Imara Diversifies The Beastmen World

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Nine: Wrapped in Purpose

The moment we arrived at the Ape King's castle, the air was thick with impending pressure.

I don't think I was really hearing—or even aware—of what was going on around me.

Everything came in slow, like mist curling around my senses, and then came the memories.

The front yard where the bonfires once blazed, where we had sat that night... the path leading to the lake where I had soaked with my mates... the vast stretch of land behind the Ape King's castle that fed into a sea of trees.

And far off in the distance, I saw it. Just the tops, but I knew it was that tree. The very one. Where fear, confusion, and fury collided.

Where I was lifted into its branches on a vine swing still attached to it. I could feel the false peace—the power of a force shield draped over me—pressing against my skin as the earth beneath me grew smaller and smells in the air again—I could feel pressure building in my chest.

My mood shifted from a calm mentality to an irritated mood. The sting of my own foolishness returned, sharp and relentless. And as we entered the corridors of the hall, it hit me harder.

The space where I once sat with my mates... where screams and yelling echoed off the stone walls... where something that was never real reached its bitter end.

My grace had ended there, too.

And now that very individual stood in that same hallway.

His eyes locked onto mine.

Loose, long wavy gray hair. A face that told no truths of its real age outside of the small fine lines next to brown eyes. The usual off-white gray robe with a braided brown scarf—only this time, the robe wasn't clasped to the neck.

Around his throat, I saw it. The necklace I had once given him in sincerity with a life saving pure crystal, and hanging from it a bangle.

My bangle.

The very one that flew off my wrist the day my rage took over.

It took everything in me not to turn around and walk out.

I hadn't said a word to Wilbard. Not since the bonfire.

He stood within the halls, towering and waiting, arms crossed behind his back, his expression unreadable—but I didn't care to decode it. He walked down the hall toward us, his footsteps steady, the weight of leadership pressed across his shoulders.

By now, Memi—who had traveled with us the entire way—stood across from me with King Calum who met us along the way. Winston and Gabriel were with me, close as always, and just outside the door stood. Frank and Nicholas. Nicholas looked slightly dazed, still adjusting to the weight of his second stripe. The injured tiger male remained in the wagon under watch.

Parker, Shuu, Muir, and Bai had taken up positions not far behind us.

Wilbard stopped a few paces from us, his voice smooth but taut with implication.

"It seems we have quite a situation at hand," he said. "I've already sent messengers to summon the Tiger King, Queen, and Princess Rosa—as well as Wolf King Gallant. We'll convene in the main hall."

He moved forward, exchanging greetings with the others. There was a formal air about it, but it was clear everyone felt the tension.

After Wilbard greeted everyone, his eyes shifted—landing on someone just behind me.

I turned, following his gaze.

Mr. Orangutan stood a few feet away, quiet as ever for someone so massive. He was positioned next to us but behind Bai and then standing off to the back.