Chapter 190: Tongue Tied

Tera’s mates were constantly around her.

Calis would watch Xavi stand behind Tera while she directed things, touching her whenever he had the opportunity, and Tera would stop whatever she was doing to reciprocate the touch.

Ermin would also linger, and at times press a kiss to Tera’s temple while she was mid-sentence, and the way she had smiled without even looking up mildly frustrated Calis.

He would watch them feed her, bring her water, and carry out multiple acts of devotion that added up to something Calis had no name for.

These were not new things. He had seen a lot of it when he had visited their clan, but it made him even more uncomfortable.

Much more, all of this was happening in his own territory.

When Xavi and Ermin were present, her attention belonged to them. She laughed at their jokes, leaned into their touch, and moved through their space with the effortless intimacy of a female who knew exactly where she fit.

Calis didn’t fit anywhere in that picture.

He was the wolf leader who stood at the edge and watched.

It gnawed at him how she was giving her attention to the wolves and everyone else except him. At times he considered helping Tera with one thing or the other, not minding if the other wolves noticed, but her mates always beat him to it.

It was to the point that he found himself slightly distraught about what to offer this female.

The only thing he could think of was handing her a whole animal for meat while the others only took portions.

He would find some excuse for the outrage it would cause.

The pack needed to offer something to the leader of another clan who was going out of her way to help them, after all.

The last notable detail was how Tera had spent entire days in his territory, and he could count on one hand the number of times she had spoken to him directly. And each time, it had been brief, practical, and painfully professional.

What was worse was that each time he tried to talk to her first, he felt strangely nervous.

It mortified him, because why was it so difficult to say some ordinary words in front of this female?

When all the necessary seeds and saplings had been planted and secured, the Dow clan members finally returned to their clan.

But Tera stayed behind.

She tended to the females, pressing herbs against their aching backs and showing them stretches that would help with the soreness. She also taught the males to do something called ’massages’ to the females.

When she wasn’t tending to the females, she was checking the newly planted rows, adjusting the soil, and teaching his wolves how to take care of the plants.

But every evening, she opened the portal and went back to spend the night with her mates.

And every morning, she came back.

Throughout this period, Tera did not touch him at all.

She hadn’t forgotten his request. She had been meticulous about it, keeping her distance, never reaching for his arm or shoulder, or even making casual contact.

There had been no accidental brushes either.

It was exactly what he had asked for, but it was driving him insane.

At times, he swore he caught a knowing look in her eyes that told him she knew exactly what she was doing.

But she never acted on it, and he never said a word.

When Tera returned through the portal one morning, her eyes were bright, and her energy was different. She clapped her hands together and addressed the gathered wolves with a grin.

"I need to go deeper into the territory. There are plants and materials out there that would be perfect for the farm and for building."

Several wolves shifted uncomfortably at the idea. One of the females shook her head.

"That deep? The terrain is rough, and we have not scouted far enough to know what is out there."

Another added, "If something happens that far out..."

Tera held up her hand. "I have my gift. If anything goes wrong, I open it and step through. I am back here in under a second."

She demonstrated by cracking open a small portal beside her, just wide enough for them to glimpse the Dow clan settlement on the other side. The shimmer hung in the air for three seconds before she closed it.

The wolves visibly relaxed at the reminder, but Calis was still tense.

Why did Tera keep insisting on going deeper where she would encounter corrupted beasts?

While the resistance dissolved, Calis was still not entirely keen on her going. Even so, she did not need to go alone.

A sudden realisation dawned on Calis.

And at that very moment, his wolves started volunteering.

"We will go with you," one of them announced excitedly.

"I will also go," another volunteered. Then another. Then three more.

Calis frowned and stepped forward.

"I will go."

The volunteers fell silent.

Tera looked at him, surprised. "You want to come?"

"You should not go alone into unfamiliar territory."

The wolves that had just volunteered looked puzzled. "Alpha, she will not be alone. We will be right there to—"

"I will be enough," Calis said.

The wolves exchanged stunned glances.

The females were just as baffled as they looked between Calis and Tera. Even if the leader wanted to go with Tera, he would have been very conscious about the extra wolves for security.

Calis slightly frowned. Why were his wolves reacting like that?

"It makes sense for me to do this," he added a little too quickly. "This is the way I can offer my thanks, and it is better to have the rest of you protecting the pack."

Calis feels slightly ashamed at this clinginess and urge to be alone with Tera. He felt his excuse was weak, but he wanted to spend time with her, especially since she had been putting her attention on everyone else except him.

[Calis’ Favourability: 59% → 62%]

’Well damn...’

Tera watched him, surprised by his decision.

But her surprise soon shifted to amusement. Calis was acting oddly cute today, and his pining eyes over the past few days had been adorable to look at.

Tera smiled. "That is fine."

Calis’ eyes slightly brightened at her words. Any normal wolf would not have noticed, but Greymaw and Girruk, who had been keeping a very close eye on their leader, noticed this faint glimpse.

The adorable wolf aside, Tera considered that this arrangement was actually practical.

While her teleportation limit had reset, she wouldn’t have to worry about burning through portal passes when it would just be the two of them.

If only she could tease him in some way.