"The women in this pack dont play around, do they?" Joy snickered as she and Jude walked through the village hand in hand.
"Yeah. If Jemima wanted to, she could challenge either of us for our positions. But she prefers being free. She says the Enclosure is like a prison."
"Do you feel the same way?"
"A little. That's why I prefer to stay on the hill. It makes the weight that much lighter. To see the villagers alive and happy. And being without a Protector made me want to stay there even more. Just to make sure they are okay."
Joy stopped walking, staring up at him. From his point of view, her eyes had taken the sun captive. If he stared any longer he would be blinded by their shine.
"What?" He rasped.
"You are an amazing man... err wolf... you know what I mean." She took hold of his arms, and wrapped them around her waist. "This village, Khaya and me are so blessed to have you exist."
"That's deep," he smirked.
"It's true."
Jude lowered his head and planted a kiss on her forehead, moving his hands from her waist to engulf her in a hug. She fit perfectly into his arms, a lock and key.
"What are they doing?" Her head moved from his chest, but she did not pull out of his embrace.
There were a bunch of ladies carrying pots, pans and basins, moving in the same direction.
"It's probably one of their cooking competitions," Jude mumbled. "Do you want to go watch later? It's fun, and we get to taste all the dishes after."
"Sure." Her head returned to its place on his chest. Appreciating the feel of him. No one had ever made her feel the way she did in that moment, not that she had never had butterflies before. She had, multiple times. Though she was not in love with him, Mandla had made her feel butterflies, that was why she had agreed to marry him. Her past boyfriends had done their fair share of flattering too, but it was significantly different with Jude. With Jude, she felt the butterflies, but in addition to those, she felt fireworks and spring rain.
"As beautiful as this looks..." Krii materialised next to the couple, cracking his knuckles. "Could you two kindly get a room?"
"Mind your own business Adonis Creep," Joy drawled without letting go of Jude.
"I would, but you're in the middle of the road. And I need my Beta's help. He said he would train the Combatants. I don't know if he forgot or what." Krii scratched his head.
Jude let out a groan, his chest rumbling. "I actually forgot."
"That sounds like fun. Can I come with you?" Joy finally pulled away from him.
***
Near the stables, Joy observed some of the pack as they trained. Male and female training together. 'The Combatants', Krii had called them. Men and women that specialised in fighting. They were being trained mainly in martial arts and horseback riding. There were different age groups training on different parts of the field. Jude was training the Minors, comprised of children aged between thirteen and nineteen years.
"Okay, everyone sit. Except for Krii," Jude instructed. His commanding tone matching his authoritative demeanour, both sending goose-bumps all over Joy's body.
"We're going to show you guys how to fight with your senses in harmony. Now this is a very tricky element in your training, so watch very carefully, okay?"
"Yes, Beta Jude!" The students spoke in unison.
Krii closed his eyes as he cracked his knuckles, exhaling deeply. Jude stepped forward, his hand in a fist that was headed for Krii's face. Krii caught it before it could touch him.
"Smell," Jude said, as he slipped a blade from his side and pointed to Kriis stomach. Krii was quick to glance at and catch his wrist, knocking the blade out of his hand. "Sight," Jude said. He moved his head back and swung it forward, but Krii moved to the side which caused Jude to miss headbutting him. "Feeling." The air behind them whisked as an arrow came at Krii. He could hear it, but was too slow to determine its direction.
"Left!" Jude yelled, and Krii swerved with milliseconds to spare. The audience released puffs of air, staring at each other with wide eyes.
"Hearing," Jude faced his students. "The trickiest of the four. Let's call it a day. Practice gripping your spears tonight." He dismissed them, and Joy stood up from where she had been sitting, moving closer to Jude and Krii as the children dispersed.
"What was that?" Jude hissed at Krii. His eyes a blue flame.
"A mistake," Krii sighed in response.
"A mistake that can cost you your life." He gripped his collar. "Since when do you make such mistakes?" He spoke through clenched teeth. "In a real battle that arrow would have hit your heart. How many times do I have to tell you? Your ears and your mind need to work together. You have to see it coming before you even look."
"Relax Zabala, this wasn't a real battle. I'll be more careful I promise." He shrugged him off.
Joy watched their exchange with raised eyebrows.
"I'm serious Krii. You can't make mistakes like that." Jude gave him a warning look, though his eyes were returning to their green colour.
"Got it." Krii nodded. "Now, am I the only one who's hungry? I'm sure the cooking competition has started, we should go." He led the way from the field.
"Did you have to yell at him like that, and pull his collar?" Joy pouted, blinking at Jude.
"Krii is annoying babe," Jude huffed. "He is the best Combatant on our team which is why he helps me train the others. Mom trained the four of us together when he became an official member of the pack, and at some point, we thought he was going to be Protector with Jem. So, mistakes like that from him are not allowed."
"Okay fine but that doesn't necessarily answer my question."
"I held his collar out of respect for you. If you weren't there I would have punched him. And then I would have called Reid to punch him too."
"I can hear you, you know?" Krii turned and faced them with a frown. "It's my birthday in a few days and I'm being treated like an ordinary person."
"Now he uses his hearing." Jude rolled his eyes and took Joys hand, pulling her ahead of Krii.
***
The food tables were set near the Enclosure. An assortment of traditional and exotic aromas filled the air, calling all the villagers to gather around. Jude had gone into the Enclosure. His excuse was that Reid had called for him, but Joy could tell that he was still upset about Krii's mistake. That alone tugged at her heartstrings. The love that he had for his friend was beautiful. What's more is that he thought of Krii as their own even if he was a former member of the Blood Moon pack. She especially loved how he did not see Reid as a stepbrother. She wanted to love like that. To trust like that. Unconditionally.
Khaya appeared next to Joy, casually holding her hand. A large carrot in his other hand.
"Hey pup," Joy smiled at him. "Where have you been?"
"I was playing with Maya and Kayla, then I got hungry and auntie Jem gave me this." He held the carrot up to her. "You can have it, I wanted the steak instead." He pressed it against her stomach and she took hold of it, giggling at the disappointment on his face.
"I'm sure if we ask her again she'll give us some steak." Joy nudged his shoulder and his expression brightened.
"Really?" He grinned.
"Let's go look for her." She tugged at his hand and they made their way around the crowd.
She was greeted by a few, "Hi Joys". All she could do was smile and wave at them.
"Try some of this," one of the cooks said. It was a man who seemed to be in his thirties. He handed her a spoonful of a brownish paste.
"Sure." She blew on it and placed the spoon into her mouth. "Woah, what is this?"
"It's a sugar bean paste." The man explained. "I made it by boiling the sugar beans and separating the beans from the paste. Then from there I worked with the paste. Seasoning it and what not."
"It tastes really good." Joy complemented.
"Here try this." A different cook approached her with what looked like a dessert. "It was a cake with ice cream and different toppings on it." She took a spoonful and moaned. "This is good," Joy expressed and knelt to give a spoonful to Khaya as well.
Khaya grinned, nodding his approval and opened his mouth again. She gave her another spoonful then gave the dessert back.
"That's enough. You haven't had dinner yet. Your dad will get mad at us."
They walked further into the crowd, searching for Jemima as they tasted different dishes. Joy felt a tug at her hand and looked down at Khaya who was slowing down. His other hand was on his stomach, an expression of excruciating pain was on his now pale face. His other hand fell to his side, and Joy had to catch him before he fell to the ground.
"Khaya," she gasped, placing him on her lap. "Khaya? Khaya what's wrong?"
His face was swelling and he was breaking out in a cold sweat. His breathing was shallow, his eyes rolling back.
'Jude! Jude! Jude!' Joy screamed into his head. 'Something is wrong with Khaya!'
The crowd parted instantaneously as Jude made his way through it. His eyes wide.
"What happened?" He took Khaya into his arms and to the Enclosure, Joy following behind. They placed him on a bed in the infirmary.
"What did he eat?" Jude demanded.
"Err-" Joy racked her brain. Her mouth opening and closing.
"Think Joy!" Jude hissed. His eyes flashing between dark green and dark blue.
"I-I dont know, we ate a lot of different things." She scratched her head.
"Anything with strawberries or peaches?" He asked.
"Ummm..."
"Joy come on!" He bellowed and she flinched.
"Move aside," Jemima pushed Jude away. A tonic in her hand. She took Khaya into her arms and fed it to him.
"Did you eat a strawberry ice cream dessert? With cake and candy toppings?" Jemima asked Joy.
"Yes. There was a dessert like that." Her eyes widened. "Is he allergic to strawberries?"
"Yes!" Jude rubbed his jaw.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't know." Joy covered her mouth. "I'm so sorry."
"He'll be fine." Jemima told her. She lowered Khaya's head and connected a drip to him.
"Ummm... okay," Joy sniffed and walked out of the room. She stopped in the hallway, wiping her eyes and nose. Jude followed her, turning her around.
"I'm so sorry. I had no idea." Joy whimpered. The tears continued to stream down her face and she couldn't control them.
"Shhh..." he pulled her into his arms. "I know. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. You don't have to apologise. He's your son so I get it." She mumbled, unable to compose herself.
He took her face in his hands and kissed her tear stained cheeks, then moved his lips to her forehead. She pressed her head against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
"You must have been so scared," he whispered to her.
"I was. I didn't know what to do."
"You called for me." He pulled her a few inches away so that she was facing him again. "And this doesn't change anything, alright?"
"You're still Khaya's favourite."
"I think you should tell me everything I need to know about him. If there's anything else he may be allergic to."
"It's strawberries, peaches and cinnamon."
Khaya is awake.
Jemima appeared from behind the door. "He's asking for you Jude."
"You should go to him," Joy said. "I need a minute."
"Good. I want to show you something," Jemima said, leading her forward.
"I'll see you later." Joy waved at Jude who gave a small wave back and returned to his son.