Halfling (Monstrous World, #1)

by S.E. Wendel

An orc camp could be a very dangerous place, especially for a halfling child.

AWWW NO THIS MAKES ME SO SAD BC HE IS SO FREAKING SWEET

The response unnerved him, as did the flash of possessiveness over the woman.

HEHEHEHE

How sad of a male was he that a fleeting touch should move him so much?

In the light of day, the freckles that patterned her skin were much more noticeable, and he sometimes found himself staring at the way they seemed to dance when she smiled.

Her heart panged as she watched him settle in, though. Knowing this orc gave up his bed, his fine bed…knowing he liked soft things…

HES SO SOFTTTTT

My mother was like you. Human. His mother was human. He was only half-orc. A halfling.

“I will care for him,” he said. “Perhaps I can return him later. They heal quickly.”

He freaking took in an injured baby raccoon while they are on the run. SO FREAKING CUTE

“Darrah.” “Is that orcish? What does it mean?” “It is…little acorn.” Another blush crept up Orek’s neck. “Because he fell from a tree.”

Still talking about the baby raccoon

That smile could ask things of him no one else had or would. It was terrifying to realize he’d likely give whatever that smile asked of him.

Perhaps she could convince him to come with her.

YESS TAKE HIM WITH YOUUUUUU

saw him then, the scared, angry little boy he must have been, one terrified for his mother and of being hurt himself. All that rage and sorrow…

He deserved sooo much better😭

He was a blend of his kinds, not totally orc and not totally human. Both and neither all at once.

Days traveling beside this male and she was beginning to realize there was something almost…beautiful about him.

She liked that. She liked many things about this male.

You don’t fantasize about friends taking you hard and fast against the nearest tree.

She fell asleep telling herself to behave. To keep her hands off the orc and save the rest of the salve. That she’d be home soon.

But if her halfling thought she’d abandon him, leave him to the forest and his fate, he’d truly learned nothing about

Her halfling needed help.

*HER* halfling?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I’m coming, hold on, I’m coming.

Hold on, Orek!🥹

Why would she want a male like him? A male whose own mother didn’t want him?

DON'T EVENNN! You're perfect, Orek!

My mate. My female.

“You’re so cold,” she said, lips pulled down unhappily. He didn’t like that. Didn’t want her unhappy.

Sorcha was the river and he was caught in her current. He never wanted to come up for air.

He isn’t a tryst. Whatever happens with him, it’d be…more.

“But they’re beautiful. Like stars in the night sky.”

HE'S TALKING ABOUT HER FREAKING FRECKLES!!!

“It’s like you have your very own constellations,”

Still about her freckles

How could they treat him like that? How hadn’t one of those tall orcesses snatched him up? The thought sent a frisson of pure jealousy down the center of Sorcha’s chest. Instead of words, it was a growl she bit back then, not liking the thought of Orek being claimed by some faceless, lissome orcess at all. Because I want to claim him. Fates, she wanted to so badly.

YESSS CLAIM HIMMMMMMM

She doesn’t want you. Your clan didn’t. Your mother didn’t. She doesn’t, either.

IM GOING TO KILL MYSELFFFFF

She just wanted some sign that whatever attraction was there wasn’t just because she was a warm female body.

she didn’t know if she had it in her to keep pursuing this. Her pride could only take so much.

This is her pleasure scent. The smell of her lust.

“You,” he said, all his breath, all his hopes and desires rushing out of him with that one word. “It’s always you. All I ever think of, day and night, is you.”

YESSSSS

“You think of me?” she said, her lips hung just above his own. “Always.”

Orek felt the rush of her exhale on his skin, and then her mouth fell on his.

First kiss!!!!!!!!

You can do this, she told herself. He feels it, too.

“Once I start, I won’t be able to stop,” he said into her hair. She growled against his lips and gave him a punishing kiss. “Why would I want you to stop?”

Fates, what a pair they made—desperate for each other but unable to see it.

So clueless lol

“I’m yours,” he said. “Anything you want, anything you need, it’s yours.”

Sorcha discovered just how good a ride her handsome halfling could be.

Sorcha wasn’t just dear, she was the central focus of his life now.

That he would kill for her, die for her, and most especially he would live for her.

Would Orek stay where others had left—would he stay for her?

Everything he had was hers.

So what do I have to offer her?

SO MUCH, OREK🥺🫶

His instincts told him to stop, to not scare or hurt his mate, but he was too angry to listen. He hurt.

NOOO HES HURTINGGGGG😭💔

Because she wanted him to stay with her. Because she wanted him. Fates, I love him.

She’d fallen in love with her halfling.

Loving him came easily. Not all of a sudden or in a fiery burn the poets sang about. Theirs was a gentle build, and that’s what she suspected he needed then. Gentleness.

The end had come and Orek wasn’t ready.

Nobody will care for her, protect her, love her like I can.