Beauty, in the Beast World

A Curse Shattered: Lila Returns Home

The night air was still, broken only by the rhythmic sound of the ocean. The group sat in silence around the fire, waiting. Then, without warning, the quiet was interrupted by splashes, sharp and distinct, echoing across the water. All eyes turned toward the distant sea, where several dozen dark shapes surfaced, their glistening bodies breaking through the waves. Mermen, powerful and graceful, rose from the depths. Some dipped beneath the surface again, only to reappear much closer to shore, now in their human forms, wading through the shallows and making their way onto land.

At the head of the group stood a tall, commanding figure, his golden hair pulled back into a long, sleek ponytail that shone like spun sunlight under the moon's soft glow. His honey-colored eyes scanned the shoreline as he stepped onto the sand with practiced ease. Five others followed behind him, but it was clear that he was their leader. His presence alone was enough to command the attention of the group.

"Qin! You came back!" The golden-haired Merman's voice was filled with both joy and relief as he strode forward and wrapped Qin in his strong arms. Lila watched from the firelight, recognizing him instantly—this was Chief Jin, Qin's most powerful mate, the one who ruled the Merfolk with both strength and cunning.

Qin returned the embrace, but her movements were stiff. As she pulled away, her expression shifted from relief to anger, her eyes narrowing with barely concealed fury. Lila flinched as Qin's hand whipped through the air, striking Jin across the face with a sharp crack. The group went silent, stunned by the sudden turn of events.

Jin's golden eyes, once bright with affection, darkened with hurt and confusion. He brought a hand to his stinging cheek, staring at his mate in disbelief. "Qin...what...why?"

"Apologize to Lila!" Qin's voice trembled with rage, her hands balled into fists at her sides. The air around them seemed to thrum with tension.

Jin blinked, his brow furrowed in bewilderment as he looked from Qin to Lila. "For what? I have never wronged this female." His voice was strained, as if he genuinely couldn't understand what he had done.

Qin's eyes flashed dangerously. "You destroyed the Ocean Snake Tribe! Shame on you, Jin! They were our closest allies! Icella was my friend, and you had her killed!"

Lila felt a surge of shock run through her, watching as the powerful male seemed to shrink under the weight of Qin's accusation. Jin's gaze dropped to the sand, and his voice came out as a low stammer. "Qin, I'm... I'm sorry. We only meant to look for you... Things got out of hand. We never meant to destroy them. Erik... he accidentally set one of the huts on fire, and things spiraled out of control."

Lila's heart raced as she processed his words, her fists clenched at her sides. "But you did kill my mother!" she cried, her voice cracking with the force of her grief. The memory of her mother's death still burned fresh in her mind, a wound that had yet to heal.

Jin's face twisted with a mix of shock and guilt as he looked at her more closely. His eyes widened in recognition. "You... you've changed your hair, Wynter," he whispered, his voice thick with regret. "I'm sorry. The males were restless. We... we were only going to take Icella to birth us a new female. But your father and the elders attacked us... I-I squeezed her too hard. I didn't mean to kill her. I'm sorry."

Lila stood firm, her expression cold despite the storm of emotions swirling inside her. She crossed her arms, staring Jin down with unwavering resolve. "I do not forgive you," she said icily, "but for the sake of peace, I will be civil with your people. In return, you will take Qin, Isaac, and Calista to the ancestral lands across the sea. Maybe then, in time, the ties between our tribes can begin to heal."

Jin nodded, his face a mask of sorrow. "I am sorry, Wynter... I truly am." He turned to Qin, his voice softer now. "Qin, who is Calista?"

Qin's anger had faded, replaced by a tender smile as Isaac stepped forward, holding the sleeping infant in his arms. "This is Calista, my daughter." She looked at Jin with pleading eyes. "Jin, we can lift the curse, but we can no longer limit the tribe to only one female. It's the only way we can truly be happy."