Help! I transmigrated to a Beast World-Chapter 74: Social Distancing: Alpha Edition

Night had fallen.

Xin Yi sat in yet another room while female wolves fussed over her. Combing her hair, applying oils to her skin, dressing her in silk

She felt nothing

Qing Lin’s face kept flashing in her mind. His tears. His broken voice. His desperate kiss. "Lift your arms," one of the females said.

She lifted her arms mechanically. They slipped a soft and flowing dress over her head. It was the color of midnight blue with silver embroidery that caught the light.

It was beautiful.

She hated it.

"The Alpha will be pleased," another female whispered.

"She is very lucky," a third one muttered, her tone filled with bitterness and jealousy.

"To be chosen so quickly—"

"She does not even appreciate it—"

"ENOUGH." The older female from earlier—the one who had given her the Moonpetal lotus—stepped forward. "The Alpha chose her. That is final. Now finish preparing her."

They finished in silence.

When Xin Yi finally looked in the mirror, she barely recognized herself.

The dress hugged her curves. Her hair fell in soft waves down her back. Her skin glowed from the oils.

She looked like a bride.

She felt like a corpse.

[DING! (⁠╯⁠︵⁠╰⁠,⁠)]

[Host’s appearance: 10/10]

[Host’s emotional state: 0/10]

[This is very sad

Two females led her through corridors. White stone walls. Torches casting flickering shadows. Other wolves stopped to stare as they passed.

Males looking hungry. Females looking envious.

Then someone stepped out from a side corridor.

A female. Tall. Silver fur. Gray eyes that Xin Yi recognized from the announcement hall. The one who had looked like she wanted to murder her.

She smirked. "So. You are the Alpha’s latest toy."

Xin Yi said nothing in response, she just kept walking.

"I am Zi Jue, the female continued, falling into step beside them. "First female of the Alpha’s harem. I have been with him for three years."

Still, Xin Yi said nothing.

"Three YEARS," ​Zi Jue repeated, her voice getting sharper. "And you think you can just arrive and take my place? You? An outsider? A marked female who reeks of snake and panther?"

The escorts tried to intervene. "​Zi Jue please—"

"Quiet!" She grabbed Xin Yi’s arm. "Look at me when I speak to you, toy!"

Xin Yi’s head turned slowly.

Her eyes were dead and filled with nothing. But a rage was beginning to stir up in her chest.

"The Alpha will break you," Zi Jue hissed. "He will use you and discard you like all the others. You are nothing special. Just another—"

SMACK.

Xin Yi slapped her.

The sound echoed through the corridor. Zi Jue stumbled back, her hand flying to her cheek. Shocked. Furious.

"You—you DARE—"

Xin Yi’s expression shifted, her eyes going completely cold. She looked irritated.

"I do not have time for this, she-wolf. I do not wish to be here any more than you want me to be here," she said. Her voice was emotionless. "Move, unless you want to test my slowly developing killer instincts."

[DING! (⊙_⊙)]

[Host has entered ’Done With Everything’ mode!]

[Threat Level: MAXIMUM!]

[Zi Jue is about to get DESTROYED!]

Zi Jue screamed. "How DARE you! I will—I will—"

She raised her hand to strike back—

"What is this?"

Another voice came, and everyone turned.

A female stepped out from the shadows. She was......barely dressed. A sheer silk robe that left very little to imagination. Long black hair. Golden eyes. Curves that would make any male stare.

She looked at the scene with raised eyebrows.

"The Alpha is waiting," she said. "And here you are, Zi Jue, making a scene."

"She slapped me!" Yún Xī pointed at Xin Yi. "This outsider—"

"I am sure it was deserved." The scantily-clad female waved her hand dismissively. "Now move. The Alpha does not like to be kept waiting."

Zi Jue looked like she wanted to argue. But the other female’s tone left no room for discussion. She shot Xin Yi one last venomous look, then stormed off.

The scantily-clad female turned to Xin Yi, her expression softening.

"Come," she said gently. "I will take you to him."

The escorts bowed and left.

Xin Yi followed the female down the corridor.

"I am Měi Lán," the female said as they walked. "Second female of the Alpha’s harem."

Xin Yi said nothing.

"I know what you are thinking," Měi Lán continued. Her voice was sad. Understanding. "You are thinking ’how do I escape? How do I get away from this place?’"

Xin Yi’s eyes flicked to her. "And?"

"And I am very sorry." Měi Lán’s smile was bitter. "Sha Chen is......cruel like that. He takes what he wants. Keeps what he wants. Discards what he does not."

"Then why do you stay?"

"Because he took me from my wolf tribe two years ago." Měi Lán’s hands clenched. "Killed my mate. My family. Brought me here and said ’you are mine now.’ What choice did I have?"

Xin Yi’s chest tightened. "I am sorry."

"Do not be. I have learned to... adapt." Měi Lán looked at her. "Do you wish to escape?"

"Yes," Xin Yi said honestly.

Měi Lán smiled sadly. "I used to wish that too. Every day. Every night. I would dream of running away. Of finding freedom."

"And now?"

"Now?" Měi Lán gestured around. At the beautiful corridors. The advanced architecture. The civilization. "Now I have accepted my fate. Because as cruel as Sha Chen is... he offers something no other tribe can. Knowledge. Advancement. Civilization." She looked at Xin Yi. "Is that so wrong? To choose comfort over freedom?"

Xin Yi wanted to say yes. Wanted to say that freedom was worth everything. Worth any hardship.

But she remembered the Beast World. The constant danger. The primitive living. The struggle to survive.

And she said nothing.

They reached a door.

It was massive. Made of dark wood, and carved with intricate designs.

Měi Lán stopped. "This is where I leave you."

"What is inside?"

"The Alpha’s private chambers." Měi Lán’s expression was sympathetic. "I am sorry, Xin Yi. I truly am. But.....try to survive. That is all any of us can do."

She walked away.

Xin Yi stood alone in front of the door.

It opened.

Slowly. Ominously....

The room beyond was.....overwhelming to say the least. Red lighting. Seductive. Coming from lanterns with colored glass.

There was silk everywhere. Draped from the ceiling. Hanging from the walls. Covering the massive bed in the center.

The bed.

It was HUGE. Covered in furs and silks and pillows, and surrounded by sheer veils that moved gently in some unseen breeze.

It looked like something from the erotic novels Xin Yi had read briefly before her transmigration.

[DING! (⊙_⊙)]

[This room is... .wow]

[Very, uh, prepared]

Suddenly, there was movement behind the veils.

A figure rose from the bed. Tall. Muscular.

Sha Chen.

He stepped through the veils.

And Xin Yi’s breath caught.

He was...well he was barely dressed. He just had the loose silk pants that hung low on his hips. His chest was bare. All those muscles on full display. His white-and-black fur patterns looking almost artistic in the red light.

His white eyes glowed.

"My bride," he said. His voice was low.

The door closed behind Xin Yi with a soft CLICK.

She stood her ground.

"I will not mate with you," she said flatly, not missing a beat.

Sha Chen blinked. "What?"

"I will not mate with you," she repeated. "You said I had to join your harem. You never said anything about mating."

Xin Yi thought the Alpha would lash out in anger, but to her shock, he burst into laughter.

"Clever," he said, his white eyes sparkling with what looked like delight. "Very clever. As expected from an ’other.’"

[DING! (¬‿¬)]

[Host found a loophole!]

[Technicality for the win!]

He stepped closer. "Very well. I did only say ’join my harem.’ I did not specify......activities."

Relief flooded through her.

"Then—"

"But," he interrupted, "you will still entertain me. Come. Sit with me."

"I will do no such thing," she said immediately.

His white eyes narrowed. "You refuse?"

"Yes."

"You cannot still be sad about that snake king." His lip curled. "He is weak. Pathetic. What does he offer you that I cannot?"

"Do not speak of him that way," Xin Yi snapped, shocked by how much vitriol her voice managed to contain.

Sha Chen looked......shocked. His eyebrows rose. "You dare command me?"

"I dare tell you to keep his name out of your mouth, yes."

They stared at each other.

Then Sha Chen smiled slowly.

"Hmm. Very well. I will not speak of the snake." He gestured to a cushioned seating area near the bed. "Now come. Sit with me."

Xin Yi looked at the seating area.

Then at Sha Chen.

Then walked over.

And sat on the FARTHEST cushion. As far from him as physically possible while still technically "sitting with him."

[DING! (≧▽≦)]

[COMEDIC GOLD!]

[Host is sitting like 10 feet away!]

[Sha Chen’s face is PRICELESS!]

Sha Chen looked at her. At the massive gap between them. At the way she had curled up on the edge of the cushion like she was ready to bolt.

Then he started laughing again.

"You," he said, shaking his head, "are going to be very interesting to have around."

He moved to sit down.

On HIS cushion.

Making no attempt to close the distance. He decided to just looked at her across the gap with his glowing white eyes. Amused. Intrigued. Impressed.

"Tell me," he said. "What shall we talk about, my reluctant bride?"