Chapter 2

Gaelec

A s I disembarked the vessel upon landing in the Melelyn spaceport, I couldn’t help feeling hurt that no one came to greet me or escort me back home. It had been a foolish expectation or hope. A glance at the time on my bracer indicated it was only a few minutes after 1:00 PM. This meant everyone would be working or out hunting. It made no sense for them to deprive the pack of their labor only to come pick up one person when a perfectly fine public shuttle system could take care of it.

As the private shuttle flew me to the Nevian Valley—after which our Pride was named—countless conflicting emotions surged through me. The oddest sense of well-being washed over me as I took in the beautiful rivers gleaming under the sun, the lush forests teeming with life that had been my hunting grounds, and the freedom and endless possibilities they offered. But the warm feeling in my chest cooled gradually as I took in the outline of the village.

Although it clearly expanded by a few new buildings, it lacked the majesty of the memories that sustained me all those years on Molvi. Granted, more than a decade had gone by with me idealizing what it had been. However, time unmistakably left its mark. The buildings looked dated and tired. Even from here, as the pilot began our descent, I frowned at the type of technology still being used for the village’s main power source and communication tower.

How did I not notice how antiquated all this already was back then?

I’d been too young, too in love, and too clueless to notice these kinds of things. Fighting for survival, where efficiency meant a modicum of comfort instead of endless hardship, did wonders to whip me into being more aware.

As disappointed as I felt about the fantasy I had built in my head, seeing all these deficiencies gave me hope. I now had the knowledge and the skills to make the improvements this place sorely needed. Surely, the Matriarchs would acknowledge this as proof of my worth?

However, a sharp pain sliced through my chest at the sight of my house by the cliff. Despite the many changes and not particularly nice expansions performed on it by the new owner, I still recognized my original creation.

When I requested permission to build there, everyone thought me crazy. It was a wild and overgrown section of the village with tons of gnarly roots and a rocky, uneven terrain. But I instantly saw its potential. So long as I worked on it in my spare time and with my own materials, the Matriarchs didn’t object. They figured I would give up early on once I realized the folly of my endeavor. But in less than six months, I completed the first phase of the project.

To this day, I vividly remembered the look of awe and disbelief on every face as the house steadily took shape. Back then, it only had two bedrooms—each with its own bathroom— a kitchen and living area. The plan was to expand it by a couple more rooms to shelter all the cubs Oluina and I would have.

Although small compared to other bigger homes, it had been the most modern in its design on top of offering a breathtaking view of the valley and river below. As the Alpha of the Pride, Moriak had been livid that the newcomer that I was, still wet behind the ears, should possess a better house than his own.

Naturally, he appropriated it as soon as I was arrested.

That grovas took my youth, my freedom, my female, and my home.

What else would he take from me now?

The shuttle landed on the pad at the northern entrance of the village. The original founding sisters of this Pride wisely chose the location. The surrounding steep cliff made it impossible for any attacker to sneak up or flank us. They had only one way to come at us, making it easy to push back and fight off a siege—not that such confrontations ever occurred anymore. Granted, aerial attacks remained a possibility. However, the Prides qualified as fairly primitive in their everyday lives, and we closely stuck to old traditions when it came to rules of engagement.

After disembarking, I carefully approached the guard by the entrance of the village. I didn’t know him. That didn’t surprise me. At a glance, he appeared to be in his mid-twenties. He would have joined the Pride halfway through my incarceration. I nodded as I approached him. He barely spared a glance at my bag, too busy giving me an assessing look. I could tell he was evaluating how much of a competition I could possibly be. It was disheartening to be reminded of that aspect of being a male among my people.

“Are you Gaelec?” the guard asked as soon as I was but a couple of meters away from him.

“Yes. I am Gaelec Sulwyn,” I replied politely.

“Good. Rozel will see you in the Great Hall. You may proceed.”

Although taken aback, I kept a neutral expression on my face and nodded. As I entered the village, My sense of unease cranked up another notch. Why had he not given me his name in exchange? This was how you treated strangers—namely roaming males—who were not welcomed to stay in the village. Had the decision regarding me already been made? Was that a sign that I was banished from the Pride?

The mostly empty streets only enhanced the sense of doom that I felt, another indication that I wasn’t wanted here. As I made my way towards the Great Hall, I tried to enumerate again the list of qualities I could offer to justify keeping my place here. It was the largest building in the village. It served as both a gathering hall and the mansion shared by the three elder females who ruled the pack as our Matriarchs. As the eldest, Rozel ruled the Pride. Although the other two had a say, as well as all the huntresses—especially Oluina as the Head Huntress—in the end, Rozel’s word was the law.

I could only hope that the sliver of affection she showed me in the past survived my long absence.

My eyes flicked this way and that, taking in my surroundings. Up close, the village looked much better than it had from a bird’s eye view. Although still dated, the place was well-maintained. Despite the streets being made of packed dirt, they were clean and level. The dwellings and shops showed no signs of neglect, many even appearing to have recently received a fresh coat of paint.

The sound of young voices giggling and shouting stirred a powerful sense of longing within me. Seconds later, a clowder of cubs ran across a perpendicular street a few meters in front of me. The even group of males and females appeared to be chasing each other. But even as that adorable tableau warmed my chest, my heart constricted for the little males. In only a few more years, their carefree life would come to an end as they frantically prepared to be cast out.

I stepped inside the small antechamber at the entrance of the building. The large doors granting access to the Great Hall beyond already stood open. Straight ahead, at the other end of the spacious room, the three Matriarchs sat on an elevated dais in the otherwise empty room.

The first half of the room was rectangular while the other portion looked like half a hexagon. The slanted sides flanking the back wall had a few seats upon which the huntresses settled during official and large gatherings. Although also elevated, those two sections, split into two rows of seats, were slightly lower than the Matriarchs’ section. At the bottom of the four steps leading up to the dais, three rows of seats framed the left and right sides of the vast open space where entertainment was occasionally held.

Presiding in the center, Rozel watched me approach with an intense look. Her deep blue eyes peered at me with an unreadable expression. At seventy-two, she was still remarkably fit, in no small part thanks to the healthy sheen of her multi-colored fur in shades of white, orange, and black. To her left, Priya seemed a bit uneasy, not to say nervous. That bothered me a lot. Slightly younger by five years, with hazel eyes, and gray fur with black stripes, she always acted as the more moderate voice of the trio.

As for Jilam, her blue eyes—the same color as Rozel’s—stood out sharply against her pure white fur. She seemed annoyed to be there. With her no-nonsense personality, I could only presume that whatever outcome would result from this meeting, the decision had already been made. Therefore, this formality was a complete waste of her time.

That didn’t bode well for me.

I often thought that Pryia would have made a far better Head Matriarch than her older sister. But in all the ways that mattered, Rozel always proved to be the more dominant.

“Gaelec, welcome home,” Rozel said in a friendly tone.

Home!

An instant wave of relief swept through me that she should have used that term, instead of greeting me with something along the lines of ‘Congratulations on completing your sentence’ which would have established more clearly that she no longer deemed me a member of the Pride.

“Thank you, Rozel,” I replied graciously. “It is good to finally be home again.”

She openly examined me from top to bottom. For half a beat, I almost expected her to ask that I spin around so that she could get a proper view from every angle. Thankfully, she spared me that ignominy.

“You look extremely well and healthy,” she mused aloud, the surprise audible in her voice. “In all my years, of the few who survived, I can’t recall seeing one return in such great shape. They were always at least heavily scarred if not maimed.”

Is that what you were hoping?

Obviously, I kept the snarky thought to myself and instead maintained a neutral expression on my face as I nodded.

“Life on Molvi can be deadly if one isn’t cautious or smart. I stayed out of trouble and watched my back,” I replied in a factual manner.

She nodded approvingly while continuing to give me an assessing look. “Well done, my friend. The Pride can always use a new injection of strong blood. We need good providers and fearless protectors. Our young Queens will be quite pleased to see how you have returned to us.”

I barely repressed the violent urge to cringe upon hearing those words. There was a time when this would have filled me with joy. After all, being deemed a desirable partner constituted a male’s best chance of being welcomed into a Pride. But twelve years in prison made me revisit several of my priorities. More importantly, I didn’t want to start butting heads with their current males.

However, the way the Matriarch narrowed her eyes at me hinted that I failed to hide my thoughts.

“Do my words displease you, Gaelec?” she asked, a sliver of a challenge in her voice.

“They don’t displease me, Matriarch,” I replied cautiously. “But I’m not here to compete with anyone for the females’ attention. After the hardships of the past few years, I would welcome a bit of respite.”

“Have you forgotten that you need our favors to retain your place in our midst?” she asked, her tone and gaze slightly hardening.

“Of course,” I said in a reasonable and appeasing tone. “I fully intend to prove myself useful to the Pride. As you said yourself, I can help protect everyone after surviving multiple encounters with some of the foulest creatures in the galaxy, which lurked in the forests surrounding the Quadrant we were incarcerated in. During my sentence, I acquired many skills that will greatly benefit the village, with various upgrades that will increase productivity and reduce costs and waste.”

She pursed her lips, looking unconvinced. “True though that it may be, our Queens might still take offense to your disdain.”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “It is not disdain, Matriarch. I simply do not wish to step on someone else’s territory. Like I said, I just want to settle back home, find my place again, and make myself useful.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Is it Oluina? Your feelings for her have not waned?”

This time, I couldn’t help a huff. “Not at all. Whatever existed between us ended over a decade ago once I got arrested.”

The look she gave me screamed loudly that she did not believe a word I said, which only annoyed me.

“Don’t be bitter. As you well know, very few males return from Molvi. And those who do are usually but a shadow of themselves. We all do what we must to survive. She had no reason to believe she would ever see again the prime male that you used to be. But you look spectacular. There’s no question Oluina will want you back.”

“I do not resent any of the choices or decisions she made,” I countered in a reasonable tone. “But you must understand that I’m no longer the nineteen-year-old cub that I was at the time. I do not seek romance, only peace and rewarding work. I thought you’d be pleased that I don’t plan on stirring any trouble.”

The Matriarch opened her mouth to respond. But before she could even utter a word, I felt Oluina’s presence behind me moments before she stepped inside the room. I glanced over my shoulder to see her strutting in, her gait sensual and fluid. She had undeniably matured over the past decade. Her curves were fuller and insanely enticing, likely as a result of motherhood. Her bushy, fluffy tail very slowly swayed behind her. Her luxurious reddish-brown fur—pristine white around her chest and belly—looked insanely soft.

“Well, well! We were just speaking of you, Oluina!” Rozel said with a satisfied tone.

Although protective of all her daughters, the Head Matriarch always had an overly soft spot for Oluina.

As I watched her approach, I had to admit that she had grown even more beautiful than in my memory. And yet, the lascivious way in which her piercing green eyes examined me made me nauseous. To think, there had been a time where I would have perceived it as incredibly sexy and flattering to my childish ego.

No words could express the relief I felt to no longer be enthralled by her charms. On the whole journey here, I dreaded that a single glance at her would bring back old feelings crashing down on me. Contempt would have worried me as it might have indicated that I truly harbored some bitterness over her moving on so quickly. But she only stirred indifference, and the natural queasiness one might feel at persistent unrequited attentions.

“Gaelec!” Oluina said in an overly purring tone. “You have matured nicely, my dear.”

“Thank you, Oluina,” I said politely as she closed the distance between us. “You look great as well.”

She raised a furry eyebrow, surprise with a hint of outrage fleeting over her features.

“Just great ?” she echoed, clearly expecting me to gush over her.

I smiled, pretending to be too dense to understand what she wanted. She pinched her lips, looking annoyed by my silence.

“I’m assuming you just returned from a hunt?” I asked to stir the conversation towards safer terrain.

“I did,” she replied, puffing out her chest, heart face brightening at this opportunity to brag. “And it was an excellent one at that, too. We shall feast for a few days.”

“Well done!” I said politely with the appropriate level of enthusiasm without going overboard.

“Food is not a problem anymore,” Rozel swiftly interjected as she gazed upon her daughter with maternal pride. “My Oluina has been our Head Huntress for the past nine years now.”

“Congratulations!” I said, although not in the least surprised. “You worked hard for this.”

She had always displayed great talent and ambition. For all her faults, I couldn’t take away the fact that she had trained extremely hard to be at the top of the chain.

“She most certainly did!”

Oluina ran her hand over the fluffy patch of white fur on her chest in a gesture that was far too sensuous to qualify as an absent-minded movement. She often praised my skill at stimulating her with that sensitive spot for her. This less-than-subtle reminder of our previous intimacy bothered me to no end. I pretended not to notice.

“You should come see me hunt one of these days. You will be impressed,” Oluina purred.

“If time permits, I will consider it,” I said in a non-committal fashion. “However, I expect to be fairly busy earning my place here again.”

Oluina’s face immediately hardened as she visibly bristled at this gentle rejection. “What better way to secure your place here than to form strong bonds with the Head Huntress?”

I gaped at such a forward statement, if not a semi-veiled threat. My mind raced to find an appropriate response. The large doors opening behind us gave me a slight reprieve.

“Gaelec?” a stunning young female called out.

Tall and slender, she appeared to be the same height of 5’10 as Oluina, or maybe an inch shorter. A discreet blood smear marred her otherwise stunning white fur with dark gray spots. My eyes widened as I took in the large tuft of silver-gray fur on her chest and mischievous blue eyes, allowing me to finally recognize the newcomer. I sniffed the air to pick up her scent and confirm my eyes weren’t fooling me.

“Ylis?!” I exclaimed.

She broadly grinned at me, her fangs peeking through her parted lips before she broke into a run. On instinct, I opened my arms and welcomed her as she all but crashed into me, making me take a steadying step back from the force of the impact. She’d been but a very young cub when I was taken away—just a few days shy of her eleventh birthday.

After giving me a bone-crushing hug, Ylis rubbed her temple against mine, marking me with her scent before letting go. I took a step back to give her a proper once over, marveling at the beautiful young female she turned into. Although we were completely unrelated, I felt like a proud big brother, not to say father.

“My dear, you look stunning, and all grown up!” I exclaimed.

She struck a pose in a flaunting manner while waving her tail from side to side a couple of times.

“And she’s become one of our most promising young huntresses!” Priya added proudly.

I bit the insides of my cheeks to have her mother thus chime in, singing the praises of her own offspring just like her sister had done but moments prior about Oluina.

“I’m not surprised,” I replied, glancing at the Matriarch before returning my attention to Ylis. “You were always talented, even as a very young cub.”

“And it’s in large part thanks to you!” she said with a mix of gratitude and affection that warmed my heart. She then waved at me. “But you also look amazing! I can’t believe you’re finally back. And I’m so happy to see you returned to us safely.”

“Thank you. It is good to be back.”

“Well this is all nice, Ylis, but the meat needs to be cleaned and cut,” Oluina interrupted, clearly displeased that I should bestow so much attention to her young cousin. “You know how clumsy the juniors are without proper supervision. You can both babble and catch up later. For now, you have work to do.”

The way Ylis’s stare hardened as she gazed upon her older cousin hinted at some serious competition between them. I had mixed feelings about it. A part of me rejoiced to see that the female I always considered as the sister of my heart had the backbone to stand up to Oluina. Most people—males and females alike—allowed her to stomp all over them until she got things done her way. Seeing Oluina’s unfounded jealousy also amused me tremendously. However, I knew how petty and vindictive she could be. I didn’t want her to become abusive towards Ylis because of me.

To think there was a time I mistook her ruthlessness and sense of entitlement as strength and fearlessness.

Despite her obvious displeasure, Ylis gave her cousin a stiff nod followed by a friendly smile my way before she headed back out of the building. The smug smirk on Oluina’s face pissed me off to no end. As the Head Huntress, she could issue such commands and expect the other females to obey. The respect of hierarchy was no joking matter.

“They could use your help as well, Oluina,” Rozel suddenly added, wiping out the triumphant expression off her daughter’s face. “We need to wrap up our discussion with Gaelec.”

As much as I loved it, that took me aback. It wasn’t uncommon for the Head Huntress to sit in on these types of meetings. Lips pinched, it was Oluina’s turn to respond with a sharp nod to be thus dismissed. Tail stiff, she walked out of the Great Hall.

Although relieved to see her gone, tension crawled up my back as I faced the Matriarch. The unreadable expression had returned on her face as she quietly studied me. She didn’t need to tell me that she was less than impressed by how the reunion with her daughter went down.

“We reserved a house for you. The dark wood cabin by the forest, if you remember it,” Rozel finally said once the silence stretched to an almost uncomfortable length.

“Yes, I remember it,” I replied in a neutral tone.

“Unfortunately, we cannot give you your old house back. You can understand that, as we had little reason to believe you would return, we couldn’t let such prime real estate go to waste. Not only has Moriak been raising his offspring there, he made several upgrades and expansions over the course of the years. It would be unfair to evict them now.”

As much as this entire situation infuriated me, I had known all along what the outcome would be. It just pissed me off that he should have been the one to appropriate it.

“Of course, I perfectly understand and expected as much,” I said calmly. “But I’m grateful you provided new accommodations for me.”

“Naturally,” Rozel replied, seeming relieved I didn’t make a fuss. “Take the next few days to relax, reacquaint yourself with everyone, and reflect on how you will integrate yourself and contribute to the Pride.”

“Thank you, Matriarchs,” I replied, looking at each of the three females in turn.

The gentle glimmer in Priya’s eyes gave me hope. She always approved of the fraternal way in which I had mentored her daughter. The genuinely affectionate reunion she witnessed between Ylis and me further played in my favor. Although she didn’t have the final say in anything, I didn’t doubt she would put her finger on the scale to protect me if it came to that.

As soon as I stepped outside, I deeply inhaled the fresh air as if I’d been suffocating in there. I didn’t know how I felt about this entire situation. The part of me that rejoiced at being back home also struggled to readjust to what had previously been normal. Such a long time away, constantly fighting for your survival, made you look at the world with new eyes.

A wistful smile settled on my lips as I spotted a group of huntresses showing off the trophies they claimed from their kills. I remembered all too well that youthful excitement following a particularly successful hunt. While a few names escaped me, I recognized most of them. However, seeing them all grown up reinforced how long I’d been absent.

Shaking the thought away so that I wouldn’t start feeling depressed about all those wasted years, I followed the main path towards the southwest corner of the village which bordered the forest. Although it was common for males to live in the dwellings located at the more exposed edges of our settlement, this particular house possessed even less protection than the others.

Technically, it wasn’t a problem to the extent that wars between Prides were mostly a thing of the past. Roaming males looking to force their way in always challenged the alpha first, and then the other males should any of them choose to contest his dominance. Wild creatures were the bigger threat, not that too many dared to venture this close to people. But it sent a clear message that I would need to work my way up to a better status among them.

Truth be told, they had given me this humble dwelling expecting to see a broken male. A part of me suspected they would swiftly offer better accommodations now that they saw my current fitness level, and especially once I proved how valuable my contributions could be.

The sudden feeling of being observed snapped me out of my musings. I jerked my head to the left only to see a familiar silhouette a few hundred meters away. The white fur with black spots and the unusual patch of black fur on the chest immediately revealed the identity of my stalker. Even from this distance, I saw Moriak flinch. He likely hated being caught spying on me.

Groaning inwardly, I slowed down and then stopped when he began walking towards me. I shifted the bag containing my meager possessions to my other hand to keep my claws from extruding or my hands from fisting. This day had been unpleasant enough without having to deal with him as well. Then again, getting this chore out of the way now also had its perks.

“Look who’s back!” Moriak said with forced enthusiasm.

The same way I was discreetly examining him, he was also assessing me but blatantly so. Despite his best efforts, my appearance had him instantly seething. I had never been small, but I nicely filled up over the past decade, as was to be expected with any cub growing to full maturity. The harsh life on Molvi also forced me to keep fit and build muscle mass. Today, I was slightly taller and noticeably bulkier than our current Alpha.

And he fucking hated it.

He kept himself in good shape as well. However, at thirty-nine, he would be deemed past his prime by Nazhral standards. The far more comfortable life he enjoyed also meant he wasn’t as lean and well-defined as me. I suspected my speed and strength would easily trump his. There was no question in my mind he was thinking the same.

He narrowed his green eyes at me. “You look surprisingly well for someone who spent over a decade on the presumably worst penitentiary in the galaxy,” Moriak said, trying to sound playful. “Ex-cons are usually scarred and roughed up, but you’re all kinds of pretty. Were you imprisoned or on vacation?”

I tilted my head to the side and raised an eyebrow at him. “You sound disappointed. Were you hoping to see me come back maimed and disfigured?” I asked in an overly innocent fashion.

“Of course not,” he replied, sounding defensive. “I’m surprised, that’s all. It is extremely rare for people to return this unscathed. But hey, we can always use a strong fighter. And you visibly became that during your absence. There are lots of roaming Sikkals in these parts of late. With the impending mating season, the males are trying to claim broader territories.”

“Gladly. I will be happy to assist with this,” I said in all sincerity.

“Good. You were an excellent hunter,” he said in a slightly patronizing tone before taking on a falsely concerned expression. “But I wonder if you might have grown a little rusty after all this time.”

I snorted, not fooled in the least by his insinuation. “Hardly. I have fought far worse than Sikkals on Molvi. They will require little effort in comparison.”

Moriak’s face closed off as he tried to hide his displeasure at my comment. “I see.”

“I doubt it,” I replied mockingly as I resumed walking. “On Molvi, we’re not locked up in prison cells or any other such things. We’re contained by forests and rivers filled with the type of foul creatures you could not even begin to imagine. Very few survive encounters with them. But I became quite adept at hunting them. They make for fine dining.”

“It is good to hear,” Moriak replied, tagging along, although he looked as if he just bit into something nasty. “We shall promptly put your new skills to good use. But may I ask where you’re headed?”

“To my new home to unpack and settle in,” I said mockingly while showing him my bag.

My fist itched to punch him in the throat when he glanced at me with a fake air of guilt and commiseration.

“Ah yes… I’m afraid the one you built is no longer available. Hopefully, you hold no hard feelings towards me for settling inside it with my younglings?”

I clamped down on the anger wanting to resurface, knowing he was deliberately needling me for that very purpose.

I shrugged and looked at him with a nonchalant expression. “Why would I? I was gone for twelve years. Had no one taken residence within it, it would have decayed and then become but a shadow of what I had built.”

“Right. It is very understanding of you,” Moriak conceded begrudgingly.

“Obviously, I was sad to have had so little time to enjoy it. But then, who would have guessed I would get arrested barely a week after completing its construction?” I added, locking eyes with him.

He swallowed hard and averted his eyes with a slightly nervous smile. “Yes, quite the tragedy that no one could have anticipated. After all, you always returned from your previous missions.”

I stopped and turned to look at him, forcing him to do the same.

“Indeed, I did. And I will continue to do so. No matter what hurdles or challenges are thrown at me, I will always return home,” I said, the intensity of my stare making it clear that should he try to get rid of me again in the future, he would face a truly formidable foe.

“We want nothing more than that, Gaelec. Like I said, we could use an additional strong hunter,” Moriak replied, pretending not to understand my underlying meaning.

Obviously, he would never confess to the wrongs he levied against me and other young males, but I would remind him daily that I was no longer an easily manipulated cub.

I resumed walking, and he shadowed me in silence for a short while. I almost told him to just spit it out or piss off as I didn’t particularly enjoy his companionship. But I was too intrigued by what else he might have to say to risk alienating him.

“I understand you saw Oluina after her return from the hunt?” he asked at last, although it was more of a statement than an actual question.

I barely repressed the urge to roll my eyes. Was that what this was all about?!

“That’s correct,” I replied in a noncommittal fashion.

“She must have been excited to see you,” he continued, trying to sound casual about it.

I shrugged. “You could say that. But I want to believe any member of the Pride would be pleased to see any one of us safely returned home.”

“Right. But your case is slightly different,” he admitted begrudgingly, his voice hardening that I was forcing him to spell things out. “Therefore, I figured you would want to know that Oluina was in heat not even ten days ago. For all we know, she could be pregnant with my cubs as we speak.”

I snorted and gave him a disbelieving look. “If that is the case, congratulations to the both of you. But I’m confused as to why you felt the need to share that information with me.”

He gave me a ‘Don’t be dense’ look that made me feel even more amused by how pathetically insecure he was showing himself to be.

“Are you seriously going to tell me this does not upset you?” he challenged.

It suddenly struck me that, as much as he feared competition, his ego demanded that other males should covet what he considered his. Otherwise, if they didn’t, it implied that what he thought valuable actually wasn’t.

“Why would it upset me? Oluina and I had a youthful fling more than twelve years ago. She moved on, as have I. Life is too short to live in the past. I am looking forward to the future and new possibilities, not to repeat history.”

“That’s good to hear. But you’re a Stellig,” Moriak argued, his face taking on a stubborn expression. “Females are drawn to that and to the type of offspring a male like you could sire on them.”

Although I shrugged again, I couldn’t help the taunting smile that stretched my lips. I was indeed a Stellig. It was a rare genetic trait that displayed as lightning-shaped streaks in our fur and hair. According to legends, Stelligs were supposed to be blessed by the gods. We were bigger, stronger, and faster than the average male. We also possessed an increased resistance to disease and toxins. Obviously, it had nothing to do with any type of gods but merely genetics. Nevertheless, it made us appealing sires. Although females never developed those markings, those sired by one of us tended to show our other traits. It was the surest way to become the Head Huntress of the Pride or even to ascend to the role of Matriarch.

“Be that as it may, females have the right to like whatever they want, but that doesn’t mean I am obligated to submit to their wishes.”

He pinched his lips, visibly not convinced. I almost asked him why the fuck he was so concerned about where I spilled my seed. Unless something drastic occurred, Oluina was pretty much guaranteed to become the next Head Matriarch. So long as I didn’t covet her, and he kept other potential competition at bay, he should encourage me to turn my attention towards other females.

“Very well. As for Ylis—”

“Look,” I interrupted, making no effort to show my annoyance, “I just got home from a grueling experience and simply want some peace and to relax. Beyond the fact that Ylis is a sister to me, I’m not looking for a mate right now. So stop fretting. I’m not here to compete with any male.”

The pointed look I gave him made it clear I wasn’t after his position as Alpha of the Pride either.

“Well, here I am,” I added, gesturing at the humble abode they assigned to me as we walked up to its entrance. “I will go settle in now and will see you later.”

He clenched his teeth, annoyed to be thus dismissed. This conversation didn’t go the way he hoped. The fool apparently expected me to be the same young and easily influenced cub of old.

“All right. Welcome back. I will let you know about the next culling or…”

His voice trailed off as if he caught himself at the last minute. My stomach instantly knotted. I didn’t need him to finish the sentence to know he almost mentioned the next mission. There would never be another such thing for me.

He gave me a stiff nod, turned around, and walked away.