Chapter 176: Three Steps Away

Later that evening, Tera found herself resting near the stream, her body a lot calmer now.

Tera had made sure to go well upstream, far from where the animals had been washed that morning.

The pack had washed at the stream earlier, the females and cubs first, then the males after.

Dinner had also been good. The smoked meat she had brought to the wolves as a gift offering was long gone, but she had helped the wolves smoke a fresh batch, this time using herbs and seasonings she had brought along with her.

The result had been a level up from their usual fare, and the wolves had eaten with the quiet, wide-eyed reverence of creatures discovering that food could have layers of flavour.

It had been quite a sight.

Now Tera was full, clean, and lying on the stream bank, as she stared up at a sky full of stars.

She had considered going back home to rest with her family. Her cubs would be waiting, and the thought of falling asleep between Xavi and Ermin with Nadia and Althea’s chubby fists wrapped around her finger was almost enough to make Tera stand up.

But she didn’t.

She oddly wanted some time to herself, and it was nice listening to the sound of the stream while she watched the stars.

She still had months for the farming task. The pen was done, so there was no emergency, and she still had months to develop the farm.

Maybe she would work on that first so she would have some spare time once the work is done before she went on to search for more materials.

From the corner of her eye, Tera noticed Bessier and Olaf engaged in muted conversation nearby.

When they learnt she wanted to take some time to herself, they had stayed behind. And Tera had spent a solid ten minutes trying to chase them off.

"Go rest with the others!"

"We are resting." Bessier had settled against the trunk of a tree with his arms behind his head. "This is a very comfortable tree."

Tera chuckled. "You do not need to guard me. I can tell if any corrupted beast comes close."

"That is reassuring." Olaf sat down beside Bessier. "We will still stay."

Tera had given up with a small smile. If they wanted to sit under a tree all night pretending they weren’t babysitting her, that was their choice. At least they were quiet.

She had closed her eyes, letting the sound of the water wash over her thoughts, when a shadow fell across her face.

Tera opened one eye.

Calis stood above her, looking down with an expression caught between uncertainty and concern. His crimson eyes moved from her to Bessier and Olaf under the tree, then back to her.

"It is not safe to be this far from the pack."

Tera didn’t sit up, but she smirked at him. "Don’t you have wolves stationed around the territory?"

A flicker of frustration crossed his face. "They are scouts. They are trained for perimeter surveillance, not personal protection."

"And my two beasts over there?"

Calis glanced at Bessier and Olaf, who were also curiously looking at the wolf leader.

"They are not enough."

Tera chuckled. "Calis, I am fine. Truly."

He didn’t look convinced.

Calis had returned from checking up with his scouts earlier when he had noticed she was missing from the main group of resting pack members.

"It is not wise," he said again, quieter this time.

Tera studied his face. The moonlight carved sharp lines along his jaw, and his crimson eyes held that restless quality she was learning to read as Calis being worried without knowing how to say he was worried.

And she couldn’t ignore how handsome he was.

Now, she wasn’t sure if Calis coming here like this was even a good idea.

"If you are so concerned about me, why not have a sit and watch me too."

’This stupid mouth!’

Calis’ pulse jumped beneath his skin at her invitation, and just as he was turning around to leave, he experienced the utmost confusion as his legs took him to sit down on the ground three steps from Tera.

He directed a baffled look in Tera’s direction as if she had been the one who piloted his legs, but she was busy staring up at the sky.

The silence settled between them, but Calis’ body was still not relaxed.

He slowly looked away as a hot sensation did a slow crawl down to his groin.

He should not have looked down at her earlier.

The way she had smiled up at him. That lazy, warm, half-asleep curve of her lips with her hair fanned across the grass, and her body stretched out beneath him—his mind betrayed him before he could stop it.

He imagined what she would look like beneath him, and his cock responded in turn, instantly alarming him.

Calis’ jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached, and he closed his eyes to chant words of discipline in his mind.

But those words had never felt so flimsy until now.

Sweat beaded on his forehead.

What was wrong with him?

"Can I ask you something?" Tera’s soft voice jerked Calis out of his daze, and he was beyond grateful for it.

He nearly glanced at her again before stopping himself. "What?"

"I know we have spoken about this before with one of my mates," she started, keeping her voice gentle. "And there are things I still don’t fully understand. But I am curious about your pack. Why are you only wolves?"

Calis was quiet for a moment. "That is... how it has always been."

"I know. But have you ever wondered if your pack would have been bigger? I am sure it would have been stronger if you welcomed other beast types."

The question landed softly, but Tera could see the impact in the way his jaw tightened. Calis suddenly had on an air of discomfort.

"We... this is how we have survived. We only need more wolves so we don’t die out..." Calis’ words faltered.

He didn’t look too convinced about what he was saying anymore.

"Do you really believe that?" Tera gently asked, sitting up.

Calis didn’t answer immediately. His crimson eyes were fixed on the stream.

She didn’t know why she had just started the conversation out of nowhere, but she wanted to properly understand him.

It was also possible he would be more open to speaking when it was only her.

"I am sure you are not the only wolves alive in this world. I don’t believe you will die out like that—"

"I believe my father had his reasons," Calis said carefully.

Tera hesitated, wondering if she should let this continue or stop here.

But she only took a second before pressing gently again. There was something she needed to get through to him.

"Your cubs..." He paused, and the question beneath his words surfaced slowly, as if he was reluctant to voice it. "How are they so strong?"

Tera understood what he was really asking.

How were the cubs of a shiftless female so healthy? In his mind, shiftless likely meant lesser and weaker.

WIth how the elders were behaving so far, Tera couldn’t help but suspect these things would have been drummed into Calis’ and the other wolves’ minds.

She remembered how he had been so baffled to learn she had cubs the first time she had met him.

Tera smiled. "Why would my cubs be weak?"