Mated to the Warrior Beast

Skhal huffed. “I’d given up. I thought the Creator had chosen solitude for me. I’d... accepted that.”

She nodded. “Me too.”

A rush of warmth and joy and desire washed through Jayah and she laughed again. Stepping right up to stand between his feet, she reached up to touch his face.

Skhal went still, like a wild-animal under threat. But his eyes never left hers. And Jayah found herself enthralled.

His jaw was square and strong, his beard neatly trimmed. His features angular and striking, but softened slightly by dark hair that was in need of a cut. Those whispers of gray at his temples told her they were likely of a similar age... but then she realized she didn’t care.

Sliding her hand to his cheek, she curled her fingers into his beard, following the stark line of his jaw.

Skhal’s breath came out in a rush when she touched him. Jayah found herself both giddy and terrified in the same moment as he tilted his head down, his eyes fierce and afire.

.....

Then he breathed, “My mate. My impossible mate!” and pulled her into his chest, dropping his chin to take her mouth softly, his lips a feather-touch on hers.

Jayah shuddered as her entire body tingled and she leaned into him, her breathing fast and broken.

As they kissed, something within her detonated, sending a glimmering, shimmering light from her heart that sparkled on the edge of her vision and rushed through her veins when he touched her.

She sucked in a breath when his tongue traced hers and arched against him, pulling him closer.

‘Mate... my mate... how can it be?’ His voice was quiet and deep, pleading, echoing in her head in the same way it had when she’d discovered him.

Jayah’s breath caught. ‘Can you hear me?’ As they kissed, she reached out to him as she would another Anima wolf, but found no barrier. He was simply... there.

‘Yes.’

Jayah whimpered at the slow, simple heat in that word. His fingers tightened on her arms and he deepened the kiss.

For long minutes she was lost, exploring the lines of his neck, shoulders, and chest, pressing her warmth against his, testing his scent, drugged by his kiss... on and on until the world around them disappeared and there was nothing but his body, his kiss, his touch, his voice. The darkness around them in the cave became a void, a shelter from the world that she wanted to dive into headfirst and never come out.

But just as his body became urgent, just when their kiss grew desperate, just when he’d started to walk her backwards towards the cave wall and she went willingly, pulling him with her, there was another call in the ravine outside and they both froze.

Chest heaving, Skhal lifted his head to find her eyes. Jayah stared at him, overwhelmed.

“We have to bring them together,” he said, his voice a guttural rasp. “I can’t... we can’t be apart.” He reached up to touch her hair at the temple, to stroke it away from her face.

She shook her head. “But I thought... I thought if I went... I had no mate. If something went wrong, I took no one with me.”

He nodded. “Me too.”

After a long searching look, he dropped his forehead to rest against hers, cupping her face in his thick, strong hands.

“I have to leave before the guards find me. But don’t want to let you go,” he said, his voice pained with the ache that matched the one in her chest.

Jayah frowned, but nodded. “Me too.”

“Will you come back? Tomorrow?” he asked quietly. “I’ll speak to our other Alphas, I’ll try to find a way forward.”

“Yes. I will. As well. This is... not what I planned. But-”

“I know. Me either.”

They stared at each other. He stroked her hair again and his hand trembled. Then he leaned in to kiss her softly and Jayah had to swallow the pinch of tears.

Being in his arms felt like... like being in the family den. Warm. Safe. Loved...

When they finally drew apart, neither of them spoke.

Skhal stroked her cheek with his thumb, then turned and darted silently out of the cave, sending back to her, ‘Come after high sun tomorrow. Keep talking while we can. I want to see how long the bond will carry.’

‘Yes,’ she replied, leaving the cave herself, reminding herself that it wouldn’t help to be caught now-especially now that she was painted in the scent of a strange male. The guards wouldn’t recognize him...

Jayah’s chest went cold.

‘What is it?’ he sent, alarmed.

She sent him a rush of warmth and reassurance through the bond. ‘Nothing, don’t fret. I only... I just want to keep you safe.’

He returned the sentiment, and so they continued to talk and learn each other for the next hour until the bond faded.

‘Tomorrow. After high sun.’

They were the last words he sent her before the link was lost, and Jayah was surprised by the sudden need to stop, to turn, to go back. Her body yearned to return to him, and for a moment she fought with her wolf who wanted to take control and take her back home.

To him.

Jayah shook her head, then started to run. She couldn’t risk being in her wolf, so the trip would take longer going home.

But that was probably a good thing, because she needed to think.

She was even more determined now, than before, to find a way to bridge the divide between their peoples. But now... now her determination was laced with fear. Real, palpable fear.

Because before it was only herself at risk. But she had heard the discussion about Tarkyn’s bond.

She’d heard about the Chimera and the way that if one in a Pair died, the other would be killed.

So now... what could she do? How could she risk putting herself on the line if it meant potentially getting her mate killed too?