I Abandoned My Beast Cubs for the Protagonist... Oops?-Chapter 43: Smells Like Swamp Mud

"Yes, baby!" she giggled, burying her face in his soft, orange hair. "Mama is back!"

"You didn’t get eaten by the monkeys!" Yòu Lín cheered, nuzzling her cheek.

The commotion drew the rest of the tribe out of their huts. Mo Xiao and Mò Chéng emerged from the treeline, followed closely by the snake twins, Shé Yì and Shé Èr, who immediately slithered over to inspect her for injuries.

"Eeeeeeee! She’s back!" Miao Miao, A-Li, and Xiao Hei tumbled over each other as they raced into the clearing. "The scaly lizard is back too!"

In a flash of light, Cāng Jì shifted back into his human form, adjusting his silks with a heavy sigh. "Well. That is that. My pulse-stabilizer is secure, and my dignity is.....recovering."

Elder Zhào Fēng, the silver wolf, stepped forward respectfully, leaning on his staff. "We are honored by your safe return, Your Radiance. Will you be returning to the Dragon Peaks immediately, or.....will you stay the night?"

Cāng Jì froze.

He looked up at the sky. He looked at the dirty, primitive huts of the village. And then, his golden eyes drifted over to Bai Yue, who was currently laughing as Yòu Lín tried to fix her messy hair.

The Dragon Prince swallowed hard. He crossed his arms, turned his face away, and pouted. "Hmm. The journey is.....long. And the wind currents are unfavorable. I will stay."

The entire clearing gasped in collective shock. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Eh????" Mo Xiao blinked, his eyes wide. "Weren’t you screaming about how you couldn’t wait to leave this ’mud-pit’?"

"Ugh? That is none of your business!" Cāng Jì snapped, his ears flushing bright pink. "I am a Prince! I do as I please!"

"Too scared to fly in the dark, sparkles?" a smooth, mocking voice purred.

Zhāo Yàn stepped out from the shadows of a nearby hut. The Fox Lord looked immaculate, his red eyes gleaming with amusement as he casually strolled toward them.

Cāng Jì bristled instantly. "I fear nothing, you overgrown furball! I simply require adequate rest before a long flight!"

"Of course you do," Zhāo Yàn smirked, ignoring the fuming dragon completely as he stopped right in front of Bai Yue.

The Fox Lord’s expression softened as he looked down at her. "Welcome back," he murmured, his voice a low, rumbling purr that sent a shiver straight down her spine.

It was a perfectly cute, wholesome scene.

Except.....Bai Yue looked around, her smile faltering slightly. She scanned the crowd of beastmen, the bouncing cubs, the relieved elders.

No white hair. No purple eyes.

Han Shān and Ruì Xuě were nowhere to be seen.

She let out a quiet sigh, her shoulders dropping. Of course. Why did she think it would be that easy?

Zhāo Yàn noticed the shift in her mood instantly. His brow furrowed, and he tilted his head. "How are you? Did the monkeys mistreat you?"

"Oh, no, I’m fine," Bai Yue said, plastering a smile back on her face. "Actually.....I fought a hydra!"

Zhāo Yàn flinched so hard he nearly stepped on his own tail. "What???"

The surrounding tribe members, who had been eavesdropping, collectively gasped.

"A hydra?!" Mo Xiao choked out.

"The Cursed Female fought a monster and she is still......smiling?!" a bear beastman whispered loudly in the background. "Is she possessed?!"

"It was just a misunderstanding!" Bai Yue tried to wave it off, but Zhāo Yàn wasn’t listening.

The Fox Lord leaned in close, his nose twitching as he took a deep breath. His red eyes narrowed in absolute disgust.

"You smell like swamp mud and monkey," Zhāo Yàn declared. "Let’s get you to the springs. You need to clean up."

"Oh, yes, a bath sounds heavenly right now," Bai Yue agreed, reaching up to rub her tired eyes.

Without a single shred of hesitation, or any care for tribal propriety, Zhāo Yàn reached out and expertly peeled the clinging Yòu Lín off Bai Yue’s waist, setting the kit on the ground.

"Go play with the panthers," Zhāo Yàn commanded his son. "Mama and I will be right back."

Before Bai Yue could even process what was happening, Zhāo Yàn ducked his arm under her knees and scooped her entirely off the ground, cradling her against his broad chest in a perfect bridal carry.

The entire Thousand Fang Tribe went dead silent. Over a hundred beastmen stood frozen in shock, their jaws hanging open.

The Fox Lord....carrying the Cursed Female? Voluntarily?!

"W-What are you doing???" Bai Yue squeaked, her face instantly burning as bright as a tomato. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck so she wouldn’t fall.

Zhāo Yàn simply looked down at her flushed face, a slow, incredibly dangerous smirk spreading across his lips.

"Hmm," was all he said.

And then, under the stunned gaze of an entire village and one very jealous Dragon Prince, the Fox Lord carried his blushing wife away toward the steamy seclusion of the hot springs.

~

Bai Yue buried her burning face into the soft fur of Zhāo Yàn’s collar as he carried her away from the village. She could feel the incredulous stares of a hundred beastmen boring into her back, not to mention the murderous, draconic glare practically searing the back of her head from a certain Prince.

"No......" she whimpered softly, trying to hide completely against his chest. "Hmm..."

Zhāo Yàn didn’t slow his strides. "What?" he asked, glancing down at the top of her head.

"Nothing," she mumbled, her cheeks so hot they could probably fry an egg. She was entirely at his mercy, suspended in his strong arms, and he smelled infuriatingly good.

Sensing her stiffness, the Fox Lord leaned his head down, his lips brushing against her hair. "Calm down," he whispered, his breath ghosting over her skin. "I’m not mating with you now."

Bai Yue choked on a lungful of air. "Zhāo Yàn!!"

A deep, rumbling chuckle vibrated through his broad chest. "What? You looked like you were preparing for a battle. I am simply bringing my wife to bathe. Unless....." His smirk widened, his red eyes glinting mischievously. "Is that what you were hoping for?"

"Shut up!" she squeaked, swatting uselessly at his shoulder.

He only laughed harder, carrying her effortlessly through the dense foliage until the air grew thick and heavy with steam. The tribal hot springs were completely secluded, quiet except for the gentle, soothing bubbling of the crystal-clear water.

Zhāo Yàn finally set her down on her feet near the edge of the largest pool. Her knees felt a little wobbly, though she would absolutely blame that on the lingering adrenaline from the hydra and definitely not the bridal carry.

Before she could even catch her breath, Zhāo Yàn stepped directly into her personal space. His large, elegant hands reached out, his fingers brushing the muddy, stiff hem of her animal-hide top.

"Let’s get this filth off you," he murmured.

Bai Yue’s eyes went completely round. She slapped her hands over his, her face exploding into a fresh, agonizing shade of red. "No!" she yelped, taking a frantic step back. "I-I can do it myself!!"

Zhāo Yàn paused. His playful, teasing demeanor vanished in a fraction of a second.

Slowly, he looked up through his long eyelashes. His crimson eyes flashed dangerously, the slits of his pupils narrowing as his predatory instincts suddenly flared to life.

Before she could retreat another step, his hands moved with blinding, terrifying speed. He didn’t hurt her, but his grip was like iron as he grabbed both of her wrists, pulling her hands away from her clothes and pinning them firmly against his chest.

Bai Yue gasped, completely trapped against his solid warmth.

Zhāo Yàn stepped forward, crowding her backward until her legs hit the smooth stone edge of the spring. He lowered his head, completely ignoring the mud and grime covering her skin, and buried his nose directly into the sensitive crook of her neck. He took a long, deep, shuddering inhale, sorting through the scent of swamp water and monkey fur until he found the sweet, intoxicating scent that belonged entirely to her.

"Hmmm," he rumbled, the deep, possessive sound vibrating directly against her collarbone.

Bai Yue’s breath hitched, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs as she stared up at the steam-filled canopy.

And then, right as her knees threatened to completely give out, she felt the sudden, shocking heat of his tongue slowly tracing the delicate shell of her ear.