6 Tovis
Jessalyn let me outthe back door, her eyes avoiding looking around, fixed firmly on me as I stepped outside.
“I’ll be back in a few days,” I said.“To tell you what the other females say.”
She offered a shaky smile, her hands gripping the edge of the door like she was afraid it would be snatched away from her.
“Thank you.”
“Do you need anything?Supplies?I can bring whatever you want.”It had been hours since I took shelter in herspa, long enough for the percer to move on.I’d checked all the windows and doors, and assured her it couldn’t get in once I was gone.But I hated leaving her here, alone and unprotected.
Reason told me she’d been safe this long, but it went against all my instincts to leave a female alone.Especially this female.The other males would be roiling with jealousy when I told them I’d found my mate.
I couldn’t claim a proper Ulto without witnesses, but as soon as I brought the other females to see her, I’d have the ears I needed to declare my intentions.A pack of percers wouldn’t drag her location out of me until I’d claimed her.
No other male would be poaching Jessalyn from me.
“I have plenty of food,” she assured me, a slight flush filling her cheeks.“But I wouldn’t mind something that’s not protein bars.If you have any spare canned goods-”
I cut off her faltering request with a smile.“I’ll bring you some things.I’m sure the mated females will have plenty of recommendations.”
***
Istrode into camp, my newly decorated hooves echoing over the smooth surface of the parking lot where we’d made our permanent home.The sun was just starting to set and Kadal spotted me from the main fire, his shoulders slumping in relief.
“We were just about to send out a search party!”he called, heading my way.“Your patrol couldn’t find your trail.”
“Ran into a percer,” I shrugged, looking around for one of the females.“I had to hide for a few hours until she gave up.”
He slapped my shoulder and nodded at the fire.
“I’m glad you’re safe.Penny was frantic when they came back without you.There’s meat, I’m sure you’re hungry.”
I was starving.Years of slave rations had left me with a never ending pit in my stomach, and I’d given Jessa the jerky I’d brought for myself, but hunger paled in comparison to my excitement over finding a female.An unmated female.A low laugh escaped me as I corrected myself.
A soon to be mated female.
She was perfect.Small and pretty with soft curves and round blue eyes.Just thinking about Jessalyn made me want to abandon the camp and return to her.But she was skittish, too nervous to rush, and besides I had promises to keep.
“Where is Penny?”
Kadal looked around.“I think she and Adak are in their room, but Amy was near the water a minute ago.”
That was enough for me.I couldn’t interrupt Adak and Penny if they were tucked away in their private quarters, but Amy was just as nice, and always willing to talk.Heading toward the water stores along the side of the large building we lived in, I found Amy at one of the massive barrels we used to collect rainwater, filling jugs as turochs lined up to take them.
Kes’ female was heavily pregnant, her belly already looked too large for her frame, and her face was red with exertion as she used a large pitcher to move water.
“I can do that,” I offered, hurrying to her side and stealing the pitcher.
“Oh, Tovis,” she shot me a bright smile, one hand going to her lower back with a wince.“Thank you.”
“You should be resting,” I reminded her.The whole camp was keeping an eye on her and Penny.They were the only two females who were pregnant, but Amy was nearest to birth and her mate spent all his time trying to make her lie down.
“Pff,” she waved my words away.“It’s too hot to lay down, besides, I can’t get comfortable anyway.”
