Page 43 of X’nath (Dark Orcs of Helfallow)

X’NATH

I sat quietly beside Yargol in the communal area, watching as the human women gathered in the center, chattering among themselves, speaking in their strange ways. They called it "girl time," a time for them to share stories and laughter—things I couldn't quite grasp but knew enough to let them have.

My mate, of course, was among them, though she hadn't been her usual self lately. She'd been distant, and though I gave her the space she needed, I couldn't deny the unease I felt every time she cried, often over things I couldn’t understand. But I stayed close, a steady presence when she needed it, even if she didn’t say so aloud.

The men were gathered around the fire, their voices low and rumbling, but there was a different energy in the air tonight. I could feel it. Vakgar, Karg, Korrin, and Greag kept casting me sideways glances, exchanging knowing looks between themselves. The kind of look men give when there’s something they’re not telling you.

Karg, ever the cheeky one, slapped me on the back. “You’ve been quiet, X’nath,” he said, his grin wide. “You look like a man who knows what’s coming.”

I looked over at him, confused. “What’s coming?”

Vakgar chuckled. “Don’t play dumb, brother. You can’t possibly be that dense.”

Greag snorted, tossing Bolg a piece of meat. “You’ve been so wrapped up in being the warrior you want her to see, you’ve missed everything going on right under your nose.”

I scowled, still not understanding when they were prattling on about.

Korrin smirked, leaning in a little too close for comfort. “It’s not your fault, X’nath. You’re still young, still haven’t experienced everything.”

I turned to face him, my expression hardening. What, exactly, had I, X’nath, son of Larek of the Savage Claw Clan, not experienced? I had fought in nearly every battle this clan had seen over the past decade, and I had been there for the raid that shaped our very future.

Gorruk was missing from the group of warriors, but we all knew why. Which left Korrin as the eldest here.

“X’nath,” Korrin began, his tone slow and deliberate, as if I couldn’t grasp something so simple. “Gracie’s been... off. She’s been emotional. But it’s not just her, is it?”

I glanced at each of them, suspicion growing. "What exactly are you getting at?"

Vakgar leaned back, crossing his arms, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “You’ve been so busy being the proud warrior, you didn’t even notice she’s carrying your child.”

For a long moment, I said nothing, trying to process what he had just said. Child? Gracie was with child? A surge of something fierce and raw twisted inside me, and my heart raced. I felt my face flush. How had I not noticed? Her passion had burned as brightly as our first time, nothing in the bedroom had wavered. The only difference was what was happening when we entwined in each other’s bodies.

Vakgar’s words, Gracie’s change, it all began to fall into place. The mood swings, the tears, her distant behavior—it all made sense now.

Karg clapped me on the shoulder again, hard enough to rattle my bones. “Well, you’ve got a lot to learn now, X’nath. Seems like we both have a whole new fight ahead of us.”

I stared at the men for a long moment, trying to absorb it all. The thought of Gracie carrying my child... it filled me with something I wasn’t sure how to name. Fear? Pride? A bit of both.

“Are you ready for this?” Greag asked, leaning back on his heels, his eyes glinting with amusement. He was the first among us to plant his seed in a human female’s womb, proving that despite our differences, a future together was possible.

“A warrior is always ready,” I admitted, my voice a bit rough.

The men laughed, their voices full of the kind of camaraderie I hadn’t known I’d need until this moment. Korrin clapped me on the back, his laugh deep and rich. “You’ve got a lot of pride, X’nath, but this is the hardest battle you’ll face. And you’ll face it with your head held high. The way a true warrior does.”

“You’ll need more than your axe now,” Karg added with a grin. “The blade of a father cuts deeper than any weapon. But don’t worry,” he said, leaning in close and lowering his voice, “we’ve got plenty of warriors here to help us through it.”

I nodded slowly. Gracie’s pregnancy wasn’t just a blessing—it was a new challenge. One that required more than brute strength or skill with a blade. It demanded patience. Protection. Love.

As I watched her sitting among the women, laughing with them, something stirred deep within me. Gracie, sensing my gaze, met my eyes. It was as if an invisible force pulled us together, a bond that ran deeper than words. Her expression was uncertain, but I saw the warrior in her—the same fierce determination that had always burned in me.

GRACIE

I had never imagined the peace I now felt in X’nath’s presence. After our fight, when everything seemed so uncertain, after our run in with the slaver that tried to get into our village, we finally sat down and talked through all my insecurities. I had poured out my fears, the doubts that had plagued me, and X’nath—steadfast and patient—had listened. His strength, both physical and emotional, had carried me through that storm. In the end, he showed me something I had always longed for but never truly believed in: that I was truly enough for him, no matter what.

And he made it clear that his love for me didn’t depend on whether I could bear children. That was a weight I hadn’t even realized I had still been carrying even after our first conversation about it. But with those words, a heavy burden on my shoulders seemed to physically disappear.

I was loved for who I was, not what I could give.

So when I realized I had missed my monthly cycle, the surprise hit me hard. It wasn’t panic, but sheer disbelief. My mind raced—how could this be possible? My body had always been a mystery to me, and now, this new shift, this new possibility, felt like a distant echo from a life I had left behind.

I stared at the evidence in front of me, trying to process what it meant. And yet, through all the confusion, I felt something stir deep inside me—an odd blend of fear and hope.

I could feel X’nath’s steady presence, even when he wasn’t beside me. He had been my rock through everything—my doubts, my fears, and my struggles. I had no reason to face this alone. No reason to hide from him now. I just hadn’t found the right time to tell him yet.

The human women noticed before I did, urging me that a “girls time” was required, not suggested. We had all grown apart after finding our mates, we needed to make time to come together and celebrate our futures.

As the girls chatted happily about their relationship ups and downs, I found him in the communal area, sitting quietly as always, his eyes never far from me.

The girls gathered around me, giggling and whispering. I could already feel their energy shift, their excitement bubbling over.

“You know what this means, right?” Kelly teased, winking at me. “Looks like X’nath’s gonna have his hands full.”

I tried to suppress a smile, but the excitement in her voice was contagious. Sophie, the first of us to get pregnant, practically bounced on her toes.

“Finally!” she exclaimed. “You’re going to have a little warrior running around soon! I wonder if it’s going to be a girl or a boy.”

I joined in on the shared laughter, the warmth in my chest spreading. The more excited the girls became, the more X'nath gave them a dark look. Though I saw the corners of his mouth twitch upward in the slightest hint of a smile.

“You’re all just happy because I’ll finally have someone to look after. You know I’ve been slacking lately,” I said, rolling my eyes playfully. In regards to culture back in the human settlement, I was always raised and trained to be the one to take care of my husband. It took me a while to get used to X’nath taking care of me and all my needs.

“Oh, we know you’ve been slacking,” Erin teased with a wink. “But it’s understandable. A male like him looks like he’s insatiable. But don’t worry, Gracie, you’ll get breaks soon, the baby will make sure of it.”

As they continued to banter around me, I felt a sense of connection I hadn’t realized I needed. These women, their mates, now felt like family. They understood the weight of this moment in ways no one else could, especially after the trauma we shared.

X’nath, unable to stay away any longer, got to his feet and made his way toward me. I smiled as he gently grabbed my hand, pulling me into an intimate embrace in front of the other women without a care in the world. Without words, I placed my hand on his cheeks, placing a chaste kiss on his lips. There was no need for hesitation, no need for more explanations. We were in this together.

X’nath’s arms tightened around me possessively, grounding me as his voice rumbled softly in my ear. “You didn’t tell me, lak’osh . Were you waiting for me to force it out of you tonight?”

I giggled, burying my face into his chest. “I was going to tell you, I promise. I didn’t realize I had to do it in front of an audience.”

He kissed the top of my head and chuckled. “Are you ready, my warrior queen?”

I nodded, meeting his eyes. For the first time, as the teasing and laughter of the women continued, I realized that I was no longer afraid. I was ready.