Throat tight, he walked to his cold cave. It felt emptier than usual tonight. He still could not comprehend that Jasper would have been open to a full mate bond with him. Or even a relationship without the bond. But no doubt Jasper only felt that way because of the partial bond. Under normal circumstances, Jasper would fear and be repulsed by him.
He started a fire. He gazed at the bed where they’d lain together. Then he spotted the small box of chocolate truffles.
He opened the box. Two more truffles remained inside. He sat on the bed. Gazing into the box, he selected one with chopped nuts on the top. He bit into the soft, fudgy truffle and moaned. The nuts contrasted with the silky-smooth, rich chocolate. The flavours rolled over his tongue.
Jasper made these. For me.
He swallowed. The lingering sweet taste soon disappeared from his mouth. He stared at the remaining truffle. He closed the box and placed it by the bed, saving the last one.
He inhaled deeply. He could still smell the scent of Jasper, himself, and their lust amongst the furs. He held up the red ribbon. He ran his fingers over the shiny material, watching the light from the fire reflect on it.
Sighing, he stared into the flames, lost in thoughts of Jasper.
“What is wrong with you?” his sister asked from the cave entrance.
Kraghol startled. He’d been so preoccupied with his thoughts he’d not noticed her approach. He shoved the ribbon beneathone of the furs and jumped to his feet. He hoped the box of truffles could not be easily seen.
“Freya! What are you doing here?” He walked towards her. He and his older sister didn’t usually interact outside the krampus gatherings. She rarely visited.
“You acted unusual at Bonfire Night.” Her eyes narrowed. “I noticed. Grandmother noticed.”
Kraghol tensed. Were they sensing the partial mate bond? “It is nothing. I have had things on my mind.”
“What things?” Freya pressed.
“Krampus Night.” It was the only answer he could think of. “I just want it to go well. Last year it went so poorly because of the snowstorm.”
She stared at him, clearly not believing his words. Which was fair. She knew he’d never cared about Krampus Night previously.
As his older sister, she saw him as her responsibility. That was why she always kept an eye on him. And why she always tried to keep him in line.
She cared for Kraghol, in her own way. She wanted what was best for him. Which meant that she wanted him to be a strong and terrifying krampus, like herself and the rest of the family. Too bad he did not wish to be a strong and terrifying krampus.
“Are you unwell?” She stepped in close, eyes travelling over him as if looking for a wound or injury. “Something is off. I can sense it.”
The muscles in his shoulders spasmed. He shook his head. “I am fine. You do not need to concern yourself with me.”
“Hmmm. Perhaps I should perform a cleansing ritual on you. That might fix whatever is wrong.” Then she froze, eyes widening. She sniffed. “Why do you smell of human?” she snarled, eyes glowing red.
“I—” Kraghol scrambled to think. Of course his sister could smell that Jasper had been in the cave. “A human took shelter in my cave earlier. I kept away until after he had left.”
She sneered. “You lie!Yousmell of human! And rutting!”
“I…” But he didn’t know what to say.
“You rutted a human!” Her red eyes glowed brighter.
He pulled in on himself as if he could make himself smaller.
“It is one thing to fuck a human on Krampus Night in the city! It is another to fuck one in your cave! This is unacceptable behaviour, Kraghol!” she yelled. “Completely unacceptable.”
“I’m sorry.”
She breathed heavily. “Was it just the one time?”
“Yes.” At least that was true. Thankfully she did not know of the partial bond. She would be even angrier about that.
“Good.” She looked out into the darkness as if looking for the human Kraghol had rutted. “Some do seek us out, even outside of Krampus Night. They enjoy being chased and the fear our faces instil in their hearts. They relish the scratches of our claws and the beating of our switches.”
