[1st POV]
The challengers were starting to learn.
I set out under the guidance of Grim, thinking that I would have to kill two or three challengers again but I found none.
Grim was not wrong. They definitely overstepped into my territory and I found clutes. But it seemed they ran away from the moment they caught a whiff of my scent.
That's why I said they were learning. They were not just mindlessly feeding themselves on my jaw. Maybe words got around and they realised they stood no chance against me in a straight fight, so they began taking a different approach.
Or maybe I have killed all the strong, bold and stupid lions who charged at me headfirst and the only lions that remaining are those that are decently smart.
It could be dangerous. I was powerful, but not invincible. If five lions made a coalition and caught me off guard, they have a very high chance of defeating me.
If I were not planning to leave the Serenegti, I would definitely follow after them and kill them before they get any smart ideas. But since I was leaving anyway, I did not bother. I put fresh marks in the surroundings and roared to announce my presence.
After my patrol, I returned to the pride.
I saw that the young lions were doing what I asked and welcoming Nala. I saw the older lions being more incredulous but no one showed obvious hate or displeasure so I didn't mind those. I knew it would take time to adjust to a new member but they would eventually, just like they adjusted to me.
I saw Nala smiling and hanging out with Lela and her group. I did not want to disturb them so that afternoon, I went to the older females to snuggle.
The lionessess were more than happy to have me.
Although when night came, Lela, Tala and Nia came to me with expectation easily read in their body language. I give them what they wanted and retire for the night.
It would be our final night before we begin moving south. I told everyone to rest well, and they did as I asked. Even the cubs were all old enough to understand the situation so I see no problem arising in the future.
I woke up at dawn on instinct. I was not planning on a patraol since we were leaving first thing in the morning but months of routine had stuck to me. I was going to close my eyes to sleep again but movements and sound caught my ear.
It was Nala.
I shrugged the desire to snuggle close to the lionessess body heat and sleep some more, and got up. The lionessess on top of me moved away on instinct, they too had gotten used to me waking up at dawn so my movement at this time did not disturb them.
I carefully walked through the pile of lions and followed Nala, who was walking somewhere unknown.
Eventually, she stopped a few distances away from the sleeping pride. I guess the presence of new faces had gotten into her so she wanted an isolated place.
I did not count myself among the new faces, so I approached her from behind. She seemed to have a lot on her mind because she noticed my presence way too late. i could've easily attacked her if I was an enemy.
"Oh, hey Leo," she said after flinching.
"Nala," I said and sat down beside her. I looked down at her with a smile, "You can't sleep?"
"Yes, it's hard. I kinda have a lot going on in my mind right now," she said.
"Care to share?" I asked.
"You'll probably think it's silly," she said with a sigh. But she shared anyway.
"It's just...I still can't believe you are here, Leo. And you are alive and already strong enough that these many lions can depend on you," she said.
"Your pride is nice, it reminds me of home, it reminds me of when Mufasa was still our king," she said. "Everyone was so kind that I didn't know what to do at first. I feel more welcomed here than I did in the Pridelands,"
She was always a rebel in Scar's rule so I can see how that would lead her to being shunned by others. There was nothing worse than being alone in a crowd.
Fortunately, it seemed there was nothing that needed solving in her issues. One could stress and have a lot on their mind without it being a problem to solve. Sometimes, so many things can happen in life that you just feel stuck for no particular reason.
You need time to process that.
"I know everything will be alright," she said and looked up at me, "With the support of your pride and with the things I've seen you do and heard you do, I don't doubt you,"
"You will beat Scar and take back our homeland from the hyenas. But what happens after that?" she asked me in a sincere tone.
Well, perhaps there was indeed something bothering her.
I tilted my head, showing that I need more clarification on the question.
"You said you were going to return to the Serenegti after fulfilling your promise," she said, her tone sounded like she was confronting me.
"After you beat Scar and overthrow all the enemies, what happens to us?" she asked, "What place do we hold in your heart? Your home, do we have only your past or do we also have your future?"
I stayed silent, processing her words. It seemed I had not been clear to her, even though I tried my best.
"If you think killing Scar is my only goal, then you are wrong," I said, "You have no idea of the endless greed a lion has with our pride. I want everything, Nala, the land and the pride. We will return to Sernegeti but only because it provides better resources for such a large pride, while the Pridelands are in drought."
"You plan on absorbing everyone into your pride?" she asked, "But you already have such a big pride?"
"It can always be bigger. Who else would be fit to manage such a large pride if not me?" I asked back.
When she finally heard my intention, she gave me a smile.
"And I think there is a misconception, Nala," I said, "My pride and my lionessess, although they mean a lot to me, they cannot compare to what you and Zuri have in my heart,"
"I've never cared that much for any other creature before or since," I said.
She stared at me with unblinking eyes. Her mouth parted as if to speak but she closed it again when she had no words.
Animals can talk, yes, but we have always preferred the language of the body more than speaking.
So Nala stood on her hind legs to be on my level. And then she tapped her velvet nose on mine. A kiss in lion language.
The small step was all she had to take for me to go all the way. I pushed her down on the ground and she did not resist. Her belly was exposed, her soft chest was exposed, all vulnerable parts of her were exposed and she did not bother shielding. It was a show of complete trust and submission.
I should've done this on the first night we met. Mating was more than just for pleasure; it held a lot of meaning for a pride. It was a sign of bonding and acceptance on my part. If I didn't do it, I was only creating doubt.
So when Nala offered herself to me, I claimed her. I showed her my eagerness and shed all my twisted desire on her. It got to the point of hurting her but that's what she wanted.
To be wanted like that by the king was a cure for all insecurity.
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[Romantic pic]
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Author : That will be all for the week. As is my schedule, I will not update tomorrow.
But at the start of the week, I will make a goal again where you can get triple or maybe quadruple chapter.
Thanks for reading!!