Falling in Love with the King of Beasts

RETH

Reth raced to the Portal clearing in his beast, making it there in a little over half an hour. But he stopped just shy of the end of the trail. Gawhr would have heard him coming—especially with the horses pounding behind him. But he couldn't afford to antagonize the Bear Alpha. The male was erratic at the best of times. He would be in a rage now—and given the scent of blood in the air, Reth just prayed that Gahrye was still alive.

The guards—ten already there, and another twenty on their way, just in case many of the bears were awake—all slid to a halt, returning to their human forms to gather around him among the trees. He waited until the two fist leaders had gathered their ranks and turned to him, then issues quick, efficient instructions.

"You stay here among the trees unless you hear me growl, then you approach slowly unless I call for battle. We are here to make peace, not antagonize war, do you understand?"

The fist leaders both nodded.

"The bears always work to intimidate. As long as he's raging, we have nothing to worry about. It's when he goes silent that you are on guard. Do not let yourselves break. He will smell your fear. You wait until you have an instruction from me, and do not fight unless I give the call to battle, or you see him attack me."

"But, Sire, if he's already attacked—"

"He is an old friend. I'm praying to the Creator that our relationship can withstand the tension. But regardless, you do not intrude unless I call for it, or am already bleeding."

The males both balled their hands to fists, but nodded, accepting the instruction.

"Good males. Now, position yourselves, and pass on the instructions to others when they arrive."

Then he turned and jogged into the clearing.

As the trees parted and the last curve of the trail flattened out into the sparse grass and weeds of the portal clearing, the sight that met Reth's eyes made his heart sink.

Gawhr stood over a crumpled body on the ground, his voice low and gnarled. Two other bears stood behind him, both their faces twisted in rage—and all of their knuckles bloodied.

"Stand down, Gawhr," he growled as he strode into the clearing.

The big bear's head swung and his single eye locked on Reth. "The liar has arrived," he spat, then kicked Gahrye in the side.

The equine groaned and curled in on himself, but he didn't move or try to fight. Reth's heart raced, fluttering and jumping as if it would explode.

He couldn't go back to the cave and tell Elia her best friend had been killed.

He held Gawhr's gaze and shook his head. "Please don't kill my mate's Cohort, Gawhr," he said dryly, feigning indifference. "The male is only lovesick and—"

"LIAR!" Gawhr roared. "I put my hands on this male as he was about to walk into the Portal. You told me your people would not cross! You told me there was no further risk—only you going for your mate! That was the agreement!"

Reth put his hands up, palms forward, praying Gawhr was too tense to notice he was sweating. "This male is a good male with a good heart, Gawhr. He has already crossed twice—just as I had. He brought my mate back to me when her life was at risk, now he seeks to return to his own. You understand that, Gawhr—you understood my need to be close to Elia—"

"He seeks to cross not even for the good of the people, but for his own gain?!"

"Just as I would have. The call of the mate—"

"Those who cross for selfish gain will be consumed by the enemy!" Gawhr roared. "His heart is not good, he would be corrupted, and then you would return him here to corrupt the rest of us!"

"No, no, that's not what I said," Reth said, trying to sound reasonable and calm, even as his chest began to stab with every beat of his heart, such was his fear that the bear would snap. "My order was for none to cross until I had spoken with you to gain permission. But this male… he entered Anima unaware of the agreement and wished to return to his mate. His true mate, Gawhr."

"I wouldn't…let them have me. I had to get to… her… she's having a baby," Gahrye whispered from the ground. "At least… I think she is."

Reth's brows rose and he looked at Gawhr, who had gone still.

Hope flared in Reth's chest. Gahrye was beaten and bruised and clearly in pain. But he was also speaking clearly. It looked like the bears had only intended to punish him, not kill him.

"You have offspring on the way?" Gahwr snarled.

"I… can't be sure until I get there," Gahrye replied, rolling slightly so he could meet Gawhr's gaze through swollen eyes. "But… I would not… I hate the voices… I wouldn't… give in."

"Gawhr," Reth said softly, "he's a good male."

Gawhr stared down at Gahrye, then his eye snapped up to meet Reth's and his upper lip curled. "You think to manipulate me as you have your people all these years? I know you, Reth, and I know you and your people, Reth. And I know you only keep your word as far as it benefits you! I should never have agreed to your crossing, but I attempted mercy. But this? This is betrayal of our agreement."

"No, Gawhr, please—"

"You and your people cannot be trusted. This is the Queen's Advisor? And she sent him to cross? All of you are dark! All of you! I should have listened to my father!"

"No!"

"You all stink of deception and selfish ambition—which comes from the voices."

"No! He sought his mate! That's all—you understand a true mate, Gawhr. How hard it is to be apart!"

Gawhr's eye widened. "Only his mate? That is all he seeks? And no risk to your people, or ours who sleep here, unprotected, when he comes back with the evil ones clinging to him like a bad stench?"

"They do stink, the ones who give over," Gahrye murmured. "You can tell—"

"SILENCE!" Gawhr roared, and the two bears behind him took defensive stances as the bear Alpha leaned down to spit at Gahrye. "You are so eager to meet them, and your King is so eager to see you bring them back to his people, then very well. You will meet them."

"No, Gawhr!" Reth snarled.

But the huge bear just picked Gahrye up—who flailed, but was too weak to fight, and outnumbered anyway—and started back into the cave, Reth on his heels.