Transmigrating to the BeastWorld,I Picked Up an Adorable BeastHusband!-Chapter 18: he has always been greedy since young
The bath, long and torturous finally came to an end.
Ningning washed the clothes she had worn earlier, scrubbing them carefully before wringing them dry and placing them neatly back into the basket.
By the time she finished, the sky had fully darkened.
She and Weijie walked back toward the settlement together, hand in hand.
Torches lined the paths now, their flames flickering and throwing long shadows against stone and bark.
There were not many people out at this hour, only a few figures lingering near the fire pits, and as usual, most of them were men.
Weijie’s hand tightened around hers.
He did not loosen his grip even once.
Ningning noticed but said nothing.
Instead, she leaned a little closer to him as they walked, comforted by his presence and the steady warmth of his palm.
When they reached the cave, her gaze went immediately to the curtain hanging over the entrance.
It shifted too easily with the breeze, it was as thin as it was unreliable.
Anyone could push it aside.
We need a door, she thought uneasily, but that would be tomorrow’s problem.
Inside, she placed the basket on the stone table and noticed several natural protrusions along the cave wall. She used them to hang the damp clothes, spacing them carefully so they could dry overnight.
When she turned around, Weijie was already preparing the bed.
It was simple.
Layers of animal skin arranged with care, but thin enough that she doubted how comfortable it would be.
She hesitated, then decided not to comment.
"Come and lie down.." Weijie said softly. "I will watch you while you sleep."
She nodded, adjusted the curtain one last time, then walked over and lay down beside him.
The moment her body touched the bedding, regret hit her immediately.
The ground beneath was hard, and the cold seeped through the thin skins straight into her bones. It was far from comfortable, miles away from anything she would call a proper bed.
Still, it was better than sleeping on bare stone.
Weijie shifted without a word, offering his arm beneath her head. She accepted it instinctively, nestling closer.
His fingers moved through her hair in slow, gentle motions, unhurried and careful. Perhaps this was his way of coaxing her to sleep.
Exhaustion claimed her quickly.
Weijie watched her for a long moment.
This female, precious and warm in his arms, was his mate.
And she did not dislike him.
The thought made his heart race.
But the night was colder than either of them expected.
As time passed, Ningning stirred in her sleep. Her body curled inward, shoulders trembling faintly.
"khh..."
"chh..."
Soft, broken sounds slipped from her lips, teeth chattering lightly as if she were caught in a dream of ice.
Weijie woke instantly.
She was shivering.
Even though she had not fully awakened, her body trembled uncontrollably.
"Are you cold, my love?" he murmured, concern flooding his voice. "Do not worry. I will keep you warm."
Without hesitation, his body shifted.
Scales replaced skin in a smooth, silent motion as he transformed into his true form.
He carefully wrapped himself around her, his coils gentle and protective, radiating warmth as he drew her closer.
Almost immediately, her trembling eased.
Her breathing evened out.
But Weijie did not return to sleep.
His head lifted slightly, tongue flicking once as his senses sharpened.
At the entrance of the cave, beyond the thin curtain, a presence lingered.
Cold.
Unfamiliar.
Faint gleam of ice blue eyes shone in the darkness.
A low hiss escaped Weijie’s throat, soft but deadly.
"Leave my cave at once.." he warned quietly. "Or I will tear you to pieces."
The ice blue eyes vanished as suddenly as they had appeared.
The cave returned to silence, broken only by the soft crackle of dying embers and the steady rhythm of Ningning’s breathing.
Weijie did not relax.
He remained coiled around her, body warm and unmoving, his head slightly lifted as he listened to the night.
Every sound outside, every shift of air, was catalogued and weighed.
Only when he was certain the presence was gone did he lower his head beside her.
Still, he did not sleep.
He watched over his mate until the darkness thinned and the night slowly surrendered to dawn.
Elsewhere, deep within another cave, firelight danced across stone walls etched with old markings.
An eagle’s screech pierced the night.
Once.
Then again.
A gust of wind swept into the cave, carrying with it the scent of the sky. A tall figure stepped forward from the shadows, his long black hair falling down his back like a dark curtain.
Where his left eye should have been had white skin, a stark pale patch surrounded it, like a reversed panda marking.
He had no hands.
In their place were folded wings, it’s feathers dark and powerful.
"You sent for me," he said calmly.
Numa looked up from where he sat and smiled.
"You have grown, Hauk," he said warmly. "You are just as tall as Weijie now."
Hauk inclined his head slightly, his sharp gaze steady.
"...Did you call me here to speak about him?"
Numa nodded and reached for four thin wooden slates, their surfaces etched with carefully carved symbols.
He held them out.
"Weijie’s bonding ceremony will take place in three days.." Numa said. "I would like you to deliver these invitations."
Hauk stepped forward, wings shifting as he accepted them.
"To Loki of the Wolf tribe." Numa continued. "To Runa of the Bear tribe. To Jari of the Fox tribe. And to your father, Kori. Though I trust he will send you in his stead."
Hauk stared at the slates in silence.
Weijie had a mate?
That alone was enough to stun him.
"I will inform them," he said finally. "I did not think Weijie would choose a mate so soon. What made him decide?"
Numa’s smile deepened, something fond and knowing in his expression.
"Weijie has always been greedy since he was young," Numa replied calmly. "He does not like to share. He did not wish to compete for the females within the tribe, nor to lose what he claims as his own. So he went out and found her himself."
He paused then smiled.
"I know he will cherish her."
Hauk’s expression softened. He nodded once, then bowed slightly.
"I will deliver the invitations accordingly," he said. "Uncle."
