Wanderlust Beastkin, Beauty and the Beastkin

Ah, so if he skipped the gems, he'd be halfway through his life already! That's quite a frightening pace of aging! But the idea of never aging or dying? Now that's something to marvel at! Suddenly, I'm feeling pretty thrilled about being swept into this world!

"I have the offerings needed for your awakening and our mating ceremony."

"I just want to clarify something about the mating ceremony—I'm not going to be expected to jump into breeding right off the bat, am I? I think it would be nice for us to spend some time getting to know each other first. In my tribe, the ladies often like to take their time with the guys before diving into something like that."

He looked puzzled, furrowing his brow. "Wouldn't breeding help us understand each other more deeply?"

"Possibly? But I've never been with a male before, and it makes me a bit anxious."

He offered me a warm smile and softly pressed his lips to my cheek. "Anything that helps you feel at ease is perfectly fine. Just lead me through what you desire, as I'm not familiar with this practice and what it entails. I certainly wouldn't want to let you down. I'm genuinely curious to learn more about the kind of beastkin you are; you're truly unlike any other female I've encountered

"Has there ever been someone who doesn't have a shifting form?"

"They would forever be seen as cursed by the gods, branded in such a way that no one would dare to mate with them, or they would face death. But you need not fret; I can feel the untapped strength within you."

"Are you really convinced about that?"

"Certainly, it's quite apparent."

"If I claimed I didn't, you wouldn't catch me and throw me in jail, would you?"

"While it would be my responsibility to apprehend you, I'd find myself unable to carry out that duty emotionally. Therefore, I would choose to give up my rank as a general and take you to a village beyond our tribe, where we could exist free from the constraints of tribal laws."

"Are you really saying you wouldn't reconsider if it came down to it?"

"You are my lifelong mate, and I promise to cherish, safeguard, and support you always."

"What a stroke of luck it was to cross paths with you!"

"I consider myself quite lucky." He wrapped his arms around me and pressed a kiss to the crown of my head, and I experienced the unusual feeling of him inhaling the scent of my hair. "Do you feel less afraid now?" he asked.

"For now," I said.

He let out a soft laugh. "Anything you need, just ask. But do me a favor and give Lirit some space for a bit. I have a feeling she won't be too happy after talking to her parents and discovering that I already have a mate."

"Speaking of mates, is it really alright that I have more than just you?"

He blinked in bewilderment. "Why wouldn't it be? I'll be honest, if you were giving a lot of attention to another male while ignoring me, I'd definitely have an issue with that, especially if it disrupted our family dynamic. But having multiple mates is crucial for your safety. Why would I ever want to put you or our unhatched eggs at risk? They need a steady supply of mana, and while I'm strong, I can't provide it endlessly. Without more than one male, you and our future cubs would always be at risk.

There are Rogues, Outsider Villages, wandering beastkin, mercenaries, adventurers, and all sorts of individuals who might try to take advantage of a lone female. The potential dangers far outweigh any benefits. Honestly, if you're against having more males, I'll have to insist on it. I'll usually respect your wishes, but not when they threaten to jeopardize your safety. I've heard stories of young, immature males letting their instincts take over, demanding their female be exclusive to them, but it rarely ends well when she agrees. No, I want you to have at least ten males."

"Ten?!"

"Your safety cannot be prioritized with anything less."

"How about three? I might be able to deal with three; maybe."

"A minimum of ten is non-negotiable. I intend to stand firm on this matter."

"We'll see. In the meantime, I'd like to get to know each other better without a bunch of other males in the mix."

"If that's what you wish, I can reach out to the wolf brothers and see if they would be open to serving as your temporary servant males, ensuring you're never left alone."

"What's a servant male?"

"A male who dedicates himself to serving a female, often residing in the servant quarters of her home or a nearby hut, in hopes of winning her affection. Occasionally, these servant males are assigned to provide additional protection for her if she lacks sufficient security. While he is not yet her chosen partner, he holds the potential to become one."

"This situation arises when a female requires extra safety, is open to a male's presence despite her other partners' objections, or is simply uncertain about committing to him. Once bonded, a male cannot leave his mate, although a female has the freedom to part ways. If a male loses his bond, he must wait a year before he can accept a new mark from another female. During this waiting period, he remains a servant and is unable to father children, as unmarked males are incapable of fathering children."

I gave it some thought, and it actually makes sense. "Plus, there's another beastkin who might be keen on becoming my mate and hinted that he could show up at the awakening ceremony."

 "Oh, is that so? Who might that be?"

"His name is Milo and he's a fox beastkin."

Foxes may not typically possess great strength, but they are known for their intelligence. Sadly, they also tend to be quite untrustworthy.

"He's a crafter beastkin."

"Crafter? So you already knew about servant males?"

"I didn't exactly have intentions of turning him into a servant or keeping him in that role."

"You are considering having eggs with him?"

"Not at this moment!"

"I will meet him and decide what would be most beneficial for our family."

"I appreciate your advice, but let's be real—I'm going to follow my own path. It's just how I roll!"

He pinched his lips together. "Noted."

It seems he didn't earn that general title for nothing; he's clearly accustomed to having things go his way.

Coming Next Time: Awakening Ceremony