As we entered the camp, faces peered through the windows. My brothers kept Mhor deep within their midst as we marched straight to Mother's hut. She burst out, glancing wide eyed between me and Father.
"Krosh, what has happened? You were gone all day yesterday, today, and last night." She hurried forward, clasping my face. "Are you hurt?"
"Flit, we must talk." Father nudged me into the hut, while my brothers stayed outside.
We sat in a circle on the mat, facing one another. Tears burned my eyes as I stared into my lap. Mother's hand wrapped around mine. "Zora."
"She has been mated," Father said in a low voice. "The Barg twins kidnapped her, waited for her heat to take control, then made claim on her."
"No!" Mother threw her arms around me. "Zora, I'm so sorry! I know that you care for the son of Cal, so you must be devastated."
I clung to her, her familiar smell and feel giving me comfort.
"The son of Cal has reclaimed her," Father said.
Mother's head snapped around. "What?"
"He has killed the twin who mated with her. The other twin fled, and we drove him off his land. It's my territory now."
Mother stroked my hair. "And their pride? Some are your daughters."
"The other brother ran away with the pride. He headed south, so he will likely see if he can take a piece of his father's land to regroup, but he will not come back. He's not strong enough without his brother." Father leaned forward, grasping my hand. "But I'm not worried about them. I'm worried about Zora and if she has conceived. You and I know she will protect her offspring no matter the father."
Mother's grip loosened as she trembled. "What can we do?"
Father's thumb stroked the back of my hand. "Both myself and the son of Cal cannot raise his offspring, and if she's with either of us we will be obligated to kill it."
Mother let out a soft sob while I struggled to process everything. But if I protected my cub, and they tried to kill it, could I be killed?
"There's one thing I can think of," Father said, raising my hand to his lips. "There is a baboon that lives within Voch's territory. She's renowned for her medicine and witchcraft. We can send for her and have her check Zora. Hopefully, she will tell us Zora has not conceived, but if she has, she can terminate it before the son of Cal finds out."
"Terminate?" My head snapped around. Kill my child within me? I couldn't let that happen! "No!"
"Zora." Father stroked my cheek. "You did well ending your heat early, so there's a high chance you did not conceive. This is just a precaution. You don't want the son of Cal choosing another to be his alpha because you carried someone else's young first."
My face fell into my hands as I cried. If I conceived, I'd be faced with terrible choices. My only hope was that I hadn't.
Mother and Father held me between them as we cried together. Father kept pressing soft kisses on my head, and whispering how much he loved me. Finally, I calmed as Mother stroked my hair.
Father let out a heavy sigh as he sat up. "The son of Cal will eat with us tonight. I must see to the rest of the family."
"We'll be out soon," Mother said softly.
Father leaned across and kissed her tenderly. "Take care of her."
He climbed to his feet and left.
I lay curled up in Mother's arms, listening to the sounds of meal preparation outside. The sweet smell of meat cooking reminded me I hadn't eaten in more than a day. I sat up, sniffing the air.
YOU ARE READING
Raw
Roman d'amourI am Zora, the daughter of the most powerful lion in our region and of his beloved alpha female. My father has favored me, sheltered and protected me, but now my heat has come and I must have a mate. My bloodline is coveted, so males come from miles...
