Page 3 of Monster's Obsession

Kneeling beside the hearth, I pulled the pot from the coals, scooping what was left into my only bowl. Turning my thoughts from the spiral of worry threatening to consume me, I focused on which path I should take into the forest. It was time to try a new direction to see what I could find.

Finishing the stew, I tossed the bowl into the washbasin and filled the pot with coals to burn away anything left inside. I would scrape it clean when I returned, but I was eager to be out under the trees, in the freedom the forest offered.

Tying back my blonde locks with a bit of string, I picked up my basket and opened the door, but froze in place when something moved on the step. Heart thudding in my throat, I was surprised to look down and see, not a mouse or some other critter, but a pile of mushrooms.

Jaw dropping, my heart slowed as I continued to stare. They were the same type I’d collected the day before, and it was such abounty that I could make them last into summer if I was careful. Many still had clumps of dirt around their base, giving rise to the hope that I could replant them in the space under the back of the house where they could flourish in the dark.

I dropped to my knees in the doorway, stretching out hesitant fingers, waiting for them to disappear. No one I knew would have given away such treasure for nothing, yet I couldn’t see anyone lingering nearby.

Carefully lifting a clump from the pile, I brought them closer to my face. Some were bruised and broken, as if the person who’d collected them hadn’t realized how delicate they were, but they would still be edible.

Breathing in, I caught the lightest scent of cinnamon with an unfamiliar musk that was undeniably alpha. Looking around again, I still didn’t spot anyone.

Shaking off my shock, I dumped my wet clothing out of the basket, replacing them with the mushrooms. The gift had been delivered at some point during the night, and if I wanted the best chance to keep some growing, I needed to take care of them quickly, not keep wondering at my luck.

Chapter Three

Mel’cam

My precious omega didn’t enter the forest until the sun was high. I’d found a place in the closest part of the tree line where I could see her house, and she’d spent the morning digging at the base of the back wall before burying something. I’d watched her move stones to where she’d been digging before returning inside her home, my impatience growing.

I wanted her closer, where I could smell her.

The other things I wanted to do to her would have to wait.

She ambled under the trees, still searching, but there was less tension carried in her shoulders. I tried to find a pattern to what she put in her basket, but there didn’t seem to be anything in particular she was searching for. She collected anything of use, though some made no sense to me. Most of it was foodstuffs, things I’d eaten many times when game was hard to find.

My eyes narrowed, the thought pointing to something I hadn’t realized before. I’d been watching the female for weeks, but I’d never seen her hunt. She hadn’t even set out somethingas simple as a snare to come back and check when she made her daily trek into the forest.

I shifted on my toes, claws digging into the damp earth where I crouched amidst a clump of holly. I knew humans had some differences from my kind, but we both ate meat. If my female wasn’t able to procure it herself, it was my duty to provide it for her.

I continued to watch as she walked beneath the trees, the light shining through the leaves giving her pale hair a greenish tint. She took her time, seeming to enjoy the walk more than she had the previous days, and my chest swelled knowing I was the cause. I may not have been able to see her reaction to my gift, but it was clear it had been well-received.

Slipping from my hiding place when she wandered too far, I followed in her wake, never taking my eyes from the female but always keeping my senses alert. My presence in the area had scared off most of the predators that would have posed a threat to her, but that didn’t mean I could be any less vigilant.

Eventually she finished her wandering, returning to the edge of the forest, though she paused before stepping out into the clearing. Her shoulders drooped and she heaved a deep breath, as if she regretted having to return.

Reaching out, I clenched a branch in my hand, the wood cracking under my palm helping to relieve the tension within me. Something wasn’t right if she was more at home alone in the forest than with her own people, but going on a rampage through the village would only drive a gap between us before I had a chance to claim her. I may not be giving the omega a choice about coming with me, but I didn’t want her to hate me.

I waited after she disappeared into her home to be sure she wouldn’t emerge again. When the smoke from her chimney grew thicker, I knew it was safe to pause my vigil.

It took a little time to find what I was looking for. The humans called us monsters, yet my people livedwiththe land, doing what we could to preserve it, while they were the ones that came in and ruined an area. They knocked down trees without thought that provided homes for other creatures, hunting game to the point of scarcity.

It was spring, and many animals were either gestating, or already had young. The village and surrounding area may have been outside my usual territory, but that didn’t mean I was going to treat it any different. I searched until I found a flourishing rabbit colony, choosing a pair of young bucks who didn’t seem to have mates for my offering.

Not many had the patience it took to wait for them to drift far enough from the warren to make a move, but it was a simple matter to catch and kill them. I dressed the carcasses, rubbing my scent into the skins before wrapping them around the meat and making my way back to the village.

It was easy to sneak to the omega’s door, but I worried about leaving the meat on the ground. The canines that guarded the livestock were loose, and while mushrooms may not attract them, raw meat would. I didn’t want my gift to disappear before my female got it.

Searching the area around her home, I found a line stretched between the house and a pole stuck in the ground. I’d seen her hang clothing from it each morning, and it was the best option I could find, so I tied the rabbits to it, hoping it was high enough to keep the meat out of reach until then.

Turning to leave, I spotted the stones I’d watched her move that morning stacked against the base of her house. Curious as to what she’d been doing, I walked closer, kneeling in the dirt to move them aside.

A hole became visible, extending beneath the wooden floor of her home. Even with my better vision, the light of the moonwasn’t enough to show me how big it was, but a cautious reach of my arm revealed it wasn’t very deep.

Leaning closer, I sniffed at the opening. The omega’s scent was strong, making my mouth water with want, but I pushed that aside, focusing on the other scents lingering in the enclosed space.

It seemed to be filled with plant matter. Mostly roots, though there was a hint of sweetness that suggested there was fruit as well. I also caught a trace of my own scent mingled with the smell of the mushrooms I’d left the night before. The stash seemed like too little for my omega to properly prepare for her heat, and proved I was correct about the lack of meat.

---