Chapter 106: The Bruise And The Question.
Neve spent the whole evening with everyone, talking and answering questions about each other.
It was not just casual conversation. It was something planned. He was working on fulfilling the first mission from the system. He needed to complete it immediately. So he made sure to have meaningful conversations with everyone. He asked them about their lives. He listened to their stories. He shared pieces of himself with them.
Ryker told him about what it was like to be a tiger prince. About the pressure of leadership and how it had felt to give it all up for love.
Kelly talked about growing up in the wolf tribe and how he had always felt like he did not quite fit in until he met Neve.
Sorin discussed the burden of being treated as an outcast in his village and all he learned himself from the bullies that he had.
Popi explained why she had left her tribe and how being around Neve made her feel like she had finally found somewhere to belong.
Aldric shyly talked about his life in the bear tribe and how he had always been overlooked because of his shyness.
The conversations were deep and personal and intimate in their own way.
When it was getting late, they finally left Neve alone to sleep.
They almost forced him to eat before they left, bringing him fresh meat and fruits and soup. But the smell of the food made his stomach turn. It made him want to vomit. The pregnancy was making everything smell strange and unpleasant.
So he just pushed the food away and remained alone in his room, staring at the ceiling of the cave, thinking about his pregnancy and everything he had to figure out.
He did not want to think about it, but he had to.
How the hell was he going to bring out the baby? And he had to give birth to two or three or four cubs. Maybe more. He had no idea how many there would be.
He just could not imagine where they were going to come out from his body. His system had not explained that part. His system had just told him he could get pregnant and that he had to have cubs. But the actual mechanics of how it would work were a mystery.
He was hoping he could do it through some kind of operation. Like cesarean section. But there was no one in this world with the medical knowledge to perform that kind of surgery.
He had the knowledge locked in his system. He had received it as a reward. But he was alone in having it. What if something went wrong? What if there were complications?
He wished he could somehow transfer the knowledge to Gideon for just a few seconds so someone else would know what to do if things got dangerous.
He nodded to himself.
"I’ll have to see if it’s possible," he muttered to himself.
The system immediately lit up in front of him, responding to his thoughts.
It gave him that same notification about how far his mating had progressed. He remembered it was at 40% when he had first shared his secret with everyone. He silently prayed it had gotten up to 60% or 70% after spending the evening with them.
The system loaded the information.
He saw the number.
89%
Neve immediately sat up from his bed, his eyes going wide.
"What the..." he muttered, staring at the notification in disbelief.
It was almost complete. He had talked to every one of them and heard different information about them. He had built deeper connections with each of them tonight. He had opened up to them in ways he had not opened up before.
89% was almost at 100%. Almost at completion.
"Was it not complete because one of my mates was missing?" he asked aloud, still staring at the system like it was going to give him a response. "Was it Cael? Is that why it’s not at 100%?"
The system did not answer. Systems never answered direct questions. They just provided information.
"I’ll wait till Cael returns," he muttered to himself, lying back down on the bed.
But then another thought occurred to him.
"What if he returns tomorrow?" he asked quietly.
A voice came from the entrance of the bedroom.
"What if he returns tomorrow?"
Neve’s head snapped up.
He could see a face by the entrance. The lamp was providing enough light for him to see clearly. Neve could see his handsome face, his sharp features illuminated by the soft glow of the eternal lamp. It was Cael.
Neve looked at him with affection and relief.
"Come closer, Cael," Neve said, his voice warm and inviting.
But Cael did not move from where he was standing at the entrance.
"You should just go to bed, Neve," Cael said, his voice sounding strange. Tired. Strained.
Neve knew immediately that something was wrong.
If Cael did not want to move closer. If Cael was keeping his distance. Then something had definitely happened.
So Neve stood up from the bed despite his tiredness and rushed to see Cael’s face more clearly. And then he saw it.
Neve’s breath caught in his throat.
There was a bruise on Cael’s cheek. A dark purple bruise that was already starting to swell. The skin around it was inflamed and raw.
"What..." Neve started, his voice shaking slightly. "What is this? Why... why are you bruised?"
"It’s just a little punishment, don’t worry," Cael answered casually, like it was completely normal. Like bruises on his face were just an everyday occurrence. His tone was dismissive. Too casual.
But Neve was not going to accept that answer.
He just stood there, his golden eyes fixed on Cael’s cheek. He did not know why Cael’s brother would hurt Cael on his happy day. On the day when Neve had announced his pregnancy. On the day when Cael should have been celebrating becoming a father.
Why would Soren do that?
What could have happened during their meeting that would result in physical violence?
"Cael," Neve said, his voice becoming serious.
Cael turned to look at him, his eyes meeting Neve’s golden ones.
"Neve," he said, acknowledging that Neve wanted to say something.
Neve took a step closer to Cael, reaching out to touch the bruise on his cheek gently. His fingers were soft against Cael’s skin.
"If I want you to become the next chief," Neve said, his voice cold and filled with a determination that surprised even himself, "would you do it for me?"
The question hung in the air between them.
Cael’s eyes went wide.
He clearly had not expected that question. Especially not in this moment. Especially not with Neve looking at him with such intensity and such cold fury in his golden eyes.
"Neve?" Cael asked, his voice carrying confusion and something else. Concern. Worry about what Neve was thinking.