Daughter of the Moon (The Moon People, Book Two) by Claudia King

mused.
    Netya shared a glance with Caspian.
    "You think we could settle here?" he said. "Why this place?"
    "The land is rich with plants. These hills and valleys will hide us from the attention of others, and I feel the call of the spirits strongly here."
    "It is a peaceful place," Selo agreed. "And perhaps blessed with good fortune, if such a pack once made it their home."
    "Or cursed, if they all fell to the same fate as this animal." Caspian gestured to the skull. "Let us not forget the last cave we entered."
    Adel waved a hand in dismissal, and for a moment Netya thought she noticed her man prickle with annoyance.
    "We will be cautious," the den mother said. "Seek out the scents of this wolf's pack. Let us see if we cannot follow them back to its den."
    The group scattered to carry out Adel's instructions, nosing around the edges of the field in any small crannies that might still preserve the traces of the dead pack's scent.
    "Be careful," Caspian said to Netya once most of the others had gone. "Some of this wolf's kin may linger yet."
    "I am sure I can fend them off by myself if they do."
    "Without the help of your own wolf?"
    "I can call on her if I need to," Netya protested.
    Caspian raised his eyebrows. "After such a long time?"
    "What does it matter? Adel said to be cautious, and I shall. You need not tell me again." Netya closed her eyes and let out a long breath. "Forgive me, I did not mean to be short."
    "I am only concerned for you." He took her by the hand. "Your wolf has not been kind to you these past months. Adel trusts you to remain strong, but she is not the one who has to hold you in your sleep."
    "Perhaps she has the right of it. It may be better for me to confront my fears rather than seeking shelter from them. She had no one to comfort her when she faced her own trials."
    "You are not Adel," he said. "Nor should you try to be."
    "I am her apprentice."
    "And you are my woman. The sensitive girl who ensnared my heart. You may want to prove yourself to the den mother, but there is no need with me. Let me walk with you today, and if by chance we happen upon the remnants of this wolf's pack, we will face it together."
    Netya was still reluctant. She had felt coddled most of her life, whether it was as a child, a concubine, or a woman in a world ruled by men. Her withdrawal from her wolf over the winter had felt like she was regressing into that role all over again, and, despite the persistence of her panicked dreams, she longed to feel like she could stand shoulder to shoulder with her pack-sisters once more.
    "Very well," she consented, resting her spear over her shoulder. "If only to spend more time with you."
    Caspian smiled. "I hope we shall be able to spend even more time together soon."
    Netya returned his smile hesitantly. It had been a long time since they were intimate together. At first it had been a result of the cold, the cramped conditions beneath the shelter, and then her ongoing sensitivity to the fears of her dreams. Caspian had not pressured her, but she could sense he wanted to lie with his woman again.
    She desired his intimacy too, but it was now a different concern that kept her from consummating their love. The herbs she used to prevent herself from falling pregnant had been lost along with the rest in the flood, and her heightened state of anxiety had left her more nervous than ever about conceiving a child unexpectedly.
    The burdens of motherhood frightened her now, just as the unpredictable urges of her wolf did. She already had one childlike creature vying for her attention. One that she would eventually have to confront. She did not know whether she would be able to cope with yet another life-changing event on top of that.
    The rest of the day spent walking with Caspian was pleasant, however. He used his wolf's nose to sniff after the trails they were following, and she climbed trees to survey the nearby land for any signs of life. That evening they made camp in an open meadow, the