Baby System: I'm the Beast World's Only Hope!-Chapter 276: Episode 274: Jealousy of two Alpha Males

Roxy was wrapped securely in Syris’s arms the entire way.

His massive, powerful emerald coils gliding effortlessly over the roots and jagged rocks of the forest floor. He moved with a liquid, hypnotic grace that didn’t jostle her weary body in the slightest.

Roxy kept her face buried in the crook of his cool neck, the scent of pine and rich earth slowly replacing the heavy, suffocating brine of the ocean.

Finally, the magic barrier of the Manor came into view.

Syris slithered right through the magical veil, the heavy wooden and iron-reinforced gates looming before them. He didn’t bother shifting his arms to open it.

With a smooth, calculated movement, he carried Roxy through the threshold while his long, thick tail swept out behind him. The emerald appendage caught the heavy iron ring of the gate, pulling it shut with a resounding clang before expertly flipping the heavy metal latch into place, locking the compound down once more.

Before Syris even had the chance to fully lower his coils and set Roxy on her own two feet upon the grassy courtyard, a high-pitched, ecstatic squeal shattered the quiet mid-morning air.

"Mama!"

Iris came sprinting across the lawn like a tiny, dark-haired cannonball. Her black wolf ears were pinned straight back, her little legs pumping furiously.

Syris gently set Roxy down on the grass just in time. Roxy dropped to her knees, opening her arms wide.

Iris collided with her, throwing her small arms around Roxy’s neck and burying her face into her shoulder.

"I’m right here, my sweet flower," Roxy breathed, closing her eyes and kissing the top of Iris’s head, breathing in the scent of sunshine and sweet milk. "Mummy is right here."

"You came back!" Axel’s voice joined the fray.

"We held the fort, Maha! We didn’t let any monsters in!" Onyx cheered.

The twin wolf boys tackled her from the sides, their fluffy tails wagging so hard their entire lower bodies shook. Axel grabbed her left arm, Onyx grabbed her right, and they both pressed their faces against her ribs, demanding their fair share of their mother’s attention.

Roxy let out a watery, genuine laugh, the heavy, suffocating trauma of Caspian’s betrayal and the looming plague melting away in the absolute perfection of her children.

From the front porch of the Manor, Drax stood watching. The teenage dragon-shifter had his arms crossed over his chest, trying desperately to maintain the stoic, hardened look of a guard who had successfully defended his post.

But the moment Roxy looked up and flashed him a proud, loving smile, the tough facade crumbled. Drax beamed, his green eyes glowing with sheer relief.

As Roxy hugged the twins, a soft, rhythmic rustling sound drew her attention to the grass near her knees.

Tanith was making her way forward. The toddler had not shifted back into her human form yet. She was still a brilliant, beautiful emerald-green snake, but she was moving incredibly sluggishly, her small body weaving through the blades of grass as if she had just woken up from a very deep, very exhausting nap.

Roxy smiled warmly, extending her hand flat against the grass.

Tanith slithered up to her mother’s palm. With a slow, sleepy effort, the tiny snake curled herself gently around Roxy’s wrist, seeking the radiant heat of her skin. Finding the wrist insufficient for a proper nap, Tanith continued her ascent, winding her way up Roxy’s arm until she reached the warm, pulsing column of Roxy’s neck.

Tanith settled there like an exotic, living choker, letting out a soft, contented hiss before resting her triangular head against Roxy’s collarbone.

"Good morning, Tantan," Roxy murmured affectionately, reaching up with two fingers to gently pat the smooth, cool scales. Tanith gave a lazy squeeze in response.

"Alright, my brave little warriors," Roxy said, kissing Iris’s cheek and gently nudging the twins back to their feet. "Mummy is very tired, and we have some very important magic to brew to keep the pack safe. Let’s go inside and find Papa Zarek and Papa Kaelen, okay?"

The children cheered in agreement, immediately taking her hands and herding her toward the heavy oak doors of the Manor. Roxy let them lead her, her heart swelling with an overwhelming, protective love.

She stepped up onto the porch, gave Drax a quick, loving squeeze on the shoulder, and disappeared into the warm, bustling interior of the house with her brood.

Syris watched them go, a soft, profoundly affectionate smile playing on his pale lips. He let out a long breath, finally allowing the tension of the abyssal dive to drain from his muscles.

He moved to follow his mate inside, but as he approached the porch steps, his path was completely blocked.

Torian and Ren stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the top of the stairs, forming an impenetrable wall. The White Tiger had his thick, scarred arms crossed over his broad chest, his dark eyes narrowed into suspicious, burning slits.

Beside him, the Fox Beastman’s bushy red tail was twitching in agitated, erratic jerks, his usually playful green eyes completely devoid of humor.

They were both looking at Syris with incredibly weird, piercing eyes. It was a look of intense, desperate curiosity mixed with a heavy dose of jealousy.

Syris paused, his vertical pupils dilating slightly. He cocked his head to the side, his long, dark hair slipping over his pale shoulder.

"Can I assist you two?" Syris asked politely, though his tone was laced with an undeniable, mocking chill.

Torian didn’t beat around the bush. The Tiger Alpha leaned forward, his massive frame radiating aggressive heat.

"So," Torian rumbled, his deep voice dropping to an investigative, dangerous octave. "How was it?"

Syris blinked, feigning complete, innocent ignorance. "How was what? The water temperature? The descent?"

Torian’s jaw clenched, a muscle feathering violently in his cheek.

Ren let out an impatient, frustrated huff, unable to stand the Snake’s deliberate stalling. The Fox stepped forward, planting his hands on his hips.

"Don’t play dumb with us, Syris," Ren snapped, his voice tight. He leaned in, lowering his voice so the pups inside wouldn’t hear. "How was the male she bonded with? How was the Abyssal King?"

Ah. There it was.

Syris looked at the two Kings. He saw the sheer, agonizing insecurity vibrating beneath their dominant posturing. They had spent months agonizing over the phantom King who had stolen their mate, and now they were standing face-to-face with the only Surface male who had actually laid eyes on him.

Syris could have downplayed it. He could have told them Caspian was average, or arrogant, or unimpressive, just to soothe their bruised mammal egos. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

But Syris was a creature of logic, and he found their jealousy deeply, profoundly entertaining.

A slow, devious, and incredibly arrogant smirk spread across his pale face. He decided to tell them the absolute, devastating truth.

"He was," Syris hissed smoothly, his voice a velvet purr, "devastatingly handsome. A true apex predator. Massive. Silver hair, and an aura of power that could easily crush a lesser beast’s core."

Torian’s eyes darkened to pitch black, a low growl starting deep in his chest. Ren’s red ears pinned flat back against his head.

"Furthermore," Syris continued, enjoying the show immensely, "he seemed to adore Roxy so profoundly, so entirely, that he completely abandoned the safety of his deep-sea domain. He escorted her through the crushing dark, protecting her from the monsters every step of the way, and even breached the surface just to beg for her forgiveness."

Syris dusted a piece of invisible lint from his shirt, his smirk widening. "I must say, gentlemen. The devotion of the Merman is... intimidating."

Torian and Ren slowly turned their heads to look at each other.

The air on the porch crackled with tension. Torian pressed his lips into a painfully thin, hard line. Ren swallowed heavily, his jaw locking. A silent, terrifying communication passed between the Tiger and the Fox.

They had spent two days fighting with Zarek and Kaelen over who was the best in bed, but this was different. This wasn’t a pack dispute. This was a god-tier rival who had just proven he would literally drown in the air just to look at their Queen.

They were in serious trouble.

"TORIAN! REN!"

"GET YOUR ASS IN HERE!"