1 Welcome to the Jungle

I knew I shouldn't carry things downstairs, but I was trying to clean quickly because we had company coming later that day. I was rushing while wearing my fuzzy house socks and slipped on the carpeted stairs. I had fallen before, but not from this high up. I was dreading the bumpy landing with our TV and speakers at the bottom to break my fall, not to mention the glass coffee table.

I was expecting to be heavily injured and just prayed I didn't die. I closed my eyes and braced myself for the fall, but was surprised to land on dew covered grass instead. I opened my eyes and took in the plush forest around me. 'I knew that fall would kill me one of these days!' I thought to myself. I remember arguing with David, my husband about placing the speakers and TV at the base of the stairs for that exact reason, but our small living room didn't have much space to put it after the giant L shaped couch took up half of the living room. Shocked, I was thinking,'So, this is not what I expected Heaven to look like! Where are the clouds and pearly gates? Where are the angels? Maybe I just hit my head and am unconscious and this is all a dream?' Looking around at the tallest trees I had ever seen, I decided this had to be a dream.

I was brought back to focus when I heard wolves nearby! I got up and started to run away looking for a tree I might climb up. I was always good at gymnastics despite being overweight. My husband and I had recently started going on morning walks and exercising, but I hated running. Nothing is more motivating than a pack of hungry wolves chasing you. "This is not the way I wanted to die!" I yelled to no one in particular. I found a tree with a low enough branch for me to parkour my way up. The wolves circled the tree and were jumping almost high enough to get me. I tried to climb higher, but heard the branch start to creak. "Ahh, someone help me!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs when one of the wolves almost got my foot.

The next thing I know, a leopard jumps on the back of the wolf and rips his throat out. 'Oh my God! Where did this leopard come from and why is it killing the wolves? Is it going to eat me next?' I thought to myself, but said out loud, "I know I'm thick, but I don't think I will taste good, just eat the wolves and leave me alone!" The leopard ignored me and went to fight the next wolf. After killing the alpha, the rest of the wolves ran away. The leopard easily climbed up the tree and sat next to me. I was trying to talk to it and convince it not to eat me. The next moment, the leopard transformed into a man with furry ears and a tail! Then it hits me, 'I'm in my favorite novel!'

I fell in love with 'Beauty and the Beasts' the first time I read it for the way the male characters loved the main character and took care of her. I had thought to myself, 'It would be nice to have some handsome man cook and clean for me!' Don't get me wrong, I love my husband, but he is not the clean type. He is very sweet to me and we have known each other since High School, so I am very comfortable around him. He is always considerate of me and never cheated on me and was never abusive. I told him when we first started dating, " I will never be with someone who hits me or cheats on me! I watched my dad do that to my mom and I will never go through what she did. If you ever hit me or cheat on me, I will take you on a hiking trip and push you off a cliff. I will make it look like an accident. I know how!" (I wouldn't really kill anyone, but he didn't need to know that!) Even with my threat, he still wanted to date me and was hopelessly in love! I love him so much for that. I missed him so much at this moment, but I didn't know if I would ever see him again.

The leopard, who I knew was Parker because of his red tooth necklace, brought me out of my thoughts when he invaded my personal space. His golden cat eyes stared into my light blue eyes and he started to sniff me. I put my hand up to stop him from getting closer. "Whoa there, back up!" I told him. He cocked his head to the side and looked at me with an inquisitive look. "What tribe are you from, female, and why are you here by yourself?" He asked me. I already knew the main character from the story said she was an ape female, so I figured I would go with that. "I'm from the ape tribe and I was kidnapped from my tribe. I don't know what happened, but I woke up out here and then the wolves started to chase me so I climbed the tree. Thank you for saving me from them." He looked at me and was excitedly wagging his tail. "I don't see any beast marks on you, are you unmated?" I told him, "I have a mate, but I don't know where he is!" I looked sad thinking about my sweet husband and wondering what he will do when he can't find me. I hope I am able to go back soon because his anxiety will sky rocket without me.

Parker looked at my sad expression and said, "He was not strong enough to protect you. I am a two striped beast and I saved you, so you are my mate now!" Parker then transformed back into a leopard and picked me up with his mouth and threw me onto his back. I held on for dear life while he jumped down the tree and started to run towards a lake. When we got to the lake he dug up some mud and started to smear it onto my face. The Esthetician in me freaked out and started to scoot away on my but. He growled at me and told me to stop moving. I went to wash the mud off my face thinking, 'Do you know how many treatments and products it took to clear up my acne?' I have sensitive skin and will break out from almost anything touching my face. Parker said, "If you wash off the mud, I will scratch you so no other male will want you!" The possessive look in his eyes convinced me he was serious! "No, it's ok, I will leave the mud on, please don't scratch me!" I tried to convince him. I was thinking to myself, 'Just think of it as a mud mask and you can wash it off later.' I really hope this doesn't cause a break out, but then again I remembered how the beasts are in this story and thought. 'Maybe it would be a good thing if I break out. It will keep away unwanted suitors. Then I won't have to deal with Parker's possessiveness!

I loved all of the characters in the novel, but didn't feel like taking Bai's place. Maybe if I get Parker to be disinterested in me, Bai will appear like in the story and he will meet her. Of all her beast men, the only ones I would be interested in were Winston and Harvey. Maybe Shuu if I could save him from his unnecessary death. Also, Muir didn't deserve his tribulations. I'll leave Parker and Curtis for Bai. 'Wait, what about David? I know we said till death do us part, but am I dead? Or is this all just a dream, maybe I will wake up and tell him about it. I miss my big teddy bear husband!' I snapped out of my thoughts when Parker picked me up again and placed me on his back in his beast form.

Parker brought me to his place in the leopard village, we got a few stares from the other leopard beastmen, but luckily no Eudora or other bitchy females. I noticed the musty smell of his hut when he placed me on a pile of straw. "This is my den. We will sleep here. What are you wearing? Let me make you some new clothes." He lifted his claws to tear off my shirt, but I stopped him and scooted back. "What, what are you doing?" He looked at me like it was obvious, "Your clothes are too eye-catching, I don't want other males to be interested. I will make you some new clothes like mine." He pointed to his fur loincloth. I noticed the terrible stitching and remembered in the book he made a tube top and mini skirt for Bai to wear. I thought to myself, 'I'm too old to be wearing that! I was already 36 years old, not 16! Even though I took great care of my skin and only looked to be in my 20's, I still would be really uncomfortable in such little clothing. I had to discourage Parker from wanting me as a mate. I remember how persistent he was in the book. "You are not my hus- mate, and I will not undress in front of you!" I told him as forcefully as I could. "I rescued you, by law you are my mate." Parker said and tried again to remove my clothes. I backed up again. He said, "I will see you sooner or later when we mate anyways." I covered my chest and said, "I will not mate with you!" He looked offended and said, "If not me, then who? I will not allow my female to have other males!" I looked at him and said, I cannot bear child- cubs, you should find another mate." He looked at me in horror and disbelief. "I will take you to the doctor to see if there is anything he can do to fix you."

Parker carried me to a hut that smelled like spices. I knew before Harvey opened the door who he was. He looked at me with his blue eyes and asked, "Did this female get stung by bees? Is that why she is covered with mud?" Parker pushed Harvey aside and brought me into the hut. He placed me on a fur rug and looked at Harvey. "She is my mate, I rescued her from wolves and she is unmarked. She told me she is unable to have cubs. Is there anything you can do to fix her?" Harvey looked at me and asked me, "Is this true? Why do you think you cannot have cubs?" I looked at him and told him, " I was sick and had to have my womb removed so I could live." I was thinking, 'How can I explain cancer to a beast world doctor? Their medicine is almost prehistoric.' Harvey and Parker both looked shocked and sad at my words. Harvey asked if he could examine me. Parker looked unsure, but ultimately decided to let Harvey check me. He was holding on to his last strand of hope.

I thought to myself, 'I don't know how they will check, but if it will convince Parker to leave me alone, I will let them examine me. Just treat it like a Gyno visit.' I have had both male and female doctors before and usually prefer male doctors because they seemed to be more sympathetic to my female issues. The female doctors seemed to have the 'tough it out' kind of attitude, while the males always felt like they needed to be extra gentle with me. I am very sensitive, so I always appreciated the extra care.

Harvey asked me to undress and handed me a piece of deer fur as a blanket. I looked at Parker and asked him to turn around. He did so, after a reluctant glance at Harvey. He said, "I am only allowing you to check her, if she is able to have cubs, she is still my mate and I will not allow her to have any other males." Harvey nodded and looked away while I changed. I layed down with the deer fur on top as a blanket. Harvey was shocked at how pale my skin was and had never seen a female with such soft skin. He examined me with extra gentleness and sadly told Parker I was correct. "She does not have a womb, it is closed up. I also feel an emptiness in her when I press on her stomach. I am sorry, she will never be able to have cubs." Harvey told Parker and turned around for me to get dressed again. Parker howled in sadness, "Nooooooooo! Why? I rescued you. I am supposed to be your mate, but as the most favored son of the leopard king, I need to have cubs to carry on my lineage."

I felt bad because I knew how much my husband wanted kids, but I could not have them after my hysterectomy. I was glad to never have a period again and I never really wanted kids, but I considered adoption for his sake. He was ok with adoption and we were saving up for it until I came to this world. Harvey snapped me out of my thoughts when he said, " I would still love a mate, even if she cannot bear cubs." I looked at him in surprise. Then I looked at Parker and said, " I cannot bear cubs, so you should look for a mate that can. I don't want to destroy your future lineage and happiness." He looked at me with a sad face and looked like he was about to go into a depression. I said, "You should wait for your fated mate. Who knows, she might come sooner than you know. Just keep rescuing girl- females in the forest and you might find the one for you." He brightened up slightly at my words. "Maybe you are right, female, but what will you do now?" Harvey looked at him and said, "I will take care of her, do not worry." Parker nodded sadly and left with one last sad look back at me. I thought, 'I really hope Bai still shows up for his sake.'

Harvey looked at me nervously and asked my name. "My name is Shelly, What is your name?" Even though I already knew his name from the story, I didn't want him to get too suspicious yet. I knew he eventually learned about Bai and accepted her, but I didn't want to risk it yet. This world is impossible for females to survive alone and I knew I needed his help. At least he is a nice guy and won't force me to mate with him. I felt a little bad taking advantage of him, but I thought, 'I can teach him things and repay him with my knowledge of the modern world.' I was going to become a nurse before I decided to become an Esthetician, so I knew a little about modern medicine.

While I was thinking about what I could teach him without giving away too much, my stomach growled and broke my train of thought. I looked at Harvey with an embarrassed face and put my hand on my stomach. Harvey asked me, "Are you hungry Shelly? What flavor would you like? I have a deer that I hunted earlier. What tribe are you from? Do you eat meat?" I looked at the anxious doctor and nodded my head. " I am hungry, and I do eat meat. Thank you." He looked shocked at the thanks. As a stripeless male doctor in this world he was not used to being thanked. I looked at the spices he had at the side of the hut. I noticed bulbs of garlic, peppers, ginger and salt among other spices that I did not recognize. I pointed to the ones I knew and told him, "I like garlic, ginger and salt with a little bit of pepper." He looked shocked and asked me, "You know about medicines? But these are not for flavor, these are for healing." I nodded and told him, "I know a little about medicine and cooking. These are ok to eat as seasonings for meat." He looked skeptical, but decided he would try it first before he let me try it.

I had tried deer meat a few times before and knew it could be tough and gamey if not prepared correctly. I sighed when I saw Harvey stab the meat with a stick and put it over the fire pit to cook with a little salt. I went beside him and asked if he wanted me to help. "Females are not supposed to cook with fire and the red pointy spikes will burn you if they get in your eyes." I shook my head and told him, "I have been cooking since I was young and know not to rub my eyes with seasonings." He looked shocked and hesitantly allowed me to help. He was thinking, 'What tribe is she from that she has survived these hardships?' LOL! If he only knew about our world, he would have a heart attack!

My mother raised me and my siblings by herself after she left my abusive father. She raised us to be independent and self-sufficient. My uncle used to take us on camping trips when I was little, so I learned how to cook over a campfire. I asked for a knife and cut up the spices as best I could with the sharp flint knife. I mixed them together and spread them on the meat. The aroma was delicious as the meat was roasted. This time Harvey's stomach growled and mine joined his with anticipation for the meat. I asked if he had any vegetables to go with the meat. He looked embarrassed and offered to go find some. "As a leopard beast, we only eat meat. What tribe are you from?" I told him, "I am from the Ape tribe, but I was kidnapped. I lost my mate." He looked sympathetic at first, but then hopeful. "I will provide for you until you find a stronger mate to protect you."

I gave him a sad smile and said, "Thank you, I have heard of stronger beast men in the City of Beasts." Harvey tilted his head and thought about it for a second. He said, "There are many strong males in the City of Beasts. If you wish, I could bring you there. I will be your guardian until you find a stronger male to protect you." I smiled and nodded at him. He looked entranced at my smile and some of the dried mud fell off of my face. I scrunched my nose and noticed my skin was starting to itch. "Harvey, do you have some water I can wash my hands and face with please?" I asked him hopefully. I really didn't like to be dirty. He nodded his head. He was excited to help and went to get some water from the river. He came back and filled a stone bathtub halfway. I used my hand to scoop the water and first rinsed off the seasonings. Next I carefully washed the mud off my face.

Harvey was shocked when he saw my clean face with my slightly pink cheeks and faded almost invisible acne scars. "How can a female exist with such fair skin?" He asked me. I told him, "I learned the secrets of beauty and skin care from my aunt. I can teach you some if you like as payment for food and shelter." He nodded his head with excitement, but said, "You do not need to repay me, it is a male's job to take care of a female. Parker is still too young to understand the value of females is not just for mating and birthing cubs." I blushed at his stare and his eyes grew wider. Our stomachs both grumbled again and he returned to the meat.

When the meat was finished cooking, Harvey used his claws to tear off a piece and try the meat first. His eyes widened so much I could almost see hearts and flowers around his face. He exclaimed, "This is the most delicious meat I have ever tasted! How did you learn to cook this way? I know the Ape clan is very intelligent, but I had no idea they knew so much!" I thought to myself, 'Oh Harvey, just wait till I teach you more things. One thing at a time. I don't want to break his brain. LOL!' Ha ha, I chuckled at his enthusiasm and told him, "My grandmother and aunt taught me to cook, I can teach you other things as well later." Harvey was surprised that I knew other things and quickly finished the piece of meat. He tore another piece and handed it to me. I ate happily even though my hands were getting dirty. I thought, 'I will have to teach him how to make chopsticks or maybe a spoon or hopefully, a fork.'