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Chapter 5

In the backof his mind, Bryan expected the three Alphas to throw him into a wooden cage and keep him as a human sacrifice for their dire wolf god. After all, that was what the Direlings—Uridimm—did. At least, according to everything he'd heard while growing up. His mind conjured images of the place they'd claimed him with that snarling skull watching over their unholy act, and when they entered the village his heart began to pound as they neared the structure. He became absolutely certain that it was about to become his prison and he would never return to New Pixia again, but they passed it without entering.

The pathway twisted ahead of them into the darkness, the lanterns flickering deep in the forest. They passed little huts with warm firelight glowing behind animal hide curtains and smoke curling from thatch roofs. Snores drifted from the homes. Bryan heard a mother singing softly to a crying baby. There was quiet conversation and hushed laughter. Restrained murmurs of pleasure. It was peaceful; the normal sounds of a village at night.

They approached one of the huts. Munok entered first and Nugai held the hide curtain open for Gan, bowing his head slightly as the Alpha walked inside. Bryan paused, afraid to go in.

"Come on," Gan said.

A crack of flint sent sparks flying, illuminating Munok as he crouched in front of the fire pit.

"Come inside," Nugai urged.

Bryan entered just as Munok got the fire started, and it quickly filled the one-room structure with light. The construction was simple but beautiful, the walls and ceiling consisting of uniformly stacked and positioned logs which were stripped of their bark, polished to a smooth sheen and painted with intricate pattern-work. Three sets of sleeping furs were spread out across the ground, which had been evenly tamped down and cleaned of all debris.

"Welcome to our home," said Gan, sitting by the fire.

Nugai brought in a large wooden bucket filled with water and set it down next to the fire, into which Munok transferred three smoking-hot stones that squealed and bubbled as they submerged. Soon steam rose from the surface of the water. In the far side of the room was a sunkenpitdug four feet deep into the earth, its bottom floored with hardwood boards. Nugai climbed down the ladder with the bucket of water.

Gan gestured over to the pit. "There's hot water, should you wish to cleanse your body."

Bryan's face and arms were coated with mud, so he went down where Nugai was waiting. "You can keep your clothing here," Nugai said, touching a woven basket standing in the corner. "Tell me if the water is not warm enough." He left a small woven towel on top of the basked and climbed out, leaving Byran in privacy. Bryan took off his clothes, put them into the basket, and sat on a log next to the bucket of steaming water. He used a wooden ladle to spoon the water over his head.

He found himself taken aback by the homely coziness of the den. It was nothing like the place they'd brought him the night before, and it certainly wasn't anything like he imagined a Uridimm home to be. "The Direlings live in the trees," a friend had told him once. "And in tunnels underground. They only come out to eat and to kill."

"Why was I drawn back here?" Bryan asked. He pulled another ladle of water from the bucket and poured it down his back. He couldn't see the three Alphas over the walls of the pit, but he could see their shadows projected up on the wall, dancing with movement of the flames as grey smoke drifted through the hole in the ceiling. He wasn't self-conscious about being naked around them. In fact, he felt more secure around them than he did around Josef, and that startled him. How could he feel this way about three strangers?

"This question has been answered," said Munok, sounding irritated. "How many times must we explain it to you?"

"It's alright, Munok," said Gan. "He's a Xyletian."

Bryan frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Have the Xyletians no concept of destined mates?" Nugai asked.

"Not everyone believes in things like that," said Bryan. He finished washing himself, and then dried, dressed and climbed back out of the pit. The three Alphas were seated around the fire sipping from wooden cups. Nugai offered a cup to him. It was filled with a hot, sweet-smelling liquid.

"Tea," said Gan.

Bryan was wary, but drank anyway.

"Sit," Gan commanded. His tone was firm, unshakeable. He was the kind of Alpha who expected compliance when he demanded things—but not the same as Josef. Bryan knew he was completely different from Josef. He was imposing and intimidating, but he had an aura of integrity. At least, that was what Bryan sensed. The problem was that he didn't know if his own judgement could be trusted.

Bryan sat next to the fire, across from the three Alphas. "The three of you live together in this little shack?"

"This 'little shack' is our home," grunted Munok.

"You were expecting something grander," Gan said.

"I suppose I thought the leader of the Uridimm would have something grander."

The corner of Gan's lip curled into a slight smile. "I'm pleased to hear you use our proper name."

"Somehow, I can't bring myself to call you Direlings anymore," Bryan said. He didn't know why, but it just felt wrong. Disrespectful. Not that he'd thought much about respecting them prior to the night before, but now that he'd apparently been bonded to them his feelings towards the Uridimm had changed.

"We have no room for extravagance," Nugai explained. "We share what we have and live simply. What matters is family."

"It'd be difficult for a Xyletian to understand,” Munok said. "You take and you take. You value nothing but greed."