Imara Diversifies The Beastmen World

Chapter Sixty Two: Assumptions....

As I comforted Bai Qingqing, wiping her tears with a cloth, I asked gently, "What are you going to do about Parker?"

She sat up slowly, her face clouded with frustration. "I only want one mate, Imara. I don't want to waste his time. He can be a friend... or a brother to me, but that's it."

I sighed, understanding where she was coming from. "I get it, but you'll have to come to terms with how things are now. This world is different. Yes, we need males for safety, but we still have the choice to pick the right ones. It's inevitable when it comes to multiple mates."

Bai Qingqing hugged her knees, her voice small but firm. "Back home, there's no such thing as multiple partners like this. It's one person. One relationship. That's what feels right to me." She paused, staring into the distance. "I don't understand how I'm supposed to get used to this. It's... overwhelming."

Before I could tell her I understood her feelings, her expression hardened as she hugged her knees tighter. "Imara, I'm not you. I can't just accept this so easily." She looked at me, her voice quieter but still sharp. "I really just want to go home. I don't want to deal with any of this. And I can't—" she hesitated, her tone tinged with discomfort. "I can't have several males like you do. Harvey, Gabriel... those four guys. All in such a short time. It doesn't feel right. That's just not me."

Normally, a comment like that would have struck a nerve, but I took a deep breath, staying calm. "Bai Qingqing," I said evenly, "the first man I ever fell in love with, the first I ever slept with, is Harvey." I pointed to the mate mark on my shoulder, the only one.

Her wide eyes blinked in surprise. "Really?!"

I nodded, giving her time to absorb it. "Yes. And Gabriel is my guardian. I set terms. A male has to court me properly, and we have to genuinely like each other for it to go anywhere. If we don't match, we call it quits, plain and simple."

She looked down, her expression softening, but I wasn't done. "Those four guys? They're just my friends. I'm not racking up mates like it's nothing. Everything I'm doing is intentional. I'm building something—we're building something—together."

Her face turned thoughtful as I continued. "Don't jump to conclusions about me, Qingqing. If you don't know the truth, take the time to ask and look closer. That goes for anyone—not just me. You can't live by assumptions here."

She swallowed, her gaze dropping to her hands. I saw the wheels turning in her mind, and I hoped my words would plant a seed of understanding.

She looked at me with a mix of astonishment and guilt.

"I'm sorry, Imara. I shouldn't have said that. I was just making assumptions based on what I saw."

I waved off her apology, though my frustration lingered. "I hope you keep that same energy when dealing with Parker, Curtis, or any other male."

I paused for emphasis, locking eyes with her. "And for the record, I'm twenty-eight. So you tell me—who really took their time picking a mate?"

The realization seemed to hit her as she dropped her gaze, avoiding eye contact. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down, but her words had struck a nerve I didn't talk about often.

My entire life had been like this.

Because of the way I looked—my curves, my warm nature—people always made assumptions. Even when I was just a little girl, whispers followed me.

"She walks like she's grown. You better keep an eye on her."

I couldn't control the way I moved, the way my body naturally swayed when I walked, yet I was judged for it. And as I got older, it didn't stop. People assumed I had kids—several of them, even—and when I told them I didn't, they looked at me like I'd sprouted wings.