Baby System: I'm the Beast World's Only Hope!-Chapter 91: Episode : Giving Torian a Chance

[SYSTEM ALERT: CRITICAL EVENT IMMINENT]

[Mission: The Tiger’s Rut]

Context: The Red Moon is rising. King Torian is a High-Tier Alpha. His Rut is not just a biological need; If he is not sated tonight, you will not be able to survive.

Objective: Sate the Tiger King.

Success Reward: Access to the Golden Citadel’s resources + Tiger King’s Allegiance + 100,000 LP.

Failure Consequence: King Torian goes Feral. He will slaughter the intruders (Your Husbands) and claim the Mother by force. Your children will be... collateral damage.

[Accept] / [Decline (Death)]

Roxy stared at the screen, her blood turning to cold.

System, she hissed internally. Are you telling me I have to sleep with him? Or everyone dies?

[System Admin: Look, I don’t make the rules of biology, honey. I just gamify them. The Cat needs a scratching post. You’re the only post in town that won’t break.]

[GoddessofLove: Oh, don’t be such a prude! He’s gorgeous. Have you seen those abs? It’s a win-win!]

[TheSassyGoddess: Shut up, War. Roxy, listen. The Tiger is stronger than your boys right now because he’s on his home turf and they are fighting the Rut. If a fight breaks out, you lose. Tactical seduction is your only play.]

Roxy gripped the edge of the vanity, her knuckles white. "Tactical seduction," she whispered bitterly. "It’s called prostitution to save my family."

[System Admin: Potay-to, Potah-to. Survival is survival. The Banquet starts in five minutes. Fix your hair.]

The screen vanished.

Roxy stared at herself. She looked like a prize wrapped in foil. She felt sick. But then she looked toward the balcony where Drax and the twins were playing under the watchful eye of a Kaelen and she was determined.

"I won’t let them die," she whispered.

She turned to the door.

***

The banquet hall was designed to intimidate.

The ceiling was a fresco of Tigers hunting lesser beasts. The table was a long, polished slab of obsidian. Torian sat at the head on a throne of gold and ivory, looking every inch the benevolent dictator.

He stood when Roxy entered, flanked by Zarek and Kaelen.

"My Lady," Torian purred, his eyes raking over the gold dress. "You outshine the sun."

He ignored the two men behind her completely.

Zarek was vibrating. He wore his robe, but his hands were clenched into fists at his sides. Kaelen was worse; his pupils were dilated, and a low, constant growl was rumbling in his chest. The Rut was scratching at their minds, and being in the presence of a rival Alpha was making it unbearable.

"Sit," Torian commanded, gesturing to the chair to his right.

Roxy sat. Zarek and Kaelen sat opposite her, glaring at Torian.

The food was brought out by silent servants. Platters of roasted fowl, exotic fruits, and wines that smelled of flowers.

"I trust the palace is to your liking?" Torian asked, pouring Roxy a glass of wine himself.

"It’s very... nice," Roxy said diplomatically. "Thank you for the hospitality."

"It is the least I could do," Torian smiled, taking a sip of his wine. "To rescue a jewel from the mud."

Zarek’s fork bent in half. Snap.

"We did not rescue her from mud," Kaelen snarled, his voice tight, he was never the quiet one. "We built a home in the Iron-Wood. It is strong."

Torian finally looked at Kaelen. He looked at him with an expression of mild amusement mixed with pity.

"Strong?" Torian chuckled. "A log cabin in a poison forest? Surrounded by insects and rot? That is not a home, Dragon. That is a kennel."

Kaelen slammed his fist onto the table. The obsidian didn’t crack, but the plates jumped.

"It is a home because she is there," Kaelen growled, his fangs elongating. "We keep her safe. What do you do, Cat? You hide behind walls and let your guards do the fighting."

The guards lining the room stepped forward, hands on their swords.

Torian held up a hand, stopping them.

"I hide behind nothing," Torian said softly. His blue eyes began to glow. "I built civilization. I built laws. I built a world where the Mother does not have to fear the cold. What can you offer her, Wolf? A dead rabbit? A drafty room?"

He leaned forward, his gaze locking onto Roxy.

"Look at her. She is wearing my gold. She fits here. She does not fit in the dirt with you."

"I bought this dress," Roxy lied quickly, trying to defuse the bomb. "And I like the dirt. It’s... grounding."

"You are kind," Torian said, reaching out to cover her hand with his. His skin was burning hot—the Rut fever was hitting him too. "But you are lying. I can smell your fear, Roxy. You are terrified of them."

He pointed a manicured finger at her husbands.

"Look at them. They are barely holding on. The Red Moon is rising, and they are seconds away from tearing this room apart. They are dangerous to you."

"They would never hurt me," Roxy defended, pulling her hand away.

"Not on purpose," Torian agreed. "But when the madness takes them? When they become Feral? They will break you. You are human. You are soft. You cannot survive a Dragon’s Rut."

He stood up, towering over the table.

"But I... I have control. I have discipline."

Roxy looked at Torian. His pupils were blown wide. He was sweating slightly at the temples. He wasn’t in control; he was just desperate.

"So," Torian said, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper. "I offer you a choice. Tonight, the Moon reaches its peak."

He looked at Zarek and Kaelen with pure contempt.

"Send the beasts to the barracks. Let them chain themselves up and scream at the walls. And you... you come with me."

Zarek stood up, his chair crashing backward. They knew that this was what Torian wanted to do from the start!

"I will kill you!" Zarek roared, the sound shaking the room. "She goes nowhere with you!"

Before everything would blow over, Roxy stood up!

"Stop!" Roxy screamed, she looked between them. "Don’t hurt them!"

"I am not hurting them," Torian said calmly, though his hands were inches from commanding his men. "They are making me angry. And I hate being angry."

He walked around the table until he stood in front of Roxy. He loomed over her.

"They cannot satisfy you tonight, Roxy."

Roxy rolled her eyes, a curse hanging at the tip of her tone. But she sided say it.

He leaned down, whispering in her ear.

"Sate my Rut, and I will let them live. I will give them the supplies they need. I will let you leave in the morning."

He pulled back, his eyes black voids of need.

"Refuse me... and I will kill them right now while they are pinned to the floor. And then I will take you anyway."

If she said no, they died. If she said no, her children would be orphans. If she said no, the System would fail her.

She looked at Torian. He was a monster wrapped in silk. But he was a monster she could handle.

[Mission: The Tiger’s Rut]

[Choice Required.]

Roxy took a deep breath. She shut off her heart. She shut off her fear. And decided to use do it and be done with it.

"Fine." She breathed.

She looked Torian in the eye.

"Send them to the guest rooms. Lock them in if you have to. But do not hurt them."

Torian smiled. It was the smile of a predator who had just caught its prey.

"And you?" Torian asked.

Roxy stepped forward, placing her hand on his chest.

"I’m coming with you," she whispered.

"You dont have to do it if you don’t want to!" Kaelen suddenly said he was hurting inside but he knew that she had made her choice.

"Don’t worry I will be fine." Roxy breathed.

Torian barked at the soldiers. "Escort the guests to the West Wing. Ensure they are... comfortable."

Zarek, and Kaelen was escorted away.

Roxy stood alone in the banquet hall with the Tiger King.

Torian offered his arm.

"Shall we?" he asked, his voice trembling with anticipation.

Roxy took his arm. And prayed his stamina and dick was so small she wouldn’t even feel a thing.

"Lead the way, Your Majesty," she said, flashing a sharp, dangerous smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "Let’s see if you can handle what you asked for."

[System Admin: Mission Accepted. Good luck, player. You’re gonna need it.]