by Belle Harper
“Vetok. Don’t be rude. They didn’t do anything.” It was true, they didn’t, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t have. I didn’t want him making enemies for Clan Wolf, especially with them already having a whole clan down here as it was. We had stumbled… well, I had stumbled, into their clan lands.
“Male, Vetok. We only came to see if we could assist your mate. She fell from the Goddess into our clan lands,” the tall one with mate marks explained.
“Goddess?” I asked confused.
Chapter Two
Vetok
My mate was injured. She was hurt and in pain. I will forever blame myself for the mistake I made, letting her walk so freely ahead of me, busy watching the sway of her tailless behind and thinking of what I wanted to do to it later that night. I should have been ahead at all times, scouting for danger. Not thinking with my cock.
I let my guard down being in Clan Wolf, thinking that other males would have seen this and warned her. But she traveled another path that others hadn’t yet explored. I shouldn’t have let her walk unknown lands like that. I should have known better than to let my guard down around her. She meant everything to me, and seeing her injured broke me.
“Goddess?” my Hadley asked the outcast males in front of us, her translator letting her understand their words.
“Yes, the Goddess. You fell from the sky into our clan lands. Welcome, female, to our clan. Clan Freedom.” The tall warrior male smiled at Hadley.
I scoffed him and his clan. There was no such thing as Clan Freedom. Jaka was beside me and I could feel the other males from Clan Wolf approach from behind. It made the two Aashi males in front of me take a step back. I hid my smile at the sight. I knew there was a third nearby, I could sense him watching us, but he kept his distance. He was smart.
“Oh wow, you have your own clan here? We were coming here to get away from the M’Mori,” Hadley replied, not even caring that these males shouldn't know of our plans. But my Hadley, she didn't know this. I would tell her later when we were away from these males that she shouldn't tell other Aashi what our plans were in case they followed us.
“Yes, we have also escaped the M’Mori. All who live here escaped from them and their mines. We have many different males here, all protected by the tall mountain walls. No M’Mori ever search out here for the missing.”
I looked over to where he was pointing, the first time I really took my eyes from them, knowing that they wouldn’t do anything with the other males at my back. I could see other Aashi and… Zalli. Elle’s mate Sanza was Zalli too. He escaped the mines also.
“Do you know Brooklyn?” the takxe asked. His eyes widened as he caught mine and I narrowed my eyes at him. Had these males been following us?
“Brooklyn is my mate.” I turned to see Tiji standing behind me with his spear in hand, his huge scar on his chest proving that he could take these males on if they challenged, and he would succeed.
“We were her Chosen males from Yaayi, but she left with Sako. We tried to follow, but we became lost tracking her scent. The M’Mori found us instead. Took us to their mines. Put these on our ankles.” The large warrior pointed to his ankle where the device was attached. What was it? How did that track him?
“What is your name?” I asked, standing at my full height. He was much taller than myself. I needed to show him that he didn’t intimidate me. I was willing to take on any male that challenged me for my mate.
“Adee, this is Jaim. My litter brother Aalee was with us when we found your female. He is not here now.” I nodded as many more males from their clan approached us and more of Clan Wolf descended the mountain.
“Adee? Jaim?” I turned to see the large mate of Brooklyn approach the males in front of me.
“Sako, you are here?” Their expressions changed, they seemed relieved to see him. As Sako approached them, he stopped, then he wrapped his arms around both males. He embraced them, he hugged them. I had seen him do this with some of the males in the Clan, but these males wore looks of surprise, but you could tell they were very happy to see him.
They started to speak about their travels, but I had no care for that. My mate was injured and in my arms. She needed me to take her to someone, to help her heal. Neither Jaka or myself were healers. We needed a takxe that could help my Hadley. I kissed her forehead. She snuggled into me, then made a sound that had me angry at myself again. She was in pain and, even in my arms, I was hurting her.
“I am a takxe, I can help to heal your mate.” I looked to the male, Jaim, then to the other males around us now. So many eyes on my Hadley.
“No,” I said at the same time Hadley said, “Yes, please.” I growled slightly and she patted my chest. I saw then how injured her hands were, red blood stained them alongside the dirt from her fall. It made my heart ache for her, she must hurt badly. I couldn’t deny her this healer if she wished to be seen by him.
“I hurt, babe, I need to see someone about my ankle. Maybe he has somewhere I can lay down and rest for a while.”
My arms tightened around her, pulling her close to me. Now that she was in my arms I didn’t wish to let her go. I would carry her wherever she needed. This way, I could look out for danger and she would never be hurt. She let out a pained sound. Jaka now growled at me. She could see one of our healers from Clan Wolf, I was sure we had many. Axoh was head of the healers, so she didn’t need this healer.
“Vetok, you must respect our mate. She allows this male to treat her, I agree with her. She needs to be seen. We need the looking device from K’Tem to see if our kits are uninjured.”
My eyes flashed to her belly where our kits were nestled deep within her. If the kits were hurt she would never forgive me. I had been a terrible mate, not even thinking of the kits after her fall. How could I forget something so important as the life she carried? Her hand rested on her belly and Jaka’s hand followed hers. He whispered some words to her. He was not often vocal about things and didn’t speak much in front of others so I knew his concern was very strong to have spoken up like that.
“Okay,” I nodded to the healer. He smiled as he turned, waving for me to follow him towards the clan I now saw very clearly. It was full of huts. There were trees, but mostly the land had been cleared and made way for huts and open spaces, similar to how our clan was. There was a river between us and the clan. They had built a small wooden bridge to cross over. I was fascinated with what they had done here. So many different items, things I didn’t understand. But they must all have a purpose.
We passed by some huts as we followed Jaim. I felt uneasy with so many outcast males watching me. Jaka was beside me, but we were so much smaller than these males. We couldn’t protect our mate. We needed her to choose more mates sooner rather than later. I had kept those thoughts to myself for so long now, thinking how lucky I was that I only shared a mate with one other.
I knew now, the best for her would be for her to choose larger males to protect her. I could not protect her anymore. Her falling proved that I was not fit to be her mate and I would understand if she wished to reject me.
I deserved it.
Chapter Three
Hadley
Vetok was upset. I could tell it was more than he generally was, he wasn’t his usual self. I wanted him to stay calm and not start any fights, but he was extra possessive. I knew he just wanted to make sure I was safe and he was upset that I had fallen. I was secure with him, I always felt safe with him and Jaka. But it was like he couldn’t see that, he was tense and stiff as he walked.
I stroked his chest as Jaka held my other hand. I loved that he just knew that I needed that. I just needed their touch to reassure me everything would be alright. Even the suggestion of K’Tem and his datapad to check on the baby was not something I even thought about. I forgot K’Tem could do that. Not Jaka. He remembered and I was grateful.
The Aashi, Jaim, he was cute, the way he smiled back at me when he would turn to double-check we were still following him. He saw me looking at him a
nd his whole face seemed to light up, but not like Adee. But every time he gave me a smile, I had to pat Vetok, as his chest would start to rumble. I was suspecting Adee was a flirt. And I kinda liked it. I kinda liked that my sexy Vetok was a little jealous, he never had to be before. I hadn’t shown any interest in other males before so this was new.
“Aalee and Adee share this hut with me, but anything you need you are welcome to take, female Hadley.”
Jaim led us into a dark hut. I heard a sound outside and the room was suddenly filled with light. As my eyes adjusted I saw Adee, the male with mate marks, standing on the other side of the window. He went a darker purple… if that was even possible. I swear he just blushed and smiled when he saw me watching him. That smile was panty melting and distracting me from my injuries.
“We won’t need your things, we can supply our mate with everything she needs,” Vetok growled out at them.
Ugh… men.
“That would be lovely, thank you for the offer. We left really fast, so we don’t have a lot. But we don’t need a lot either. Maybe a blanket I could use as a pillow would be nice?”
Adee jumped through the window and only took a moment to grab all the blankets in the hut and present them to me on one knee. Vetok growled again, he was super growly. Maybe jealousy wasn’t as sexy as I thought. Although I loved him growling… it usually wasn’t at other males.
Vetok needed to leave the hut before he lost his cool and hurt these guys. I patted Vetok’s arm to let me down. He wasn’t happy with that either. Honestly, he was more angry than I had ever seen him before.
“Vetok,” I growled at him. His eyes flashed to mine and he froze before I leveled him with a look. He slowly set me down on my feet… well, one foot. I held the other up because it was still screaming out in pain when I put pressure on it.
“Can you get Elle for me?” I needed some female company rather than my… well, Vetok. Jaka was fine, he didn’t snap so quickly. He was more a quiet watcher. Vetok needed less time around these new males before he got into a fight he couldn’t win. And it was obvious here he was outnumbered.
“I will go get your Elle.” Vetok hesitated a moment, watching the two other Aashi in the room, before pushing Jaka to stand beside me, to hold me upright.
I let out a small squeak when Jaka lifted me into his arms. I was about to protest when he turned to Adee.
“Would you make a nest for my mate? A pillow is what she lays her head on. You roll the blanket up, you make it tight, and you place it in the nest. She will know what to do with it.”
My mouth dropped open slightly. Jaka. My quiet mate was speaking up and telling Adee how to make a pillow. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders as best I could. He used his upper hand to brush some of the hair that had fallen from my ponytail and hook it behind my ear.
“I love you, Jaka.” I nestled into his hard warm chest. I felt his chest swell as he kissed my head and whispered, “My heart,” into my hair. My heart was full and happy. He was my shy, sweet love.
“Female Hadley.” Jaim gestured to the nest they had made, his head slightly bowed to the floor… It was then I realized he had something on his ankle. A bracelet?
“What the fuck?” He had a tracker on his ankle.
Chapter Four
Jaim
I had never thought I could feel such a way towards a female as I did with female Hadley. She made my cock hard and leak with seed. Her beautiful hair, such a different shade to her skin, dark and beautiful. It was smooth and all I could think of was touching it. Reaching out and stroking her cheek with my fingertips to see if her skin was as smooth and sweet as her smell.
It was wrong to have these thoughts, I had always known I would never feel the touch of a female. There was no love for a takxe, even in an outcast clan full of warriors. Adee was presenting himself as a possible mate. I could see the way he made her pillow. He was so pleased to make her nest, something mates would do. So to be offered this by her own mate was in itself a blessing from the Goddess that this female was still accepting mates.
“What the fuck?” Hadley looked down at my foot. The translation was confusing and I didn’t understand what she was referring to. My feet were clean, the river here was easy to bathe in. Running water was always fresh.
“Your ankle, you have a tracker.” I looked to where she pointed, and her mate Jaka’s eyes followed too. Adee stood beside me and raised his foot so she could see his too, with a large grin on his face. I knew it was for her and not because we had this tracker on our ankles.
“This was given to us by the M’Mori when they made us work in their mines. It was how they could find us. But here, they don’t work. It is where we can live freely. Clan Freedom.”
It was the truth. We had come this way after we heard rumors of it being true among some of the miners. About a place they cannot find you with the tracker. When we found it was true, Aalee went back to tell the others and brought some back with him to live here only weeks ago. We have many different males here. Not all Aashi.
“So, they haven’t come for you? This is the place K’Tem’s brother spoke of, it’s here.” I watched as she sighed in relief. I nodded, letting her know she was correct they hadn’t come for us. I didn’t know who K’Tem was. But this was the place for freedom from the M’Mori. I didn’t see any tracker on her ankle… her ankle.
“Come, Hadley. Lay and I will heal your ankle.” I spoke the words calmly, but I wasn’t calm. I was feeling warm all over and my heart was racing. She was striking and I wanted her to see me as a good male, a mate, before the other males knew she was taking more. Because once she sees them, I wouldn’t stand a chance.
Brooklyn had once touched me and she started my mating hormones. But I didn’t want anyone to touch me now unless it was Hadley. My mind raced at thoughts of her touching me. My cock ached and I tried to hide the way it was affected by her. She wouldn’t want to see how she affected me… or do I present myself to her? Show her how my cock leaks seed only for her. I wasn’t sure on the way she did this.
“Hadley?” a female voice called out before I could think further of showing her my cock. I caught the sight of black hair in my hut. Big, dark eyes looked up at me and a blue Zaali male followed her. I was surprised, I didn’t know this male or this female. Who was she? Was she here to hurt my Hadley? She wasn’t mine… yet. But I wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
“Hey, Elle. I’m here, looking worse for wear, but I’ll be fine. I hurt my ankle on the way down.” Hadley now lay in the nest of blankets and waved her hand to the female… Elle.
I was stunned. Hadley spoke to this female as if she was her friend. She was friends with another female? She didn’t wish to attack her? I was very confused and let out a deep breath.
“It is okay, Jaim. The females enjoy being with each other. They are friends,” Jaka, her mate, explained to me. He understood my confusion.
I nodded, but I still didn’t understand this. But then, these were not Aashi females. These females were so much different, they were amazing. I tried to hear the females talking in their language. I wanted to know more about Hadley, but the translator was not able to catch up with what they were saying.
Adee had gone to get some water and pixxe for Hadley and her female, Elle. Elle had her mate Sanza leave to talk to other Zalli males that lived here. That was something I did know, how to speak in Zalli. It was hard for us to communicate with them, so I learned their language as best I could. I would do that also with the female’s words now they were here so I could speak without the translator to Hadley. Show her that I was a capable mate even though I was only a takxe.
“Jaim?” I heard the voice of a female I thought long lost… Brooklyn.
“Brooklyn.” I stood up and smiled at her. She looked the same, yet different. Her arms wide open as she rushed towards me, I flinched at the fear she would hurt me, but I was taken by surprise when her arms wrapped around me and hugged me tight.
“Oh, wow. You l
ook the same as before. Total hottie, Jaim.” She winked at me as she let me go and stood back to look at me further. Her translator helped me with the words and I felt my cheeks heat. I didn’t know what they meant, but I knew she was praising me for being a good male.
“Hadley, how are you?” Brooklyn asked as she turned to the dark-haired beauty now wrapped up in my blankets. Her amazing scent now clung to them. I would never want to wash them. I could inhale them as I stroked my cock to release.
“I’m good. Jaim here was just about done fixing my ankle. I sprained it.”
I quickly changed my thoughts as I smiled at Hadley’s praise. Brooklyn turned back to me and patted my shoulder. I had helped Hadley. There seemed to be no broken bones and what I had been trained to do with a female… well, it was different with Hadley. I was to use a thin blanket that I placed on an injury and touch her over it so I would not touch her skin and set off my mating hormones. But because I already had them, my cock leaking seed proved that, she asked why I had done that to treat her.
When I explained, she had looked down to my thighs and pointed out that it wasn’t going to do anything, and it would probably be easier to treat her without the blanket on her. And she was right. Hadley was smart, and I was going to prove myself to her after she let me touch her hands and feet. She might want a takxe as a mate, or even to use me as her personal healer. I knew in that moment, I never wanted to be apart from her. I would take whatever she was willing to give me.
I heard loud voices from outside. Then they got louder and more heated. Everyone in the hut turned to the sounds as a fight broke out within the clan. I think it was the new clan fighting against Clan Freedom. This wasn’t good, we just got here.