Raw

Chapter Nine- Failure

Upon reaching the encampment, I searched for Father. But when I found him, I couldn't disturb him. He was busy mating. So I found Hektos, who rushed to gather a group of our brothers to assist Fennir and Keenan.

When Father emerged, I hurried to tell him what happened, but my younger brothers all returned. Father hurried to Hektos to be filled in on the details. He listened, stone faced, as Hektos recounted the brutal fight. All four of the full-grown males, my older brothers and the twins, sustained substantial injuries, but not bad enough that they couldn't walk away to heal. When Hektos and the others arrived, the Barg twin fled, and my younger brothers chased them from our land.

Father stroked his chin as he stared at me. "They will return. I must go out to secure my border and mark my territory there. The twins grow too bold."

"We will help you however we can, Father," Hektos said.

Father rested a hand on his shoulder. "I know you will. You're a good son."

Hektos stood a little taller as Father returned into the hut.

The next morning, I woke to pains in my abdomen. "Mother?" I said, curling my knees. Dampness soiled my skin between my legs. I reached down and touched it. Blood came off on my fingers. "Mother!"

She shot up beside me. "Zora?" She looked at my hand, then my crotch. "Stay calm."

She climbed to her feet and woke Hektos. "Go get a bucket of water and a wash cloth. Leave them outside and do not return inside."

"What's wrong?" Hektos asked with heavy eyes.

"Zora needs some privacy. Now go."

Sensing the urgency in Mother's voice, he hurried from the hut.

While I fought not to panic, Mother knelt by my feet and gently coxed my legs open. "It's all right, Zora."

"What's happening?" I asked, my voice tense.

"This is normal. It means you did not conceive."

"No." I pushed up onto my elbows. "I'm supposed to carry Mhor's young!"

"Zora." She pushed on my shoulder so I would lay back. "Usually males keep a female on heat for several days when they want them to conceive, and even then it's not certain. Mhor had to cut your heat short, so I am not surprised you do not carry."

A tap came on the doorframe, then a bucket of water slid under the flap.

"Thank you, Hektos!" Mother called as she hurried over to grasp the bucket. When she returned to me, she set out several cloths, and dipped one in the water. "Now, just relax."

I lay staring up at the ceiling as she washed the blood from me. Once she'd completed her task, she held up a piece of cotton and wound it around her finger. "I will give you two of these. When one fills with blood, trade it for the other and wash the first."

"How long will this last?" I asked.

"About two to three days." She lowered her finger and slid the cotton inside me.

I gasped at the intrusion. It didn't feel warm and comforting like Mhor, but rough and abrasive. "It's uncomfortable."

"It will be at first." She grasped another dress, laying it beside me. "Your dress is soiled. Change before you come outside for breakfast."

I changed, and slipped the spare piece of cotton under the binding of my chest. I had no idea when I'd "fill" the first, so I'd keep it with me to be safe. I grabbed my bloodied dress and carried it with the bucket to the wash area. I left the dirty cloths to take care of later as I was ravenously hungry.

I sat with Mother and Hektos by the fire to eat. The fatty, delicious fragrance of warthog made my mouth water. I eagerly dug into my portion.

Hektos stared at me. "Zora, are you sick?"

"She's fine," Mother said.

"I did not conceive," I said softly.

His brows furrowed as he stopped eating. "Does that mean...?"

"She will have another heat, yes," Mother replied.

Hektos swallowed. "Oh no."

"It may not be as potent the second time." Mother nudged him. "And I will make sure I send you and the other young males to the retired camp before it begins."

My cheeks flushed. "Hektos, I'm sorry it makes you feel that way."

He shook his head, his face turning red. "It's not your fault. I just don't want to feel like that toward you."

Mother patted his back. "I'll take care of it. I am aware of it this time."

Once we finished eating, Father emerged from a hut. He stretched as the sunlight bathed his skin in gold. In a pair of long pants, his exposed torso looked strong and powerful. Mother smiled as she stood, heading over to him. He outstretched his arm, caressing her cheek as she approached.

I thought of Mhor and how tenderly he treated me. Would he treat me the same now I had failed him?

Our parents talked for a moment, then approached me and Hektos. Father knelt in front of me, grasping my hands. "Do not be worried. You will be safe here, and your mate will not abandon you for one failed attempt." He touched my cheek as he stood. "I must patrol the southern border today. Flit, make sure you take care of Sapine until I return."

Mother nodded.

Father tilted his head for Hektos to follow, and soon a small band of my brothers joined Father heading south.

Mother caught my arm. "Come, Zora. If you are to be an alpha, you must learn your duties to the other females."

She led me toward the hut Father had exited. The sweet, musky smell of a heat came from within. Mother circled the hut, speaking softly. "When your mate isn't present, you must ensure the safety of all the females, especially those on heat. But checking the hut you must do for all the heats, because the male is so driven by the scent to mate, he does not secure the area."

We circled, and each window she closed tight, jiggling from the outside, and locking them in place with a solid stick. Once the hut had the cracks closed off, she led me to the door. She pushed the flap aside and motioned for me to follow her.

Inside, Sapine lay sleeping soundly on her mat. Mother bent over, covering her naked body with a blanket, then set about covering the windows. "The light brings headaches and discomfort," she said to me quietly. "Covering the windows also prevents spies peeking in and waiting for your mate to leave. With the hut secured and the windows covered, the scent will not spread so far, so it will prevent drawing unwanted attention."

I nodded. Mother touched Sapine's hair, brushing it back from her face. "She needs this rest, so we will not disturb her. Come."

We stepped outside, the bright sunlight startling after the darkened hut. We stepped a few paces away, and Mother motioned to Juniper. "See there. Juniper and Sapine are bonded tightly. All females will bond with another for companionship and for the safety of their offspring. When one goes into heat, the other will take in her young while she is mated. See Sapine's two daughters with Juniper?"

I nodded. "I remember we would go to your beta, Halali."

"That's right. Until the young are old enough to know they need to stay in the camp, the they are kept with another female."

"So, you and Halali were bonded?"

Mother paused, smiling wistfully. "We still are. As alpha, it's my responsibility to make sure all the females are taken care of, but the beta's responsibility is to care for the alpha. When the time comes, you must choose wisely who she will be, for, although your strongest bond will be to your mate, and his to you, your beta will be your greatest ally, your comfort, your confidant. She will ease your discomfort when your mate must perform his other duties."

I nodded, not sure what she meant, but understanding one thing: My beta would be like a sister to me, close like family, so I had to be careful who I chose or risk the pride.

Several hours passed. We stayed close to the hut while we performed our duties, when soft a moan came from the hut. Mother's head snapped around and she listened as Sapine moaned, "Krosh."

"Zora, come with me." Mother took my hand and led me into the hut.

Sapine stared up at Mother as we entered. "Flit."

"Shh." Mother knelt beside her.

Sapine moaned as she rubbed at her genitals. She'd shed the blanket as she rolled naked on her mat.

"Sapine, Krosh is out patrolling the border," Mother said.

Sapine nodded, sweat pouring down her forehead and soaking her hair. "Help me, Flit."

Mother motioned to me. "Zora is here to learn her duties. Do you mind?"

Sapine shook her head, grasping Mother's arm. "Please."

"Very well." Mother settled down beside her. "Try to relax."

Sapine laid back, her legs open and her back arched.

"Shh," Mother said soothingly. She pressed on Sapine's shoulder so she'd relax against her mat. Sapine's back lowered, as her breathing slowed.

"There." Mother's hands wandered onto Sapine's breasts. Sapine moaned as Mother fondled them, softly pinching the tips. "Zora?"

I shuffled up closer. Mother motioned for me to sit on the other side. I obeyed.

"All right. Zora is going to touch you now," Mother said.

Sapine nodded, looking up at me.

"Zora?" Mother removed her hands from Sapine's breasts. "Do it just like I did."

Hesitantly, I lowered my hands. I'd never seen a female naked up close, and I'd certainly never touched one. But as my hands wrapped around Sapine's breasts, the soft warm flesh pushed up into my palms.

I squeezed. Feeling the plumpness, I ran my fingers up to her n*****s. I knew what I liked when Mhor touched me, so I did the same for her. Stroking the tips, they grew hard, poking up.

"Good," Mother said. "Now, give me your hand."

I lifted my hand for her and she placed it on Sapine's crotch. I gasped, flinching back. "It's so wet."

"The heat does that." Mother caught my hand again, placing it over Sapine's pubic bone. "Now, can you feel a hard nub?"

I felt around as Sapine moaned, pushing up toward my fingers.

"Careful." Mother parted her folds. "Take a look. More than anything she desires a penetration, but you must not allow your fingers to enter her. That right belongs to her mate."

I looked down, peering into her folds. Among them, I glimpsed the tiny hole. "The male's c**k fits inside that?"

Mother chuckled. "Yes. I think you know how easily it slides right in." She pushed my hand back. "Now, watch while I relieve her discomfort. I will expect you to do it next time."

She shuffled over Sapine. Sapine panted, opening her legs wider with anticipation. Mother stroked between Sapine's legs, then lowered her lips to Sapine's n****e. I stared as Mother licked and sucked her n*****s, then when Sapine's hips thrust upward, I turned my focus to her hand.

Mother stroked the nub, twisting it between her fingers, tugging it, stroking it.

"Oh, oh yes..." Sapine's head rolled back, as her eyes closed.

Mother kissed her breasts, sitting up. "Done."

"Just like that?" I asked.

Mother wiped her hand on a cloth. "She needed relief, so she will sleep now. You don't want to push her further and end the heat."

She leaned over Sapine, stroking her hair. "Better?"

Sapine nodded as her chest heaved. Her eyes grew heavy as she drifted to sleep.

Mother covered her, and tilted her head for me to follow her from the hut. Outside the hut, I took a deep breath, surprised by the heavy feeling the heat had given me.

Mother's hand rested on the small of my back. "I doubt your father will be back by the time she needs it again. Did you see all I did?"

I nodded. "I'll have to do that?"

"It's not so bad. It helps seal their loyalty to you."

We continued about our day, until late afternoon when Sapine let out moans again. Mother grasped my arm and led me back in.

Again, Sapine rolled on the floor naked, rubbing at her genitals. Mother quickly soothed her to relax. Once Sapine lay with her eyes closed on her mat, Mother looked to me. "Zora, show me what you learned."

I stared at Sapine nervously. I wasn't sure if I could do it, to touch her so intimately. She was older than me, but not as old as Mother. She was still young, maybe late-twenties, and quite attractive with her glossy chestnut hair and creamy skin. Her breasts pushed up toward me.

I drew a deep breath, and grasped her breasts. Sapine moaned, arching her back. I squeezed them, then leaned down and brushed my tongue over the tip.

She squeaked, and her hand rested on my head. Aroused, I sucked her n****e into my mouth while squeezing and thrumming the tip of the other.

"Zora."

Mother's voice snapped me into focus. My hand drifted between her legs. Feeling around, I found the nub. I copied what Mother did earlier; stroking, twisting.

The door flap flung open.

I glanced up, finding Father staring down at me. He glanced to Mother. "Flit? What is this?"

"I'm teaching her the duties of an alpha." She motioned for Father to kneel between Sapine's feet.

"I don't want her to see me," he said, loosening his belt.

Mother sighed, and her fingers slid down over mine. "Thank you, Zora. You did well. Please step out now."

I withdrew my hand and wiped it on a cloth. As I stepped from the hut, I glanced back. Father dropped his pants, revealing his large, thick c**k. I couldn't help staring at it as he knelt down and lowered himself into Sapine.

Mother withdrew her hand and watched as Sapine wrapped her arms around Father. Father kissed Sapine as he rocked into her.

"Krosh, Krosh."

I dropped the flap and walked away from the hut. My hormones raged, and I grasped my breasts. Mhor. I wanted Mhor so badly. It was then I felt the moisture between my legs. I needed to change the cotton. I groaned, and headed to find a bucket. Mhor and my needs would have to wait.