"Not likely," he growled in response. "Many of Bhalot's offspring are plagued by disease, just like the one who attacked you. They hunt our kind relentlessly, and we need more than sheer numbers to fend them off. You have the potential to be of assistance."
"So the bears are sick. They're attacking your people...and you want me to do something about it?" Min couldn't hide her disbelief. "What am I supposed to do?"
"You are a witch of these woods, aren't you?" She nodded, whether he saw it or already knew the answer. "You possess powers that most of the Kelash lack. We already have one of your kind with us, but we need more."
"But shouldn't we seek help from my mother? She knows more than--"
"I am but one male, and I can only trust myself to control one of you at a time," he interrupted with another growl. "Once we reach my tribe, they may decide that she can be of use and send someone to fetch her."
"What if I don't want to go with you?" Min's voice quivered with a touch of defiance, though she knew deep down that resistance would likely lead to dire consequences.
She assessed her options, but there was no safe route for escape. He loomed before her, blocking any chance of fleeing. With the growing light, she could finally make out his towering stature and impressive build. His body was covered in a mixture of grey and brown fur, interspersed with patches of exposed skin. The hand that held hers showcased long, menacing claws, confirming her earlier touch in the darkness.
He turned his gaze towards her, revealing a profile that bordered on handsome, though Min had no previous reference for comparison. His golden brown eyes glimmered in the dim light, and his clenched jaw hinted at the desire to bare his teeth and growl at her.
"You managed to escape the clutches of Bhalot, and that was only possible with my assistance. Without me, you would have been nothing more than a warm meal in his belly." He leaned in, bringing his face closer to hers. "Do you honestly believe that you and your mother could stand against me?"
The threat hung heavily in the air, causing Min to vigorously shake her head, fearful of provoking him. The amalgamation of scents clung to her—dirt, sweat, and the faint, unfamiliar odor that she recognized as his seed. She had no doubt that even if she miraculously slipped past him, he could easily track her by scent alone, let alone by sight.
"Well?"
"Alright," Min replied, her gaze lowered. "Just please, don't harm my mother," she pleaded desperately. "I... I'll cooperate, do whatever you ask. I promise."
"Anything?" he questioned, a glint in his eyes.
Min nodded, her resolve firm. She felt sore, weary, and in desperate need of another bath, but she doubted this man would allow her any time for self-care. She had chosen her words carefully, knowing how much her mother valued her promise to be obedient. Perhaps this man would respond in a similar manner.
"Very well. Stay close," he commanded, then turned and made his way back through the tunnel toward the exit.
As soon as his attention shifted away, Min pressed her fingertips against her temple, keeping pace with him. I'm here, Mother, she projected her thoughts silently. Her previously injured shoulder twinged slightly, but it no longer caused her pain.
While it might have taken some effort to establish a mental connection with someone else, Min had been connected with Erden since the day she was born. She knew her mother's mind almost as intimately as she knew her body.
"Yasemin! Where are you?"
"I don't know. I'm being taken somewhere. A man found me," Min transmitted her response without uttering a word.
"A man? Here?" Erden's voice echoed with a mixture of panic, surprise, and a hint of jealousy. "Where are you?"
"I can't say, Mother. He threatened to harm you if I didn't agree to go with him. He claims to be a Kelash, whatever that means. Does it ring a bell to you?" Min relayed her words through their mental connection, her concern evident.
"It might." Erden's inner voice held a touch of darkness, a hint of unpleasantness akin to the man's angry growl. "I'm going to find him and teach him a lesson he won't forget."
Min cast a quick glance at the man's backside, appreciating the view, and noticed the presence of a tail. How peculiar.
"Please, Mother. I don't want him to hurt you. Stay home. Wait for my return. I'll come back as soon as I can," Min pleaded, urgency lacing her words.
"But Yasemin—"
"I'll be back before you know it," Min interrupted, injecting a touch of forced cheerfulness into her tone. Time was running out as they approached the end of the ravine. "I love you, Mama. I'll miss you."
"Yasemin—!" Erden's voice trailed off, but Min severed their mental connection before her mother could say anything else. Suppressing a sigh of regret, she followed her captor into the sunlight. The sun still hung high in the sky, and as she glanced back, she thought she caught a glimpse of their hut through the dense foliage.
"What should I call you?" she asked, facing him once again. A cool breeze brushed against her bare skin, and the distant rumble of thunder filled the air.
He paused, appearing somewhat taken aback by her question. "Sergen. Now, follow me," he replied, taking her hand in his. A disconcerting sound of cracking and snapping emanated from his body, startling her. His face seemed to melt before her eyes, bones shifting and reshaping in a way that made her stomach churn. In a matter of seconds, the man's visage vanished, replaced by that of a wolf.
Her mother had never mentioned that men possessed such abilities.
The wolf sniffed at her, turned its head away from the stream and their modest cottage, and began leading the way. Min swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and hurried to keep pace with her unusual companion.