Jungle Freakn' Bride (33 page)

“You make a beautiful kitty
.
”

Well
,
duh.
However,
her own attempt at inner humor didn’t make the moment easier.
Heart heavy, Carlie bounded away from her sister. It hurt not knowing when she’d see or talk to her again.
Sure,
her mates had
promised her a laptop, but conversing on a screen wasn’t the same. Eventually, she’d crave a real hug
,
s
ome in
-
person
,
one
-
on
-
one time.
N
o matter what Acat thought
, she couldn’t live without seeing her family
forever.

As promised, though
, she would give Chaob and Acat their chance to teach
and show her their world
even
if
she already knew
she could never be the woman, the mate
,
or bride
t
he
y
expected.
A part of her suspected
Chaob knew that. If only Acat would recognize it.
If only there was a way she could have them in her life without giving up the things she valued
,
like freedom, her job, Starbucks
…

First things first
,
though. She needed to learn how to survive – so that one day if she needed to, she could escape.

Despite their claim she needed to learn about tribal life, they took their time traveling back
to the village
, splintering off from the main group and enjoying a honeymoon of sorts, if a strange one that involved discovery, not just of sensual pleasures but basic ones too.
She learned something in her odor repelled mosquitoes – which she totally enjoyed.
They taught her
h
ow to drink without a water source
using
leaves and plants
.
They showed her w
hat she could safely eat, a list larger than before given her new iron stomach.
Tons of tiny skills that she appreciated.

In no time at all she learned
to
recognize danger
,
and not just the four
and
eight
-
legged –
or
slithery
–
variety
.
Over the course of the next week,
t
he men showed Carlie how to recognize scents and tracks
,
t
he difference between a natural born jaguar’s scent and a tribal one, even when masked for the hunt. Under their watchful eye, they taught her how to fight, wrestling with her initially before letting her tackle small prey, then larger.

Blood thirsty or not, she did roar in victory when she took down her first lizard. Only four feet, but she did it herself, and Chaob promised the outfit made from its skin would rival in softness the supple leather manufacturing could make.
Call her warped, but she couldn’t wait to wear it.

At night, they’d find a tree with a wide bough to perch on, sometimes sleeping in their cat shape, cradled around each other in a furry pretzel. At other times, they gathered soft leaves and piled them high, making love
with a passionate frenzy that left her limp and grinning like an idiot.

Yet despite the laughter and erotic discovery, n
ot once did they ever profess their love for her. To them
,
she
was
simply their mate
,
t
heir bride
,
and prize from the gods
,
w
hich
was
fine by her. She didn’t want anything more from them. No professions of love that she wouldn’t return – even if she feared it was too late. They’
d stolen a part of her heart, perhaps even a piece of her soul.
When the time came for her to leave, she expected it would hurt, but not as much as staying.

After the jungle lessons,
she
got to see firsthand
what life they, or at least Acat
,
expected her to live.
An emergency requiring Acat and Chaob saw them dumping her – none too happily – in their hut.
During their absence, s
he met the women of the village
,
h
appy ladies for the most part, their shy smiles and mimed gestures the only way of communicating, their broken English usually more confusing than enlightening.
They fed her
and cl
othed her.
They t
aught her
the tribal ways
.
Despite her interest in them and their culture, l
iving in the village after the quasi freedom of the jungle proved confining – and so freakn
’
boring.

Sasha, who
lived in a different part of the jungle
and
c
a
me for a visit
,
said it best. “All they do is cook, clean
,
and take care of babies. Boy babies I might add. Not a single little girl among them.”

“Because of the curse apparently,” Carlie replied. “But I know what you mean. I’ve only been here for
two
week
s
, and I am ready to shave myself bald for some excitement.” Especially since she spent the nights alone, her men
still gone on their
mysterious errand. Not that she could use that time to escape, not with her father
-
in
-
law watching her like a hawk and warriors
shadow
ing her every move.
Even
G
randpa
,
the shaman
– a fascinating character she questioned at length
–
seemed to always appear underfoot, smoking his pipe and speaking in Yoda.
Gee, it was if they didn’t trust her.
Stupid
,
astute husbands.

“I don’t think it’s that bad.” Carlie and Sasha both swiveled to throw an incredulous look at Leena
who’d joined them for the jungle version of tea
. The formerly pale and uncertain woman pulled her shoulders back and regarded them defiantly. “What? I happen to like it here. It’s peaceful. No one yelling at me. No pressure to work and pay the rent or bills.”

“No shopping or books.”

“I have books.”

“You what?” Carlie gaped at Leena
,
who nodded as she blushed.

“My mates brought me a boxful when they found out how much I like to read. I can loan you some if you’d like.”

“I would
like
, but let’s go back to the happy thing. You mean to say you don’t miss home and your life
?
”

Leena shook her head vigorously. “Sure, I miss some things like hot showers and a real toilet, but really, they’ve got things set
up pretty good here. Not only that, but I get to study all the bugs I want. You should see how much work I’ve gotten done on my thesis.
My guys
know so much. They’re smart about
so many
things.” Leena sighed dreamily and Sasha rolled her eyes.

“I think I just barfed in my mouth.”

Carlie snickered.

Their former little mouse sat up straight. “Oh please. You can’t tell me you don’t like your men. I’ve heard you
,
Sasha
. It’s not like you’re quiet. Either of you,” she added
,
pointedly staring them down.

Heat rose in Carlie’s cheeks while Sasha laughed. “I wasn’t denying their prowess in the bedroom, just extolling on the boredom of this lifestyle. I was not cut out to be a
S
uzy homemaker, or in this case
,
a Jane to their Tarzan. I miss the city.”

“Me too,” Carlie admitted. “I miss talking to my family, especially my sister.”

“Have you told them?”

“
Not recently, obviously. But even before, when I did,
Acat growl
ed
at me that
I belonged in the jungle now
.
”

“Their jungle needs a mall,” Sasha grumbled.
“And when are they coming back anyway?”

Carlie wasn’t the only abandoned bride, or the only one who chafed. She tried to console herself with the promise
Chaob
made that he’d have a surprise for her if all went well.
She’d already gotten the laptop as promised
.
T
he problem was her parents weren’t setup yet for video conferencing, something that was apparently getting worked on. By who, nobody would say.
She hated feeling out of the loop and out of control.

“
So what are you going to do?”
Leena asked
.

What
,
indeed. A part of
Carlie
screamed she needed to leave while another part didn’t want to go. She also knew they wouldn’t just let her go. No matter where she went,
Chaob and Acat would
follow.
Despite herself, she couldn’t deny something bound them together, some force or something.
Maybe that magic they wanted her to believe in.

Love,
her cat prompted.

Fine. If she had to label it
,
dammit, then she freakn’ loved them.
But was
love
enough?

“If
we
’re not careful
,
we’re going to lose her,” Chaob muttered to Acat
when they stopped for a short rest on their way
back to the village.
Called into the city unexpectedly to take care of some business, they chafed to return to their mate’s side. It just about drove him crazy to spend so many nights away from her and he knew Acat felt the same.

“I don’t know what else
you
expect me to do. We’ve already bent rules because of who she is, rules
F
ather never bent for our mother
,
such as letting her
leave the village
and letting her reveal our secret to her sister, a sister I might add who has now left us and is free to tell any and all what she saw and experienced.”

“But won’t. Her mates will make sure of that.”

“Or so we hope.”

“What is it you truly fear?” Chaob asked.

“I fear nothing,” Acat boldly claimed.

“Liar. You and I both know she’s not cut out for
a
life
led exclusively in the jungle
.”

“Her friends have.”

“One has. The other is also making the same noises about freedom that Carlie is. These are wom
e
n who know the outside world.
They k
now of the freedoms and experiences we can’t give them in the jungle.
Hell, can you blame them? We’ve enjoyed many of those same things they pine for like music, and movies
,
r
estaurants
,
and dancing.”

“Once we plant a babe in her belly
–
”

“She’ll want a proper doctor and care.”

“Whose side are you on anyway?” Acat growled.

“That of happiness. We can teach Carlie our ways
a
nd she’ll learn. Accept some of the
traditions we believe in
, however, keeping her a prisoner in the village won’t make her happy. She’ll resent us
in the long run
.”

“So what are you suggesting?”

Chaob took a deep breath. “We already have an apartment.”

Acat stopped in his tracks. “You’re not suggesting we let her live outside the village. You know my father would never allow it. Tradition
–
”

“Needs to change. The modern world is infiltrating everything. We can’t remain hidden forever. Isn’t that why you and I have lives outside the tribe to begin with?”

“In order to protect those who wish to remain hidden.”

“And because it’s time for us to stop living in the past and join the world before our world is ripped away. Face it. It’s only a matter of time before we’re found. Already the brave
explorers and those who would exploit
forge deeper and further
in to the forest
.”