Orc Bound Mates

Chapter Eleven

“I am sorry that we have never had an instance like this that we can recall.” Worthag starts, tracing invisible lines into Nina’s palm. “We do not know what brought you to this world, nor how. Based on your recollection of events, nothing seems to connect with a reason.” He scratches the shaved part of his head with his free hand, a look of confusion scrunching his features.

“We are sorry we could not be of more assistance,” Nina adds, patting her Mate’s hand. “We do not know how to send you back, as it stands.” She continues. “All we can offer is a safe place for you to stay and protection from the dangers of this world. A single human female could easily get hurt or killed in this world. We stay in large communities or pair up with the Orcs to avoid danger.”

Worthag seems to be considering something for a long moment; he’s scratching the back of his head in thought again. I stand here waiting for him to collect his thoughts and tell us what we can do next. Skarr nudges his body into mine, leaning gently against me in reassurance. I don’t know how this wolf understands so much, but he’s far more intelligent than expected. Worthag clears his throat and turns his attention back to us.

“There is another that may know how you ended up here.” He offers, tilting his head back with a look of annoyance. Whatever he’s going to suggest isn’t something he likes. “Across the border of my territory is the land of the Fae. There is a Fae leader that may be able to assist you. His name is Morganuk. I have heard tales of him opening portals to other worlds. He may know more.”

I perk up at the suggestion, wanting to figure out how I got here. Even though I don’t really want to leave anymore, I do, however, want to understand how I got here and why I have a connection to the Orc world. I turn to Vlorg to gauge his reaction, wanting to know how he feels about going to the Fae for help. After our conversation at the breakfast table, I don’t think the Orcs are very fond of the Fae people. He maintains eye contact with his father, some silent communication passing between them. He nods and turns to smile softly at me.

“We will travel there before we venture back to the Longhouse. We will help you find the answers you seek.” Vlorg reassures me even though he doesn’t like the idea of dealing with the Fae any more than his father.

I face forward again, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel that holds the explanations I’m looking for. With luck, Morganuk will know the how and why I'm here. Hearing that there’s a possibility to return home makes my chest feel a little lighter, even as my desire to stay surges to the forefront of my thoughts. I inhale deeply, needing a moment to absorb the nature of my new reality.

I can possibly, go home. But I don’t know if I want that anymore. I really like my Orcs and Skarr. They make me happy. Let’s not get ahead of myself. Meet the Fae leader first and figure it out from there.

“Understood. Thank you for the time you took out of your day to speak with us.” I respond politely, not wanting to occupy more of their time than needed.

“Not at all. It was lovely to meet you, Alexa. We hope you find the information you are looking for.” Nina's warm smile shines as she fiddles with the strands of her hair. Worthag nods with a grunt of agreement.

“If there is nothing else that needs discussing.” Worthag indicates that we are free to go. “You are welcome to continue with your day.”

“Wait.” Vlorg starts, glancing back at me. “There is one other thing. Something that we discovered last night.” Vlorg nods before continuing. “Alexa has an Orcish ‘birthmark’ on her left hip that may be important.” He leaves that statement hanging in the air; I can hear movement behind me, possibly the twins nodding their agreement with the report.

“Interesting.” Worthag comments, leaning forward to stare at my clothed hip as if he could see it through the fabric. Nina is visibly trembling with excitement, her smile so broad that it’s making my cheeks hurt just from looking at her. Nina’s expression resembles the Cheshire cat, hinting that she’s aware of more than she’s letting on.

“Would you be willing to show us?” She questions, all too excited to see the markings. I swallow around the sudden dryness in my throat, insecurities tickling my mind at the thought of exposing a part of my body to the parents of the males I’m spending time with. Males that I want to be involved with. I know they enjoy my body, and I enjoy them too, but being exposed in front of strangers has never been my favorite pastime. Making up my mind, I nod my head.

“That’s fine. I don’t mind showing you. Should I come up there?” I ask, taking a small step forward. Worthag and Nina venture from behind the table, taking a short journey around the wide table to stand before it.

“Yes. Please come here.” Nina waves me over, beckoning me to stand with them on the raised platform. I move away from my Orcs and Skarr, ready to lift my skirts to show them the mark. Skarr doesn’t care to stay behind and follows me to the front of the table, my Orcs moving to stand closer to me as well.

I stand before the towering Orc Chieftain and his human Mate; the sheer size of Worthag is overwhelming. I’d thought Vlorg was huge, but his father has to stand another 4-5 inches taller than him. The sheer ridiculousness of how massive these orcs are makes my head spin. Taking another deep breath to calm myself, I reach down and carefully lift the end of my skirting up, taking care not to flash my private bits and expose the length of my thigh and hip. Nina looks closely at the birthmark, a light hum sounding between her pursed lips. After a few more moments, she gasps and claps her hands together, excitement clear on her face. She looks into my eyes and smiles so brightly it almost hurts to face it head-on.

This woman seems to be a literal beam of sunshine. Every time she smiles, it’s so bright it sparkles brighter than the illuminating crystals in the bathroom.

Worthag squats down to get a better look at the mark, bringing him closer to eye level with my hip. He makes a thoughtful sound in his throat; reaching forward, he brushes his thumb over the mark. He’s possibly checking to see if it wipes away or has an abnormal texture. I have no idea why he needs to touch it, but I hold myself stone still, not wanting to insult him by moving away from his hand. Although I would prefer he not put his hands on me, I only wish to have my Orcs touch me.

“This is such wonderful news. A female with the Mark of the Orcs. And not just any mark. The Mark of Marry Tribe. It has been a long time since one has come to the village.” Nina seems incredibly happy that I’ve shown up with such a marking on my body. Once Worthag stands back up, I let my skirt drop back into place, covering my legs up. I make sure not to take a step back, not wanting to offend them, even though I’m tense being close to the giant Orc. That predatorial part of him puts my instincts on high alert, warning me that a dangerous creature is near.

“This is very interesting.” Worthag comments, scratching the side of his head again. I watch the expressions on their faces, looking for further clues as to why this is such splendid and fascinating news. “You look confused, Alexa.” He continues. I nod, thoughts dancing through my mind at what all this means.

Why do I have the markings? I’ve never been to this world, and I don’t recall anyone from my family having them either. How is it possible to have the Mark of the Orcs when there aren’t any in my world? What the hell is going on? I’m losing my mind. I really need to find some answers to connect all the scattered dots of information splattered in my head.

“Every female that comes to the tribe. They end up with the Orcs. She always bares a symbol of the tribe.” He indicates to my hip before continuing. “That mark is remarkably unique. It has only appeared on ten females in the last thirty cycles of the seasons. Nina was the last to come to the tribe with the same symbols.”

Nina’s smile is still shining like a supernova as she shifts the shoulder of her dress off to show the same symbols clear as day on her skin. Her letters are slightly different than mine; three additional characters are curving under her marks. “Since the symbols are so rare. It is likely a sign that you were always meant to be here. It is possible that Fate brought you here to fulfill your role in this world.” Nina slips the fabric back over her shoulder, covering the matching markings that we share. I don’t need much more convincing that I belong here with Vlorg, Orguk, and Borguk. The added information only serves to reinforce the thoughts swimming around my head. Even if a million thoughts are racing around, screaming to know the why and how I managed to get to this point.

I was always meant to come to this place. Be with my Orcs. Bring new life and love into this world. Maybe help them develop into a new age of advancements. Even with the magic, there may be things I can help improve with the knowledge I’ve gotten over the time I spent in the human world. But how did I get the birthmark?

While I let myself drift in the dreams of my future, the unwritten part of my story, and the parts that my caring Orcs play in this new segment of my life, Vlorg starts his goodbye to his parents. Mild panic sets in as everyone prepares to leave, farewells and well wishes passing. Nina embraces her sons in turn, giving Skarr a gentle scratch behind the ear before turning to me, arms outstretched for a hug. In my confusion, I open my arms and accept the hug, her soft embrace releasing all the tension in my body. I must steady my legs before she releases me to keep from crumbling to the ground. I have to ask quickly before the guys usher me from the room.

“Wait!” I call as my Orcs start to move to the doors leading to the room. Everyone stops in their tracks; all eyes are focused on me at my outburst. “Sorry,” I mumble as I fiddle with a ruffle in my dress, my anxiety spiking at the prospect of asking to stay with them. I take a deep breath and steal my resolve, knowing I want to be with them. I focus solely on Worthag and Nina, making eye contact with them before settling on Worthag.

“I have something to ask of you. No matter what the outcome is with the Fae or what I find out from the visit. I don’t plan on leaving. I wanted to get your permission to stay with your sons. As their Chosen Female.” Silence meets my request, unsure of myself, even after Vlorg had voiced their collective desire to have me as their female just moments ago. I look at them, their expressions not giving much away. I continue. “If that’s fine with you. Can I stay with you? I want to be your female.” Each male swallows hard before nodding their head; Skarr barks a happy yip. The wolf has no issues using his voice, letting everyone in the room know his stand on the request. I turn back to Worthag to wait for his response. His stoic expression leaves me with nothing to go on. He could say yes or no.

Nina vibrates with barely contained energy as she waits for her Mate to give the approval; when he takes too long, she elbows him in the side. He grunts at the jab and smiles, chuckling down at his beautifully fiery Mate.

“Yes. Alexa, you are more than welcome to be the Chosen Female to our sons. We welcome you to the family and the Tribe.” At his words, a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding whooshes out of my mouth. Nina jumps with a squeal of pure, joyous excitement. Within a moment of his words, I’m scooped off the ground in massive strong arms and spun around with three thunderous masculine shouts of triumph. The room whirls until I face the twins, who crowd in close to shower my face with kisses. Vlorg has his face buried in my neck, releasing a pleasant growl as he hugs me close to his chest.

Vlorg turns back to his parents, putting me on my feet with them behind me. I stare in giddy shock as my Orcs take a step back, drop to one knee, and bow their head to me. Vlorg looks up first.

“Thank you, Alexa. We are honored to be your males. We will honor you every day of our lives.” He starts.

“We will care for you in every way until you are satisfied. We will provide you with everything that you desire.” Borguk continues.

“We will sow many younglings to fill our home. We will never leave you wanting for more.” Orguk adds in. The more they vow, the more my heart melts into a puddle of emotions.

“We will always protect you in the face of danger. We will offer our lives for the safety of yours and our young for as long as we live.” Vlorg finishes before all three vows in unison. “We will love you faithfully. Unconditionally. Eternally.”

By the end of their vows, I can’t hold back the tears rolling down my face in fat drops, nor the loud sobs of overwhelming emotions. Soft arms wrap around my waist while a massive arm wraps around my shoulders from behind. Nina squeezes in close, placing soft kisses on my cheek while Worthag gently rubs against my shoulder.

“Thank you, Vlorg, Orguk and Borguk. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.” I manage to say between the little hiccups in my voice. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to finish the vows, but I’ll say some of my own.” I touch Nina and Worthag on the hand, politely requesting they release me to step up to my Orcs. I kneel in front of Vlorg, running my hands over the planes of his firm cheeks. I lean in to kiss softly against his lips; he’s as still as a stone statue.

“I vow to love you with all that I am. I vow to do everything I can to make you happy.” I stand up to turn to Orguk next, kneeling before him as I did for Vlorg. I brush my fingers through his soft braided hair before kissing his lips, his body relaxing against my hold.

“I vow to stay true to all of you until the end of my life. I vow to bring any little Orcs into this world that take root.” I move to kneel before Borguk to continue my vows and give each of my Orcs the attention that they deserve. I cup Borguk’s jaws to touch his soft, warm earlobes. Leaning in, I place the same gentle kiss on his lips. The tremble of his lips against mine expresses how monumental this moment is for him.

“I vow never to stay mad for long, no matter how mad you make me. I vow to always stay by your sides.” I finish by standing before their parents, shoulder squared and voice steady.

“I vow to love your sons with everything that I am. I vow that I will never leave their side of my own volition. I vow that I will try to be the best daughter to you and bring your sons and any future grandchildren to you often.” I bow my head to them, unsure if that was right or needed, but wanting to show everyone in this room that I mean what I’m vowing.

Skarr whines as he shoves his snout into my neck, letting me know I forgot one person in the room.

“Oh, Skarr! How could I?” I kiss his cold, moist nose and scrub my fingers into his neck. “I vow to give you all my scraps from any meal I can’t finish. I vow always to shower you with plenty of scratches and belly rubs.” Skarr barks a happy sound before sitting back on his haunches to let out a long and meaningful howl. I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up from my chest as he licks my cheek with his thick wet tongue. It’s silly how terrified I was when he first licked me compared to how happy I am now.

Once Skarr has completed his part of the vows, my Orcs surround me in scorching arms and nuzzling heads. “Thank you, Alexa.” They whisper against my body, shivers race over my skin, and that well-known heat ignites in my abdomen for them. I pat each of them on the arm, fanning my face with my free hand. I’m acutely aware that their parents are very close to us, and I know if I let them, they’ll start a flood of arousal that will clog the air with my scent.

“Not here, please. I can’t survive all the touching with my dignity intact.” I whisper to my Orcs, trying to get my body to cool down. Embarrassing myself in front of my in-laws is something I would prefer not to do, especially since I’m an unclaimed female. Well, future in-laws.

I figure they’d be understanding since Nina has three males as well, but I don’t want to broadcast to the room that I’m horny for my Orcs. Their vows did more than melt my heart, and I want them something fierce right now.

“Yes, Alexa,” Vlorg whispers back, moving away from my personal space. “Later.” The twins follow suit, stepping back a pace to give me room to breathe. As much as I want them right now, with all the feelings running around my heart, I know this isn’t the place for it.

“Oh, Alexa! Before you leave, I have gifts for you. You must take them with you.” Nina gushes, taking up the space that her sons have left, taking ahold of my hands, wanting me to accept her offer. “I will prepare it and have one of the boys take it home with you.” She continues squeezing my hands with her enthusiasm. Not wanting to offend the sweet woman, I nod my agreement.

“Thank you, Nina. I’ll gladly accept any gift you give me.” I smile at her, brimming with so much love and acceptance, glowing with contentment. Nina laughs with joy before rushing from the room to prepare her gift. Worthag chuckles as his Mate makes a hasty exit. The heavy doors slam open at her departure. I stare at the open door she disappeared through and smile.

“She has not been this excited in a long time.” Worthag catches my eyes, and the warm smile on his lips makes my heart ache. “Thank you for bringing her this joy, Alexa.” He nods his head before following his Mate. I turn to my Orcs and smile sheepishly. I’d been so worried that their parents would be angry that I was here, maybe even disappointed in their sons for entertaining an unknown female. Now, I feel silly for being so concerned.

“I guess you were right when you said your mother would be happy that I’m here,” I mumble as they converge around me, taking over the space around me. The heat from their bodies is nearly sweltering against my skin, their anticipation and craving for me clear in their eyes.

“We have given the vows that start the Claiming Ceremony. The next step in the Claiming will be to join our bodies.” Vlorg informs against my ear; his gravelly voice does naughty things to my insides. I can’t hold back the moan that falls from my parted lips. Borguk’s at my back; his nose is breathing deeply at my hairline. Orguk fits into the space on my right, his lips and teeth nibbling at my other earlobe.

“The quicker we get back to the Longhouse. The quicker we can consummate the claiming.” Orguk breathes into my sensitive ear, the husky quality of his ordinarily clear voice turning me into a puddle of sexy goo.

“We cannot wait to consummate the Claiming. To finally enjoy every part of your body.” Borguk growls into my hair, his erection firm and persistent against my ass. I’m nearly delirious with pleasure when Vlorg jerks his head up and grumbles that their parents are coming back. I squeak in surprise, a rosy blush flaming over my whole face, ears, and chest.

“Oh, God!” I groan, knowing their father will be able to smell me. My Orcs take a step back as the door clicks open, Worthag and Nina coming back into the room. I hope that Nina doesn’t have the same discernment with her senses. I shut my eyes in humiliation, wanting to crawl into a hole and die.

Worthag clears his throat, drawing my attention. I see him carrying two satchels, one much larger than the other. I drop my head in shame, knowing he can smell me. Nina rushes over to me, cupping my cheek, getting me to look up at her. She’s smiling warmly. She hugs me close, bringing her lips close to my ear.

“Do not worry. We all understand the desires that come with a Claiming. No need to be embarrassed. My Mates are no better. They could never keep their hands to themselves. Still cannot.” Nina chuckles, patting my back, helping relieve some of my worries again. She pulls away but keeps one of her arms around my waist. She waves a hand to the satchels her Mate’s carrying.

“The small one is for the Claiming Night. The big one has your gifts.” Nina squeezes me again, holding on to me as long as she can. “Worthag, give those to the boys. Thank you, love.” She commands the massive male; I stare in shock as he makes no protest or disgruntled complaint and follows her order. She glances at me and winks, telling me silently that this is the power the Chosen Female has over her Mates.

“I finally have a daughter,” Nina whispers as she looks into my eyes, tears brim the edges of his lashes. She cups my cheeks, her lips trembling with emotion, as she presses sweet kisses all over my face. I don’t hold back the tears that leak from my eyes; the empty hole in my chest that my mother filled before she died warms with Nina’s presence. She’s filling a part of me that’s missed having a motherly figure in my life. “I’ve always wanted a daughter. I knew one day my boys would bring me one. But who they brought is much better than my fantasy.” I wipe the tears from my eyes and kiss Nina on the cheek.

“I will be the best daughter I can be.” I whisper before hugging her tightly to me, needing to feel the warmth of her against me. After a few moments, I pull away and smile. We release our hold on each other and turn to our males. I slip into the triangle of my Orcs and enjoy their comfort.

With quick farewells, we depart from the Longhouse and head back into the town to prepare to leave.