Principles

"They used to be so strong in the past, but after the chief mate disappeared everything was destroyed ."

Semion remark sparked Liss curiosity, making her wonder if her mother was related to the incident.

"What she looked like?"

"Oh, she was a fox female, she probably was taken by a feral, all her mates looked everywhere but never found her."

Looking into her memories Liss found nothing. At that time, all stories were simply delusions, so she never paid attention to the details. 

"Even after 40 years they still struggle to get salt. Their former glory turned into a tale."

'40 years... or times passes faster here or the chief mate wasn't my mom.'

"This time we brought 5 females, normally we would only bring 3."

"They are probably fighting right now to be their mate."

"Why don't you guys go to the campfire or partake in the competition?"

Even an alien like her could see their disgust towards the idea. Liss could sympathize, the eccentric style, short tangled hair, and unhygienic weren't qualities.

"I'd rather die than become a spectacle," Said Ishid while frowning

"I would if there was a powerful beast that I wanted to match my strength with" Said Semion with a smile 

"How does it work? Whoever wins can choose a female and become their mate?"

"No, the females watch the duel and choose the one that they think is the best"

"So there is no winning?"

"I think the winners are the ones that get a female"

Levi placed his hand on the female's back to attract her attention.

"Are you curious because you want to go there?"

"No, I don't like the idea of choosing someone like an object, and I don't want to be treated like that either."

"Who would treat a female like an object" Ishid sneered. Liss had to swallow a laugh thinking that his temper and his face didn't match. 

"The little I saw today made me uncomfortable. When they saw us they kept cheering and looking at me like I was a rare piece of meat.

Their faces were saying 'chose me', 'be mine' even though they don't know me nor do I know them. If I went there, they would probably demand me to choose someone"

Ishid was about to retort but gave up. Unlike Semion and Levi, he had a beautiful loving mother and a strong father. His brothers and uncles (his mother's mates) lived a peaceful life.

The reason for his aversion to other females was that they treated him the same way that Liss described. They flocked to him demanding to be his mate and that it was his honor. 

That made him shy, for the first time he thought that if she asked him to be his mate he wouldn't care, she was even more beautiful than his mom, clearly calm, and maybe, she would be a gentle mate.

"So... who are you gonna choose to be your mate?"

Ishid blurted out, but soon he regretted it. If the female chooses one of them, it would create a lot of trouble, maybe even separating them.

Semion was interested, Levi was being territorial and now Ishid demonstrated interest.

The only way this would work out was if she accepted the three of them, but the idea of sharing wasn't a pleasant one.

"At the moment I have no intention of choosing a mate, I will only do so when I find someone I love."

Liss knew that she was loved by god, looking at her situation and all the possible outcomes, what happened was a blessing. 

"I'm grateful for the acceptance and support that you all are giving me. I will do my best as to not be a burden"

If by chance Liss hadn't landed in Semion protection she would deal with a horde of males courting her and the helping hand would demand the place next to her. But these three oddballs were proud and territorial.

From that point forward it became a cold war, with the thought that she was once imprisoned by ferals they had to move with steady steps towards her heart. Keeping her from the outside world to not let her find someone else and protecting her innocence of the ways of the world.

.

.

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After talking some more Ishid noticed that the little female was asleep, before anyone could notice he stood up and lifted her.

"She is sleeping, I will take her to the bed"

Levi who already had prepared his bed for her to sleep in his room tried to stop Ishid

"She can sleep in my room"

"You are a vulture, you won't be able to warm her without hurting her"

Semion was a tiger so he could warm her without any discomfort but he said nothing as he was the weakest of the three and knew that if he ended up fighting with Ishid for this he would lose.

Knowing that his little female didn't care about this made him happy but if this scenario continues, he will never get a chance to get closer to her.

If only he had saved her from the ferals or in any other dangerous situation he could claim the right to be her mate.

"I can maintain the male form"

"But if she wakes up and sees a male by her side she may feel bad and decide to sleep here on the floor. We don't have a fourth room."

Levis's rage was on the roof, it didn't show on his face but in his mind, his little bunny already was his mate. Letting his mate sleep in another male room rubbing his pheromones all over her marking her as his was ridiculous.

"Ishid..."

Wolves were righteous and loyal, what he was saying was what he was thinking, it wasn't a move to rob the female from the one who trained him until he became a soul beast. He indeed had an interest in her but it wasn't to the point that he would go against those he consider family.

"Levi, I am not a threat" 

Mumbling he turned to enter the first room.

Inside he placed the female on his bed and turned into a big black wolf with grey eyes.

Lying down next to her to give her warmth he soon fell asleep.