Feral Bonds

Chapter 55

Bran lounged beside Meriam, watching the humans race around the farm. "Why is Natania so adamant that we protect Gretchen?" he asked, groaning a little with pleasure as Meriam's tongue brushed the fur of his neck.

Meriam finished smoothing the patch of fur before she raised her head. "As any would want to protect their mate," she purred.

"Well, yeah." Bran gave Meriam a soft smile and she brushed her muzzle along his cheek. "But she doesn't usually prioritize individual lives in her pack."

"They are witchbound," Meriam said. "That is deeper than even pack or pride."

Bran grimaced. That had been a shock. That his sister hadn't outright killed the witch when she found out about the bond. The Nat he knew when they were kids was terrified of witches and had no problem killing them. The rest of the pack had been unhappy, but aside from those initial days, Natania didn't seem bothered, so they had let it go. Trusting her to make the decisions, even if they didn't actually understand.

And Gretchen had been kind to them, had never laid a hand on them, or tortured anyone, until Nat had insisted. He lowered his head with a sigh, they could all tell how much it hurt Nat when Gretchen channeled from her. He hoped that wouldn't be needed for much longer.

"Still," Bran finally said, "it's not like her to do that."

Meriam shuffled into a sitting position and stared down at him, her whiskers twitching in a way that made him grin. "She is only being cautious in case she loses control. The bond maker will have the best chance of pulling Natania back if her passenger takes the wheel. If that happens and the witch is dead, we will follow."

Bran sighed as he got to his feet. "Do you think we will survive? Win?" He laid his tail on her back. He hoped they would win, but as each day passed, he got more and more nervous.

Meriam chuckled. "You have a sightseer here, do you not? Ask that one."

Bran shuddered at the thought of the vampire, his fur prickling along his spine. "I'd rather not." Lily had a tendency of showing up without warning and it unnerved him. And the way her eyes glowed, he clenched his teeth. He enjoyed the pridelanders, their way of life was so peaceful and natural, but the others? They were scary as hell, and the fact that Natania was so at ease with them all made him wonder about her state of mind.

The vampires considered Natania one of them, and that begged the question, what exactly had she done in the time she'd been in their service?

"You fear her," Meriam commented, "yet she has not harmed any."

Bran forced his fur to lie flat again. "That's true. I guess I'm judging without knowing all the details."

Meriam pressed against him. "You were raised to fear the different ones. I am glad you are trying to overcome it. You and your pack, too."

"Only because of her," Bran admitted. "I'm not sure we would be so open minded, if our alpha hadn't forced the issue."

Meriam scoffed. "All of you, you came to her, knowing she had a witch on her arm. When she was not your alpha. You are overcoming it because you wish to. Amani has offered a different path as well. You chose to stay."

Bran flicked his ears. She had a point, though he had only come for Natania. To try and make up for turning his back all those years ago. He didn't wish any ill will on Gretchen, his mother had enough of that for both of them, but if the witch alone had asked for his help, he didn't think he would have raised a paw.

"Thank you," he told Meriam and a purr rumbled up in her chest, vibrating his body with the intensity of it. His pelt prickled with heat and he dipped his head to hide his grin. He loved the sound of her purr and could have listened to it all day.