Page 7 of How the Orc Stole Christmas
JULES
I woke up, toasty warm and completely refreshed.
The sun was high in the sky, flooding my hut with light.
I hadn’t slept that late since I came here.
Usually someone was knocking on the door looking for me.
Then I spied Klas sitting at my table, looking sober, and I knew he was the reason I slept in.
Then another, much more serious thought hit me.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?”
“I have to. You want things I cannot give you. A family, orclings, a future. My future is almost over.”
I frowned. “Are you dying? Are you sick or something?”
“I’m old, Jules. Older than most of the orcs here. You need a younger orc to protect you, provide for you, and be there for you throughout your years.”
“You’re no older than Kharag, and he has a mate,” I countered. His explanation was bullshit.
I pulled the furs around me but made no move to leave the bed. He stayed at the table, his hands fisted, his whole body lined with tension. “Kharag is a few years younger than I am. And he has a second mate.”
“Jarrus is also older. And anyone could die at any time, Klas. Age doesn’t discriminate when it comes to death,” I pointed out. “The reality is, you don’t want to take a chance on mating. You don’t want me.”
He stood, his expression almost angry. “No, I want what’s best for you.”
I got to my feet; the furs wrapped around me as protection.
“I will be the judge of what’s best for me.
I’m a grown-ass woman, not a child, and can make my own decisions.
You’re a coward, afraid to be happy. You’ve gotten too comfortable being miserable.
We have a saying in the human world. Misery loves company.
Well, be careful because someday, you will be all alone with your misery and, trust me, it sucks.
I should know. I was you. I was miserable and alone, but I found people and a place to belong.
I might not be able to cook or sew or so many things, but I’m still going to try.
You don’t even bother because you like being a miserable old bastard.
Fine, just leave. I’ll take care of myself. ”
I turned away because I couldn’t look at him anymore. I had had such hopes for finding not only a place but someone that I could call my own, only to be rejected yet again. Well, screw him. I would be fine on my own.
I felt him move closer to me, his shadow falling across me. “Jules, I…”
“Leave!” My voice cracked on the word and I knew I was a second away from crying.
It took a few minutes, but I heard his heavy tread, then the door open and close, ending my hopes forever. I fell on the bed, crying. I hated orcs sometimes.
Sinteklas
I spent the next two days avoiding the clan as much as possible.
I went on an extended hunting trip to ensure we had enough meat, since our elders predicted a bad snowstorm coming in.
I was also getting the hound pup from Kharag and I wouldn’t be able to go on a long hunting journey for a month or so while the pup was in training.
When I returned, it was to sullen looks and outright glares from both orcs and humans alike.
Most barely spoke to me, and only by necessity.
I ate dinner on my own in my hut and collapsed into bed grateful for the warmth and comfort of hut.
Yet, sleep eluded me, as it had since I left Jules.
I had only slept beside her for a night but my body craved her, my soul called for her, and I tossed and turned all night.
The next morning, I kept my appointment with Kharag at his kennels where his raised his hounds.
Nuar, his male stud, looked on over the latest little with pride.
They were an ugly breed, black scaled with red eyes, and tiny nubs for their horns.
But they were fierce fighters and loyal to their masters.
Jules would have loved these ugly beasts.
Shoving that thought aside, I greeted Kharag. “How is your son?”
Kharag beamed. “He’s a lusty lad, with a healthy set of lungs, especially at night, and a fierce appetite. Thank goodness for Jules who has been assisting in his care. Olivia has been exhausted.”
Concern flared for Jules, that she might be overdoing it, but I tamped it down. I had no authority to dictate her life any longer. “I would like to see him, if I may.”
“I don’t think that would be a good idea, my friend. Jules is often at our hut and you are not in her good graces right now,” Kharag said bluntly.
I nodded once, even as the mating instinct inside of me demanded that I go to her. “I understand. I will keep my distance.”
“Why did you do it? Why did you distance yourself? She is a fine woman. She would make a fine mate.”
“She would make the best mate. She deserves the best orc in the clan,” I replied.
Kharag cocked his head. “And you do not believe that’s you? You’re one of our leaders, a fierce fighter, a trainer of our young, and our best hunter. What more could she ask for?”
“Someone younger to protect her and be with her all her days,” I growled. “I am old, Kharag. I have lived many winters. I am set in my ways. She is young, sunshine and light. She will resent me after a time.”
He sighed heavily. “I do not know what went on in your past, my friend. But I do not believe Jules is so fickle as to do that. She suffers. You broke her heart and I do not think there is another for her.”
We studied the pups playing for a while then Kharag spoke again.
“I’m older than Olivia, as is Jarrus. I almost did not take a mate, was going to leave the auction.
But something drew me to Olivia. I do not believe the heart sees age, but instead sees our souls.
You need to ask yourself if Jules is the other half of your soul.
If you can be happy with her. Because you have never been happy, except the few times I saw you with her. And you deserve happiness.”
He pointed to a pup alone in the corner, not playing with his littermates.
“That is the pup I chose for you. I thought he needed a friend, just like you do.” He picked up the pup and put him in my arms, where the pup immediately began wiggling and licking me.
“He is reaching out for you, not backing away. He just needs you to meet him halfway. These pups only give their loyalty once. He has given it to you. Jules is the same. She will never love again, I fear.”
And Kharag walked out, leaving me with much to consider.