alone. What is this game she’s playing?
I don’t even need to rush. Dropping my provision bag at the top of the climb, I called down to Pascel, “Stay here and wait for me.”
Stomping through the underbrush, I try to think of the reasons this is still advantageous, despite the instincts I’m now fighting with. I wanted her to take me to her flying craft. At least we’re moving in that direction.
Slowing my steps as I enter the canopy of the large praline trees, I glance around at the dwindling light. Of course, I can still see perfectly in the shade, and I know that I’d be able to find the wayward female’s trail by her overpowering scent. I can practically see it like a beacon calling to me, urging me to run, capture, and conquer.
I’m concerned about the sak. I was willing to brave the woods, despite the season, to get access to her flying craft. But her turning around and running in here like it could hide her shows just how foolish she is.
She must be a low dweller. Or young. But... no. Not with her scent.
I better make quick work of this. Taking off at a sprint, I follow her trail. And it’s a good thing I did! Within moments, I’ve caught up to where she’s pinned to a tree by a sak. Lucky for her, it’s an adolescent and probably just entering its first year of rut. Instead of killing her instantly like a full-grown male or female would, he’s sniffing at her experimentally.
I have to treat this very sensitively. There are a lot of bad things that could happen. He could kill her instantly… or he could pick her up and take off with her to kill her later. Either way, based on his fascination with her ripe and sensual scent, he has no intention of leaving her alone.
The female is frozen in place, eyes closed. Maybe she realizes how lucky she is that he hasn’t already killed her. Often, any displeasing odor will send them into a frenzy.
The gangly sak is fascinated enough with her scent that he hasn’t caught mine. Circling around them down wind, I watch as the animal works his way down her body. He’s easily two heads taller than her and practically sitting as he crouches over her, sniffing her neck. With her arms at her side, palms flattened to the tree behind her, the strange female’s long, straight hair has almost completely obscured her face, keeping me from telling what she’s thinking. From what I can see, it appears she’s frozen in fright.
Hunkered down over her, I can see his tree branch sized cock poking out between them as he moves his investigation to the chest area of the strange outfit she’s wearing. When he gets to her chest area, I can feel my own territorial instincts kicking in. He shouldn’t be there. She’s mine.
That thought makes no sense, considering I’ve never even met her, but it’s all a part of her scent working on me. It’s not unusual for me to realize and acknowledge my territorial instincts, especially with the opposite sex. It’s not always logical, but being ruled by logic is not one of our greatest strengths as an Alpha. In fact, as the leader of my group, it’s a misconception that we’re more thinkers. What it really comes down to is brute strength.
I know my time is up when she straightens and stiffens against the tree, throwing up a hand and smacking the sak in the large head still investigating her chest. I don’t understand the words that come out of her mouth, but she’s clearly offended. As I suspected, her cuff to his ear only angers him. Throwing back his head, he roars at the top of his lungs. It’s time to make my move.
Removing my belt from my wrap, I step out of my clothing while springing onto his back and wrapping the strong tie around his neck as I cling to him with all my might. This is my only option. Kill or be killed with the sak species.
They are large, aggressive, and as territorial as any Altan dweller. Despite their somewhat inferior intelligence, we still have an agreed-upon respect for each other’s space. I’d seen the markings and she should’ve too.
Moments later, the animal crumbles at my feet, and I’m shocked to see tears streaming down her face. She’s babbling at me incoherently. I ignore her and her gasps of outrage as I