Beauty, in the Beast World

Welcome Home

{Curtis's POV}

By the time the sun had risen, Lila's cave had become a sanctuary once more. The warmth of her mates filled the space, each one having returned to their rightful place by her side. Curtis, still in his half-turned state, had coiled his powerful crimson tail possessively around her body, his scales gleaming faintly in the dim light of the early morning. Lila lay nestled against him, her breath coming in soft, ragged gasps as they moved in unison, completely lost in each other.

Curtis's fierce protectiveness had grown sharper during the night, his attention solely on Little Moon, ensuring she felt the full weight of his claim. His tail wrapped tighter around her as her soft moans filled the air. Their connection was intimate, primal, unbroken by anything—until Winston's deep voice interrupted the moment.

"Lila, I've brought food for you," Winston called from the cave entrance, his voice casual, though it hinted at an amused undertone.

Curtis's head lifted instantly, his eyes narrowing at the intrusion. His ruby gaze flicked to Winston, who stood confidently, holding a tray of fresh meat and fruit. Curtis's voice was cold and low, thick with warning. "Get out," he growled, returning his attention to Lila without waiting for a response, his movements resuming as if Winston's interruption had never occurred.

Winston didn't budge. His pale blue-silver eyes, sharp and calculating, flashed with defiance. "She is my mate too, Curtis," Winston replied smoothly, his tone steady despite the snake's irritation. "If she doesn't ask me to leave, I won't."

Curtis's lips curled back in a dangerous snarl, and his annoyance flared at the tiger's insolence. Lila, caught between them, exhaled a soft whimper, but her eyes remained closed, lost in the sensations coursing through her. Curtis's anger boiled over as he tightened his grip on her, refusing to pause.

Without missing a beat, Curtis uncoiled his tail and, with a swift, decisive motion, lashed it at Winston. The force of the strike sent the Tiger Beastman out of the room entirely, the tray of food he had carried in rattling as it hit the ground.

It was all his fault anyway. If Curtis had been there—if he had never left—Little Moon wouldn't have needed so many others to make her feel safe. The ache in his chest tightened at the thought. Wasn't it enough that Curtis had allowed Winston into their family, into their shared bond with Lila? He had tolerated the tiger's presence for her sake, but now... now things were more complicated than they should have been.

Curtis pushed the bitterness from his mind, trying to quell the surge of jealousy that bubbled up. Of course, it had to be enough. He was enough. Little Moon had accepted these other males, not because she wanted them, but because she had felt vulnerable, frightened. She was pretending—acting out some ruse of frustration toward him for leaving, but Curtis knew better. She loved him more deeply than any of the others. He had to believe that.

Peering down at Lila's peaceful face as she slept against his chest, Curtis brushed a strand of hair away, tucking it behind her pointed ear with a gentle touch. Her serene expression soothed some of the storm in his heart, but the weight of responsibility still pressed heavily on him.

"I'll just have to accept her other mates," Curtis muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, the words bitter on his tongue. The thought grated against his pride, but he knew it was the only way forward. Lila had chosen these males, each one for a reason, and she did it for their cub—for their family.

But deep down, Curtis knew one thing for certain: he would never allow her to feel so vulnerable again. Never. He would ensure his Little Moon was protected, cherished, and safe. No more would she have to lean on others when she should only need him. He would shield her from any weakness, any threat, just as he had vowed from the beginning.