my mates in beast world.

chapter 24

Leo stepped closer to Lily, his eyes filled with empathy. "Tigrus hasn't spoken to anyone since his return," he murmured, his voice low and tight with worry. "He's been lost in his thoughts, as if he's carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders."

Lily's heart clenched at the news. She knew the depth of Tigrus's pain, had felt it through their bond during the darkest moments of his captivity. She placed a comforting hand on Leo's arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Give him time," she said softly, her voice a balm to the tension in the air. "He needs to heal, and we are his family. Our love and support will be his anchor."

Leo nodded, his eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and pain. He knew she was right; patience was a virtue, but in this moment, it was the hardest thing to hold onto. They both understood that the road to recovery would be long and fraught with challenges, but together, they could face them.

Lily made her way to Tigrus's tent, the soft flap parting to reveal the dimly lit space within. The scent of hissia berries and mint filled the air, a gentle reminder of the healing process that was underway. Tigrus lay on his side, his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling with each shallow breath. The fur around his neck was matted with sweat, a testament to the internal battle he waged.

With a gentle touch, she brushed a lock of hair from his forehead. "Tigrus," she whispered, her voice filled with a quiet strength. "I need to talk to you."
His eyes fluttered open, the pain in them a stark reminder of the ordeal he had endured. He looked at her, his gaze searching hers for any sign of judgment or pity. But all he found was love and understanding.

"I don't know if I can ever be the same," Tigrus murmured, his voice a raw whisper that seemed to carry the weight of his soul. "The things she did to me..."

Lily's eyes filled with a fierce love and protectiveness. "You are more than what happened to you," she said firmly. "You are our rock, our protector, and our friend. And now, you are also a survivor."

Tigrus searched her eyes, looking for any hint of doubt or revulsion. But all he found was a wellspring of compassion and determination. "I don't know if I can be that person again," he said, his voice cracking.

"You don't have to be," Lily responded, her voice soothing and strong. "You just have to be you, Tigrus. We will face this together. Your strength is in our bond, in our love for each other. We are your family, and we are here for you, no matter what." She leaned closer, her hand resting on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her palm. "You are not alone."

Tigrus's eyes searched hers, the depth of his pain etched in every line of his face. Slowly, a spark of hope began to flicker within him. "I never thought I would find this kind of acceptance," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I feared you would all see me as... tainted."
Lily leaned closer, her eyes shining with fierce determination. "You are not tainted," she said firmly. "You are a survivor. And you are one of us."

Tigrus's eyes searched hers, the weight of his pain heavy in the silence that hung between them. "But what if..." he trailed off, unable to voice his fear.

"There is no 'but'," Lily said firmly, cutting through the tension with the strength of her conviction. "You are my mate, and I would never abandon you for any reason. Our bond is sacred, and the prophecy we are part of is greater than any one life."

Tigrus swallowed hard, his eyes never leaving hers. The words she spoke were like a balm to his soul, soothing the raw wounds that had been festering within him. He knew that in this new world, their relationships were bound by laws that were as ancient as the very lands they stood upon. But the love he felt for Lily, and the bond that connected them all, transcended those boundaries.

"Leo told me about the nature of our bonds in this world," Lily continued, her voice soft and gentle. "How a beastman's body and mind are bound to the beastwoman they've bonded with. That if you were to... stray, it would bring about a distortion, a corruption that would threaten everything we've built together."Tigrus nodded slowly, the gravity of her words sinking in. The bond between a beastwoman and her mates was not just a romantic ideal; it was a fundamental aspect of their existence, a biological imperative that governed their very beings. He took a deep, shuddering breath, the weight of his fears momentarily lifted by the warmth of her presence.

"I know," he rasped, his voice still heavy with the pain of his recent past. "But what if... what if the prophecy demands a sacrifice that I cannot bear?"

Lily's gaze never wavered from his. "Then we will face it together," she said, her voice firm with the conviction that had become her trademark in this new world. "If the time comes when I must choose between my life and the future of our family, I will not hesitate to make that choice."

Tigrus felt the warmth of her hand on his cheek, a gentle touch that seemed to melt the last of his fears. "I trust you, Lily," he murmured, his voice filled with a newfound hope. "I trust all of you."

Two days later, the skies above Unity Peak grew tense as the figure of the Avian High God appeared on the horizon, flanked by a contingent of Avian beastmen. They approached the camp with a solemn air, their eyes cast downward in respect or perhaps in shame. At the center of the group, High Priestess Juni was bound by a thick rope, her once proud stance now defeated. The feathers of her wings were dull, her eyes downcast as she walked between her kin.The Council of Elders and Lily's mates gathered around the makeshift throne, their expressions a mix of anger and anticipation. The Avian High God landed gracefully, his powerful wings folding behind him as he stepped forward. In his talons, he held a scroll that contained the confession of High Priestess Juni, her crimes laid bare for all to see.

"Juni," he said, his voice heavy with sadness, "you have brought dishonor upon our clan. Your desire for a mate has driven you to commit an unspeakable act, one that has shattered the trust between our people and those of the prophecy." He unfurled the scroll, revealing the meticulously scribbled confession. "You knew the price of your actions, yet you chose to betray the very laws that govern our existence."

Juni's eyes remained on the ground, her head bowed in defeat. "My Lord," she murmured, her voice quivering, "I sought only to ease my loneliness. My High Priest passed two years ago, leaving me barren and alone. As High Priestess, I am forbidden to take another mate, yet the yearning was too great."

The High God's gaze softened slightly, understanding the desperation that could drive one to such lengths. "Your grief does not excuse your actions," he said, his voice tinged with regret. "But it does explain them. The law is clear: a High Priestess may not bond with more than one mate. In your desperation, you have endangered the very fabric of our society."
Juni looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. "I know," she whispered, her voice cracking. "But I couldn't bear the thought of living out my days alone, without the warmth of a bonded mate, without the joy of children."

The High God's gaze was unyielding. "The price of your desires is steep," he said, his voice laced with sorrow. "You knew the rules, and you chose to break them. For that, you must be punished." He turned to Lily, his eyes searching hers. "Your bond with Tigrus has been tainted by her actions, and for that, she must atone."

Juni's eyes snapped to Lily, her expression a mix of defiance and pleading. "I never meant to cause you pain," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I was lost in my own grief and longing."