“He believed that I could tear his throat out before he could scream for help.” The smile widened. “Amazing how convincing that can be. But threats only go so far,” he added. “Mutual benefits are more successful in the long run.”
Despite himself, he felt a grudging respect for the younger male. He had a warrior’s instincts, yes, but also a cunning that spoke of experience far beyond his years.
“The trade routes you mentioned,” he said. “What do they involve?”
“Basic goods, mostly. The humans have crops, livestock, and crafted items to trade while we have access to resources they can’t reach. Seren’s been working on establishing formal agreements. Most of them have been local so far but we’re considering expanding them.”
“My mate is a weaver.” The words came out before he could stop them. “She’s been making fabric from the sunvines that grow in my territory.”
Interest flickered in Korrin’s eyes. “I’ve heard of it. That could be worth a fortune in the right markets.”
“She was being exploited by someone in the village. That’s why she left.”
“Ah.” Understanding dawned on Korrin’s face. “And now she needs a way to sell her work without going through him.”
“Yes.”
“That can be arranged.” Korrin’s expression turned calculating, but not in a way that made Tarek’s beast growl with suspicion. It was the look of a male solving a puzzle, fitting pieces together. “We have contacts in some of the larger settlements. Traders who deal fairly, who wouldn’t ask questions about where the fabric came from or who made it.”
Could this be a way forward? Hope stirred in his chest although he kept his face calm.
“I need to speak with my mate,” he said. “Before I agree to anything.”
“Of course.” Korrin nodded, as if he’d expected nothing less. “Take your time. I’ll be in the area for a few days. There’s a valley about two hours east where I’ve made camp. When you’re ready to talk, find me there.”
He turned to go, then paused, looking back over his shoulder.
“One more thing. I caught the scent when the wind shifted. You’ve claimed her.”
It wasn’t a question, but he answered anyway. “Yes.”
“Then she’s pack. Or as close to it as makes no difference.” Korrin’s expression softened. “That means something to us. To Seren. Whatever happens, whatever you decide… she and the child have our protection. You have our protection.”
Then he was gone, melting into the forest like a shadow, leaving him alone with his kill and his racing thoughts.
For a long moment, he didn’t move. His beast was still restless, pacing beneath his skin, but the urgency had faded. The threat, if it had ever truly been a threat, had passed. What remained was something far more complex.
An opportunity.
He finished dressing the grazer quickly, bundling the meat into the leather pack he’d brought. The morning sun was climbing higher, warming his skin, and somewhere in the distance, a bird began to sing.
I need to speak with my mate.
He’d said the words without thinking, but as he shouldered his pack and began the long walk back to the den, he realized he’d meant them.
Jessa needed to know about the rumors and about the choice that lay before them. She was his mate now—his partner, his equal in all things—and he wouldn’t make this decision without her.
The path wound through the forest, familiar and strange at once. He’d walked it a thousand times, but never with the knowledge that the solitary existence he’d built might be coming to an end.
He wasn’t sure if that terrified him or filled him with hope. Maybe both.
The den came into view through the trees, smoke rising from the chimney, and his beast settled. He had a mate now, a family, and no matter what did or didn’t happen with the pack, that was enough.
CHAPTER 24
The village looked smaller than Jessa remembered.
She’d expected the familiar streets to loom over her, to press in with the weight of all the years she’d spent navigating their narrow confines. Instead, the thatched roofs and weathered storefronts seemed almost quaint as she and Tarek crossed the bridge at the edge of town.
