Chapter 90 BONUS CHAP. 3 - REGANT MOUNTAIN
\-BLAYNE'S POV
"Gamma Blayne," a shaky senior voice interrupted.
Provoked, an incensed growl shook the ground, whipping air strikes of a harsh wind into the old man's face. He clutched clumsily at his walking stick with his decrepit fingers. His hair had winter-white tresses. He had hard, wizened eyes and a clipped Abe Lincoln beard. His face was toil-worn and sun-tanned from exposure and he walked with a weary, lethargic air.
"Yours. She's yours." Evidently, he knew how to deal with possessive male mates. "But we both know that if you marked her like this, she would not want to forgive you."
The veracity of his words jolted me out of my fantasy. Giving Cleo my penitent attention, her eyes fluttered as her mind tentatively refocused on the present.
Daze, she opened her pretty round lips to curse when Sherda meekly interrupts with, "Gamma, Cleo is overworked and has not been eating properly. She fainted in the valley and Hunter Damon carried her part of the way."
I looked back at the medic who respectfully held her head bowed. Then I snapped my eyes at my mate. "Why didn't you tell me?" Immediately, I lifted her off the ground. She yelps in my arms as I carried her bridal style into the cave where we slept last night.
Visible displeasure sets into Cleo's facial features, despite the omission of an objection. Carefully, I laid her down on the bed. Knowing that she was unwell gnawed my insides. I wanted to take care of her. I wish that she could see that.
"Stay here." Having a comprehensive knowledge of her
stubbornness, I added, "At least rest for a little bit. I will ask Beverly to bring you some food." She sat up and I beseeched that she was not getting out of bed. "Please, Cleo."
Defiant sea-green eyes sent daggers at me before she relaxed and nodded. An exhalation of relief left me. For once, she complied and made known her feelings, "I'm mad at you."
"I know. I messed up and I'm sorry." My heart panged when she looked away from me. I exited the cave to take care of her.
Л-л
Later at the bonfire, many wolves sat around the wooden circle to dine together. The hue of the night sky was vibrant. As the fire crackles and snaps, the flame licks the air. The acrid smell of charred wood subtly pervades. All the unmated female wolves sat in proximity, whispering among themselves. My men were amidst them, mingling.
"What's this?" Her slender arms lowered a plate before me.
I took it and ensured that our hands touched. Incredible sparks shot into my veins. Swiftly, she retracted her hand and stood in place.
"Your dinner." A plastic smile showcased shapely white teeth and disappeared. Cleo was up and about. After I carried her into her room, she slept for two hours after eating and was active again.
"This is scraps." I moved the plate around in my hand, examining the scarce portion.
Cheeky as ever, Cleo jeered with a shrug, "And?"
"What happened to the beef?" The guys and I supplied a family of five water buffaloes from the morning hunt. This looked like bacon treats and one spoonful of mashed potatoes.
"It's shared out." A counterfeit sorrowful look decorated her face.
"What the....." I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to control the edge in my voice to hinder my aura from dispelling. "How comes?" She was intentionally insulting my intelligence.
"Well, the children were served first. Then the elders, and the women and the warriors." She counted on her fingers, having fun with it.
I was last on her fucking list! After a second, a realization dawned on me. No, I wasn't even on the damn list!
"Hump." A missile of profanities launched into my brain. Ones that I dared not utter aloud. I gobbled down the food thinking that I must have lost at least ten pounds on this excursion.
We are leaving tomorrow. I am going back to my comfortable lifestyle. Less than twenty-four hours to go. I'm counting. And just for that, I'll take her to dinner and demonstrate to her what a man's plate was supposed to look like. Hell, I'll cook for her.
She stepped away and I grabbed her hand to stop her. I wished that she would sit with me.
"I know that you're still mad at me." I felt the urge to talk to her and to hear her voice. "I'm sorry that I tried to mark you without your permission. I promise to be a better mate in the future."
"Why? You do not care about me or any of my people." Her cheeks flushed in anger, and her brows furrowed in frustration.
"Of course, I do." I cared for her. Everyone else was an afterthought. My heart nearly skipped a beat when she said that.
"Yet you do not help my people!" Cleo growled, pointing at me.
"Alright!" Indisputably, she was right. My clouded mind had been mesmerized by her to offer any honorable contributions. "I'll try. When we go back tomorrow, I will ask Dr. Stone to prepare a parcel of medication and supplies. I'll have our helicopters make the delivery so that your people can eat until the High Alpha makes a decision."
"You promise?" Her voice begrudgingly softened.
"I promise." I was willing to make amends for my wrongs. Perhaps after this act of kindness, Cleo will open up to me.
"Don't fail me, Gamma." It was a warning. Then she left to sit with the elders.
That night, in the hut that I shared with my elite warriors, I had to stick to the bed padding that was on the prickly stones that pierced through. In the early morning, a cold bucket of water woke me up.
Brrr."
Gamma."
Cleo stood in front of me, snickering. "It's time to go, Confused, I raised my hands and examined my appearance. Surveying my surroundings, I was seated upright at the entryway to Cleo's room. How did I get here? I could not recall. The bucket clangs
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to the floor and she strolls away from me. I swear that one of these days I'm going to.........Argh! I clenched my fist and stifled down the
rest of my thoughts.
When I set my feet on the territory of Dark Wolverson, I hit the
ground and kissed it. "It's good to be home."
As I stood, my mischievous eyes met my mate's. I sniggered and she scoffed. This was my playground now.