12

It was strange having the men there with her. there was something about Mika she just couldn't place her finger on though. She knew some basics about them
1-They had really had tempers
2-They normally kept to their own kind
3-Shift from human to beast at will
That was it. She knew they called their husbands/wives life mates, but the way Mika looked at her. The utter shock on his face. For a split second she thought,* Oh my god this is the hottest angry beast that has ever walked the earth*, but in a span of a heart beat he'd crushed her when he said "It's you?!". She figured he was rejecting her and she would just be alone like before. After all he wasn't bringing it up so she wasn't either. After the events and everyone calmed down Ari tried to get some rest, but she could not get comfortable. she rolled on the floor using her bag as her pillow. Every time shed turn one way some how Mika was in her line of sight. He sat so calmly along the door blocking anyone from entering. *Dozing or was he pretending to be asleep and really watching her?* she thought. It felt like his eyes stayed on her all night. At some point she finally gave in and sleep with out dreams.

Mika watched as her body finally relaxed and she drifted off to some sleep. He was shocked. He did not think a fated mate would be a human, he'd heard about them but they had always been wolves. *Is it really that far to believe a human could be my fated mate? I mean before our pack had been converted from humans.* he hashed out in his mind. The more he sat there and watched her dedicating her every curvature of her lips, to the way her stands of hair curled around her face to his memory. The way her chest rose and fell as she breathed made his own fall in tune. Her scent was driving everything else out. He had a vague understanding of fated mates, only because there weren't many in the village. He'd known of a pair, Jacqueline and Murtaugh. Murtaugh had been a solider that had helped Mika when they drove out a hoard of undead who'd trampled into our lands. Mika recalled Murtaugh mentioning it, "was like everything spinning out of control and then suddenly it has a center, her. Her smell, her voice, her desires become that of your own and visa versa. you are one soul in two bodies drawing to one another." at the time Mika laughed at the very thought. he figured he'd find someone one day, a submissive woman who'd follow his lead over the pack. he snapped back to the present,* the Goddess was having amusement when she fated us surely. she's a fireball.* He thought. *Or she truly blessed me.*

when Ari woke she found Theo had stayed up by Talia all night. He was a large man, but in comparison he was bigger than Devion, not as big and broad as Mika. Talia's color had started to return and she had stopped sweating which meant her fever broke. Ari was grateful for the extra knowledge and helping hands.
Ari looked around immediately noticing Mika wasn't there.
Devion sat quietly in the corner of the cabin when Ari walked up, “Where is Mika?". The man grinned sheepishly, "He went hunting. Said we'd need fresh meat for breakfast." Ari nodded. "Alright." She stood to go out the door, “And where are you going little one?" Devion asked almost protectively but laid back. “Look here wolfie I was taking care of my self long before you three, er four, dropped in. I am going to go get some wood we are about out, and I don't know about you but I kinda like my meat cook a bit. I also have my animal to tend to." she responded. He chuckled, “Have at it."
Once away from the little cabin she felt the fresh air around her and for the first time in hours could breath. She didn’t understand it but the biggest one, Mika, his presence just....commanded her attention. And shed be damn to let someone distract her from, well whatever HER plans were. Shed continued this interhomolog while going to find her horse. It wasn’t too much as Keke was grazing near by. Ari was glad to see she had not taken off with the addition to the wolves last night. since Keke was petty well looking after herself she decided she take a walk through the woods to get the wood.
She hadn’t been paying much attention as she was gathering to any particular direction when she her the padding of paws. it was so gentle almost non existent, but she just knew he was right there in the bushes. " You can come out, I know you're there." she called. Shuffling of bushes and Mika stood before her. She had to admit his body looked as if a God had molded him. His broad shoulders, his chest had just enough hair that as she followed it went to the crest of his naval. She licked her lips subconsciously knowing if she followed further the prized shed fine. She blinked mentally slapping her self for gawking." I, um, sorry you're naked." she confessed. He grinned, a short crooked smile that made her tummy flip. " Yes. Does that bother you?" "I'm not use to anyone being so...open." he nodded his understanding. humans were very self conscious, but he didn't think Ari should be. His inner wolf was practically yapping at the idea of her walking bare with him. *Stop that! Don't think like that.* Mika chastised him self. Quickly changing subject he asked, " Why are you out here?" She took the offered escape question, "I was gathering some more wood for the fire."
"Well I'm in luck for breakfast." Mika held up a small doe as if he was holding a rabbit up. The doe was a good size big enough the five of them could get plenty of nutrients from. "That's great. I bet we can find some juniper berries to go with it for seasoning." she smiled. "They are small blue grey berries. The small, needle-like leaves are green with broad silver bands on the inner side, curving slightly to a sharp, prickly point. the berries will be in a cone like shape." she was searching through the foliage but smiling too. Mika liked to see her smile her eyes twinkled some. " I like herbs, plants. hell I like nature. it's easy to understand." she admitted shyly. Mika breathed slightly, * OK we are getting somewhere.* " How did you learn?"
" Growing up I needed to protect myself, treat myself. So I learned. I hunted, traded, and moved. If there ever was a threat it was on me to get rid of it." straight to the point she said. Mika's heart hurt, he'd grown up with at least his pack to lend a hand when needed. even of he lead a unit, he knew of he was in critical need Theo or Devion would assist, but she had no one.
"you did well with Talia's wound. Theo believes she was poisoned with mountain ash oil. you'd mentioned some substance of the trap?" Ari thought about, she hadn’t known that's what it was." I take it that mountain ash is poison for your kind?"
"Yes very. It has killed many of our kind. Talai will recover hopefully, being in her state we don't know how much was filtered to the baby. It could've been much worse. Thank you." he admitted.
"I don't understand it. you don't know her, but you seem genuinely concerned, is it because she is female?" Ari wanted to know if what Talia had said about her village extended to this other pack. Were they only about breeding?
Mika shook his head, “No. We are allies with their pack. she hasn’t pledged her allegiance directly to my alpha, but she is wolf. We will always come for one of our own."
"What about the other half of her group?" Ari thought it was a interesting idea that regardless if you knew the person you'd do you best to help them, take them in. isn't that what she had done after all? Ari thought she'd only done it because of the child and some deep material instinct had over rode her judgement. But was that really the truth?
Mika continued walking, but at a slow pace enjoying the time to get to know Ari." I plan on letting Devion go into town after breakfast, let him sniff out any wolf scent while Talia recovers." Ari nodded in agreement, "Yeah that's a good idea."

"Maybe while we wait we can get to know one another more?" he asked probing hoping to find some interest from. Her. "You mean because we are traveling together?" she asked hoping he'd say that it was because he was interested in her and not just allow the excuse of traveling together be the reason, but he didn't give away any emotion or flicker of thought across his face. " Yes." he drew out. “because we are traveling together." *There that was a safe answer I could give her.* he thought.