Beastmen: Divinity in the wild

CHAPTER - 15

Returning home from the festival, I led Luka through the grand entrance of our family's estate. The tall, wooden gates closed behind us, and I could feel Luka's tension rising as he took in his new surroundings. My brothers flanked us, casting protective glances at our new companion.

"Mother, Fathers, we're back," I called out as we entered the main hall. The familiar faces of my family members greeted us, though their smiles faltered slightly when they saw Luka.

Liora, my mother, approached us first. Her warm smile never wavered, but I could see the concern in her eyes. "Aria, welcome back. And who is this young man?"

"This is Luka," I said, gently nudging him forward. "I bought him at the festival. He's a slave."

There was a moment of tense silence as my fathers, Ursan, Selwyn, Rafe, Jax, and Alaric, took in this information. They were masters at hiding their true feelings, but I knew them well enough to sense their unease.

"Welcome, Luka," Ursan said, his deep voice steady. "You are safe here."

"Thank you," Luka muttered, his gaze fixed on the floor.

"We hope you find our home welcoming," Selwyn added, his smile polite but strained.

Rafe and Jax exchanged a glance, their playful demeanor subdued. "Yes, welcome," Rafe said, though I could see the flicker of irritation in his eyes.

Alaric, the most composed of them all, stepped forward and placed a hand on Luka's shoulder. "If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask," he said, his voice calm yet firm.

Despite their outward kindness, I could feel the tension in the air. My fathers were not pleased with the idea of another boy so close to me, and their thoughts echoed their discomfort.

**Ursan:** Another boy in the house. This complicates things.

**Selwyn:** We must keep a close eye on him.

**Rafe:** Why did Aria have to bring a boy home? This is trouble.

**Jax:** He's a threat. We need to protect Aria.

**Alaric:** We need to manage this carefully.

"Thank you, everyone," I said, hoping to diffuse the tension. "Luka, let me show you your new room."

I led Luka down a corridor to a small but comfortable room. It was simple, with a bed, a wardrobe, and a window that overlooked the gardens. "This will be your room," I said, opening the door.

Luka stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room warily. "It's... nice," he said, though his tone was clipped.

As he explored the room, I could sense his bitterness simmering beneath the surface. "Luka, I know this is all very new and probably overwhelming for you," I began.

He turned to me, his expression hard. "You think? I'm a slave. Bought and sold like an object."

I flinched at his words but held my ground. "Why don't you just run away if you hate it so much?" I asked softly.

Luka scoffed, his eyes flashing with anger. "You really don't know anything, do you? You bought me without knowing the ins and outs of a slave's life. Since you dropped your blood on the stone, I'm bound to you. If I stay too far away from you, I'll die. And only you can break the slave stone."

I felt a pang of guilt at his harsh words. "I didn't know," I admitted. "But if you serve me sincerely for a year, I promise I'll free you."

Luka looked at me skeptically. "And why should I believe you?"