that was nothing new.
“Where have you been? And why did you take the healer?” Brog stopped in front of him, his chest puffing out imperiously.
Daerk took in Brog. He was of about the same size both in his human and shifter form. Maybe a challenge for leadership wouldn’t be so hard, but he couldn’t trust Brog to fight fair. This was a man who would do anything to keep his position.
“I was out hunting for the clan. You can ask Ryion about the rabbits I brought back.” He couldn’t resist adding, “Someone needs to hunt for the clan.”
Brog’s lips turned down in a frown, not missing the slight insult thrown his way. If Brog would get off his butt and go hunting, he would rise in Daerk’s opinion, but he was lazy.
“As for the healer,” Daerk continued, “I needed him to heal Tor.”
“And where is Tor?” Brog raised an eyebrow as he looked around the camp. “No one’s seen him for a few days.”
Daerk loved the fact that he was having such an easy time of lying. Thank the gods. “Once Eron healed him, he took off in his sabertooth form. He needed some time on his own.”
Brog studied his face, and Daerk hoped he wasn’t giving anything away.
“I need to find Rir.” Daerk excused himself.
Brog waved him away as if Daerk would’ve waited to be dismissed. Brog was getting too curious about Daerk, and he worried he wouldn’t be able to keep his promise to Aiyre. If Brog continued to keep a close eye on him, he might have no other choice than to stay in the village until Brog’s curiosity died down. Which meant he wouldn’t be able to return any time soon.
“I’m worried about Tor,” Rir spoke up from where he sat inside Daerk’s tent.
“He will be fine.” To be truthful Daerk was wondering if they’d ever see Tor again. He wasn’t the type to run off and never come back, but he had been gone for a long time. Then again, he had a mate nearby, so Daerk refused to believe Tor would stay away for too long.
“It’s been several days since you arrived back at the village. From the way you described how he stormed off, he could have done something stupid.” Rir worried.
Daerk snorted. “Tor knows how to handle himself, and he isn’t brash. His mate had just refused him. He needs time to cool down. Once he’s calmed, he’ll come back.”
Rir shook his head. “What if he doesn’t come back?”
Daerk looked up from where he was sharpening his stone spearhead for his spear. “He has a mate.”
“Who rejected him.”
Shaking his head, Daerk disagreed. “The mating drive will bring him back. Have faith in the gods to keep him safe and bring him back. It might take some time, but he will come back.”
“You’re probably right.” Rir turned his attention back to the spearheads he was creating. “I can’t help but worry about his mind. I have no idea how I’d react if my mate refused me.” He slammed a rock down on top of another, creating flakes of the rock.
Daerk could understand that. Being so firmly rejected had to hurt. “I know how he feels. My mate is stubborn when it comes to rejecting me, but she accepts me between her legs. She is beyond confusing.” And she was going to drive him insane. Now that he had a taste, he would never be able to let her go, not that he’d let her go either way, but now he was addicted.
“Both of you are making me feel lucky. I’ve always wanted to find my mate, but now I’m wondering…” Rir tossed him a smile. “Perhaps it isn’t worth all the work and worry.”
Daerk let out a bark of laughter. “My life would be easier, but I’m glad I found her. I just wish I could go back to see her.”
Rir looked up, his expression gone serious. “The clan is unhappy with Brog.”
Daerk shrugged. “We’ve always been unhappy with him.”
“This time there is talk about supporting you as the next leader.” Rir leaned in. “It’s getting more serious, and it has to be the reason Brog is watching you like a hawk.”
That caught his attention. Daerk placed his spearhead down. “I don’t know if I’m ready. If he kills me in combat, my mate will be on her own in a dangerous world.”
“If you die, which you won’t, you can trust me to find and protect her,” Rir promised with a firm nod of his head.
“Brog will make sure he wins. It won’t be a fair fight.” Daerk insisted.
“We will watch your back during the fight.” Rir met and held eye contact. “If you won, you would be able to bring your mate into the clan. Here,” he waved his hand around him, “into your hut. You can’t tell me that doesn’t appeal to you.”
“Assuming she wants to join us. We did kill off her entire village.” Everything was twisted around, and there were so many things up in the air. If only life wasn’t so unpredictable!
Rir nodded. “It wasn’t all of us though. Those people support Brog and will be cast out along with Brog, once you take over. They should have known better than to go along with our misguided leader.”
Daerk shook his head. “Give me some time to think about it.”
“Don’t wait too long,” Rir warned him. “The clan is behind you with this renewed anger at Brog. You’ll want to use it before he gets them to fear him once more.”
“You assume I will be a better leader than Brog.” Daerk was afraid of letting his people down. Their expectations were built up, and he feared he wouldn’t live up to those expectations. Brog had really driven them into a hard spot.
“We know Brog hasn’t made the position an easy one, but if we survive until spring, we know you will set us right in the spring, and with the return of the mammoths.”
Daerk nodded, a smile finally pulling at his lips. Perhaps life would turn around for them after all.
Mira couldn’t believe what she was hearing as she pressed her ear up against Daerk’s tent the fur on the outside tickling her ear. He had a mate?!
She’d been sleeping with Brog because of his position and the need for protection. Brog would make sure those closest to him didn’t die of starvation first, but she’d always hoped she would be Daerk’s mate. There’d always been the hope as long as he remained unmated.
But he had a mate now… somewhere out there.
She turned to look at the forest surrounding their village. She couldn’t help but wonder what his mate looked like.
Anger and jealousy boiled up inside her, and she felt her canines elongate. She wanted nothing more than to rip out the unknown woman’s throat. But that wouldn’t do her any good.
But Brog would reward her well if she took this information to him. It might hurt Daerk, but he’d just hurt her. He’d always rejected her advances, and now he had a mate! Now there was no chance for them!
With a frown firmly on her lips, she strode away from Daerk’s tent and went in search of Brog.
It didn’t take long for her to find him. Brog was inside his tent entertaining a couple of other women from the village.
Mira coughed, announcing her presence at the entrance to his hut.
Brog glanced up, a frown marring his face at the interruption. “What is it?”
“May I have a moment with you?” She smiled. “I have something you will want to know.” She made sure to convey the importance with her eyes.
Brog waved the women away, and they scattered, leaving the tent in a rush. They nearly knocked her over in their haste. Brog wasn’t known for being kind to anyone, especially anyone who didn’t obey him. For a second, she wondered if she was doing the right thing. Daerk didn’
t deserve to have Brog breathing down his neck any more than he already was.
“What is it?” Brog snapped as he relaxed back against the pile of furs behind him. A large fire burning between them crackling happily as it ate away at the logs, but it did little to calm her.
“I…” Did she tell him?
“By the gods woman! You better not have interrupted me to tell me nothing!” Brog barked irritably.
“Of course not.” Mira rushed to say. She would have to tell him or face his wrath. “I came to tell you that Daerk has a mate.”
“A mate?” Brog’s brown eyes lighted up with the revelation. “Who is it?” He sat forward interested in the information.
“It isn’t someone in the clan. It appears he met her outside the clan and has hidden her somewhere.” Mira nervously shifted the fur coat on her shoulders. She felt ill. She shouldn’t have told Brog about Daerk’s mate, but it was too late. What was done was done and there was no going back.
Brog stood and smiled at her sending shivers of fear rushing over her skin. He rushed up close, cupped the sides of her face with his hands, and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I always knew you were my favorite. Thank you for this information. I will be sure to reward you.”
He left the tent, and she was left to wonder if she’d done the right thing or not. It had been in the heat of the moment, and now that she was thinking properly she feared what Brog might do to Daerk. But if she warned Daerk, she feared what Brog might do to her. Mira worried she might have just gotten herself mixed up in something she should’ve left alone.
Brog gathered his men. It was time to find out where Daerk had hidden his mate. He gathered a few of his men and went out to see if they could track Daerk’s smell from the village to wherever he had been going.
“Why are we trying to see where Daerk has gone?” One of the men asked as he looked around.
Another man was in his sabertooth form sniffing the ground helping to guide them over the expanse of snow.
“He found his mate,” Brog informed them.
They went quiet for a second, and even the man in his sabertooth form froze before continuing to sniff for a scent to follow.
“What do you plan on doing?” One man asked.
Brog could clearly hear the apprehension in the man’s voice. “Don’t worry. We won’t harm his mate, but this way I can easily control him. He won’t give me any problems if I have control over something he loves and would do anything to protect.”
The men nodded as they took in the information. He knew they wouldn’t side with him if he threatened to kill Daerk’s mate, but it was still an idea he was toying around with. If there was one sure way to break Daerk, it would be by killing his mate.
“Where do you think he’s hidden her?” One of the men asked.
Brog shrugged as he hefted his spear. “I don’t know. That’s why all of you are here.”
The man in his sabertooth form let out a growl and led the way as he found a scent to follow. Brog’s chest filled with hope. He was going to control Daerk in just a matter of a day or two. He couldn’t help but be excited about it. Daerk was the only threat to his leadership, and soon that threat would be eliminated.
Chapter 15
Aiyre looked around their cave. It had slowly transformed into their new home, but she found herself waiting to see Daerk again. It had been too long since he last visited, and she found herself wishing he would show up. Every time she heard a crunch of snow outside her ears would perk up, but every time she was left with disappointment.
“Are you thinking of him again?” Ezi asked from where she sat by the fire.
Aiyre turned her gaze away from the fur flap covering the cave entrance. “Sorry.”
“No, please feel free to miss him.” Ezi smiled over at her. “Just because I have something standing in my way of accepting Tor doesn’t mean that you can’t begin a new life with Daerk.”
“But our clan…” Aiyre couldn’t help but feel she was betraying all the people who had died.
“They wouldn’t want us to stop living. They may have died, but we only have each other for a long winter if we don’t go back to the sabertooth clan.”
“Their clan killed our people.” Aiyre insisted.
Ezi nodded her head. “But your sabertooth claims it wasn’t the whole clan, just a few.”
“True.” It was a lot for her to think about. She would love to accept this matehood and have the hope for children. She just wished she didn’t feel like she was betraying her people when she did it. “I will give it some thought.” She said truthfully.
“To be honest, your sabertooth seems like a good man, and I believe he would keep you happy and safe.” Ezi shifted as she stood up.
“Here, let me assist you.” Aiyre came to stand beside Ezi.
“Let me stand on my own right now. I need to learn how to stand on my leg and put weight on it without help.”
Aiyre rose her hands in the air as she backed away. “I will just be close enough to make sure you don’t fall into the fire pit then.”
Ezi sent her a broad smirk. “It was only once that I almost did that.”
“Once is still too many times for my liking.” Aiyre watched her friend hobble around the cave. She was glad Ezi’s leg had healed. Ezi had a slight limp, but someone would have to look for it to see it.
Ezi slumped against a wall and slid down against it until she landed on her butt.
“Are you alright?” Aiyre was ready to rush over if Ezi needed her.
“Yes. It just takes a lot of effort.”
A crunching sound outside the cave drew her attention.
“Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?” Ezi looked over at her, and then at the cave entrance. “I didn’t hear anything.”
Aiyre got the sense that something was outside. “I think something is outside the cave.” She grabbed her spear. Call it instinct but her pronghorn was screaming at her to take shelter and not to make a sound.
“It could be Daerk,” Ezi suggested. “Or maybe Tor is back.”
“I want to be prepared in case it isn’t.” Aiyre crept towards the front of the cave. Her heart thundered in her chest like a herd of horses.
Men burst into the cave, several spears pointing in her face. She braced herself for a fight as she quickly backed up out of their reach.
“Do not resist us. We come from the same sabertooth clan that Daerk and Tor come from.” A man stepped forward, his massive body covered by furs. A spear was gripped in one of his gloved hands ready to be used if necessary.
“That doesn’t make me trust you any more than anyone else,” Aiyre said honestly.
He motioned to the other men to lower their spears. “We could have come in here in our sabertooth forms and slaughtered the both of you, yet we didn’t.” He informed her like he’d done her a favor and that she should be thankful.
Aiyre’s eyes narrowed. “If you come from their clan, why haven’t Daerk, Tor, Rir, or Eron come with you?”
“Daerk and his friends are hunting for our clan, and Eron doesn’t like traveling out of the village.” The man’s eyes skimmed over her as he assessed her. “Daerk wants us to bring you back to the clan.”
She didn’t trust these men, but she got the feeling she might have no choice but to go with them. “If we refuse to come with you?”
“I will have to insist.” His brown eyes darkened.
Her jaw clenched. She wished her animal form was something more formidable than a pronghorn. “Who are you?”
“I am Brog, the leader of the sabertooth clan.” He smiled waiting for her to cower in fear.
She kept her face neutral, but she heard a gasp come from behind her.
Brog’s eyes looked behind her to where Ezi was seated.
“And which one of you is Daerk’s mate?” Brog’s eyes fluttered between them.
“Me.” Aiyre didn’t hesitate. She had the feeling Brog had something special planned for whoever ended
up being Daerk’s mate, and she didn’t want to play games with him. If he needed to take his anger out on her so be it, but she wouldn’t let him touch Ezi.
Brog’s eyes scanned over her, and he shook his head his dreadlocked blonde hair swinging around his face. “I will admit I do not like Daerk as much as some others, but I almost feel pity for him. To get stuck with a pronghorn shifter.” He sighed. “He must have hidden you away to postpone his embarrassment.”
Aiyre felt her face heat with indignation. “Doubtful.”
“Why else would he hide you away in a cave?” She could see the intelligence gleaming in his dark eyes.
He wanted her to slip and give him a reason to kill Daerk. Good thing for Daerk she wasn’t stupid. She knew when she was being baited.
When she didn’t respond, he waved it away. “But none of that matters. He wants you to come back to the clan and be one of us, so he must not be that ashamed of you.” Brog looked her over again, disdain clearly sprawled across his face. “Or he figures he has no choice.”
She wished there weren’t so many men with Brog, because then she might chance spearing him through his middle. He irked her with his cruelty. If he thought he was harming her by teasing her about being a useless pronghorn, he’d be dead wrong. If Daerk was ashamed of her, that was his problem, not hers, not that she thought he was or he wouldn’t have introduced her to his friends.
“Gather what you need. We’re taking you to our clan.” Brog growled.
“Ezi will need to be carried. Her leg was injured the night your clan attacked ours.” Aiyre couldn’t help herself when she glared at him. This was the man responsible for killing her clan, and all she wanted to do was rip his eyes out. She sucked in a steadying breath through her nose.
He glanced over at Ezi. “Make something for us to pull her on.” He turned on his heel to wait outside, while his men stayed in the cave to watch them.
“Don’t help, then,” Aiyre muttered under her breath. She set her spear down but made sure it was within arm’s reach in case she needed it. Giving them her back went against all her instincts, but she knew she had to get on it, or Brog might lose the patience he was pretending to have.
