BEAST WORLD: THE HIDDEN TRUTH

10. Demanding

CHAPTER 10: DEMANDING

While Curtis and Amelia were getting ready to pack their things and leave the cave, the leopard who volunteered to deliver a message to the Leopard King arrived at the Beast City. He immediately informed the guard of his mission, and the guard quickly relayed the news to the Leopard King. Unfortunately, the Leopard King was away, dealing with an urgent matter that required his presence.

The Leopard Queen, upon hearing that a feral had been spotted near the village where her cub was staying, immediately commanded her guards to summon the strongest beastman from the castle.

The eagle beastman arrived first, accompanied by three leopards. They were puzzled as to why they had been called. When they learned it was about the feral lurking around Camel’s Hump Valley, they quickly prepared to act. Their mission was clear: eliminate any threat posed by dangerous beastmen and protect females from being abducted.

Females were far fewer than males in the beastman world, with a ratio of 1 to 100. As such, females were strictly protected by all. A female who gave birth to another female was regarded as especially strong, a great source of pride.

Males often fought over females to prove their worth, spoiling them so their females wouldn’t sever the bond. Sometimes, they couldn’t have cubs with their chosen female, as females had the power to choose the strongest mate for reproduction. Pregnancy was considered a favor a female granted to her male, and females could only give birth once a year.

Back in the present, the eagle beastman and the three leopards reached Camel’s Hump Valley. The eagle beastman, Muir, was a three-striped warrior, stern and detached in appearance, while the leopards each bore two stripes.

When they arrived at the village, they saw no sign of the feral. Instead, they found the leopard prince being treated by the healer, sleeping peacefully.

"Harvey, how is he? Is he okay?" Bai Qingqing asked worriedly, not noticing the visitors at the door. She was deeply concerned—what if something terrible happened to Parker? He was the only one she was familiar with here.

Harvey comforted her, saying, "Parker is injured, but he’ll be fine if he gets enough rest. Don’t worry about him—he’s strong and will heal quickly."

Bai Qingqing sighed in relief, but then she began to cry. "If only I hadn’t gone to the lake, none of this would’ve happened. It’s my fault. I regret telling him about the female I met in the cave. I just wanted to help her. How could this happen? How could she let her feral attack Parker? I shouldn’t have helped her," she said, blaming herself—and, of course, Amelia. She was furious at how coldly Amelia treated her. They were both from Earth; they should be working together to survive, not treating each other as enemies.

Harvey found himself in a dilemma: should he comfort her or correct her? He had seen everything unfold earlier. The feral, the one who had asked him for courting advice, hadn’t been at fault at all. It was only natural for him to attack Parker if he thought his female was being abducted.

Amelia had clearly stated she wasn’t being taken by force, but no one had listened. While they were concerned for her safety, it had been wrong to take her without permission. Harvey, having witnessed the feral’s sincerity, knew the truth: this feral hadn’t abducted the female. If he had, she wouldn’t have defended him and called him her mate.

Harvey stayed silent, listening to Bai Qingqing’s sobs. He felt a pang of jealousy, wishing there was someone who cared for him the way she worried about Parker. He had thought he liked Bai Qingqing, but after what had happened, he realized his feelings for her had faded.

As a doctor, Harvey was knowledgeable in many aspects, including human behavior. He understood how beastmen were possessive and jealous, and how females often tested their patience. To avoid conflict, he had learned how to read people, how to please or calm them, and how to play on their hidden fears and desires. This made others feel comfortable around him, trusting him to heal them.

But Bai Qingqing, in his observation, wasn’t as innocent as she appeared. She often blamed others when things went wrong but rarely admitted her own faults. Her petite, pitiful appearance made everyone believe in her innocence, but in reality, she wasn’t entirely blameless.

Unfortunately for her, she had met a strong rival in Amelia. Amelia was straightforward and unapologetic. She spoke her mind, not caring about others’ feelings or opinions. She didn’t view Bai Qingqing as pitiful—instead, she likely thought she was foolish. It was as if the words "are you stupid?" were written on her face.

Harvey admired Amelia’s fierceness. Unlike other females, there was something different about her. Now he understood why beastmen spoiled their mates, despite the scoldings they endured. Amelia’s boldness made him want to see more of her. She had even calmed the feral earlier and talked down Bai Qingqing and Parker without hesitation.

As Harvey mulled over his thoughts, he noticed the uninvited guests—those summoned by the Beast City. As they looked at him, he realized they were also puzzled by the current situation.

Muir, the eagle beastman, stepped forward. "What happened here? Where’s the feral you were talking about? And what happened to the leopard prince?" he asked.

Before Harvey could answer, Bai Qingqing jumped in. "Are you the one Parker mentioned? The feral headed north, taking a female with him. He’s the reason Parker is in this state! You need to catch him and punish him!" she said angrily.

Muir frowned. This female had interrupted his conversation with the healer and was now trying to order him around. Who was she? He turned to Harvey, waiting for an explanation.

"Why are you still standing here? If you don’t go now, the feral will escape!" Bai Qingqing said irritably. Why weren’t they listening to her?

Muir was quickly losing patience. "Female, you have no right to command me. I wasn’t speaking to you. Don’t throw a tantrum here," he said coldly. He had no tolerance for females who thought they could boss around beastmen.

Bai Qingqing backed away in fear. Harvey sighed, finally able to speak without being interrupted.

"This is what happened..."

Author's Note: Hey guys, I'm back! I'm actually in a great mood today because I received an achievement at school. These are my updates for Saturday and Sunday, but if I'm not too busy, I'll try to add more chapters over the weekend. Enjoy reading! Love lots!