Page 4 of Unruly Hearts

“That’s wonderful,” I say, falling back into our orc language. “Our clan can survive?”

“Yes,” he answers me in the same way, with a wide grin.

I blink. I’d thought my brother had lost his mind when he’d come down to live among the humans, but perhaps there was something to it.

Could I find a true mate here too?

“So, he can stay in your cabin right?” Serenity asks as she stands and cleans up the medical supplies.

My stomach clenches at the very idea. Talon and I both stare at her.

“No,” Talon says, getting a hold of himself first. “Unmated males cannot stay in the same space as a mated pair.”

I nod. “This is known.”

A furrow of confusion crosses Serenity’s brow. “But I don’t have any extra cabins right now.”

“It’s okay,” I say gruffly. “I’m used to sleeping rough.”

“Absolutely not,” she insists. “You’re injured and it's getting cold at night.”

She pulls on her ear, and I find myself looking at the long line of her neck. Her skin looks so soft that I just want to run my finger along it. Would it be soft like a doe’s?

Looking back and forth between us, she sighs then says. “You can stay in my cabin.”

My body has all sorts of reactions to that, and none that I should act on. I look down at her chest, where her shapely breasts push against her worn shirt, and I just refrain from smacking my knee. I feel like I’ve just won the jackpot, and there are no cards in sight.

“I’ll sleep in my office,” she says.

“Gruktak,” I mutter in disappointment. It’s been a while since my body has reacted to a female like this. I want to toss her over my shoulder and run for her cabin, but I don’t want to scare her.

Talon is watching me suspiciously, so I don’t say anything.

She sighs again, then nods. “Well, come on then. I’ll show you the way.”

I stand, and the bench creaks.

Serenity bites her lip and a furrow trails across her brow. “I’m going to need sturdier benches if any more relatives show up.”

“We could make some,” I say. All of our furniture at home was made by our clan. We all know how.

“The basic tools are in the shed,” Talon agrees. “And we could use some of the downed branches that we cleared last week.”

“That would work,” she says, then she looks at both of us. “Should I be expecting any more visitors?”

“Not that I know of,” I answer. Although if our siblings heard that Talon found a true mate, they’ll all be coming down here before long.

Serenity leads us out of the building and along a path that passes several log cabins.

Talon stops at one, and promises to introduce me to his mate in the morning. I can tell he’s already feeling protective because of the pregnancy.

Not looking where I’m going, I stumble a bit on an exposed root, and Serenity takes my hand. I blink in surprise. This tiny human thinks she’s going to help an orc? That her fingers interlaced with mine will keep me safe? A chuckle rumbles up in my chest, but I hold it back, not wanting her to let go.

Serenity leads me down the path to a cabin at the end of the row. The weathered structure stands apart from the others, its age showing in the rough-hewn logs and time-worn porch. A handmade blanket is draped over a well-used rocking chair and lends the place a haunting comfort.

Serenity leads me inside, and the scent of pine and leather wraps around me. A massive bed, its quilted covers thick and inviting, takes up most of the room. It's surprisingly large—almost big enough for an orc. My eyes linger on it longer than they should.

Then they move to the climbing gear that hangs on the walls like ghosts—ropes, carabiners, harnesses. My eyes catch on a frayed rope near the door, its fibers oddly discolored. Something about the damage pattern seems wrong, but I push the thought away.

---