Orc Bound Mates

Chapter Thirteen

Surprisingly, the walk to the Fae village didn't take as long as I had expected. With how much the Orcs dislike the Fae, I would’ve figured there’d be more distance between the villages. The majority of our conversations during the trip revolved around how I should dictate myself in front of the Fae. Vlorg had warned me that the Fae are very manipulative and conniving. Orguk had warned me that under no circumstances should I make any kind of deal or bargain with the Fae. Borguk had put in that the Fae are haughty bloated braggarts that love to hear themselves talk.

The Fae settlement isn't what I expected. The Orcs have constructed homes out of wood, compacted dirt streets, and central buildings for communal gatherings. The Fae, however, has every home built into the trees. Some homes are carved out of the tree trunk, while others are like tree houses in the branches. Many of the tree branch dwellings have wood plank bridges connecting them. Not wanting to disturb the nature around them, I’d assume. The only reason you would know anybody is living here is the holes cut into the sides of the trees where light pours out of them. I can hardly see all the homes in the branches because most of them are obscured by the foliage.

I stare in wonder at how the Fae managed to create walkways; instead of compacted footpaths or cutting away brush to clear paths, they placed down flat stones throughout the forest to connect everything. The pavers vary between a dull gray to vibrant colors of the rainbow. Greens, blues, purples, pinks, reds, and oranges dot the stepping stones through the whole village. Light glitters off the surface of the brightly colored steps, arching mini rainbows through the forest.

Everywhere I look, I can see tiny fairies flittering around the area, ducking behind trees, and peeking out. Their little bodies glowing with a light from within makes them look transparent. Several Fae are walking between the trees; at first glance, they look human, but their pointed ears and unnaturally vibrant colored hair gives away their abnormal nature. Most seem like ordinary villagers going about their day, but some are clearly sentries. They monitor the forest around their home and protect it when needed.

One of the guards spots us approaching the main gate, which is a beautiful weave work of naturally growing trees, vines, and flowers. I feel like I’m stepping into a fairy tale. The Fae may not look it, but I have no doubt they could do plenty of damage to invading folks. The male Fae stops before us in a rush, hand resting on the hilt of a sheathed blade strapped to his side. The male isn’t exceptionally large or intimidating, but his graceful movements belie his efficiency at navigating his home. His long pink hair is tied back with braids and leather straps. When he gets close enough, I can see that his eyes match the color of his hair; they shimmer like moist rose petals.

“Halt! State your business!” He demands, stepping into our path and preventing us from moving forward. My Orcs tense at the command, tension bleeding from their bodies at his aggressive approach. Vlorg tightens his hold on me protectively, shifting his stance to put himself between the Fae and me. Skarr’s hackles rise at the Fae, not liking the male getting too close to me.

“We come to speak to Morganuk.” Vlorg responds in a deep threatening voice, and I pat his cheek to calm him. We’re not going to get anywhere with intimidation. He doesn’t glance down at my touch as I’d hoped. He remains hyper-focused on the male before him, ready to spring into action.

Another guard joins the first, fortifying their stances at the hostility my Orcs are showing them. The new male looks similar to the first, except his hair and eyes, are glacial blues. I can’t let them fight over anything. I wiggle my way out of Vlorg’s arms to stand beside him. I stare at the Fae males and square my shoulders.

"My name is Alexa, and these are my males, Vlorg, Orguk, and Borguk. This is my wolf Skarr. I want to speak to Morganuk regarding a rumor I heard about him helping human women escape unwanted Orc Claiming pairs. I will not answer any more questions unless he is the one asking them.” I inform the guards, my paralegal tone coming out. I put my hands on my hips and stare them down. I will not be pushed around or brushed off when I’m so close to finding answers.

The first guard scrutinizes me for several long moments before nodding his head. He turns to walk back into the village before glancing back at us. “This way.” He calls as he continues without confirming that we’re following him. We step around the second guard and follow the first down the path to a large tree towards the back. The tree is massive, its branches reaching high above all the other trees in the area. The guard takes us to the front door and stops. “Wait here.” He slips inside while we wait for his return. Vlorg shifts from one foot to the other as tension grips his body.

“It’s going to be okay,” I reassure him with a pat on his arm. He glances at me and nods. “I’ve dealt with conniving people all my life. I won’t allow him to take me for a fool. If he doesn’t help, then we leave.” I smile up at him and stroke his arm, hoping to calm his nerves.

A few moments later, the guard opens the door and ushers us in. I take the lead, my males and Skarr tagging along behind me like oversized ducklings. The tree home is beautiful with its nature-themed décor. Everything inside is fashioned from the tree; all the wood that was hollowed out is used to decorate the inside. An elegant, hand-crafted table and chairs line one wall. The surface of the table is covered with crystals of all sizes and colors. A comfortable armchair sits in a corner with a tall bookshelf with several crystals hanging above it, casting the area in a warm glow. Hundreds of books fill the shelves to past capacity, many of them lying on top of the neat rows to utilize every inch of space.

A tall, graceful male steps out into the main room, his platinum silver hair pulled up into a high ponytail, showing off his angular features. His body is corded with lean, toned muscles and smooth movements. His gown leaves very little to the imagination with its open torso design. The tunic is pale lavender and stays together with thin strings of fabric. His sharp amethyst eyes are open and friendly, despite the uninvited guests in his home. He steps closer and smiles at me, holding his hand out in greeting. Vlorg growls warningly at the gesture, and I turn a pleading glance his way to beg him to relax silently. I reach for his hand and shake it with a firm grip.

“Welcome to my home. I’m Morganuk, as you should already be aware since you’ve demanded my audience.” Morganuk’s tone is cold and calculating, even though his expression is a contradiction. This male’s not one to be f****d with. Luckily, I’ve met more than my fair share of men that are too smart and manipulative to be underestimated. He will be no different. I turn on my best smile and nod my head in agreement.

“I apologize for my rudeness. However, I find myself in a peculiar situation and was told that you may have answers to my questions.” I release his hand and relax my shoulders. Showing him that I’m not a threat and want to be on friendly terms. His smile doesn’t falter, but the tightness around his eyes relaxes just a little.

“And what answers do you seek?” He asks, gesturing to the table for me to sit at. I bow my head again and take a seat, careful not to touch any of the crystals. I don’t know what they do, and I don’t want to hurt myself for no good reason. He clears the table and takes the seat across from me. My males stand at my back like giant green statues. Skarr tucks himself against my side.

“Before I ask my questions, I want to clarify that I did not come here to make any deals, contracts, bargains, or pacts. I only seek information if you are willing to give it; in return, I will provide you with any knowledge I have.” Morganuk stares at me for a long moment before barking a laugh. He glances behind me and waves the guard away. I hear the door open and close before he wipes a single tear from his eye.

“You are an interesting one.” He comments as his laugh dies off. “We have an understanding. No deals of any kind. Please continue.” I internally sigh in relief, I really didn’t want to offend Morganuk, but I’m not going to exchange information for something I’m unwilling to give. Or don’t have.

“My name is Alexa. I’ve been in this world for two days now. I live on Earth in the year 2018. I come from a different world. In my world, there are no Orcs, Fae, magic, or Mates. I heard that you’ve helped women in the past escape Claiming Pairs they didn’t want to be in. Is that correct?” I figure giving him a little of my background would help set a foundation of trust with him. I tell him about myself, hoping he’ll be honest with me.

“That is correct. I’ve helped many young females flee bad pairings. You come from a different world? That is peculiar, indeed.” Morganuk taps his long pale finger against his chin, considering something before continuing. “I assume you wish to know how you got here.” He’s not asking but stating what he’s already figured out.

“Yes. I’m not sure how it happened, but I recall a weird sensation when I ran through a particular set of trees. One second, I’m in my world, and the next, I'm in this one. In that moment, I didn’t notice anything strange about my surroundings; it all looked the same to me. Do you have any idea how that could have happened?” I hold his gaze as he continues tapping his chin with his manicured finger.

“I do. You stepped through a portal connecting the two worlds. Most likely, one that I constructed for fleeing females in that area.” He glances between me and the Orcs standing at my back. “Are you wanting to return home?” He inquires as his shoulders tense. I can see the fight he’s preparing for, and I quickly squash the idea.

“No, I don’t want to leave. Permanently. I just want to understand how I got here and why I have Orc Marks on my skin. Maybe, if possible, return to my world to collect my things and come back here.” I inform Morganuk in a rush, defusing the tension building between him and my males. I reach down and brush my fingers through Skarr’s hackles, smoothing them down. I can see Morganuk’s eyes trailing over my body, looking for something. “My marks are on my hip, and I don’t feel comfortable enough to show them.”

“Ahhhhh, I was wondering where it was located. I respect your decision. May I ask what the marks read?” He inquires with a tilt of his head. I shrug and nod my head.

“They read Marry Tribe.” I inform him with certainty. Morganuk’s brows rise in surprise.

“Very peculiar indeed. I have several portals in multiple forests around the area. Do you know where you came in? If I know the portal, I can connect it with whom I’ve sent through. As well as confirm if it can be used to transport to and from that world.” Morganuk’s looking to me for answers I don’t know, so I glance at my males and shrug. Vlorg speaks up on my behalf.

“We found her near the edge of the Black Forest. On the border to the Gray-Skin Clan territory.” He explains, and Morganuk nods in understanding. The Fae male stands from the table and indicates for us to wait with a hand in the air as he slips through the door he first came from.

“This is going better than I thought,” I whisper to my males; I sigh in relief that Morganuk isn’t trying to pull one over on me. Trying to sneak a deal into the conversation to get something out of me while I get what I want. “Thank you for bringing me.” I thank them because they could have just taken me back to the Longhouse and avoided the Fae altogether.

We wait for quite a few minutes before Morganuk returns with a giant crystal in his palm. It’s spherical in shape, but the edges are a little rough. Like someone stopped shaping it halfway through the job. He brings it to the table and sets it down for us to get a good look. I don’t understand what I’m looking at. It looks so much like all the other crystals I’ve seen so far, maybe a bit bigger. He touches the surface and says something in a language I don’t understand as the last word leaves his lips; an image of a young woman pops up from the surface. The picture is like a hologram of the woman, showing a 3-D view of a youthful blonde woman looking scared but hopeful.

“This is a crystal with all the females I’ve helped through the portal in the area you described. If you see a female that looks familiar, I can have the crystal verbalize the information they gave. You can touch the image, and it will stay but swipe your finger over the crystal, and it will cycle to the next female.” I stare at the image for a moment before swiping the crystal, and a different female flickers into view. I scan through twenty before one catches my attention. I know her. I glance up at Morganuk and nod. He touches the crystal and whispers something, and her voice breaks into the silence.

“My name is Jinia. I am 22 summers old. I have requested the aid of Morganuk in my escape from a forced Claiming with the Gray-Skin Clan. I understand that his assistance comes at the cost of all my worldly possessions. He has assured me that I will have no use for them where I am going. Thank you, Morganuk, for aiding me when no one else would. I will forever be grateful.” The recording finishes, and I can feel the tears rolling down my face. That was the image and voice of my late grandmother. I know it because she had many pictures from her youth when she first met my grandfather.

“That’s my grandmother, Jinia. She died not too long ago. I was devastated when she passed, so seeing her again makes my heart ache for her company.” I wipe the tears from my cheeks, not embarrassed by the emotion the clip brought me. I would give anything to have a copy of the snippet just to have a piece of her again. I glance at Morganuk with a smile on my lips and chuckle. “I would really like to possess a copy of this, but I have nothing I’m willing to part with.”

“If I could propose a deal. I think you will agree to the terms.” Morganuk begins, and my males growl in warning. He holds his hands up in surrender. “Hear me out. I’ll give you a copy on the condition that you come to visit me again. I rather enjoy your company. You remind me of your grandmother. She was an incredibly unique character as well. If I recall correctly, she demanded my attention much the same as you. She told the guards she would not utter a word to anyone but me.” He chuckles at the memory. I consider his deal and look to my Orcs for their thoughts. They scrutinize the Fae male like a bug, but Vlorg nods.

“I can manage that. Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.” I whisper through the emotions cogging my throat. Skarr tilts his head to lick at the tears I missed dripping from my chin. Morganuk has a smile on his lips as he stands from the table, grabs the crystal, and walks into the back room again. He’s only gone for a few minutes before coming back into the room with a new crystal. He hands it to me, and I take it with shaking hands as though touching it will erase its information.

“Don’t worry, Alexa. Even if it hits the ground, the information will not disappear. Your Orcs know how to use it; they can teach you what to do. Is there anything else I can help you with?” Morganuk inquires as I cradle the pale pink crystal to my chest. I shake my head and stand from the table. “Then I bid you farewell. Also, please come back whenever you like. You are more than welcome here anytime. I will ensure the guards know you are free to enter at all times.” Morganuk walks us to the door; holding it open, he ushers us outside, where the guard stands to escort us back to the main gate.

Before we leave Morganuk’s home, I pause and turn to him. “Would we be able to use the gate to get back to my world for my things?” He looks at me for a moment and nods his head.

“Yes, that gate is capable of back-and-forth transport. We can meet at the portal in a couple of days to ensure your trip is without issue. I will remain on this side to maintain the correct flow of magic for your return.” Morganuk offers his service, and I glance at my males to confirm they are okay with the plan. Vlorg nods his head quickly before wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

“We will meet at the edge of Black Forest in three days. We will accompany Alexa through the gate and ensure her safety. Thank you for all your hospitality.” Vlorg holds out his free hand to clasp Morganuk’s arm in a friendly gesture of goodbye. The Fae male looks surprised that Vlorg’s offered him such a gesture but takes his offered arm. They shake firmly before releasing the hold and stepping back.

“Never thought I’d see the day I would get to shake an Orcs arm. Thank you.” Morganuk bows his head slightly to show his respect.

“It is not every day a Fae would help someone without getting something in return. You have helped my female and brought her peace when we were unable. You are a worthy male. I hope to continue friendly relations with you in the future.” Vlorg fists his hand over his chest and beats it once. I have no idea what’s going on, but I guess this is a step toward mending old sore relationships. I smile as pride fills me, knowing I helped bring these two powerful races together when they would otherwise avoid each other.

“Safe travels, Alexa. We shall meet again in a few days.” Morganuk bows his head to me before slipping back into his home and shutting the door. I turn to my males and beam at them. We head towards the entrance to the village to leave.

Once we clear the gate, I ask Vlorg if he has anything to carry the crystal in while we travel back to the Longhouse. He pulls a small pouch from his hip and opens it for me to place the crystal inside. Vlorg tugs the strings together to sinch the bag closed and ties it to his waist. Orguk scoops me into his arms and settles me into a comfortable position to carry me home.

“We are going home now, right?” I ask, and Orguk’s expression shows exactly what he has in mind when we get there. I glance between all my males and see two more faces clouding with hunger.

“We are ready to take care of you,” Borguk adds, shifting his weight to ease some of the tension building inside his body. Vlorg stays silent; his tenuous hold over his desires screaming from his hungry gaze, tells me everything he leaves unsaid. I blush at the intensity of their need for me and want to return to the Longhouse as much as they do.

“Then, I guess. The faster we return to the Longhouse, the faster you can keep that promise.” My Orcs make a sound between a growl and groan. They turn from the Fae village and start down the long road that leads back to their territory.

The time it took to get to the Orc and then Fae village seemed so short when we made the journey, but the trip back seems to take forever. I watch how Vlorg and Borguk move, noticing that their gaits are faltering. Then I realize that it must be very awkward to run with a hard-on. My males have to move slower than usual due to the state their trousers are in. I snicker as Borguk reaches down his front to adjust himself, having little success in making it easier to move. He glances over at me and scrunches his nose.

“Very funny, female. It is harder than it looks to keep it down while your fragrance dances in the air around us like a tempting meal.” Borguk grumbles as he shuffles a bit while pushing his c**k into a better position to walk with. I laugh a little harder at his grumbling, only to receive a swat to the rear from Orguk. I squeak in alarm and turn an incredulous glare at him.

“What!?! It’s not my fault you’ve all conditioned my body to respond this way. You’ve spent the last couple of days getting me so worked up that even after you’ve taken care of my need, I still crave more. With you, I feel like I’ll never get enough.” I complain as more heat fills my insides, bringing me to a boiling point. I fan my face for the millionth time and hope the air isn’t completely saturated with my scent. Although I know better than to expect anything different, my cunt is pulsing with needy desire, coating my thighs with my juices.

“We will ensure that you get enough. We will leave you utterly satisfied by the end of the Claiming and any night or day you want us to please you.” Vlorg swears to me as he, too, adjusts himself for better comfort. I nod as they pick up the pace to get us home faster.

About halfway through the trip back, the urge to pee settles in my lower belly like a throbbing weight. I desperately need to relieve myself since I hadn’t had the chance since this morning before we left the Longhouse. I look up to Orguk, who’s trying quite hard to keep his movements fluid and smooth. I tap his chest to get his attention; he looks down at me with questioning eyes.

“What is it, Alexa?” He asks before calling to his brothers to halt; they do and rejoin us. I blush at all the attention centered on me, knowing it’s normal to pee but feeling embarrassed regardless. I don’t know when they have the time to pee because I haven’t seen them use the restroom once. Besides that, one time, Vlorg went into the bathroom after I got soaked from the toilet.

“I need to pee. Urinate. Can we stop for a moment?” I scrunch my face when Borguk chuckles at the blush flooding my cheeks. Orguk sets me down on my feet, the weight of my overly full bladder screaming s at me. I clench my legs together, holding the floodgates closed; Vlorg grunts and nods. I move towards a thicket of trees and bushes, hoping to find a private spot to relieve myself. My Orcs and Skarr move with me. I whip around to them, following my every move.

“Can I have a little privacy?” I groan. They stop following, reluctance filling every expression. They take a moment to listen and sniff the air to check for anything in the area before begrudgingly letting me go into the forest alone. There they go again, making me feel like a toddler that needs my hand held for every interaction. I understand their need to protect me since I haven’t completed the Claiming and with Urghat still lurking about, but sometimes I need a little privacy.

I know how to pee all by myself. I’m a big girl. I’ve been for the last few decades all by myself.

I slip through several bundles of bushes and trees, remembering that my Orcs have heightened hearing; I move further from the road to pee out of earshot. Feeling that I’ve ventured far enough into the underbrush, I pick a tree and hike my dress up and out of the way. Squatting down, I angle my pelvis to force the stream away from my feet, not wanting to ruin my flats more than they already are.

Sighing when I realize I have nothing to wipe with, I sure as hell will not be using any leaves, fearing it could cause a nasty rash. I wait for my bits to air dry, figuring a bath before sexy time will be the order of things once we arrive back at the Longhouse. I don’t want to get into bed with anyone while smelling like urine; there’s nothing sexy about that.

While I wait, I hum to myself, trying to make the time slip by faster. Part of me is glad that I don’t have to poop because there’s no way I’d walk back to them without washing off my rear end. That can wait until we get home, and I can use the magic toilet to spray and blow dry my bits. I snort, remembering the first time I used that damned thing.

Once I feel sufficiently dry, I stand up, letting the dress fall back into place. A single twig snapping is the only warning I get before something cracks against the back of my neck, knocking me out completely.