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Chapter Eighteen - Voch

Making my way home from visiting with Mhor, I was beyond happy. My time for heat would come again soon, and I was excited to try with Mhor again and hopefully conceive so Father would let me go to him. Not that I didn't still love my father and home, but my love for Mhor had grown into something I never expected.

As I approached the camp, I sensed something off. Instead of the sound of young ones playing, only the soft breeze rustling the grass came. Squatting low, I scampered around to the side of the camp. Drawing near, I heard voices. Father's being one.

"She's already spoken for," he said.

"But she has not conceived, and you owe me, Krosh."

"I owe you nothing."

I peered around the hut. Father stood by the fire pit, with Hektos and Father's adolescent sons flanking him. Facing him, on the north side, was a large male, similar in age to Father, but with five full grown sons.

"You stole Flit from me." The male took a step forward, pointing at Father's chest. "So now I have come for my dues. I deserve to have Flit's daughter."

Me? I held my breath, terrified.

"She is my daughter, and I will not give her to you." Father flexed his arms as he clenched his fists.

The male smirked. "Do you think I haven't noticed how you refuse to let any of my sons take your daughters? You've insulted me over and over through the years."

"You raided my territory, stole my females--"

"But never the prize." The male stood taller. "Where is Flit anyway? It's been years since I looked upon her beauty."

Father's jaw clenched. "You will leave. Now, Voch."

Voch? Of course. No one else would make Father so... aggravated.

Voch chuckled. "Krosh, I'm not leaving until I've got what I came for." He clicked his fingers. His sons moved toward the huts.

"No!" Father raised his hand, panic in his voice. "You don't want to start a war with me."

"A war?" Voch folded his arms. "With your sons away, I will slaughter your family before any one of these young ones has a chance to run for help. It won't be a war, it will be a hostile takeover, and I'll finally have Flit, as well as her precious daughter. What fun I could have with them both."

Father roared but didn't advance. My brothers all stood in a tense silence, their fear almost tangible.

"I brought an offering, as compensation and to entice you."

"I'm not interested," Father said in a deep growl.

"But you haven't even seen her." Voch motioned toward a group tucked behind Mother's hut. Did he know how close my mother was?

The group dragged out a young female, about my age. She looked similar to Hektos' new mate with the pale blonde hair and smaller build. But she hung her head, broken, poorly fed.

"We found her and a few others wandering through my land," Voch said. "We took her and killed her brothers."

"Outcasts of Reesh," Father said.

"She is due to come of age." Voch ran his fingers through the ends of her long hair. "And I've heard you have only two active breeders. With a little food, she'll make for a good breeder, and has quite a few years in her for it."

Father scoffed. "You expect me to give you my daughter when you don't even offer me your own?"

"She is more of a sacrifice than one of my daughters." Voch tugged her hair to pull her head back. "I need breeders too and cannot breed with my own daughters. My sons and I have tested her out as well. She's fiery under this frail exterior."

Hektos growled.

Father's hand flew out, pressing against his chest. "I won't trade my daughter."

"Very well." Voch shrugged and clicked his fingers.

His sons burst into the huts. Screams from inside tore at my heart.

"Stop! Voch, stop it!" Father lunged at him, grabbing him by the throat.

"Give her to me!"

Voch's sons forced Sapine, Juniper, and their young from the huts. Finally, Mother was shoved out of hers. Voch's sons grasped the youngest offspring, pressing knives against their throats.

"Stop! Fine, you can have her!"

Voch raised his hand. His sons stopped.

"But on my terms," Father said, glaring at Voch.

"Don't you dare try to trick me, Krosh."

"Zora is mine until she conceives," Father said fiercely, stepping back. "So you will mate with her here, and under my supervision so you don't try to kidnap or hurt her."

Voch sneered. "You're not very trusting."

"I have good reason for that. Oh, and I keep the female."

Voch shoved her at Father. "Let me see Flit's daughter."

Father grabbed the female as she stumbled into his arms, but gently pulled her to her feet. "Are you hurt?"

"Where is Flit's daughter!" Voch bellowed.

Father glared at him. "She went on a hunt earlier and hasn't come back yet."

Voch snarled, grabbing the female. "You better not hide her from me."

Although terrified and devastated that I'd be forced to mate with someone other than Mhor, I understood Father's dilemma. I didn't want my younger brothers and sisters killed and my family destroyed either. So, with my head held high, I entered the camp.

Everyone stared as I marched proudly across to stand at Father's side. The female lifted her head, her eyes widening when our gaze met. Raising my chin, I looked to Father.

His brows furrowed, his grief written all over him. "Zora, I'm sorry—"

I touched his shoulder, leaning toward his ear. "Mhor will fight this."

He nodded, lowering his gaze.

"Make sure he's kept safe."

Pain filled Father's eyes as he looked at me. "Zora—"

"She's gorgeous." Voch grabbed my arm, tugging me away from Father. "Although she looks nothing like Flit, she is easily as magnificent, maybe even more." He circled me, eying me over slowly. "Long legs, strong, healthy body, well fed." He squeezed my behind.

Father growled.

"Firm but fleshy. I've only seen one other female so perfect."

Mother stepped up beside me, folding her arms.

Voch stepped back, his eyes wide as he looked her over. "Flit, as beautiful as I remember."

Father rushed forward, snarling as he pulled Mother behind him.

Voch turned his attention back to me. "I can see the resemblances now." He caught my chin, lifting it to meet my gaze. "It's the same fire in the eyes. The same cleverness. I will enjoy mating with this one."

"I won't," I responded with a hiss. "I'll only do it to save my family, then, you will leave."

"Such loyalty." He pinched my chin until it hurt and I pulled back. "A new alpha might be in store. Mine is growing old and struggles to breed."

I snarled. "You disgust me."

He raised an eyebrow. "I'll be staying here until she comes into heat, to make sure you don't try anything, old friend."

Father, pulling Mother closer, glared at him.

"So, where shall my sons and I stay?"

"Your sons?" Father shook his head. "They leave. Immediately."

"I need some kind of protection."

Father held up a finger. "One son. And he stays inside the tent I give you at all times."

"Hmm." Voch turned to his sons. He pointed to the oldest one, and with a flick of his hand, the rest moved northward out of our camp. Once they'd disappeared, he grabbed my wrist, pulling me closer. Not that he was an unattractive male—like my father, he had aged well and still held his looks with angular features and chestnut hair—but his domineering attitude, his arrogance, the way he forced my father to obey him, made my blood boil.

He stroked my cheek, leaning so our faces almost touched. "Let's get better acquainted."

I glared him in the eyes. "The only acquainting we will do is when I'm obligated to mate with you while on heat. You are vile for forcing this on me. I already have a mate, and when this is over, you better watch your back because he'll come after you."

He chuckled, feigning fear. "Such brave words, but I'm not frightened. What's one young, inexperienced male against me and my sons?" He grabbed me by the cheeks, squeezing. "He's the one who better watch his back when the time comes, because there's no way I'll ever let you go."

Father pushed in, shoving him away from me. "Don't you think you've done enough damage? Stay away from her until she comes into heat. Do you understand me?"

Voch bowed his head, stepping back as he kept his eyes on me. "Perfectly."

Father wrapped his arm around my shoulders, leading me away. He held me tightly as a tear rolled down his cheek. Mother and Hektos followed us to the edge of camp and we pulled into a tight circle.

There, Mother slapped Father. "How could you?"

Father turned his face away, ashamed.

"He had no other choice," I said weakly. "I would have done it even if he refused."

Mother covered her face as her shoulders sagged. "But Voch. Zora, you have no idea what you're getting into. He may kill us all anyway."

Hektos' eyes blazed. "No. We will be prepared now."

Father nodded, resting his hand on Hektos' shoulder. "We will. I will send word to your brothers, and my other sons who are nearby. Voch has insulted me for the last time. This means war."

"What of Zora?" Mother clung to my wrist.

Father shook his head, avoiding looking at both of us. "I don't have enough time to pull together an assault before her heat."

"Krosh!" Tears streamed down Mother's face as she slapped his chest.

He grabbed her hand, pulling her into his arms. "Shh, Flit, my love. I have a plan. You must trust me."

"What about Mhor?" Hektos asked. "He will come for Zora."

I swung to my brother, terrified for Mhor's safety. "You must keep him away."

Hektos shook his head. "He won't. You know he'll fight for you, even to the death if he must."

Tears forced their way to the surface, burning my eyes. "Tell him if he dies, I will die too. Tell him it's better to retreat and fight another day."

"Yes." Father said, looking to Hektos. "I need him alive for my plan. If we are to have a war, we will need the strongest fighters, and he will be driven by rage on top of his mighty strength. Hektos." Father released Mother, grasping Hektos by the shoulders. "I think it's time you and I talk as men."

Mother grasped my elbow as they walked away. "Zora."

I wrapped my arm around her waist. She kissed my cheek as we turned toward the center of camp. The adolescent males had led Voch and his son to the edge of the camp to set up a tent. But something else caught my attention. The young female sat on the ground by the fire, shivering. She looked thinner and smaller than ever.

"She's been mistreated by Voch and his sons," Mother said quietly. "We need to make sure she's..."

Hektos' mate rushed over, throwing her arms around the female. The frail girl barely flinched as her sister helped her to her feet and led her to her own temporary tent beside the hut under construction.

"It seems Hektos may have a pride before he's even thrust out," Mother said.

"Hektos deserves it." I smiled, proud of my brother. But my smile fell when I saw Voch watching me. Although I dreaded the prospect of mating with him, and I was crushed by the fact that it wouldn't be Mhor again, I took comfort in one thought: my heat would drive me into a blind need and I wouldn't care while it was happening. And if I could get things just right, I could end my heat early again and prevent a conception. I had to. For Mhor.

Soon, Father had me and Mother guarded at all times, and he slept with us at night too. When I awoke one morning, with the tingling under my skin, fear tore through me.

Father awoke, sniffing the air, and looked to me. His jaw tightened as he took a deep breath. "Zora, do you trust me?"

I nodded, staring up at him, hoping he'd give me an escape.

"Hold off as long as you can." He crawled to me, touching my cheek. "I will make sure it ends quickly, but when I do, he will attack me."

"Father..."

"Just listen." He glanced toward the door of the hut. "He will smell you soon and come running. He will not mate until you consent—a resistant mate makes for a hard conception—so you must keep him at bay for as long as you can."

I nodded again.

"I must go to make sure Mhor is safe, and ensure other plans are in position. But I will return quickly to protect you. Once your heat has ended, you must get out of here and away from him as quickly as possible. Your brothers, Fennir and Keenan, will be waiting to hide you."

My chin trembled as I fought back my tears.

"Zora." He kissed my cheeks. "This breaks my heart. But I will do everything I can to reunite you with your true mate. He has proved that he deserves you, and I know you love him, so I will fight to defend you both."

Tears rolled down my cheeks at his tender words. "I'll be brave."

"Are you ever anything less?" He kissed my forehead and left the hut.

Mother appeared beside me, hurrying to hide my scent. But it wouldn't last forever. Soon, Voch would come.