Jamie Hill & Jude Mason - Untamed Hearts 02 - Bear Combustion by Jamie Hill & Jude Mason

Author:Jamie Hill & Jude Mason [Hill, Jamie & Mason, Jude]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Stepping into the cave, Tarek readied himself for the ordeal to come. He was instantly cloaked in a feeling of sorrow deeper than he’d ever felt before—sorrow, and from one of the clan, anger. He was sure he could handle anger from one of the sows or the elders. But from Raven? Tarek’s heart ached with a pain he'd never thought to feel.

Raven staggered towards him. He’d morphed as had the others, and the burns and welts on his flesh were angry looking. “Still think you made the right decision?”

Behind him, Gunnar and Minu huddled in the corner on a bed of furs, arms wrapped around each other as they wept their loss. Even the cubs were quiet, somehow understanding the gravity of the situation and unwilling to bring attention to themselves.

Tarek strode deeper into the cave, stopping only when he was within arm’s reach of Raven, who still fumed with rage. He held out his hand and in a soft but stern voice said, “Raven, my friend, my brother, I would give anything if this hadn’t happened. Norak was as dear to me as you are.”

With tears streaming down his face, Raven glared at him. “You call yourself our clan leader, our tribe leader, and yet you murder one of the most important members of our family. Norak burned to death in front of my eyes. I’ll never forget that sight. Or the fact that it was because of you we were there.” He stomped around the cave. “I told you we should have gone back. The river, the water would have saved us all. But no, you had to show your power and your control. You and your precious talisman, you—”

His own sadness and anger rising, Tarek fought to control his voice. “Raven, it’s your grief talking. When we can travel back to the river, you’ll see how wrong you are. You acted valiantly trying to save our elder. With Norak’s blindness, the task proved too much.

“I should perhaps have stayed behind and helped carry the old one, but I thought it best to show the way. I’m so sorry, my friend.” He couldn't say any more, his voice was choked and tears threatened.

“It’s your fault. You killed him.” Raven drew his arm back and curled up his fist to swing forward. From somewhere behind Tarek, Inuka emerged and stepped in front of him. He raised his own arm and took the blow on his shoulder. Before Raven could try again, he was in Inuka’s arms, his hands held so he couldn’t fight.

A shuffling sound came from the corner, and when Tarek looked that way he saw the two remaining elders. “He’s right, you know. We should have gone back.” Gunnar had risen to his full height and spoke clearly. “Norak had no chance to make it this far, not with the fire turning as it did. We should all have stayed at the river.”

Feeling as if his self-control would fail him any moment, Tarek raised his arm for silence.

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