Episode Fifteen Our Prize

L uka

Deklan is a better cook than me, so he cooks while I work on Alliana's tunic. I'm a selfish male, not working as fast as I should because I'll hate to have her beautiful body covered by furs, even the pretty red fox furs Mirron had been saving for Dek, his mate.

Usually at times like this, when we're in our cave doing chores together, there is teasing and laughter, as it should be between packmates. Today we're silent, trying to hear the conversation taking place in the pool.

Dek places wood on the fire quietly, chops the veggies silently, and faces the pool rather than me so he can better hear their whispers.

I've moved some furs closer to that side of the cave as I work on the female's tunic. To listen better, my back is to the firelight, making it harder to see the fine stitches I'm using to make Alliana's tunic the nicest piece of clothing in the cave. I catch snatches of their conversation, but can't always get the gist of what they're saying. My little Alliana speaks too softly, shy in Mirron's presence.

He's asking questions I should have asked, getting to know her, to understand what's in her head, what drives her, what she needs. Me? I took what I wanted last night and this morning. Even though she seemed to approve, I should have spoken more, asked more questions. As always, I have things to learn from my pack leader. He is ceaselessly loyal and smart.

Dek and I were lucky when he joined us. Despite our strength and cunning, since Mirron came, he's saved our lives a dozen times. I force myself to work faster, to overcome my selfish nature so I can finish this gift for our new mate. She's so tiny, so furless. She's probably cold. Besides, she seems to like me. I imagine all I need to do is ask and she'll take off her tunic for me.

She and Mirron are having a heated talk now—serious by the sound of it. I can't hear a word, but her shoulders hunch in fear, then her head tips in confusion. Then she nods, slowly at first, then faster. And now she's using the underwater steps I showed her and rising to join us.

I give her one of the furs I've been sitting on so she can dry off, then show her the almost-finished garment in my hands.

"So pretty!" she exclaims, her eyes rounded in appreciation, her hands cupped together in front of her as if she can't wait to wear it.

"I'm trying to finish it before dinner. Later, I'm going to use this," I hold up a black wolf pelt, "for the hood. It will look good, keep you warm, and feel soft against your skin." I reach to trace my knuckles affectionately down her cheek.

Instead of thanking me, she darts a worried glance at Dek. I take long moments to figure her out. It does look like Dek's fur. Does she think I was going to use wolven fur? That would be against our creed.

"It's a wolf pelt. Not wolven."

She flashes me a relieved smile, then walks to Dek at the fire and asks if she can help. The way he talks to her, low and calm and affectionate, reminds me of how he taught me so many things when I was a kit. He was the perfect brother, and now he'll be an excellent mate to our prize, Alliana.

Deklan

I don't know what my mate said to my little flower in the pool, but the tension between them is almost gone. She seems calm when she gazes his way.

When the stew is ready, we all leave the cave to sit on the stumps we've pulled into a little cluster close to the mouth of the cave. While I finished cooking, my big, strong minotaur dragged another stump into the circle. A clear announcement to anyone with a brain that our pack has four members now.

Luka was too distracted to finish her pretty tunic, so I found an old one in the far pile to use, and gave her mine to wear. It smells like cooking fire and roasting lamb, but she flashes me a happy glance, as if it's the finest thing she's ever worn. Doesn't she know we saw what she was wearing when we met? A gossamer gown as delicate as a butterfly wing.

"Thank you, Deklan. Thank you, thank you."

When I lift my eyebrow in question, she says, "I've never been allowed to wear anything to cover myself before. Well, not since I turned sixteen. I love, love, love it."

What was this female's life like before she met us? No clothes?

"For a response like that, Little Flower, I'll make you an entire wardrobe."

"No need," she says happily. "This is so good, and the red fox tunic will remind me of all three of you when it's done. They were Mirron's pelts, and you and Luka helped me sew it. Made by all three of my new mates—and me!"

We're all sitting in our expanded circle outside the cave. We all heard her words. She's been here one day and has happily acknowledged we're all her mates. Luka was so accurate when he called her our prize.