Wanderlust Beastkin, Beauty and the Beastkin-Chapter 21: Ares

I considered reaching for my pepper spray, but I doubted he would fall for that trick this time. As he barreled toward me, I realized there was no way I could outrun him. I stopped resisting, gripping my walking stick tightly and crouching low, feigning submission. He surged forward, eyes ablaze with excitement, mouth agape, ready to take a bite. Just as he leaped, claws outstretched, I thrust my stick into the ground, bracing for impact and tilted the point upwards. He lunged right onto it, skewering himself in a spectacularly gruesome moment. The force of his weight sent me tumbling backward, the air knocked from my lungs as he landed heavily on top of me.

I pushed at the giant lizard beastkin but he didn’t budge at all! Then I tried to slide out from the side of him but all I managed to do was cut myself on his spikes and sharp scales. "Great! I managed to kill this cannibal only to get crushed under his dead weight." I let out a groan feeling frustration bubble up inside me.

As I was straining and grunting, a voice cut through the air, booming, "What the hell are you doing right in the middle of the path? Get a move on! If you wanna carry on like that, take it somewhere private. I said, move it! You two gonna just stand there and pretend you don’t hear me?!"

Suddenly, the lifeless lizard was snatched up by the arm, hoisted effortlessly, and flung off the path as if it were as light as a feather. After all that trying to escape out from under the lizard, it was tossed aside with a casual flick, crashing loudly against a nearby tree. The impact was so forceful that if the lizard had been alive, it surely would have been left in quite a state after that encounter.

I took a deep breath, feeling the tension melt away as I stood up. In front of me was a man chiseled from granite, his shoulders broad enough to rival a refrigerator, while I barely reached his chest. His hair tumbled in wild, sun-kissed golden brown curls that cascaded past his shoulders, framing a strong jaw with a neatly trimmed beard. His stormy gray eyes, marked by a striking scar, held a depth that was hard to ignore. A hint of chest hair peeked from beneath his belted tunic, and his arms were so muscular they looked like they could toss boulders with ease. His elegantly pointed ears added an enchanting touch to his already captivating presence. He was undeniably handsome, as if a long-lost god had stepped down from the heavens. The combination of his masculine charm and regal aura was impossible to miss, but what truly drew me in were the magnificent, curved horns on his head.

He glanced at the blood splattered all over my front, his eyes wide as saucers, and charged toward me. "You good?" he barked, yanking my shirt up without a second thought.

I took a deep breath, the tension easing from my chest as I stood up. Grabbing his wrists, I insisted, "I’m okay! This isn’t my blood!" But alas, it was too late; my shirt had been pulled up, revealing more than I intended. Thankfully, I had a bra on, but let’s just say there was a generous amount of cleavage on show!

"KYAAA!" I let go of his wrists and quickly crossed my arms over my chest, my face heating up like a furnace!

"It’s...not your blood."

"Ya think?!"

"How can it not be your blood? Weren’t you two caught in some shady business right out there on the trail?"

"It all hinges on your definition of shady. He was trying to devour me, and I had to defend myself. Honestly, I couldn’t escape his weight; he was just too heavy. I appreciate you pulling him off me, but a little heads-up before yanking up a woman’s shirt would be nice, I remarked, tugging my shirt down with a pointed gesture."

He glanced down, realizing he was still holding my shirt aloft. With a sheepish blush creeping onto his sun-kissed skin, he stepped back, which was oddly endearing given his imposing size. He had that whole sexy Greek god vibe going on like Zeus or Ares. I found myself wanting to run my fingers through his luscious, curly hair and trace the outline of his horns. They glimmered in the sunlight, showcasing those stunning golden highlights, and I was tempted to touch the scar on his eyebrow.

But instead, I focused on adjusting my shirt. "Would you mind helping me get to the village up ahead? I think I might have broken my ankle, and I need to send a message so my beastkin can come to get me."

He glanced at my ankle and let out a frustrated grunt. "I guess I can help you, but once we hit the village, I’m gonna have to leave you behind. Don’t expect a friendly reception; we’re mostly herbivores, and you’ve got that carnivore look about you. I can’t stick around after I drop you off, either. I’ve got to hunt down some eggs for my mate—she’s a weasel beastkin, and eggs are her top pick."

If you’re up for lending a hand, I can offer you these little treasures. I pulled out two raw eggs and presented them to him. "By the way, I’m an omnivore." I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret letting go of two more, but if he could whisk me into town and guide me through the chaos, it would all be worth it. I just need to check off my to-do list and reunite with my group.

He studied my grin, and I suddenly felt self-conscious about my teeth. His eyes widened as he spotted the eggs I was holding before snatching them up. "I’ll happily take these off your hands, lead you into town, drop you at the healer, and even let you use my messenger bird. How does that sound?"

"Yes! Thank you for the help, I really appreciate it."

"Don’t bother with thanks; these eggs are top-notch and the deal’s solid," he grumbled. Then, a glow burst from beneath his skin, and in the blink of an eye, he transformed into a massive, big horned sheep. His presence was grand and imposing, rivaling the size of Kai’s tiger form.

He lowered himself, tucking his legs beneath him until his belly touched the ground. "Climb on my back."

It was my first encounter with a beastkin speaking while in their animal form, and I was utterly taken aback.

Now, I may not be a world-class gymnast, but flipping onto his back was definitely out of my league, especially since he towered over me. Seriously, why were these beastkin men so enormous?!

I circled around him, trying to devise a plan to climb aboard when, without warning, he snagged the back of my shirt with his mouth and stood up. My shirt began to ride up, and I futilely tugged it down, but it was a lost cause. At least it was snugly positioned under my chest. My mind wandered to images of tiny kittens being carried by their mothers by the scruff of their necks. "Why are you lifting me like this? You’re putting my belly on display!"

"Mummu."

I let out an exasperated sigh, crossing my arms in annoyance as he strolled toward the village. After a bit of walking, we arrived at a massive stone wall encircling a sprawling grassy field. At the entrance stood a hefty goat and a fellow sporting short horns atop his head.

He gave them a nod, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of being a snack caught in a giant’s mouth, bobbing up and down while the guards gaped in disbelief. Clearly, they weren’t accustomed to seeing someone who resembled a carnivore being toted around by a colossal sheep. Although they looked utterly flabbergasted, their mouths flapping open and shut like little fish, they didn’t dare stop him or voice any questions.

As we passed through the gate into the village, I was greeted by a vast open field dotted with round huts crafted from slender bamboo strips, woven together like upside-down baskets. The buildings were scattered around a large pond, with fields of lush green grass, wheat, corn, and rice stretching into the distance. On one side, beastkin frolicked in the pond, while on the other, some villagers attempted to catch fish with spears. The deeper end, past some boulders, looked quite intimidating, and I realized this village was predominantly herbivorous, making nighttime excursions unlikely for them.

What if I took a dip in the pond under the cover of darkness? I could manage the transition seamlessly and head straight to the Female Snatching Ritual to rescue Elara.

Yes, it might be wiser to dive right into Duarte Village without looping in Kai first, prioritizing Elara’s safety. He deserved to fret about me after all the worry he put me through regarding her. Elara must be absolutely terrified right now!

Coming Next Time: Emerald Meadows