Chapter 4: First Mate
The clearing hummed with the soft chatter of female beastmen.
I was tucked between the fox and the brown eared rabbit beastwoman, my fingers still brushing the cool metal of my pocket as I rambled about mangoes and coconut water.
I'd almost forgotten the earlier scuffle, the warmth of new friendship chasing away the edge of fear until two shadows fell over the grass at my feet.
I looked up to find a wolf beastman and a leopard beastman standing close, their eyes locked on me, bright with awe and hunger.
The wolf's grey ears twitched forward, his tail swishing slow and eager behind him, the leopard's spotted cheeks flushed, his golden eyes never straying from my face.
They'd been walking side by side, shoulders nearly touching, but their gazes on me sharpened into something fierce, something possessive, and they leaned in, voices low as they muttered to each other, like they thought no one else could hear.
"Who is that female?" the wolf rumbled, his voice thick with wonder. "She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Never laid eyes on anyone like her."
The leopard nodded so fast his whiskers quivered, agreement pouring from him.
"You're right she's perfect. I'm going to court her. Now, she'll be my mate."
The wolf's head snapped around, his hackles rising, a low growl bubbling in his throat.
"What? No! I saw her first! I'll court her, you step back. She's mine."
Before the leopard could snarl a reply, the wolf shoved him hard in the chest. The leopard stumbled, then lunged, swiping a clawed hand at the wolf's shoulder.
They crashed into each other, growls loud and sharp, claws bared and fangs glinting fighting over me, before I'd even spoken a word to either.
I jolted back, eyes wide, my hand flying to my mouth in surprise.
The female beastmen around me tensed, Mara's ears flattening and her tail flicking, but before anyone could step in to break it up, a hush fell over the entire clearing.
It wasn't the quiet of a scuffle dying down.
It was the quiet of fear the kind that clings to your bones when something dangerous, something powerful, steps into the space.
A group of warrior beastmen tramped through the trees at the edge of the clearing, their bodies streaked with dirt and blood, their auras thick with the murderous edge of a fight won.
I realized they'd been hunting the giant monster or catastrophe beasts as they say, my heart skipping a beat their eyes were cold, their muscles coiled, and the air around them hummed with raw, untamed power.
And at their head was Tigris.
He'd been at the back of the warrior group, but when his gaze landed on the fighting wolf and leopard, and then on me, he stepped forward, and the warriors fell back, making space for him.
His voice cut through the silence, deep and gravelly and angry, a predator's snarl that made the ground feel like it shook. "Enough."
The wolf and leopard froze mid fight, their claws inches from each other's throats.
They whirled around, and when they saw Tigris, their ears flattened, their tails tucked between their legs, and they shrank back, bowing their heads in fear.
Tigris stalked forward, his steps silent, and stopped in front of them, his towering frame casting them in shadow.
"She's mine," he said, the words sharp as a blade, his gaze burning into them. "My female. You dare to covet what's mine?"
The wolf stammered first, his voice small and meek, all his earlier fire gone. "N no, Tigris. I I mean, you can court her first. Of course."
The leopard nodded so hard his head nearly bounced, rushing to agree.
"Y..yes! You go first. We just we thought she was beautiful. We hope you make lots of cubs. A strong family."
Tigris scoffed, a low, rough sound, his lip curling in disdain.
"Cowards."
He didn't spare them another glance, his gaze snapping back to me and in an instant, the anger in his eyes softened, just a little, the predatory edge fading into something warmer.
He stepped toward me, his large frame moving slowly, like he was afraid to startle me.
"My female," he said, his voice much quieter now, his brow furrowing like he was checking for harm.
"Are you okay? What are you doing out here? I told you it's not safe."
My chest flared with irritation, my surprise melting into frustration. I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring up at him, and snapped,
"Who is your female? I'm not anyone's female. My name is Lily, and I never said I agreed to be your mate. Not once."
Tigris blinked, his amber eyes widening a little, like my words confused him. Then a slow, soft smile tugged at his lips, and he murmured,
"Lily. What a beautiful name." He reached into the leather pouch slung at his hip, and pulled something out something that glinted and sparkled in the sunlight, catching every ray and sending tiny rainbows dancing across the grass.
It was a pear shaped white diamond, as big as a coin, its surface flawless and bright, heavy in his large, calloused hand. He held it out to me, his palm upturned, like it was the most precious treasure in the world.
"I saved you before. Now I bring you this. From the biggest catastrophe beast I ever hunted. Its core made this. For you."
My breath caught in my throat.
My eyes locked on the diamond, and all my irritation vanished in an instant, replaced by pure, unfilltered greed.
I'd always loved shiny things, necklaces, earrings, pretty stones and this was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.
"What is this?" I whispered, my voice breathless, my eyes shining like stars.
"Wahh a diamond. Are you giving this to me?"
I didn't hesitate.
Before Tigris could even nod, I reached out and snatched the diamond from his palm, my fingers closing around it, feeling its cool weight.
I held it up to the light, staring at it, my mouth watering a little, completely forgetting the crowd, forgetting the argument, forgetting everything except the spark of the diamond in my hand.
I can't imagine how much i will receive if i sell this, this vacation cost half my saving, and i cant even enjoy a speck of it.
But this chunk of diamond, i can definitly make use of it.
It was only when the clearing stayed deadly silent that I snapped out of it.
I glanced up, and saw everyone staring all the female beastmen, the warriors, the wolf and leopard, even the cubs peeking from behind the huts.
My cheeks flushed a little, and I stuffed the diamond into my pocket quickly, mumbling, "Thank you."
Tigris's smile widened, warm and proud, and he nodded toward the large deer slung over his shoulder its fur dark brown, its antlers tall and branching, easily twice my size.
"Let's go. I prepared a hunt for you. This is the biggest wild deer in the woods you won't find a bigger one anywhere."
My eyes darted to the deer, then back to Tigris, confusion creasing my brow.
"Deer? Is it is it not a beastman?"
Tigris burst out laughing, a deep, rumbling sound that shook his chest, his amber eyes crinkling with amusement.
"Hahaha! What a silly female. A deer beastman? This is a wild animal. Can you not tell the difference between a wild animal and a beastman?"
He scoffed, shaking his head, but there was no malice in it only fondness.
From the edge of the crowd, a sharp, angry voice cut through the laughter. "Ugh."
I looked over, and saw Lola standing there, her purple hair framing a face twisted with jealousy, her fists clenched at her sides.
The chief's daughter's eyes were fixed on my pocket, where the diamond peeked out a little, and she spat, my hand moving to hold my pocket, this is mine! My diamond!
"In the beast world, offering a diamond like that and accepting it? That means you're officially mate bound. Everyone knows that."
I stared at Lola, then at my pocket, then at Tigris, my mouth falling open. I stammered, my words tripping over each other,
"Ugh well, we don't have that as I mean I didn't know! I just... "
Before I could finish, Donna stepped forward from the group of female beastmen, a wide, happy smile on her face, clapping her hands in delight.
"Lily! Congratulations!" she called, her tiger tail swishing excitedly behind her.
"You accepted Tigris as your mate! Tigris, she said it's her first mate you have to be gentle with her, okay? If you need guidance, ask my husbands. They'll tell you everything."
Tigris's cheeks turned bright red, a deep flush that spread down his neck to his chest.
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, even though it wasn't itchy, his eyes darting away from me, shy.
"Y...yes? No! I.. I already learned a lot. I don't need anyone's guidance." His voice cracked a little on the last word, and the female beastmen tittered, their laughter soft and teasing.
I whirled on Donna, panic rising in my chest.
"What do you mean? I said I didn't agree yet! I just took the diamond because it's pretty I didn't know it was a mate bond!"
Tigris stepped forward, his large hand closing gently around my wrist, his touch warm and firm. He tilted his head down to look at me, his amber eyes soft and earnest.
"But you accepted the diamond. That means you're my wife. My mate."
"HUH????" I shrieked, my eyes going huge.
"What is that supposed to mean? No! I'm not I didn't "
My words died in my throat as Tigris lifted me off my feet, sweeping me into his arms like I was a feather, one arm wrapped securely around my waist, the other still holding the large deer slung over his shoulder.
My world suddenly shot upward, the ground far below me, and fear shot through me I was so high, so unsteady and I clung to Tigris's neck, my fingers tangling in his matted golden hair, my heart hammering.
"My female," Tigris murmured, his voice low and warm in my ear, his breath fanning my cheek. "Let's go. I'll cook the deer for you. A feast, just for us."
"Wait! Wait a minute!" I yelped, my legs flailing a little.
"Tigris, it's too high! I'm scared put me down! Slow down, don't run!"
But Tigris was already walking, his long legs carrying them fast toward his cave, his steps silent even with me in his arms and the deer on his shoulder.
The crowd called after them, laughter and cheers ringing out, Donna's voice loudest of all:
"Bye, Lily! Have fun on your first night!"
The other female beastmen snickered, their voices teasing. "Did you see his face? He's so impatient!"
"Poor Lily she has no idea what she's in for!"
"Tigris is going to spoil her rotten, you mark my words!"
I buried my face in Tigris's chest, my cheeks burning with embarrassment and fear, my fingers still white knuckled in his hair.
"Slow down! I'm gonna fall! Tigris slow down!" I yelled, but he only held me tighter, a low, rumbling purr vibrating in his chest, like my protests were music to his ears.
In a heartbeat, they reached the mouth of his cave dark, warm, lined with soft furs and Tigris stepped inside, closing the hide curtain behind them, blocking out the noise of the clearing, blocking out the world.
And I was stuck.
In a beast world, in the cave of a tiger beastman who thought I was his mate all because I'd taken a pretty diamond.
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Roar