Page 70 of Orange Lake
“You seem to forget I’m one of the seven tribal alphas on this planet,” he growled. “I can’t be away for too long with so much unrest happening. Just don’t go on mating with others while I’m away,” he joked. Yet, I can feel the threat underneath it. We are going to meet other manasties in this mission. Just like the way Zirc like it because there’s a high chance we might meet his mate like this.
I shrugged my shoulders. “I can’t make any promises.”
“Roqs” I paused. “In our planet, know that you and Zirc are good as mated.”
His eyes glinted, maybe it was just the suns. He patted my shoulder roughly as if to say thank you. I winced and remembered the punishment he dealt me with yesterday. It was true though. The way they declared each other as mates, it is good enough and in the eyes of our people, they are mated. As long as there are witnesses and they declared it with good intentions, then all is well.
Manasties, however, is a race of very traditional origins. Their beasts will never be content not finding their true mate or mates. I know many have died not knowing who they are fated to mate with. This is why Roqs is happy for Zirc. Happy and sad. I just hope that they do not end up really as mates only after someone is dead. In one of our missions, we encountered such a tale. A traumatized stubborn manasty failed to mate with someone he loved. At the end, when the other male was dying, only then did his beast latched onto the male. But it was too late. The male held on for just a fortnight, their mating saved him for those precious days. The other manasty killed himself a few days after his mate died. This is why the Silver Tribe are specializing in trauma. Together with the Blue Tribe, they strive for peace because only then can their beasts be calm and mate naturally.
Speaking of, I felt a tug in my chest. I walked towards the direction of others. I saw Zirc talking to Crix in a low voice, their faces close. I felt Roqs walking behind me.
As I near, I noticed that Zirc is rubbing his chest. The same way I am rubbing mine. It felt itchy inside. Zirc is grumbling while rubbing his chest now earnestly.
“Are you ok?” Roqs asked, concern in his voice. He made Zirc sit down on a nearby rock cropping.
“What’s wrong?” I asked Zirc. He seemed to be feeling much worse than what I’m feeling now.
I gasped and went down to my knees clutching my chest. Zirc grumbled and I felt his hand on my shoulder.
We looked at each other.
“Brynn.”
“Brin.”
Then we were sprinting to where we feel the tug in our chest. I can feel as if Brynn is shouting at us for help. I can hear the others running after us. The pain to Zirc must be great. Like a slow motion movie, I saw him getting bigger and bigger. Others held back. Afraid. But I am not. It’s been a long time since I saw the Silver Beast.
And he looks magnificent!
Zirc’s Silver Beast shook himself so I caught up with him. He looked at me, his fangs are out, his face elongated. He is not in a half beast mode. He is in full beast mode!
I felt Roqs rush to his side, can feel his beast trying to get out as well. I saw other manasties running towards us from the other direction. We stopped at a clearing, a lake nearby. It is not yet noon but I can feel the heat of the suns behind the back of my neck.
We stopped. The other manasties were not running, they were slow because they were carrying a male between them.
It was Roo.
Zirc howled, letting out his frustration to the world.
“Where is Brin?” he growled.
The other manasties paled but at the same time I saw the awe in their eyes. They have probably heard but not saw in their own eyes. The Silver Beast speaking to them. Not many can speak when they are in their beast form. Yet, it’s almost as if Zirc is speaking.
Volks approached us from the right. He probably came in from the mansion and saw something.
“Jigen is following them,” Volks announced. Crix stood beside his mate.
“Who?” I can barely form the words. I am so agitated.
“We don’t know,” Volks answered the same time he stepped in front of us to shield Crix. I felt the other manasties guard do the same.
“Wait.”
Suddenly, Roqs is between me and Zirc. His grip is powerful enough on our biceps that he can stop me and Zirc advancing on Volks.
We are prepared to beat Crix and Volks to get answers. But before we can say anything, I felt something painful being wrenched inside me. I went down. Felt the land shook a little when Zirc fell down as well.
I looked at him. His eyes wide with shock. Mine are probably the same. It felt like someone ripped the link we have to Brynn.
