Page 50 of I Married A Catman

“Tread carefully, Gaelec,” Moriak threatened, echoing the Matriarch’s earlier words.

“Or what?” Gaelec repeated, like he had with Rozel. “Will you challenge me to a duel? Right here and now?”

“Gaelec!” I exclaimed in a whisper, panic settling in.

I didn’t fear that he might lose. Although I’d never seen either male in battle, I knew with an inexplicable certainty that my husband would make mincemeat out of his opponent. But I also believed it would open the biggest and stinkiest can of worms possible with consequences I doubted we wanted to deal with.

“Gaelec, are you challenging Moriak as our new Alpha?” Rozel asked.

To my utter shock, instead of being outraged as she asked the question, Rozel seemed almost eager for it to be the case. The calculating glimmer in her eyes didn’t bode well. Despite how much she was clearly butting heads with my husband, I was getting a strong impression that she still wanted him to become their new Alpha, or at least to use him to get rid of the current one.

Moriak visibly blanched. Even though he tried to hide it, it was clear to me that he also believed he couldn’t win. Judging by the expressions on multiple faces, the Pride believed it as well.

I held my breath as the silence stretched. A cruel smile settled on my husband’s lips as he stared down his nemesis. Although I couldn’t blame him for enjoying watching the foul male sweat, it nevertheless unnerved me. More disturbing still were the hopeful looks from both Kazaer and Ylis. My mind raced as I tried to assess how it would change our lives if he battled Moriak and won. I couldn’t see him and the Matriarch ever seeing things eye to eye. Was I just being pessimistic? After all, I had been here less than forty-eight hours. Maybe once I gotto know her better—assuming I ever got the opportunity—she might turn out to be far more flexible than she appeared so far.

“Despite Moriak’s constant fear that I will challenge him, I have never held such ambitions,” Gaelec said at last, contempt dripping out of his voice. “But I will no longer stand by while we’re sacrificed and taken advantage of.”

“Your place among us isn’t secure that you should be stirring so much trouble,” Oluina said, her voice filled with bitterness and anger.

“It isn’t,” Gaelec conceded, totally unfazed. “But while I am still a member, I will not be silent. I owe our youth a truth I wished I could have benefited from. Other mature males may be content to accept whatever fate throws at them, but I believe in shaping my own future rather than being a victim to it.”

In that instant, I realized my mate had made his peace with the likelihood that he would leave. A part of me rejoiced at that prospect while another struggled with it. Leaving felt like a failure.

“We hear your words well, Gaelec,” Rozel said with a hint of reluctance. “But a Pride cannot survive without the resources and credits derived from missions.”

“They do not have to be illegal or involve piracy!” Gaelec objected. “There are tons of legal options out there. I’ve done my research. Countless traders and other businesses are constantly on the lookout for hired hands for temporary work. Why are these not the missions being brought to us by the Alpha? These would provide the extra revenue needed without putting our lives in jeopardy. Just like every female wants to come home after a hunt, we want to do the same after a mission. Is that too much to ask?”

Murmurs of approval greeted his words.

“Gaelec makes a good point,” I blurted out, my mind racing upon hearing his words.

I hadn’t meant to inject myself in a debate that could fundamentally reshape their society, but my damn mouth had a will of its own. With every eye now locked on me, I just decided to go for it.

“As you may have heard, I’ve spent the past decade performing charity and missionary work alongside various primitive species. I worked alongside the Sangoths for a couple of years. They are a Yeti-like species. They are big, furry giants who live in the mountains and cold areas,” I specified in response to the confused glances they gave me upon hearing that name. “Nazhrals would be perfect for performing deliveries or assisting with construction work over there. As I understand it, your people can heat cold air through your noses and can withstand intense low temperatures.”

Many heads nodded in response. Seeing them raptly attentive to my words spurred me on.

“With your claws, dexterity, fantastic hunting skills and swimming abilities, you exceed the minimum requirements for countless temporary work opportunities. Few people want to take on those jobs because they lack too many of the necessary attributes that you naturally possess. Therefore, wages tend to be on the higher end to lure potential candidates.”

Ranor huffed, displeased by my intervention. “Those are month-long missions. Some of them can even drag for an entire year. The pay over the period comes down to a lot less than what they would earn over a couple of missions that would only last a few days.”

“Assuming they actually survive that mission,” I retorted harshly. “I would rather let my husband and the sons I hope to have one day be gone for three months to a year in exchange for the certainty that they will return safely home to me, even if that means with a smaller pay. No amount ofpossiblehigher wages justifies gambling with their lives and the likelihood thatthey could be killed or jailed for more than fifteen years. And now, with the new law making sure their prison wages will be untouchable, it makes even less sense to play with their lives.”

“There’s no pride or glory in this menial work you’re trying to push on us,” Moriak snarled.

Gaelec opened his mouth to tear into the Alpha, but I clasped his forearm to stop him, my gaze still levelled with contempt at the despicable male.

“Because there is pride to be gained in jumping headfirst into a mission that was doomed to fail to begin with? Because there is glory in stealing and killing? Sending your youth to waste away in a prison is a bragging right to you?” I challenged. “I find you extremely callous to be pushing for such dangerous practices while putting the lives of others on the line even as you remain safely tucked away here.”

“I have done plenty of missions of my own, human! Your presumptions scream of your ignorance. I have earned my position,” Moriak snapped.

“Do you even remember what it was like to be in their place? Because from what I’ve seen and heard so far, you appear to have either forgotten or stopped caring. What shame would there be in doing the kind of work I mentioned? How is it any different than the work males perform here for the Pride? You build, hunt, cook, fetch and deliver goods to and from the village. It would be the same! The difference is that instead of gambling on risky missions that randomly come up, this would be a far more reliable, safe, and steady source of income. As the Alpha, isn’t it your duty to protectallthe members of your Pride, including the males?”

“You do not know our ways, human,” Oluina snarled.

“But she is learning them,” Ylis interjected. “And above all, she’s bringing a fresh perspective regarding markets we know nothing about. If Gaelec is right about those new rules—and I donot doubt his words for a moment—then our Pride must adapt to ensure its survival. Why should we keep sacrificing our males in vain?”

My heart soared when many heads nodded their agreement, with quite a few assessing glances flicking between my mate and me. I didn’t know these people enough yet to accurately interpret their reaction, but they seemed to be warming up to these ideas.

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