Imara Diversifies The Beastmen World

Chapter One Hundred Twenty One: Spoken and Unspoken Burdens

As I descended the stairs, I saw Bai holding onto Parker's garment, which was open, revealing his wounds and bruises. The sight of it made me gasp involuntarily. I shifted my gaze to Shugh and Muir, who were standing nearby, avoiding eye contact with me.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, everyone else—except for me, Bai, Parker, Shugh, Muir, Gabriel, and Winston—quietly left the room, retreating to their respective places.

Theo and Sampson bowed and exited the house, leaving us, while Bai confronted the truth.

Bai Qingqing's POV

Parker, Muir, and Shugh had been gone for a considerable amount of time, and I couldn't help but grow concerned. It never takes them this long to get back.

What are they doing? I tried to push my worry aside and focus on cooking, but as the rain poured down more fiercely, my thoughts kept drifting back to them.

Eventually, I couldn't help but voice my concern to Imara.

"Where is Parker and the guys?"

Before she could respond, the door opened, and they walked in, as if I had summoned them. They looked freshly washed, their clothes clean and neat, but something felt off. Muir, usually in just his waist cloth and cape, was fully clothed, and the way they shifted and avoided eye contact made my stomach tighten with unease.

I tried to ignore the strange feeling, but as the males started cleaning the dishes and Bailey dozed on the couch, the worry gnawed at me. Imara had gone upstairs, and I was wiping down the dining table when Parker, Muir, and Shugh came over to take over the task.

"Bai, let me," they all said at the same time, their voices a bit too eager.

I was about to protest, "C'mon guys, I hate being—" but then Parker leaned over to grab the rag from me. As he did, the U-shape of his collar shifted, revealing a ghastly bruise on his chest.

My eyes zeroed in on it, and as I looked up, I noticed a small scar near his eye. My heart tightened with a sense of dread.

"Bai, what's the matter?" Parker asked, his voice tinged with worry.

Without thinking, I walked up to him and began undoing the string of his garment. "Bai, w-what? Wait," he stammered, but I ignored him, my hands moving with a mind of their own.

I pulled his garment open, revealing more bruises, and my heart sank.

Parker looked at me, caught off guard, and for a moment, he seemed at a loss for words. He glanced at Shugh and Muir, who stood nearby, tense and silent.

"Parker, where did you get these wounds from? I knew something was off, and don't tell me it was from hunting.

As I look up at him, he avoided my eyes, "What is going on?" I demanded, looking between them.

"Tell me the truth now. What did you guys do? Why are you fighting? We don't fight in this family, didn't Imara say that?!"

Parker looked at me, his expression guarded, but there was something in his eyes—a flicker of uncertainty, maybe even guilt.

"Bai, it's nothing serious. Just... some stuff between me and the guys. We settled it."

"Settled what?" I pressed, feeling the unease growing inside me. "It had to be something serious for you to have wounds like this."

I glanced over at Shugh and Muir, who were standing there, their bodies tense, avoiding my gaze. The silence in the room was heavy, like everyone was holding their breath.

Muir finally broke the silence, his fists clenched at his sides as he spoke up.

"It's because I want to be your mate, Bai. So, I fought for the right to court you."