The Bridal Hunt (Brides of the Hunt Book 1)

by Jeanette Lynn

  That deep, rusty purr he has only for me vibrated his chest as he hummed against my throat.

  "Mmmm?" He rumbled lower, rubbing my hips, massaging them in his big, strong hands, holding me to him tight.

  "Don't you mmmm me, mister. I know you're up to something and I want to know what." Smoothing my hand down a thick pec, tapping the side of his massive chest, I waited impatiently, clucking my tongue disapprovingly when he finally pulled back to look at me.

  My eyebrows rose inquiringly, but he pursed his lips, as if to contemplate what, exactly, he wanted to say.

  "Veck not tell,” he said finally. “Show Meanie. Meanie like, yes?" Veck set me down and scooped my hand up in his, clasping it gently as he tugged me away from the group gathering to celebrate.

  I allowed it, letting him tug me along, swinging our hands between us as we headed towards the woods.

  Glancing over, he noticed the flowers I was still holding and smiled at me. "Meanie pick flowers?"

  "Oh, you know me," I joked, waggling my bouquet in his direction, "I just go around stealing them out of people's yards, right after I've toilet papered their huts."

  "Toilet pape-pered?"

  "Paper you wipe your butt with."

  He had to think about that one, and I chortled at the look on his face.

  "It's not any different than what you all use." Sort of.

  Veck opened his mouth to say something, probably argue, but I stopped him. "Don't even try to tell me it’s better than using a leaf, bud, 'cause it ain’t."

  The big male wisely kept his mouth shut, giving me a wink and a smirk before he turned to keep walking.

  "Where are you taking me?" I asked, trying to navigate my way through the darkness of the woods with only Veck’s hand in mine to guide me.

  Veck didn't respond, simply kept up his steady pace, leading us deeper and deeper into the forest. He seemed a bit distracted to me, anxious, even.

  Humming absently in his throat in that gruff but good-natured way of his, a sure sign he had something on his mind, I thought it soothing. Glancing at his back dubiously, I decided I’d let him show me, if that was how he wished it. I can be a good sport and play along, if only this once, can’t I?

  In keeping with his plan, tagging along gamely, I let my mate lead me to his surprise.

  ✽✽✽

  A short jaunt later, we came upon a clearing, where Veck brought us to a stop.

  Eyes widening in astonishment, breath catching, I couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing. “Oh, Veck,” I breathed, “it's so beautiful.”

  Icicles hung from the trees, all around us, winking as they sparkled like tiny, glittering twinkle lights. Frost dusted everything, like fairy dust sprinkled about, as if put there by specific design and not nature itself. A crudely chopped chunk of tree stump was centered towards the edge of the frozen lake butting up against our spot, the iced over lake water shimmering with every shade of purple imaginable.

  Dark woods surrounding us, I’d stepped into a kaleidoscope of color, the beast moon peeking out above us, a rainbow of dim light reflecting off the frozen lake’s surface and Veck’s snow beast wonderland—hauntingly breathtaking.

  An arbor made of thin twigs and thick branches came over the tree stump, winter Lo denaii blossoms twined into the tangled, prickly branches. Studying the effect, I recognized some of the flowers in my bouquet among them, too.

  Taking everything in, my eyes kept drifting back to that wood stump, strategically placed right in the center, the top smoothed out so it was flat, like a small pedestal or stand, overlooking the frosty landscape—it stood out. Dark bark with light, pale green wood hidden beneath, shaved up the sides of the pedestal-stump in thick, vertical strips, red dye staining the bold markings flowing up the sides of the downed tree’s exposed flesh, it was eye-catching.

  Leaving me standing there gaping in stunned disbelief, Veck motioned that I should stay put and set to work. Striding towards the center of the small clearing, Veck picked up a leather pouch hidden behind the stump-pedestal, loosening the thick ties holding it closed and emptying its contents.

  Setting a thick stack of small clay discs atop the pedestal, as well as a string-tied bundle of what looked like fat, oddly shaped, dark green sticks, along with a clump of dried brush, it was the knot of balled up hair—or fur, as the case may be—that had my interest piqued.

  What is he doing? There’s more?

  Picking up a clay disc from the top of the pile, pushing everything else out of the way, he placed a fluffy tuft of fur and bundle of dried brush into its center. Producing a flint-like rock and gritty, black, rock-shaped piece they call a cha-aus from one of the smaller pouches on his belt, he began to strike them together to spark a flame.

  Once he had a weak flame going, the tuft of fur and bit of brush glowing as it crackled and hissed, he picked one of the stumpy, green sticks—a candle, I corrected, made from the fat collected off their kills—warming it up in his hand to mold it to the base of another clay disc. After he’d done this with all the candles and discs, using the small fire on the first disc, he lit the first candle.

  Picking his candle and holder up by its clay base, he set about lighting the rest of the candles, strategically placing them around our intimate little spot. By the time he was done, tiny flickering flames were strewn about everywhere. Candlelight flickers dancing wildly, catching the shine off the frost to reflect off of it, the effect was beautiful, lighting up the place.

  The spot was simply magical, a fairy kingdom come to life. I felt as if I’d just stepped into a scene from a fairytale.

  "What is all this?" I murmured, gobsmacked and delighted.

  Veck, finished, made his way back over to the tree stump, extinguishing the brush and fur with a handful of snow, setting it on the ground and off to the side once it was snuffed out. Glancing up, watching me watching him, his eyes shone, glowing as bright as the flames flickering around him. Turning to face me fully, he slowly approached.

  With a deep breath that hinted at nervousness, he got down on his knees, kneeling in front of me, and gripped my hips. Clearing his throat roughly, he met my gaze, frosty blue eyes staring into mine levelly.

  It was a little silly, when you thought about it, comparing this giant beastie on his knees eye level with me standing at full height—how odd we must look. Not that either of us was particularly concerned about it.

  Height differences aside, I had a feeling I knew what my big, bad beast mate was up to with all of this and my heart melted. All the effort he'd put into this... for me.

  "Meanie? Veck do this right?" he asked, glancing around at everything. "This Meanie’s marr… uh... marr..."

  "Marriage?" I asked, sniffling a little. "You want me to marry you?"

  "Yes." He nodded, taking something out of his belt, opening his fist to show me a delicately twined ring, fashioned from braided bits of animal hide, an opal-like shimmering stone beaded in the center. He’d made this—I know he did. "Meanie say Meanie people marriage. For forever.” Head tilting as he studied me, his smile turned uncertain, dipping on one side as his brow pulled down. “Meanie marriage Veck, for forever?" Raising his hand higher, he held the ring, cradled in his wide palm, out to me.

  "How did you do all this?" I could barely choke out the words, my eyes tearing up as the magnitude of what he'd done sank in.

  Where did he find the time? We're always so busy lately.

  "Meanie sleep, some nights Veck make marriage. No worry Meanie, Tarnk watch home. No one hurt Meanie."

  "Oh, Veck..." Lips trembling, I was openly crying now.

  Veck’s eyes widened, startled by my reaction, and he popped up. Pulling me close, cradling me up against him, he made soothing noises in his throat, murmuring softly in his language.

  Once I'd gotten ahold of myself, he sat me down, wiping the stray tears from my eyes.

  Worry etching his wild features, he looked to me, then the clearing, and his face dropped. "No cry, Meanie. Meanie
no have to... not have to marriage Veck," he whispered hoarsely, clearing his throat uncomfortably.

  "No! That's not why I'm crying!" I burst out hurriedly.

  Eyebrows beetling in confusion, lips drawn down, he frowned. "Meanie..."

  "I'm crying because that's the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me." I couldn’t help it, tearing up again. "I'm crying because I'm ha-hap-happy!" My words died off on a wail, little hiccups escaping me. Sobbing hysterically, I threw myself at my mate, burying my face in the thick fur of his chest.

  A rumbling purr started up against my cheek as I slowly got a grip on myself, yet again, and I laughed a little, sniffling through it.

  "Meanie like Veck's present, then?" Chuckling a little, he rubbed his hands over my neck, along my back, his thick fingers moving up to stroke my hair.

  "Yes," I mumbled, my voice muffled against his chest.

  Tugging me loose, he picked me up, hoisting me up his wide, barreled chest, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, cuddling myself to him tight. Burrowing into his warmth, I breathed in his scent.

  "Meanie wear Veck’s ring? Stay for forever? Meanie marriage Veck, like Meanie’s people?"

  "Yes." I grinned as I cupped his face, pressing my lips to his. "Yes."

  My rump gripped in his huge mitt of a hand, he jerked back, breaking our lip lock. Grunting, free hand shooting up, his fingers ran over his lips, a look of shock about him.

  "What's... this?" Lips tipping up, smiling against his fingertips, his tongue snuck out to taste.

  Nose wrinkling, I laughed, more than a little surprised by his reaction. "What do you mean? It's a kiss. Haven't you ever kissed anyone before?" I teased, pecking his nose.

  That couldn’t have been his first kiss, could it?

  Observing my mate, his expression a cross between dumbfounded and elated at this bit of information, I'd have to say that answered that question. Come to think of it, I guess we've never kissed on the lips before. I found that hard to believe, as well, but the more I thought on it I realized I couldn't recall a time when we had.

  "Only Meanie for Veck," Veck said. His brow wrinkled, furry eyebrows turning down before they quickly shot up, and he blinked at me.

  "You mean you've only kissed me?" I asked slowly, a little confused.

  "No." His head shook. "Lo denaii only one mate. Meanie Veck's.”

  Uhm... "You mean... you've never been with anyone else? Ever?" I spluttered incredulously, my eyes bugging out at the idea.

  "Only Meanie," he stated solemnly, nodding his head emphatically.

  "You... you were... you were a virgin?" I blurted, my voice squeaking at the end. If it could, my jaw would probably be hanging off its hinges, swinging down by my knees by now.

  "Veck not vir-gin...Veck Lo denaii." Grunting, irritated, he frowned down at me.

  I chortled at his misinterpretation and hugged him, breaking out into a fit of giggles when his face pinched, darkening, and he scowled.

  "What makes Meanie laugh? Veck not funny," Veck grumbled under his breath and grunted, shifting.

  Snorting with laughter, I grinned and kissed him again, giggling against his mouth when he purred, then groaned, before swiftly giving over to his mate. Face slanting, chasing my tongue as it teased along the seam of his mouth, he clutched me to him tighter.

  "Meanie make Veck happy," he murmured against my lips, swooping in to capture mine with his own. "Very happy,” he rumbled out between experimental smooches. The beast was a quick study.

  Smiling against his thick mouth, I grinned.

  "Veck likes kiss-sing his Meanie." He purred, pressing his lips to mine once more, so I sucked on his lower lip, nipping at it playfully. He moaned, fingers carefully digging into my flesh through my clothes when my tongue snuck out, slipping in to caress his parted lips, tickling the tip of his fat, pink tongue.

  With a growl in his chest, he broke our connection, yanking us apart. Sliding my legs from around his waist to yank at my clothes, my arms wrapped around his neck as my legs dangled, he pawed at my pants.

  "I don't think that's going to work." Smiling impishly, I chuckled huskily and licked the seam of his mouth.

  Dragging my pants down my hips to catch at my knees, he growled in frustration, then growled again when he realized he'd forgotten about my boots. Grinning against his lips, I had mercy on my frosty-eyed giant, motioning for him to set me down.

  Turning around, placing my hands on the tree stump for leverage, I bent over it, backside arching into the air. "Well," I smirked, giving my bum a wiggle, "what are you waiting for? I'm getting cold over here, husband."

  “Mine.” Veck bent over me, hands gripping my hips, his erection sliding between my thighs. Marveling at the thickness, I took his throbbing member in hand, pushing the fur covered foreskin back to reveal his wide, fat, pale, human-like shaft.

  Veck moaned as I stroked him, my fingers running over the broad head of his cock teasingly.

  "Meanie," he grumbled on a stilted breath, thrusting into my grip impatiently.

  "Yes, I am." I chuckled, then laughed outright when he growled into my ear in exasperation. "But... I can be nice.” Glancing over my shoulder, a naughty smile tipping my lips, I tossed him a wink.

  Rubbing his shaft along my outer lips, I placed the head of his cock at the entrance of my sex and slowly impaled myself on his turgid flesh. Cold winter air nipping at my exposed thighs, determined to take every last inch of him, I worked his rock hard erection.

  When at last I'd taken all of him, I moaned. I felt full, too full. It was exquisite torture—I loved every minute of it. With my fingers white knuckling the stump-pedestal, my mate-husband’s hands sliding to my hips to hold me in place, Veck pulled out a little to push back in, my inner walls gripping him tight as he began pumping in and out of my sheath.

  Veck soon grew frantic, his pace becoming erratic, growling harshly with every heaving thrust, mumbling unfamiliar words in his beast-language.

  My inner muscles clenching in response, clamping down on him tight, that familiar warmth built in my core, spreading. “I’m close,” I whimpered, “so close.”

  Breath coming out in harsh, panting grunts, Veck was mindless with need, snarling through gritted teeth, pounding into my pussy.

  Gasping in pleasure, I ground myself back against him. "Harder, Veck,” I implored, moaning happily when he complied. Gripping my hips hard enough to bruise, he pulled out and slammed back in, hard.

  My body responded with a fresh wave of wetness, and Veck growled out his excitement, his voice echoing throughout the clearing.

  "Hold me tighter," I gasped out. Removing one of my hands from the stump, it slid down my belly to my sex. I rubbed my clit, grinding myself back against my mate, manipulating that tiny little pearl with the palm of my hand.

  His harsh, persistent thrusts had me crying out, heading towards that sweet precipice, ready to crash right over. Stars shot forth, dancing across my vision, right as Veck rammed my sweet spot.

  "Veck!!” I came screaming, calling out his name, my body greedily pulling at his shaft, attempting to milk him dry.

  Veck bellowed my name in return, his own climax overtaking him. Panting my name like a prayer, he filled me full of his seed.

  When both of us had finished, my beast-husband pulled me up, tucking me into his warmth, and held me, my back to his chest. I leaned back against him, savoring his warmth.

  Bending down to place small nips and licks against my neck, Veck grasped my hand, pulling it up to his lips. Kissing my fingertips, then the back of my hand, he then placed his ring on my finger.

  "My Meanie," he murmured huskily.

  "Yours," I agreed, clasping my hands over his, the stone in the ring winking at me in the moonlight from the frosty clearing.

  "Forever,” he growled out in his rusty, purr-laced voice. Turning my head to the side, our lips met and he kissed me tenderly.

  "Forever," I promised, and kissed him back.

  Chapter Ten
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  "W

  here were you last night?" Bia asked quizzically, frowning over at me as we walked to the river.

  My single water jug looked sadly pathetic compared to the six he could easily handle himself.

  "I thought you said you were going to be there?" he went on.

  "Getting married." My lips twitched and I sighed and blushed a little, flushing harder when a giggle escaped.

  "What's that?" he asked, staring at my pinkening complexion curiously. “It sounds familiar… Mm. Maybe Mama’s said something about it before.”

  "It's like mating for my people." A small smile played at my lips and I glanced away.

  I grew excited just thinking about the night Veck and I’d spent in each other’s arms, after we'd eventually made it back to the cottage. Out of all the snow beasties I could have ended up saddled with, I was glad I’d gotten him. He makes me happy, really happy. Another smile crept up the corners of my lips then, threatening to break through.

  It was kind of sad, when I'd reflected back on my old life, comparing it to all I have now. I’d known it was miserable—my poor excuse for a life—I was miserable. Coming here, odd as it has been, has turned out to be a good thing. No, the best thing.

  I couldn’t explain it. My life here, for me, it’s... It’s much more... more... I don’t know... Here, I feel like I’m part of a community.

  Against wild animals and crazy elements, who knows what lurking around this insane plane, this crazy beast village—as well as us other inhabitants, willing or not—have all had to band together. It was do or die, together or picked off one by one.

  Whether big or small, there’s always something to be done—meat to be cured, hunting to be had, crops to be tended, I have purpose. I matter, I have meaning. In the snow beasts’ own funky, freaking way, around here it’s all one big, growling, snarling, furry, dysfunctionally functional family.

  The snow beast village, faults and all, made up a pretty tight knit group.