Page 58 of X'nath

X’NATH

The fire crackled in the center of the clan’s gathering, casting dancing shadows across familiar faces of friends and family. The rich scent of roasted meat wafted around us, and a hearty stew simmered in a massive cauldron beside it. The men had outdone themselves today, bringing in a massive kill—a wild boar so large it could feed the entire clan for days. Laughter and conversation filled the air, the usual banter between friends and lovers flowing freely.

It was a great day to be alive. A great day to be part of the Savage Claw Clan.

I leaned back against the log where I sat, enjoying the warmth of the fire. Our warriors joked and drank, sharing stories of the hunt, while the women laughed in their own groups. Sophie, the smallest of the human females and the first to open herself up to a new life with our clan, stood with the others, glowing as she spoke of her love for Greag. She wore loose clothing, nothing new as many of our coverings were much too large for her.

"Well, Greag, I think it’s clear whose virility won this round," said Borba, a teasing grin on her face. She took a long swig from her mug.

We all stopped chattering and swung our heads in Borba’s direction.

Greag let out a hearty laugh, looking pleased with himself. "Of course, Borba. No surprise here. It’s not just my strength that makes me the best," he boasted, his tone dripping with pride.

Sophie rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smile on her face. She placed a hand over her stomach, her cheeks flushing. All of the women around her began chatting excitedly over the news. "I’m just happy to have someone who can actually keep up," she teased, sending a playful jab at Greag’s boastful nature.

The laughter of the group grew louder as the women raised their cups in a mock salute. "To Greag," Borba said, lifting her mug. "May his strength keep growing—and let’s hope he’s got the stamina to keep up with Sophie’s cravings."

The entire table roared with laughter, and Greag took a dramatic bow, a wide grin plastered on his face. "I shall never fail her. I’ll be the best father this clan has ever seen," he declared, before turning to Sophie, lifting his own cup. "To you, my love, and the child we’re going to raise together."

"To Sophie and Greag," the clan echoed, lifting their own cups in a hearty cheer. The camaraderie was infectious, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to enjoy the warmth of the celebration.

Then, a voice—one I hadn’t expected—cut through the laughter.

“Well, well, Sophie’s not the only one who has something to celebrate.” The voice came from behind me, and I turned to see Greag’s grin faltering as his gaze flicked to me, then to the others around the table.

The murmurs spread like wildfire across the clan. Some of the men chuckled, and the women exchanged knowing glances. My chest tightened as I followed their looks. What was Greag implying?

I turned to look at Gracie, who had been sitting quietly beside me. Her gaze was distant, her posture tense as though she was somewhere far away. I felt the tension building in the air.

But Greag wasn’t done. “What, you think I’m the only one here who knows how to have a good time?” he boomed. “X’nath, here, has been keeping something of his own under wraps.”

The eyes of the clan shifted to me, and my heart skipped a beat. The whole place went silent for a moment, the intensity of their gazes too much to ignore. I could feel Gracie tense beside me.

"Well?" Borba asked, smirking as she raised an eyebrow. "What’s this? You’ve finally found a woman who can handle your... intensity?"

A few other women laughed, some even jokingly murmuring about the nature of my previous ‘trysts,’ but they were all light-hearted, far from malicious.

“It’s no surprise that my Gracie would be the one to make me work for her affections,” I grinned, a surge of pride bubbling up as I pulled Gracie onto my lap and held her tightly. The progress we’d made between us pleased me more than I cared to admit.

But my instincts told me something was off. As the jokes continued, I turned to Gracie again, searching her face for some sign, but she was so still, her eyes fixed on her plate.

I could sense the undercurrent of tension in her body, the way her fingers were clenched tight around her mug, as if she were ready to run but I couldn’t understand why. After our tryst in the forest, she seemed relieved, more willing to accept my companionship on our walk back to the clan. But now, shewasn’t joining in on the laughter, and her usual fire was gone, replaced by something else.

When the conversation turned back to Sophie and Greag, I leaned in toward Gracie, lowering my voice so only she could hear me. "Lak’osh," I said softly, "what’s going on?"

She turned her head toward me, her lips curving into something that was supposed to be a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "I’m fine," she murmured, her voice quieter than usual.

I wasn’t convinced. I reached for her hand, threading our fingers together and squeezing them gently. "You’re not fine. What’s happening?"

She hesitated, glancing around the table as if she were looking for an escape route. It was a familiar pattern I had come to learn.

"I’m just... a little overwhelmed," she said at last, her eyes flickering to Sophie’s belly region and then to Greag. "Everything’s just... so much."

I could feel her heart racing beneath my touch, and I didn’t buy her excuse for a second. She was hiding something, but I couldn’t force it out of her—not here, not now.

"Do you want to leave?" I asked, keeping my voice low. "You don’t have to stay here if it’s too much."

She nodded quickly, but there was a flicker in her eyes that told me this wasn’t just about the celebration. There was something more, something unspoken that she was holding back. I disliked this feeling. As a warrior, I thrived on being prepared, but how could I be ready for a battle when I didn’t even know who— or what— I was fighting?

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