Chapter 217: Bad Start
Kaela led the group into her home, the wooden structure exuding warmth despite its rugged design. As they stepped inside, their eyes were immediately drawn to the figure standing in the center of the room.
A towering beauty, easily six feet tall, with bronzed skin that shimmered under the torchlight, stood with an air of absolute dominance. Her toned muscles—not the bulky kind, but the kind sculpted through countless battles—glided smoothly beneath her taut, sun-kissed flesh as she shifted her weight.
Her outfit? A barely-keeping-it-together, high-grade beast hide that hugged her massive, perky tits like it was struggling to contain them. Every breath she took made the fabric strain. A low-cut neckline exposed just enough of that tanned, sweaty cleavage to make any sane man's thoughts spiral.
The loincloth-style skirt she wore was no better—swaying with every step, teasing glimpses of her toned, muscular thighs and the curve of her ass, a firm, battle-hardened masterpiece. No excess fat. Just pure, unfiltered dominance.
Her long, silvery-white hair cascaded over her shoulders and down her back, the same shade as Kaela's. And those sharp, crimson eyes? Predatory. Unforgiving. They scanned the group like a beast sizing up its next meal.
Her wolf ears twitched.
And then she turned.
Morrika turned her head, locking onto her daughter and the strangers trailing behind. She'd been mid-conversation with a burly wolfman, but with a flick of her wrist, she dismissed him. "Out," she said, voice low and commanding. He bowed deep, muttering a quick "Yes, Chief," before scurrying off, tail practically between his legs.
Kaela's mother took slow, deliberate steps toward them, her bare feet barely making a sound against the wooden floor. The weight of her presence alone was suffocating, like standing before an apex predator.
Then, it hit them.
An overwhelming domineering aura poured from her body, saturating the air with thick, murderous intent.
Cedric felt his legs go weak. His breath hitched as cold sweat trickled down his back. What the hell is this pressure?! He clenched his fists to stop his hands from trembling, but his body betrayed him, quivering under her fierce gaze.
Alicia, though calmer, instinctively stepped behind Arthur, gripping the fabric of his coat. Even she felt her heartbeat quicken as if a primal fear had taken root in her chest.
But Arthur…
Arthur stood there, unfazed.
And Arthur?
Unmoved.
Not a flinch. Not a shift.
If anything, his crimson eyes didn't even meet hers—because he was too busy drinking in the view.
Those huge, jiggling tits barely restrained by her hide armor…
Those thick, powerful thighs that screamed raw strength…
That ass, high and tight, shaped from years of battle…
His gaze roamed freely, unashamed, unfiltered.
And she noticed.
The tension spiked, Cedric one step from pissing himself, when Morrika's glare cracked. A booming laugh erupted from her, shattering the pressure like glass.
"Ha~ Ha~ HA~!"
The sheer force of her laughter shook the walls, her huge chest bouncing with every exhale.
" You're a fine young man, I'll give you that," she roared, striding over and clapping Arthur's on the shoulder, hard enough that any other man would've fucking crumpled. But he stood there, smirking, as if she'd done nothing at all.
"Not many can stand unshaken before my bloodlust—got some balls on you, kid."
She clapped Arthur on the shoulder, hard enough that any other man would've fucking crumpled. But he stood there, smirking, as if she'd done nothing at all.
Then, Morrika's gaze flicked to Kaela, a knowing grin spreading across her lips.
"You've found yourself a damn good one, Kaela. I had my doubts about your taste, but this time, you've truly proven me wrong."
Kaela's ears twitched violently, her cheeks burning red as hell.
"M-Mom…!"
Morrika raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Kaela gulped. "H-He's not the one I was talking about…"
Morrika's grin faltered slightly.
Kaela hesitated, then motioned toward Cedric.
"I-It's the guy next to him."
Morrika turned.
Her golden eyes landed on Cedric—still trembling, still looking like he might keel over any second.
Silence.
Her expression immediately dropped.
"...And here I thought, for once in your life, you made a good decision."
Arthur leaned casually against a wooden beam, arms crossed, his golden eyes flickering with amusement as he listened to Morrika's harsh judgment of Cedric.
"Strength isn't everything, you know," he said smoothly, his voice carrying a lazy confidence. "Cedric may not be a warrior, but he has a sharp mind. He's intelligent, resourceful, and has talents that brute strength alone can't achieve."
Morrika scoffed, her toned arms crossing beneath her ample chest, making the beast-hide fabric strain slightly.
"Tch. Spoken like a man who has never been on the losing side of power," she said, her golden eyes narrowing. "Tell me, boy, what use is intelligence when a beast has its jaws around your throat? What will his wisdom do when the strong come to take what is his?"
Her tone was laced with raw dominance. "This world doesn't care for the weak. Strength rules.
"And what's his big brain gonna do when a beast's ripping his head off? This is the jungle, boy—strong eat weak here. He's no good for my daughter."
"Mom!" Kaela snapped, stepping forward, her tail bristling. "I like him, okay? You can't just shit-talk him like that!"
Alicia jumped in, fists clenched, her voice cutting through the room. "Yeah!" she barked, glaring at Morrika. She couldn't let her brother take that lying down. "He might not be some musclehead, but he's heir to one of the richest families on the continent. ANdThe warriors you praise? They bow to our coin and command."
Morrika's gaze flicked toward Alicia, studying her like a predator sizing up an unfamiliar challenger. The tension in the room thickened.
Then—
A low chuckle broke the atmosphere.
Arthur smirked, waving a hand.
"Alright, alright, let's not get all heated over this." His voice was relaxed, teasing. "We're all tired, and arguing isn't going to change anything."
Then, his eyes locked onto Morrika's, golden meeting golden, a mischievous glint in his gaze.
"Besides… I haven't eaten all day, and I highly doubt the great Wolf Tribe would let their guests starve, right?"
Morrika stared at him, unblinking. The room held its breath.
Then—
"Hmph."
She turned on her heel, her toned, muscular hips swaying effortlessly with every step, and strode toward the inner chambers. Without looking back, she called out:
"Prepare the feast."
The tension shattered like glass.
Kaela turned to Cedric, who still looked shaken from the encounter. She placed a hand on his arm, her voice softer now.
"Don't take it personally, Cedric," she said, guilt flashing in her golden eyes. "Beastkin value strength above all else—it's just the way we were raised. My mother… she just doesn't understand you yet."
Cedric swallowed hard, then forced a small smile. "Yeah… I get it."
Arthur, watching the scene, smirked to himself.
"This trip just keeps getting better."
While Kaela and Alicia continued to coax Cedric, Arthur leaned back, deep in thought.
His first interaction with Morrika had been far from ideal. The woman was strong-willed, direct, and unwavering in her beliefs—someone who wouldn't entertain sweet words or riddles.
That meant Arthur had to be just as blunt.
He had already decided—he would drop the bomb at the dinner table. No sugarcoating, no beating around the bush. The sooner he got this over with, the better.
That penalty…
A week of erectile dysfunction?
Arthur shuddered at the thought.
'Hell no. I'm not risking that.'
Just as he came to his conclusion, a wolf-eared maid walked in, bowing slightly.
"Lady Kaela, the feast is ready."
Kaela's ears perked up, and her tail swayed in excitement.
"Finally! I'm starving. Come on, let's eat!" She turned to Arthur and the others, ushering them toward the dining area.
—---
She led them through a wide archway into the dining room—a chaotic sprawl of noise and heat. The space was massive, all dark wood and bone carvings, lit by a roaring fire pit in the center that sent shadows dancing over the walls. A long, rough-hewn table stretched down the middle, groaning under the weight of a feast fit for beasts. At its heart sat a hulking roast—some demonic boar, its blackened hide crisped, tusks still jutting from its skull, dripping fat onto the planks. Around it, platters overflowed with smoked ribs, charred haunches, and bowls of spiced roots. Jugs of dark, frothy ale sloshed as maids poured, the sharp tang of alcohol cutting through the meaty haze.
The room buzzed with Kaela's kin—her cousins sprawled across benches, laughing loud, their silver or black hair wild and braided with fangs. A burly uncle with a scarred muzzle gnawed on a bone, ale dribbling down his chin, while two aunts—one lean and sharp-eyed, the other broad and cackling—traded jabs over a jug. Maids darted between them, refilling mugs, dodging playful swats from the rowdier ones. The air was thick with gruff voices, clinking horns, and the occasional snarl of a friendly argument.
Laughter and the clinking of mugs filled the air as everyone conversed loudly, their voices warm and boisterous.
"Come, sit!" one of Kaela's uncles, a large, broad-shouldered man with streaks of silver in his wild hair, waved them over. "Tonight, we feast!"
Kaela led Arthur and his group to their seats.
Everyone dug in, introducing themselves between bites. Kaela's cousin Rykar—a lanky bastard with tattoos snaking up his arms—leaned over, grinning at Cedric. "So, you're the human Kaela's been yapping about? I'm Rykar—don't piss yourself again, yeah?" Cedric flushed, muttering a curse, but took a swig of ale anyway.
Her aunt Lyssa, the lean one, smirked at Alicia. "Lyssa, Kaela's aunt. You're a pretty thing—how'd you end up with this lot?" Alicia shrugged, smirking back. "Luck, I guess."
The uncle, Torv, belched loud enough to shake the table, wiping his mouth with a hairy arm. "Torv. Huntmaster. Kaela says you're all academy brats—how'd she meet you softskins?"
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