I take a deep breath and share the edited version. The scent bomb at Black Oak Academy that caused Garlen to go feral. Keric pulling me back and protecting me. Then I give them a very, very quick version of why I’ve been in hiding for the last three years, telling them that my presense here needs to remain confidential for the time being so that my enemies cannot track me here. They completely understand and nod solemly. I then give them the story of how I ended up at the commune, how I found the package and how Keric shouted my name from across the bus station. “And now I’m staying in his cabin and the rest of the orcs are on a mission to take down the people who murdered by coworker and who want me dead too.”
“That’s so romantic!” Megan exclaims, and then settles with a serious face, “I mean, it’s terrible that you’ve been on the run for three long years and those assholes are back, trying to kill you and anyone you care about. I won’t tell a soul about that, promise. But you’ve certainly come to the right place for protection.”
“Garlen went feral and Keric protected you?” Sarah’s eyes are wide. “I cannot get over that part. That’s serious bonding.”
“The protective instincts,” Miranda adds. “Taking you to his cabin and wanting to introduce you to his parents. That’s hot.”
“That’s him wanting you bad as his bride,” Megan says. “Whether you’ve admitted it or not.”
“Keric is notoriously private,” Sarah tells me. “And I don’t understand. I thought you said you weren’t ready for a full-on relationship yet with Keric. If you’re in his cabin, sleeping in his bed, you’re already his Bride.”
“But we haven’t... I mean, we sleep in separate rooms.”
They exchange knowing glances.
“Oh honey,” Drew says softly.
Miranda nods. “That’s perfect. I’m impressed that he’s truly following the newer, more modern orc code. He’s giving you time,” she explains. “Letting you adjust. That’s actually really sweet.”
“When you’re ready, he’ll be there,” Sarah assures me.
“I love that he’s giving you the chance to think through everything,” Drew says. “It protects you and even protects him from a half-hearted commitment. Don’t rush your decision. But don’t overthink it either. Follow your heart.”
They continueto give me practical advice as the morning winds down. Where to order clothes, how to join the group Amazon orders, when the communal dinners happen.
“You’re one of us now,” Miranda says warmly. “We’re here for you. Questions, problems, anything. We’re your sisters. This is your family.”
I feel tears in my eyes. “Thank you. I was so nervous, but you’ve all been so welcoming.”
“Please know that you have the room to make whatever decision is right for you,” Miranda says. “If you don’t like the idea of staying in the commune but still want a life with Keric, tell him that. Because he went with the other Irontrees out to California and his cousin is setting up a life there already with your best friend, he might be willing to move there with you. You don’t necessarily have to build a permenant life here only in the commune with him. I suspect that if you talked it out with him you could find a work around that suits the both of you. You could live here only part time or on school breaks or even full time, there are ways to set this up that work the best for you. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. All of us live here full time and love it, but we fully understand that’s not for everyone. But we thought we’d give you our pitch and help you to understand the positives of living here. If we could even get you part time, that would be great.”
“And know that even though you’re living with Keric right now, it’s a good thing that you haven’t slept with him yet. This gives you time to make your decision about whether to have a permenant life with him and become a mother to orc sons. It’s a good thing that you’re thinking hard about this and not rushing into it. This makes us like you more. And if you decide it’s all a big no, that’s perfectly fine no one will think the worse of you. You’ll be able to leave and return to your life in California after all of this is over.”
“Everyone will respect whatever decision you make,” Miranda agrees.
“Thank you so much, all of you.”
Then we do a big group hug. All of them surrounding me with genuine warmth.
Drew walks me to the door when Keric’s vehicle pulls up. “Thank you for listening to all of our talk. I know we can be abit much when we get all together like this. Would you like to become a part of our group text chat?”
“Oh I’d like that.”
And then we hug and I join my orc to return to our cabin and our kitten, who I already miss desperately.
Chapter Fourteen
Keric
Iwake up uncomfortable, my neck stiff from another night on this too-small couch.
It’s been a week now. Seven mornings of waking up with aches in my shoulders and a crick in my spine. Seven nights of lying here, twenty feet from my bedroom door, where Anna sleeps in my bed. Alone.
I don’t care about the discomfort. My female needs the space and the privacy to process everything that’s happened. But gods, this couch is killing me.
The fire burned down to embers overnight. Morning light streams through the windows, catching dust motes in the air. I can hear Anna’s soft breathing from the bedroom. She’s still asleep. Good. She needs the rest.
I sit up slowly and roll my shoulders. Every muscle protests. I’ve slept in worse places— on the ground during hunts and in cramped military bunks during my top-secret years with the first orc unit in the US Army. This is nothing compared to the pastand yet it feels like torture because she’s so close and I can’t touch her.
