Imara Diversifies The Beastmen World

Chapter Thirty Four: Harvey's Beastmen Mark

I could hardly believe last night was real. Yet, as I looked down at my love, there she was, curled up beside me, naked and peacefully asleep.

She had fallen into a deep sleep not long after we finished, tired from everything we shared. I stayed awake for a while, feeling both awe and guilt for losing control. I didn't have emeralds to help her recover fully, but I did have a good supply of transparent crystals. They weren't as potent, but they would help with any pain, fatigue, or lingering grogginess.

I gently fed her a few crystals, ensuring she stayed asleep. I had collected these crystals over time, mostly from helping females in their last month of pregnancy or those who were very sick. I also gathered them during my travels when stronger beastmen hunted Giant Beasts for strength, not for their crystals. I always took what was left behind. Sharing knowledge with other villages also brought rewards, including crystals like these.

She didn't wake up as I prepared a bath, washed her body, and changed the furs. There had been some blood from last night, but I didn't panic. I knew it was normal for a female's first time. Still, I felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility to care for her.

I didn't immediately think to check for my mark. I was too lost in the awe of her, holding her in the tub, and feeling an overwhelming love that filled every part of me. I probably should've dressed her after cleaning her up, but I couldn't bring myself to. I wanted to take in her beauty, her softness, her warmth. It was selfish, but I couldn't help it. She was perfect.

Her rich brown skin seemed to glow even in the dim light, her dark hair cascading around her like a frame for her beauty. Every part of her was stunning, but her softness stood out to me the most. My favorite feature, outside of her smile, was her stomach.

I couldn't resist laying my head on it. It was soft and pudgy, comforting in a way I couldn't explain. I rubbed it gently, feeling a strange sense of peace and joy as I held her. Eventually, I drifted off to sleep, content and deeply in love.

This morning, my curiosity got the better of me. I knew where my mark would appear, but I hadn't yet looked for it. Quietly, I searched her body. When my eyes finally found it, I froze.

There it was—my mark. Me, in my leopard form, lying peacefully with my head resting on my front paws, guarding her heart. It was placed perfectly on the curve of her breast, right over her heart.

I was shocked. Part of it was anxiety about where the mark was located, even though I knew she loved me with all her heart. But mostly, it was because beastmen marks aren't usually in color. Most are just a grayish outline of the beast. Only a few marks show color, and that's usually for creatures like snakes or peacocks.

Even then, it's usually just a simple silhouette with some color. But this... this was lifelike, in full color, and much bigger than normal marks. My heart felt like it was about to burst. What did this mean? Did she love me that deeply? Was her love for me this strong? Did the Beast God place his blessing on her specifically?

I stumbled, a chill running through me. A lump formed in my throat, and my chest felt tight. Anxiety filled me. I wanted to wake her up and ask her about it, but I held back. She needed her rest. Instead, I busied myself by making her food and getting her products and clothes ready for when she woke up.

My mind wandered endlessly, lost in thoughts I couldn't quite settle.

As I stirred awake, the smell of food reached me, and I braced myself, expecting my body to ache after the intensity of last night. While it had been pleasurable in so many ways, it was also painful. But to my surprise, there was only a small lingering ache, nothing unbearable. In fact, I felt refreshed.