Page 33 of Gentle Giant

Her face clouded with worry. “That doesn’t sound good. How often do Montikaans from neighboring tribes violate your borders?” she asked with a wary glance over her shoulder.

“It has been years. Over ten, in fact. The last time it happened was when my father was still chief,” I admitted, deeply troubled by the turn of events. The metallic air vessel, the hunters, and now strange Montikaans.

Cosmakk. I kept promising Hailey that I would protect her, telling her that living among my people would be safer than if she returned to the human world. But what if that weren’t true? What if she were in more danger among the Starblessed tribe? My heart sank at the thought.

If I must send her away to guarantee her safety, Great Spirit, help me, but I would do it. Sorrow clutched me at the prospect of parting with her.

Though my arms ached from holding the suitcase and the boxes, I didn’t pause for a rest as we made haste for the cavern. Hailey kept offering to carry something, but I wouldn’t allow it.

I continued sniffing the air for signs of the Montikaans, but we had traveled far enough away that we’d lost their scent. Good. Perhaps they were foolishly trespassing to take a shortcut, though if they were traveling through my domain, it meant they were headed somewhere outside their own territory.

The only reason I could fathom thatpullshannas—Montikaans who hailed from other tribes—would venture onto our lands was to steal our females or our resources.

If a tragedy had befallen another tribe, I supposed they might become desperate enough to try stealing from my people.

Thankfully, even if the trespassers were headed for our cavern, Hailey and I would arrive well before they would. We would arrive in time to warn my people and lay a trap for thepullshannas.

When we were within howling distance of the cavern, I released a great whooping call to announce my arrival, even though the males of my tribe had probably already smelled us coming.

It was fortunate that we’d been downwind of the dozenpullshannasand I doubted they’d detected me and Hailey. Most likely if they had, they would’ve followed us, and I didn’t think we’d been followed.

Several howls resounded off the mountainside as the males in my camp returned my call. To my relief, Gorran’s howl was among them. He must’ve returned from wherever he’d gone to mourn Sashona in solitude.

“Come, Hailey,” I said. “I want you and all the other females, as well as our children, to seek refuge in the cavern.”

“What are you planning to do?” she asked.

“First, I will confer with my males. I must tell them about the human hunters we encountered in the forest as well as the large group of trespassing Montikaans.”

Her eyes widened. “Human hunters? We only ran into the one. Are you not telling me something?” She shot me a suspicious look.

“I encountered a second hunter after I went back to deal with the first male—the one who shot at us. I-I will explain what happened later, sweet human. I promise. Please don’t be afraid.”

Chapter 23

HAILEY

I pacedin one of the long, wide corridors where most of the female Montikaans were waiting for news. After Brutus had carried my suitcase and the boxes to his cave-apartment, he’d shown me where females and children traditionally gathered during times of trouble, though he’d said I could wait in our rooms if I preferred.

Waiting alone didn’t feel right, so I’d joined the other females. Thirty minutes had passed (I’d charged my phone at the cabin so I could once again tell time, though I knew it wouldn’t last for long) and I was growing impatient. I was growing increasingly worried, too.

Suddenly, the males entered the cavern, and I spotted Brutus among them. He gave me a comforting smile as I approached him.

“Sweet human,” he said in a gentle tone, then he brushed his nose against mine for a lingering moment.

Once he straightened, I glanced around the cavern and noticed many other males doing the same with their mates. Rubbing noses or leaning their foreheads together. It looked like they were all saying good-bye. My stomach tightened with nerves.

“Half of our males will stay behind to guard the cavern,” Brutus said, “while the other half will go in search of the trespassers. We must discover why they are on our land.”

“And which half are you among?” I asked, though the answer was obvious. He would lead the search party. And if it came to a battle, he would lead that too. As the chief of the Starblessed tribe, he couldn’t stay behind. Even though I understood why he must leave, my heart broke.

“I must go, Hailey.” His tone was gentle but unapologetic, and part of me admired him for it. Being chief came with great responsibility, and he refused to shirk his duties. He refused to put his tribesmen in danger while he stayed behind in the safety of the cavern.

Truly, Brutus was unlike any other man I’d ever known.

“Promise you’ll be careful,” I said, trying to sound brave. I was the chief’s future mate (probably) and it wouldn’t do for me to break down in tears or beg him to stay.

“I promise, sweet human, and I also promise I’ll come back to you.” He glanced around the cavern, watching all the mated pairs saying their good-byes. Children clung to the legs of their fathers, and some of the males were holding babies in their arms as well.

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