Raw

Chapter Fourteen - Planning for the Future

As we entered the camp, faces peered through the windows. My brothers kept Mhor deep within their midst as we marched straight to Mother's hut. She burst out, glancing wide-eyed between me and Father.

"Krosh, what has happened? You were gone all day yesterday, today, and last night." She hurried forward, clasping my face. "Are you hurt?"

"Flit, we must talk." Father nudged me into the hut, while my brothers stayed outside.

We sat in a circle on the mat, facing one another. Tears burned my eyes as I stared into my lap. Mother's hand wrapped around mine. "Zora."

"She has been mated," Father said in a low voice. "The Barg twins kidnapped her, waited for her heat to take control, then made claim on her."

"No!" Mother threw her arms around me. "Zora, I'm so sorry! I know that you care for the son of Cal, so you must be devastated."

I clung to her, her familiar smell and feel giving me comfort.

"The son of Cal has reclaimed her," Father said.

Mother's head snapped around. "What?"

"He has killed the twin who mated with her. The other twin fled, and we drove him off his land. It's my territory now."

Mother stroked my hair. "And their pride? Some are your daughters."

"The other brother ran away with the pride. He headed south, so he will likely see if he can take a piece of his father's land to regroup, but he will not come back. He's not strong enough without his brother." Father leaned forward, grasping my hand. "But I'm not worried about them. I'm worried about Zora and if she has conceived. You and I know she will protect her offspring no matter the father."

Mother's grip loosened as she trembled. "What can we do?"

Father's thumb stroked the back of my hand. "Both myself and the son of Cal cannot raise his offspring, and if she's with either of us we will be obligated to kill it."

Mother let out a soft sob while I struggled to process everything. But if I protected my cub, and they tried to kill it, could I be killed?

"There's one thing I can think of," Father said, raising my hand to his lips. "There is a baboon that lives within Voch's territory. She's renowned for her medicine and witchcraft. We can send for her and have her check Zora. Hopefully, she will tell us Zora has not conceived, but if she has, she can terminate it before the son of Cal finds out."

"Terminate?" My head snapped around. Kill my child within me? I couldn't let that happen! "No!"

"Zora." Father stroked my cheek. "You did well ending your heat early, so there's a high chance you did not conceive. This is just a precaution. You don't want the son of Cal choosing another to be his alpha because you carried someone else's young first."

My face fell into my hands as I cried. If I conceived, I'd be faced with terrible choices. My only hope was that I hadn't.

Mother and Father held me between them as we cried together. Father kept pressing soft kisses on my head, and whispering how much he loved me. Finally, I calmed as Mother stroked my hair.

Father let out a heavy sigh as he sat up. "The son of Cal will eat with us tonight. I must see to the rest of the family."

"We'll be out soon," Mother said softly.

Father leaned across and kissed her tenderly. "Take care of her."

He climbed to his feet and left.

I lay curled up in Mother's arms, listening to the sounds of meal preparation outside. The sweet smell of meat cooking reminded me I hadn't eaten in more than a day. I sat up, sniffing the air.

Mhor laughed. My whole body tingled.

Mother shuffled to her feet, offering me her hand. "Come, Zora. You may sit with him as you eat, if your brothers haven't claimed his attention."

I smiled as I took her hand.

The males sat around the fire eating first, like normal. Fennir and Keenan had Mhor between them as my brothers and father engaged him in conversation. Their fascination with him intrigued me. Never did males bond outside of their family.

Finally, they moved to the side to let the rest of the family eat. Mother and I moved in with the rest of the females, but the young ones stayed back, waiting for their mothers to bring them food.

I sat by myself to eat while Mother helped the other females. As I chewed on the impala meat, Mhor edged away from my father and brothers, glancing over to me. I smiled as I blushed.

He sat beside me, setting more food onto my plate. "Make sure you eat plenty. You didn't eat much these past two days."

"Thank you." I smiled at him.

His eyes brightened. "I, ah, I have my own territory now. Just south of here."

"The Barg twin's land?"

He nodded. "I won it, and your father will honor it."

I gazed into his eyes. "I will not see you so much now."

"No." He glanced at my hand as he slid his into it. "But I will build a safe place for you and our young."

My heart sank. I slid my hand free. "What if I've conceived?"

He clasped the back of my neck, speaking passionately. "I love you. No matter what it takes, you will be my alpha."

"I'm afraid," I whispered, glancing away.

"Zora." He kissed my temple. "No one will ever manipulate you like that again. You are mine, no matter the cost."

"Yes, you killed Paner."

"I did." He clasped my face. "He wanted to kill me, but there was no way I'd let him near you again. He didn't deserve you."

I looked into his eyes. A fire burned in them. A fire kindled by his love.

"I love you, Mhor."

He relaxed, then leaned in and kissed me.

I melted, shuffling closer as he pulled my food from my hands and set it down. He wrapped me in his arms, providing me with a safe feeling. His tongue caressed mine. I moaned softly, pressing harder against him as I grabbed his hair.

A low growl was the only warning before Thelmos pulled him off me. Mhor growled in response, fingering at his dagger.

"She's not on heat," Thelmos said, his large shoulders tense. He was the only one of all of us that inherited Mother's darker coloring, and in the night, he looked like a threatening shadow looming over me.

"She is mine. I have a right to her," Mhor responded.

Father stepped between them, resting a hand on Thelmos' chest. "Son."

Thelmos stepped back, but kept glaring at Mhor.

Father looked down at me. "You have until it's time to sleep."

I shot to my feet, grasping Mhor's arm. Father turned away, pulling Thelmos with him. Mhor grasped my hand to pull me away. We had permission to be alone, and neither of us had any intention of wasting it.

We reached an alcove in the trees and he wrapped his arms around me, kissing me deeply. We pulled each other's clothes off and he pinned me to the ground. The moment he entered me, my whole body trembled.

"Yes, oh Mhor."

"I love you so much." He drove into me, nipping at my n*****s.

I clawed his back, needing him. I came right away.

He moaned as I tightened around him, then shuddered. We were both so aroused and ready to be together it only lasted a few moments.

He kissed my throat as he slipped out of me.

I ran my hands over him. On his back, a long gash caught my attention. I pushed him and he rolled beside me. Sitting up, I examined his body. Bruises covered almost every inch of him. Long slices crossed his torso and shoulders.

"Mhor." I struggled not to cry as I ran my fingers over the dried blood on his abdomen.

"Every one of them was worth it." He slipped his arms around me and pulled me on top of him.

I smiled, brushing my fingers over a faint bruise on his eyebrow. "How did I get so lucky to find a mate like you?" I rested my head against his chest. "Mhor, I must admit something."

"Anything." His fingers made long, soft trails up and down my back.

"I've known I love you for a while now, but I was afraid to admit it."

His chuckle echoed deep in his chest. "As was I." He rolled me onto my back and stroked my breasts. "I've loved you from the moment we first mated. After watching you for weeks, I already felt like I knew you, and to finally be with you..." He kissed my shoulder. "I knew I'd found the one."

"I wasn't that soon," I said, smiling. "But it took me only a few weeks to know."

His eyes softened as he stroked my hair. "Your next heat will be mine. I'll make sure of it."

I nuzzled into his arms, sighing. Nothing could ever stop me from being with him. Next time, we'd spend time together to ensure I conceived his offspring. Then no one could tear us apart.