Chapter 4

Cadence dropped the remainder of the fruit in shock. It hit the dirt floor with a soft thud. She stared at Harlan with wide, disbelieving eyes.

She touched her throat. Her fingers trembled. "I... I can understand you. Are you speaking English?"

Harlan chuckles. His deep voice vibrated in the small space, a rich and soothing sound. "No, you are speaking the Primal tongue now."

Cadence shook her head. She was utterly amazed by the magical, instant linguistic download the fruit provided. Her brain processed the alien syllables as perfectly normal words.

Harlan's smile faded into a look of intense, serious devotion. He took a deliberate step closer. He suddenly dropped to one knee. His massive frame lowered to the dirt in a traditional posture of absolute submission.

Cadence stumbled back a step. Her modern instincts were startled by the sudden, extreme formal gesture. Her back hit the cold stone wall.

Harlan looked up at her. His blue eyes burned with intensity. "I found you. Under tribal law, I claim the right to be your first mate."

Cadence's breath hitched. Her brain short-circuited. The heavy implication of the word 'first' registered in her mind like a physical blow.

She crossed her arms tightly across her chest. She adopted a defensive posture. She immediately blurts out a panicked rejection. "No. Wait. Stop. In my homeland, people date for a long time before making any commitments. We don't just declare ourselves mates on the first day."

Harlan stood up slowly. He sensed her rising panic. He wanted to de-escalate the situation before she bolted. He kept his hands visible at his sides.

He gently explained the harsh reality of his world. "Unbonded females are targets for rogue shifters. They will steal you. Cohabitation is for your immediate safety. You must have a protector."

He took a breath and further explained the Union Bond. "Because the world is dangerous and females are rare, you will take multiple mates to ensure your protection and survival. One male is not enough to keep you safe through the winters."

Cadence's eyes widened in absolute horror. The concept of a multi-mate, polyamorous system clashed violently with everything she knew. Her stomach flipped.

She paced the small dirt floor. She shook her head vehemently. "No. I firmly believe in monogamy. One true partner. I cannot share myself like that. It's wrong."

Harlan looked confused by the word 'monogamy'. He visibly stiffened, his brow furrowing in deep perplexity. In his world, being claimed by a strong protector was the ultimate blessing for a female. He could not fathom why his offer of absolute security was being met with such fierce rejection. A flicker of genuine hurt flashed across his striking blue eyes. He had offered her his highest honor, and she was terrified of it.

But as he watched her tremble, his primal instinct to dominate warred violently with his sudden, overwhelming need to comfort her. He forced his possessive urges down.

He stepped into her path. He stopped her frantic pacing with his massive, imposing frame. He gently grasped her shoulders. His large thumbs rubbed her collarbones in a soothing, grounding motion. The heat from his skin bled into hers.

He looked directly into her panicked eyes. "I do not understand your ways," he admitted, his deep voice thick with restrained emotion. "But I swear on the Primal God that I will never force you into a bond you do not want. I will wait."

He clarified his intentions. "Staying in my hut simply signals to the tribe that you are off-limits to aggressive suitors. It buys you time. It keeps you safe."

Cadence searched his earnest, desperate blue eyes. She found absolutely no deceit or malice. She only saw genuine concern for her well-being.

She mentally calculated her odds. She had zero survival skills. She had no food. She had no shelter. She needed him right now to survive the night.

With a heavy sigh, she let her defensive posture drop slightly. Her tense shoulders relaxed under his warm hands.

She agreed to stay in his hut. She strictly established her boundaries. "We are just roommates. We are getting to know each other. Nothing more. Do you understand?"

Harlan's face broke into a massive, boyish grin of sheer relief. The tension left his muscular body in a rush.

Overcome with joy, he suddenly scooped her up by the waist. He spun her around the small room. His laughter echoed off the stone walls.

Cadence let out a surprised, breathless laugh. Her earlier terror melted into genuine amusement at his golden-retriever energy. Her hands gripped his broad shoulders to steady herself.

Harlan set her down carefully. His hands lingered on her waist a second too long. He awkwardly cleared his throat and stepped back, respecting her boundary.

He puffed out his chest. He announced proudly that he would now take her on a proper tour of the tribe. He wanted everyone to know she was under his official protection.