My jaw drops open in shock, and I glance over at Ahstahl again, only to see that he’s just as amazed as I am. Our mate, ourvery humanmate, is inviting two strangers of an entirely different species back to her camp in the middle of the wilderness. I don’t know whether to be pleased or alarmed that she’s so trusting of others. Ahstahl, ever the smooth talker, slings one of my arms over his shoulders and gestures with a wave of his arm.
“How extraordinarily kind of you, but before we leave, may we have your name?”
Keelie’s face blooms with a delightful pink color as she realizes we’ve introduced ourselves twice, and she’s yet to give us her name in return.
“Oh my goodness, how embarrassing. My name is Keelie. Keelie Ann Rutledge, to be exact. I’m a human woman, obviously, from Texas. It’s nice to meet y’all. Thank you so much for saving me from that bear. I definitely would’ve been a goner if you two hadn’t shown up.”
Narrowing my eyes at her, I ask the question that’s been burning my tongue since I roused from my“dirt nap.”
“What is it that you were doing when you came across the bear?”
The color on her face deepens, and she breaks eye contact for the first time, rubbing the back of her neck ruefully before answering.
“I was picking myself some flowers.” She gestures to the right, and that’s when I see a basket on its side surrounded by some sort of woodland fruit and a variety of blooms. They’re lying haphazardly on the ground, presumably where she dropped them.
I’m incredulous.
She almost died…FOR FLOWERS.Of all the foolhardy, silly female things to do! Ahstahl must know I’m about to blast her with my words because he snaps his tail against my bottom jaw, rapping it painfully, and speaks before I can recover.
“Sweet female, there’s no need for embarrassment. You had no way of knowing there was a predator on a fresh kill in close proximity. Here, let us gather your blooms and berries.”
Using his wings, Ahstahl shoves me in the direction of our mates' items, muttering in our native tongue under his breath.
“Shut the frak up, Aercek. She knows what she did was foolish; it’s written all over her face. Her scent and body language are broadcasting her shame and dismay over what her actions caused. We can’t afford for you to chastise her over this. There is no bond tying her to us yet!”
Snarling at him in irritation, I crouch and begin gathering the semi-wilted stems, using my tail and wings to balance. My head is still swimming with dizziness, and I don’t really want to face plant in the dirt again.
“Oh! Y’all don’t have to do that! Really, it’s fine.” Looking over my shoulder, I can see that she’s taken a couple of steps towards us, her hands clenched in front of her nervously. She may have invited us to her camp, but it’s clear she’s not completely comfortable being close to us.
Ahstahl finishes picking up the scattered berries and slowly approaches her, the basket comically small in his large paw.
“There we are! Your basket suffered no damage, and only a few of the fruits appear to be bruised.”
Flicking his tail at me to hurry up, I carefully stand and force myself to approach her in as non-threatening a manner as I’m capable of. Extending my massive paw, the delicate plants clutched gingerly within my grasp, I hesitantly offer them to her.
“Little female, I believe these are yours.”
To my delight, she slowly reaches out and takes the basket and flowers from us at the same time, her scent blooming with a hint of delight.
“Thank y’all. That was really sweet of you both. If y’all are ready, follow me, and we can head back to my camp.”
Ahstahl looks at me, and I nod in agreement.
“Lead on, little female. We will follow.”
Chapter 7
Keelie
What the fuck am I thinking?
The question’s been rolling over and over in my mind as we hike back to my camp. Paying it forward is one thing, but I’m still going to be alone in the middle of nowhere with two males that aren’t human. They seem nice and all, but I don’t actually know them, and trusting the two aliens isn’t wise. Even though there’s something deep inside me that’s whispering they’re trustworthy, and that everything is going to be alright as long as I’m by their side.
Which is preposterous.
They’re ALEINS for goodness sake.
Glancing back over my shoulder, I smile at the sight they make, ignoring Aercek’s chuff and Ahstahls grin when they see me gawking.
