25 A Turn For The Worse (1/2)

”Should we wake her and feed her,” Greywolf asks Wildcat the next morning as Talia shivers in her sleep.

”Eli, come curl up with Talia for me. She's shivering,” Wildcat thinking over Greywolf's question. If they wake her to eat, the males of Dark Pack may want to use her again before they leave. ”Let her sleep,” he decides, ”We can wake her to feed her later.”

As Eli is spooning Talia and holding her close, Greywolf notices something. He moves closer to have a better look. When he's sure of what he's seeing, he motions Wildcat over and points to four scabs on the side of Eli's neck. He moves aside his own hair and shows Wildcat four scars the same size and shape as the scabs on Eli's neck and says softly, ”Talia.”

Wildcat sighs. He knows what it means. Talia and Eli didn't just mate. It was much more personal and intimate than that. Talia didn't mark him as a full-fledged mate. Yet the mark she's given Eli is permanent. She's marked him as her consort like Greywolf. He hadn't known Talia had even marked Greywolf.

Wildcat pulls Greywolf off to the side for a private one-on-one conversation, ”When did she mark you?”

Greywolf shrugs, ”Maybe a month after I became her consort.”

Wildcat asks, ”Why didn't you say something?”

Greywolf answers, ”Dah, Mist. He thinks too much like a domesticated man. He'ld probably see it as her marking me as mate. I don't think she's even aware she did it, those retractable claws of her bit sweetly into my skin only for a moment.”

Wildcat nods his agreement with Greywolf, who usually doesn't have much to say. Yet the young man is observant and his observations are usually spot-on. ”Finish getting our things ready to go. I'll have a conversation with Eli.”

Wildcat sits so he's facing Eli and the sleeping Talia. He tries to keep his voice soft and non-threatening. ”So, things got a bit serious between you and my mate last night.” It still came out more accusatory than he intended.

Eli lifts his big round green eyes to Wildcat's electric blue ones as he hugs Talia closer to his chest protectively.

”Don't be alarmed,” Wildcat tells Eli, ”just tell me what happened.”

”After you left, she started crying. She was so sad. I've never seen anyone so sad before. I just wanted to comfort her… I was licking her wound, licking the tears from her face and my lips brushed hers accidentally. I had only meant to comfort her. I hadn't intended to cross any lines with her. It just happened.”

Wildcat understands that things just happen sometimes. He also notices the much younger man isn't apologetic, ”And yet, you're not sorry.”

Eli confirms firmly, ”No.”

Wildcat smiles amused. He glances over at Greywolf who's smiling too. He looks back at Eli and tells him, ”You got heart kid.” Then he asks him, ”Can you fight?”

Eli shrugs, ”Fighting's not my style. I prefer to discuss things. But I can if I have to.”

Wildcat nods, ”That's probably exactly why Talia likes you. You're gentle. And after Windwalker wasn't so gentle with her the other night, that's exactly what she needed… Stand up and let me get a good look at ya…”

Eli slowly pulls away from Talia and stands. Wildcat nods approvingly. Eli's just a little taller than himself, is well muscled but still on the lean side because he hasn't reached thirty yet. His shoulders are a good width for his height.

”How old are ya,” Wildcat asks Eli.

”Twenty-six springs,” answers Eli.

”Well,” Wildcat nods approvingly, ”ya look like you could defend yourself or her if it was necessary.”

”I would lay down my life for her,” Eli declares to Wildcat.

”Good,” responds Wildcat, ”When her true-mate learns about you, he's not going to be happy so you just might have to.”

”The one she calls Richy,” questions Eli.

”Yeah,” Wildcat confirms, ”that's Mist. He's Water Tribe, but not wild. His mother was half tame and his father tame. He was raised tame in a house and all. He has a lot of tame notions. So you're not going to be able to come home with her at this time.”

Eli becomes visibly distressed, ”But… she chose me...”

Wildcat cuts him off, ”Her true-mate is going to freak out as it is over the Chief Windwalker situation. If you come with us now, he'll attack you. Come in a week or two to visit. He'll probably still attack you, but it won't also include his anger over what Windwalker has done.”