CHAPTER 42: WHO’S CRYING?

After my words, a brief silence fell on us. I began to feel uneasy and uncertain.

Did I bring it up too fast? I shouldn’t have rushed.

The longer the silence drew, the more uncertain I became and I decided to just take it that he wasn’t ready for it yet.

"Let’s just forget it for now," I said. "You probably need time to think about it, right?"

I began to float back, my hand slowly slipping away from his reach.

"I shouldn’t try to force you on anything you don’t want to—"

"I accept." He answered which made the words hook in my throat.

I gulped.

Did I hear that right?

"You... You don’t have to rush to answer. This is such a big deal." I said, but he shook his head, pulling me over so I wouldn’t be out of reach any longer.

"I’m not rushing." He said. "I thought it through for as long as I needed to, and I decided I would rather spend my time traveling around with you than staying in my tribe as the next chief."

"Still, you just can’t..."

"My father is still young." He said, waving away any of my concern. "And I have a younger brother as well. He can take up the position as chief when the time comes since he has no plans of leaving the tribe."

"Still—"

I just couldn’t believe that he would make such a big decision so easily. Did I push him too hard? I hope I didn’t make a mistake.

I bit my lip, feeling worried but he pressed his thumb on my chin, and then on my lips, freeing it from my teeth.

"I told you not to do that." He said but I threw my gaze away, still worried.

Isn’t he being too rash?

"Arinya, the moment I grew interested in you, I wanted to do a lot of things with you." He began to say. "Knowing you weren’t a weak female who would need excessive pampering, especially on a journey, was one of the things I was happy about. If you had a body that could travel miles and you didn’t stay throwing unnecessary tantrums, then that meant I could go places with you. It meant I could see more of the world with you. With that in mind, did you think I planned to stay in the tribe forever?"

I looked at him, speechless. He already had such a plan?

"Of course, I didn’t plan to stay out forever and would come back to my tribe at some point but it’s not much different from what you want. And you’ve also given me a reason not to return as well, so I don’t want to come back. After all, the place where my spouse is, is where my home is. Isn’t that so?"

My heart began to thump. Thundering louder and louder as it reminded me that the men in this world were a different breed from the men in my world.

No, more than that, the fact that a man was willing to give up his future position as chief and venture into the unknown, just to be with the girl he likes, just to start a new family with her... It brings me to tears that I start to wonder... Isn’t this too much as a consolation from the world?

Did I truly deserve to have such a man?

Maybe Arinya did but I...

I sniffed and Fenric’s eyes widened.

"Arinya, what’s wrong? Are you crying?"

"Who’s crying?" I snapped back. "I just got water in my eyes, okay?" I sank in deeper until the water covered my nose, leaving only my eyes out.

To have a man who could sacrifice all just to be with you... What a blessing I have been bestowed with.

"You mean every word you say?" I asked, raising my body slightly so I could speak.

"Yes, I mean it. I never go back on my words."

"You like me that much?"

"Yes, I like Arinya a lot." He said, showing his full set of teeth with his smile while his tail whipped the water behind him. "What about Arinya? Do you like me?"

I looked away, blushing.

"Yeah, I like you," I said and he hugged me, pressing my face to his chest.

"That’s great. Then, can I mark you now?" He asked and I flinched.

Wait, hold on.

We’re still on probation.

I wanted to object. I wanted to stop him and say to give it more time but as I looked at those excited Ruby eyes and remembered what he had just said, I felt my heart thumping in excitement, feeling he didn’t need to continue with the probation.

I already knew what he felt about me.

I already knew how much he could do for me.

Besides, marking me was no more than caging himself to me. So, even if he does go back on his word later, he would be the only one to suffer from the disownment.

I do hope it never comes to that.

I... I like Fenric a lot.

"Alright," I said, blushing. "You can mark me."

A marking happens when both sides are in consent.

If not, the moment Damar bit my ear in our first encounter, he would’ve marked me out of his own will and could risk getting disowned right away.

And a marking was just like a lifelong bond.

A male can only mark a female once in their lifetime, and that’s the female they has children with. That’s why males do all they can to please their female and not get disowned.

"I’m starting now," Fenric said, getting closer and I swear I could hear his heart beat.

He was just as excited.

"Where... Where do you want me to leave my mark?" He asked and I gulped.

A marking was like a tattoo, right?

Then, for this handsome snow tiger...

"Here," I said, pointing between my boobs and blushing heavily. "M-mark me here." I stuttered.

It’s not like I was intending to hide the mark. It was a good thing to show off one’s markings, but I... Never mind. Let’s just get this over with.

"Then, I’ll start," Fenric said and then held me from behind, while his other hand positioned lightly on my neck.

He opened his mouth and then but down on my chest.

I squinted, biting my lip as a sweet sensation filled me.

So, this was the marking process. It felt... Good.