Chapter 17
Zander
CW: animal attack
“Please live. I need you to live.” A tired voice spoke to me in my dreams. It sounded like Fatima. Why is she sad? I needed to fix it. Whatever ailed her, I would make it go away. She was my mate, and it was my job to keep her happy.
I tried to rise, but my body wouldn’t move. Darkness crept into my mind, and the more I tried to move the darker it got until everything was covered and I fell into the void once again.
After a long while the darkness broke. My thoughts came to me slowly as if they had to travel through mud. I was hot. Too hot. Fear gripped my soul. Did I shift in my sleep? Did I burn Fatima? I’d never shifted in my sleep before. I would have noticed my singed furs.
I needed to get up. I needed to make sure my mate was safe, but again my efforts only led me back into the darkness.
“Daddy!” A young girl ran up to me. She had blueish-tan skin, curly brown hair, a dark blue tail, and horns that were starting to come in.
“Daddy!” She yelled again as she held out her hands. I opened my arms for her and she hugged me tight.
“She missed you.” I looked up to find Fatima smiling at us.
“You were gone for a long time,” my mate continued. “We were scared.”
“I’m sorry,” I apologized. “I’ll never leave you again.”
My pleasant dream shifted into a nightmare. I was no longer with my mate and child. Instead, I was standing in the village. Vianna was announcing something.
“I have chosen Favalor as my mate!”
“No!” I growled and stormed forward.
“You’re too late,” Favalor taunted. “She’s mine now.”
Time passed. Vianna looked tired and sad. I held out my hand to her. “Come home.”
“She is home,” Favalor growled and held out his hand as well.
Vianna placed her hand in Favalors. He led her away into the forest. She looked over her shoulder at me one final time and then they were gone.
I woke up with a start. Pain radiated throughout my entire body, but I no longer felt warm. That as a good sign.
The smell of bacon filled the air making my stomach growl. It took everything within me, but I finally got my body to move. I sat up and immediately regretted it. The lightheadedness I’d been feeling suddenly got much worse.
My head felt as if it had been filled with fog. Thoughts and memories would fly past me before I could grab hold of them.
There was a female cooking near the fire. She was the most beautiful female I’d ever seen.
I wanted to go to her, but I felt too weak. Instead, she over her shoulder and gasped.
“Zander!”
Her belly was big and round, making it hard for her to move quickly, but she eventually made her way to the bed and gently wrapped me in a warm embrace.
Her scent was familiar to, comforting even. I rested my head in the crook of her neck and buried my nose in her hair.
“Lay back down,” she said as she gently guided me back to the bed.
So beautiful. So familiar.
She put her hand on my forehead. “You’re fever finally broke,” she sighed with relief.
Then she ran her fingers through my hair. The action brought up a memory. I had a mate, and I loved her very much.
“My mate will return soon. You should not run your fingers through my hair,” I rasped.
The beautiful female let out a soft but hearty laugh. “I am your mate.”
When had I become such a lucky male to find a mate as beautiful as this?
“You’re my mate?” I couldn’t believe it.
“Yes,” she laughed again. “Now rest. Your fever has broken, but you still have a lot of healing to do.”
I did as she said. My head was filled with fog, but I had a feeling it was in my best interest to listen to her. So I closed my eyes and let sleep take me under once again.
It was dark outside when I woke up. The same female was there. She was sitting in a rocking chair by the fire.
Fatima. Her name is Fatima and she was my mate. My memories came flooding back to me. Thank the goddess. I would hate to have forgotten how my heart nearly stopped beating the moment I laid eyes on Fatima for the first time.
The pain in my leg brought me back to the present, however. Tarak had called upon the hunters to find Gil. Axon had picked up his scent and led us through the forest to a clearing. We found Gil there in his unshifted form gathering herbs traditionally used for healing.
He worked quickly using all four hands to gather as many herbs as he could.
Tarak stepped through the brush, revealing himself to the shifter who looked slightly older than the rest of us.
“Please don’t run,” Tarak began in a soft tone. “We just want to see Anusha.”
“Keep her name out of your mouth!” Gil growled as tension rolled off him in waves.
“Is she hurt?” Tarak pressed on. “Is that why you are gathering these herbs?”
That made the shifter pause.
“We can help her if you bring her to the village.”
“No!” Gil growled and shifted into his giant form. He stood as tall as the trees. His four hands could reach us all in an instant if he wanted to. His fists could reach us too if he wished to pick a fight.
“Please, we-” Tarak’s words were cut short. The haunting sound of the solete bird’s call echoed through the forest. They were giant birds that breathed fire, and feared by everyone. They should not be here. The valley was far from their hunting and nesting grounds.
Two of the large predators emerged through the trees. I immediately shifted into my wings made of flame and took to the sky. Jax shifted as well and flew to the other side of the clearing.
The bird closest to us released a torrent of fire. I swooped into action and became a shield between the fire and my friends. Their flames could not hurt me. Instead they rolled off my body like rain drops roll down a leaf.
Jax flew directly above us and taunted the solete birds as a distraction. I used the opportunity to get close to one of them and drag my claws down its back.
It let out a horrible sound of pain then turned and slashed my shoulder with it’s talon. It hurt, but I ignored it.
I lunged at the bird again, but this time it got me first. I clawed at its chest while the beast sliced through my thigh.
Thankfully I’d wounded it enough to cause it to flee, but it had also hurt me enough where I needed to land. Orsu caught me before I could fall to my feet, and I held onto him to keep my balance.
I looked up just as Jax let out his deafening screech. The remaining solete bird shook its head as if it were trying to fight off the sound. Then it darted toward Jax. Thankfully, he dodged out of the way.
Gil reached up and grabbed the bird before it could dart toward the young shifter a second time. He slammed it’s body against the ground so hard that the cracking of its bones echoed throughout the forest like thunder.
The giant shifter did not look victorious, however. He wore an expression of grief on his face. Gil snarled at us all, then took the opportunity to run away.
Axon shifted into his spider form and started to run after him, but Tarak called him back. “Run to the village instead,” the Savrix commanded. If there are more solete birds nearby, I want someone there to warn everyone to take shelter.
Axon gave him a quick nod then took off in the direction of the village.
“We better get you back home before you lose anymore blood,” Orsu teased in a light tone, but I could hear the anxiety in his voice.
I began to look down, but Orsu stopped me. “Don’t. It’s not worth it. Rest, and I’ll get you home.”
That was the last thing I remembered. Now I was here with bandages wrapped around my shoulder and leg. I sat staring at my mate who looked far too tired for my liking.
It took a lot of effort but I managed to sit up. Next I swung my feet over the side of my bed and tried to stand. The pain was too much for me to bear and I fell back down into the furs.
If this was my condition after Sozu had tried to heal me, I must have been close to death.
“You’re awake!” My mate rushed over to my side and looked me over.
“Don’t get up. Your leg has a deep gash. You shouldn’t put any pressure on it yet.”
I looked down at my leg that had been tightly bandaged and thrummed with pain.
“Is Sozu going to stop by again?” I couldn’t help but ask. I’d love to move this healing process along.
Fatima’s face paled and I knew something was wrong.
“You don’t remember do you?” she ask with a puzzled expression on her face.
I shook my head.
Fatima nodded and began again. “Sozu and...another hunter went out to check their traps together and ran into Gil. Gil kidnapped Sozu and ran off before the other hunter could catch up to him.”
It was strange how she kept referring to “another hunter” instead of the person by name, but I let it slide. I was more concerned about Gil taking another member of our dekes.
“You look tired,” I commented, turning my attention back to my mate. “Have you eaten today?”
“I’ve eaten,” she replied but wouldn’t meet my gaze.
“What have you eaten?” I questioned again.
“Don’t worry about me,” Fatima gave me a tired smile. “I’m fine, you’re the one who needs to rest.”
Her lack of response was all I needed to know she hadn’t been taking care of herself like I would.
“I will rest later,” I grunted as I stood up trying not to put any pressure on my bad leg. I steadied myself against the wall and moved toward the fire.
“What are you doing?” Fatima gasped.
“I’m making you...” I had to look out the window to figure out what time of day it was. The two moons were high in the sky.
“I’m making you dinner,” I huffed. Once I made it to the hearth, I started to gingerly lower myself down to the ground.
“Don’t you dare sit down!” Fatima scolded me. “You get your ass right back into that bed.” She pointed angrily at the furs.
I met her gaze with a smile as I continued my descent and sat on the floor in front of the smooth cooking stone.
Fatima huffed with annoyance and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m going to get Orsu, and he’s going to carry you right back to bed.”
“Do what you must,” I shrugged. “Dinner will be ready by the time you return.”
“You’re so stubborn! You know that?” she huffed again.
“I know,” I gave her a wide smile. She could huff and puff all she wanted, but I was going to take care of my mate.
“If you’re going to get Orsu, will you ask him to bring some more pancake mix. I’m running low.”
This finally won me a smile. The corner of Fatima’s mouth turned up ever so slightly before she schooled her features into another frown.
“Bossy male,” she pouted.
“Stubborn female,” I replied.
True to her word, Fatima did get Orsu, but as I predicted, dinner was ready by the time they returned.
“I’m glad you came,” I smiled up at my friend. “I could use some help getting into bed, and I do not wish to trouble my mate any further.”
“I’m glad to see you’re doing better,” Orsu grinned back at me.
“Did Fatima ask you to bring some pancake mix?” I asked the bear shifter as he helped me up.
“No, I didn’t,” Fatima cut in before Orsu could answer.
“It’s getting late, and I can get some pancake mix myself in the morning.”
“I’ll bring some by tomorrow,” Orsu whispered as he lowered me onto my bed.
“Thanks friend. Bring me a cane too,” I requested. I would need it to get around the house while I cooked and cleaned for my pregnant mate.
Orsu gave me a small nod of acknowledgment. “Goodnight to you both.”
“Good night Orsu, and thank you.” Fatima replied and shut the door behind our friend.
“Don’t do that again,” she warned.
“I will obey your every command, now eat and join me in bed.” I replied in a teasing tone.
“Fine,” she smiled and brought her bowl of food to bed where we sat side by side while she ate.
“I thought you were going to die,” Fatima confessed in between bites. The sadness in her tone made my heart ache.
“Never,” I vowed. “As long as you live, I will be around the take care of you.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”