Toke's POV
"Is that necessary?"
"Yes, she is strong. I can feel it."
"But she will want to hear what we know; you said so yourself!"
"Yes, but we also need her calm enough to listen to us. Just a drop, it will be enough to keep her calm without slipping into a deep sleep."
He croaked in my mind and peeked at her from behind the three. She looked different; her skin had a new glow to it. Warm sunbathed skin with a soft spread of freckles over her tiny nose. Her hair looked thicker and shinier. Even her smell was more pungent, spreading out with the wind. Seeping in between trees, dancing with the wind, and brushing past me like a taunting seduction from mother earth herself.
"We are stronger. You are more robust now. It makes it easier for us to stay calm, even when her beast so clearly calls for us. You see, even if her human is stubborn and scared, her wolf knows what she wants. Know what she needs to be whole and feel good."
I nodded; he was right. The bond between beasts is like a pull from the gods. A need and sensation they will not fight. They need their mate, want their mate, and I could feel her call for me with her scent. Telling me where she is, telling me she is finally here and ready for her mate.
With quick movements, I let a small drop down on the cloth before I made my way over to her. These men were pathetic. They could not protect a single soul like this. Snoring without a single care in the world, even when I, in a second of recklessness, stepped on a twig, did anyone react? Of course not! They are a shame for all the shifter men, for everyone calls themselves hunters or warriors.
I knew her wolf wanted this; if not, it would not have been so easy. Her eyes fluttered when I held the cloth over her mouth and nose, but she never even managed to open her eyes as she fell back on the grass again-letting me carry her away without fear. Placing her carefully down in the little boat and tucking her in with a blanket, I just enjoyed the feeling of being watched. I don't think I've ever felt this loved before; she just watched me in silence all the way. Her blue eyes never left me, and I relished in that feeling. I was soaking in her attention and love for me while taking us over to the next island.
Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ears, I had to chuckle when I heard that deep rumble in her chest. How cute, her beast is trying to purr at me, even in this sedated state. He is so quiet now that she is close to us, like he is finally able to rest, and I feel how tired my body is too. Without his energy, without Fury's, my body aches and screams for rest. Soon, soon I will rest, but not before he is safe.
It is so strange to feel her beast close, to feel a female beast at all. I never met a female wolf shifter, and I never thought I would. I know stories tell about one of the human girls shifting when her mate marked her once, but if it is true or not, I don't know. Many years ago, I met a female cat shifter, though, but she was the most obnoxious person I've ever met. I know my father hoped we could mate, hoping the fact that she could shift would give us shifter girl babies.
I still get shivers down my spine and wrinkle my nose just thinking back on it. I had been ready to make that sacrifice for my pack, for our people, and for the sake of shifters in general. She, however, demanded to prove herself worthy of her! Not that it was outrageous enough for a female to make any demands for a potential male mate. And her list was ridiculous. Strong and fast was given, and something could have swallowed after the shock that her pack actually let her demand anything at all.
But then she wanted a caring mate, one that liked kids, could provide, and was rich enough; she needed to know if people like me, my temper, and how I planned to change my pack for the better. She even went so far as to ask how I was with kids and wanted to see how I handled babies and toddlers. I still remember how angry I had been at the end of the day; everyone knows kids are the female responsibility. Caring, cooking, and controlling the male temper, we all know that are the female's responsibilities.
Traveling home, I waited for the pack to reach out and apologize for the females' behavior, but they never did. So I forgot about them and swore I would never have an alliance with that weak pack letting females ruin their reputations without consequences. After the end of summer, I heard she found a mate, and I didn't know if I was supposed to laugh or go on a rampage.
Either there are other packs as weak and hopeless as hers, or their alpha finally pulled his finger out of his own ass and trained her properly! One of two. I never bothered to find out.
Why did I think of her now? The cat shifter Sofia. I scoffed while dragging the boat up on the beach. Even the spoiled fay princess, with her many mates, would have been a better option. Fay brat, Miranda. Well, at least I got to try her; I snickered and carried my precious mate out of the boat. Her eyes still followed my every move, but her body was limp and helpless. She was melting against my body while I held her close.
I didn't know how he knew of this place or this cabin, but he had been right. After walking through the dense forest till sweat poured down my back, it finally appeared on a bit of clearing-a lovely little cabin built with logs. The grass was long, and weeds grew everywhere; even the old path leading up to it was overgrown. This was the perfect place for us to find back to each other again, to build up and make our bond strong before we face the rest of the world together.
"You will love this place Eir! There is nobody here; nobody can disturb us."
I smiled at her while tucking her in on the bed. The old fur was soft and warm and smelled a little old, but I would fix that later.
"Remember, we need to tell her about her mom before we introduce me!"
He hissed in my head again, and I almost flinched. He had been quiet for so long that I almost forgot he was there in the first place.
But he was right; I needed her to know what we knew-needed her to despise the barbarians as much as I do. Pushing my hand beneath her head, I snuggled up to her, so close the tip of my nose could brush against hers while talking.
This felt so right, her warm body so close to mine, and my hand was perfectly draped around her slim waist. I pressed my lips on her forehead, her cheek, and the corner of her lips before I leaned back down and smiled at her.
"I need to tell you this, sweet mate, the story about your mother and my father. You will then understand why the barbarians are so gruesome-the reason why I need to keep you away from their clutching talons. They are the reason your life was so hard growing up; they are the reason your mother struggled so much. They broke her and played with her head and mind. Close your eyes, and we will let you see. He can show you, take a deep breath and look."