---- 08.


    ALOW BLOW LYRA "If you soak it in hot water, the featherse off more easily," I said, grabbing a wooden bowl and dipping it into the boiling water.


    I crouched in front of him, showing how easy it was to pluck the feathers without tearing off half the bird in the process.


    "This way, you dont have to use so much force.


    Then you quickly pass a burning twig over it to singe the tough hairs...


    see?" I lifted my head, locking eyes with that midnight gaze.


    My cheeks warmed slightly from the closeness and the way he focused on me.


    "You could hurt your hands.


    ''ll do it," he suddenly said, taking the bird from me and checking my fingers.


    My heart swelled with sweetness, and I had the urge to kiss him, but I was too embarrassed to be so clingy this early in the morning.


    The animal tumed out to have more meat than I expected, weighing several kilos.


    My mind raced with ways to make it delicious, but resources here were scarce.


    "Pm going to the river to clean it and get rid of the gutsunless you eat them?" The intestines?" My face twisted just thinking about the insides ---- No, no.


    And you shouldnt eat them either.


    Cleaning them properly is too much work." With a nod, I watched him stand and head off.


    "Can you bring more water? I need to use this one...


    Im going to wash up abit,""I said before he left.


    Where should I put the pot?" he asked, grabbing the hot, fire- ckened stone with his bare hand.


    "Here, here," I pointed to a discreet corner of the cave.


    Id have to make some changes to improve our living conditions.


    Drakkar left the steaming water where I had indicated, and without many words, grabbed a wooden bucket and hurried down the mountain.


    IE "wash yourself properly, because tonight, I n to seduce my mate, and you''re a filthy mess." I sighed in defeat, huffing as I stripped down and used a scrap of my dress to wipe my skin.


    Keeping my senses on alert for anything outside, I finished quickly, scrubbing thoroughly until I felt clean again...


    everywhere, Thad just slipped on my boots when Aztoria announced we hadpany.


    ---- "Drakkar! You have no right to im this female! She must choose another male from the tribe! We wont let you starve her to death!" A loud crash sounded at the entrance of the cave, and I rushed out to face those idiots.


    Looking down, I saw them clucking like hensying eggs.


    Goddess, they were a nuisanceespecially that man, Verak.


    He stood at the back, silent, but Id bet anything he was the one who stirred up the others.


    "Leave us alone! The Alphas son told me I could choose any male I wanted.


    He cant take back his word now!" I roared, furious.


    "You dont understand this packsws! Drakkar has no right to im any prized female.


    Only the strongest warriors of the tribe do!" another one responded, stepping up the carved stone steps on the mountainside.


    My fangs lengthened, my silver eyes shing as I locked onto Veraks.


    The kindness he showed yesterday was just a ploy to get under my skirt.


    Now he was turning his back on me in the name of packws.


    "Get out of my home, now, or I wont be responsible for what happens!" I warned the warrior who had climbed up and was reaching for me