Chapter 4:
Crossing the border into unfamiliar territory, I paused and glanced back at the last humans I might see for a long time—the escort and the messenger. Their expressions were unreadable, offering neither sympathy nor support. Just duty. Cold and detached.
I turned back toward the stretch of land ahead. A narrow, roughly cleared path cut through a field of grass and wildflowers. It looked like a road—barely—but it was enough to lead me in. I gripped the strap of my small bag tighter and began walking.
Each step was hesitant. Every rustle of leaves or crack of twigs beneath my feet made my heart jolt. I wasn't afraid of the forest. I was afraid of what I might find—or what might find me. I took a deep breath, steadying myself. My bag felt light. It should have, I didn't own much. A few clothes, some dried food, and an old comb. That was my whole life packed up in a ragged cloth sack.
When the forest cleared, I found myself standing at the edge of a wide area filled with caves—deep, dark hollows tucked into the landscape like sleeping beasts. The terrain spread out before me in a quiet, natural harmony: trees bowed in the breeze, the scent of moss and earth filled the air, and distant mountains rose like ancient sentinels watching over this hidden land.
It was beautiful. Wildly, hauntingly beautiful.
But something was off.
I turned slowly, sensing eyes. The hair on the back of my neck rose. In the shadows, tucked behind trees and in the crevices of caves, pairs of glowing eyes stared back at me. Silent. Observing. Measuring.
I swallowed hard.
I was a lamb who had just stepped into the den of lions. Curious lions. Hungry lions.
I took a cautious step forward—and nearly stumbled when a woman stepped out from a nearby cave.
She was unlike anything I had expected. She was tall—taller than most men I'd seen—and broad-shouldered with tanned, rough skin. Her features were harsh, her presence formidable. There was nothing soft about her, and yet she moved with the grace of someone born to dominance.
I blinked at her, confused. Were beast females supposed to look like this? I had imagined fur, claws, tails maybe. Not... this hybrid. Not this strangely human, yet obviously non-human figure.
Next to her, I felt utterly fragile. My height barely reached her shoulders. My skin, pale and fair, seemed almost translucent in comparison. I had the kind of body often praised in the human world—an hourglass figure, delicate limbs, naturally crimson hair that brushed my shoulders. My lips were red even without color, and my features often drew compliments. But standing before this beast female, I felt like glass.
She walked past me, her gaze sharp and openly hostile. Envy? Hate?
What had I done to earn such emotions from a stranger?
I decided not to linger on it. I didn't come here to make enemies—if anything, I hoped to go unnoticed. It would be safer that way.
But the question still nagged at me: "Where was my husband?" The so-called beast chief I was promised to. Shouldn't someone be waiting to receive me? Guide me? Something?
There was no welcome. No introduction. Not even a name.
"Seriously?" I muttered under my breath, frustration creeping in.
I kept walking, heading deeper into what I assumed was the village. Shadows watched me from all directions—some curious, others filled with open disdain or even... hunger? I wrapped my arms around myself instinctively, trying to ignore the shivers racing down my spine.
I arrived at a large cave unlike the others. It was wider, taller, with a more solid structure. Something about it just felt more... important. Instinctively, I walked up to it. There was no door to knock on, so I picked up a nearby stone and tapped it against the cave's outer wall.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" I called out, trying not to sound too nervous.
A moment passed. Then I heard movement—soft, slow, and deliberate.
And then he appeared.
The first thing I noticed was his hair—long, thick, and golden blonde, cascading past his shoulders. Then I saw his frame—towering and broad. His bare chest was a landscape of muscle, his abs sculpted like art, his biceps flexing with each casual step. I barely reached his torso.
My eyes widened. My breath caught.
And then—mortifyingly—I felt a nosebleed coming on.
What the actual hell?
Was I in the right place? Was this really a village of beasts—or did I accidentally stumble into the domain of gods?
His beauty was unreal. Like, dangerously unreal. I wasn't even a fan of overly handsome men, but this one? This one bent all my rules, broke them, and stomped on the pieces.
"Are you satisfied?" he asked suddenly, his deep, gravelly voice rolling over me like a storm.
I snapped out of it, embarrassed beyond belief, quickly wiping at my nose.
"S-sorry," I stammered. "Didn't mean to stare. I'm looking for the chief of this village. One of them is supposed to be my... husband."
He tilted his head slightly. "You're the fragile sister?" he asked bluntly, staring at me with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "You're so small. Can you even carry cubs?"
His words landed like a slap. My chest tightened.
"I... How do you know that?" I asked, frowning. "Do you know the chief I'm supposed to marry?"
He stepped aside casually. "Me."
My mind went blank. "Me?" I echoed dumbly. "You?"
He didn't respond. Just walked back inside.
I followed hesitantly, still reeling. Was he joking? He looked far too young—too devastatingly attractive—to be a chief. Was I being scammed?
"Well," I muttered, "if he's got a bad personality, all that beauty's just a red flag anyway."
The interior of the cave was cool and surprisingly spacious. But still... It was a cave. Not exactly homey. No seats, no bed, nothing inviting.
"You need to eat," he said suddenly, not looking at me. "If you're to bear my cubs, your body needs strength. Weak as you are, you may not survive pregnancy."
His tone carried authority. Command. Expectation.
I wasn't having it.
"I know I've been reduced to a baby factory," I muttered, sinking to the ground, exhausted. "But could you at least pretend I'm not livestock?"
He didn't answer. Just walked deeper into the cave.
I sighed and leaned back against the wall, staring at the uneven stone ceiling. "Welcome to your new world," I whispered to myself.
This was it. My new life. My new reality.
And, apparently, my new husband.
But one question still lingered on my mind.
How do beast people even get married?