Page 23 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

“Yes, and I will regret that decision every day for the remainder of my life.” Govek’s father said with such earnestness that Govek blinked.

“I’m sure.” Karthoc snorted.

His father skewered Karthoc with a glower. “Govek, you have done well. Rogeth says that you managed to bring a woman here despite not making it to Estwill.”

“A woman?” Karthoc said with far too much interest and Govek’s claws instantly burst from his hands. “You didn’t mention a woman.”

“She is mine,” Govek rumbled.

“What do you mean she is yours?” Chief Ergoth said slowly. “You rescued her, did you not? Brought her here to live? You cannot claim possession over her, Govek. That isn’t our way.”

Govek gritted his teeth. Of course, he would not force Miranda to do anything, but blast. His infernal imprint was screaming at him to drag his woman to his home and bar all the doors.

“Rogeth says she is with Maythra now. I will tell her to bring this newcomer to the hall. She can mingle with her new clan while you rest at home.”

Have Miranda mingle with other orcs at the hall while he was forced to remain in isolation on the outskirts? Fuck no.

“Miranda stays with me,” Govek snarled.

His father’s brow furrowed. “Govek, control yourself. She should be allowed to come to the hall if she wants to.”

“Fuck all, why are we even bothering with this?” Karthoc said, waving a hand. “Govek is the one who brought her here, so clearly she is his conquest.”

Ergoth narrowed his eyes. “That isn’t how we do things in Rove Wood, my young nephew. Your warriors may cart women around like property, but the orcs of Rove do not. Every woman here in our clan, in Oakwall, or outside it, is her own being deserving of respect.”

“I never said they don’t get respect. And of course, they are not our property. But Govek clearly feels for her and what point is there going to your hall unless she is there to meet other orcs? Orcs shouldn’t be trying to steal women away from each other.”

“The fact that you think they can be stolen insinuates that you regard them as property and not beings with their own sovereignty.” Chief Ergoth lifted his head high.

“You twist my words, Ergoth. Orcs no longer fight for their women as we did in the past. The woman has control over who she plays conquest to. She can choose to belong to any she sees fit.”

“Exactly,” Chief Ergoth said with a quick nod. “So, Govek, Miranda will come to the hall tonight, meet others and have a meal. So that if or when she decides to play conquest, it can be an informed choice rather than one made only out of desperation. Rogeth told me she was lost in the woods. Poor thing. She must have been terrified.”

Govek gritted his teeth, his claws sunk into his palms. Of course, Miranda hadn’t chosen to be with him out of desperation. Of course, she hadn’t given herself to him only because he was her only option.

Right?

His guts were in tatters.

And then Karthoc leaned in a little toward Govek, sucked a breath in, before bellowing out a laugh. “Not so terrified she wouldn’t take Govek here into her bed.”

Ergoth’s scowled deepened, accentuating the sharp lines on his forehead and darkening his eyes. “Nephew, that is unseemly. How dare you insinuate something so crude.”

“You can smell her on him, can’t you? She’s clearly been all over him. Multiple times judging by the strength,” Karthoc said and Govek could not decide if he was affronted on Miranda’s behalf or relieved this truth was so apparent. “Is she pregnant?”

“No,” Govek said in an instant before his father could think any worse of him. “She’s been through a trial. I brought her here expecting nothing from her in return.”

“But you still took advantage of her vulnerability?” Chief Ergoth asked coldly.

“No vulnerability smells like that, Ergoth,” Karthoc snapped. “She was wanting, clearly. Or have you never had a hot, willing woman before? Perhaps you don’t know the scent of it?”

Ergoth’s face grew dark and his gold eyes bulged, and Govek clenched his fists so hard that he could feel the warm, wet blood trickle between his fingers.

“I know better than any, my young nephew. Far better than you. Corine worshipped—” Ergoth sucked in a breath, shook his head as if trying to dispel his fury. “This is pointless. I relent. But Govek, I trust you wouldn’t hold this woman against her will. If she would like to come to the hall for a meal, you will allow her.”

“Yes,” Govek responded. He already knew that trying to take command would ruin things where women were concerned. He would give Miranda any boon she wished if it meant she stayed at his side.

Hopefully, for tonight, his home and everything in it would be enough.

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