Page 18 of Marked By the Wild Orc

My tusks are longer lately, but then so are his. I feel more strength than I normally have because my body is making itself ready for mating, which has never happened before. In ancient times, we sometimes fought against each other before a female was taken, but the moment she physically or verbally declared her mate it was over. We battle against each other for dominance and prestige or positions within our communes. And friends settle disputes with battle. Also, we've had to historically fight our claim off from other humans.

Kavin and I have fought before, and we are equally matched in both strength and skill. I am older than him but also slightly bigger. But this time, I understand that I deserve all his rage. I hit back but pull my punches. He grabs onto my horns and slams me against the wall. I grab onto his waist and rush him.

And we fall against the counter. My friend pounds on me again and again with rock hard fists.

Shadow shrieks and leaps onto his back, trying to shred skin.

Kavin bats him away. “Your animals will not save you. You need to pay for the pain you have caused to my sister.”

I roll to my side and take deep, painful breaths, blood dripping from my lips. “I am wrong,” I agree. “That second day when I could tell how she felt about me and then I knewsomething was wrong, because I wasn't rejecting her as I should—that was the day I should have fired her by giving her a good bonus so that she could find something else. But I was weak.”

“My sister does not want you as a mate.”

“She does.”

He grabsfor me and punches me in the face again. “If this is true, why do you play with her feelings?”

“Because I am weak. And I also want her.”

“How is that possible?”

“I don’t know.”

“You are angry at your body’s reaction towards my sister and are trying to resist because you hate her and are angry at the fact that your body chooses her?”

“No. I am confused at the fact that my body must’ve healed her so she can become pregnant.”

He punches me again.

“And I am angry because my body and mind wants her fully now, exactly when the first snow starts. I fired her because you and I both know I won’t be able to treat her with respect until springtime.”

Finally, Kavin lets go and steps back. “You love her?”

“I do,” I whisper.

“Kavin?” a female voice cries out. “Talon?” Krissy of course arrives, probably because Kavin had first stopped at her apartment and she’s here to talk him down. She steps over the debris. “Oh my god, what are you two doing?”

A growl rumbles in my chest as my body reacts to the sound of my bride’s voice. Primitive instincts take hold and I struggle to move past the large orc in my way so I can grab my bride.

Kavin looks over at his sister. “Get out,” he bellows. “Stay away from Talon and this store. He is right. Orcs claim their brides in the dark of winter so you must go.”

“What does that even mean?”

“Get out and go home.”

My troubled bride throws her hands up in the air. “You are both assholes,” she declares, lifts her chin and marches with as much pride as she can muster, back out the ruined door and returns to her car.

A growl rumbles in my chest. “And now you are the one who makes her cry.”

Kavin slides down and sits on the ground. “I will fix it.”

“No, she is no longer your responsibility. I will fix it.”

“She is my sister.”

“She is my bride.”

“Yeah and maybe neither of you assholes thought of the possibility that you might want to ask Krissy what she wants.”

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