Page 67 of Primal Bond

Zanik stepped forward, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. "This is Finn," he said, gesturing to the human beside him. "He is my mate."

Finn, standing tall — well, as tall as a human could manage — took a step forward, encouraging the other human with a gentle nudge. The second human hesitated before stepping forward as well, his expression distant.

"And this is Asher," Zanik continued. "He needs somewhere to heal."

The boy’s withdrawn demeanor spoke volumes. Rael’s heart ached with a mix of empathy and sorrow.

He turned his gaze back to Zanik, meeting his eyes. Zanik’s expression was soft, almost pleading. Rael understood immediately.

There was a depth to Zanik's expression, a silent understanding that mirrored Rael's own feelings about the human's reluctance to return home. Rael recognized the pain in Zanik’s eyes; it echoed his own struggles after the war. Zanik had changed too much to simply slip back into his old life.

“He can stay for as long as he needs,” Rael said, his voice steady.

Finn glanced at Asher, a flicker of joy breaking through the boy's uncertainty. That spark made Rael’s heart swell.

Whatever any of them needed, he hoped they could find it in his village.

Rael turned his head slightly, spotting Taryn approaching from the edge of the gathering. Tall and broad-shouldered,Taryn moved with purpose, his piercing eyes scanning the crowd. Rael raised a hand to signal him over.

“Taryn,” Rael called, his tone commanding yet calm. “I need you to begin to arrange two dwellings. One for Asher, and another for Zanik and Finn.”

Rael watched as Taryn’s gaze shifted to Zanik, the tension palpable in the air. Zanik met Taryn’s eyes, and for a brief moment, Rael noted the slight wariness in Zanik’s stance. It was a subtle reminder of the years that had passed, the choices that had led Zanik away from them — and their kin who were no longer with them.

Rael’s heart tightened. He wondered how his warriors would react to Zanik’s return after he had turned his back on them for so long.

Kyral had been welcomed into their clan, but Kyral had been clanless, a lone wolf without any history with Rael's men. He'd proved his skills many times over, and Rael's men had readily accepted him as one of their own. The younger warriors, Rael knew with a hint of fond despair, thought that Kyral wascool.

Zanik, though, was different. He had once been a pillar of their community, only to walk away when the war had raged on.

Would Rael’s clan accept him without question?

Just as doubt began to creep in, Rael noticed a change in Taryn’s expression. The characteristic sternness remained, but a warmth began to seep through. Taryn nodded to Zanik, an unspoken understanding passing between them. “I’ll combat drill with you tomorrow,” Taryn said, his tone firm but inviting. “You must be rusty.”

Rael watched Zanik’s demeanor shift. The cool aloof exterior began to crack. Zanik nodded, a ghost of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I’ve not grown soft and lazy in space, Taryn. You’d better be ready.”

There was a bond forming, a connection rekindling. For a start on a new journey, that was enough. "Let's return," Rael said. "Come, everybody."

Rael watched as everyone began to move towards the village, a sense of surreal calm washing over him. The sight of Zanik, Finn, Asher, Kyral, and Jasper walking side by side felt like a dream, a strange blending of two worlds that had once been at war. Rael's heart swelled with a mix of pride and hope.

Here in the secret privacy of his clan lands, his people had been living alongside humans, learning from each other, finding strength in understanding rather than conflict.

It was a new kind of strength.

Once they reached the clan, his people took over, greeting, talking, arranging resources. The newcomers would be well taken care of. Rael was able to find a moment of privacy — and the person who he wanted by his side at all such moments.

Elian appeared at his side, his presence a warm, familiar comfort. Rael turned, pulling his mate into a gentle embrace. Elian's dirty blond curls tickled Rael's chin, and he inhaled the familiar, calming scent of him.

"Looks like you had an eventful day," Elian murmured, his voice filled with that unshakeable optimism that Rael adored.

Rael smiled, tightening his hold. "You could say that."

Elian pulled back slightly, studying Rael's face with those bright, curious eyes. "You look thoughtful."

Rael chuckled softly. "Just thinking about how much things have changed. How much we've built here."

Elian's smile was radiant, pride evident in his gaze. "It's incredible, Rael. Look at what you've done. Look at what we've all done."

Rael's heart swelled. He cupped Elian's face, his thumb brushing gently over his cheek. "I couldn't have done it without you."