Reborn as a Side Character in the Beastworld

Lemon Layered Cake

I had cried myself to sleep but woke some time in the middle of the night still sandwiched between two of my mates. Lance stroked my cheek when he saw my eyes open. He didn't look his usual lethargic self tonight.

"Winston?" I asked. I couldn't feel the tiger and wondered if he was even in the room.

"Sleeping in the living room with Kit." Lance answered in a low whisper.

Harvey shifted his position behind me, propping himself up on an elbow. He brushed his fingers through my loose hair. "How are you feeling."

After drinking, crying, inhaling smoke and crying some more, it was no wonder I had a headache and the doc had picked up on that. "A little headache but it isn't bad."

He sat up and grabbed something from the side of the mattress. "Here drink this. It will help."

I sat up and did as he said. It was a cold concoction of peppermint and lavender. A weird combination, but effective. It eased my raw throat, and the scent took the edge off my headache.

Harvey started to massage my shoulders and I couldn't help but moan as his warm hands worked away the tension of the day.

Lance smiled up at me from his still laying position, head on his arm. "Don't make noises like that unless you don't want to go back to sleep tonight."

I just looked at him. The anxiety in my heart blocked my ability to absorb the humor.

When I didn't reply, he sat up looking worried. "Who do I need to kill so I never have to see that look on your face again?"

I couldn't look him in the eyes. "I... I screwed up." I bit my lip. I was supposed to take things slow and careful. But I'd been weak and now there would be a target on all our backs. "I lost my reason. When I recognized the tree for what it was, all I could see were all the people who had died and would die because of it. I could smell the slowly rotting bodies of my family. I couldn't just let it be. And now... I've made an enemy of the Ape King. If he comes after us, it will be all my fault."

Harvey spoke as his fingers continued to soothe my tension. "From what you have told us of the future, the Ape King uses those who are stupid and targets those who are strong. With Winston as your mate, we were already his enemies, and after burning the tree, he knows you aren't stupid." He said trying to make it sound as though not much had changed by my actions but also not giving me empty reassurances.

I slumped a little more, but Lance placed a finger under my chin forcing me to look at him. He smiled. "All of that may be true, but you were wise to tell all the wolves and apes in the castle what that tree was. He won't be able to hide the truth and the rumors will spread. If anyone ends up getting poisoned in the future, they will automatically blame the Ape King for not properly disposing of the tree. If he is as smart as you say, he won't be able to come after us easily as the city will see you as a hero. You've taken away one of his best tools and possibly saved countless beasts from a horrible death."

I searched his face for any falsehood and when I didn't find any, I thought over his words for a moment. In this world power is determined by strength. Might makes right. The Ape King is king because he has unique skills and is intelligent, but he isn't physically strong like the other kings. He won't be able to show open animosity if we have most of the city's populace on our side. 

Qingqing was an easy target because, besides her males, she had very few allies. Even the Leopard King didn't openly help her. She was also easily vilified because of how different she was. I might have memories of a past life, but I have lived twenty years as a fox female in this one.

I wondered if the Ape King ever did get his third stripe and a strand of my hair, what would he even see?

"Still worried? Should I just go kill him?"