"Stop pushing… cut it out! I'm going as fast as I can run!" Barney exclaimed, his voice filled with irritation.
"Hurry up! Big brother could be in trouble!" whimpered Liam, trailing closely behind.
The little brothers bickered as they hurried through the forest, their steps quickening until they reached the clearing. What awaited them wasn't just the massive bear sprawled on the ground—it was Lula.
"Big brother, is she your mate?" Barney blurted out, his wide eyes fixed on her.
Xavier ignored his younger brothers' chatter, his focus solely on the task at hand. The bear had been dealt with, and now he worked efficiently, separating the parts of the creature. Edible portions were packed carefully, bait materials were set aside, and parts for clothing were handled with precision.
Lula, watching from a short distance, was transfixed. Each cut Xavier made was clean and deliberate, a display of skill unlike anything she had ever seen. She didn't even realise she was staring until a surprised gasp broke her focus.
"Oh no! Xavier's mate is bleeding!" Barney shouted.
"Pardon, what did you call me?" Lula asked, her voice sharp with confusion.
Her question hung in the air as she became faintly aware of the ache in her foot. Yet, her curiosity overtook her pain. Mate? What did they mean by that? She pressed for answers.
"Who is Xavier, and what is a mate?"
"What! You don't know?" Barney and Liam chorused, looking equally shocked. To them, the concept of a mate was sacred—a bond spoken of since they were old enough to understand. Their parents had described it as a deep connection, unique and undeniable, a pull that could not be resisted.
Xavier remained silent, his sharp eyes studying Lula. Was she refusing to acknowledge the bond? Without saying a word, he passed the bear's packed remains to his brothers and turned to walk away.
Lula hesitated, unsure whether to follow him or try to find her way back before nightfall. Her instincts urged her to stay with them, yet she worried she might be overstepping boundaries.
"Let's go," Xavier's gruff voice interrupted her thoughts. Despite the irritation in his tone, she couldn't help but feel a hint of relief.
As she took her first step forward, pain flared sharply in her foot.
"Ouch… argh!" she cried out, wobbling slightly. She glanced down, realising for the first time that her shoe was missing. Somewhere in her frantic escape from the bear, she must have lost it and injured herself. She tried to balance on one foot, unwilling to ask for help.
"Hold onto me," Xavier said.
Before she could react, his arms swept her off the ground. Her heart raced as she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, nestling her face against his shoulder.
"Are you Xavier?" she asked timidly.
Caught off guard, he paused. "Yes, I am. The boy covered in mud is Barney, and the one next to him is Liam."
Xavier silently chastised himself for forgetting introductions. Yet, his thoughts drifted. Why wasn't she afraid of him? Why didn't she know what a mate was? He became acutely aware of the softness of her skin against his calloused hands, her fair complexion glowing faintly in the fading light. Had she been sheltered her entire life?
"I am Lula," she said softly, her voice almost lost to the evening breeze. Before he could meet her gaze, she buried her face back into his neck, her show of shyness was a surpise. He hoped she would come to accept him, even after she learned the truth of his past.
"Hehehe… Mum and Dad will be so surprised that our big brother found his mate!" Barney exclaimed.
Liam smiled at the thought, though his expression turned serious. He vowed to protect his brother from any harm, especially the kind that could break his heart.
"Barney, Liam! Is that you?" a voice called from the distance.
"Mom!" the boys shouted in unison, sprinting ahead to throw themselves into her arms.
"Oh, goodness, my boys. Did you enjoy your hunt?" Ms Thorne asked, a warm smile lighting up her face.
Barney, as enthusiastic as ever, dismissed her question. "Big brother found his mate!" he announced proudly.