They sat eating Haran’s kill, gathered around several campfires, the nights colder here despite the season. It was only autumn but already they had seen snow on the hills as they moved along valleys and through woodland. There was talk that in a few days they might even see their first glimpse of the ice fields, but that was based on rumour rather than fact. The only thing they knew for sure was that neither Dualis nor Masu moved this way often. And it had been decided that this maybe as far as they would go north until the spring.
“Tomorrow we start to explore the hills. We need a big cave or a valley that is very sheltered to winter in,” Putol said. “Especially for when the baby comes.”
“I am trying not to panic, but I hate the idea of having my baby while we are stuck in a snowstorm.”
“That will not happen, Jenna. We will find a place. Just think, when she takes her first steps we might already have found our new home.” Haran had got used to the idea that she would have a daughter. He insisted she would be taught everything he knew, and would be the greatest female hunter in the tribe. Jenna loved that he looked forward to their child arriving as much as she did, if not more. They would be a family.
“I hope so,” she sighed, leaning her head on his arm. “I’m tired; I think I will try to sleep.”
That was one of the hardest things, sleeping on the ground in the cold air in the company of others. She longed for the privacy of their own cave, or a wooden shack. She had toyed with the idea of teaching them to make log cabins.
But that was, perhaps, a step along the evolutionary ladder too far.
***
“Here,” he called.
Jenna looked up at the hill Haran was standing on. She didn’t like the idea of having to climb it, but he looked so excited she knew she would have to. One slow step at a time, she clambered up the grassy bank. In his eagerness, Haran came down and helped her, hooking his arm under hers. She was grateful for his help and by the time they had reached the top, her excitement had matched his.
“Why won’t you tell me what you can see?” she had asked.
“Because it is better for you to see it with your own eyes.”
And now she did. A sheltered valley, surrounded by hills, made of limestone rock. Even from here, she could see cave mouths yawning in the morning sun. This was just what they had been searching for, for days. The tribe had carried on north, exploring any place that might hold the sanctuary they craved.
“This is it,” she breathed.
He turned to her grinning. “This is it.”
***
“Our daughter,” Haran said, looking down on the little bundle, swaddled in blankets. Their new baby was wrapped up against the cold that seeped into the cave even with a fire blazing. The winter had been harsh, but the Dualis had been prepared. Those that had thick fur coats would go and hunt what game they could. Apart from that, they lived off dried fruit, dried meat, and nuts. It could be said that they diet was very dry. But so far, they had lost no one, not even the old.
And now they were welcoming the new.
Haran kissed Jenna, his joy obvious. Grasping his hand, Jenna kissed it, pressing it against her face. “She is lucky to have a father like you to watch over her and teach her how to survive.”
“And a mother like you,” Haran said, his voice choked with emotion.
“And what about a great- great-... well, whatever I am,” said Martha.
Jenna smiled at Martha, still shocked that her distant relative had appeared here in the past so very recently. Although Jenna was happy to have her as a companion, it had left her feeling uneasy. “That will take some explaining.”
“Tell me about it.”
“And you are sure this shouldn’t go in the book? I will be adding some pages about this arrival,” Jenna said, stroking the baby’s cheek. “Are you sure I shouldn’t add you?”
“No. You know it was never in the original. Only put this in.” Martha handed Jenna an envelope. On the outside, it said, For Martha, to be given only after Jenna has returned.
“How did you find it?”
“My mother had held onto it. She gave it to me after you left the second time.”
“Are you going to tell me what is in it?” Jenna asked.
“No. It’s best that no one knows.”
Jenna looked at the envelope. When Martha had appeared a few weeks ago, she had been half-dead from the cold. Refusing to talk about why she was here, and Jenna was left increasingly concerned. But today, with her newborn daughter in her arms, she refused to be troubled. Maybe the spirits had brought Martha here too. Maybe for no other reason than to watch over her great ancestor, who was right now gurgling happily in Haran’s arms.
Whatever the reason, Jenna had learned to trust in the spirits and in her love for her cave bear. And that was enough for now.
*
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***UK Harmony Raines Author Page On Kindle***
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The Escort Box Set
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The Escort Series
The Escort (The Escort Series Part One)(Free in some regions)
Books In Kindle Unlimited
The Escort (The Escort Series Part Two)
The Escort (The Escort Series Part Three)
A Curvy Christmas: Robin's Romance (BBW Romance)
Helen’s story:
His Secretary (Her Second Chance Book One)
The Dualis
(Mate of the Cave Bear)
Found(Book One)
Lost(Book Two)
Return(Book Three)
Bear Creek Clan
(can be read as stand alones)
Rescued by the Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book One)
Finding Her Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Two)
Tamed by the Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Three)
Snowbound With The Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Four)
Biker Bear Billionaire (Bear Creek Clan Book Five)
Her Dragon's Bane Series
Soul Of The Dragon
Blood of the Dragon
Bound To The Flame - A Virgin For The Dragon
When the dragon egg hatches for Trinity she becomes the Dragon Princess and must remain pure until the dragon comes back to claim her as his mate on her twenty first birthday.
An Heir For The Flame (Dragon Fantasy Romance)
The elder dragons have predicted that Trinity will conceive the new dragon child tonight. So she mates with ShanRohit under the full moon.
Waiting For Curves (Curves For Her Wolf) (BBW Erotic Romance)
Curves For Her Wolf Doctor (The Greystone Wolves - BBW Paranormal Erotic Romance)
Mistaken Curves (Her First Time With A Wolf) (BBW Erotic Romance)
Sold To The Wolf (Auctioned Curves For The Werewolf) (BBW Erotic Romance)
Curves For The Lone Wolf (BBW Erotic Romance)
An Auction Of Curves (BBW Erotic Romance)
Anna (Curves in the Family (BBW Erotic Romance))
Heated Curves (Curves For Her Firefighter) (BBW Erotic Romance)
Words Unwritten (Curves For Her Soldier) (BBW Erotic Romance)
Christmas Curves (BBW Erotic Romance)
Winning Her Curves (previously titled Virgin Curves)
Returning For His First Love
For The Love Of The Wolf (Erotic Romance Fairy Tales)
Marianne : Unmarked (His) (Paranormal Shifter Romance)
Bred By The Unicorn (Virgin Paranormal Erotic Romance)
Captured By The
Hannoth Barbarians
Captured By The Barbarian: Cilla Part One
Claimed By The Barbarians: Cilla Part Two
Taken By The Barbarians: Dinah
Tilda - Captured By The Hannoth Barbarians
Thandor - Captured By The Hannoth Barbarians
Princess Yolanda - Captured By The Hannoth Barbarians
Bound By The Barbarian: Tirim
Bound To The Barbarian: Tirim Part 2 (Reluctant Gay Sex)
Captured By The Barbarians: Scarla
Tamed By The Barbarian: Shona Part One
Hunted By The Barbarian: Shona Part 2
Teaching The Barbarian: Petra
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Pastor Booth
The Corruption Of Pastor Booth (Rough And Reluctant Virgin Erotica) (Pastor Booth's Flock)
Stretched While She Sleeps (Pastor Booth's Flock)
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Saved By The Pack
Alice
Sarah
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And writing as Liliana Hunt
Teach Me (Mr Peterson Book One) (Older Man/Younger Woman)
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Not In Kindle Unlimited
Shifters Of Spellholm - The Bears
Her First Time With A Bear (Book 1)
Too Much To Bear (Book 2)
Bear With Me (Book 3)
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Curves
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Curves For Her Bears (BBW Shifter Erotic Romance)
Saving You, Saving Me (Bad Boys Love Big Girls (BBW Erotic Romance))
Rachel (Curves in the Family Part One (BBW Erotic Romance))
Snowbound Curves (Curves For Her Brother's Best Friend BBW Erotic Romance)
BBW - Curves For Her Soldier
Longing For Her Soldier (Curves For Her Brother's Best Friend BBW Erotic Romance)
Return To Sender (Curves For Her Soldier) (BBW Erotic Romance)
BBW - Greystone Wolves
A Virgin For The Wolf (Curves For Her Werewolf Boss) (BBW Erotic Romance)
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Curves For Her Cowboy (BBW Billionaire Cowboy Erotic Romance)
Betrayed Curves
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By The Billionaire
Saved: By The Billionaire
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A Virgin For The Billionaire
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Behind Closed Doors
Stories filled with lust, sex and, of course, love.
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Continue reading What Katy Did First (First Time Virgin Sex)
What Katy Did Next (Oral sex, Domination)
What Katy Did Then (BDSM, Sex In The Car)
What Katy Did With Her Billionaire Boss (Billionaire Erotic Romance)
Crystal and Roxie, Rockstar Sex (Ménage Threesome First Time Anal Sex)
Jamie, Cowboy Lust (First Time Gay Sex)
Jamie, Cowboy Love (Whipping Gay Cowboy Erotica)
Jamie, Cowboy Gangbang (The Initiation Of Jamie)
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Sex And Marriage
Awakenings
Spank Me Professor(Spanking Role Play)
Return_Mate of the Cave Bear Page 5