The Barbarian Mate [Being Edited]

Chapter 4

The camp was buzzing with excitement when Althea slowly opened her eyes. She rubbed the sleep from her eyelids and propped herself up, trying to shake off the remnants of slumber.

With her vision still hazy and her mind sluggish, she surveyed her surroundings. It took a few moments for her brain to process the scene before her.

When it finally did, her eyes went wide in surprise.

There were more large people—strangers who dwarfed her in size—than the last time she had closed her eyes. It took her a moment to realize that they were no longer in the same place where she'd drifted off to sleep.

Panic surged through her as she sprang to her feet, scanning the area with urgency. There were sturdy homes scattered around and children laughing and running in every direction. Her jaw dropped in disbelief at the new world unfolding before her.

“Hello!” a voice called out, and she jumped back in shock, her heart racing. “Sorry to scare you,” the girl said, stepping closer.

Althea studied the girl intently. Unlike the towering figures she had seen before, this girl was smaller, but what caught Althea’s attention was that she spoke perfect English, words flowing easily from her lips.

“I’m Rubes,” she introduced herself, a bright smile on her face.

“Althea,” she replied, still taking in her surroundings.

“That's a strange name,” Rubes remarked, tilting her head slightly, which made Althea chuckle internally.

“Why do you speak such perfect English while the others don’t?” Althea asked, curiosity overtaking her surprise.

“Is that what this language is called?” Rubes responded, her eyes sparkling with intrigue. “I’m the one who enjoys reading. Anyway, we need to get you ready to meet our leader.”

“Meet your leader? Are you out of your mind?” Althea exclaimed, a mix of fear and skepticism rising within her.

“Maybe,” Rubes admitted with a playful grin, “but I’m the only one standing between you and him dragging you away. Here, put this on, and I’ll do your hair.”

Althea glanced at the two pieces of clothing that Rubes handed her. They looked similar to the attire worn by the other women she had met, albeit much smaller—more like a tailored version just for her.

“Don’t worry; they’re designed to cover enough. You’re quite soft, so we make sure they won’t damage your skin,” Rubes reassured her.

“Thank you,” Althea replied, feeling a sense of relief.

She changed her clothes while Rubes held up a blanket for her modesty, the gesture making her feel more at ease.

Once dressed, Althea signaled that she was ready. Rubes lowered the blanket, and her eyes widened in amazement.

“Wow! Where’s your tummy?” Rubes exclaimed, looking at Althea with genuine curiosity.

Althea glanced down at her own body, noticing how it appeared in this new clothing. She had a small chest, an even smaller waist, and a generous curve to her hips with alot of ass—traits she had inherited from her mother. Thank goodness for that, as she remembered how her father’s family was as flat as a board.

“Now, let me braid your hair,” Rubes said, leading Althea to sit on a pile of soft furs.

As Rubes meticulously detangled Althea’s wild hair, an unexpected warmth filled Althea’s chest. She was grateful to have someone willing to help her look presentable in this strange new world.

"So, what's your leader like?" Althea asked, wanting to know more.

“Short-tempered and he always wants to have his way,” Rubes replied, rolling her eyes slightly.

“Those aren’t very nice traits,” Althea observed.

“Perhaps not, but he makes up for it with his looks. Every female around here seems to want to be in his embrace,” Rubes chuckled, a hint of mischief in her tone. “The best part is, he won’t touch them. He respects women in his own way.”

A leader who refrained from pursuing every woman he encountered? That was astonishing to Althea.

“Don’t worry. He’s not going to hurt you. He never— and I truly mean never—hits a woman. In our culture, women are revered and protected. They bear more burdens than men; they give birth, nurture, and raise the children,” Rubes explained, her voice traveling with a mix of pride and seriousness.

“So, what is it that men do?” Althea asked, intrigued by the stark contrast to her own world.

“They provide for their families. They ensure that food is always plentiful and that no harm ever comes to any woman or child,” Rubes answered, a firm look in her eyes.

Althea couldn’t help but feel a pang of yearning. 'Why can’t my world be like that?' she thought to herself.

In her reality, men often chose to sit back and let women shoulder all the burdens. They even harmed women and children for the most trivial offenses.

The women here should consider themselves lucky—they had no idea about the luxury of safety and respect that they took for granted.