AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I couldn’t let myself get used to the feeling. I was doing the right thing and taking her home like she wanted.
I put the rabbits over the flames, their juices dribbling to sizzle on the burning wood. Small and lean, they wouldn’t take long to cook, and while I preferred my meat raw, I didn’t want to disgust Ivy by eating them that way.
Using sticks to turn them so the empty cavity was facing up, I pointed to it.
“I’ve seen the other humans cook plants inside the meat. Is that right?”
Her wide eyes blinked at me, threatening to devour my willpower. I couldn’t help the way I was drawn to her, and I couldn’t blame it all on her pheromones.
Was she fated to be mine? Was I making a mistake returning her to the other humans?
“Y—Yes. Cooking it inside the rabbits is fine.”
I wanted her to keep talking and looking at me that way, but I wasn’t sure what to say. I was glad she was still willing to approach me and talk after my abrupt departure since I’d worried it had come off in a way that would upset her.
“I’ve never bothered to trade for a pot, but some of the things I’ve smelled from the women’s fire has made me curious to try cooking.”
I flashed her a brief smile that she returned before her brows pulled down.
“You don’t cook? I mean…” I watched the realization hit her as she glanced at the rabbits over the fire. “If you prefer it raw, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m a terrible cook and have eaten my share of accidentally raw meat.”
She shrugged and gave me a lopsided smile before grimacing.
“I don’t like it that way, but I’m not squeamish.”
I shifted away from the fire, leaning back on one hand when she knelt beside me. I wasn’t sure what to say about her comment, so I searched for something else to talk about.
“During the winter we can’t always get out to hunt, so we freeze some of our kills in the snow, and I’ve had to warm them over a fire to be able to eat them, but no, usually I don’t cook my meat. We occasionally eat some vegetation as well, but we just eat it like it is.”
Ivy accepted what I said, nodding as if it made perfect sense. Her cheeks were flushed pink, and I watched her tongue slip out to wet her lips before she spoke again, voice low and hesitant.
“Do you have any family? Someone waiting on you at home?”
What she was asking hit me like a branch to the head, and I couldn’t stop the smirk that pulled at my lips. I tried to ignore the way my groin tightened again, my ridges stirring at the thought that the omega was interested in me.
“No. No family or anyone important. My parents died long ago, and I had no siblings that survived childhood.”
Her face fell as she shifted onto her hip, and I cursed myself when I realized I’d reminded her of her own loss.
“My parents died of an illness that struck our village after some traders passed through. First my mother, then my father shortly after. I had only seen six summers, and the others in the village thought it best for my aunt to take me. It might have been better if they’d let me stay instead.”
I sat up, concern flaring inside me.
“Does your aunt not take care of you? Is there no alpha to protect you when your heat comes?”
Her head jerked up at my sharp words, eyes widening at the mention of her heat.
“M—my aunt took me in. Her and my cousins are the only family I have left, and they’ve given me a home.”
I tried to soften my tone, but I was still upset Ivy had been alone in the woods so far from her village. It could be dangerous, even without the sudden storm, and as far as I could tell, her family didn’t deserve to be called that.
“Providing a place to live is not the same as caring for you. And whereisyour aunt? And your cousins? Why would you have rather stayed in your parent’s village alone?”
She seemed overwhelmed by my questions, and I had to pinch my lips shut to keep more from spilling before she could answer the ones I’d already let slip.
“They left on a trip. I’ve been minding the house, but I went for a walk since it was my birthday. I found a clearing with a stream and stopped to have lunch, then a storm appeared. I just didn’t realize I’d walked so far.”
She ducked her head again, and I got the feeling there were things she wasn’t saying. I didn’t miss the fact that she didn’t answer the last question.
