CHAPTER 39: ARINYA SMELLS LIKE MEAT

*Burp*

I let out a burp as I patted my round belly after stuffing myself with so much meat.

Gosh, I don’t remember when last I ate to my fill.

I ate as much as I could, while leaving a favorable impression on the snow tigers that came to visit.

As for the rest, they could only watch while salivating as we are premium steak. Especially Veyra. Let’s see how she manages to top this, because I’m sure she’s still seeking ways to seem more of a better female than I am.

I watched her pout in the corner, complaining to Ashren and Zevak about how I was stealing the spotlight and how she couldn’t get the attention of the Snow tigers like that.

She was such a wimpy brat who wanted everything to go just as she wanted.

If this had been the past Arinya, she might’ve had her way and Arinya would’ve been humiliated at each turn, but unfortunately for her, I’m her opponent.

There’s no way I’ll lose to a dumb female who has pees for brains in terms of intelligence.

"That was so great." Chief Kasa complimented. "This is the best meat I’ve ever had."

"I agree," Rakan responded, nodding proudly. "Arinya, you really did great this time."

"I’ll acknowledge it," I said and then sniffed my arm.

I smelled like smoke and meat. There’s no way I can sleep like this.

Fenric began to sniff me as well and I blushed.

"What are you doing?"

"You smell delicious, Arinya." He said and I rolled my eyes towards the other side.

He doesn’t have to say it like that with his face so close to mine. It’ll only make me misunderstand.

"I’ll need to clean myself up," I said and he helped me up to my feet.

"I’ll accompany you."

I wanted to dismiss the thought, but then realized it might be dangerous to walk outside the tribe alone.

It was late and it was a long walk towards the lake. I don’t want to get attacked by wolf animals or rogue beastmen on the way.

"Alright, let’s go." I smiled at him and his tail wiggled excitedly behind him.

Rogue beastmen are those beasts that have either been disowned by their spouse or denied their own tribe, just to be free in the wild.

In the sense of those beastmen that denied their tribe, they are highly dangerous as they are not bound by any rules.

But what’s even more dangerous are the ones that have been disowned by their spouse.

They become rogues and don’t just become dangerous beastmen, but kidnappers and rapist.

Since they can no longer get a spouse after being disowned, they have no choice but to force themselves on any female they see to quench their lust.

It’s a pitiful thing and I would prefer never to come in contact with such a rogue.

"Where are you going?" Kaelor, who spotted us heading for the exit of the tribe, asked, and I turned my head to look at him.

I don’t know why each time I see Kaelor, I get this sense of unfamiliarity. He seems so foreign to me that I want to get to know him.

Like I want to get closer to him.

Maybe it’s Arinya’s wish to become close with her brother again, but that doesn’t explain the unfamiliarity I feel in his presence.

"Arinya smells like meat," Fenric said. "But she doesn’t want to smell like meat any longer."

"Hmm," Kaelor got closer and then sniffed me. I nearly retreated my steps but decided to stand still. Not until he sniffed so close that our faces nearly met.

My breath got caught for a second and then I succeeded in retreating my step.

I lowered my gaze, rubbing my arm at the sudden awkwardness.

What was that about?

He’s my brother, right?

So then why is my heart racing?

This seems far from a normal startled heartbeat.

Get it together, Arinya.

Yes, he’s handsome but we’re blood relatives.

"You’re right. She smells like smoke and meat." Kaelor said, drawing his head back. "Do you two want company? It can be dangerous at night outside."

"It...it’s fine," I answered almost immediately, like I couldn’t wait for him to ask already.

I grabbed Fenric’s arm and stuck my body to his, saying,

"Just Fenric is fine."

Kaelor looked at me with a little mixed feeling but decided to let it go.

"Alright then. I’ll inform anyone who asks about you that you went out."

"Yes, much appreciated," I said and then turned. "Let’s go, Fenric."

We walked on but I could still feel Kaelor’s gaze on us. Why was he still staring?

"You don’t seem to have a good relationship with your siblings," Fenric said and I sighed.

"I don’t have a good relationship with anyone from my tribe," I said.

"Mm, it feels odd because whenever Kaelor talks about you, it seems like he knows you like the back of his paw. He’s so excited trying to describe you as incredible and that’s why I got so curious about you." He said and I pursed my lips.

I don’t know why, either.

My memories about Kaelor aren’t complete, so while I know he and Arinya did have a good relationship when they were younger, the fact that they grew apart as they got older due to Kaelor’s frequent absence is all that I can point out about our relationship.

We began walking in the dead of the night with our bodies joined together. I glued my side to Fenric, not because I was scared of anything, I just wanted to hold on to him, ahem.

The coos from the night owls did not make the atmosphere seem any less creepy.

"Are we even going in the right direction?" I muttered and Fenric looked down at me.

"I’d say yes." He answered. "Why? Are you scared?"

"I wish," I said but truth but told, I was indeed scared.

It was so dark with no lights. We were relying solely on our night vision as beasts.

"Arinya," Fenric suddenly called. "When I said I liked a woman who is strong and can do things other males do, I didn’t mean it literally."

"What does that mean?" He looked down at me and smiled.

"It means it wouldn’t be a bad thing if you relied on me." He suddenly stopped walking and stood in front of me, his hand to my neck, brushing softly. "Depend on me and watch me protect you from anything and everything that can harm you."