Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75388 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75388 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
I cannot resist her, especially when she pleads with me. I nod. “It shall be as you wish.” And if I am to woo her into being my mate, it works perfectly for me to be around her every day. “I must continue to hunt and bring in food, but you can accompany me when I am doing my rounds near the tribal cave. You cannot accompany me when I venture farther out.”
“That’s fine!” The delight and eagerness on her face makes my cock ache with need.
“It will not be easy.”
“I’m tired of sitting on my big ass anyhow.”
Her ass is magnificent, but I do not tell her such, since we are buhds. For now. “I will not go easy on you.”
“Fine.”
“If you hinder my ability to hunt for the tribe, I must leave you behind.”
“I won’t!”
“And if I tell you to do something, you must do it.”
“Not a problem.” Mah-dee beams up at me. “Can we start today, or is this a bad time?”
“We can start today,” I agree, glancing up at the sky. The weather is holding and there are no clouds on the horizon, which means no incoming snow. This is a good thing; Mah-dee is dressed lightly and I do not want her to be caught in a storm. “No one is expecting you in the cave?”
She snorts. “They’ll probably be glad I’m gone. I think I make the other women uncomfortable.”
I smile to myself. I have heard complaints about Mah-dee’s throwing of things while her sister was with me. “If anyone asks, tell them you were with Asha. They will not like you spending time with me.”
“Because you’re the dick that kidnapped my sister?” Her words are harsh, but there is a teasing smile on her face.
“Because I am exiled,” I say, refusing to take the bait. I take her spear and check to ensure that the head is tightly fitted and wrapped. One of the elders is forgetful and tends to put his broken weapons in with the good ones. “Part of my punishment is that I am to be alone.”
“I won’t say anything,” Mah-dee tells me. “Are you sorry?”
“Sorry?”
“That you did it?”
My answer would have been very different two days ago. Two days ago, I would have said yes. But now there is Mah-dee, and all I can think of is that if I was not in exile, I would not be here with her. I would be hunting the sa-kohtsk for Maylak’s new son. I do not regret my actions, because they placed my feet on this path and brought me Mah-dee. “No.”
“No? Seriously?” Her jaw hangs open.
“I cannot change the past. But I also do not miss your sister.” I reach out and tap her mouth, indicating she should close it. “I do not look back because I cannot change the past. You should not, either. That is one of the first things you must learn as a hunter—do not regret what you do not have. Make use of what you do.”
Her brows furrow together. “I’m not entirely sure that all ties together, big guy.”
“It does,” I tell her confidently. “Now come. Today I will show you how to follow trails as I check my traps.” I turn and start to walk away.
“When do I get to use my spear?” She huffs, trying to keep up with me. After a few steps, she reaches out and touches my arm. “Slow down a bit. It’s hard to walk fast in snowshoes.”
Her fingers feel like ice. I stop, and she nearly skids into me, losing her balance. I catch her before she can tumble to the snow. “Where are your gloves?”
Mah-dee shrugs. “The big furry mittens I have? Those suck. I can’t hold anything tightly with those, and I thought I might need a good grip with some spear hunting.”
I take her smaller hand in mine and press it between my palms to warm it. She does not pull away, which tells me she is colder than she would like to admit. “You do not wear gloves at all times, but much of a hunter’s day is spent walking.”
“Oh. I’ll remember for next time.” Her hand curls into a fist, and she shrugs her cloak down over her exposed hands, covering them from the elements. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
I grunt. “There is a hunter cave along the path we will take today. We will stop there and get you hand coverings.”
“Sweet.”
“Until then, however, you must keep up.” And I turn and start walking again.
MADDIE
He wasn’t lying when he said he wouldn’t take it easy on me.
I wheeze a few steps behind him as we hike through the endless snow-covered valleys and hills that seem to make up the entire fricking planet. I can’t complain, because I said I wanted to hunt. I’m just out of shape and not used to trekking across so much snow. He’s right, though; my fingers do feel like ice. I keep tucking them into my sleeves, but that only works for a little while.