That day, when Azazel returned from his usual pastime of annoying Kai, he hadn’t expected to hear the juicy news about his semi-pathetic brother, Bai Lei—the one who usually showed no interest in mating or anything remotely exciting—had actually been rejected. Azazel could hardly believe it.

  From a young age, the motherfucker had always been uptight, practically mute when it came to anything beyond the basics.

  Whenever the topic of mating or anything reted came up, Bai Lei would turn as mute as a stone. He’d stiffen up, his eyes would gze over, and he’d either ignore the conversation entirely or change the subject with his typical deadpan expression. It was as if he were allergic to the mere mention of it.

  Azazel had always found his brother’s ck of interest painfully boring—so the idea that someone had actually turned down the great chief, who rarely bothered to pursue anyone, was downright fascinating.

  It was too good an opportunity for him to pass up.

  So, with his usual audacity, Azazel swaggered into the Tiger Cw pack's side of the Death Caves, ready to jeer at his brother's misfortune. He relished the thought of rubbing salt in Bai Lei's wounds—after all, how often did the stoic chief get knocked off his high horse?

  It was just that when he finally locked eyes with the bold female who had dared to reject his brother, all thoughts of his pathetic brother were tossed straight into a volcano in his mind.

  The moment their gazes locked, a jolt of something ran through him. There was a sharpness in Noah’s eyes, a fire that was hard to miss even from a distance. Azazel's usual smirk faltered for just a split second before returning with even more intensity.

  He found himself intrigued—no, captivated. This was no ordinary female. There was a defiance in his gaze, a spark of something fierce and unyielding that immediately drew him in. His grin widened, the amusement in his eyes turning into something sharper, more dangerous. Forget Bai Lei. Azazel had found something far more interesting.

  Anyway, his pathetic brother was utterly unworthy of such a remarkable female.

  Azazel moved with a nguid yet confident stride, his eyes locked onto Noah with a predator’s intensity. His grin stretched wider with each step, revealing a pair of sharp canines that glinted in the firelight, adding to his unsettling aura. His presence seemed to command the space around him, the crowd instinctively pulling back to make way as if sensing the danger radiating off him."Hey there~" Azazel greeted with a casualness that didn’t match the tension he brought with him. His voice was low and almost pyful, yet there was a dark edge beneath it, a sense of underlying menace.

  “So you’re the female who rejected the chief.” He drawled out each word, savoring them as if tasting something rare and delicious. His eyes narrowed with a mocking interest, lips twisting into a smirk that bordered on cruel amusement. It was clear he found the situation highly entertaining—or perhaps, he simply enjoyed the prospect of stirring the pot.

  As he stopped in front of Noah, his imposing figure seemed to loom over him, those pink, slitted eyes gleaming with intrigue. "I must say, I’m intrigued," he continued, leaning in slightly, his grin never wavering. "It’s not every day you see someone turn down my oh-so-beloved brother. Either you’re very brave... or very foolish."

  Azazel’s gaze flicked briefly to Kieren, who stood nearby, his expression growing more serious. “And here I thought tonight would be dull,” Azazel mused, his tone now ced with a hint of amusement. “Seems like the night has only just begun.”

  Azazel leaned in even closer, almost touching Noah's nose, their breaths mingling in the space between them. The intensity of his gaze seemed to pierce through Noah, his lips curling into a smile that was both unsettling and provocative. The heat from the nearby bonfire cast flickering shadows across Azazel’s face, accentuating the cruel amusement in his eyes.

  It was at this tense moment that Kieren, having observed the exchange with growing unease, finally decided to step in. The bear beastman's face was set in a serious expression, his eyes narrowing as he took in Azazel's invasive proximity and menacing demeanor.

  With a firm stride, Kieren approached, pcing himself between Noah and Azazel. His massive frame cast a protective shadow over Noah, and his stance radiated a quiet threat.

  “Azazel,” Kieren’s voice was deep and commanding, cutting through the charged air. “You’re crossing a line. If you’re here to cause trouble, you’re going to have to go through me first.”

  Kieren’s gaze was unwavering, locking onto Azazel’s with an intensity that brooked no argument. His posture was solid and unyielding, a stark contrast to Azazel’s predatory grace. There was no mistaking the seriousness of Kieren’s intent—he was prepared to defend Noah and put an end to Azazel’s provocative game.

  Azazel’s eyes flicked to Kieren, a mix of amusement, disgust, and mild surprise crossing his face. He straightened up slightly, though his smile remained intact, now tinged with an edge of interest.

  “Oh, how delightful,” Azazel said, his tone now ced with mockery. “Looks like I’ve stirred the pot a bit too much. But I do appreciate the show of protectiveness. Very admirable. Chi-ef Wa-rri-or~”

  Azazel drew out the words mockingly, dragging out each sylble with exaggerated emphasis. His disdain was clear. He had never cared much for Kieren's righteous, goodie-two-shoes attitude.

  While he acknowledged Kieren as a formidable Level 4 Beast-Warrior—someone who might even become a fun challenge in time—right now, he was just an annoyance. Azazel himself was a Level 6 Beast-Warrior, and he had no patience for Kieren’s insistence on doing things 'fair and square.' It was all too rigid, too predictable, too boring.

  Kieren’s gaze remained steely. “This isn’t a game, Azazel. If you have something to say, do it respectfully or leave.”

  Azazel's grin widened, his eyes narrowing with a glint of malice. "You see, Kieren," he continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "I find your sense of duty quite... charming. But let's be real here. If I wanted to cause trouble, you’d already know it."

  He took a leisurely step back, his gaze flicking from Kieren to Noah and back again, as if considering his next move. “But today, I’m just here to meet this intriguing little female. After all, it’s not every day someone catches my eye in such a... fascinating way.” His voice dropped to a low, almost sultry drawl, eyes lingering on Noah.

  Kieren's muscles tensed, and his jaw clenched, his patience wearing thin. He had no intention of letting Azazel push things any further. “If you want to keep your teeth, Azazel, I suggest you back off now,” he warned, his voice low and steady, the threat clear.

  Azazel chuckled, unfazed. “Oh, threats now? How exciting. But alright, alright...” He raised his hands in mock surrender, though the glint in his eyes suggested he was anything but intimidated. “I’ll py nice. For now.”

  The tension between them simmered, both sides unwilling to back down entirely. Azazel, however, seemed to relish the charged atmosphere, his smile never fading as he finally took a step back, still watching Noah with that unsettling mix of curiosity and amusement.

  As Kieren and Azazel backed down slightly, Noah’s eyes shifted to the scene unfolding around them. The entire pack was on high alert, muscles coiled and eyes sharp. It was as if everyone was waiting for a single misstep from Azazel to spring into action. The tension in the air was so thick, it felt like it could snap at any moment.Even the elders, who normally kept their distance from such confrontations, were poised to intervene. Their wary expressions and battle-ready stances made it clear they weren’t going to sit idle if things escated. The atmosphere was teetering on the brink of an all-out csh.

  All the females and cubs had been moved to the outer edges of the gathering, safely away from the potential battlefield that had formed. A ring of male beastmen encircled the five of them—Kieren, Azazel, Noah, and the cubs clutching at his clothes—creating a makeshift arena of sorts. It felt like everyone was just waiting for a signal to charge.

  Noah couldn't help but sweatdrop at the sight. Sure, Azazel had an eccentric and unpredictable temper, but this level of readiness seemed like overkill. Did they really expect him to start a massacre right here and now?

  He gnced around at the tense faces, thinking to himself that maybe these beastmen had a point. Azazel was known for being votile, but he also loved drama. Perhaps, like a true performer, he was reveling in the spectacle of it all.

  Still, Noah decided it was best not to let things spiral further. "Hey," he said, voice firm but calm, trying to cut through the tension. "I’m not interested in any more bloodbath tonight. How about we all take a breath and go back to enjoying the meat?"

  His words seemed to hang in the air, a stark contrast to the charged atmosphere surrounding them. There was a moment where the silence stretched taut as if everyone was weighing his suggestion. Noah could feel the eyes of the pack on him, watching to see how this confrontation would py out.

  Azazel's grin faltered slightly, a spark of something unreadable fshing through his eyes. For a second, Noah thought he might push things further, but then the tension in his posture eased just a fraction. "Oh? And here I thought things were just getting interesting," Azazel replied, his tone still dripping with amusement, but there was a slight shift—less manic, more contemptive.Kieren, standing protectively close to Noah, kept his gaze locked on Azazel, his stance still tense but ready to de-escate if the situation allowed. “It’s best to listen to him,” Kieren said gruffly, his eyes narrowing slightly. “We don’t need unnecessary trouble.”

  The pack seemed to take Noah’s cue, and a few of the more wary males slowly began to rex, though they kept their eyes trained on Azazel, ready to jump in if things went south again. The elders exchanged gnces, still cautious but visibly easing up.Azazel looked around, clearly assessing the shift in mood. “Fine, fine,” he said with a dramatic sigh, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. “I suppose I can let it slide for now. Wouldn’t want to ruin your lovely little gathering.”

  That's how Noah found himself, cradling the heads of two sleeping cubs while the two beastmen sat on either side of him, gring daggers at each other.

  Ezra and Liam had fallen asleep almost immediately after the tension had eased, their little bodies instinctively seeking comfort. One nestled against Noah's left side, the other against his right, their heads resting in his p.

  Kieren, on his left, sat with his arms crossed, his jaw clenched tight, eyes never leaving Azazel. There was a protective edge to his posture, as if he was ready to leap up at any moment to defend Noah and the cubs.

  Azazel, on Noah’s right, was still wearing that ever-present grin, but his eyes had grown more calcuting. The earlier amusement was still there, but now it was mingled with a hint of irritation. He seemed to relish in the discomfort he was causing, his fingers tapping idly on the ground as he continued to stare at Kieren, taunting him with his mere presence.

  Noah sighed inwardly. It was like sitting between two growling beasts ready to tear each other apart.

  Noah reached for a skewer of roasted meat from the high leaf beside him and offered it to Kieren without looking away from the fmes. "Here, eat something," he said, his tone casual but with an underlying firmness that suggested he was in no mood for more drama.

  Kieren's eyes flicked to the skewer, his expression softening just a bit. "Thanks," he muttered, taking the skewer from Noah’s hand. But as he took a bite, his gaze shifted back to Azazel, who was watching them with an exaggerated look of curiosity.

  Azazel chuckled. "How cute," he drawled, his grin growing wider. "The little cub's being fed. Does that mean you're the favorite, Chief Warrior?" His tone was ced with mockery, clearly intended to provoke.

  Kieren’s eyes narrowed, and he took his time chewing before replying. "At least I don’t need to resort to throwing temper tantrums to get attention," he shot back coolly.

  Azazel's eyebrows shot up in mock surprise. "Oh, really? Is that what you think this is?" He leaned forward slightly, his grin never wavering. "I prefer to think of it as... making things interesting. Wouldn't you agree, little cub?"

  Kieren bristled at the condescending nickname. "I’m not the one who came here looking for trouble," he retorted, voice low and steady. "If you want to make things interesting, go find someone else to mess with."

  Azazel feigned a wounded look, pcing a hand over his heart. "You wound me, Chief Warrior. I’m only here to enjoy the festivities, same as everyone else. It’s not my fault if things get a little... lively when I’m around."

  Kieren scoffed. "Lively? You mean disruptive. You act like a bored cub poking a hornet's nest just to see what happens."

  Azazel’s grin only grew wider, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Well, someone has to keep things from getting too boring around here. And let's face it, you’re all so wonderfully predictable. It’s almost like I’m doing you a favor."

  Kieren's grip on his skewer tightened. "I’d rather you keep your ‘favors’ to yourself."

  Noah, tired of the escating bickering, grabbed the skewers with a swift motion and rudely stuffed one into each of their mouths."Can you two please stop bickering like cubs?"

  Kieren and Azazel caught mid-retort, went silent, their eyes widening in surprise.

  Noah let out a long, exasperated sigh, leaning back slightly as if trying to distance himself from the absurdity. "I’m trying to keep some peace here, not babysit a pair of oversized toddlers."

  Kieren, cheeks puffed out with the skewer still between his lips, gave a muffled grunt of indignation, while Azazel's eyes gleamed with amusement as he bit down on the meat. It took a moment for them to process what had just happened.

  Azazel was the first to recover, chewing slowly before giving Noah a pyful smirk. “Mmm, not bad,” he drawled, his voice low and teasing. Then, with an exaggerated slowness, he licked his lips with his long tongue, moving in a way that was almost sultry. His eyes never left Noah’s, clearly enjoying the reaction he might provoke.

  Kieren’s jaw clenched, and he gred at Azazel. “You’re disgusting,” he muttered around his own skewer, his patience thinning.

  Azazel chuckled, the sound rich with amusement. “Oh, come on, Chief Warrior. Just enjoying the taste. Or are you jealous that Noah’s feeding me too?”

  The tension between them crackled like a live wire, and Noah sighed again, already regretting not stuffing more skewers in their mouths. “I swear, one more word from either of you, and I’m shoving a whole damn ptter down your throats.”

  "Oh, I don’t mind," Azazel replied, his voice dropping to a suggestive purr. His eyes swept over Noah with a lingering intensity, his lips curling into a wicked grin. "Even if it’s something else," he added, the implication in his tone unmistakable.

  Noah's eye twitched. "If you don’t want to choke on a skewer or worse, I’d suggest you stop there," he deadpanned, though his hand tightened around the wooden stick, ready to make good on his threat.

  Kieren, meanwhile, nearly spat out his food. “You filthy, shameless—”

  Azazel ughed, leaning back with an almost delighted expression. "Rex, Chief Warrior. It’s all in good fun. Right, Noah?" He winked, clearly relishing every moment of the chaos he was causing.

  Azazel's ughter was abruptly cut short, his expression shifting in an instant from amused to calcuting. His slitted eyes flickered to the side, catching something or someone in the distance. The pyful smirk faded, repced by a sharp, predatory focus.

  Without another word, he stood up, brushing off imaginary dust from his clothes. "Well, as much as I’d love to continue this delightful little game," he said, his voice suddenly cold and distant, "I have other matters to attend to." His gaze lingered on Noah for a moment longer.

  As he turned to leave, his grin reappeared, more dangerous than before. He leaned in quickly, his movements almost too fast to follow. Before Noah could react, Azazel’s lips brushed against his cheek in a swift, chaste kiss. It was unexpectedly innocent for someone described as perverted in the novel, leaving Noah momentarily stunned.

  Noah, still in shock, touched his cheek where Azazel had kissed him. His mind was still reeling from the encounter when he caught a blur out of the corner of his eye. Kieren, seething with anger, lunged at Azazel but was abruptly stopped by another beastman who intervened, holding him back.

  The air crackled with tension as Kieren struggled against the grip, his eyes locked on Azazel’s retreating figure with a fierce gre.

  Sighing for what felt like the hundredth time that day, Noah tugged at Kieren’s skirt. Instantly, Kieren turned around and enveloped Noah in a tight hug, his actions a mix of relief and frustration. As he held Noah, he gently and firmly rubbed his own cheek against Noah’s, as if trying to wipe away the lingering touch of Azazel’s kiss.

  He looked distraught.

  Noah’s heart sank. Suddenly, a troubling thought crossed his mind. He looked at Kieren with a mix of concern and suspicion. "Why are you acting like this?"

  Kieren, still pouting, muttered, "Even I haven't been able to kiss you yet." His voice carried a mix of childish frustration and hurt, making his feelings of jealousy clear. "And that cockroach put his dirty lips on your cheeks..."

  Noah, relieved by Kieren’s reaction, let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

  Patting Kieren’s cheeks affectionately, Noah gave him a reassuring smile. "Don’t ever change for the world, ok?" Kieren’s sulky expression softened, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips as he nuzzled closer to Noah, clearly comforted by his words.

  “Hey, hey, now, don’t forget about me, you two,” the male who had been holding Kieren down chimed in with a pyful grin, his voice breaking through the moment.

  He turned his gaze to Noah, his expression softening into a friendlier smile. “Hi there, I’m Jack, Ezra’s aba,” he introduced himself, nodding toward the sleeping boy nearby.

  "Oh, hi! I’m Noah," Noah replied in kind, a polite smile pying on his lips.

  Jack grinned back. "I’m just here to take Ezra and Liam home." His voice was warm.

  He looked over at the two sleeping cubs beside them—Ezra, who was curled up on Noah's p, and Liam, who had somehow managed to sprawl out awkwardly across both Noah and Kieren.

  Jack carefully picked up Ezra first, his movements surprisingly gentle for someone with such a rugged appearance. He lifted the sleeping cub with ease, positioning Ezra’s arms around his shoulders so the boy could rest against his broad back. Ezra instinctively snuggled closer, his small face burying into Jack's shoulder, still fast asleep.

  Then came Liam—the stinking little brat who had spent most of the night chasing after his female cub like he was on a mission. Jack scooped him up under one arm like a sack of potatoes. Liam stirred slightly but remained blissfully unaware, his head lolling to the side.

  "Got 'em," Jack said with a small chuckle, giving Noah a wink. "Thanks for keeping an eye on these two. These two always find a way to tire themselves out at random pces.”

  Noah chuckled. "No problem. They’re a handful, but they’re good kids."

  Jack nodded, adjusting Ezra on his shoulder and giving a friendly wave. “Alright then, see you around, Noah. And Kieren,” he added, his tone teasing, “try not to give your mate too much trouble.”

  Kieren gave a half-grunt in response, still too busy gring at the ground where Azazel had been. Jack just ughed and turned to leave, carrying the two sleeping cubs.

  With that, only Noah and Kieren remained alone by the fire.

  “Let’s go home?” Kieren asked cautiously, gncing at Noah from the corner of his eyes, his tone hesitant as if unsure of Noah’s mood.

  Noah, mirroring him, replied, “Okay,” also looking at him from the corner of his eyes. There was a brief moment of silence between them, both of them sneaking sideways gnces at each other like two cubs caught doing something they shouldn’t have.

  They stood up together, brushing off the dust from their clothes. Kieren, still cautious but visibly relieved, moved closer, his arm hovering as if he wanted to pull Noah closer but was unsure if he should. Meanwhile, Noah’s expression softened, his usual sharpness mellowing out a bit.

  “Let’s go,” Noah said, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips. And with that, they began to make their way back home, the crackling of the dying fire behind them slowly fading into the night.

  Kieren led the way back in the direction they had come from, but halfway down the tunnel, he took an unexpected turn into another passage that Noah hadn’t noticed before in the dim light. The deeper they went, the darker it became, with the tunnel twisting and turning like a byrinth.

  The only sounds were the steady trickle of water echoing off the cave walls, pooling into a gentle stream that flowed along the cave floor, and the soft rhythm of their footsteps on the uneven ground.

  Noah could barely make out the path ahead, but Kieren seemed to know the way by heart. He hadn’t stumbled once.

  Noah wondered how Kieren managed to navigate these dark tunnels with such ease. Had he lived here so long that he’d memorized every pathway? Or was it something else? Maybe beastmen had sensitive vision and could see in the dark?

  After another bout of twists and turns, they finally reached a tunnel with light at the end of the path. The narrow passage began to widen gradually, and the darkness gave way to a blinding brightness. As they stepped into the open, Noah had to squint against the sudden flood of light.

  The cave they entered was considerably wide, with a ceiling that soared to 4 meters high. The space was expansive, the air fresh and cool. In the center of the cave was a wide but shallow crater filled with crystal-clear water that shimmered in the light. The surface was so still that it reflected the jagged rocks above like a mirror, creating an almost surreal effect.

  At the center of the water-filled crater, there was a small sandy isnd, its pale grains gleaming under the direct light streaming in from a rge opening in the cave ceiling. The sunlight poured down in a wide, soft beam, casting a warm, golden glow on the tiny isnd. The entire scene felt like a hidden sanctuary.

  Parallel to the tunnel they had just exited was another entrance, roughly the size of a door. As they approached it, Noah noticed that this one was a little bigger than the previous one. Which was saying a lot, considering the st cave had already been quite spacious. Around the cave, several other openings led to more caves, forming a network of interconnected spaces that stretched further into the stone.

  This was already much better than Noah had initially imagined for a primitive beastman's living pce. He had braced himself for something more rugged or bare, perhaps just a dark, damp cave with nothing but rock walls and scattered animal furs. Yet, what he found here was surprisingly organized and well-thought-out.

  This space was a hundred—no, a thousand—times better than what he had envisioned.

  Kieren led the way into the first entrance on the left.

  As Noah stepped inside, the pce was surprisingly very clean for a single male.

  The floors were swept clean of dust and debris, and a few simple furnishings made from wood and stone were neatly arranged.

  Noah found himself liking this cave more and more. It exuded a surprising comfort, with a great view of the entrance, excellent hygiene, and ample space.

  There wasn't much in there—just a bed made of hay covered with animal skins and a few more animal hides scattered around. But for Noah, who had been travel-weary and dealt with Bai Lei, the pack, duels, the cubs, and Azazel’s provocations, that modest bed seemed like a slice of paradise.

  Kieren set Noah's satchel down and looked back with anticipation to commence the Bonding ceremony. However, upon finding Noah already out cold on the nest, although a little disappointed, he let out a fond chuckle.

  Without a word, he fetched a stone pot of water to clean Noah’s feet.

  There were strange things made with leaves on Noah's feet. The leaf-crafted shoes on Noah’s feet were tricky to remove. As Kieren struggled, a small rip quickly turned into a tear, splitting the entire shoe apart.

  Cold sweat trickled down Kieren’s face as he stared at the mangled remnants of the grass shoes, his mind racing with a single thought: '...Oh, my beast god!'