Surviving the Beastworld

Camping in the Beastworld (2)

Thank you guys for all the support so far! Hope you enjoy today's chapter <3

"A-are you alright?" Ahi suddenly exclaimed with a note of distress. "Your face is red. You're not burning up, right... Is the food too awful?"

I took the fork out of my mouth, trying to ignore what I'd just done, and set the container down. Deep breaths, Elisa. You're scaring the poor guy.

"I'm fine..." I murmured, fanning my face and hoping the ground would swallow me. "It's just hot, that's all."

That made Ahi frown. "You're hot. But it's cool right now... Are you perhaps running a fever?! Females are sensitive to cold things. That's why they don't like ferals. We're cold and make them sick."

"I'm fine, I promise." I sighed, wanting to put Ahi out of his misery. "Let me just splash some water on my face to cool off."

Before he could retort, I got up, letting my sleeping bag down to the ground as I stepped out of it. A cold wind nipped my body and I was seeing why Ahi was confused with my lie. The sleeping bag had really done its job keeping the cold out.

Shaking my head, I ran over to the pond, splashing my face with the cold water to cool down. Once I had gotten my heated face and overwhelming thoughts somewhat at bay, I made my way back to where Ahi was sitting.

He was watching me with sharp eyes, his gaze lingering on my face, which was threatening to explode into another round of blushing. Sometimes, I hated that I was easily embarrassed.

I sat back down beside him and covered myself with my sleeping bag. "See, just needed to cool down. I don't have a fever, believe me. I'd be crying then."

The words were meant to reassure him, but seemed to have an opposite effect when Ahi became even more pale, his beautiful features twisted in horror. He reached out a hand, but an inch away from my face stopped, seeming to remember his promise.

"Sorry... I..." Ahi tried to pull his hand away, but I grabbed it and placed it on my forehead, like he probably wanted to.

"See no fever." I declared, trying to ignore the fact I like his large hard on me.

I was in the Beastworld for one day and was already trying to jump someone. I didn't even know Ahi properly. He could be a complete psychopath for all I knew.

Getting mates was important in this world, I wasn't dumb. But I was scared. Worried I'd make the wrong decision and end up in a relationship like my last one.

I don't think I could go through being emotionally manipulated again...

Getting to know males before I made things was important and the fact I found myself liking Ahi was scaring me. Maybe I was overreacting, I don't know.

There was also having to juggle multiple people's feelings. Could I really keep multiple people happy when I was always failing with one person?

"Elisa?" Ahi murmured my name, breaking me from my thoughts.

I gave him a weak smile as he dropped his cool hand. "Sorry... Bad memory came up."

"I see..." Ahi's face went blank for a moment before he pointed at the container. "I think you should finish eating that before it's getting too cold."

I silently nodded my head and went back to the food. Another wave of awkward tension rang through the air, enough that I couldn't eat anymore. Too much was on my mind.

"Ahi..."

He turned to face me. "Yes?"

"Can I ask you something?" I asked, playing with the fork in nervousness.

"Um... sure." Ahi looked at me a little surprised.

"This isn't to um... sound mean... but are you trying to make me your mate?" I questioned, looking down at my half-eaten food. "I know you said you were helping me because I'm entertaining, but I don't really believe that... Even if I'm entertaining, that won't stop you from kidnapping me.

"That's not to say, I'm unhappy with your help, but I find your motives a bit odd. Well, I don't quite understand them... You're powerful and can do what you want. Why listen to the whims of a weak female?"

And now I was rambling. I hated myself sometimes.

Ahi tilted his head as if in thought. "Do you want the honest truth?"

"Y-yes." I gulped a little, hoping it wasn't bad. All I needed was for my stupid mouth to get me into more trouble.

"Well, I do want to be your mate." Ahi said. "As for motives, at first I wanted to snatch you up to see what all the fuss was about having a female. I didn't see why ferals were so desperate to have their own female other than to mate...

"Then I saw you in the jungle and how you acted with the other male. It was entertaining and I wanted to see more... I wanted to become your mate the way those in the village do. I felt any other way would take away what made you fun."

Ahi went quiet for a moment and my jaw fell to the floor. I wasn't even sure how to process his words. He was really being truthful about this.

"That t-taser thing also scared me a little." Ahi confessed.

"But you acted like it would do nothing." I exclaimed in surprise.

"Well, I'd never let you near me with it, but who's to say you don't have something else." Ahi pointed out. "It's fun to see what surprises you'll present, but it's scary too..."

I think at this point my jaw and the floor are becoming best friends. His words, while being an explanation, felt more like a confession of love and my heart couldn't take it. This was too much.

"You probably hate that I want to be your mate... It's okay, I understand how much females hate ferals." Ahi added, misunderstanding my silence. "Just let me travel with you to the village. I won't bother you afterwards."

Taking a deep breath, I turned my head to meet Ahi's gaze. Despite his blank face, his eyes held sadness in them. Like he was prepared for a rejection. I needed to be truthful and open.

Like every wise person said, communication is key.

"I don't hate the idea..." I stuttered, finally remembering how to form sentences. "Of you being my mate, that is. I'm just not ready for that yet. We've only known each other for less than a day and I need time to make a decision. I don't want to jump into a relationship only to regret it later."

Ahi brightened a little at the words. "So, you'll let me court you?"

I was silent at his words for a moment, not believing I was really doing this, before nodding my head. "Yes... but only if you agree to two conditions."

***

Anyone wanna guess what Elisa's conditions will be?