Imara Diversifies The Beastmen World

Chapter Thirty One: Fighting Standards for My Love

I dropped Imara off with Queen Memi. She had plans—big ones. She wanted to talk about protection and help from the Queen and King. I wasn't too worried, though. I knew Imara had already won the Queen's heart. Memi trusted her, and so did I.

Since we arrived at the castle, we had been watched. I didn't tell Imara because I didn't want her to worry, but I knew. Every move we made, someone was listening or looking. The Queen wanted to make sure Imara wasn't a threat. I understood, but I didn't like it. Imara was no danger to anyone who treated her right.

Still, I was careful. I made sure to speak in places where no one could hear us—just me and Imara. Our talks were private. I didn't want anyone to twist her words. She already had enough to think about, and I didn't want to add to it. But I could tell Imara knew. She always chose her words carefully, making sure they sounded good to anyone listening.

The talk about needing protection from the kings in the city stuck with me. I trusted Imara to tell me what I needed to know when the time was right. One king she told me about was the Tiger King. I knew him. He was strong, but it was his daughter, Rosa, who caused the real problems. Rosa wanted power. She had her eyes on males like Parker, Muir, and Winston—all strong.

But Rosa wasn't just trouble for them. She was trouble for us too. Winston was the one Imara wanted as a mate. When she chose him, it would make Rosa angry. I was ready for that. I didn't care what Rosa thought. Winston would make our family stronger, and Imara would be safer with him.

Another reason for my actions was the growing attention Imara got from other males. Hiding her wasn't an option; she stood out too much. Her beauty, strength, and kindness made her special. I knew she would be noticed sooner or later, and I couldn't stop that. What I could do was protect her while I worked on getting stronger myself.

I never doubted my place in her heart. I wasn't afraid to face any male who thought otherwise. Beastmen understood how things worked: males had to respect another male's mate. If they didn't, they faced the consequences. With Imara, I made sure everyone knew the rules.

Beastmen also understood that a male who wanted a female would wait for her, no matter how long it took. I used that to my advantage. The males around Imara could wait and watch, but they couldn't step out of line. I didn't give them hope, but I didn't chase them off because their presence helped keep her safe. They wouldn't risk anything happening to her.

Many males hoped to approach her again once she reopened guardianship. They wanted to join our family. They saw how Imara treated those she cared about—her love, kindness, and loyalty—and they wanted that for themselves.

But there were rules, and John broke them.

What happened with John by the lake helped me set the rules. Imara had already shown she wouldn't allow bad behavior. She stood strong and didn't let John's aggression scare her. She handled it with fire and firmness, and everyone saw it.

After we left the lake, Steve stepped in to deal with John. He didn't yell or argue. He just said, "John, come out of the lake now." John came out slowly, his ears down, looking guilty. Steve didn't say another word. He just acted. I didn't need to watch; I could hear enough to know what was happening.

I made sure Imara couldn't hear anything. The guys agreed. That wasn't something she needed to deal with.

The next day, I planned to talk to John myself. I needed to make sure he really understood what he did and what it meant. Protecting Imara wasn't just about stopping one male; it was about showing everyone what was and wasn't acceptable. I wouldn't let anyone think they could get away with disrespecting her—or me.

to make sure everyone understood the consequences. If I didn't correct John, others might think I was weak-willed. They might believe they could pressure me without a fight, undermining both the Queen's protection and Imara's standards.