Page 20 of Badari Medic

There was loud music, food supplied by the commissary, rationed feelgoods for the humans, and a crowd of peoplealready having a good time when Raeblin and her pack arrived. The Daughters went as a group to greet Aydarr and Jill and then separated to pursue their own interests. Raeblin tried to stick to Palinna until her sister agreed to dance with one of the South Seas soldiers. The men from the south were among the few Badari who could ‘do casual’, although not all of them were so inclined. In hopes of avoiding any invitations from others to dance and seeing Balkor at the edge of the crowd, Raeblin located the refreshment area and got a cold juice drink. She retreated to the ad hoc playing field the organizers of tonight’s event had set up and tried to pretend interest in a rowdy ball game two mixed teams of humans and Badari were playing.

She caught Brent’s seductive scent right before he sat next to her. Her entire body tightened as all her nerves sparked.

“Hey,” he said. “I’m glad to see you here.”

With a shrug, she turned her attention to the game. “You know Aydarr’s orders—show up, mingle, let the humans become more comfortable with us.” She cut herself off sharply, remembering the other part of the Supreme Alpha’s agenda was for his men to find mates among the humans. She didn’t know if Brent was aware of the edict but the topic of mates wasn’t a good one right now, she was sure.

They watched a few plays and then Brent said, “Want to go for a walk?”

The idea was immensely appealing so she stood and held out her hand. He clasped it tight and together they made their way out of the sports area and escaped into the nearby forest. “There’s a pretty path around the lake,” he said. “And before you jump to conclusions, I’ve never taken anyone there before. I discovered it on one of my morning runs.”

Nettled by his assumption she’d infer he took many women to the scenic spot, Raeblin said, “The valley is open to everyone.”

“Except for all the parts that aren’t.” Brent chuckled. “The Badari have marked a lot of it out of bounds for humans, you know.”

Raeblin didn’t have an answer so they strolled in silence, Brent matching his pace to hers. The path he led her to was lovely, skirting the lake, which appeared silver touched in the moonlight. She was happy to be with him, her beast content as well, but she wondered what he had in mind. Eventually they reached an overlook, with a view along the entire lake, toward the massive falls at the end, and a big fallen log served as a bench. Brent drew her to the informal bench and pulled her onto his lap for a kiss.

Raeblin melted into him despite her fears about never becoming mates. He was irresistible to her, especially in this peaceful, romantic setting. She stayed close when the kiss ended, Brent rubbing his hand on her back gently. “Once I found this place, I’ve visited fairly often,” he said. “It’s a good spot for reflection. No one bothers me because it’s farther than most of the humans want to walk and the Badari prefer the trails deeper in the forest.”

“Better hunting,” she said.

“I suppose. I have to say your blood hasn’t made me into a fearsome hunter. Or not yet. I have zero desire to go off into the trees and track down furry beasts for Sandara’s stewpots.”

Raeblin rested her hand over his heart. “You don’t have a predator twined into your DNA, like us.”

“Do you mind?” His voice was serious and a bit tense.

“Of course not. Why do you ask?”

“I’ve been trying to figure this whole thing out—us, the mating issue—you know, why do we fit together? What would make us the perfect mates for the rest of our lives and beyond?”

She was flattered and terrified to hear he’d been thinking about it so much. Raeblin knew once Brent decided, there’d beno going back, no appeal. If he didn’t choose her now, there’d never be a bond. He’d make it so they never even saw each other and the packs would help him. Her Badari sisters and cousins wouldn’t want her hurt, forced to encounter a fated mate who’d refused her. She realized Brent was waiting for an answer and hastened to give the standard reply, “Only the Great Mother knows why she brings two people together but then it’s up to the couple. Well, really it’s up to the human involved.”

His laugh sounded bitter and he cut it off abruptly. “Or the former human.”

“Is it so hard being in the pack?”

“Reminds me of the military, with added complications like blood oaths and the fact every man around me is bigger, stronger and has claws and fangs. I’ll deal with it. Being the runt of the litter means I’m underestimated which means I have an advantage.” He glanced at her and seemed to understand she was unhappy about his situation and feared his blame. “Hey, none of the pack business has anything to do with you, or with us. It’s an unintended consequence of your choice to save me. I’d rather be dealing with Aydarr and his guys than be dead, believe me. Most of them know me and we have mutual respect.”

“I heard what you did at the commissary yesterday, defending my honor,” she said in the silence which followed his comment. “Thank you.”

“The guy is a jerk,” he said. “I wasn’t about to let his nasty remarks stand, not about you or me.” With a grin, he added, “I figured someone would call in the enforcers to put a stop to it before things went too far. And I had backup, Camron, Jadrian, Yonn, others.”

“Yonn?”

“Kid’s growing up fast. He likes you.” Brent heaved a big sigh. “The thing is, like I told you at the Wanderer’s cliff house,I grew up hard and my parents were no one’s poster couple for how to create a lasting relationship. I’ve never had one. You mean too much to me to agree to claiming and then I screw it up down the line. I have to besureof myself. This isn’t about you—you’re important to me, more than any woman I ever met before—but I can’t rush into this. Can you give me time, Raeblin? Could we maybe date like this for a little while? Get to know each other better? I know it isn’t the Badari way?—”

She pushed herself off his lap and walked to the water’s edge to give herself time to think. Why did the Great Mother cause it to be this way, so difficult? Why couldn’t the human know the truth about the relationship as soon as the Badari did? Her pride was hurt at him wanting more time to think—every one of her people in the valley would know she was unclaimed and probably think less of her. Balkor’s comments in the commissary yesterday would be just the beginning. Raeblin wished she was anywhere else right now but unfortunately teleportation wasn’t a Badari ability. “I don’t have any choice in this, do I?”

He joined her, putting his arm around her shoulders and hugging her close. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but all this hit me out of nowhere and I nearly died and now I’m in the pack and my head is spinning. I can’t even get drunk anymore because your damn blood cells don’t like feelgoods.”

She assumed he was trying to be funny with his last complaint but Raeblin had had enough. When she set out on the walk her hopes had been too high, thinking maybe they’d end up at his residence and make love, or even out here on the deserted trail. “I’m going back,” she said, having made a sudden decision to end her pain for this evening and get herself out of the situation. Pulling herself away from Brent, she headed out on the trail, suiting action to words. Eventually she heard him following her at a distance but he didn’t speak and neitherdid she. Once she reached the turnoff to go to the Daughters’ residence, she paused until he caught up.

“I hurt you, didn’t I?” he asked, kissing her forehead. “Not my intention, I swear. Humans and Badari are two different species and we have to process things differently. Are we okay for now?”

Unable to trust herself not to burst into tears if she tried to speak, she nodded and stepped away, reaching deep to find her voice and keep it steady. “Goodnight, goddess keep you.”

“And you.”

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