by Lily Thomas
“It is hard to enjoy a walk with you staring at me.” She grumped and caught him shrugging beside her in response.
“It’s hard not to stare when such a lovely creature is standing beside me.”
Heat crept up her neck and cheeks, and she was glad for the cover of night. She didn’t need him knowing she was flattered by his compliment. She’d never thought of herself as lovely. No one had said that to her, not even Drakk. He’d been a caring and gentle man, but the praises had been few and far between.
Instead of answering, Ezi just kept walking as she did her best to ignore his presence. Animals scurried out of their path in a panic as they made their way through the dark landscape. For the most part, they were the hunters out here, and the animals knew it.
“Stop.” Tor held out a hand in front of her, and she jerked to a stop, not wanting to make contact with the offending arm.
“What is it?” She looked over at him as he surveyed the land around them. His eyesight must be a lot better than hers because when she gave the area a cursory glance, she saw nothing out of the ordinary.
“Over there,” he pointed with his other hand, and she followed the long finger, “there is a sabertooth stalking through those bushes.”
It took Ezi several seconds and a brief moment of squinting to finally spot what he’d seen with ease. There was indeed a sabertooth crouched low to the ground. Its paws made no sound as it eased over the grass, probably stalking a rabbit or some other prey.
“I’m surprised you spotted him.” Ezi felt a small bit of apprehension spread through her, but she was standing right beside a man who would protect her. Whether or not she’d rejected him, she knew Tor wouldn’t let anything bad befall her. It just wasn’t in his nature.
“I smelled him long before I saw him.”
“You must have smelled the trail of blood and death that all sabertooths leave in their wake.” It was out before she thought about it.
Silence greeted her answer, and she cringed inwardly.
Peering through the darkness, Ezi caught a brief moment of pain flash across his face, and for the first time in her life, she regretted her words. She wasn’t a cruel person by nature, and she hadn’t meant to cause him harm.
“I didn’t”
Tor waved a hand dismissively. “Your words rang with conviction. After everything you went through, I can’t blame you for how you feel about my people. I only hope we can make it up to you somehow.”
His words had her feeling even worse because she could hear the truth ringing loud and clear in every word.
“Still, I didn’t mean to imply you are just as mindless as an animal.”
“Maybe we should continue our walk this way.” Tor redirected her away from the sabertooth that was prowling through the area with a hand to her back. A gentle touch that wasn’t intended to cross any boundaries with her. “I’m glad I ran into you.”
She cocked her head to the side as she stepped over a few larger stones on the ground. “Why?”
“I had an idea I wanted to speak with you about.” His voice trembled a bit, like he wasn’t sure he should say what he was thinking, but was doing it anyway.
“Yes?” Ezi had no idea what he was about to say to her, and she felt some tension enter her shoulders as she braced herself for what might come out of his mouth. She figured he was about to ask her about being his mate again. So much for a peaceful walk through the night.
“You and Flosa can’t be very comfortable in the communal women’s hut.”
He wasn’t wrong with that assumption.
Ezi scooted past a small sapling before they entered the nearby forest. The branches overhead reached out like bony fingers in the night, and they sent shivers of fright racing down her spine. One moment the world she lived in could be nothing but good things, and then the next it would rain terror down over her head, and she found it hard to trust.
“Some privacy from the other women in the hut might be nice.” She agreed warily. She still wasn’t sure where he was going with this.
Tor cleared his throat, and she got the impression he might be a bit nervous. Carefully, she watched him out of the corner of her eyes as she readied herself to refuse him.
Tor felt a couple of beads of sweat run down the length of his spine. Once more, he was about to place himself in a position to be rejected, but here he was.
“I was thinking… you could use my hut to get some privacy.”
Silence greeted him, and some more sweat ran down the sides of his face. Raising a trembling hand, he attempted to wipe the beads of sweat off his brow, but his hand knocked against the teeth of the sabertooth skull. Whipping it off his head, he wiped his brow as he waited impatiently for her answer. He had no clue as to what was going through her mind.
“With you?” Her voice barely a squeak.
This was his moment. Right now, he could push her away even more, or he could bring her slightly closer. Unfortunately, there was no way for him to know what answer might scare her away.
“I had hoped we would both be sleeping in my hut,” when she turned wide, alarmed eyes on him he rushed to say the next part before she darted away, “but I am willing to let you have the hut to yourself.”
Silence once more entered the forest, but she was now faced away from him, and he wasn’t able to read her face to see what might be going through her mind.
“You would do that?” Ezi sounded puzzled by his generosity.
“I want you and Flosa to be happy, and I’m sure it is stressful being in the communal hut with all the women coming and going at all hours of the day and night.” Not only that, but it would relieve some of the stress on Ezi. She had to sleep in a hut full of sabertooths, and he was sure she didn’t sleep well with that knowledge.
“Thank you.” Ezi turned and dazzled him with a brief smile.
His heart stopped in his chest, and before he knew what he was doing, he stepped forward, wrapped an arm around her waist, and leaned in, planting a kiss on her delicate lips. She trembled in his arms like she was fighting herself, but then she gave in and returned the kiss.
Her lips were soft and sweet, yet when he pressed into them, they turned defiant and kissed back. Joy spread through him at this wonderful taste of her. Tor’s sabertooth rose inside his chest and purred in delight.
Then the magic was gone.
“Stop!” Ezi ducked, pulling out of his arms and darted away into the dark night.
Tor sighed. He’d just ruined tonight. His eyelids slid closed as he rested his forehead against the prickly bark of a tree.
“How stupid can you be?” He muttered. He’d known better than to kiss her. He’d known better! She wasn’t ready for him.
Tor couldn’t trust himself around his mate. Every time he proved to her, he was a sweet man, he ruined it with his eagerness to claim his mate. It was like he was taking one step forward and two steps back.
Pushing away from the tree, he slowly followed after her scent, which still drifted around in the night air. He wasn’t planning on catching up to her, but just trailing after to make sure she made it back to the village in one piece. There were plenty of dangers hiding around the forest.
There was still the strong scent of a wild sabertooth roaming the area, and Tor could also smell a badger or two in the area. Although small, those little beasts could be a curse to deal with. Tor would rather take on another wholly rhinoceros than a badger.
Within minutes, the village came into view, and he knew she was safe and sound. Now he could only hope that she would still take his offer of his hut. The morning would only tell if he’d completely scared her away.
Tonight, Tor would enjoy sleeping in his hut in case it was the last time because if she did take his offer, he would be sleeping under the stars once more. His sabertooth growled at him. It wasn’t thrilled with the idea of being homeless once more, but if it pleased their mate, then who was it to argue with his decision.
Chapter 11
“Did I just spot Ezi walking into your hut?” Daerk strode over to Tor as he stretched out his injured leg.
Tor grunted a yes and continued to stretch out his leg. One of his hands was braced against the trunk of a tree, and his other hand was reached behind his back, hooked onto his foot.
“You convinced her to sleep in your hut?” Daerk sounded mystified, maybe even a little proud at Tor’s skill in wooing his mate.
“It’s not what you think,” Tor confessed. He wished he could brag that he’d won her over, but it was far from the truth. His mate was still scared of his touch, which hurt him even worse than a wholly rhinoceros horn piercing his flesh.
“Hmmm?”
Daerk was going to laugh at him. Tor was sure about it. He almost didn’t want to say anything else, but this was his clan leader, and he had to hope his longtime friend would be able to give him some advice on how to handle Ezi.
“I gave her the use of my hut. She will use it, but I will not be sleeping there with her.” Tor released his foot and let it fall back onto the ground. Eron had told him some stretching might help him to heal while keeping most of the mobility of his leg. He was willing to do anything to keep the use of his leg. There was no way he could be a hunter if he couldn’t stand or run.
“Where will you sleep?” Daerk’s arms folded in front of his chest as he raised a dark eyebrow. “I hope you aren’t thinking of leaving the village again.”
“No,” Tor was quick to toss out, “I’m not thinking of leaving. I learned my lesson. Running from Ezi won’t make anything better if anything, it just makes it worse.” He pointed to his leg with a smirk.
“Good.” Daerk unfolded his arms, looking more at ease now.
“I figure since it’s spring, I can enjoy sleeping out under the stars so she can get out of the communal hut.”
“Still,” Daerk shook his head, his golden eyes never leaving Tor, “I worry about the two of you.”
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Tor reassured him.
Daerk let out a long breath through his nose, and Tor knew he had yet to convince his friend that things were going in the right direction. Daerk had it easier with Aiyre, and their relationship was different. She was a strong hunter, and she’d been able to handle the attack better than Ezi.
“Enough talk about your mate. We need to talk about this mammoth hunt coming up.” Daerk’s eyes brightened at the thought of a hunt.
Excitement built in Tor’s chest. A mammoth hunt was just what this clan needed. It would show everyone that the gods had been cruel during the winter, but generous during the spring.
“The women were kind enough to stock us up on spears and arrows for our hunt.”
Tor nodded his head.
“We will want to figure out which men should stay behind in the village and which should join us on the hunt.” Daerk glanced around to make sure no one was close to them before he said, “I still fear Brog coming back for revenge, and I don’t want the village to be left unguarded.”
“I’ll think on it.”
“Some of the women will be coming with us as well, so they can help with the butchering and hauling back the meat, bones, and fat.”
Tor wanted to share this with Ezi, but he wasn’t about to ask her to join him on the hunt. She had Flosa, and he figured she would want to stay here in the village instead of traipsing all over the place.
“Will Aiyre be joining us on the hunt?”
Daerk snorted. “You think I can stop her? Or want to stop her?”
Tor chuckled. “I suppose she wouldn’t want to stay here if there’s a hunt she can join.”
“She’s a fierce hunter.” Daerk agreed, as a wide smile spread across his lips and love entered his eyes.
It was good to see Daerk enjoying the gift of a mate. She’d been good for him and given him the push he’d needed when it came to challenging Brog for the leadership of the clan.
“I don’t doubt it.” Tor chuckled again. Aiyre had surprised them all. When Daerk had first mentioned that his mate was a pronghorn shifter, Tor hadn’t been sure how it would work out. But it’d worked out better than he could have ever imagined. She was strong and capable and led the clan just as well as Daerk.
“Is Rir coming?” Tor asked. He hadn’t seen his other friend since arriving and was beginning to wonder where his other friend was.
“Rir and some other men have been watching the mammoth herds. You won’t see him until we go hunting, but I’m sure he’s heard you’re back. We were worried about you, and when you arrived, word spread like a fire through dry grass.”
“I can’t wait to see him.” And find out what he’d been up to since Tor left the clan.
“He won’t have much to tell you since his life is the same as you left.”
That didn’t surprise him all that much. Three people finding their mates in a year would be a tremendous but splendid thing. At least, Tor had found his mate, even if he didn’t have her by his side.
“Come with me, and we can figure out which men to bring with us. We need the best hunters, because we need a mammoth or two for our meat hut.”
Daerk led them through the village, and Tor felt his eyes drift over to his hut as they passed nearby. Ezi would be inside, sleeping in his furs tonight. Even if he wasn’t in there with her to enjoy her being in his hut, he felt a sense of calm come over his sabertooth. The animal enjoyed knowing exactly where she was and that she was happy and safe.
A small smile spread over his lips as he watched a trickle of smoke leave the hole in the top of his hut. She was inside.
His sabertooth purred and tried to push him towards the hut, but he resisted the urge. He’d already startled her once with a kiss, he wasn’t about to scare her out of his hut. This was the step in the right direction that he needed.
Ripping his gaze off his hut, Tor continued to follow after Daerk until his eyes landed on Darh and Jirk.
“Hello!” He raised a hand and waved at them, hoping they would see him and come over.
And they did just that as they raised their hands in greeting and walked over.
“It’s good to see you on your feet and doing so well.” Darh greeted him. “How is the leg?” The other man’s eyes slid down Tor’s leg.
“It is stiff, and I still have a limp, but it works.” Tor flexed his leg in front of all three men.
“Good.” Jirk slapped him on the back, nearly toppling him with the unexpected movement. “We worked hard to get you back to the village, and I would hate to see our efforts were for nothing.”
All the men chuckled as Darh playfully swung an arm at Jirk, that Jirk was forced to dodge or get walloped in the face.
“Be quiet, you.” Darh hushed Jirk.
“What?” Jirk looked between all the men. “Tor understands me.”
Tor rolled his eyes. “I do, my friend.” Then another smile creased his lips. “Are you two planning on joining the hunting party?”
Jirk shrugged, causing his tanned leather shirt to bunch up around his neck. “I wasn’t sure who was staying and who was going.”
“We should bring them.” Tor looked over at Daerk who quickly nodded his head. “They would be better suited to helping with the hunt than sitting here guarding the village.”
“You will come with the hunting party then,” Daerk confirmed with a solid nod of his head.
The two men smiled like they’d lost their minds with excitement.
“Then we have some packing to do.” Darh’s eyes sparkled with eagerness at the idea of joining a mammoth hunt. Then he guided Jirk away as they discussed what to bring with them.
Tor had missed this. There was no way he would ever leave this village again.
“We still need several more men.” Daerk frowned as a crease formed between his eyes. “I worry about leaving too few warriors here in the village though.”
“Worried about Brog?” No one had seen the old clan leader or his followers since he’d been kicked out. Tor wasn’t sure t
hey ever would see that man again. He was probably long gone, tail tucked between his legs. He was most likely taking over another clan and running them into the dirt.
“Brog, another nearby clan, or an animal attack. All are possibilities.”
“I’m sure we will figure it out.” It was the best Tor could do. He wasn’t too concerned, but he knew the role of leadership weighed heavily on Daerk’s shoulders. This hadn’t been his friend’s goal, to become leader of the clan, he’d only sought to get rid of Brog.
With a pat on Daerk’s back, Tor led them through the village as they sought out more men.
Chapter 12
Ezi glanced around the inside of Tor’s hut with interest. She had been inside briefly, but now she had time to look around. There was nothing special, just the normal things every other hut had like a fire pit, some weapons, and a bed of furs. It was sparse.
A reed basket on the other side of the hut caught her attention. With Flosa in her arms, Ezi walked over to the basket, flipped up the lid, and her breath caught at the sight of the beautiful dress within. Bone and wood beads as well as seeds and dyes decorated the dress in a mesmerizing pattern.
Knowing he hadn’t had a mate before her meant that this must be from his mother… and after living in this clan for many moons, she knew his parents were long dead, like hers. A fond smile curved her lips. It was sweet that Tor had saved something so special.
Placing the lid back into place, she left it alone, not wanting to disturb his things, especially something with so much emotion connected with it.
She placed Flosa down on Tor’s furs and then went about the task of getting Flosa’s bed of furs set up for her small body. She still couldn’t believe Tor had been willing to give up his hut to her. She did feel a small bit of guilt creep into her chest. He was still recovering from the wound on his leg, and now he would be sleeping with the stars as his only cover.
Ezi frowned.
Then again, he had been the one to offer the hut, so there was no reason for her to feel bad about accepting the offer. It wasn’t like she’d forced him into it.
