Lycus stood by the hill’s edge along with his mate.
He watched her silently as she stared at the drift of life below. Despite the cold, darkened weather, it was easy to spot the slant of roofs in the short distance, the thin billows of smoke that rose from chimneys. Occasionally, the bleating of sheep that triggered his hunger reflex, unconscious piling of saliva between his cheeks.
He swallowed with a sigh then forced his attention from the sheep and back towards Inayah.
She had crouched low, elbows balancing on her knees, hands cupping her cheeks. Her eyes remained fixated on the silhouettes of people moving about, drifting laughter of shrieking children as they played. A slight glaze overcame her eyes, almost serene and satisfied. Yet beneath it, he saw slivers of longing.
Lycus shifted onto his other foot. “Do you have any family?”
“No,” Inayah replied and a breeze sighed past them, stirring loose strands of hair that fell from her ponytail.
“Any friends?”
“Mmm,” her lower lip tucked into her mouth, thoughtfully, “I suppose.”
“Who?”
“Clement… Regina… Mary.” Inayah suddenly trailed off as another girl broke from the hanging lines, fumbling with a handful of sheets.
Lycus watched her stumble towards a house, yelling at two small boys that tackled, wooden swords clashing about.
His eyes slanted towards her, “Any lovers?”
Lycus watched her hesitate, then narrow her eyes at the distance whilst a rose shook beneath her cheeks. He did not know what to full towards such a reaction, nonetheless it did not stop the twitching of his lips. “Oh?” Lycus’ folded arms dropped to the side as he crouched by her side and reached for her jaw, tilting her face to his. “What is this?” His thumb brushed her flaming cheek.
Inayah batted at his hand, avoiding his gaze. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s something,” Lycus gripped either side of her jaw and pulled her closer, “Who is it?” He dares, muffling his own burning curiosity.
At his tone, Inayah meets his gaze and arcs a quizzical eyebrow, “Why? So you can eat him?”
Lycus bared his canines at her, “Maybe, I’m not one to decline a hearty meal of boys.” At her glare, he chuckled softly but did not relieve the grip, “I’m only curious, indulge me.”
He waited as she studied his face, sifting back and forth before sighing, the effect with his grip forcing her lips into an extravagant pout. “Cotton.”
“Cotton?”
“I liked him since childhood, we were meant to be betrothed but Salem disrupted the ceremony and took me as his own.” Lycus waited, “the last time I saw him was during the bar raid… we managed to escape but barely, Kade caught up.”
“What did he do?”
“Just warned him, that’s all.”
The grip on her jaw loosened. Lycus carded his fingers through her hair a moment before rising, he turned to the village below. “You may visit them.” He could feel her incredulous eyes lingering on him.
“Really?”
“If you want, that is.”
“I do-” Inayah was up on her feet and moving but Lycus was faster - his hand shot out and grabbed her forearm.
“I will be here when you return, at nightfall.” Lycus spoke pointedly and she nodded impatiently.
“Nightfall.” Inayah murmured, trying to pry her hand away. Lycus watched her a moment, then with a deflating sigh released her. He watched as she stumbled forward slightly then straightened herself only to turn and barrel towards him.
Her arms flung around his torso, face pressed into his solar plexus.
“Thank you,” she murmured then quickly pulled away before he could process or reciprocate.
Lycus watched the crown of her head begin to descend, her oversized clothes making her trip every once in a while. He waited until she reached the village gates before turning and walking away.
It was a relief knowing she would be somewhere for he did not trust the environment should he have left her in the cabin during his short journey.

The walk through the forest was long, each footfall snapping twigs and crunching leaves beneath the soles of his boots. Dusk encroached from the west, casting a shallow glare of orange across the sky. The path before him was intertwined with thick tree roots. The hidden path was tucked away, in the depths of the forest. It swerved back and forth unpredictably. The path was remarkably clear, for one so rarely traveled. Curls of vibrant green ivy lined the narrow path. Mighty trees arched over it.
By the time he arrived at his destination, the sky was beginning to darken.
Lycus paused as the treeline came to a halt, revealing a small clearing and nothing more.
He shifted and leaned against a tree bark, tilting his nose to the air and sniffing for the man’s scent. There was none. He was either early or the man was late.
Nonetheless, he had arrived and the most important part was soon to be over.
Inayah’s agreement had come as a relief to him. Despite stating that he would have left should she refuse, Lycus knew without a doubt it would be impossible to abandon his mate.
He had to approach the topic as cautiously as possible after everything that occurred between his brothers and her. She had not been scarred, but she was wary. One misstep on his part could completely shutter whatever perception she had of him.
And unlike the persistent Kade and ruthless Salem, Lycus considered himself to be most reasonable. He could not use force on the girl for she would submit but unwillingly. There was nothing tasteful in coerced submission.
A twig snapped behind him.
Lycus tilted his head to the side, then smiled vaguely, cold moonlight cast across the hardened edge of his mouth. “It has been a moment,” he spoke as the figure quietly approached from behind.
“It has.” Kade agreed, drawing to a halt beside him.
Lycus waited a moment before turning completely and holding a hand out, “Brother,” Kade clasped him and they shook briefly. “You seem out of it.” And it was true. Kade had never looked more bed raggled than he did then. His brown hair had messed about, dark crescents shadowing beneath his eyes.
Kade shrugged, “I’ve seen better days.” He eyed Lycus, “at least one of us looks ridiculously healthy.”
“I eat my vegetables.”
“I’m sure you do,” Kade scoffed as their attentions drifted back to the front. Snow fell quietly around them. Kade shifted both hands into his pockets and exhaled a cloud of mist, “Did you find her?”
“Not yet, no.” Lycus confessed, training his gaze on a specific spot. His own heart remained consistent, knowing that his brother would subtly sift for any deception. “Wherever she went must have been far.”
Kade was silent. Eerily so. Then suddenly he growled, “Fucking shit,” he hissed, kicking snow. “Fucking Salem. I’ll fucking kill him.”
Lycus fell silent, listening to his small brother let out steam and curse the oldest. He had seen Kade worked up in the past, but never like this. So much so, he paid him a pocketful of silver to hunt down Salem’s slave. Which Lycus did dutifully.
Yet unbeknownst to Kade, Inayah happened to be Lycus’ mate.
From then on, the plans changed.
“Where could she have gone?” Kade growled again, scratching violently at his wrist. Skin peeled, then blood. He did not stop. “Where the fuck could she have gone?”
“The woods are large.” Lycus explained calmly.
“She’s a fucking human!” Kade barked, “humans are predictable-”
“Unless they’re escaping,” his voice came slow and measured, “fear makes them unpredictable.”
“I checked her village five times,” Kade rumbled on, “I went to the borders…”
“Salem,” Lycus interrupted, maintaining his mask of indifference, “what is he doing?”
“The goddess only knows. I have not bothered seeking out our bastard brother.”
“What if Inayah returned.”
“To him?” Kade scoffed, then hesitated, his eyes darkening with the prospect of such a situation. “Do you think she would return?”
Lycus gazed at the darkening snow, his words calculated. “I would not know, seeing I am yet to find her myself.”
Kade nodded absent-mindedly, then reached into his pocket, drawing out another bag of silver coins. “Two hundred and thirty in total,” he tossed the bag at Lycus who caught it with ease, “payment for the other slave girls you found for me.”
Lycus pocketed the coins. “I see.” He pivoted to walk away.
“Brother-” Kade drew his attention back, “Salem put out a reward on her head.”
Lycus’ steps faltered, “How much?”
“Ten thousand silver coins.” He paused, “dead or alive.”