word "mate" sounded so heavy, so

. "I told you, I can't have kids," she mutte

ted through his chest and into her body. "Yo

r eyes widened. Cold sweat broke ou

arge, calloused palm slid under her shirt and rested flat

roking her skin, "but it's pure. Full of life. It'

ng some weird beast-man logic to judge her health. He didn't know

ing his hand away, "I'm not havin

brows deepened. "I am not just a wol

winding path. He seemed annoyed that she had

cliff, half-cave, half-structure. Thick gray stones formed the walls, and heavy wooden

oor open. The smell of dry pine

m, covered in thick, white furs. A fire pit sat in the middle of the floor, w

sank into the soft fur rug coverin

it against a rock. Sparks flew, catching the dry tinder. Within moments,

ud berries. He walked over to a clay jug in the corner, pour

like an offering. His eyes were expectant,

y and popped it into her mouth. It burst with s

he said, her e

mile. It transformed his harsh feat

arved from the tiger's carcass at the trading post. He unwrapped the thick

eat. The smell of roast

tside had barely changed color; the inside was still

the dripping, barely seare

which had been so happy a moment ago, churned

to her mouth, leaning ba