Chapter 21

Melee was getting dinner ready.

Amai was holding on to the twins and tried to keep them happy as she could work on today's meal. She was about to prepare when the front door open. Peering from around the kitchen, she saw Hunter was back! "Kiddo!" she cheered.

But he wasn't happy. "Mom… Jag is here to talk to you and dad about something," he said. "I'm going to excuse myself to my room," she couldn't get a word in as he left for his room. Jag wondered into the house yet his head was low and humble.

"Jaguar, is everything okay?" Amai asked.

He took a deep breath and said. "I wish to ask for your permission…"

"Of course you can marry Hunter!" she decreed. "No worries on that,"

"It's not that." he said rather sternly. "I have come to ask if Hunter may have permission to marry my sister as well."

This… just complicated things.

Melee froze to the question. "Wait, you want him to marry you AND your sister?" she asked. "Uh, sweetheart, that's not something that…"

"I know, I respect your ways for they are ours as well. However there is a rare opportunity in which this can be invoked, and I wish to do so. My sister… my family is in great danger."

She didn't know what to say, that's what has Hunter so upset at the moment. He doesn't know how to respond to it either.

"May I?" Amai chimed in.

She nodded as he looked to Jag. "I am somewhat understanding of your ways and the people. In fact, after I first encountered your village, I went back home and researched your people and the outer villages. Now, with this request, you are stating there are hostile forces, aiming to seize control of your village through marriage… and then within that, they aim to slaughter your family for power?" he asked.

Jag froze. "How did you…"

"It's a common practice among one of the tribes. Many gained power in such a way. Which means, they have their sights set on your family due to their land and also the loyalty of the people."

"I'll give credit here, I had no idea that was a common practice in the villages. Still, how did you know Amai?"

"As I said, I researched. I get curious every so often if something seems out of place to me. This… this fascinated me. So, with that being said, the way to starve off this hostile take over is if your sister marries Hunter?"

Jag nodded. "Out of all the other villages, no one is stronger than him. Many caught wind of our relationship and have since begun to send tributes to father for having such a powerful person in our family. Which is why he has to marry my sister!"

Melee sighed to it all. "How does he feel? He loves you, you do know that."

"Yes, but I have also seen him develop feelings for Lynx. My sister… my sister is an amazing young woman. She will bare him children where I cannot, I just… I just want to be sure my family will be safe. If this tribe gets in, I know they will be killed when I am away. And it won't be long until they take aim at me."

Amai sighed. "Melee, I know this is against your principle here, but I think this might have to be done. But there is another law within your people too, very rarely is it invoked and only Hunter can do so, can't he?"

Jag nodded once more. "Since he is to marry me, he has permission from the elder to take a wife if he desires to. Father won't object. In fact, he is the one who told me of this law. I have struggled with the notion. I love Hunter. I love my sister. But, the thought of sharing him…"

Melee agreed with Jag. "It would be like Garou taking a husband and I would be a third wheel only for baby making. I get that," she said.

"But that's not how I feel,"

The room paused as Hunter looked to Jag and then to Melee. "Mom… This is so wrong. I know it is. But… I want to help,"

"Hunter…" Jag whispered.

"I love you, you know that. But ever since I got to know Lynx, I see how amazing she really is. She reminds me a lot of you mom. She's strong, independent, cunning, talented…" he stopped as he found himself trailing off. Shaking his head in anger he growled at himself. "God, why can't I love one more than the other! Why am I cursed like this!" he demanded.

Melee came out from behind the kitchen. She approached her son and cupped the one side of his face gently. "Hunter, it's just who you are. You love both sides equally, but you feel you have to be loyal to one. That's not who you are, sadly it's now how it will be for you either. You can marry Jag, but you may develop feelings for a girl too at the same time."

He wept a little. "It's not fair mom," he whispered. "I want… I… I don't even know what I want anymore."

Jag took a deep breath. "It's okay if you fall in love with her." He said.

Melee turned as Jag tried to offer the strongest smile he could. "My sister has always had good taste, when she first met you, she thought you were amazing, just as I found you amazing too. On the bright side, you will stay in the family,"

"You are not that convincing," Amai said.

Jag's smile dropped as Amai slinked forward. He offered a warm smile of his own but shook his head. "In this state, I can sense how people feel. And right now, you are full of anger, rage and resentment. You loved him first, and it's very understandable. After all, I've been there." He said.

Jag trembled. "Then how do you deal with it?"

He forced a small laugh. Amai said. "You learn to cope."

Hunter however shook his head. "This isn't fair, but it's not right? It's not right because it isn't fair… it's not what I was raised to do or believe… Goddamn it!" Hunter shouted.

"Language!"

The room came to a pause as Garou returned with Yuuma. "What the hell is this?"

"Sensitive matter," Melee explained.

"Dad… how would you feel if I had a husband and a wife?" Hunter asked.

Garou froze to the question. "Huh? Someone is offering?" he asked as his focus shifted to Jag.

"My sister," he explained. "But, there's a law in our village, a man can take a wife if he does not have one but is married… it's rarely ever used…"

"No kidding," muttered Garou.

"So Hunter could have a husband and a wife?" Yuuma asked. "I don't see anything wrong with that. As long as he loves them both equally,"

Melee smiled. "Yuuma has a point," she decreed.

"Mom?"

"You love Lynx as much as Jag?" she asked.

Hunter nodded. "I have come to know them both really well, and know their personalities…"

"Garou?" she asked.

He appeared to think it over however he nodded in agreement. "I think it's doable. If anything, we just don't tell people unless they ask. But in the end, Hunter, this is your call, your choice. If you think this is right…"

"But I don't" he whispered. "I… I really have to think about this." He turned and walked out of the room once more.

Jaguar sighed aloud to it all. "I am so sorry to throw this at you."

"It's understandable considering the situation you are in. Not anyone can object to his proposal to your sister huh?" Amai asked.

"If someone where to, they have to be stronger than the one who asked for her hand first. We know this family well. They are powerful and strong, someone in my family could beat them, however we are not permitted to fight for her since we cannot marry her." Jag explained. "It's why we need Hunter, and he HAS to marry her for this family to back off."

Garou sighed aloud. "I don't suppose a friendly chat with this so call family would be enough to get them to back off huh?"

Jaguar sighed. "No sir, even if it were you. They don't care as long as they still have the opportunity to marry my sister and get in the family."

"If they know they will do this, how can their proposal be accepted?" Amai asked. "If all the villages know…"

"It's about bloodlines." Jag said. "Strong breed with the strong, to ensure future generations can survive the climate we live in. It's always been the way, this family is known for their great strength, but at the same time cunning and deceiving ways. One of the strange rules we have, you cannot refuse a proposal."

"That has to be the dumbest rule I have ever heard…" said Amai. "One should marry for love, not for power or genetics!"

Melee nodded, however this is the way of Jag's people. "We will let Hunter decide, we cannot make this choice for him. Jaguar. I know you are scared for your sister and your family, but you are more fearful in losing Hunter aren't you?" she asked.

He was silent to the question. "There's no need to hide it, it's not like you can hide anything in this family," said Amai.

"I think I am going to go to my room. I got nothing to contribute here," said Yuuma.

As he left the room, Melee turned to Jag. "How about you head home as well, get some rest and perhaps something will be figured out."

He gave a nod and excused himself. Once he left, Amai turned and appeared rather stunned to say the least. "I never thought your son would be in such high demand."

"Neither did we," whispered Melee.