Jana's fingertips were still an inch away from Caleb's skin when a blast of hot air hit her palm.

It was like hitting an invisible wall. She was thrown backward, stumbling a few steps, her wrist stinging as if she'd been slapped.

Caleb took a step back from her, his face twisted in absolute disgust. "Don't touch me," he said, his voice like grinding ice. "You make me sick."

Jana froze. The rejection was so blunt, so unexpected, that she stood there with her mouth open, her hand still hovering in the air.

She quickly recovered, assuming he was just playing hard to get. She pushed her chest out further, the feathers of her dress rustling. "If you become my mate, I'll prioritize you every heat cycle. I'll give you the strongest cubs in the tribe."

The surrounding males groaned in envy. That was the highest honor a female could offer.

Cora watched the scene unfold from Caleb's side. A small, petty part of her wanted to see if the big, bad wolf would fall for the busty bird.

Caleb didn't even look at Jana's offered assets. He leaned in slightly, his nose wrinkling. "You stink," he said flatly.

The words dropped like a bomb.

Jana's face contorted. "What did you say? I bathe in flower water every day!"

"You stink," Caleb said, his voice dripping with contempt. "Too many males. Foul."

A few snickers escaped from the crowd.

Jana's face turned purple with rage. She pointed a shaking finger at Cora. "You'd rather have a barren stick than me?"

Caleb's patience snapped.

A wave of pure, terrifying energy exploded from his body. It wasn't just killing intent; it was the aura of a high-tier beast. The pressure slammed into the crowd.

The males closest to him dropped to their knees, gasping for air. Jana was hit the hardest. She collapsed onto her hands and knees, her face pale, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps like she was being crushed by an invisible boulder.

"Insult her again," Caleb said, his voice echoing unnaturally, "and I'll rip your tongue out."

He held the pressure for a second longer, making sure Jana understood the reality of the threat, then reeled it back in.

He turned, scooped Cora up into his arms-one arm under her knees, the other supporting her back-and grabbed the sack of fruit. He walked out of the clearing, heading toward the mountain path, not sparing the tribe another glance.

Cora, nestled against his chest, looked back over his shoulder. Jana was still on the ground, coughing and glaring after them with impotent fury. A small, satisfied smile touched Cora's lips.

But as they left the noise of the tribe behind, entering the quiet of the forest path, her smile faded. She looked up at Caleb's profile. His jaw was set, his eyes focused on the path ahead.

He had just humiliated the most powerful female in the tribe for her. He had claimed her as his own. But why?

The path grew steeper, winding up the mountainside. The trees here were quieter, the air cooler.

"You can put me down now," Cora said softly. "I can walk."

Caleb ignored her. His arms tightened, pulling her closer against his chest.

"The ground is rough," he said. "It will hurt your feet."

Cora stared at him. He was still naked, carrying her and a heavy sack like it was nothing, worried about her feet.

"Why did you do that?" she asked. "Why did you refuse her? She was... offering a lot."

Caleb stopped walking. He looked down at her, his ice-blue eyes softening. The fierce warrior was gone, replaced by something earnest and intense.

"Because you are my mate," he said simply. "My only one."

Cora's heart skipped a beat. The word "mate" sounded so heavy, so permanent. Her cheeks flushed hot.

She looked away, trying to hide her reaction. "I told you, I can't have kids," she muttered, falling back on her shield. "I'm barren."

Caleb let out a low chuckle. The sound vibrated through his chest and into her body. "You think I can't tell when a female is lying?"

Cora's head snapped back around. Her eyes widened. Cold sweat broke out on the back of her neck. He knew?

He shifted her weight in his arms, freeing one hand. His large, calloused palm slid under her shirt and rested flat against her stomach. The touch was possessive, but gentle.

"Your energy field is weak," he said, his thumb stroking her skin, "but it's pure. Full of life. It's not the dead, stagnant energy of a barren female."

Cora let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. He was using some weird beast-man logic to judge her health. He didn't know about human biology or the fact that she was from another world.

"Even if I could," she said, pushing his hand away, "I'm not having a baby with a wolf I just met."

Caleb frowned. The crease between his brows deepened. "I am not just a wolf. I am Caleb. The strongest warrior."

He started walking again, carrying her up the winding path. He seemed annoyed that she had reduced his identity to just his animal form.

They rounded a bend, and a stone house came into view. It was built into the side of the cliff, half-cave, half-structure. Thick gray stones formed the walls, and heavy wooden stakes created a fence around a small yard. It was isolated, overlooking the valley below.

Caleb kicked the heavy wooden door open. The smell of dry pine and woodsmoke washed over them.

The interior was sparse. A massive stone slab dominated the center of the room, covered in thick, white furs. A fire pit sat in the middle of the floor, with a smoke hole directly above it. It was primitive, but surprisingly clean.

He finally set her down. Her feet sank into the soft fur rug covering the floor. It was incredibly soft.

Caleb walked over to the fire pit. He grabbed a piece of flint and struck it against a rock. Sparks flew, catching the dry tinder. Within moments, a warm fire crackled to life, pushing back the chill of the stone walls.

He reached into the sack and pulled out a handful of the cloud berries. He walked over to a clay jug in the corner, poured water over them in a wooden bowl, washing them carefully.

He brought the bowl to Cora, holding it out like an offering. His eyes were expectant, like a dog bringing a stick to its master.

Cora realized she was starving. She took a berry and popped it into her mouth. It burst with sweet, tart juice, instantly quenching her thirst.

"It's good," she said, her eyes lighting up.

Caleb's face broke into a genuine smile. It transformed his harsh features, making him look almost boyish.

He turned back to the sack and pulled out the leaf-wrapped bundle he had carved from the tiger's carcass at the trading post. He unwrapped the thick, blood-red slab and skewered it on a sharp stick, holding it over the fire.

The flames licked the meat. The smell of roasting fat filled the room.

But Caleb only held it there for two minutes. The outside had barely changed color; the inside was still cold and raw. Blood dripped into the fire, hissing.

He pulled it out and held the dripping, barely seared meat toward Cora. "Eat."

Cora looked at the bloody slab. Her stomach, which had been so happy a moment ago, churned violently. The smell of raw meat made her gag.

"I..." She pressed a hand to her mouth, leaning back. "I don't eat raw meat."

Caleb stared at the bloody meat in his hand, then at Cora's pale face. He looked genuinely confused.

"Raw meat has the most energy," he explained, as if speaking to a child. "It makes you strong."

"I don't care about energy," Cora said, her stomach cramping at the thought of swallowing that. "My tribe... we cook our meat. Completely. Until there's no pink left."

Caleb's expression softened slightly. "Tribe." He assumed she meant some weak, distant village. "I will cook it."

He put the meat back over the fire. He held it there, watching the flames. The fat sizzled and popped. The outside began to blacken and char.

Ten minutes passed. The meat was now a shriveled, blackened husk. Smoke curled off it.

Caleb pulled it from the fire and offered it to her again. "Cooked."

Cora looked at the lump of charcoal. It was a sweet gesture, in a very primitive way. She couldn't reject it twice. She took the heavy stick from him.

She opened her mouth and bit into the blackened crust.

Her teeth scraped against something that felt like a tire tread. The outside was bitter and crumbly, tasting of ash. The inside was still tough, a chewy, rubbery mass.

She tried to tear a piece off with her teeth. The meat resisted. She pulled harder, grinding her teeth against the sinew.

A sharp, agonizing pain shot through her gums.

"Hssst!" Cora dropped the meat on the fur rug and clutched her cheek. A tear leaked out of the corner of her eye. Her gums were bleeding; the tough meat had scraped the soft tissue raw.

Caleb was on his knees in front of her in an instant. He knocked the meat away, his hands hovering over her face, frantic.

"What is it? Where are you hurt?" His voice was tight with panic.

"My tooth," Cora whimpered, pressing her palm against her jaw. "It's too hard. It hurts."

Caleb looked at her bleeding gum, then at the discarded lump of meat. His face fell. The panic was replaced by a crushing guilt.

He picked up the blackened meat and hurled it across the room. It hit the stone wall with a wet smack.

"I am useless," he growled, his head dropping. He looked like a giant dog who had just been scolded for chewing a shoe. "I cannot even feed my mate."

Cora looked at him, her pain momentarily forgotten. This man-this beast who had killed a monster with his bare hands and terrified an entire tribe-was sulking because he made bad barbecue.

"It's okay," she said softly. She reached out and patted his muscular arm. "It's not your fault. I'm just... delicate. The berries were delicious."

Caleb lifted his head. His eyes were intense. He grabbed her hand that was resting on his arm, holding it tightly.

"Tomorrow," he said, his voice low and fierce. "I will go deep into the forest. I will find the softest meat. The sweetest fruit. I will not fail you again."

Cora couldn't help but smile. "Okay."

Her stomach growled again, unsatisfied by the few berries.

The sun had set outside. The two moons were rising, casting a silver and red glow through the smoke hole. The fire crackled warmly.

Cora looked down at herself. She was covered in dirt, dried sweat, and blood. Her clothes were torn. She felt grimy and disgusting.

She remembered seeing a stream on the way up the mountain. "I want to take a bath," she said, standing up.

Caleb stood up immediately. He grabbed a thick, white fur from the bed. "I will come with you. The forest at night is dangerous."

Cora looked at his naked chest, then at the fur in his hands, imagining herself bathing while this giant watched. Her face burned.

"That's... not necessary," she stammered.

"It is," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.