Budding Feelings

...before I could've gotten a proper look at what was happening behind, we were inside our house and the main door was shut close.

Sam's brother carefully released us making both of us stand down.

Qingqing obediently stood at a place but the moment I was put down, I instantly dashed toward the gate and picked up the baseball bat furiously, that was placed under the window.

Then I moved and tried to pull open the door hurriedly but to my surprise it didn't move even an inch, I looked up to see that the hunky guy was pushing the door with his one hand above my head

But this time I wasn't in a mood to admire him because I could hear different kinds of sounds from outside, there were whimpers, growls and some loud thumping sounds of smashing someone onto the ground which were already making my heart heavy.

"Let go." I said while looking at the guy's head above me.

"Why?" He asked without moving but while maintaining the eye contact with me.

"Sam is all alone with that fool outside! What if he got hurt?" I vociferate loudly while looking at him but this time my eyes were pleading for him to remove his hand.

He looked at me for couple of seconds silently and then gave a deep sigh, he said "Don't you have any faith in your male?"

I was literally shocked by his words so I looked at him with my dumbstruck eyes, this time I retracted my gaze first as I said in a low tone "I can't forgive myself if something happened to him so please...can you help him?" pleading for the first time after coming into this world.

The reason I was worried wasn't because I didn't believe in Sam but because I didn't believe in that leopard, Parker was a two striped male and as compared to Sam who was a single striped, I very well knew who will be having more disadvantages.

I was thinking practically but the truth that until Sam's brother agree to let me go, I won't be able to get outside to help him and this feeling of helplessness wasn't making me feel good at all.

"Kyra, Believe in Sam. If he wasn't having something in his mind then he won't be fighting with that leopard right now." Suddenly the man behind me said in his deep husky voice making me startled and my eyes tearing up instantly.

I instantly wiped my tears without turning back because I still couldn't stop the negative thoughts I was getting, I supported my head against the door while listening to the sounds of fighting because what Sam's brother said was right and if I try to act stubborn right now, it'll only make Sam think that I don't faith in him.

Sam's brother removed his hand from the door but since I didn't try to get away he went toward the window and looked outside while supporting himself against the wall.

I knew that he was also listening to the sounds because the fighting was happening on the other side of the house which couldn't be seen from there.

I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder and to my surprise it was Bai who was looking at me with droopy eyes, she handed me a pair of clothes and said "Sister, you should get yourself change first" while looking down.

Only this time I noticed some blood droplets on the floor with their traces on the inner side of my legs.

I was shocked and definitely wanted to change and clean up the place as soon as possible but the situation outside was making me reluctant.

I looked toward the 'hunky guy' to see that he was already looking toward me, for a moment we just looked at each other without saying anything when he said "Don't worry, I'll definitely intervene if I ever feel like that Sam is in trouble so get changed without any trouble" as if he clearly saw my distress through my eyes.

I looked at the main gate and went inside the other room where Qingqing followed me, "Sister, don't panic Sam will come back all fine" she said while handing over some cotton to me.

I just nodded and after taking cotton I pushed her outside the room for my own privacy.

I came outside after changing my clothes and stuffing the cotton as a pad which was definitely not comfortable but was sufficient to stop the blood from dripping on the floor.

I saw that Qingqing and Sam's brother were together standing against the window looking outside, on my arrival they instantly looked toward me when Qingqing said with a beaming smile, "Sister, brother Eric said that Sam is coming back!"

These words were enough for me to hurriedly move toward the gate, I instantly opened the door to see Sam standing there with a shocked expression which soon turned into a soft smile.

Ignoring the blood on his body I instantly took him into my embrace and snuggled my face against his neck as I said, "You know how worried I was?" while making my face smudge with the blood.

"I'm sorry Kyra, will you forgive me?" He said while smiling after seeing his female worrying about him.

"Only at one condition that next time I'll also go with you to teach that leopard a lesson!" I said in a puerile tone making him laugh as he said, "Sure, why not?"

I parted away from him and looked at his injured face, some scratches on his arms and legs with concern so I took his hand and made him seated inside the room, on the bed.

I instantly brought a bowl filled with clean water and with the help of cotton swabs I started cleaning his wounds.

Many times Sam told me that he was fine and he'll heal back in no time but I ignored his words like thin air as I kept on focussing my attention on the work at hand.

After cleaning most of his body with Qingqing's help who was cleaning the blood on the arms because Sam restricted her from touching him elsewhere.

I cleaned his face properly while removing the stuck hairs when I noticed something that made my eyes widen while Sam gave me a knowing smile, he cupped my face with one hand as he asked "Did you notice that?"

I looked him in the eyes and then again at the second gray stripe below the first one on left side of his face, he got his second stripe! and from the anticipated look of his eyes I could tell how much he was hoping to get praised.

I smiled and instead of a verbal praise, I moved forward giving him a peck on his lips and then on his newly achieved stripe, I said "Congratulations on getting promoted to second striped" while giving him a warm smile.

Maybe my smile sparked something in him because Sam instantly moved forward while pulling me into a kiss but just after a couple of seconds I heard Qingqing coughing, yeah that 'excuse me' cough.

I looked toward her to find that she was signalling in a particular direction with her eyes, I looked and found that Sam's brother was standing beside the window looking toward us and the moment I looked toward him he instantly turned his face as if he didn't see anything.

Can someone tell him that he sucks at acting?

But after looking at his brother my face started blushing, so while trying my best to hide my embarassment I hesitantly said "Umm... Brother-"

"Eric" he interrupted me inbetween while looking outside.

"Oh! Yes! Brother Eric-" I started again after correcting but still got interrupted as he said,"Just Eric is enough"

I haphazardly nodded my head and completed my words, "Eric, can you call Harvey so that he could treat Sam's wound" while looking at him.

I saw that Eric gave a nod and instantly went outside making me take a reliving breath, I don't know why, but the aura around him is pretty domineering that it makes me feel subdue to him.

I then diverted my attention toward Sam who was looking at me teasingly with a grin plastered on his lips.

"What?" I asked while getting another blush because his reaction was telling that he was having mischievous thoughts.

"Nothing~" he denied blatantly, still looking at me with the same teasing way because of which I turned to look away.

"Kyra...." He said while leaning onto me with his head supported on my shoulder.

I gave him an affirmative sound when he said, "You're in heat....so are we going to have cubs?" making not only me but Qingqing shocked as well.

My shocked expression instantly changed into a smile as I said, "If you want cubs then why not?" while slowly patting him on his head making his tail go wild all at once.

"Thank you" he said making me reply with a chuckle, "Then get well ASAP Sam".

"Kyra~ you smell so good~" he said while snuggling against my neck.

"Stop it Sam, I haven't taken a bath today.." I replied while pushing him away.

"That doesn't matter, you smell so good" while again trying to get close.

I laughed out loud at his statement as I looked at him acting all clingy with me.

I saw that Qingqing who was sitting beside us was looking at us with awe and when she noticed I was looking at her she shyly moved her gaze away.

Just then the door of our house opened and a sweating flushed face Harvey entered with Eric following him behind who was a hell lot taller than him.

Harvey blushed all of a sudden after looking at us but after looking at Sam's wounds he instantly came and sat down beside him with a serious face.

I and Qingqing stepped aside and looked from the sidelines, Harvey started creating a medical paste which he soon applied on Sam's wounds while securing them with animal hide bandages.

"Parker was also hurt, but looks like you were able to increase your strength, thankfully your fight ended without any serious casualties" Harvey said while dressing his arm wound just to see Sam roll his eyes.

"Was Parker seriously hurt or not?" I asked while clearly depicting my intentions.

"Both are equally hurt, I'm coming here just after mending to his injuries" Harvey replied while he try to avoid looking at me.

"Make sense. When will Sam get completely healed?"

"Maybe three or four for the scars to go away, but he could start running by tomorrow morning".

I nodded as I sat down beside Sam with my head on his shoulder, Harvey looked at us and said "Congratulations Kyra for getting into heat" with a flushed face.

I looked at him for couple of seconds before thanking him because my mind was still processing wether getting my periods really deserve a congratulations?

After receiving a thanks from me, Harvey turned toward Qingqing and his face that got recovered slightly instantly got a bright red blush over,

Of course my Disney princess indeed looking pretty appealing with that blush but I don't think it's the right moment.

"Congratulations Qingqing for your coming of age" he said while acting all embarassed.

Before my bewildered bimbo could've replied I said "She is still underage."

"But she just got into her heat today!" said Harvey contradicting my statement.

"Oh you mean periods! We are getting them from quite a young age, right Qingqing?" I said acting all casual and looked toward Bai for continuing.

"Ah! Yes, I got my first period at an age of twelve years!" She instantly completed my statement getting a satisfactory smile from me.

"And, we get our periods every month~" I added in the end making the already pale Disney princess lose the little bit the perception left in him.

I looked at his funny reaction while controlling my laugh when I noticed Eric beside the gate, who was looking pretty surprised but instead of showing an startled expression, he was looking in deep thoughts and looking at him I was having a hard time to control my lips from turning upward.

Maybe I did something foolish because Eric looked at me all of a sudden making me go blush once again, I instantly looked away but the guy who was sitting beside me nudged me with a sneer.

"B..But, how is this possible? Kyra, I've never heard of any tribe where females gets into heat more than once a year!" Suddenly Harvey showed his surprised reaction.

Will someone tell him that he is pretty late in this 'surprise look thing'?

"It's not my problem that you've never heard of it, right?" I replied in a pretty irritated voice making him flinch, I continued "And Qingqing will come of her age after two years".

Harvey looked at me and I looked at him while blinking my eyes for long time without no response from anyone in the room, Harvey retracted his gaze while standing up because he suddenly realised what I was trying to say? Yes I was saying 'Doctor, please go back if you are done with your job' but with my eyes.

No, no Morse codes were used because I don't know a fucking thing about it, except it's name.

Just when Harvey was about to go outside, Eric gave him a big crystal surprising both me and Harvey.

Harvey took the crystal reluctantly because when he showed his reluctance, Eric pushed the crystal into his hands as he said "Take this and remember not to speak of about anything what you heard here today".

Harvey trembled in his four striped beast aura, so without wasting any time he instantly went outside to avoid any kind of problematic situation.

Eric looked at Harvey going away and soon closed the door to see that I and Qingqing were looking at him intently with glittering eyes making him bewildered all of a sudden, he said in an unsure tone "You want crystals too? They are not that useful for you but don't worry I've emeralds back in my cave and I'll gave them to both of you." while scratching his forehead in nervousness.

"That's not the case! It's just that you looked pretty cool just now, right Bai?" I said instantly with a joyous smile.

"Yes! And that time too when brother Eric made those beastmen fly away with single punches!" replied Qingqing

"I was also in awe!" I added in the end and looked toward Eric to find out that our conversation made him embarrassed with a flushed face all of a sudden while his tail started swishing here and there.

I was admiring his unexpected shy look when not only mine but Qingqing's stomach grumbled at the same time, we both looked at each other with surprised expression when Eric said, "I'll go and hunt something for you, is there any kind of meat you prefer?"

"Wild boar!" I instantly replied with full enthusiasm making Eric smile but he nodded with a serious expression instantly.

Qingqing got up to start preparing for the dinner when Sam stopped her, he asked her to sit down and relax with me while taking the cooking responsibility in his hands.

After getting an affirmative look from me, my bimbo sat down beside me while telling Sam what she wanted to eat.

Soon Eric came back with clean and already cutted boar meat, he handed the meat to Sam and untied a pouch from his waist. He took out two emeralds and gave both of us (me and Qingqing) each,

I astonishingly looked at the shiny big emerald in my hand because even though I earlier said that I don't want the shiny gems but my heart was crying that I also want one shiny big gem!

I thanked him with a big smile, Bai followed and thanked him while looking at me with confusion about what to do with the gem?

"Where is my crystal, brother?" asked Sam while pouting his face making me and Qingqing chuckle, Eric sighed when he saw his brother still behaving like a kid even when he already got himself a mate but he still took out a big crystal from the pouch and threw it toward Sam who catched it perfectly but the pouch that was thrown later hit him directly on his face which made me laugh out loud.

While controlling my laugh I looked toward Sam who was saying "Brother, I'm not giving you any dinner tonight!" while acting all sulking.

Eric raised his eyebrows at him but without saying he turned to leave the house so I instantly said"Eric! Don't mind what Sam is saying. You're staying and eating here, right Sam?" I looked at Sam with my upraised eyebrows.

Sam gave me a teasing smirk and said, "Brother, how can I say no when Kyra herself is asking you to stay?"

Eric turned to look toward me, and believe me if he had asked me if he could get me laid right now? Believe me I would have said yes right away! But what he asked was, "You really won't mind"

I instantly shook my head while smiling like fool, why? I don't know...I mean, he just look so handsome~ so cool~ Yes! More like sugar daddy! He even gave me emerald!

Eric smiled but instantly concealed it behind his cool expression.

We all sat down together with Sam still clinging to me while sitting with Bai on my other side, Eric was on my opposite side as we ate our filling dinner.

The most surprising thing was the proficiency of Eric in using chopsticks and that's when I realised that he might be practising after seeing us using them.

Our dinner went by me taking sneak peeks at Eric which always ended up by getting caught by him every time, if that wasn't the sufficient reason to get embarrassed, Sam was nudging me while giving those looks while motioning at his brother.

After our dinner we had some fruits which were best to have during heats that Eric brought back after asking from Harvey.

Suddenly Qingqing asked me "Sister, what is this for?" while playing with the emerald.

"It can be used as money and could be eaten too" I replied.

She looked at me with wide eyes so I showed her how it's supposed to be consumed, she imitated my actions and showed nearly exact same expression like me after feeling that the emerald got melt the very next second after getting into contact with saliva.

It was tasteless but the warm feeling it was spreading inside the body was definitely reliving, I looked toward Bai to find that she was surprised too and said while touching her face "Did that emerald made my skin softer?"

"That's the property of emeralds, it can beautify and increase your lifespan" replied Sam with a smile.

"Did this made any changes in me?" I instantly asked with an excited face.

Sam observed me carefully but before him I heard Eric saying, "Your height increased slightly while your face is glowing even more than it already does" without paying mind but when he noticed that all other three people were looking at him with surprised eyes, he instantly lowered his gaze in embarrassment but I was still looking at him with glittering eyes.

Daddy~ I'll do anything for repaying the height gift!

After dinner we all were going to bed when I saw that Eric was nowhere to be seen, Sam was tidying the handmade wooden bed for Qingqing to sleep so I instantly went outside to see that Eric was in the lawn, standing against the tree with his back supported to it while looking in the starry sky.

He instantly felt my presence which made him look toward me, he spoke in a concerned filled tone "What are you doing outside? Harvey said that females can easily catch cold during their heat, so stay inside."

"What are you doing outside?" I asked what I wanted to ask, without paying mind to his words.

"Why? Am I not supposed to stay outside when you're sleeping?" He replied as he came toward me but stopped with a confused face in front, his hands in the air were enough for me to deduce about the fact that he was confused wether he should touch me or not.

I looked into his eyes and said "Don't worry, you can also sleep inside, after all, it's not like you can't feel cold"

He looked shocked but moved his mouth to justify his actions, I'm damn sure about that!

But before he could've said something, I grabbed onto his muscular thick arm and dragged him inside leaving him all dumbfounded.

After getting inside, I saw that Sam was done with his job and was sitting on the other bed while motioning me so come and sit down beside him.

I noticed that he gave me teasing smirk after looking at Eric's arm in my hand so for getting even, I said "Sam, I'm sleeping with Qingqing so you sleep with Eric" and moved toward Bai who was extremely happy because she hurriedly took me into embrace as I laid down beside her.

Eric stood still for a long time while looking at his arm that could still recall that soft and warm feeling of getting embraced which was definitely pricking something in his heart which was undeniably wrong, specially when he himself observed how much she cares for his brother and how kind she was toward some like him.

Eric looked at Sam who was trying to convince Kyra for sleeping beside him which made him smile and he instantly turned into a big majestic big black wolf and got himself settled beside the closed door.

Sam reluctantly went to sleep all alone because he still couldn't get Kyra convinced to sleep together no matter what he said and just like this everyone in the room fell asleep, except the Auburn golden eyes which were looking at Kyra without any sleep in them.

Eric kept on looking at kyra with confusion because no matter how long he had been observing her in the cover of protecting her like what his brother suddenly asked him oneday and how he agreed with the condition that he didn't want to get involve directly unless important.

From observing her for so long, he was still surprised from what happened in the morning because it was like another side of the mysterious female who never falls short in surprising him.

He have seen how much she likes his brother, wether it was the expressing of her love for him in front of everyone or showing her concern for him which definitely made Eric feel good for his brother but now he is getting doubts about his glad for his brother because is he really satisfied with just this much? Or is he expecting something more?

(Eric's POV)

When Sam came to me one day, he asked if I could become his female's guardian but got his offer denied instantly because I didn't want to get involved with any female, specially after getting the scar which made me a laughing stock in the city.

I knew very well that they all are just after superficial beauty but I was still happy for my brother because he won't be one of the males who were destined to die without getting mates or I can say that, at least he wasn't like me.

I never despised my mark but all those useless remarks telling I was an imperfect and unwanted male were enough for me to start despising the females and even my own mother, who said that she feels ashamed of me as her son that in the end made me to leave that city which might be a dream for other beastmen but for me it was just a loathsome place.

I never planned on concerning myself with anyone else, wether it was females or even males because I was happy living alone but only if it wasn't for my brother.

That small wolf cub from the different litter who not only always followed me in the beast city but even came following me outside.

I still recalled how much convincing it took for finally making him leave my side and stay in a village at least.

But now, looking at him starting his own family and that too with a female whose beauty might be on par with the moon goddess.

The first time I saw her, the thing that caught my attention were her clear eyes looking at me with surprise, after that I don't know why but I always felt drawn toward them no matter where I hid.

All of her emotions were clearly depicted in them, wether it was her joy or discomfort and even her embarrassment that mades her face pink like beautiful flowers petals.

The first time I saw the marks on her body, I thought that they were spousal marks but after observing her, I came to the conclusion that they were definitely not what everyone thinks because no matter what, for me those were not marks but embellishments that were adorning her already beautiful and alluring body.

And this thought was enough for me to get my heart beat at an insane speed, looks like I can think about becoming her guardian, after all, she might be the only female who looks at me without any disgust and intimidated feeling in her eyes because I've seen her eyes glimmering while her face was blushing when she looked at me during eating our 'dinner' that was enough to made me feel concious about myself during that time.

I'm sure there's some reason behind her being like this, all mysterious and full of surprises but I can only hope that she'll tell me herself, wait? What if I ask her, would she be telling me something?

I can try it someday but what is more important is that can I ever ask something else? About 'us'? Or will she think that I'm getting ahead of myself by ignoring the fact that I'm just an imperfect and unwanted male just like how everyone else thinks.

It's the first time when I felt like any normal beastman in presence of others because not only she but even her small sister looked at me without making me feel any concious about myself, just like her sister.

But when Kyra called me brother, I don't know why I didn't like that and made me to correct her whereas when her sister did the same, I felt pretty good because it was a completely new feeling for me of having a small little sister. Because I know that even if I had a related one, she would still despise me like our mother.

I inhaled the scent inside the room to feel two different sweet scents, but what was drawing my attention inevitably belonged to Kyra.

I'm sure if it wasn't about the fact that I'm a four striped beast, then I would be loosing my senses but that doesn't mean that they aren't attracting my attention.

It's just that I'm controlling my urges, after all, she is my brother's mate and I don't have any relationship with her that will allow me to even embrace her lest something even more intimate.

I looked toward her for the last time as I settled down my head on my paws because if I keep on looking more, I'm sure that these budding feelings will definitely grow into something that could be hurtful if they didn't get reciprocated and I'm sure that I can try to control them right now before letting them get stronger, or maybe I've started thinking highly of myself after meeting her?

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'Reliving breath' After writing the longest chapter till now with a word count of 4692.

Hope you all liked it (⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧ just like how much I liked writing it ✧⁠◝⁠(⁠⁰⁠▿⁠⁰⁠)⁠◜⁠✧

I'm tired as hell after writing this ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ