The Pack

Chapter 2

They had spent all day in the field by the river, underneath the old willow tree. That was their favorite spot to escape to. They could sit there and talk for hours. However, there was a rival tribe that had been causing some problems, and as a precaution Chief Ahote made a strict rule that everyone had to be back home before dark.

When they got closer to the village, they could hear a lot of commotion. They looked at each other and then took off running the rest of the way. As soon as they were in view, Howi ran up and grabbed Atepa and kissed her as if she had been gone for ages. He always did that. It was as if his life stopped whenever Atepa wasn’t around.

“What took you so long?”

“It wasn’t that long, love. It was only about an hour.”

“It felt like much longer. Hurry, come, both of you. He’s back!”

Here we go, she thought.

When they cut through the circled crowd, there he was right in the middle, of course. He looked...different. He was still beautiful, but he looked so much older. Not like he was aging or anything, more like, more manly. He was in nothing but his pants and shoes, and she caught herself tracing every chiseled part of his upper body. She tried to look away but couldn’t. It was as if her eyes had a mind of their own. She followed the lines of his body up, up, up, until she was staring right into those deep, gorgeous, dark brown eyes. He was staring right at her! She immediately looked away and felt her cheeks begin to burn. Why was she acting like this? What was different and intriguing about him all of the sudden? She wasn’t sure, but it only intensified her curiosity towards him.

Chief Ahote stepped forward and raised his hands, “My people! My son, Kono, has returned. He has discussed with me his plans for our people. Kono wishes to choose a bride, therefore, every young girl of age, must prepare herself. Tomorrow night we will have the ceremony.”

Well that was fast. He was home not even a whole day and he already wants to choose a bride? How would he know who to choose? She never understood how someone could just decide one day who they would marry, even without really knowing them. However, it was a tradition that her people still practiced. Anika looked over at Atepa and Howi who were both excited for the ceremony, it was always an important time for their people.

Since Atepa had already given herself to Howi, it was very unlikely that she would be chosen as Konos bride. She, on the other hand had never loved a man, hadn’t even really thought about it too much. She called on the courage of their fallen people and looked over at Kono for one last glance. When she met those eyes again, she became a little more worried about what was to happen the next day.