Wanderlust Beastkin, Beauty and the Beastkin

Beck’s Perspective

As we walked in silence, I hoisted the boar onto my shoulder, a task I usually wouldn’t undertake in such a manner. I wanted to keep my aura hidden from her for now; it often startled beastkin or made them see me as a potential mate, and I longed for someone to appreciate me for who I truly am, not just for the energy I radiate. There was a hint of absurdity in allowing myself to linger on such thoughts, particularly when my mind should have been solely on the rescue mission at hand. Yet, Elara possessed an enchanting allure that was impossible to resist, and I found myself irresistibly drawn to the idea of getting to know her.

We stepped into the other room, and I couldn’t help but steal another glance at her. Her skin and hair shimmered softly after her nap, and her eyes sparkled with a newfound brightness. It was clear that her magic had revitalized her, infusing her with a vibrant energy that lifted her spirits. There was a delightful pep in her step, a charming bounce that made her presence even more enchanting.

I opened the door and let Elara step inside first, and a joyful squeal echoed from within, followed by a soft thud. Peeking around the corner, I spotted Elara cradling Skye, who had nestled into her embrace while Elara gently stroked her head. freewebnoveℓ.com

"I was so scared something had happened to you," Skye murmured.

"Shh, everything is going to be alright now," Elara reassured her in a calming tone.

When Skye glanced up and noticed me standing there, she clung to Elara even more tightly.

"He’s here to help us. My friend Perla sent him to rescue me, and he’s ready to assist you too. He even brought some blood for you, so you can have a proper meal." I set the boar down beside me and took a step back.

"I’ll give you females some space, and Skye can enjoy her meal. Just let me know when you’re finished with the boar, and I’ll get started on cooking."

They both flashed me smiles, Skye’s being sweet and modest, while Elara’s radiated with the brightness of the sun. I found myself gazing a bit too long at Elara, and the expression on my face must have given me away, as she blinked at me, her smile growing even more enchanting. My cheeks flushed, and I was the first to look away, knowing she was probably accustomed to the attention of admirers.

Though she may not have fit the mold of traditional beauty that I had seen in my journeys as a legendary beastkin, every moment with Elara unveiled new facets of her charm that drew me in. The deeper I delved into her character, the more captivating she became.

Elara’s Perspective

Beck shut the door behind him, and not long after, Skye strolled over to the boar and started gulping down its blood. She usually preferred to keep her feeding private, but since I’d been letting her drink from me ever since I figured out they were planning to starve her, we were way past the awkwardness of her feeding in front of me.

I could hear her slurping away, and honestly, at first, it might have made my stomach turn a little, but I eventually got used to it. The very first time she fed from me was kind of overwhelming; it didn’t really hurt, but the sensation of feeling vulnerable was hard to ignore—those self-preservation instincts kicking in and all that jazz. It’s a pretty intense experience.

I spaced out listening to that rhythmic gulping sound and started daydreaming about those robin’s egg blue eyes, like a clear spring sky, and how he turned all red when I caught him checking me out. Who would’ve guessed a guy like him would even be into me? I seriously couldn’t figure out why. Honestly, the guys in my village never really paid me any mind, no matter how much I joked with Perla about them being scared I’d knock them out. I’ve always been too loud, too bold, and just not the typical girly type. My mom worries I’ll end up alone forever because I don’t fit the mold of a "proper" girl. Maybe I was just reading his expression all wrong; that seems way more likely.

I exhaled deeply, feeling a bit restless. I really needed to find something to occupy my time, or I’d just be here, acting all strange and daydreaming about some guy I barely know. What’s wrong with me? I’m not the type to get all caught up in thoughts about guys, especially not ones who are clearly way past what I can snag. I mean, I couldn’t even hold onto the first male my parents set me up with, and he wasn’t even that great to begin with. So why am I even considering a guy like Beck? I can’t believe he could possibly be into me; I mean, come on, I’m just a wolf beastkin girl, and wolves are literally everywhere you look.

It’s obvious that whatever kind of beastkin he is, he’s got some serious power behind him. I might not have a clue about what he transforms into, but I can definitely spot a magical horn from a mile away, and he is absolutely breathtaking. He’s got the whole world of females at his fingertips, like he can just choose anyone he fancies. Honestly, he just enjoys a little playful banter here and there. That’s got to be it; he’s definitely a flirt because he’s well aware that the females are all about him. I really need to chill out and not get too carried away with my thoughts, or I’m going to end up embarrassing myself big time.

"I’m heading back to my room, which is right next to yours. When you’re done, come find me. I need to clean up a bit since I was a little...over the top when I got here and kind of made a mess."

She waved at me to show she heard, but she didn’t let go of her meal. She must’ve been really hungry. Just thinking about how much blood she could drink made me feel a bit queasy. There’s no way I’m letting anyone drink from me again. It could’ve turned out so badly if Skye hadn’t been super careful and almost starved herself for my sake.

I walked into my room, glanced around, and let out a deep sigh of annoyance. I realized I had to buckle down and get things done; complaining wasn’t going to fix anything. Still, I was definitely going to catch my brother and Kai up on all the chaos when I got the chance—this whole situation is just absurd. There’s this other thing bothering me in the back of my head, but I’m not quite ready to tackle that just yet. Maybe I’m just overthinking it all.

I gathered everything up and tried to arrange the flowers back in the vase as best as I could. That pillow was a lost cause, so I just tossed the feathers into the trash, and there were a ton of them. I knew it was my own doing, but as I started to hum, I felt more like myself than I had in ages since being brought here. Things were finally going to return to normal, and I could leave this awful place behind. I never want to hear the words Snatching Ritual again!

Thinking about all the terrible stuff I’d been through made anger surge through me, and then another wave hit as my aura flared up. Anger and magic were buzzing inside me, flowing out and surrounding me. Thump...thump...thump!

"Ahhh!" Pain and anger surged through me, not like me, but I was drowning in frustration. All those feelings I’d kept bottled up were swirling around like a storm. Just like my mom warned, when your magic kicks in, it cranks up whatever you’re feeling at that moment. And of course, it hits right around when you’re about to go into your first heat. My eyes went wide, and panic set in—there’s no way I can go into heat here, in the snatching grounds!

"Uh-uh, no way! Crystals, I need clear crystals!" I couldn’t help but picture this terrifying scene in my head. What if those guys involved in the snatching ritual suddenly caught a whiff of a female in heat? My mind raced with one dreadful scenario after another, each one more horrifying than the last. I mean, seriously, after everything I’ve already faced since arriving here, I just kept thinking, "No way, it can’t possibly get any worse than this. It just can’t! The nightmare has got to be over, I don’t know how much more I can handle."

"Ahhh!" I couldn’t help but scream. I stared in disbelief as my hair began to grow at an insane speed, shifting into this rich, deep auburn color, and oh man, my scalp felt like it was literally burning up. "What is wrong with me? I wasn’t warned that it hurt this much." I let out a small whimper and gritted my teeth while tears trickled down my face.

"Thump!" My heart was pounding so loud in my ears. "Thump! Thump!"

My hair spread out around me, this gorgeous deep red-brown, but it felt like I was on fire from the inside, like there was this intense heat, pain, and energy just pulsing through me. Suddenly, everything around me got so much brighter, and then my whole world exploded into flames.

Coming Next Time: Swimming Lesson and Attempted Marking