Page 2 of His Human to Learn

I want to laugh and smile with everyone else. I want to be part of the chatter and understand what's making everyone act like something is so funny. Instead, I'm standing red-faced and stunned as I try to force my mind to understand anything so I'm not the only one left out of this conversation.

Jen says something to Nia that I can't understand, and I don't want to be a burden and have her translate everything that's happening. I step backward, hoping no one notices me trying to escape. I take a second step when no one moves to look at me. A third, and I'm almost back to our room.

I only pause when Beren shifts his body, and I make eye contact with the unmated male. He's staring right at me, but doesn't look happy or entertained like everyone else. No, he seems concerned, and it has me flushing even brighter. I scurry the last couple of feet to my room and don't stop until the door shuts behind me.

I take one shuddering breath and then a second as I push my unruly red hair behind my ears and try to decide what I'm going to do. The storm season is over, so the wood paneling that sealed the window has been removed.

I know I shouldn't sneak out since it's dangerous at night. I also know I can't be in this house when I can hear everyone having a good time, and I'm left to guess what everyone's saying, not knowing even a little bit.

A knock on the door has me jumping and realizing how dumb an idea it would be to climb out the window.

"Tori." Nia's voice on the other side of the door sounds worried, and it makes me feel even worse because I know she and Jen take it upon themselves to translate for me and think they aren't doing a good job when they forget. It's not their fault, and it's not their responsibility.

"I'm fine," I call out, my voice betraying me as it cracks. I'm not crying, but my throat is dry and burning, so it sounds like I'm on the verge of sobbing. "I'm good. I just need a second."

"We were talking about how the plan to separate you and the unmated male didn't work out so well. No one was laughing at you, I promise."

"I didn't think you were." Which was true until this moment. Now I think she's saying they weren't laughing at me because they were laughing at me.

Thro must be close to Nia because I can hear him clicking and hissing just on the other side of the door.

"Thro says he would like you to eat with us so he can get to know you."

More clicking and hissing in a much more animated tone this time. Nia says something to him in their language and then translates it for me.

"He says it's his responsibility to ensure you're unharmed since his brother isn't allowed to be near you."

"How chivalrous." I try to laugh, but it comes out thin. "Seriously, give me like five minutes to fix myself, and I'll come out."

Nia must translate what I'm saying to Thro because she's hissing and clicking. When she finishes, the younger male says something else, and I hear someone lightly hit the door.

The sound of the others at the dining room table grows louder as they begin to pass around food and eat. I was serious about only needing a few minutes. I can feel my face cooling down, and my throat stops burning. I smile, trying to make myself feel happier, and then open the door.

Thro falls backward until he's lying face up on the ground halfway in my room, halfway still in the hall. He jumps to his feet quickly and sticks his hand out to me. He says something in a rapid, disjointed sound with a smile on his face.

I try to tell him I can't understand him, but he has an arm wrapped over my shoulder and is dragging me to the kitchen table, where everyone's now staring and watching this interaction unfold. Thro pulls a chair out for me, the whole time chattering about something I can't understand. When I sit down, he sits between Jen and me and starts filling my plate.

"Do you want me to translate everything?" Jen asks, brow quirked as Thro keeps talking and talking and talking.

"Is it anything bad?" I ask, hoping he's saying nice things since he looks so happy.

"It's a lot about how happy he is that you're here and some stuff about his brother." Jen pauses. "A lot of stuff about his brother."

Jen frowns and asks Thro a question in his language, which he quickly answers. Jen snorts and turns her attention back to me.

"He says he's going to help you learn their language so that way you stop crying in your bedroom alone because you can't understand everyone talking about Marron."

My cheeks flush again, but I try not to let the embarrassment get to me. Even if I'm embarrassed about being called out like that, it's not being done maliciously. I don't think Thro has a malicious bone in his body.

So, I grab my fork and start eating, nodding my head along with Thro's stories, letting Jen translate when she thinks something is important. For the most part, I listen to everyone talk, wishing I could understand them, but more so wishing that the male on the porch was sitting next to me instead.

2

Tori

After dinner, I decide that I really need to start learning the language, so I follow Lyath and Beren out into the fields every morning, talking with them all day as they attempt to teach me.

For the most part, it's a lot of them pointing at things, pronouncing them in their language, and waiting patiently for me to get it. Maybe it's not the best way to learn, but it's the only way I have without constantly dragging Jen around to translate.

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