I stirred yet again from what had been the most restless of nights. My gaze immediately landed on the sleeping form of my mate, so close to me yet out of reach. The scent of her arousal once more permeated the room. I ached to extrude and claim what our bonding entitled me to and what my mate also desired, despite her resistance. But I reined in the urge. I was the greatest Hunter of my tribe, and I loved a good chase. None was more worthy than this one. As much as she denied it, my prey was already caught. I just needed to be patient until she willingly surrendered.
And she would.
I had expected to fight a more arduous battle to change the way she looked at me and find grace in her eyes. It pleased me tremendously that she, too, was feeling the natural chemistry that existed between us. And last night, during the ceremony, when I held her in my arms, we connected on a deep level that even she couldn’t deny. In that instant, my concerns that Serena would leave me at the end of our six-month trial evaporated. I would conquer her heart.
Even now, as much as her scent tortured me, as it had all night, I couldn’t help the smug grin that tugged at my lips. I’d give anything for a peek into whatever dreams were fanning her passion right now. I knew, at a visceral level, that it featured us.
Keep dreaming of us, my mate. Soon, I will make your fantasies a reality.
As sleep continues to evade me, I retrieved my tablet, which I rarely made use of, and resumed reading about a human’s day-to-day life. My mate’s species was very social, something Ordosians were not. We came together for specific things like last night’s bonding, the occasional performance from our artistically oriented tribe members, for a vote, a ruling, or a sentencing, and for training or hunting.
Humans grouped with non-relatives all the time, just to spend time together. Some of it made little sense, like going to big shopping centers for hours, often with no intent whatsoever of buying anything. It constituted a massive waste of time and energy, but apparently served an important role as a bonding mechanism among peers or friends. We didn’t have such centers here, so dwelling on that part served no purpose. My biggest concern was for the other forms of social grouping. The majority appeared to revolve around food and drinks. Humans invited each other to their respective dwellings to share big meals, or they went to places that specialized in serving food to patrons, or they went to places where they could dance with each other and also share alcoholic beverages. We had none of that.
How essential is that for her?
My mate’s nutritional needs were another major source of worry for me. My mind reeled with the variety of foods, spices, and beverages they consumed. For fruits, meats, and vegetables, we could find acceptable equivalents here. The challenge would be all the other things we didn’t produce as none of us had any use for them, from cooking oils, to flour, to baking ingredients, and that black seed powder called coffee humans seemed so addicted to. We didn’t even have olives, wheat, or coffee beans on Trangor. I would need to speak with Kayog to see by what means some of the non-perishable goods not obtainable here could be sent to us from off-world.
I will not allow this to be the reason she leaves me or feels miserable living here.
Still, I would ask our botanists to cross-reference our available fruits, vegetables, and grains to find their equivalent in the human diet. By the time I stopped that research, the sun was already rising over Krada. I carefully rose from my heated plate and quietly exited our room so as not to wake my mate. I headed to the atrium to gather and wash some fruits and filled a bowl with a variety of nuts to give her some protein.
To my delight, I ran into Hijara, one of the caretakers of the animals in the atrium and the hidden valley. She was often up early to make sure the weak and wounded creatures in either of these sanctuaries were properly fed. I discussed with her the basic components of one of the standard human breakfasts. Within minutes, she provided me with three different types of eggs, and cut a few thin slices of two different meats from one of the cooling units.
“Ask your mate to try those,” Hijara said. “They have very different tastes. Hopefully, one will be close to the flavors of her homeworld.”
“Thank you, Hijara,” I said to the female with a grateful smile. “You’re the best.”
She grinned back, although I didn’t miss the slight glimmer of sadness in her silver eyes. I bowed my head and left, my arms filled with goods. Hijara had not been the only female in the tribe to hope I would choose her as a mate, but she’d certainly been one of the most persistent. As Salha’s coworker, she had often coaxed my mating-sister into speaking kindly about her to me in the hope of stirring my interest.
I returned to my dwelling, but just as I reached for the door, it swung open, startling me. Serena gasped and took a step back, looking just as surprised.
“Good morning, my mate. I didn’t expect you to be up already,” I said with a smile.
“I’m an early bird,” she said absentmindedly, her gaze roaming over the food in the basket I carried. “Did you go get all of that for me?”
“Yes,” I said, puffing out my chest. “There are fruits and nuts, but also eggs and sliced meat. We hope some of this can get close to the flavors of your homeworld.”
Serena looked at the basket for another second before turning her beautiful, light brown eyes towards me. “That was so thoughtful of you,” she said in a soft voice that felt like a caress. “You’re very sweet, Szaro.”
“My goal is to please you,” I replied.
“And please you most certainly do,” Serena replied with a grin. She stepped aside to let me into the house. “I was on my way to take a shower, but I guess I’ll have breakfast first instead.”
“A shower again?” I asked, surprised. “You took one yesterday right before nightfall.”
She smiled indulgently. “Most humans shower once a day, others even more often, depending on the type of work they do, where they’ve been, or what activity they took part in. When humans perform intense physical activity, we sweat a lot. If we don’t wash after that, we end up stinking. Also, while Ordosians molt only once or twice a year, humans continually shed dead skin cells. So, if I sweat or my skin gets damp, the dead cells stick to it along with any dirt in the air. A couple of days without a shower, and I promise you will not enjoy flicking that nosy tongue of yours in my general direction.”
I chuckled and instinctively flicked my tongue at her. “Well, right this instant, your scent is still quite delicious,” I said sincerely.
“You flatterer,” she mumbled, then turned to rummage through the basket I’d placed on the table—I suspected to hide her embarrassment. “Hmmm, this ‘bacon’ should produce enough fat to let me fry the eggs. Let’s see how all of this tastes!”
Her enthusiasm was contagious. Serena had me bring the basket outside to the temporary counters Irco had installed next to the cooking unit. In the meantime, she fetched a plate and a couple of utensils, along with two little bottles—one with a dark grey powder and the other with tiny white grains. She turned on the cooking unit and, in no time, a rather pleasant aroma rose from the skillet in which the fatty, thin slices of meat were cooking. I wondered how much nutrition remained when she finally removed them to place them on her plate. The meat had noticeably shrunk, most of the fat having melted off it. Serena broke the eggs in the resulting oil in the skillet—making sure to keep them separated so that we would know which one came from which egg. She then sprinkled some of the grey and white powdery grains on them.
While the eggs cooked, my mate sliced some fruits, which she added to her plate. When she removed the eggs from the pan using a spatula, I was still trying to figure out how she knew they were ready now rather than thirty seconds ago when the color looked the same. She brought her plate of food inside the house and settled at the table while I placed the remaining fruits in the cooling unit of the kitchen.
“Do you mind if I watch?” I asked as she picked up her fork and knife. “I read that it is considered creepy.”
“It is super creepy,” Serena said with a chuckle. “But you let me watch last night. I guess it’s okay for you to watch me today,” she added in a teasing tone.
I snorted. “Those two hardly compare, but I will let you get away with it… this time.”
Serena beamed at me and started cutting one of the slices of ‘bacon’ using her fork and knife. She brought the small piece to her mouth with the fork and began chewing, frowning almost immediately.
“It’s bad?” I asked in a worried voice.
She shook her head. “No, not bad. Just not the taste of bacon. This is actually a bit gamey. Not unpleasant. Just unexpected,” she said before cutting a piece from the second meat Hijara had provided. “Oh yeah!” Serena exclaimed with a grin as soon as she began chewing. “That’s not bacon, but it’s definitely closer. It’s almost like ham. For lack of something else, I’d be very happy with this for breakfast in the morning.”
I couldn’t wipe the silly grin from my face as she moved on to the eggs. Two of them turned out to be hard to distinguish from chicken eggs but, according to my mate, the third one felt a bit more rubbery, like a duck egg. I had no idea what a duck or a chicken was, but as long as Serena had satisfactory ham and eggs for breakfast, I was content.
She finished her meal and brought her plate to the sink.
“No,” I ordered when she turned on the water to start washing it. “That is my duty. In the Ordosian culture, it is the male’s role to maintain the dwelling in good order, which includes building, repairing, and cleaning.”
“Wow! If you’re trying to make me like you, you’re doing an excellent job of it right now,” Serena said, looking at me with wide eyes. “But you know, in human culture, we share the chores. I don’t mind—”
One stern look from me sufficed. She raised her palms in surrender, an amused expression on her face.
“Hey, if you want to hog all that fun , have at it! Who am I to deny you the right to indulge in your preferred forms of entertainment?”
I glared at her, which only made her laugh further. I loved the musical quality of it and the way it lit up her face. Despite her exotic features—and maybe even because of them—my mate was a beautiful female.
“I will go shower now,” she said. “Be back soon!”
I set to work as soon as she left, a silly grin plastered on my face. Cleaning never bothered me. In fact, I rather enjoyed the peace and quiet, and time for reflection and introspection it provided. Furthermore, I took great pride in the cleanliness of my dwelling and having everything in proper order. After tidying Serena’s cooking area and washing the dishes, I went to our rest room. It annoyed me to find she’d already fixed her bed.
A chime from my com device startled me. A quick glance caused all the warmth from the banter with my mate to fade away. I sent out a group message to all the Hunters and began putting on my battle gear. I heard Serena enter just as I was placing a dagger in my weapons belt.
The soft shuffling sound of her feet came to a stop in front of my armory’s open door. The happy, carefree expression on her face vanished as soon as she saw my attire and the bag of medicines and treatments in my hand.
“That’s a lot of weapons,” Serena said with a sliver of tension in her voice. “Did something bad happen?”
“There is a large pack of Flayers rampaging in the northwest, near the Acales’ nesting caves,” I explained. “As with many other species on Trangor, this month and the next is their birthing season. The Acales are at their most vulnerable during that time, not only with all the helpless young, but also because the females have all left to hunt for food, while the males look after the hatchlings. In their species, the males are smaller and weaker. They won’t be able to protect their nests.”
“Ouch, that bites,” Serena said with a frown. “Do you think they were lured there?”
I hesitated for a second before shaking my head. “From the report I’ve received, there are no clear signs of treachery,” I replied. “The nearest Ordosian village is too far west from the Acales’ lair for it to make any sense to lure in that area. There have been many reports of Flayers straying towards areas they don’t normally go to. I believe they are avoiding the presence of so many hunters from your Federation, and that is pushing them further northwest. Those beasts like easy prey.”
“Right…” Serena said, looking at me with a strange expression.
“What is it, my mate?” I asked.
She licked her lips, squared her shoulders, and stared me straight in the eye. “I want to go hunt them with you and the others.”
I froze, taken aback by that request. A female had never joined a hunting party, but then we’d never had a human female in our midst. This request shouldn’t have surprised me. In truth, I should have not only anticipated it, but offered it to her first. Tension built in my female, her shoulders becoming stiffer and a muscle jumping on her temple. I realized then that my answer could have a significant impact on our future relationship.
“Our females very rarely leave the region they were born in and never join a hunt,” I said carefully. “However, unlike them, you are an experienced hunter. I do not object to you joining the hunt, BUT…” I added quickly when her face lit up, “there are certain conditions that you must commit to respect.”
“I’m listening,” Serena said, staring at me intently.
“You have seen how we battle the Flayers to perform as clean and merciful a kill as possible,” I said. She nodded. “As you do not have a tail to help immobilize the beasts, you will need to prove you can compensate by another means without maiming the creature or causing undue harm, the alternative is to be on the stabbing duty.”
“If I work with your team, I can use bolas on the non-lethal setting. They will simply immobilize the Flayer,” Serena answered quickly. “I hated maiming those Flayers by the river, but I wouldn’t have survived battling two mature males on my own without crippling them. My previous kills weren’t as perfect as yours, but they were clean.”
“I have seen your previous kills, which is the only reason I am willing to let you join us,” I said, matter-of-factly. “But understand that, when on the battlefield, I am your Hunt Leader, not your mate. Following orders without question can mean life or death for the entire hunting party.”
“I have no problem with following your lead,” Serena said with a firm nod.
“We’re in agreement then,” I said.
“Yessss!!” Serena shouted, pumping both of her fists. “You’re the best! Going to gear up now!”
I couldn’t help chuckling and shaking my head as she dashed into our rest room to change.
“Join me outside when you’re done,” I said through the closed door of our room.
“Okay!” she replied, her muffled voice buzzing with excitement.
Smiling, I exited our dwelling. I should be terrified at the thought of taking my mate into danger, but only a thrill filled me. I loved that I would be sharing the main aspect of my life with my female.
However, a sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach as I watched Raskier and my brother Mandha standing by their Drayshan. A short distance ahead, the Elders waited, ready to give us their blessing before our departure. When I allowed her to join the hunt, I had not thought of the issues my mate would face in the early days of our bonding. I needed to handle the situation carefully to avoid Serena becoming a prisoner in her new home.
Heaving a sigh, I headed towards the Elders.
“Greetings, Elders,” I said to all three, although I stopped in front of Elder Krathi, our village leader.
“Greetings, Szaro,” Elder Krathi responded with an almost maternal tone. “It is unfortunate that you should be called away on a long-range hunt on the morning of your bonding.”
“It is,” I said with a nod. “I had hoped to show my mate the beauties of Krada, but that will have to wait.”
The three Elders nodded with a commiserating smile.
“But I wish to inform you that, as an experienced hunter, my mate has requested to join us in combat, and I have agreed,” I said in a firm tone.
As the Great Hunter of the tribe, I made all the decisions when it came to hunting, defending the village, or going on the offensive. The Elders only had the right to veto my decision if it represented a clear and present threat to the tribe. As expected, their faces closed off. Despite the effectiveness with which they hid their emotions, I could all but read the thoughts crossing their minds.
“I can guess what valid worries this news awakens in you,” I said in an appeasing tone. “While my bonding is fresh and was initiated under less-than-perfect circumstances, there is genuine friendship and affection between my mate and me. She is an honorable female and will not seize this opportunity to attempt to flee.”
I had no proof of this and yet, at a visceral level, I knew it to be true. After conversing with my mate and assessing her with his empathic abilities, Kayog had concluded that we were a perfect match. He had also vouched for her having high moral standards.
“Still, to alleviate any understandable concerns you, and anyone else in the tribe may have regarding this matter, Serena will travel with me on my Drayshan and not on her speeder,” I continued. “Dagas will not allow another to ride off without me there, and Serena will never be able to make it back to the Federation base camp on foot.”
Elder Krathi’s face softened. “A sensible precaution,” she replied. “I approve this course of action.”
Relief flooded through me. I had feared a confrontation had she challenged my decision.
“I felt a strong link forming between you and the human female during last night’s ceremony,” the Elder continued in a pensive tone. “Are we to understand that you are pleased with your pairing?”
“The Goddess sent Serena to me,” I said with conviction. “I am very pleased with the pairing.”
“It warms my heart, Great Hunter,” Elder Krathi replied, that same maternal expression descending on her features again.
“And mine,” Elder Jyotha replied, while Elder Iskal nodded in agreement.
“Thank you, Elders,” I said, grateful for their support. “We are hoping to return tonight, but I will keep you apprised of how the situation evolves.”
“Do what you feel is right, Great Hunter,” Elder Krathi said. “Safe journey, and may the Goddess guide your arm.”
I bowed my head respectfully, then headed towards my brother who had brought out Dagas, my Drayshan. Serena came out of our dwelling before I reached him, and immediately headed towards us. I couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed at the sight of the full leather hunting uniform that covered every centimeter of her beautiful skin, aside from her face and hands.
“Is everyone ready?” I asked my brother.
“Yes,” he replied, although his surprised gaze remained locked on my mate approaching us. “She’s coming?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied, annoyed by my defensive tone. Mandha smirked but said nothing, which only irritated me further. “Get everyone to mount up,” I ordered in a snarky fashion.
Mandha’s grin expanded, and I bared my fangs at him. The obnoxious wretch burst out laughing before complying with my orders. Serena stopped next to me with a questioning look.
“Give me your bag,” I said, extending a hand towards her. “I will put it with mine and the others on the carrier Drayshan.”
“Oh, there’s no need. I can fit it in my speeder’s storage since I won’t have the mattress and other things in it,” she countered.
“You will not be riding your speeder,” I said in an apologetic tone.
“What? Why?” Serena asked, recoiling.
I gently explained the situation.
“I wouldn’t run away!” Serena said, her back stiff.
“I believe you, my mate,” I said softly. “I really do,” I repeated, holding her gaze unwaveringly. That appeared to mollify her somewhat. “But do you understand why those who have had little interaction with you could have some concerns?”
Serena pinched her lips and gave me a stiff nod.
“Come on, my mate. Cheer up,” I said in a teasing tone. “Who needs a speeder, anyway? You are about to become the first female of any Ordosian clan to go on a hunt and the first human—or off-worlder of any species for that matter—to ride a Drayshan.”
“When you put it that way, it does sound like some pretty cool bragging rights,” she said with the most adorable pouty lips that made me ache with the need to kiss her.
She reluctantly gave me her bag, and I went to place it with mine and the others on the carrier Drayshan. When I returned to my mate’s side, she was eyeing Dagas with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
“We’re both going to ride it?” she asked in a dubious tone.
“Yes,” I replied with a grin. “You go on first, and I’ll lie on top of you.”
I burst out laughing at the flabbergasted look she gave me. It was all the funnier that I wasn’t joking.
“Normally, you would simply sit or lie down in the recess on his back,” I explained, pointing at it. “It allows them to carry their young until they are strong enough to walk on their own. Because of our anatomy, two adult Ordosians don’t usually ride together as it’s quite uncomfortable. But in your case, it will be perfect. You can lie down here and place your legs on his sides, right where it slants here. This should be comfortable for you and provide a nice support for your legs to rest on.”
“And you’re going to settle between my legs?” Although she worded it as a question, she was making a statement in an ‘are you serious?’ tone that made me want to smile again.
“My lower body will, and my tail will wrap around his hind horn,” I said in a teasing voice.
“And if I’m not happy about that?” she asked.
“That is your prerogative, but you still have to comply… or remain in the village,” I deadpanned.
She scrunched her face at me, making me chuckle again. Turning towards Dagas, my mate reached for one of the three recurved bones protruding from his side. With a surprising dexterity, Serena placed her right foot on the protective exoskeletal shield above his bent knee as a step to help hoist herself onto his back, using one of the recurved bones as leverage. Dagas turned his head to look at her with his orange eye. I caressed his hind, drawing his attention to me, making it clear it was okay to carry her. He made a chuffing sound of acceptance and turned back to face forward.
Oblivious to any of this, my mate was adjusting her position on the Drayshan, leaning down to hold on to the closest horns along the sides of his neck. Serena looked so graceful on my mount that I could have just stood there for hours admiring the tableau. To my shame though, the delicate rounded curve of her behind kept drawing my eyes. Something about it was undeniably enticing. Ordosians didn’t have behinds like that, or any at all for that matter.
But beyond appreciation of that harmonious shape, less innocent thoughts filled my mind. From my research on humans, I’d discovered they could couple in a similar position, with the male standing behind his bent-over female. Ordosians couldn’t do that. Our couplings had to be face to face, always the same position because of the placement of our female’s slit. The thought of how creative things could get between Serena and me reawakened my nether region in a way that I really didn’t need right now.
Placing one hand on the recurved bone on Dagas’ side and another on his rump, I lifted myself onto his back, being careful not to squish my mate as I settled behind her. The softness of the tight curls of her black hair, neatly bound into what she called French braids, brushed against the scales of my right cheek as I leaned over her.
“Let me know if I’m crushing you,” I said softly in her ear as I reached for the horns on the side of our mount’s neck. “It is best if you let me handle the horns. You can hold onto my arms if you wish. But it will likely be more comfortable for you to simply rest your palms on his shoulders.”
“Okay,” Serena said, shifting under me.
Her behind rubbed against my pelvic area in the most exquisite torture. Although I hated how much her hunting outfit covered her skin, it was turning out to be a relief that I couldn’t feel her naked heat under my chest.
“I’m good. This should be fine and is surprisingly comfortable,” my mate added, sounding rather stunned.
“I’m glad to hear it,” I said, genuinely pleased. “Do not hesitate to tell me if you feel discomfort at any point.”
“Will do,” she said with a nod.
I gave the signal to the others who were patiently waiting, and we finally departed.
