Ella's Wild Beasts

CHAPTER 16

Ella stood perfectly still in his embrace. Her thoughts were a swirl of questions and denial. After several minutes it was the leopard shifting into the dark man from earlier to pull her back into reality. I already was going with the idea this was a different world. This is just so not what I was expecting. Like I had an idea with what to expect. Fox isn't exactly a fox is he? He said he had a name, so this only makes sense. Oh god! Is why are both the naked men trying to enter my personal space!? No you are a twenty-four year old woman from the twentieth century. Nudity isn't a big deal, you've seen it in movies and in life many times.

   Suddenly a different thought entered her head that made her enraged instead of freaked out and nervous. She pushed Fox to arms length and gave both him and the leopard a death glare that made them stay in their current place. Seeing something akin to fear in their eyes she turned her full attention to Fox. "Could you be in this form the whole time?" He seemed to miss all the social cues and puffed with pride. "No, I was only a level one beast the whole time I wasn't strong enough. When I fought with the leopard I was able to finally pass into the second level which made me strong enough to earn my beastmen form." Suddenly the leopard spoke up, almost sounding indignant. "You're not the only one that got stronger. You didn't even beat me." He smirked. Fox turned with his own smirk. "You didn't beat me either." She saw the cats tail bristle at that but he remained silent. Content he was staying silent Fox nodded and turned back to her. "We tied."

   Feeling more angry Ella huffed. "That's not what's important right now. Are you telling me this whole time you've had the potential to be in this 'beastmen' form?" Confused he answered "Yes." As she stood there trembling in rage and embarrassment her face quickly flushed. "So everytime I bathed and you watched..." she was cut off by a low growl from the leopard she turned to him and replied coldly. "You be quit you're next." Stunned his ears went back and he pointed at himself as she went back to her questioning. "So everytime I bathed and you watch, every time we slept next to each other, everytime you licked my cheek that wasn't a innocent gesture of an animal?" Even more confused he responded. "What do you mean? I've always been a male beastmen? You accepted my food and presence, you even moved into my burrow and showed me affection, with kisses and sharing your food. Are you telling me you didn't know I was a beastmen, and thought I was a normal beast?" "Yes that's exactly what I'm telling you. Where I'm from beast are beast, and men are men." Looking hurt and letting out small whimpers he asked "Does that mean you don't want me around anymore? You don't want to be mates?"

   He looked so devastated and heartbroken in that instant all her rage immediately disappeared. No matter how it was now she couldn't ignore everything he did for her, how close they've gotten, and how she cares for him. No matter what form it seems. It's not his fault really, of course she would know these things if she was from his world. Fox has always been so gently and caring, he could never decieve her. When she saw a tear slip down his cheek she couldn't stand it and nearly broke, she had harmed her dear Fox, his body showed just how far he would go to protect him and she harmed him.

   Her own tears threatening to fall she held her arms open and he cautiously came in for a hug. He's so big. He had to be close to seven feet tall, which dwarfed her five foot ten inches. His chest wasn't to broad, but he seemed to have a toned and narrow body and muscles. "I'm sorry Fox." She murmured while stroking his back. Once again ignoring his naked status. "I don't want you to go. I'm just scared and confused. I'm from somewhere very far away. Things are so so different, but that doesn't change the fact that you always took care of me and are very dear to me." She saw his tail wagging passionately in her peripheral. A gentle growl rumbled his chest and he bent to inhale her scent in her hair and asked in a husky voice. "So does that mean you also want to be my mate?" While talking one hand got a firm grip on her hip, the other started to travel up her stomach towards her breast.

   Suppressing a shiver she stopped his hands and answered. "I don't know what you mean by mates. We didn't have that where I'm from. But we had something similar, we called it marriage. It's when two people where supposed to join each other for life, sickness and health, till death do them part." He purred at her exclamation. "I like the sound of that, but it's somewhat different here. It doesn't have to be forever if the female doesn't want it to be. Males can only have one mate, but it is common practiced and encouraged for females to have more than one mate. She can break the mating bond at any point, but the male can never have another mate." "That's a very serious relationship Fox, I.." "Caius, my sweet flower." "Caius, where I'm from it takes a long time together before couples choose to get married. They need to be sure they both want forever. Also most of the time it's only one male to female. Why is it encouraged to be different here?" Caius let out another soft growl when she said his name. "Because, females are so rare. It's hard for only one male to take proper care and make sure feral males and wild animals don't harm or kill them."

   This wasn't to hard to accept as when she was in high school one of her friends was poly and had very healthy relationships. Modern society was pretty accepting to most sexualities. "Oh, can you give me time. So I can make sure it's forever so I'm never forced to end our bond?" She wasn't sure if she wanted a relationship, but she wouldn't lie to herself and say she wasn't attracted to him and wanted him around. He gave her the sweetest of smiles and gently kissed her cheek. "What about me?" The deep voice broke their little moment. Both their heads snapped to the forgotten leopard. Her anger started to rise again. "Oh? You want to know how I feel about you?" Ella asked with deadly calm, feeling safe with Caius by her side.