The Beast World Resets

Chapter 12

Colette stood at the mouth of the cave, her eyes scanning the rough-hewn rock walls, already planning the future they would build here. Next to her, Curtis a towering figure with the body of a man but the shimmering scales of a serpent, leaned against the jagged rocks, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. His strong tail flicked back and forth in a rhythm, while Colette's engineering mind whirred with ideas.

"This could work," she murmured, tracing her fingers over the stone. "But it's going to take time."

Curtis coiled tighter, his serpent eyes narrowing. "Time we have. I will help," he hissed softly. "But it will not be easy, my female."

She smirked. "I don't expect it to be. But if we work together, we can turn this into something extraordinary."

The Blacksheep tribesmen had been more than generous, lending her tools and materials when she explained her plan to build something of her own. This wasn't just any home—it was a place where she and Curtis would live as equals, as partners. A concept so foreign to the other females Curtis had encountered, yet so vital to Colette.

The haughty, self-centered females Curtis had spoken of were a stark contrast to her vision of what a female's role should be. They depended on their males for everything, abandoning them when they saw fit. Weak and arrogant—words Curtis had practically growled with disgust. And yet, here she was, ready to build not just a home, but a future.

Colette traced the outline of where she wanted the hearth to be, imagining the warmth of the fire in the center of the room. "Curtis, bring those stones over here," she said, gesturing toward the stack Apollo had gathered.

Curtis, always quick to help when she needed him, carried the large stones over, his eyes lingering on the empty space as if trying to picture what she had in mind.

The cave, once just a shelter, was starting to feel more like a home.

Colette turned to face him, her smile soft and genuine. "Curtis, we need to make this place better. Not just for us, but for our future... for our hatchlings."

Curtis's heart skipped a beat at the mention of hatchlings. His sharp golden eyes locked onto hers, surprise and a surge of emotion washing over him. Hatchlings. The thought that she would willingly bear his children was almost too much for him to process. In his world, it was unheard of for a female to choose to have a feral's offspring. Most of his kind—his father, his ancestors—had taken their mates by force, driven by their primal instincts to reproduce. But Colette was different. She was choosing him, choosing to build a life with him.

He swallowed hard, his voice coming out rough and low. "You'd... give me that? Hatchlings?"

Colette's smile deepened as she took a step toward him, her hand reaching out to brush his arm. "Of course, Curtis. We're going to build something here—something for us, and for our family."

A warmth spread through Curtis's chest, and for a moment, he couldn't speak. The significance of her words weighed heavily on him. He had always known Colette was different, but this... this was beyond anything he had imagined. She wasn't just accepting him as her mate; she was choosing to build a future with him.

After a moment of silence, Colette glanced around the cave, her eyes settling on a pile of skins in the corner. She picked one up, holding it delicately between her fingers. "These..." she trailed off, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Your shed skins. You still have these."

Curtis's gaze followed hers to the pile of skins, and he shifted slightly, his voice softening. "I kept them... for you."

Colette blinked, surprise flashing across her face. "For me?"

He nodded, his golden eyes glinting in the firelight. "It's how we... court. I shed for you. Now that you've chosen me, all of it belongs to you."

Her heart fluttered at his words. She had heard about beastmen customs before, but to experience it firsthand—knowing that every one of these shed skins was meant for her—made her feel a sense of pride and belonging. She smiled warmly and held the skin closer, examining it more carefully.

"You make clothes out of these, don't you?" she asked, remembering how Curtis had woven his own garments from similar materials.

Curtis nodded. "Yes. I can make something for you if you'd like."

Colette's smile widened. "I'd love that. We can store the rest in my space until we need them, but I'd like you to make me an outfit with these. Something special."

Curtis's heart swelled at her request. For a moment, he was speechless. The idea of crafting something for her—his mate—was an honor he hadn't expected. He nodded, his voice rough with emotion. "I'll start tonight."

As Curtis carefully gathered the shed skins, Colette's mind was already racing with ideas for the rest of the cave. The system mall she had access to could provide her with materials—blankets, cushions, and even some basic furniture—but she didn't want to rely too heavily on it. She wanted to save her points, and besides, there were plenty of natural resources she could use from the wild.

Curtis had already started working. His sharp nails cut through the shed skins with precision, and he was weaving them together into what would become Colette's new outfit. His focus was intense, his movements swift and practiced.

Colette watched him for a moment, a soft smile playing on her lips. He was so different from anyone she had ever known—so strong, so fierce, but also so dedicated and loyal. And now, seeing him create something for her, something so personal, only deepened the connection between them.

They continued working late into the night, Curtis focused on crafting her outfit while Colette planned out the next steps for their home. They still had so much to do, but for the first time, it felt like they were moving toward something real. A life together. A family.

And as the fire crackled softly in the background, Curtis couldn't help but smile to himself. This cave, once a cold and lonely place, was becoming a home—a home for them, and for the hatchlings that would come.