Ch 15 Pack Problems
"Commmee oonnnnn, I wanna go outsidddeee" Mwezi groaned as she threw another tantrum. "Boy's it's been two weeks, nearly three. Let the girl live! If you're that worried, go with her or send her out with an escort." Lu'ana scolded. "I knew mama ana loved me." Mwezi hugs the queen and pretends to sniffle. "There there baby, mamas got you." she replied, rubbing her back in circles. "We're also super busy though. I'm helping pa acquire land and supplies. Nyoka is dealing with the settlements for newcomers and teaching people how to work with them and Paka has fully dedicated himself to training and the nursery." Kai said with a sigh.
After the incident Paka realized that he had the lowest marks of the group. Even Tayir had gotten his forth mark while out training and working with Māui. "Okay, compromise! Drop me off to see Sabine and muh Nephews! I'll be safe with them of course. I get to socialize and play with the kids and I'm still within kingdom grounds. I literally know all of them Sabertoohs." Mwezi countered. Kai raised a brow and looked from her face to her belly and back up.
He sighed and his shoulders slumped. "Okay Okay but please take it easy. You think I'm worried about you now if something happens, even an accident. I will...what do you say? Yeah, loose my shit." He acquiesced. Mwezi giggled and jumped into his arms. He caught her easily and held her close as she wrapped her legs around his waist. "Perhaps I should just skip my duties today and keep my mate company." He growls against her skin before kissing his mark on her shoulder.
The pleasure that shot through her body made her body shudder and she let out a soft moan. Kai pressed Mwezi up against the wall in their room as his mouth claimed hers. Their tongue battled one another but she submitted to him easily. "Mmmm such a good girl for me." He growled in her ear as his hand applied soft pressure to her neck. "Yes Sir." She whispered, happy he was holding her as her legs grew weak. Kai secured his hold before turning around with her in his arms and laying her along the bed.
Kai hand slide up her leg shoving the fabric of her skirt aside. He rubbed his thumbs in circles massaging her inner thigh. There was banging at the door that made Mwezi scream in shock before resting her hand on her chest to try and calm her racing heart. Kai slide off the bed and padded along the floor silently before opening the door so hard it broken one of the hinges at the top. "This better be good" he said through gritted teeth.
The soldier swallowed the ball of fear that got stuck in his throat. "The king requires you and Princess Mwezi's presence. There are royal visitors that we are still trying to persuade as allies to share land. He feels you two being there would help." He informed them. Mwezi came up behind Kai and rubbed her hand from the small of his back up to rest on his shoulder. "It's alright my love. We have plenty of time" she told him, trying to calm him down. He sighed, still frustrated but less so. He didn't appreciate the uncomfortableness growing in his loincloth.
Kai took her hand and guided her to the reception area where King Kaizo and Queen Lu'ana were waiting for them. Kai looked at his parents and noticed their worried glance. "Wolves" was the king's reply. Kai sighed and nodded with understanding while Mwezi looked confused. The Wolf royalty was announced before she could ask any questions. "Kaizo! So good to see you!" The wolf king greeted with a smile on his face. Mwezi felt uncomfortable and stuck with her gut. He was not to be trusted.
"Tazeem. Likewise!" Kaizo greeted before everyone went around with their greeting. "And this must be the infamous Mwezi!" Tazeem noted as he saw her next to Kai. "Infamous?" Mwezi asked simply. "Well that's not the proper label I suppose. My apologies. " He replied. "It's interesting that you felt comfortable enough behind your title to label someone you don't even know. Wonderful first impression, I will admit. Unforgettable." She retorted with a tight lipped smile. Kai was just thankful she was diplomatic about her retort but this wasn't going well.
Amidst the awkward silence that followed, Tayir and Māui had entered the palace. The tension skyrocketed and Mwezi started putting two and two together. Māui eyed the king as he walked past the wolf entourage with Tayir in tow. "King Tazeem." They greeted the king in unison with a pained look on their face. Tayir wasn't with Māui during his past but they had grown close over the month and the wolf had confided in the bird he considered a brother. "I see you have created a safe place with a truly open door policy. Is there anything not allowed in?" He asked, looking at Māui. Mwezi was seeing red but before she could react, Māui had stepped in front of her. Those who knew the situation weren't sure if he was protecting Mwezi or king Tazeem.
"The bear kingdom's Prince and Princess have created a safe and welcoming space for those who are deserving. They judge everyone by who they are and their actions. Not what they are or how they appear to be. While giving away land isn't always something a kingdom wants to do, making amends for the past is a great way for everyone to heal. All kuhamans should support one another the way we do here." Māui stated simply. Tazeem chuckled which turned into full on laughter.
Everyone eye the wolf king suspiciously. "Is this is? Your grandiose gesture? Letting a rouge mutt and no name female upset this pyramid scheme? Mwezi had already removed all her jewelry but much to her surprise Tayir held her back. She looked at him confused and angry but he gave her a soft look that made her back down. He smiled and winked at her which made her focus on Māui's back with the utmost interest. She was startled when Māui let out the most inhumane growl. "You may speak ill of me little brother but you WILL respect MY. MATE.!" He yelled. There was pin drop silence. Everyone but Mwezi knew about the fact that Māui and Tazeem were related. This news did indeed shock her. However, everyone was blown away by his claim to Mwezi.
'He chooses now to confess his feelings" Lu'ana thought to herself as she rolled her eyes. Tazeem and his court seemed to think he was joking as they burst into laughter and pointed at him like school children bullying someone. "A female choosing you?! A rogue nobody?! What fantasy land do you live in big brother?" Tazeem asked. Mwezi slid from Kai and Tayir's side and stood next to Māui and laced her fingers with his. "It's called reality king Tazeem. How does it feel to be so loud and so wrong?" Mwezi asked rhetorically. "Quite alright. Based on the constant request coming in from your kingdom it seems like the only thing you're competent at is betrayal and backstabbing. Because it sure isn't running a kingdom." Mwezi stated calmly.
"So I have an idea. Cards on the table. You can help with some land or, my kingdom and its people will support Māui should he choose to call his claim to the throne." Lu'ana declared. "It's a quite simple choice really. It would be most unfortunate for you to go to war and not have any supplies." Lu'anna threatened with a shrug of her shoulders. "I may not be your only mate but I'm pretty sure I'm the luckiest one." Kaizo said before kissing the top of Lu'anna's head.
"As will the Jaguar kingdom" the Jaguar king said as he and his entourage walked in. "Quite the party you lot have here. I would have been upset had I missed all the fun!" The king joked. "Ma'kaio, Good to see you as always dear friend" Kaizo said as he hugged the jaguar king. "Likewise brother. " He replied, hugging him back. "You all are mad! He is not fit to rule!" Tazeem raged. "How so?" Tayir asked. Everyone was shocked because he was normally the quiet one. "Under his tutelage I have gained not only another mark but have helped him in starting our own bounty hunting business. In a few months it has flourished into nearly all the kingdoms but yours of course. So it makes sense you were unaware. Imagine being a king of an entire group of people and not knowing something so important." He added. "I could never." Mankato replied with a laugh.
At this point everyone was laughing at Tazeem without a care in the world. "You mock me while asking for my help?!" Tazeem screeched as his voice cracked. "You don't really have much of a choice, welp. It would behoove you to just help. I could care less about a crown or power, but yanno what. I just might. Make sure I can provide the best for my mate. Where's yours by the way?" Māui retorted before kissing the top of Mwezi's head. Mwezi was so proud. She knew he had it in him but he was so nonchalance he didn't seem to care or show how. It was now that his confidence and actions matched the power he truly had.
Tazeem had grown so angry he had partially shifted and turned his shouted to Mwezi. "This is YOUR fault" he roared as Māui shifted fully to protect her. There was a hiss from behind followed by a feline roar and Nyoka and Paka had shown up. "Threatening Mwezi was one mistake. But you just threatened the possible prince of the Bear kingdom. That is what we call an instigation of war" Kaizo said with a growl. Lu'anna had positioned herself to Mwezi side as the Jaguars had the flank. The only escape was to the left and it was a dead end. Tazeem may be immature but he wasn't brain dead stupid. He shifted back and turned around walking right past Nyoka and Paka with a false air of confidence. He turned back and looked right at Mwezi as if he could see her through Māui's massive form. "And so it shall be" Tazeem retorted before running off.
"No." Mwezi said quietly. "We handle our kingdoms, prepare and let Namur and his people know what's going on. I don't wish to involve them if at all possible but they should be aware of the situation. Let the puppy run. We'll deal with him later. " She stated quietly. "Now to see my Nephews because a bitch is stressed" She groaned and everyone laughed.