Help! I transmigrated to a Beast World-Chapter 85: The Wolf’s Vigil

The kraken’s corpse lay on the shore of the Clear Moon Waterfall.

Massive. Grotesque. Dead.

Its tentacles sprawled across the rocks like twisted ropes, still oozing black blood. The hunters had hacked it to pieces, ensuring it would never threaten anyone again.

Sha Chen stood over the remains, his white eyes cold.

"Where did it come from?" Bái Fēng asked, wiping his blade clean. His face was troubled. "Deepwater krakens do not belong in mountain pools. They live in the ocean. Deep ocean. How did it get HERE?"

"I do not know," Sha Chen said quietly.

But that was a lie.

He had an idea.

A terrible, uncomfortable idea that he did not want to voice.

Because if he was right.....

He pushed the thought away. "Burn it. All of it. I do not want any trace of this creature left."

"Yes, Alpha."

The hunters set to work, building a pyre. Within minutes, the kraken was engulfed in flames, the stench of burning flesh filling the air.

Sha Chen watched until there was nothing left but ash.

Then he walked away.

~

Night had fallen.

The settlement was quiet. Most of the wolves had retired to their homes. The fires had been banked. The children put to bed.

But Sha Chen could not sleep.

He walked through the empty pathways, his mind churning.

That mark on Xin Yi’s ankle.

The serpent coiled around the lotus.

He had seen it before.

But where?

He stopped at the edge of the settlement, looking out toward the dark and looming mountains.

The Temple of Mán Shū.

Of course.

That was where he had seen the mark. Carved into the altar, etched into the walls. Glowing faintly in the darkness just like it had glowed on Xin Yi’s skin.

Mama and Papa had taken him there once. Years ago. When he was still young and curious about the world.

"This temple is older than any of us," Papa had said, running his hand over the carvings. "Older than the Beast World itself, perhaps."

"What does it mean?" young Sha Chen had asked.

"I do not know," Mama had replied. Her eyes sad. Distant. "But I think......I think it has something to do with why we are here. Why we were brought to this world."

Sha Chen shook his head, pulling himself back to the present.

He needed a drink.

He returned to his chambers and poured himself a cup of rice wine. Strong. Bitter. Exactly what he needed.

He had only wanted to bond with her.

To show her something special. Something beautiful. Something that Mama had loved.

The waterfall.

But instead, that creature had appeared.

A kraken.

In a mountain pool.

Impossible.

Except.....

He remembered another time. Years ago. When Papa had taken him fishing in the river.

They had seen one then too.

A smaller one. But still a kraken.

It had surfaced, watched them, and then disappeared back into the depths.

Papa had gone very quiet after that.

"What was that?" Sha Chen had asked.

"A mistake," Papa had said. "An accident. Something that should not be here."

"But—"

"Do not speak of this to anyone, Sha Chen. Not your birth parents. Not the tribe. No one." Papa’s eyes had been serious. Frightened. "Promise me."

"I promise."

Sha Chen took another drink.

That kraken had not touched them. Had not attacked.

It had simply... appeared. And left.

But this one?

This one had tried to kill Xin Yi.

Why?

What was different?

He needed to check on her.

Needed to see that she was safe. That she was still breathing. That nothing had happened while he was gone.

He set down his cup and left his chambers.

The hallways were dark, silent. He moved like a shadow, his footsteps soundless. Then he smelled it.

The scent of a certain....female.

Zi Jue.

She was lurking near Xin Yi’s door.

Rage flooded through him.

In one fluid motion, he crossed the distance, grabbed her by the throat, and slammed her head against the wall.

It was not hard enough to seriously injure the she-wolf. But hard enough to send a message.

Zi Jue gasped. "A-Alpha—"

"What," he said very quietly, "are you doing here?"

"I—I was just—"

He tightened his grip. "I know you do not like my new female."

"Alpha, please—"

"But you WILL respect her." His white eyes blazed. "Do you understand?"

Zi Jue’s face was turning red. She clawed at his hand. "Yes! Yes, I understand!"

"You have been in my harem for three years," Sha Chen continued, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And in those three years, you have done nothing but complain. Scheme. Spread poison among the other females."

"That is not—"

"Do not lie to me." He leaned closer. "I know about the rumors you spread. The lies you tell. The way you turn others against anyone who threatens your position."

Tears were streaming down her face now. "I am sorry! I am sorry, Alpha! I will do better! I promise!"

"You are pathetic," he said flatly. "Weak. Jealous. Small-minded."

She flinched like he had struck her.

"Xin Yi is worth ten of you," he continued. "She is brave. Clever. Strong in ways you will never understand. And if I find out that you have done ANYTHING—anything at all—to harm her?"

He tightened his grip one last time.

"You will wish the kraken had eaten you instead."

Then he released her. She collapsed to the ground, coughing. Gasping.

"Go," he said.

She did not move, she just stared up at him with wide, terrified eyes.

"GO!" he roared.

She scrambled to her feet and ran.

Sha Chen waited until her footsteps faded, then he turned to Xin Yi’s door and pushed it open slowly. Quietly.

The room was dark except for the faint moonlight filtering through the window. Xin Yi was asleep. Curled up under a mountain of blankets. Her face peaceful. Her breathing slow and steady.

Safe.

He exhaled slowly, the tension leaving his body.

She was fine.

She was safe.

He stepped closer, being careful not to wake her.

The blankets had shifted slightly, exposing one of her shoulders. He reached down and gently pulled them back up, tucking her in properly. His hand lingered for a moment. Then, almost without thinking, he stroked her face.

Soft. So soft.

Her skin was warm now. The color had returned to her cheeks. The shivering had stopped.The medicine had worked.

She would be fine.

He traced his fingers through her hair. Black. Silky. Spread across the pillow like a dark halo.

Beautiful.

"Sha Chen," he murmured to himself. "You promised you would not touch her."

But he could not seem to help himself. There was something about this female. This strange, stubborn, sharp-tongued female who had appeared in his territory like a gift from the gods.

She reminded him of Mama.

But she was also.....different. Her own person. Strong. Brave. Willing to fight even when she was terrified.

He had wanted to break her. To mold her. To make her into another compliant female in his harem.

But now?

Now he was beginning to feel something else.

A protective feeling...possessive.....territorial in a way that went beyond simple ownership.

She was HIS to protect.

HIS to keep safe. And anyone who threatened her would answer to him.

The thought should have disturbed him.

But it did not.

It felt......right.

He pulled his hand away reluctantly and stepped back. She stirred slightly in her sleep, and made a small sound. Her hand reaching out as if searching for something.

For someone.

The snake, probably.

Qing Lin.

Sha Chen’s jaw clenched. He would have to deal with that eventually. The snake king who had marked her. Who she clearly loved.

But not tonight. Tonight, she was here. In his territory. Under his protection. And that would have to be enough.

He turned and walked to the door, paused, looked back one more time.

She had rolled over slightly, the blanket slipping again.

Sigh. The Alpha could not help himself.

He returned to the bed, fixed the blanket, and made sure she was fully covered. Then, on impulse, he leaned down. And pressed the lightest kiss to her forehead.

"Sleep well, little female," he whispered. "You are safe here. I promise."

Then he left.