Chapter 11

Ophelia

T he moment Moriak returned with a fancy-looking older male, my husband immediately tensed. I studied Gaelec’s face for a few moments, as if it would reveal the source of what almost looked like anger before shifting my gaze back to the newcomer.

I didn’t know Nazhrals enough to be able to evaluate their ages for certain, but I estimated that male to be in his mid-fifties. Aside from his age, he seemed much too rich to possibly be a candidate. Unlike the other males who wore skin-tight shorts to the middle of their thighs with a loincloth over it, usually adorned with some kind of pattern or symbol, Moriak’s companion had donned a much looser set of trousers with a silky dark fabric that fell right to his knees. The silver embroidery on both the hem of the pants and on the even fancier loincloth with a gem encrusted belt screamed excess and a propensity to show off his wealth.

His tri-colored fur made him look like a calico cat with the patches of white, orange, and black. His yellow eyes peered with an excited and almost calculating glimmer at the people in attendance. Something about him immediately felt slimy. The first thought that popped to mind was con artist. For some reason, the fact that he appeared to be on such great terms with the Pride’s Alpha reinforced the distrust he inspired.

What can he possibly want with us?

Whatever it was, Gaelec appeared to know, and it pissed him off to no end. He seemed even angrier than when Oluina pushed his buttons yesterday after I first arrived.

“Dear members of the Pride and guests, for those of you who haven’t met my esteemed friend before, please allow me to introduce you to Ranor Dolmen,” Moriak said with the excessive enthusiasm of the host of some major event as he introduced the special guests to the crowd. “He is one of the highest-ranking recruiters in all of Melelyn. Because of the deep friendship he and I have developed over the years, he has agreed to come give you an exclusive first notice of a few highly lucrative missions that will take place in the next few days.”

My stomach dropped as I finally understood the reason for my mate’s simmering anger. A wave of panic swelled within me. What did that mean for him? As a member of the Pride, was participation in these missions compulsory if the Alpha demanded it? There was no doubt in my mind that Moriak would attempt to send Gaelec on the next one, likely hoping he would get caught or killed in the process.

I wanted to believe my man’s palpable fury was a sign that he had absolutely no intention of allowing himself to be lured back into this mess, whatever punishment or threat they might levy against him.

To my dismay, Kazaer perked up, and leaned forward with an air of excitement.

“This could be good,” he whispered to himself.

Gaelec gasped and jerked his head towards his brother with an air of complete outrage and disbelief.

“Absolutely not!” Gaelec snapped at his brother. “Are you insane?!”

Sandwiched between the two males, I felt myself wither as the cubs still snuggling against me began to stir. Kazaer recoiled, stunned by his older brother’s strong reaction. Next to him, Ylis looked extremely troubled. But I couldn’t say whether it was my husband’s outburst that unsettled her, the news of the imminent mission, or a mix of both.

“What’s wrong, Gaelec?” Moriak called out in a mocking tone. “Is that panic I hear in your voice? Would you happen to be suffering from PTSD from your failed mission?”

To my relief, instead of going completely berserk on that taunting idiot—as I personally wanted to—Gaelec reined himself in and simply leveled the most contemptuous stare at the Alpha.

“It’s not panic but complete stupor that you would be so gullible or careless as to once again jeopardize the welfare and future of the Pride by taking the first bait of your so-called recruiter ,” my mate retorted, gesturing with disdain at the fancy male as he pronounced that last word. “Tell us, Recruiter Ranor, would that excessively lucrative mission involve the Levendoc Corp?”

The extreme shock on the older male’s face—too slowly hidden—and the way his body stiffened confirmed Gaelec had hit a nerve.

“You’ve already heard?” the recruiter asked in a tone that he tried hard to keep nonchalant, even though it was more of a statement.

He struck me as someone trying to buy time and to find out how much Gaelec knew before he tipped his own hand.

“I have. And I can tell you that this highly lucrative mission is in fact the biggest trap ever set among a series of countless others,” Gaelec snarled, eliciting shocked gasps from everyone in attendance.

“What are you talking about?” Ranor asked, in a tone that implied my man was mentally unwell.

But the sliver of nervousness in his voice—subtle though it was—had every single one of my senses on high alert. The fact—or at least the possibility—that this mission could indeed be a trap was not news to him.

“What I’m talking about is the fact that the members of the galactic alliance are beyond fed up with the epidemic of pirate raids against their ships and merchandise. The Enforcers are launching a massive crackdown against all criminal activities linked in any way to smuggling, hijacking, piracy, and slave trading among others. All those attacks are costing corporations and individuals way too much, making traveling and their businesses unsustainable, not to mention the innocent lives lost on all sides.”

Moriak huffed and cast a contemptuous look at Gaelec as if he was some weak and sniveling little boy.

“Why do you care so much about the woes of some random off-worlders?” he asked in a haughty tone. “Their inability to protect their goods is on them. Ever heard of survival of the fittest? Have they brainwashed you into looking after their best interests instead of those of your Pride? That would explain why you returned looking so pretty from Molvi… assuming you even actually served your time there.”

It took every ounce of my willpower not to give that son of a bitch an epic tongue lashing for such spiteful and snide remarks. It infuriated me when quite a few people narrowed their eyes at my husband, the seed of suspicion having been planted.

“I cannot decide if you truly are this stupid and narrow-minded to actually believe the nonsense you just spewed, or if you’re so desperate to paint me in a bad light for fear I might supplant you that you would stoop to such ridiculous conspiracy theories,” Gaelec replied with an air of pity rather than the righteous anger he would be entitled to.

“See how he avoided answering the challenge?” Moriak said triumphantly, glancing at everyone in attendance to take them as witnesses.

“I indeed give a shit about the off-worlders’ woes to the extent that their logical responses to the constant losses they sustain will directly ruin or destroy the lives of our people. But you’re too dense to realize that. Although I think it is specifically what you’re counting on,” Gaelec said, his tone hardening.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Moriak hissed.

“Simply the fact that most of the missions offered by the recruiters are guaranteed jail time for the males foolish enough to sign up for them, especially this one,” Gaelec snarled.

“You don’t know that!” Ranor interjected, sounding defensive. “I have excellent sources.”

Gaelec snorted with disdain. “I most certainly do know it is a trap. Your sources are so excellent that my own sources warned me more than three weeks ago that this fake mission would soon be making the rounds. How do you explain that , Recruiter Ranor?”

“Ranor never failed us,” Moriak argued.

“He and others like him certainly failed me!” Gaelec snapped. “He failed Argin, Lomar, and countless others. But if you’re so confident about his reliability, does that mean you will join in on that mission, Moriak?”

I bit my lip to keep myself from blurting out the ‘Take that, Enfoiré !’ comment that burned my tongue. But I couldn’t stop myself from grinning maliciously at his shocked expression.

“I’m the Alpha!” Moriak immediately countered. “My place is here, watching over the Pride.”

Gaelec shook his head with an air of pure disgust. “How did I know you were going to hide behind such a weak argument? You always let us take the risks while you hide behind our females.”

“I do not hide behind anyone!” Moriak shouted angrily. “Your past traumatic experience made you skittish, and now you’re seeing danger everywhere. Do not unload your burden on the rest of us.”

“I’m not being skittish, merely no longer being stupid. You boast about your friend Ranor being so reliable, but has he informed you of how the new anti-piracy laws directly impact every Pride now?”

“What laws?” Rozel intervened with a hint of concern.

Gaelec turned to look at her. “Convicted pirates now automatically go to a Gray or Dark Quadrant, with a minimum sentence of fifteen years. Where before, the sector in which you were captured influenced which prison you would land in, it is now a guaranteed trip to Molvi. I was in a Light Quadrant for the past twelve years, and it was a nightmare. Gray Quadrants are nearly impossible to survive, but a Dark one is a guaranteed death sentence.”

He turned to look at the young males visiting the village for the feast, making eye contact with as many of them as possible.

“If you cubs want to die, then by all means join this doomed mission.”

“Stop being dramatic!” Rozel exclaimed in a harsh tone.

“I WAS THERE!!” Gaelec shouted.

The Matriarch took a deep breath and forced herself to take on a sympathetic expression as if addressing a child being difficult.

“We know, Gaelec. And although you may not believe it, we do empathize with the hardships you endured. But whatever the outcome, every Pride needs for our people to go on those missions. Obviously, we want each one of them to succeed so that our males can come home with their full wages. However, even in the case of a failure, the Pride still benefits from their contribution.”

“I know that all too well,” Gaelec snarled, which had the Matriarch lift her chin defiantly. “It is shameful that it should be deemed acceptable to use these so-called missions as a means to sell us off as slave labor.”

“Tread carefully, Gaelec Sulwyn!” Rozel warned.

“Or what? Is truth to be silenced now as well? How about you ask your Alpha’s friend how that exploitation of our youth and labor is at an end now? Sacrificing us will no longer benefit the Pride. The Obosians have seen to it.”

Every eye turned towards the recruiter, who shifted uneasily on his paws…

“What do you mean?” Ranor asked with an air of pretend confusion that fooled no one.

“Are you pretending that you haven’t heard of the new laws recently passed regarding prisoner wages?” Gaelec asked with an almost cruel smile.

When the recruiter failed to respond quickly enough, my husband addressed the entire audience.

“For those of you who do not know, Argin was a member of this Pride long before I joined you. He was arrested during a mission and served his time in the Light Quadrant of Lord Amreth’s sector. I ended up going there as well after my incarceration. He became both a mentor and a friend. It is to him that I owe surviving my ordeal over there and returning unscathed, against all odds.”

“We’re not here for tales!” Moriak interrupted.

“Silence!” Gaelec snapped, his muscles bunching as if he was readying to go on the offensive.

“We would hear what he has to say,” Ylis intervened when Moriak opened his mouth to respond. “Go on, Gaelec.”

Despite his obvious desire to challenge the young huntress, the Alpha wisely kept his mouth shut. I could have given her a freaking bone crushing hug. Anyway, judging by the expressions on every face, the rest of the Pride also wanted to hear what was going on. As was often the case with species living in more of a tribal setting, learning what was happening outside of their closed circuit could be quite challenging, even with connectivity.

Gaelec cast a grateful look at Ylis before continuing. “He was released three years ago and returned home. Some of you may remember him,” he said, eliciting a few nods from both males and females. “Less than a month after his return, he was forced to participate in another mission because all the credits he earned over more than a decade of hard labor on Molvi was appropriated and spent by the Pride. He had nothing to live off of or to use over time as his contribution, now that he was too old for the types of work expected of him here.”

My chest constricted for the poor older male. After surviving Molvi, he deserved a peaceful retirement with the credits he earned. It was criminal that they just took everything and then expected him to provide again or face expulsion.

Judging by the expressions of the people around me, there seemed to be conflicting emotions on that topic. Some of them, especially the younger females, appeared to find it normal. They were undoubtedly raised to think that way, while some of the elders better related to how their bodies slowing down would set an unfair burden on them had they been in his situation.

“As you know, that mission failed. For a second-time offender, the sentence was automatically a Gray Quadrant—although that is now changed to the Dark Quadrant. Argin died within a month of his new incarceration. This never should have happened. He had more than paid his due. But the Pride condemned him in the hopes of continuing to receive his wages while he suffered.”

“That was not the intention!” Rozel exclaimed with outrage.

“No, but it was an outcome you were very comfortable with, if it came to that. So long as the Pride got its cut, you were fine with it damning him, thinking it would simply be the same as before. But that time is over,” Gaelec shouted, taking us all aback.

“Are you threatening us?” Rozel asked in a dangerously low voice, that had everyone—including me—suddenly feeling extremely nervous.

“I’m not making any threat, Matriarch. I’m simply informing you of what your so-called Alpha and that sorry excuse of a recruiter are hiding from you and everyone else,” Gaelec replied with a disdainful gesture. “Following this incident, Lord Amreth proposed a new law that has now been instituted to make sure Prides will no longer have access to any of the wages earned by the prisoners. Although exceptions can be made for those who have younglings and spouses to help, a maximum percentage will need to be authorized after proper validation of such a need has been established.”

“That’s a lie!” Moriak exclaimed. “We’re still receiving wages for incarcerated members of the Pride.”

“Not for long, and certainly not from Molvi,” Gaelec retorted with contempt. “In case your tiny brain didn’t register it, I mentioned that going forward, all pirates will go straight to Molvi, regardless of which sector they were captured in. And every other galactic penitentiary that is part of the UPO is in the process of implementing a similar law. But don’t take my word for it. The law was implemented on Molvi three years ago, which is when you stopped receiving my wages, which led many of you to believe I was dead. But for the record, Lomar and Gulan are still alive in Lord Kronos’s Light Quadrant. Have you seen any of their wages?”

“My son lives?!” one of the Elder females exclaimed, her palm pressed to her chest.

It was my first time seeing one of them actually express concern for males who had left the Pride. I had begun to believe they truly didn’t see males as people, but merely tools. This gave me hope that things could eventually change for the better.

“He does. And from what I understand, he’s faring decently well and—like I did—seizing the opportunity to learn new trades and acquiring new skills that will give him a chance at a better future once he regains his freedom. The funds being safely set aside will give him the extra leg up needed for success.”

My chest constricted further upon seeing that female’s eyes misting and her lips stretching into a quivering smile. However messed up I found their society to be, this mother loved her child.

“These new laws are meant to be a deterrent by making sure Prides will no longer profit from crimes, even when they failed,” Gaelec continued before turning his attention towards Moriak with something akin to hatred. “Therefore, Alphas will need to come up with new ways to get rid of their competition since selling them as slave labor to prisons will no longer work.”

“This is slander!” Moriak hissed, taking a menacing step towards Gaelec.

My back stiffened, and the tension in the park became palpable. To my dismay, too many people perked up, looking almost as if they wanted this escalation. My heart skipped a beat when Gaelec also took a menacing step forward. I almost reached out to grab his hand and pull him back. But I knew better than to interfere. I only prayed that the amazing restraint he’d displayed since my arrival would prevail.

“Is it?” Gaelec challenged. “Am I the only one who finds it funny that most of the missions with the biggest failures only occurred right after a feast with particularly promising candidates, or when a young male started becoming a significant threat to your position?”

“Tread carefully, Gaelec,” Moriak threatened, echoing the Matriarch’s earlier words.

“Or what?” Gaelec repeated, like he had with Rozel. “Will you challenge me to a duel? Right here and now?”

“Gaelec!” I exclaimed in a whisper, panic settling in.

I didn’t fear that he might lose. Although I’d never seen either male in battle, I knew with an inexplicable certainty that my husband would make mincemeat out of his opponent. But I also believed it would open the biggest and stinkiest can of worms possible with consequences I doubted we wanted to deal with.

“Gaelec, are you challenging Moriak as our new Alpha?” Rozel asked.

To my utter shock, instead of being outraged as she asked the question, Rozel seemed almost eager for it to be the case. The calculating glimmer in her eyes didn’t bode well. Despite how much she was clearly butting heads with my husband, I was getting a strong impression that she still wanted him to become their new Alpha, or at least to use him to get rid of the current one.

Moriak visibly blanched. Even though he tried to hide it, it was clear to me that he also believed he couldn’t win. Judging by the expressions on multiple faces, the Pride believed it as well.

I held my breath as the silence stretched. A cruel smile settled on my husband’s lips as he stared down his nemesis. Although I couldn’t blame him for enjoying watching the foul male sweat, it nevertheless unnerved me. More disturbing still were the hopeful looks from both Kazaer and Ylis. My mind raced as I tried to assess how it would change our lives if he battled Moriak and won. I couldn’t see him and the Matriarch ever seeing things eye to eye. Was I just being pessimistic? After all, I had been here less than forty-eight hours. Maybe once I got to know her better—assuming I ever got the opportunity—she might turn out to be far more flexible than she appeared so far.

“Despite Moriak’s constant fear that I will challenge him, I have never held such ambitions,” Gaelec said at last, contempt dripping out of his voice. “But I will no longer stand by while we’re sacrificed and taken advantage of.”

“Your place among us isn’t secure that you should be stirring so much trouble,” Oluina said, her voice filled with bitterness and anger.

“It isn’t,” Gaelec conceded, totally unfazed. “But while I am still a member, I will not be silent. I owe our youth a truth I wished I could have benefited from. Other mature males may be content to accept whatever fate throws at them, but I believe in shaping my own future rather than being a victim to it.”

In that instant, I realized my mate had made his peace with the likelihood that he would leave. A part of me rejoiced at that prospect while another struggled with it. Leaving felt like a failure.

“We hear your words well, Gaelec,” Rozel said with a hint of reluctance. “But a Pride cannot survive without the resources and credits derived from missions.”

“They do not have to be illegal or involve piracy!” Gaelec objected. “There are tons of legal options out there. I’ve done my research. Countless traders and other businesses are constantly on the lookout for hired hands for temporary work. Why are these not the missions being brought to us by the Alpha? These would provide the extra revenue needed without putting our lives in jeopardy. Just like every female wants to come home after a hunt, we want to do the same after a mission. Is that too much to ask?”

Murmurs of approval greeted his words.

“Gaelec makes a good point,” I blurted out, my mind racing upon hearing his words.

I hadn’t meant to inject myself in a debate that could fundamentally reshape their society, but my damn mouth had a will of its own. With every eye now locked on me, I just decided to go for it.

“As you may have heard, I’ve spent the past decade performing charity and missionary work alongside various primitive species. I worked alongside the Sangoths for a couple of years. They are a Yeti-like species. They are big, furry giants who live in the mountains and cold areas,” I specified in response to the confused glances they gave me upon hearing that name. “Nazhrals would be perfect for performing deliveries or assisting with construction work over there. As I understand it, your people can heat cold air through your noses and can withstand intense low temperatures.”

Many heads nodded in response. Seeing them raptly attentive to my words spurred me on.

“With your claws, dexterity, fantastic hunting skills and swimming abilities, you exceed the minimum requirements for countless temporary work opportunities. Few people want to take on those jobs because they lack too many of the necessary attributes that you naturally possess. Therefore, wages tend to be on the higher end to lure potential candidates.”

Ranor huffed, displeased by my intervention. “Those are month-long missions. Some of them can even drag for an entire year. The pay over the period comes down to a lot less than what they would earn over a couple of missions that would only last a few days.”

“Assuming they actually survive that mission,” I retorted harshly. “I would rather let my husband and the sons I hope to have one day be gone for three months to a year in exchange for the certainty that they will return safely home to me, even if that means with a smaller pay. No amount of possible higher wages justifies gambling with their lives and the likelihood that they could be killed or jailed for more than fifteen years. And now, with the new law making sure their prison wages will be untouchable, it makes even less sense to play with their lives.”

“There’s no pride or glory in this menial work you’re trying to push on us,” Moriak snarled.

Gaelec opened his mouth to tear into the Alpha, but I clasped his forearm to stop him, my gaze still levelled with contempt at the despicable male.

“Because there is pride to be gained in jumping headfirst into a mission that was doomed to fail to begin with? Because there is glory in stealing and killing? Sending your youth to waste away in a prison is a bragging right to you?” I challenged. “I find you extremely callous to be pushing for such dangerous practices while putting the lives of others on the line even as you remain safely tucked away here.”

“I have done plenty of missions of my own, human! Your presumptions scream of your ignorance. I have earned my position,” Moriak snapped.

“Do you even remember what it was like to be in their place? Because from what I’ve seen and heard so far, you appear to have either forgotten or stopped caring. What shame would there be in doing the kind of work I mentioned? How is it any different than the work males perform here for the Pride? You build, hunt, cook, fetch and deliver goods to and from the village. It would be the same! The difference is that instead of gambling on risky missions that randomly come up, this would be a far more reliable, safe, and steady source of income. As the Alpha, isn’t it your duty to protect all the members of your Pride, including the males?”

“You do not know our ways, human,” Oluina snarled.

“But she is learning them,” Ylis interjected. “And above all, she’s bringing a fresh perspective regarding markets we know nothing about. If Gaelec is right about those new rules—and I do not doubt his words for a moment—then our Pride must adapt to ensure its survival. Why should we keep sacrificing our males in vain?”

My heart soared when many heads nodded their agreement, with quite a few assessing glances flicking between my mate and me. I didn’t know these people enough yet to accurately interpret their reaction, but they seemed to be warming up to these ideas.

“The reality is that the last few missions have indeed been catastrophic, and not just for us,” Ylis continued in a somber tone. “Gaelec and Ophelia made very good points. Why wait for recruiters to come to us with missions we know nothing about and that cause us to lose our sires, mates, sons, and siblings? Why should we leave our fate in the hands of others instead of reclaiming that control? We could seek out potential hiring partners ourselves and get some variety.”

“That’s absurd!” Moriak exclaimed. “We know nothing about such things. There are complex contracts involved that we wouldn’t even begin to know how to negotiate.”

“Recruitment is a specialty profession for a reason,” Ranor concurred vehemently. “You try to handle it yourself and could end up selling these males into permanent indentured servitude!”

“Isn’t that what your own missions are already doing to us, except sending us to the worst prison in the galaxy?” Gaelec growled. “You both only oppose this because you get a cut for all the males you help recruit. We’re no longer your easy source of income. If you want to continue benefiting from us, find safe missions.”

“Enough!” Rozel snapped, visibly exasperated. “You have raised some valid questions and provided great insight. We shall investigate the matter later at a far more appropriate time. For now, we are here to celebrate and mingle. Let us eat, drink, and be merry.”

Although my mate looked like he itched to pursue the debate, he wisely bowed his head in concession. Careful not to squish the cubs who still surrounded me, he sat back down next to me. Reassured that the conflict was over, the little ones snuggled with each other again.

The festivities resumed, although some tension lingered. We spent most of the remainder of the evening with Kazaer and Ylis. He turned out to be an absolute delight. The chemistry between them was undeniable and filled both Gaelec and me with joy. If things worked out, I would love to have this couple with us.

However, I didn’t miss the speculative glances many of the visiting males cast our way, and in particular at my husband. His words had not fallen on deaf ears. They also realized Moriak was not necessarily the Alpha they should try to cozy up to. The next few days would be quite interesting.

To my shock, as we prepared to go home, Gaelec informed me that his brother could not come stay with us until a verdict was rendered as to whether he would receive a formal invitation to join us. All the visiting males were escorted back to their temporary camp at the edge of the Pride’s territory. They would remain there for approximately a week or two as they went through the vetting and admission process.

In retrospect, it made sense not to want to have potentially problematic people freely roaming around their village, putting their younglings at risk of harm.

We waved goodbye to him while promising to make time for visits. To my delight, Gaelec took my hand and held it as we walked back home. He’d seemed so grumpy and distant in that space port that I never would have pictured him as the type to be cool with public displays of affection. I loved how proudly he displayed our relationship, despite the obvious reservations from his people. It touched me all the more that his gestures always struck me as spontaneous and not calculated. He wasn’t putting on a show to placate anyone, but simply allowing whatever was happening between us to flourish.

We made the short trip home in silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts. For all that, there was no tension or awkwardness. At the same time, I believed we both unconsciously realized the kind of conversations we might want to have would be best left to a more private setting.

As soon as we entered our house, and he closed the door, I turned to face him. He held my gaze unwaveringly, his face telling me to go right ahead and speak whatever was on my mind.

“You’ve decided to leave, haven’t you?” I asked in a soft voice devoid of condemnation.

He pursed his lips and gave it a moment of thought before responding. “I wouldn’t say that. Had you asked me that question before the feast, I might have said no. I can’t quite swear to it, but I was heavily leaning that way.”

“What changed? The recruiter?”

He shook his head. “His presence plays a part in it, but he’s only one of the symptoms, not the root cause of the disease eating us from within. Kazaer changed everything. I must protect him. You saw his enthusiastic reaction when Moriak introduced Ranor. Like every young male, he’s been brainwashed into believing that running a few successful missions is your ticket to earning the favors of the most desirable Queen or even a Head Huntress. I can do for him and other young nomads what no one did for me before it was too late. This cycle needs to end.”

Closing the distance between us, I smiled as I slipped my arms around his waist. He drew me into his embrace and gazed at me with affection.

“I love the ideas you proposed, and I want to help you make it happen. With my experience in charity and missionary work, I can reach out to my contacts to help us find legitimate recruiters once you go back to work. They could provide us with a list of solid, safe, and well-paying missions that could further help you make the case with the Matriarchs.”

“That would be wonderful, my mate,” Gaelec said gratefully. “I’ve been looking into some of the rehabilitation resources for ex-convicts and hoping to find assistance from their crime prevention services.”

My eyes widened. “That’s a great idea, too! There’s no question they would want to help, especially with programs targeting the Nazhral youth. I think you’re onto something big!”

The look in his eyes wrecked me. It was this mix of gratitude and another powerful emotion that I couldn’t put into words. I just knew that my response deeply touched him.

“You truly are my Luen,” he whispered while caressing my cheek. “A blessing and a guiding light in the darkness.”

“You are the guiding light, Gaelec,” I said in a gentle but firm voice. “These are your ideas. And I will do my best to help you make them come true because I believe in their merit. You could make a huge difference for your Pride and in the lives of countless young males. And tonight, a lot of people realized it as well. It amazed me how badass you were, standing up to those two idiots. You’re a true leader. Not only by your authority and charisma, but because you put the people before yourself. And everyone saw it. I’m so proud of you.”

“As I am of you, my mate,” Gaelec replied with a fervor that made me weak in the knees. “You handled this entire mess and Oluina’s rudeness with such grace. You speak of my charisma, but you do not realize the extent of your own. Our younglings are instinctively very cautious and suspicious of strangers. They didn’t just approach you unbidden, but they also piled around you. A couple of them even fell asleep. It is the greatest sign of trust. You welcomed my brother like he was your own, and above all, you stood by me unwaveringly. You will never know what it meant to me that you should have my back like that.”

“Always, Gaelec. Always. For better or for worse, until death do us part, I will stand by you,” I pledged.

“My mate…” he whispered, before leaning down and rubbing his temple against mine.

Without another word, he picked me up like a bride and carried me to our room.