Morning came to early. The night was a quite one. After we finished eat a very bland meal, Benjamin left for the night leaving me in the hut by myself. Thankfully between my jacket and the fire I managed to stay warm on the straw bed. I needed a bath, and some clothes. I looked out the window to see a few woman moving around with children underfoot. I put on my shoes and left my jacket behind, as the soft wind felt amazing as the morning sun was already warming up the village.
"Good morning!" I said to a few children and as well as who I thought to be their moms. There was only 4 women, 5 including myself, in this whole village? I wonder how that worked.
"Good morrow. Hope you slept well." A very chunky short woman with a basket of fruit and the kindest eyes I have seen said.
"I did thank you. Would you like some help?" I asked offering my arms with the basket so she could move the baby she was carrying around her chest.
"Thank you.. you are to kind! You are just as beautiful as everyone is saying," after she moved the baby she fiddled with her top and hair. She was indeed beautiful as well. Her red hair was like fire as two cute fox ears shown.
We walked and talked about the village and she asked me how I knew Benjamin and where my village was and who my people where. I smiled and told her about me and how Benjamin found me in the forest by a lake.
"You two will make such a beautiful couple. Are you marked?" What was with everyone asking that. I didnt know what more to say so I responded with something I learned about in school and tribes in Africa.
"No I'm a warrior. In my village a warrior female can only be marked by a true soul." Her eyes lit up and she smiled at me.
"You are so beautiful and you can fight too? You are indeed a rare female. Your people must miss you desperately." Her smile made me smile but inside my smile fell. I wasn't beautiful, I wasn't missed. I was nothing.
We continued to walk till we reached a break from the village and a wide grass plain. Flowers, bees, children, and a few men where in the grass laughing and sunbathing. We walked to a few men and 7 children running around them.
"Allia, these are my mates. Francis, Bark, Elim, Parker, Corbin, and Botus. These are our young ones as well." I made a small smile and saw the soft blush on all their faces. Just smile Allia and be nice.
"Pleasure to meet you all." I looked at the woman who I had spent the morning with, "we should do this again. I need to find Benjamin and apologize for my harshness last night." She smiled and grasped my hands with a smile.
"Marie, and I would like that." I can't believe I never asked her name. A friend I was. I hugged her tight and waved at her mates or would the be husband's? I was gonna need to get use to this.
I walked around in the grass, breathing in the sweet scent and the smell of the flowers as well. I honestly didn't care if I ever went home. Father, I'm sorry but this place is just to beautiful to leave.
"THERE YOU ARE!" Benjamin squeezed me in a tight embrace, breathing in my scent again. When he let go he had a smile on his face. Good he wasn't mad.
"You didn't come back last night." I said putting my hand on his smiling face, cupping his strong jaw.
"Well of course not, I needed to make you clothes! Also I'm about to start some sparring with the other warriors want to watch?" I could see his tail wagging and the look of puppy innocence in his eyes.
"Sure. How could I say no when you look so excited to beat the shit out of someone." He took my hand and explained he traded some of his things for skin to make me some clothes so I didn't feel like an outsider of the village. He went on to tell me he was the toughest of all the wolves and fox that live here and how he was gonna prove I needed to mate with only him. The farther we walked and talked, the more intimate I could feel him getting again. His arm hooked around me and his eyes were soft when he looked at me.
Arriving at the 'sparring grounds' was a small hut with a makeshift fence around a large rectangular, dirt area. there was about 20 men talking and laughing. They looked like the image of what you would imagine a tribe of frat boys would look like in animal skin togas. It was kind of cute.
When we walked to the area all eyes fell on me, and quickly the air went from light heartedness to a sense of dominance, and I was the prize. Benjamin told me to go take a seat with the young ones that were learning the techniques and said for me to "watch only him". I chuckled and wished him luck. Sitting with the young boys was a little awkward at first as they all stared at me but once the Alpha came out all eyes went to him.
He was a man that described an Alpha to a T. He was built, his muscles looked rock hard across his legs, chest, and arms. His face had a scar across his right eye and all over his chest and stomach. He wore a tiger skin around his waist and a lions head over his. He was a man not to be fucked with and his eyes were dark and emotionless. His aura was that of death and destruction.
"Gather and make haste. Today we will drill until you feel fire burn in your hearts. We are but a small village, but you are my greatest warriors." He looked out over his men and soon his eyes fell on me. The pits of emptiness made me shiver in fear but I kept my chin up and sat up straight. I will not cower in fear.
"Young ones, you will be joining us today as you will learn the way of the beast." All the young boys stood up and ran over to the Alpha, afraid to cross him. Something in his stare told me that he was also referring to myself. I stood up and he nodded me over. Father, don't let him kill me.
"You must be the new female. I heard you have befriended my daughter Marie. Why do you dare watch over us when you should be in the village helping the other females?" Excuse me? Women here must be coddled. Are they not allowed to learn to fight?
"Sir in my village I am a warrior. I learn the ways around the men." I keep my stance strong and the small bit of courage I have leveled. He could kill me in two seconds but I'll be damned if he tells me I can't do this because I'm a girl.
"Females have no right to fight. There isn't enough of you as is. Who would dare teach you to use your hands in combat?" He took a step towards me, in my heart I wanted to run, but my soul wouldn't let me move. I may have been afraid, but I will not break.
"Benjamin you need to teach your female her place," oh that was it. I could feel the rage fill me as I said the one thing that came to mind.
"Fuck you! I am a warrior, I have courage and strength. I fight with the men." My insolence was enough for him as he charged at me and before I knew it my fight or flight took hold. I countered his hand to grab my throat and blocked his punch before landing a punch to his nose and another to his stomach. He fell to his knees, gasping for breath. What the fuck? Why did it seem I had more strength than I really did.
"Father!" The man from last night ran to his father and looked up at me. Helping the Alpha to his feet I took a small step back but never broke eye contact.
The Alpha smiled and spit some blood. "Shes a warrior from today on you spar with us. Whoever you mate with will also be given stature within our village. From today on, I take you on as my daughter." Before I could cut and run he pulled me into a hug. Father? Daughter? The fuck.
"I will fight for the female!" One of the men said, then another, and another. Before long Benjamin lost his cool and roared out "She is mine! MINE! She will only mate with me!"
Oh Father, look what my hot temper has done.