Page 55 of Unleashed

“Are you all right, Nina?” Aduun asked in a low voice, barely audible over the sound of snow compacting under Vortok as he crawled into the shelter. He still hadn’t pulled out of her; his swollen cock seemed lodged in place.

“Did he—didthey—” Vortok stammered. His features fell into a combination of hurt and fury.

“He has claimed her fully,” Balir said. “And she…she had been untouched.”

Their emotions were building like gathering storm clouds, and she guessed that this would be the worst scuffle of all. Aduun would assert his dominance, would hold his claim over theirs, and this time their little shelter wouldn’t survive the resulting fight.

Finally, she felt Aduun’s shaft ease, and he leaned back, pulling out of her. A fresh gush of seed dripped down the backs of her thighs, and she immediately missed the fullness of him inside her.

“Nina?” he asked again, his hands gentle on her hips as he drew away from her.

Nina shifted, lowering herself onto the blanket to sit. She winced. “I’m fine. A little sore, but fine.”

“You were not interested in claiming her from the start,” Balir said through his teeth. “And now…this?”

“I have mated with her,” Aduun replied, “but mine is not the only claim. She is mine, but she is also…yours. Her choice was all of us. And she will know all of us, as she wishes.”

Nina understood how difficult it was for Aduun to speak those words; his beast wanted nothing more than to fight for what it viewed as its possession, wanted nothing more than to take her to some secluded den far away from everyone and everything to have her to itself.

The tension lingered in the air for what felt like a long while. Each of their beasts viewed her in a similar fashion, desiring to possess the sole claim on her.

Nina met Vortok’s gaze. “I’ve chosen all of you,” she reminded him gently. “Equally.”

Aduun stepped up to Vortok and looked up at him. “The light is failing. We’ve all worked hard these past few days. Perhaps we should clean up, share a meal, and take time to remember that we are a tribe, no matter what our nature may sometimes tell us.”

Moving quietly, Balir walked to the alcove they’d made for the fire, brushing Nina’s leg with his tail on the way. He found the skull-bowls they’d fashioned nearby, picked them up, and went outside — likely to obtain fresh snow.

Vortok shifted his gaze from Aduun to Nina, and as it lingered on her, his expression eased. “You are right,” he finally said. “We are a tribe. A family. Wanting to wring your neck from time to time, Aduun, is just a reminder of that.”

Aduun smirked and lifted a hand, patting Vortok roughly on the shoulder.

Vortok smiled wide. “I’ll fetch some of the meat. I’m hungry.”

“That’s no surprise,” Balir said as he slipped back inside and carried the snow-laden bowls to the fireside. “While you do that, I will help clean our female.” He turned his head slightly toward Aduun. “You are on your own.”

Nina laughed at Aduun’s exaggerated grimace as Balir knelt beside her. After placing the bowls next to the fire, he settled his hands on her knees and gently spread them. She put up no resistance, but she did blush. He inhaled, and the red spots on his neck flared. Leaning over her, he purred.

“Once you are ready, Nina, it’smyturn.”

Chapter Twelve

Help…us! Nina…

Nina.

Nina!

Come now!

Nina woke with a choked gasp. She sat up, eyes squeezed shut against the throbbing in her head, and pressed a hand to her chest. Her heart pounded. For a moment, the ringing in her ears silenced all outside sound, leaving only the echo of those desperate, demanding voices in her mind.

All three valos stirred around her, pushing themselves up from the floor.

“What is wrong?” Aduun asked.

Swallowing thickly, she forced her eyes open and blinked the sleep from them. She looked to the snow packed loosely at the entrance of the shelter. By the quality of the light seeping through the small vent holes, it was morning.

“Today,” she said, reaching up to massage her temples. “We need to leave today.”

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