(August 2021) READER SHOUT OUT: Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for the very, very generous gifts you gave in July. I am always a little embarrassed when readers give extra on top of paying for my content. I am truly humbled. I want to say a special thank you to these readers whose generosity made my jaw drop: PBMamaRae, MoonGoddess21, DaoistPrvZp, Jak_BeQuick, S_courge, April_Jo_Perez, Stacey Moncrief3242

*****

RETH

Female. The other prisoner was a female. And Avaline. He knew her. Damned if he could remember her name, though. That was a blow. He was missing an opportunity to show her what real leadership looked like.

Then her scent hit him and he almost fell to his knees.

She was pregnant. But it was early. Did she even know?

Reth would have groaned and asked the Creator what He thought He was doing, but the bird female watched him, her eyes wide and chest heaving.

So, the wolves hadn't completely disregarded the other tribes if they were sending some of them on such important missions. Reth was surprised, but he would analyze what that meant later.

"Leave us,

" Reth growled at the guards without looking away from her.

"Stand outside the door. Do not enter unless I order you to, no matter what you hear.

"

The guards, who had stood by to watch his beast tear apart the previous prisoner and only been wary of their own safety, both paled.

"Y-yes, Sire,

" one of them said. They both bowed, then backed out of the door, looking at each other as soon as they thought Reth wasn't looking. He would have sighed if it wasn't his job to frighten the ** out of this bird.

Creator's Mane, what was he going to do if she didn't talk?

She still stood against the wall, her chin down and arms splayed as if she wanted to crawl backwards through it. Her eyes were locked on his, though he didn't give her the respect of returning the gaze. She was not a challenger to be regarded as if she had strength.

Instead, he scanned her body, noted the dirty clothing, tear in her leathers, the scratch on her cheek. If she thought his eyes lingered on her breasts, she was sadly mistaken. He did note the lost button on her shirt, and the bruise at her jaw.

"Did my guards rough you up, or was that a gift from your… journey?

" he asked, his voice as low and gruff as he could naturally make it.

She just stared at him, wary and poised to run. There was still a good twenty feet between them. He began to unbutton his shirt, and her eyes followed his hands then snapped up to his face, shadows of the hunted behind them.

He made himself sick. But better to frighten her, than to kill her.

"I'm certain you heard your comrade die. It was not pretty. And it was at my hands—or should I say, fangs? I will offer you the same deal I offered him—with one… addition.

"

He let his eyes scan from her toes to her eyes.

Her lips pressed tight and thin, her breath tearing in and out of her long, fine nose.

"You will tell me how the wolves came to be so close to the cave without being detected, and what their plans were to assassinate me in the event that this attempt failed. You will tell me everything you know about the leadership under Lerrin, and their plans to take the Tree City. And anything else that might be beneficial to me, or I will kill you. I will let my beast hunt you, and eat you alive. Literally. I'm sure at this point you realize I don't make empty threats.

"

Creator knew, he wished he could. But no one respected a leader who did not follow through on their word. And now that she knew he'd already taken down her teammate…

"And the addition?

" she asked suddenly, her voice high and melodic. He didn't answer immediately and her throat bobbed as he popped the last of his buttons and tugged his shirt out of his trousers to reveal his muscular torso and massive shoulders.

He pulled the shirt off his arms and tossed it to the side. Let her see exactly who she was dealing with. Then he walked towards her slowly, prowled as he would towards prey, but tilting his head and letting his eyes follow the lines of her arms, her legs. She pressed herself hard against the wall behind her, clearly terrified. Yet, though she kept her chin down, her eyes stayed on his.

He growled, low and rolling and reached for her jaw. Her teeth clenched, but she let him turn her head back and forth while he stared at her bruises.

"Did this come from your comrades?

" he asked, stroking his thumb over the bruise on her jaw,

"or my males?

"

She jerked her chin out of his grip and snapped,

"Does it matter?

"

"To me it does. And before you speak, let me assure you, you will find working with me much more pleasant than working against me.

"

She stared another long moment, her shoulders rising and falling with her breath.

"Why?

" she asked, breathless.

"Why what?

"

"Why does it matter to you?

"

He narrowed his eyes, then leaned right in over her until their noses almost touched. She shrank away, but didn't break the gaze.

"Because I do not rule an ill-disciplined people,

" he growled.

"And if this was done by my males, I wish to know why. Make sure you deserved it. Your comrade didn't have bruises.

"

She huffed.

"There are many, many things that I have, that my comrades do not,

" she muttered.

Reth arched an eyebrow. Was she being suggestive? Bragging? Or did she need help? When she didn't continue, he growled again.

"I asked you a question,

" he said, low and hard.

"That one was not done by your soldiers,

" she said finally, her eyes daring him to contradict her.

He straightened then and folded his arms. Let her see the breadth of his shoulders, the size of his arms.

"Interesting that you chose not to lie and potentially turn my thoughts against my own soldiers.

"

"Interesting that you would care to ask about them in the first place,

" she returned.

"What is your name?

"

She eyed him for a moment.

"Paryk.

"

"Paryk, you were the Avaline who flew the supplies to us when we got caught in the storm coming back from the Bears two years ago, correct?

"

She blinked.

"Yes.

"

He nodded.

"It was very brave of you.

"

"Yes.

"

Reth almost laughed. But he could not let her see him soften.

"So, Paryk, what made you go with the wolves?

"

She didn't answer, and her eyes went even more guarded.

Reth sighed.

"And we were doing so well. Very well, Paryk the Brave, just remember that I wished to understand. It was you who did not wish to share. You asked what my addition was, this is it: Are you aware that you carry a chick?

"

Her eyes flew wide, then she blinked several times.

"I… what?

"

"Are you aware that you are pregnant?

"

"How did you know that?

"

"I have the gift for scenting it. Did you know?

"

She didn't answer and he wanted to bite something. Didn't she know how he valued the lives of their unborn? Hadn't she lived under his rule her whole adult life? He growled and she flinched, but still didn't drop his gaze.

He was suddenly impatient.

"Paryk, if you tell me why you went with the wolves—if you make me understand the appeal—I will give you one more day to consider your position, to consider whether you can truly expect the wolves to give you and your offspring what you need, and whether my rule was so horrendous. I will give you until high sun tomorrow to tell me what I need to know, or I will kill you, offspring or not. That is the mercy I offer you. So tell me… why did you go?

"

She stared at him, her breath coming faster and he could smell her suspicion and uncertainty, and also her joy.

She wanted the babe.

He could use that. Creator forsake him for such a thought, but it did not make it untrue.

He could use this, if she would let him.

Neither of them had to regret this day.