Beastmen Love-Chapter 39: Mistrust

Astri wakes up the next day. She sits down rubbing her eyes and then she feels something moving on her side.

It’s Zin, he was lying outside the mattress, but near her.

"Zin.. Are you all right?" She asks, holding his face.

He smiles feeling her hands on him. He holds her face too happy to see her awake and fine. She looks at his wounds and gets worried.

"We need to treat your wounds!" She says, worried.

"I’m fine. I already took care of them." He says holding her hands on him, so she doesn’t get away.

"Why are you lying on the floor and not on the mattress?" She asks.

"I didn’t want to dirt your bed or the bed you made for me."

"Silly snake.." She says hugging him.

He hugs her too, smelling her divine scent and keeping her little body in his arms.

"When are you going to learn that you’re more important to me than objects?"

He smiles lovingly while hugging her.

"Is everyone all right?" She asks.

"Yes. Be quiet. I want to stay like this longer." He answers while still hugging her.

She giggles and soon the door opens.

"You damn snake! Taking advantage!" Lee says, then crawling on the bed to hug Astri.

"Disturbing chicken." Zin says.

"Annoying worm."

"Stop you two. I’m happy you’re fine, Lee." She says, rubbing their heads.

"Of course, I am. Don’t ever jump from my arms again. Can you understand?" Lee says.

"What exactly happened? I remember parts of it. Hey, I’m naked! Get me some clothes now!" She speaks hugging the bed sheets on her.

"I know." Lee says with a lustful smile.

Lee takes the bedsheet tip and then goes under it from her feet. She tries to keep hugging the bed sheets from him.

"Stop, Lee! You pervert bird, get out!!"

"But you’re so soft and warm. And delicious." He says hugging her waist, then licking her belly.

"Get me some clothes now! I’ll cut your balls off!"

"All right! Don’t need to be violent." He says coming out from the bedsheet, pouting like a child.

After she’s dressed, she goes outside and sees Wayde and Cyprian preparing breakfast. They had to put their table outside to have more space for everyone. Inside was really packed and Astri likes everyone at the table together.

She rushes to Wayde and hugs him, relieved to see that he only has a few scratches. Taking Cyprian by surprise, she hugs him too, and touches his face to make sure he’s fine. His heart almost flew in happiness. She sits to have breakfast together with them.

"So, don’t you remember that you shifted yesterday?" Lee asks her.

"I remember that I was worried about Wayde and Zin. That somehow I attacked some monsters, but I don’t remember quite well what I did. My vision is blurry when I try to remember. I remember the sound of a horse too." She says.

"It was you." Wayde speaks.

"I’m a horse?"

"With wings." Zin says.

"Nature took control of your energy to do what you were desiring which was saving Wayde and Zin. That’s why you don’t remember very well what you did." Cyprian speaks.

They tell her what happened in detail and she’s impressed.

"So, I’m a Pegasus.. Wow." She softly says.

"I never saw a more beautiful beast in my life." Wayde speaks rubbing her head. She smiles.

"Next time, you need to shift without any danger so you can actually control your energy and only use Nature’s energy when necessary. But it’s dangerous and someone can see. You need to shift far from here. Or you can practice half-shifting first." Cyprian says.

"I can half-shift?"

"I believe so. Every beast can, but using your wings will be useful." Cyprian answers.

"All right. You and Lee can teach me that, right?"

"Of course."

"I can’t believe I shifted.. So a Pegasus is a rare kind of beast?"

"Yes. There are people who believe that they’re only legends created by unicorns." Cyprian says.

"Now let’s stop talking about this for a bit because I have something to ask Astri now." Lee speaks.

She looks at him, waiting for the question with confused eyes.

"Don’t lie to us." Lee says.

"As if I could. You all know me too well." She speaks.

"It’s true." Wayde says.

"Do you know the Higher Priest?" Lee asks.

That direct question took her by surprise and made her choke with her juice.

Wayde rubbed her back to help her, but that was answer enough for them.

"That’s a very direct question. Apparently, you already know the answer, though." She says looking at all of them.

"I talked to them yesterday." Claud speaks in her mind.

"Why did you never tell us you knew the Higher Priest?" Lee asks.

"Because he asked me not to." She answers.

"We are your mates. Don’t you trust us?" Lee speaks.

"Of course, I do. But I respect people’s decisions and desires."

"Still! This is different. You were talking to another male every morning. We thought you wanted privacy for yourself, and you were favoring another male!"

"What? Favoring?"

"He was teaching her things. He was helping her develop her energy to start her connection with Nature. He needs to be secretive about his existence and we also need to be. She wasn’t wrong in keeping this secret." Cyprian protects Astri.

"Not from us!" Lee says.

"Lee.. Do you remember what you told me when we first mated?" She asks him.

"Yes.."

"Do you want me to tell them what you told me?"

"No!"

"Exactly. That is called respecting your space and decision. Did I ever tell any of you about the other’s weaknesses or things you trusted to tell me?"

"No." They answer together.

"It’s the same thing. All of you are important to me and I need to always respect you. With him, it’s not different. And I trusted his judgment too. In the same way, I trust you with my protection and happiness too."

Astri is always mature enough to reason things. Claud is having fun seeing that Lee was having a jealousy crisis, Claud was always jealous of them because they could see and touch her whenever they wanted.

"Did he tell you what he is or his name?" She asks them.

"He said he’s an unicorn. He didn’t tell his name though." Zin says.

"He tried to keep this a secret from me too. He didn’t present himself as Higher Priest. I discovered that he was when I asked Wayde about the most powerful beasts. And I discovered he was a unicorn when Cyprian said that a unicorn was the most similar to me and that the unicorn he knew that could help me would be too hard to meet." She says." And I’m actually feeling a bit resentful because I had to lurk around to discover and he actually told you everything so easily." She pouts.

"Cyprian knows me. And I had to tell them everything so they would be prepared to do what they need to do. Don’t be angry." Claud speaks, but now everyone can hear.

"Sorry for disturbing your morning moment with Astri." Lee is still throwing a tantrum.

"Feel as jealous as you want. I’m actually enjoying this."

"You!"

"Oh, all of you are hearing him. Now I don’t have to worry about being scared of talking to myself and you think I’m crazy. That’s another reason too for not telling anyone. I feared you would say I have mind issues." She says.

"We would never think that." Zin speaks.

"We thought that you liked to be alone while you were doing things you like." Wayde says.

"Well, not necessarily. It just became a routine without even noticing it." She answers.

"What kind of things did you tell him about us? You seem to trust all your secrets to him." Lee asks.

"Lee, really, stop! I didn’t." She says, angry.

"I don’t need her to tell me anything. I can go into your mind and know everything by myself." Claud speaks.

"You damn horse. Remember that now that we know you’re the one that is lurking in the morning we will disturb you." Lee says.

Claud bites his lips, serious. It’s the only way he has to be with her, at least until they meet for real. He doesn’t want to lose the time he has with her.

"Lee..." Astri says, seriously. Everyone looks at her and feels her energy." Enough. Or else I won’t talk to you for 10 days. You all know I hate this back and forth kind of argument. It’s a waste of time."

Lee crosses his arms and goes silent.

"Now, can we talk about what we will do now?" She asks.

"Please." Cyprian says.

Claud explains his plans to Astri, she’s happy that she will finally meet him soon. Claud is more than happy.

"I think that when you come, you shouldn’t tell anyone about who you are. We all must pretend you’re not the Higher Priest. This way will take longer for anyone to come here after you." Astri says.

"It’s a good idea. It’s been hundreds of years that he doesn’t leave that temple and almost no one knows his face and name." Cyprian speaks.

"Do you know his name?" Wayde asks Astri. She nods.

"He pretended he wasn’t the Higher Priest, remember?" She answers.

"What is his name?" Lee asks.

"Ask him. I also promised I wouldn’t tell his name." She says.

"It’s Claud Yue." Claud speaks.

"Claud Yue.. I thought that I would be 500 when you would trust me to tell your name." Cyprian says.

"It’s necessary until we have the safety we need for this. Astri, I don’t need to tell you to never shift entirely in front of strangers, right?"

"Of course not. But every time I shift I’ll have this same issue of using too much energy?"

"No. You used Nature’s energy, which takes a lot from your body to handle because it’s an infinite power. I’ll teach you how to control the amount of energy you will use so you don’t get tired. With training, you won’t get tired easily."

"OK."

"I have to go now. You all be careful."

Everyone says goodbyes. Astri keeps eating, but all of them are watching her.

"What is it?" She asks.

"Nothing." They answer together. She rolls her eyes.

"You think that he’s still talking to me?"

"He is?" Lee asks.

"No."

"How can we know? He could be in your mind all the time."

She takes one last gulp of juice, then stands up and starts walking away, in the direction of the village.

"Where are you going?" They ask.

"Do something useful. And you stay away. I don’t need people who don’t trust me around me." She answers.

They run after her.

"Don’t say that. We trust you. Lee is the one throwing a tantrum, not me." Zin speaks.

"The only one who protected me was Cyprian. That means all of you are acting as if I was having an affair. Give me a break."

"Don’t favor Cyprian now! He just wants to be your mate and that’s why he didn’t question anything." Lee says.

She stops and glares at Lee. He felt that he went too far, she never looked at him like that.

"Cyprian?" She calls.

"Yes?" Even Cyprian is scared of that little female now.

"Keep them away from me. If you can’t, I’ll move out from home A.LO.NE."

"All right..." He answers, and she keeps walking away.

Cyprian steps between her mates and her.

"Wait! Please, Astri! Punish Lee! I’m.. Come back!" Zin says trying to keep going after her, but Cyprian is holding him.

"Astri! I’m sorry! Please come back!" Wayde speaks.

"I’m sorry, Astri!" Lee tried to call her, but she was already far.

"You idiot!! Why can’t you hold your tongue?! She’s angry with us because of you!" Zin says angrily.

"In parts, but we didn’t defend her because we were also jealous. She knows that and that’s why she’s mad." Wayde speaks.

"Let her calm down and later talk to her. You need to fix that attitude, Lee. Astri loves you and treats all of you like her own exposed heart. Even if she decides to have more mates, you need to be thankful that she’s a good mate. She’s a female that loves you, and that’s RARE." Cyprian says.

They look down feeling guilty because it’s true.

They’re lucky to have her.

"I’ll guard her." Cyprian speaks and leaves them behind.