by Amy Star
“You're the chief's son. Don't you think word of your mating probably traveled quickly through the other bears?” She laughed, amused he didn't realize how others focused on him and his family.
“Perhaps you're right,” he admitted, though he again seemed to be lost in thought.
“I'm sure she's anxious to talk about it, though,” she added with a smile. She was sure her mother and sister would be eager to talk about her new life, while the boys would care nothing about it, as long as she was willing to run and play with them.
“Have a nice day. Do try to be back before dark though,” he said, looking a little nervous.
“I'll be back long before that,” she said, a little surprised that he was so concerned.
“I just worry,” he said, pulling her close to him in an impulsive hug that warmed her heart.
“I'm glad to hear it,” she said, giving him a quick kiss that seemed to please him. His arms went tightly around her and she thought for a second he might not let her go after all.
“Have a nice day,” he said as he loosened his grip reluctantly.
“You too. Will you be home in time for dinner tonight?” she asked as an attempt to hide her disappointment as he stepped away from her.
“I believe I will be,” he answered with a smile on his face.
“Do you have any preferences for the meal?” she asked as she looked around the cabin at their supplies.
“Whatever you would like to make is fine with me,” he said, seeming to pull away from her emotionally again.
“Great. Have a nice day,” she said, confused again about his feelings for her.
She'd been letting herself believe he might love her or at least care for her, but now she was fairly sure it was not true. He respected her and appreciated her both for her work and for the pleasures he took from her body, but he didn't love her and it would do her no good to pretend he might. She needed to be a practical mate to him.
“You, too. Remember, home before dark if you can,” he said before stepping out of the tent.
“I'll do my best,” she called after him, but he was already gone.
She cleaned up after breakfast quickly and began to walk towards her mother’s cabin. She hadn't realized just how much she missed them all until she was presented with the opportunity to see them again. She was particularly eager to reassure her mother she was happy. Kalia had been so nervous when she left for the mating ritual, and she was sure that it had made her mother uneasy. Now that she could confidently tell her mother that she was going to have a happy life, she felt much better and she knew that her mother would, too.
As she reached the lane to the cabin, her heart skipped a beat. She had only been away a few days, yet she felt as though she had lived a whole other lifetime in the days that she had been gone. The thought of running into her mother’s arms was suddenly all consuming and she took off at a dead sprint. By the time she burst through the cabin’s front door, she was disheveled and out of breath, but her heart was light with joy.
“Mother,” she called as she looked around the main living area, only to find it empty.
“Kalia! Darling! What are you doing here?” her mother asked in disbelief as she emerged from the back room. Before she gave her a chance to answer, her mother wrapped her in her arms and held her tight.
“I thought it was about time I came home for a visit,” she said, glad to be so close to her mother again.
“I'm glad you did. Is everything alright?” her mother asked, pulling back and studying her closely.
“Things are more than alright. They're wonderful,” she said, hugging her mother again.
“I'm so glad to hear it,” her mother replied in relief. She'd clearly been thinking often of her daughter and where life had taken her in the days they had been apart.
“I'm so relieved with how everything has turned out. He's wonderful,” she said, beaming with joy as she spoke.
“Really? He's always seemed so serious. I worried a bit about that,” her mother confessed, looking a bit troubled.
“I thought the same thing, but he's a fine person. I'm so lucky to have been chosen as his mate,” she said honestly.
Now, she knew that there was no man better suited to be her mate than Luke, she only hoped he would come to think the same thing of her one day.
“He comes from a long and fine heritage,” her mother said, looking proud at the family that her daughter was now a part of.
“Yes and he is kind and hardworking,” she said, thinking lovingly of her mate.
He was currently working to train the next generation of warriors to make sure their tribe would always be protected and safe. In fact, one day he would train her brothers and their own children and it meant the world to her to be able to call him her own.
“I'm happy you're so pleased,” her mother said, understanding just how content her daughter was.
“I really am,” she said, already looking forward to seeing him that evening and wrapping her arms around him again.
“Then you'll have many happy years together and many fine children will call you 'Mother',” her mother said, hugging her close.
“I certainly hope so,” she said, so excited for what the future might hold for them. “Where are the boys?” she asked, excited to see her little brothers.
“Out back. You better go and find them. They've been missing you something fierce,” her mother said and laughed.
“Gladly,” she said, running off towards the stream and the sound of the boys playing.
As soon as her brothers caught her scent, they came running towards her at top speed. They nearly knocked her over as they threw their arms around her and she could not think of a more wonderful feeling. They looked as if they had grown a foot taller since she left them. They were dirty and sweaty and she could not think of a more wonderful sight.
“Kalia, Kalia, Kalia,” they cried in unison as she went to her knees to pull them tight and kiss them. For their part, they kissed her and threw their little arms around her as though they had not seen her for years and years.
“Hello, my little loves,” she said, as soon as they calmed down enough to hear her speak.
“Are you home to stay?” asked one brother.
“Yes, please say you are. We miss you so much,” said the other.
“I miss you both, too, but I am only here for a visit,” she explained, wondering if it would be as hard to leave them today as it had been when she left for her mating ritual.
“I don't like it,” said Anton.
“Neither do I. We need you,” cried Barton.
“You know I love you both very much,” she said, hugging them close again.
“We love you, too,” Barton whispered.
“Yes, we really do. Stay with us,” Anton pleaded.
“Oh now, you know I'm never far,” she said, trying to keep her own tears from falling.
“But you're mated to that sourpuss,” Anton said angrily.
“He won't let us visit you,” Barton moaned.
“Of course he will. You should not talk about him like that. He's a good and kind man,” she said, hoping that she could convince them of what she knew in her heart.
“He stole you away,” they said in unison, looking like fierce little bear cubs.
“You know that isn't true. Let's not fight. We only have today together and I do not want to spend it fighting with my little loves,” she said, looking at her sweet little brothers and feeling all the love they had for her. It nearly brought her to tears.
“You're right,” Anton muttered.
“Yes, you are. Let's play,” Barton agreed. With that, they both began to run in circles around her, causing her to let out a loud roar of laughter.
“We definitely will, but first I need to go find Sister,” she said with a smile.
Mali would not appreciate being the last one to know she was there for a visit and it would be even worse if she played an entire game with the boys before going
off to find her.
“She's usually pouting in the woods,” the boys said, laughing as they ran and jumped around her. It seemed only fitting that she was tracking down her pouting sister on her first visit home. It was how she had spent so many of her days when she lived at home.
“Let me go find her and then we will have a bit of fun all together,” she said, kissing them both on the cheek before rising.
“I'm glad you are here,” Barton said sweetly.
“Yes, so am I,” Anton said.
“Run along into the house. I'll come find you in a bit,” she said, trying to hide her tears of happiness from them.
It felt so good to be with them again. They ran off towards the cabin, and she was sure her mother would not appreciate their unchecked energy spinning around in the house. She laughed, thinking of the look her mother would give them as they burst through the door. It felt so wonderful to be surrounded by her family again.
She took a deep breath and headed for the tree line. She knew exactly where to find her. Mali had a very particular tree she tended to climb when she hoped the rest of the world would forget about her and leave her alone.
CHAPTER FOUR
It only took Kalia a few minutes to arrive at Mali’s tree. She looked up to see her younger sister’s feet dangling from one of the highest branches. She grabbed the lowest branch to begin to climb up towards her sister, but at the same moment, Mali realized who it was who had intruded upon her solitude and Kalia could not remember a time when her sister had ever looked so happy to see her. Mali scurried down the tree, and threw her arms around her sister, pushing her back against the tree and knocking the wind out of her.
“Sister, I've missed you so much,” Kalia said with a smile.
“Kalia, you're back!” she squealed, holding her even tighter.
“I can't breathe,” Kalia whispered, gasping for air.
Mali let her go then and looked horrified. “Is he smothering you? Is it awful?” she asked before grabbing her sister again and holder her even tighter.
“No, because you are squeezing me so tight,” she gasped.
“Oh, sorry. I've just missed you so much,” Mali said, looking apologetic.
“I've missed you, too,” Kalia said, pulling her sister in to an embrace.
“You look well,” Mali said, looking a little surprised.
“I'm well, Sister,” she said with a laugh.
“So you're not miserable?” she asked in disbelief.
“Not in the slightest,” she laughed, unsure of what she could say to convince her sister of just how happy she was with her mate.
“Even with Luke as your mate?” her sister asked bluntly.
“Especially because he is my mate,” she said gently.
“But he is so awful and serious. Does he ever smile?” she asked sadly, clearly not believing that her sister was truly happy.
“Yes, he does. He has a wonderful smile,” Kalia said, thinking of his sweet smile the night before and how much it meant to her.
“Well, I'll believe it when I see it,” she scoffed.
“He's a wonderful mate. We'll have a solid and happy life together,” she said, thinking that that might convince her sister that she meant what she was saying.
“Does he love you?” Mali asked boldly. The look on her face told her that she already suspected the answer.
“No, I don't believe he does, but he appreciates me. That is more important than you could possibly know,” she said.
She had been telling herself that the entire day. She was sure he did appreciate her and respected her. That was as good a foundation for a life together as she could think of and she only hoped he might realize one day that he loved her, too.
“Do you love him?” Mali continued.
“I think I do. No, I know I do. He is very dear to me,” she said with a thoughtful smile.
“You can't be serious,” Mali gasped.
It did not surprise Kalia at all that her sister was so horrified. She had never been very practical and she'd always been impulsive. She would expect nothing less than full love and devotion on the very night of her mating. Kalia knew better than to expect that from Luke. He was warming to her, but he was still a serious and practical fellow. Such feelings would never appeal to him.
“I am. He is sweet and smart, not to mention hardworking. He is kind and tender with me. There is so much more to him than I ever knew,” she answered.
It amazed her that she had never even seen a hint of the man he truly was before their mating. She had been too entranced by the showier warriors to realize just how wonderful he was.
“You've only been mated a few days. How can you know you love him already?” Mali argued, clearly bothered that her sister loved a man who did not love her. In a way, Kalia found it very sweet.
“I just feel it,” Kalia said, unsure of what else she could say to explain something that she did not even fully understand herself.
“Even though he doesn't love you?” Mali demanded.
“That is not how it works.” She laughed. “If people only loved those who loved them, where would love stories and sad songs come from?” she teased.
“I thought maybe he'd sent you back to us. I was sure he would find your joyful nature annoying,” she said with a smirk.
“No, I'm afraid not.” She laughed, enjoying the feeling of bickering with her sister again.
“So why are you here?” she asked.
“He suggested I come home for a visit,” Kalia explained.
“What's your new home like?” she asked, clearly trying to change the subject to something more neutral.
“It was a rather rustic tent when I arrived, but I've already accomplished quite a bit. The sewing you and mother helped me to do before I left helped immensely,” she said with a smile. She was very proud of her little home.
“I'm glad to hear it. That way, a little piece of us is always with you,” Mali said with a sad smile.
“Yes, it is,” Kalia said, hugging her sister close.
“Well, that's something, isn't it,” Mali smiled.
“It's everything. Now, let's get up to the house. I'm sure the boys are driving mother mad waiting for us,” she said with a laugh.
“Wait, I have one more question before we join the rest of them,” Mali said hesitantly.
“Sure, what is it,” Kalia said, eager to know what kind of question Mali might have that had her so nervous.
“Does it hurt you to be in love with a man who's not interested in loving you,” she whispered, so low that a human would not have heard her.
“No, just because he does not love me now, doesn't mean he could not grow to love me one day. All I can do is be the best mate and partner to him and hope he comes to feel something for me,” she said with a sad smile. It certainly was not ideal, but she could imagine many worse ways her mating could have ended.
“That sounds painful,” Mali said, taking her sister’s hand to comfort her.
“No, it's odd, but it is actually an incredibly hopeful feeling. Plus, I have a lifetime,” she said with a forced smile, trying to show Mali just how happy she truly was, even if Luke did not yet love her.
“I suppose you do, unless your mating is challenged,” Mali blurted out, clearly regretting the words as soon as they slipped out.
Kalia thought for just a moment of telling Mali of her strange visitor, but she didn't want to worry her. Besides, she was sure that her sister would tell her mother and there was no need for everyone to be concerned about something Luke told her he was handling.
“Oh now, if someone were to challenge it, they would need to do it before the month ends and I can't imagine who would want me that badly,” she said, laughing to try and relax her sister.
“If someone did, do you think he would fight to keep you,” Mali asked, unable to keep her curiosity in check.
“If we are being honest, he is a very practical man. It's not practical to fight for a woman you don't lov
e, when you could simply take another mate after she is gone,” she said bluntly.
The thought of it made her very sad, but she did her best to hide that from her sister. It made no sense for them both to worry about it. However, her efforts could not keep her sister from realizing what thoughts were on her mind.
“I'm so sorry,” Mali said, putting her arm around her sister’s shoulders.
“There's no need to be sorry because it's not going to happen,” she said, pushing the thoughts from her mind.
“Yes, of course, you're right,” Mali said with a smile.
“I usually am. Now let's get up to the house. I told him I would be back before dark,” she said with a half-smile.
“Over protective, isn't he?” Mali asked, wondering if her sister was right about her mate not loving her. Being home before dark seemed like the kind of request that a man would make of a woman he cared about.
“I don't think that's the problem,” she said with a laugh, trying not to think about the stranger and the reasons that he wanted her home before dark.
“I'm glad you're happy,” Mali said as they walked towards the house.
“Thank you. Soon enough, it'll be your turn to mate,” she said with a knowing smile.
“Hopefully not too soon. I have a lot to learn,” Mali said, looking nervous.
“It all comes much more naturally than I ever thought it would,” she said to comfort her sister.
“That's very good to know,” Mali said, though she didn't look any more relaxed by the thought.
“I love you,” Kalia said, unsure of what else to say.
“I love you, too,” Mali said as they got to the cabin’s front door.
The entire family spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon fishing in the stream as they had when all of the children were very young. It brought back lovely memories and it warmed her heart to be able to spend such quality time with them.
Soon enough, she looked up at the sky and the sun’s position told her that it was time for her to begin her journey home. Her mother insisted she take some of the fish home with her to cook for dinner. Though the boys both cried when she said goodbye, her mother and sister only hugged her and wished her well. Everyone asked that she visit again soon and only let her leave when they had her promise she would be back as soon as she could for another visit.
