“Oh god, you’re really here. Thank you, thank you for coming back for me. I have been waiting so long for you. I love you, K’Tem.”
Her words all pouring out and making my hearts break for her that she missed me so much. I wanted to make this better. I wanted to give her nothing but good times, I never wanted to see her cry again.
“I am here. Koh and Tomlee also. But who is with you?” I asked, looking around as best I could. Apak and Vallyn were staring off to the side.
“Oh, a blue guy,” she responded, as if she only realized he was no longer here.
“Blue guy?” Tomlee asked. She reached her hand out to him and I could see the grin on his face as he took hers in his. She smiled and nodded.
“K’Tem,” I heard called out. I stood, helping Jessica to her feet. She winced when she placed weight on her left ankle. Tomlee fussed over it and she held his hand to support herself.
“Sanza?” Was it really? The male I had helped only hours before?
He came forward and the Aashi males took a step back, their spears held out in front of them, not sure if he was friend or foe yet.
“You saved my life, and I saved the life of your mate. My debt is paid.”
The others were confused until the translator on Jessica’s wrist repeated the words, then my translator repeated them into Aashi. It was very confusing.
“He saved me, he helped me get away, but he is injured. We need to take him back to get him some help. One of the healers? Axoh? Tyee?” Jessica called out.
“You must come to Clan Wolf. We can heal you. Thank you for savingJee-seka,” Vallyn replied. It was interesting the way everything was being translated. I hoped to learn English and Aashi and never have to use it again. Which reminded me to reply to my brother that I had found her, and the Zalli male I had freed was who had saved her.
I turned to look down at my fated mate, and she smiled up at me.
“Can’t believe it’s really you. You came for me. I knew you would.”
She touched my face, and her fingers danced along my lower lip. I snaked my tongue out and licked her finger. She giggled.
“Kiss me.” I pushed the hair that had broken loose from her tie behind her ear and kissed her deeply.
This was it, I was with my fated mate and I had never been happier.
“Let’s return and let them all know we have foundJee-seka.”
I reached down and lifted her into my arms.
“I love you,” I told her in English. She sighed and held onto me tight.
“I love you too. I still can’t believe you’re really here.”
Chapter Fifteen
Jessica
It was strange when I returned to camp, K’Tem never letting go of my hand even though most of the guys stared at him like he was an alien. I chuckled at the thought. I guess they were used to humans now but M’Mori were really different with all the scales… and the teeth.
It would take a long time for the Aashi to fully trust him, but he was kind and patient with them all as they asked him many questions. Koh helped answer what I knew and had told him, but I didn’t know how bad it was. My ankle still throbbed, and I was trying not to bear weight on it, but it was hard. I didn’t want K’Tem to carry me anymore, so I told him I could walk for a while. It was so dark now; the day had gone so fast and yet it felt like forever.
“Who’s the blue guy?” Elle asked, eyeing up our new member. I smiled and wiggled my brows at her. She slapped me playfully.
“Oh, shut it, you. We don’t need another matchmaker here, I was just wondering because he doesn’t look like an Aashi is all.”
Brooklyn wrapped her arms around me. I had to let go of K’Tem to hug her back. I could feel her crying.
“I’m okay, don’t worry. I’m fine.” I stroked her dark brown hair. She pulled back enough to show me her puffy eyes in the moonlight.
“I didn’t mean it, for you to leave. I’m so sorry. I won’t ever try and interfere again. Tomlee is like… Well, guess he is my brother-in-law or whatever they call it here. He is the kindest guy ever and he told me how much he was drawn to you. How your scent drew him in the same as Makee did with mine. So, I knew you were meant to be mates. In my head, that is. I didn’t listen to you, and I made it worse.” I patted her back as I shook my head.
