3
Prime Home World of Baade:
Forest of the Eastern Clan
Core strode through the village toward the modest home he was constructing in a large tree on the outskirts. Since Merrick’s disappearance, Core had split his time between Baade and Earth, fulfilling his responsibilities as temporary leader of the Eastern Mountain Clan and searching for his cousin and best friend.
He had learned a lot over the past six months. First, that leading a large clan of primarily men was not an easy task. Each of them longed for a bond mate. The few women in the village were either too young—like his sister—or had already found their mates.
Tempers flared easily among them. Core rotated his stiff shoulders, and winced. He’d relieved some of the strain through sparring, and this morning a first-year warri
