by Ramona Gray
“I don’t,” Radek lied. “Has she accepted his offer?”
Kane shrugged. “I do not know.”
Radek started toward the cabins and Kane grabbed his arm. “Where are you going?”
“Back to my cabin.”
“Sara isn’t there, Radek.”
Radek hesitated before saying casually, “Do you know where she is?”
“I believe she told Reese she was going hunting this morning.”
Radek stiffened and stared into the woods. “Hunting? You let the human go into the woods alone? Have you gone mad, Kane?”
“The young Sara is not the same, Radek. She has become quite good at – “
Radek yanked his arm free of Kane’s grip and snarled at him before running into the woods. Kane sighed loudly. He was happy his cousin had returned but the longer he continued to deny his feelings for the human, the more discord it would bring to the pack. Perhaps the young human was right – it would be better if she left and joined the humans.
* * *
Sara, nearly hidden in the thick underbrush, released her breath as she fired the arrow. She made a soft squeal of delight and stepped out from the bushes. She stared at the fallen floren. Her arrow had pierced it through the head, killing it immediately, and she smiled in satisfaction before crouching beside the dead beast. She ran her hand over its feathered body. The floren was a big one and there would be more than enough feathers to fill the pillows and quilt that Ghita was helping her to make. Theran’s mate was an accomplished seamstress and she had happily agreed to teach Sara.
She stiffened when she heard the low growling. She yanked the arrow from the floren’s head and stood, loading her bow quickly as she turned around. She aimed the arrow into the trees and waited. When the wolf appeared with his fur gleaming in the sun, she scowled at him and lowered her weapon.
“Radek, you nearly got yourself shot with an arrow. Do not sneak up on me like that again.”
The wolf ignored her and stalked forward on stiff legs. His head was lowered and he growled continuously as he stared into the bushes to her left.
“What? What is – “
The animal slipped out of the bushes and stared at the human and the wolf. Its yellow eyes glowed and it made its own growl when the wolf darted forward and positioned himself protectively in front of the human.
The koran was massive, the biggest of its kind that Radek had ever seen, and it growled again in warning. Its golden mane rippled in the wind and its paws were three times the size of his own. Radek crouched down and snarled at the koran. He would die before he let the beast anywhere near Sara. He would –
“Radek! Stop it!”
To his astonishment, Sara positioned herself in front of the koran and aimed her arrow at Radek. “Leave him alone, Radek!”
He barked a warning, his heart nearly stopping in his chest when the koran ran forward. Instead of tearing Sara to pieces, it bumped its massive head into the top of her back and began to purr loudly.
Sara smiled and set down her bow and arrow before turning and hugging the koran. It was much taller than her, and it hung its head over her shoulder and stared unblinkingly at Radek. Sara ran her hands through his thick mane and scratched at his throat.
“Who’s my good boy, Meeka? Hmm? Who’s my sweet baby?” She crooned to the beast.
Its jaw opened, revealing large razor-sharp fangs. Sara giggled and sputtered when he licked her entire face with his scratchy tongue.
“Meeka, no. That hurts.” She took a step back and the koran butted his head against her chest. It knocked her off her feet and she staggered upward before giggling again and patting him on one meaty shoulder. “You need to go on a diet. You’re starting to get a bit chubby.”
The koran purred again before stepping around her and sniffing at the dead floren. Radek shifted to his human form and stared at Sara.
“What?” She said defensively. “I told you the koran kitten would never hurt me.”
“That is the koran kitten?” He said faintly.
“Yes. His name is Meeka.”
“Sara, he is dangerous. You should not – “
“He isn’t dangerous,” she said immediately. “He’s my baby and I love him.”
“Sara – “
“Enough, Radek. You don’t get to lecture me about Meeka. You know nothing about him and – Meeka, no!”
Radek’s jaw dropped when Sara hurried over to the large beast and slapped him firmly on the rump. “Get away from that, Meeka!”
The koran, who had begun to tear at the floren’s belly, immediately moved away and dropped to his stomach. He stared at the ground. Radek could swear he saw shame in its eyes as Sara scolded him fiercely.
“You know you’re not allowed to eat what I kill. Don’t pretend you don’t, Meeka. You’re big enough to catch your own meals now.”
Meeka made a low grumbling noise and Sara frowned at him. “Don’t talk back to your mama.”
The koran whined and rested its head on its massive paws before staring pitifully at Sara. Her expression softened and she crouched beside Meeka and rubbed the side of his face. “It’s all right, baby. If you help me bring the floren back to the cabins, I’ll give you some of its intestines as a special treat. Deal?”
He rumbled noisily in response and Sara kissed him on his nose. “That’s my good boy. Stay.”
The koran continued to lie on the ground as Sara picked up the head of the floren. She tugged at it, grunting loudly with the effort, but the dead bird didn’t move despite the slippery snow. She sighed and turned to Radek. “Are you just going to stand there or are you going to help me?”
Radek, his face a mask of confusion, picked up the dead floren and rested it across the koran’s massive back. The koran climbed to its feet as Sara picked up her bow and slung it over her back. She started toward home with the koran following docilely. Radek hurried after her.
“Sara, how did you learn to use that?” He pointed to the bow on her back.
“Val taught me. He says I have a knack for it.” There was a tinge of pride in her voice. She glanced at him, studiously ignoring his naked lower half. “What are you doing out here?”
“Kane told me you were hunting and I was worried about you.”
“You don’t need to worry about me, Radek. I’m not the same person I was before,” she said. “I can take care of myself.”
He frowned at her. “The woods are too dangerous for someone as little as you, human. Even with your arrows and your,” he glanced behind them at the koran, “pet.”
She shrugged carelessly. “I’m not as weak as you think I am.”
They walked in silence for a few moments before Radek said, “Are you moving in with Davin?”
“He has offered to let me stay with him now that you’re back,” she said.
“Aye, I know,” he said moodily. “That was very kind of him.”
“He’s a kind man,” she said briefly.
“Are you going to move in with him?” He asked again.
She sighed loudly. “I suppose I probably will. I can’t stay with you and Raina and I feel like a third wheel at Kane’s and Reese’s so…”
“You do not have to leave my home,” he said.
She laughed. “Of course I don’t.”
“I mean it,” he persisted. “You can stay for as long as you’d like.”
“No thanks,” she said. “I’d rather not stay with someone who hates my guts.”
“I don’t hate you, human.”
“Do you not?” She asked. “You left your pack for a month because of me.”
“I was – I was confused and needed time to think.”
“And now?”
“I’m fine,” he said.
“Are you? If you leave again, Raina will never forgive you and I already feel guilty enough.”
“You have nothing to feel guilty about,” he said.
“Sure I don’t,” she said.
He gave her a slightly des
perate look. “Please stay with us, Sara. Raina is still angry with me but I know she won’t want you to leave. Especially if she continues to refuse to speak to me.”
“She won’t stay angry with you for long, Radek. She missed you terribly.”
“I missed her too,” he said. “Will you stay with us? It makes more sense than staying with Davin. He has only one bed and we have an extra for you.”
She bit at her bottom lip. “Can I think about it?”
He gave her a frustrated look. “What is there to think about, human? What I am saying makes perfect sense and you know it.”
“There are a lot of things to consider.” She glared at him.
“Like what?”
“Like the fact that you hate me but your wolf wants to mate with me. Do you want to live with that weird tension night after night?”
“My wolf no longer wants to mate with you,” he said abruptly.
A look of hurt flashed across her face. “Oh.”
She quickened her pace and Radek hurried after her. “Are you mating with Davin, human?”
“That is none of your business, Radek.”
He grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop, ignoring the koran’s low growl behind them. “Tell me, human.”
“I won’t,” she said. “I told you – it’s none of your business.”
“Human, you will – “ he paused and sniffed the air, his face drawing down in a scowl as Davin appeared in front of them.
“Hello, Sara. Hello, Radek.”
“Hi, Davin,” Sara said as Radek grunted in reply.
Davin fell in beside Sara and put his arm around her shoulders. “I see you caught a floren.”
“I did.”
“He’s a good size,” Davin said admiringly before grinning cheerfully at Radek. “You must be glad to be home.”
“Aye,” Radek said shortly. His wolf was growling at him to knock the younger shifter’s arm from Sara’s shoulders and he was finding it hard to ignore.
“What are you doing out here?” He asked abruptly.
Davin shrugged. “I came to find Sara and see if she wanted help to move her things to my cabin.”
A growl slipped out before he could stop it and Davin stared at him curiously as Sara said, “Davin, it’s very kind of you to offer to let me stay with you but – “
“Your lips are blue,” Davin interrupted before pulling her closer to him. “When you stay with me I will make sure you are warm enough.”
Radek snarled under his breath. They had reached the cabins. Hanif was just leaving his and joined them.
“You caught a floren!” Hanif said. “Well done, little human.”
“Thank you, Hanif,” Sara said.
“She is becoming quite the hunter,” Davin said proudly before kissing Sara on the cheek.
She ducked out of his grip as Radek growled again before shifting to his wolf form. He loped toward his cabin and Sara bit worriedly at her bottom lip as Davin put his arm around her again.
“Shall I help you move your things now, Sara?”
“Davin, it’s very kind of you to offer but I think I’m going to stay with Raina and Radek for now.”
“Why would you do that?” Davin asked. “Radek hates humans and he will not want you to stay with him.”
“He already said that I could. Raina and I have grown close and I would miss her terribly if I moved out.”
“But I would like to get to know you better, human,” Davin said. He pulled Sara to a stop and glanced at Hanif. The older shifter grinned at him before walking away.
“Sara, I like you,” Davin said plainly. “Do you not like me?”
“I do, but only as a friend. I’m sorry,” Sara said.
A look of disappointment crossed the shifter’s face. “Are you certain? I would make a good mate, Sara. I will keep you warm and protect you.”
“I know, but I just don’t feel that way about you,” Sara said. She patted his arm softly. “I really am sorry.”
“Aye, I am too,” Davin said. “Are you certain?” He asked again.
“I am,” Sara replied.
He nodded and she watched him walk away. She leaned against Meeka and scratched at his throat. “I’m an idiot, Meeka. I still want Radek but he doesn’t want me.”
The koran rumbled softly and peered at the floren on his back. Sara laughed and patted one fur-covered shoulder. “Always thinking with your stomach, Meeka. Come on.”
* * *
“Raina?” Radek knocked on her bedroom door before opening it. The girl was sitting on her bed and she stared at the floor as he sat down beside her.
“I’m very sorry, Raina. Please forgive me.”
She sighed loudly. “Aye, I know you are, Radek. I’m sorry I said I hated you – it isn’t true.”
He put his arm around her and she leaned against him as he kissed the top of her head. “It was wrong of me to leave you for so long.”
“It was. You can’t keep leaving me like that, Radek.”
“I know.”
She finally looked at him and he wiped away the tears that were starting to drip down her cheeks. “I was so lonely and afraid that you were dead. If it had not been for Sara, I would have gone mad. I know it.”
“I’m sorry,” he said again.
“And now you’re going to make Sara move out and I like her, Radek. She isn’t an awful human. She’s sweet and kind.”
“I’m not making her leave,” Radek said.
Raina gave him a look of surprise. “You aren’t?”
“No. She is welcome to stay here for as long as she wants,” he said.
“But you hate humans.” She stiffened against him. “Are you leaving again? Is that it?”
“No,” he said immediately. “I will never leave you again, Raina.”
“Do you promise?”
“Aye, I promise,” he hugged her tightly and she kissed his cheek before smiling at him.
“You will like the human, Radek, I swear it. Just give her a chance, please?”
“Aye, I will,” he said.
Raina smiled happily and leaned against him as he stared blankly at the bedroom wall. The problem wasn’t in learning to like the human, he thought dismally, but keeping his hands off of her.
Raina squeezed him tightly before standing. “Come, let’s join the others. It is almost dinner.”
* * *
“Radek!”
Kavine’s loud squeal of happiness echoed across the clearing and Sara watched as the shifter threw herself at him. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he staggered back, and kissed him firmly on the mouth.
Jealousy surged through Sara and she stared into the fire as Raina made a loud snort of annoyance. The young shifter sat down beside Sara and linked her arm around Sara’s arm. “Guess what, Sara?”
“What’s that, Raina?”
“Radek said you can continue to stay with us! Isn’t that wonderful?”
“It is.” She concentrated on the shifter and not the way Kavine was continuing to cling to Radek.
“Ugh,” Raina snorted again. “Kavine is already all over my brother. It’s disgusting to watch.”
“He doesn’t seem to mind,” Sara replied.
Raina rolled her eyes. “He hates it.”
“Then why is he letting her sit on his lap?”
Raina peered across the fire. Kavine was indeed sitting on Radek’s lap and his sister snickered when Radek gently but firmly pushed her from his lap and on to the log beside him. Kavine pouted but wrapped her arm around Radek’s and leaned against him.
“Not anymore. He really does hate it when she clings to him like that,” Raina said.
Sara didn’t reply but she felt a tingle of satisfaction when Radek stood and joined Borek, Deena and Asher. He sat between Asher and Borek, leaving no space for Kavine, and nodded to his uncle when he spoke into his ear.
“See, told you,” Raina said. “Are you cold?”
“A little.” Sara pulled her s
weater closer to her body. Raina had given her a few changes of clothing but her sweaters were thin and didn’t do much to block the cold wind. She really needed to find some warmer clothing before she froze to death. She didn’t want to spend the entire winter stuck indoors next to the fire. Besides, although Raina didn’t seem to mind how warm the cabin was, Radek would probably not allow her to keep the fire going so much. The male shifters were much warmer than their females.
Raina snuggled closer. “It must be awful to be unable to keep yourself warm. Your lips are always blue.”
Before Sara could reply, Michael stood and cleared his throat. “Kane, how far is the human village from here?”
“A few days, if the weather holds,” Kane replied. “Why?”
Michael glanced at Abby. “There are supplies I would like to purchase.”
“With what?” Val said. “You have no money.”
“Reese said the village relies mostly on trading,” Abby said.
“Aye, that is true,” Kane acknowledged. “They are fond of the furs and pelts we bring them.”
“Planning on skinning a deer?” Val said mockingly to Michael.
“Enough, Val,” Abby muttered. “He is not the only one who wants to go to the village.”
“You cannot be serious,” Val said.
“I need a sword, Val,” Abby said, “We need warmer clothing – Sara in particular.”
“There are pelts and fire to keep her warm,” Val said. “It is not worth the risk.”
“It is,” Abby insisted.
“It will be a dangerous journey, even if the weather holds,” Kane said.
“We know,” Michael said. “Would you tell us the way and loan us a few furs for trading?”
“Aye, I could give you some of our furs, we have plenty,” Kane said. “But to make the journey on your own is not wise.”
“I’ll go with them,” Hanif spoke up. “It has been a while since I’ve been to the village.”
“Or went on an adventure.” Theran grinned at him and clapped him on the back.
“Thank you, Hanif,” Abby said.
