Chapter 118: Under the Alpha’s Watch
As if remembering the reality of the situation, Calis immediately released her, standing straight and clearing his throat.
Suspicion slipped back across his face as he looked between Luth and Tera.
For a silly, traitorous half-second, Tera noticed how the fading light caught the red undertone in his dark hair. The tattoos curved along his jaw in a way that framed his face, and his crimson eyes were actually—
’NOPE.’
She killed the thought, buried it, and stamped on the grave.
[(◕‿◕✿)]
[This system made a very wise choice in following Host’s heart’s desires!]
’My WHAT?!’
[This system merely followed the natural trajectory of Host’s romantic inclinations!]
’I DO NOT HAVE ROMANTIC INCLINATIONS TOWARD MY KIDNAPPER!’
[The data suggests otherwise!]
[ಡ ͜ ʖ ಡ]
Before Tera could threaten the system, another screen popped up.
[New Task!]
’I should have known this was coming.’
[Establish positive relations with the Glimmer Wolf Pack]
[Impress and earn the admiration and cooperation of Alpha Calis and key pack members]
[Rewards: Influence +5, Charm +5, Nipples +20]
[Time Limit: Two Weeks!]
’Two weeks?!’
[Penalty: Host will be required to howl at the moon every hour of the night for three weeks]
Tera wanted to complain but held it in. There were many things she could do to impress them.
’Who are these key pack members, hello?!’
[The leader, all four females, and any five elder wolves]
’Damn, that’s a heavy stack. WTF?!’
Tera stared at the task and then looked at Faelynn.
That female DID NOT want to be friends with her. A second ago, Tera would not have minded cuddling Luth, but now she’d rather not before the wolf female became convinced Tera was trying to steal her daughter from her.
Tera leaned forward and patted Luth on the head. The struggling cub relaxed and sank against her mother with a gentle smile.
Tera straightened and looked at the wolves. Now the system had given her something to force her to remain here in the meantime.
She was still honestly a bit annoyed at Calis too for him forcing her into this predicament so sudden. She was absolutely not going to seduce that wolf. No matter how unfairly attractive he looked.
But at the very least, she needed a different approach. Something practical that would earn their respect without requiring her to flutter her eyelashes at a male who initially thought shiftless females couldn’t have cubs.
She needed to solve a problem they had.
Tera then had the chilling realisation that since they were far from her clan, this was likely the area with more monsters. She had the system scan for surrounding corrupted monsters, but her fears weren’t placated when the scan came up with nothing.
No corrupted beasts nearby didn’t mean no corrupted beasts at all.
Unlike the Dow clan’s territory, there was no buffer zone of safe forest separating them from the threat.
Even worse, her cubs coming here seemed like a terrible idea now.
Tera’s stomach twisted, but she calmed herself. Xavi and Ermin weren’t as foolish as to just come to a new environment straight away with the cubs, and they had started eating shredded meat and mashed fruits already, so they weren’t entirely dependent on her breast milk anymore.
But she worried for her mates now.
Calis noticed the shift in her expression.
"What is wrong?"
"I don’t feel safe here."
Calis was stunned. "I already said no one is going to harm you. You are under my watch—"
"You want my cubs to be brought on a long journey when they could be attacked by any corrupted beast roaming the area?"
Realisation dawned on Calis, but before he could say anything, Tera brushed it off, her mood already spoiled. "I am very tired and would like to rest."
She was going to tell Calis to send another pair of wolves back to her clan and tell her mates not to bring her cubs just in case.
Making that request in front of all these wolves would not be a good sign.
She looked at Calis.
"Where am I sleeping?"
"Your cubs—"
Tera shook her head. "I will think when I wake up."
But from the corner of her eye, to her surprise, she noticed a look of sympathy cross Faelynn’s face.
Calis frowned. "Don’t be stubborn—"
"He will find you a spot."
Calis and Tera both turned to Faelynn in surprise. His sister gave Calis a pointed look with a frown before he stepped away.
"I will find you a spot," he managed before walking away with the rigid posture of a male who was fighting a battle on a front he had not prepared for.
Before Tera could thank Faelynn, the sister had abruptly turned and walked away. With nothing to do, Tera sat at the base of that tree, thinking even amidst the stares in her direction as Calis spoke to some wolves.
He then returned shortly after, carrying a bundle of thick furs under one arm.
He dropped them at the base of the tree where Tera was sitting. She shifted aside as he started arranging them among the roots.
"What are you doing?"
"You will stay here."
"Here? What happened to finding me a spot?"
He straightened, brushing dirt from his hands.
"This is also where I sleep."
Tera’s brain stalled, not understanding. "This is your spot."
"Yes."
"I don’t understand. Do you want me to sleep here with you?"
"I just said that."
"No, you didn’t." She quickly looked around. There were fewer wolves, but the remaining ones looked confused.
"Is this fine? This doesn’t make sense. Why are you giving me your sleeping spot? Where will you sleep?"
Calis frowned and scratched his head as if Tera had just asked him something silly. "Here. It is better so I can watch and keep my eyes on you until your... mates come."
His expression was completely neutral, as if he hadn’t just invited himself to sleep beside a female he’d met hours ago.
"What—"
Three wolves rushed to Calis and redirected him somewhere else. Tera, a bit grumpy, nestled against the fur, preparing to sleep when, within minutes, the smell of raw meat hit her.