(Pinterest/Twitter: Kang woojin)
A/N: This chapter does not have smut but has smut words to convey obsession.🛑🛑
Maxine POV
Took me hours thinking about this castle. Something was clogging up my brain when looking at this castle. I made so many memories living here that I'm now starting to forget parts of the original story.
Why was this castle so important again? What was it?
The stone interior and the way it's decorated seems familiar from the original story line. I knew the person that invited all of us was a beast's king.
BUT which one?
Ape!? Tiger!? Wolf!? Leopard!?
The roar I heard earlier was somewhat of a hint to which king it was, though it did hurt my ear drums. Out of all the kings the roar would be a feline beastmen. So that leaves us with Tiger or Leopard.
Judging by the castle's interior design, the furs were velvety red and had a golden outline to them. It was not like any of the other castles where beasts kings live. The decoration was fancy and the furniture was made out of wood with such detailed carvings. The biggest hint to this was the many leopard and feline guards around the castle.
My eyes widened and a light bulb glowed. I now know this was where he lived! The one and only leopard king! Also known as the second male lead of the original storyline.
He was one of the wealthiest beastmen but also one of many powerful beastmen that ruled alongside him. He was one of the five kings in total who worked together ruling the whole beast city. Each king has their own domain and land to rule over. The king's territories surrounded the beast city while the inner walls aka center of the city was for everyone. Their own species were their people that regularly served and worked for them.
In the story I think it was said that he fell in love with the heroine Willow at first sight upon her arrival. He ran through a field full of flowers up to the hill where Willow was. He bowed down and professed his love to her, swearing his power as a king just to be her mate. Though there's just one problem...
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HIS NAME OR WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE?!
How am I supposed to watch out for this mysterious second male lead!? If I don't even know what he even looks like?!!
I admit living a peaceful life in beastworld with my jaguar hubby and wolf best friend made me forget some things. Though if I recall it would be less likely for the book to say much about him. The leopard king is the second male lead and he wouldn't make that much of an appearance during the storyline. If I had to guess he would only appear when the heroine is in desperate need of help.
Not much was said after all about him, only that he was the only cub to ever survive until adulthood. He was the grand victor fighting for the crown. He was crowned leopard king once his father died right before his mother who he loathed. I had read many mangas on this kind of thing, when there is only one royal left.
I rubbed the sides of my head trying to figure out something. I know that the leopard king doesn't go out that much. But I couldn't help but get worried if Willow meets him first. He too will follow his original path to the story! Willow will definitely mess up the beastworld if she is a part of the leopard king's ruling...
If I had to guess, the rest of his siblings might have died along the way, just to fight over who would get the crown or something like that. Living in the beastworld as a royal is harsh as many people want to overthrow to be that of higher status. Just by his family and him being the only lineage to the former leopard king, he must've had a difficult life. Always being cautious in his own home while fearing that he might die today or the day after.
Who knows? He couldn't trust anyone, not even his own mother or siblings.
I could be totally wrong but who knows what he experienced. It could be the total opposite. I can't really confirm if my prediction is correct or not. Just by what the book vaguely described him to be like it seemed pretty sketchy to me.
Being crowned king was every beast man's dream in the beast city as they held much power as well as authority to others. They can control their own people in their domain. Being king held so much power they could change literally anything that may irritate them.
A king ruling and commanding over the beast city was determined by the other kings. Their decisions are one of five other kings' decisions. All five kings decide their decisions upon the whole beast city. Especially the Ape king himself, he was the brains and center influence to the beast city, many orcs rely on his wisdom and skills to foretell the future.
When a beastmen becomes king many females take the opportunity to become queen. As it has many perks and benefits they gain within the beast city. Kings and high status males have higher chances in finding females. Many females were willingly take princes as mates in order to have a chance in becoming queen.
Which now leads me here, I am currently waiting for my buddy to show up. This is my sixteenth time meeting him. From what I can gather about him, he is rather quiet and conserved when meeting. He doesn't like to be touched or close at all which I don't mind and I respect his personal privacy. Even if he doesn't talk that much, his presence as my buddy keeps me company.
In the last three weeks I tried making friends with the other females near the lake. But they all shrugged me off like I was some sort of pest. I stopped trying since most of them looked at me with disgust. I don't get it, am I that weird to be around? I admit the white hair is weird but I personally like it!
During my stay in the leopard castle it has been pretty boring, not much was going on. Some days I spent inside my room while other days I laze around outside with Ray. We would mostly collect fruits and herbs in the forest and then cook together. Sebastian on the other hand has been pretty busy lately, going to meetings and helping repair camel top valley until noon. He usually comes back just before sunset or visits during lunch. Though I'm starting to think that his frequent visits during the afternoon feels like a ruse to slack off and come just to mate whenever he has the chance.
I am still waiting for my buddy, he usually comes right about this time. It takes me five minutes to get here since our hangout spot is right near the lake inside a hidden spot where no orc can spot it. I call him buddy since he never really told me his name, I tried asking once but he ignored my question.
Right now, I am sitting on a fallen log and beside me is Ray who is helping me sew together a cape. My buddy already knows about Ray since I often came with him. I don't think they like each other one bit just by their eyes distancing themselves from their stares. I really wanted Ray and my buddy to get along but I don't think that will happen soon. When hanging out with them they both were similar to that of a lone dog and cat staring.
The sun was starting to go down and I didn't think he was coming just by the looks of it. I started feeling glum making my shoulder slim down.
"Maybe he is busy right now" I thought
"Maxine.."
A large hand touched my hand and there in front of me was Ray who looked worried.
"Please don't be sad, What's so special about him, just forget about that leopard! I am sure Sebastian is waiting for you at home. Let's leave," He said.
Ray laid his large hand on top of my small hand while rubbing my slumped back to comfort me. To my surprise, his arm lightly pulled me closer to him, giving me a gentle hug. His loving hug brightened my gloomy mood from earlier.
It made my lips curl into a gentle smile when seeing his tail and ears perked up. He seems to be calm and relaxed from the outside but he feels excited inside. I could feel his heart rapidly breathing while seeing his fluffy tail wag in excitement from the corner of my eye. I giggled hugging him back when seeing his big wolf beastmen act like an adorable puppy.
" Awww, Ray is so nice and caring today! Most of the time you act like you don't know me whenever I try to hug you" I said. That made Ray harshly huffed pouting when I said that.
His head turned away from me, a little angry by my remark. I saw his tail and ears perked stiff while his muscles began to stiffen like a rock.
Ray stood up and began walking back home. I followed right after him while trying to gain back his attention.
"Hey come on Ray, don't be mad. I'm sorry" I said as I walked past him and tiptoed to lightly bop his nose using my finger.
" I'm sure Ray can find a female in no time! Just by his handsome face and sweet charm you might get a female soon" I said, cheering him on. But he just looked more droopy than usual as his face went slightly down.
"No, I pass," Raymond bluntly replied before turning his head back away from me while walking slightly faster.
"Huh?!"
"What! What do you mean you pass!?"
"Ray this is your chance in wooing a female, you know you're not getting any younger." I nagged.
"No" He declined once more, shaking his head in refusal.
"You little-" I felt a slight irritation when he kept nodding his head no. It made me angrily pout knowing that he wasn't interested.
I ran to match his pace and walked past him to grab Ray's cheek stretching them out. We both stopped walking when I began releasing my fury to him! Ray tried escaping from my clutches by pulling away both of my wrists but I grabbed onto his cheek tighter.
***
3rd POV
When Maxine's torture ended it made Raymond whimper, rubbing his swollen cheeks. He looked at her right in front of him as a faint smile curled across his now happy face.
"Pfft.. My silly little female, "Raymond lightly chuckled when seeing her adorable pouting face. He ignored the constant nags she gave him, only looking at her silly expression in front of him.
"Why would I want to leave? Why would I ever want to leave you for another female?" He thought.
She was the only one for him. Raymond didn't need anyone else besides her, he needed her in his life.
Raymond's smiling face soon diminished once he saw another figure behind her. There he saw a certain purple bird beastmen right in the back of her.
He titled his head before glaring at the eagle beastmen in the distance "Hmmm... What was his name again? Rai? Ro-"
"Rowen!" Maxine shouted gleefully. She turned her body around and walked a bit to him.
Raymond's eyes narrowed when seeing the eagle beastmen right beside her. A low growl came within him when seeing Maxine politely talking to him. He saw the eagle beastmen's bashful face when looking at her. The only thing Raymond wanted to do was carve his eyes out so that he wouldn't look at her like that.
He wanted to chew that bird to pieces!
Raymond suppressed the rising emotions inside of him. He couldn't contain his anger for a moment because he only thought of wanting to get rid of the bird in front of him. When she looked at him so lovingly, he couldn't help but feel such envy. The expression she looked at him with was similar to that of her and Sebastian's.
She gave the cape they made together for Rowan as a "gift". Seeing right through her Raymond could tell that Maxine was interested in the eagle in front of her. It was very obvious as he and Sebastian knew from the start. He saw her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes just reveal her liking.
Raymond in the background stood beside her and waited for their conversation to end. Just seeing them together made him feel devastated so he looked away. When their conversation finally ended he took the chance to rush to her side.
Raymond quickly hugged her giving a warm embrace. Maxine's face landed straight to his bare pecks. He felt her soft and squishy breasts pressed on to his rock hard body. He remembered there were many times where she had let him lay down on her lap while she combs his ruffled hair. He loved their daily habits, he loved how close he could get to her.
If she could accept him now, he would get closer to her even more..
He wishes to touch, lick and bite her delicate skin until it turns red.
Then pin her down to see her tears fall down while roughly mating with her.
"Eh?! Ray, what's the matter? Why are you acting like this?!" Maxine questioned, feeling worried about his strange behavior.
She saw Raymond rub the side of his cheeks against her neck and caress her back using his hand.
"Raymond! " She flusteredly shouted when she felt him licking her palms, one of his hands and the other wrapping around her hips into a hug.
It made Raymond grin when seeing her slightly red cheeks in front of him. Her flustered voice that was far from the usual calm, cheerful tone gave him satisfaction in his inner desire. Raymond gently pressed her palm with his fingertips, carefully so that his sharp nails don't scratch her. His lips still lightly cling to her wrist.
But as he moved away for just a moment, Raymond stared at her wrist, not liking how pale it was. Soon, he placed his lip together and suckled her skin making it red.
"Ah' Ray that tickles!" Maxine exclaimed in surprise, red petals became engraved on her wrist.
Raymond smiled satisfactorily as he looked at it and pretended not to know. His ears and tail perked up in joy as he hugged her. His arms possessively wrapped around her tiny waist that made his tail gleefully wag when hugging her squishy and soft body. He liked it when her squishy breasts landed right on his chest, they bounced up and down upon moving. It felt so soft he really wanted to stuff his face right between them.
He envied Sebastian as he had free range to do whatever to her. He always wondered what more he could do to her...
"Ray, stop playing around. Let's go back home. Sebby will be angry if we stay for too long"
Raymond's deepest desires were to let him and her colors mix together. Even if their colors become pitch black, there would never be a chance he would let go of Maxine. All the times they spent together, laughing, talking and playing was like a dream to him. When deciding to be her guardian he never once thought of happiness. Who knew that being by her side made him this happy.
Her constant affection and loving nature made him feel whole. Even if he wasn't her male, Raymond became addicted to her touches and hugs. He always had a reason to stay and follow her.
It didn't matter if this was something she did or did not want. Raymond couldn't even imagine a life without her anymore.
Very quietly, so that she couldn't hear him, he whispered in his head.
My world, my savior.
Whatever I need to do, I'll do it.
Even if it destroys you, I need to have you.
As the black tinge fluctuated as though it dominated his jade eyes. He possessively curled Maxine's white hair around his finger. He gently pulled it towards his lips sweetly kissing her curled white hair.
Suddenly Raymond let out a low growl under his breath now feeling tense. There a beastmen watching them from afar made his presence apparent. It was a certain leopard watching from a distance. His golden eyes shimmered when looking right at her.
It made Raymond growl more and more when seeing his gawking gaze on her. He looked straight at him without avoiding his cold gaze. He didn't care if he was stronger or powerful than him, he couldn't care less even if he is the leopard king.
Raymond embraced Maxine tightly in his arms. He absolutely had no intention of her being taken away from him. Her small body was tightly woven into his crossed arms. Like prison bars, hard and unrelenting to prevent her from escaping his grasp.
His only goal now was to become stronger inorder to completely dominate her. He needed to be stronger so that he could proudly be by her side.
A sudden hand quickly held Maxine's other wrists making them split apart in seconds. There from behind was Sebastian. He had her in his embrace but not before carrying her in his arms. He nagged both of them on why they took so long.
After Sebastian's long nagging they all left going back to their room. Sebastian carried Maxine in his arms bridal style while Raymond followed right behind him.
Just then Sebastian, who was carrying his wife in his arms, shifted his eyes in the distance. Just near the dark corner of the palace hallway was a beastmen shadow watching them. He observed for quite some time before giving one last stare at the male in the shadows.
The golden eyed male named Caius could only watch in the distance at her fading into a distance. Caius wished he was the one that took her in his arms as he only wanted nothing but her love and affection. However he had to patiently wait for the right moment.
In the meantime he will just keep watching over her.