Sal stepped forward and blocked Nina's path.
"Where exactly do you think you're taking Nina alone?"
Aside from Odian—whom Nina had already accepted—he had no intention of letting any other male take her away by themselves.
The other males wore similarly disapproving expressions.
Yanai remained calm. "You can follow if you want," he said. "Just keep your distance and don't interrupt us."
Then he turned to Nina, a trace of pleading in his eyes.
"Nina… could you come with me for a moment? It won't take long."
"…Alright," Nina agreed.
Yanai had helped her a great deal along the journey. She no longer distrusted him the way she once had.
"Then I'll go with you," Sal said immediately.
Odian stepped forward instead. "I should be the one to go. Your leg is injured—you should stay at the stone house and watch the cubs."
Nina nodded. "Odian's right. Sal, stay and look after the cubs. We'll be back soon."
Sal frowned but finally relented. "Fine. I'll wait here."
