Wanderlust Beastkin, Beauty and the Beastkin-Chapter 85: Fluffy Love and Returning

"What do you mean? He’s already my male, we’ve slept together already," I said.

He recoiled as if he had been struck and quickly averted his gaze, his cheeks turning red. "I was just curious because you sent a red squirrel after him. You know, female rodents tend to be quite protective of high aura males of their species, given how rare they are, and that’s the only way to ensure the continuation of high aura rodent offspring. A green aura chipmunk male is almost a myth, and she might view it as a waste that he belongs to you, especially if you have other males who are equally or even more powerful than he is. She would probably find it quite offensive. Does she already possess strong males?"

"No," I said and cleared my throat after hearing my own high-pitched voice in my ear.

"Don’t worry about it. No male in his right mind would switch to another female after you’ve given yourself to him. I...just thought that you should be aware."

"I truly appreciate that," I found myself reflecting on my beloved Oliver and that lovely, delicate red squirrel female with her striking baby blue eyes. Her appearance embodies everything I have always admired and longed for before arriving here: fragile, adorable, and captivating. She is also more aligned with his kind and understands the dynamics of this beast world, unlike me, who continues to stumble and err due to my lack of understanding of their cultures. I know I should let him go to her; it would probably be the best choice for him, but he belongs to me. He is already mine, and I refuse to let him go to anyone else. I also glanced at the fading mark on Milo, my Fluffy. I have some reservations about all these relationships, yet I am determined not to step back or let other women take my men. They can damn-well find their own men and leave mine alone.

Why should I have to delay what I truly desire? I know I wanted to wait until I could speak with General Kai, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that I need to ensure my safety, even more than I currently do. I also have to guard against those who might try to take my men away from me.

This realization means I can’t just befriend everyone and let them get too close to my men, especially since I haven’t marked them permanently yet. It also indicates that I should start marking stronger men, even though I usually find myself drawn to the cuter ones.

However, just because they’re strong doesn’t mean they can’t have an adorable side. General Kai was quite charming when he was trapped in that tape box. And then there’s Titus, who is not only very strong but also has this cute pouting face and can get a bit jealous. He’s flirty with me and genuinely wants to make me happy, which I absolutely adore. Plus, the fact that they hold authority in the beastkin world is undeniably attractive.

Sam is... Sam’s just really not my type, except for his loyalty to his brother. I feel that if I let us get to know each other better, he could become a good and loyal partner for me. Loyalty and trustworthiness are the most important qualities I seek in a partner. He’s quite a grouch and tends to be a man of few words, which makes it difficult to really get to know him.

Oliver is sweet and an excellent doctor, but not very helpful in a fight. Fluffy is indeed sneaky, as Kai pointed out, so while not useless in a fight, he also doesn’t confront things directly. The only one I’ve actually marked permanently is Oliver, and even those marks can be transferred to other women if both parties agree, though it might also happen under pressure, I’m not entirely sure. I need to learn more about this before heading to a larger city that hosts fighting tournaments where they transfer males.

Not knowing the ins and outs of this world is annoying.

Tony’s Perspective

I dashed through the trees as quickly as my little red squirrel self could manage, always peeking over my shoulder to ensure no spider was sneaking up on me. I followed the lovely scent that Perla had given me until I stumbled upon a cozy little cave where a group of males lay unconscious, their skin a grey-blue hue. One male, however, was busy at work with stone bowls, grinding and boiling herbs in a pot that hung over a crackling fire, using his enchanting green aura to help some plants grow larger. When he looked up from his task, our eyes locked, and it felt like love at first sight!

He was a charming green-aura chipmunk male, with adorable rodent ears and a strong, sexy tail. I had never encountered a green aura beastkin before, and I could tell he was just as captivated by me. We gazed at each other, and I knew it was love at first sight for him, too. He was the most magnificent male I had ever laid eyes on.

He gazed at me, and I gazed back at him, and deep down, I felt that one day we would be together forever; he would be my mate. But then I noticed the paw print on his neck and realized he was already claimed. Still, I wouldn’t let something so trivial stop me! I could always ask Perla if I could buy him. To her, he’s just another random male, but to me, he would mean the world, and I would treasure him like no other. Honestly, taking him for myself would be a huge favor to him, and I could make it worth Perla’s while too.

They should be grateful for my interest in him, having a male like him around would only be a burden to her. Plus, I’m cuter than Perla. That’s not me being vain; it’s just the truth. The only reason that spider beastkin didn’t want me is that he was a savage, and savages have terrible taste. I’m not saying Perla isn’t decent-looking; she just can’t hold a candle to me when it comes to rodent beastkin, I’m sure of it.

Other types of beastkin don’t usually want rodent beastkin anyway and don’t treat them with the care that I will.

I tucked my bright red, curly hair behind my ear and gave him the most alluring face while fluttering the eyelashes of my baby blue eyes at him.

"Are you lost? What are you doing out here? It’s not safe for a female out here, especially not a weak beastkin female with a red aura. Where are your males?"

"I don’t have any males."

He jumped up and hurried over, and in that moment, I realized I had him all for myself.

Oliver’s Perspective

I felt terrified, more terrified than I can ever recall feeling before, and I’ve experienced fear many times throughout my twenty-five seasons. I wanted to rush after Perla immediately, but I knew I couldn’t rescue her on my own. I’m merely a healer with some potential for growth, and I’ve recently added a few carnivorous plants to my collection. However, I still lack much control over them, and they aren’t particularly strong varieties.

I didn’t possess the strength to be an effective partner as I am now, but I was determined to work hard to better myself. I was focused on healing everyone else so that we could rescue Perla together, just as I had previously assisted Titus when Perla was in danger. I couldn’t pursue her as I wished to. I simply wasn’t strong enough to be a good partner.

Perla’s Perspective

Thinking about Oliver possibly cheating on me turned my stomach, what if he preferred a woman of his own kind? She was pretty and didn’t already have other mates.

I hadn’t had any serious relationships before because my parents kept me under lock and key, and the guys I was around were all jerks. I don’t want to lose one of the few people I feel safe with.

I felt so sick just thinking about it, so I pressed my face into Fluffy’s soft fur and inhaled his comforting scent. One...two...three...four...five... I’m okay...six... everything is just fine...seven...in...out...in...out...in...out. I clung to him, and after a little while, my breathing steadied and the trembling in my body faded away.

He changed into his human-like form and rubbed my back.

"You won’t allow me to be taken away again, will you?"

"No, you’re safe with me."

"You won’t ever leave me for someone else, will you? If another female wanted to take you away, you won’t let her, will you?"

"I’m all yours for as long as you’ll have me."

"What if I never want to let you go?" I said.

"Then I’ll be the luckiest male alive."

I clung to him as if he were my only hope, like a drowning woman grasping a life raft, and he held me just as tightly, emitting a calming, gentle purr while softly running his fingers through my hair and stroking my back. He didn’t make any inappropriate moves or ask me anything. Somehow, he understood that all I needed was to be held securely and comforted. It was nothing more than cuddling, yet it felt like one of the most intimate experiences I had ever shared. My heart melted, and I felt love for him in that moment. Silent tears streamed down my face, releasing the fear and confusion I had kept bottled up inside. The loneliness, the uncertainty, the feelings of inadequacy, and self-loathing—they no longer had to affect me; that was all in the past, and nothing could stop me from becoming the person I wanted to be. My parents were no longer here to control or ruin my life.

But I was scared; this place felt unfamiliar, and I was lost. I need Elara back. She knows what she’s doing, and I trust her completely; she’s my friend, and I miss her so much. I can’t help but feel that without her, I’m just going to keep making terrible mistakes. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

I crave comfort and security at this very moment; I need it as desperately as I need to breathe. I snuggled closer to him and soon found myself nestled in his lap.

He let out a soft groan and shifted slightly, attempting to hide his manly pride. My heart skipped a beat in surprise, and my thoughts went momentarily blank. His face was angled down, trying to conceal himself from me, so I reached out with a trembling hand, placing it on his chin to lift his face. His cheeks were flushed, and his white fox ears were pinned down against his head. His pupils were wide, set in pools of sky blue, and he was nervously nibbling on his lower lip. He looked so embarrassed and shy that I just wanted to eat him up.

Coming Next Time: Eating the Fluffy