Rebirth: Beasts Bound

The ship finally came to a halt. "We have arrived," Ryker said, and I nodded, staring at the beautiful scenery of the fox tribe. The houses were made from mud, but were highly decorated.

As soon as I stepped on land, two cubs immediately ran past me. I didn’t see them coming and lost my balance, landing straight on the ground.

"I’m really sorry about their behavior," the mother, a female dressed in a tiger-leathered skirt and a fitted top, apologized.

"It’s okay," I said, and the mother flashed a smile.

"Did you just arrive?" she asked, and I nodded.

"Just here for a visit," I replied. Ryker moved towards me and gently carried me from the ground. "Your gown is stained, let’s get you changed," he said to me and turned his gaze to the mother. Immediately she met his gaze, she quickly moved back, which seemed rather weird to me.

She didn’t say bye and walked off.

"What’s wrong?" I asked. Ryker just looked away.

"Don’t dwell on that, Raven," he said and carried me off in bridal style.

My other beast-men carried the little luggage they had with them. The fox tribe truly was beautiful; the colorful trees made the place so vibrant.

"Wait—"

Ryker paused in his steps, and I dragged myself down, rushing to a stall nearby. I gasped as I saw the jewelry displayed there.

"So pretty."

"Miss, it would suit you so fine. How about taking the earrings? It is said to replenish one’s beauty," the human female said, and a smile curved to my lips.

"You have such a sweet tongue," I replied, and the female chuckled. My beast-men walked towards me.

"You really want to start spending money on unimportant stuffs?" Azrael scolded, and I scoffed. I reached for my pocket to take out the coins, but Azrael already stretched his hand and paid.

"Awww, you love me, don’t you?" I teased, and he looked away, but his ears turned bright red. Just then, Liora’s hands landed on my shoulders.

"You have such a good eye for aesthetic things," she praised, eyeing the gem accessories.

"What d—"

"Give me the sapphire earrings," Liora’s eagle beast-man said, and I stared at him. He really is observant Liora has been eyeing it since.

She smiled as the seller placed it in her hands, and she squirmed.

"I will get an inn to settle down in. You should look around," I said to her. She nodded and turned to her beast-man, taking his hands and walking off. My gaze was on her eagle beast-man. He’s very powerful; I can see the core inside of him.

"Hmm, are you enticed by him?" Veyra whispered in my ear, and I rolled my eyes.

"Let’s go," I mumbled, and they followed after me. But why was everyone gazing at me and my beast-men? I turned backwards. We all seemed okay though.

"It’s the cursed fox."

"Who is he with?"

"I heard that’s the duke’s daughter. She’s the only female with four beast-men consorts," two women whispered, but from receiving a gaze from me, they looked away.

I stopped in my tracks. "Something is wrong," I said and turned to my beast-men. "Can’t you notice it?" I asked them.

"It’s Ryker. Didn’t he kill his former master? We were so happy when he left. Why is he back?"

"I don’t like that duke. Our village was nearly destroyed by him!"

Two fox beast-men said, passing by holding large woods in their hands. I diverted my attention to Ryker. His hands were behind his back, his jaw was clenched, he seemed really pissed off, and my eyes darkened.

"If anyone has a problem with me or my beast-men, I dare you to step forward!" I yelled that second, letting my voice be the only thing echoing around.

Everyone stopped in their tracks, even the cubs, yet no one dared step forward. I clicked my tongue.

"Since no one can, don’t—"

"Who said no one can?" A female stepped forward. She had plenty of keys settled on her waist like a belt, dressed in a slightly revealing top and skirt.

"Get out! Are you planning on destroying our tribe again?" she yelled, jabbing her fingers at Ryker.

He didn’t say a word, but Azrael snarled, and she yelled back in shock at his energy, but dared not let it show.

"Destroy? In what way?" I snapped, and she scoffed.

"He killed his master. How wouldn’t he be able to kill us? I wonder how he’s still alive even after killing her. He sacrificed her for his evil intentions!" she yelled, and this made my eyes darken. I couldn’t help but scoff at these stupid words.

"Who said he sacrificed his master? Spreading fake rumors—I don’t like that," I said, stepping towards her, and she stepped backwards.

"Stay where you are! What are you trying to do? You are trying to intimidate me?" she screamed, and everyone’s eyes at the market square turned dark.

"Leave our tribe alone!" a girl said, throwing a stone that landed straight on Ryker, making blood drop from his forehead, yet he didn’t move. But his mood was greatly affected.

I walked towards the girl who had tossed the stone and held her hair, she screamed.

"Let me go! I was being right!" she yelled, trying to fight back, but my grip on her hair was tight.

"I don’t need your love and admiration, but when visitors come visiting, you welcome them, not throw stones at them!" I said and let go of the girl.

She glared at me, clicked her tongue, and walked off while giving me that this isn’t over look.

But this tribe... they seemed stubborn. Stones from either place suddenly were hurled at us.

"Chase them away!" another female voice roared, and I bit down on my lips, trying hard to calm my anger.

In split seconds, stones were being tossed at us. I had used a protective barrier so nothing touched us.

"We should leave," Ryker said, and my eyes darkened. I turned to him.

"Why should you? It’s your hometown. This matter has to be addressed or it would never stop," I snapped, and he sighed.

"It can’t be stopped, Raven! They hate me."

My lips parted to say a word, but Azrael sighed.

"I’m not leaving. It would be a shame. Besides, I would love to conquer a stubborn tribe," he said with a smile, and the snake appeared around his neck, hissing its tongue out, eyes staring at me.

"We shouldn’t leave till your name is cleared," Thyrian stepped forward and placed his hands on Ryker’s shoulder.

"You have been awake for too long. Home, that’s what you need right now," Veyra added and turned to me.

"Let’s stay."

I nodded, hearing their words. I stepped towards him and gently took his hands. Ryker’s sad eyes flickered to mine. His gaze lingered on me, and a smile curved on his lips.

"What would I do without you?" he asked, and I chuckled, gently flipping my hair.

"Of course, you need me here. Always," I said, and he chuckled.

I could hear them swearing insults. I didn’t want Ryker to hear them, so I was being humorous as ever.

"Let’s stay. Besides, I miss my hometown," he replied, with a smile.

Just then, a female stepped forward. A crown made of orchid and tree twigs was on her hair. She was dressed in a plain white gown. She pushed through the crowd. I caught a glimpse if her.

I released the protective barrier. Just then, the crowd hurled more stones.

The stones..every single one paused on its way, and everyone froze. My eyes shimmered purple, and I sighed.

"As you know, a man cannot be away from home for so long. We are here for a vacation, don’t ruin this for us... also, a lot of issues need to be addressed. My beast-man isn’t a murderer. Circumstances happened, and it took the life of his master. Don’t put it on him," I said.

Everyone went silent for a second.

"He killed a goddess!" a female voice said, and I snapped my head to her direction.

Sighting her, my pupils dilated.

Why the hell did she look so much like her? What the fvck is happening? Was she her, or basically just a look-alike?

"He killed a goddess! We can never let him go!" the crowd yelled.

The girl just gazed at them, then finally at Ryker, whom pupils didn’t stay in one spot; they rotated in confusion.

"Mast—"

He didn’t complete the word, as his gaze landed on me. I looked away.

"Who are you?" I asked her, and she stepped forward.

"The tribe chief," she replied, and I felt Ryker’s breath hitch.

He stared at her from head to toe and muttered, "She’s exactly the same."

I could feel my tummy churn in disgust hearing his words.

"So you want to go back to her?"

It escaped from my lips before I could stop it. Ryker seemed confused and moved closer.

"Master, it’s you I want," he said, and his hands rested on my hair. I believed him, but...

The tribe chief wasn’t just any female. She was his dead master... maybe a look-alike or reincarnation, and—

I followed her gaze, which landed on Ryker’s hand on my hair.

Did I just see possessiveness in her eyes?

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!