Chapter 131: The Drunk Chief And The Return!
The guard walked Neve and Aldric into the cave where Soren was waiting.
Soren was drunk.
It was morning and he was already drunk. He had finished the second barrel of wine that had been gifted to the leopard tribe during the last festival. The expensive wine was wasted on his drunken stupor.
Neve felt his nose burn when he entered the cave. The smell of alcohol was overwhelming. The stench was so strong that he almost stepped back immediately.
But the guard shoved him forward from behind, making him stumble and nearly fall.
"Don’t push my mate to be now," Soren said, his words slurred as he waved his hand dismissively.
He was leaning back on the chair he was sitting in, his body loose and uncoordinated. His eyes were glazed over. His movements were slow and deliberate like he was fighting against his own body.
Neve steadied himself and looked at the leopard chief with disgust.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Soren?" Neve asked, his voice sharp. "This is not how you wish to rule the leopard tribe, right? Getting drunk in the morning while your people suffer in the cold?"
Soren slammed his wooden cup on the flat table in front of him with more force than his drunk state should have allowed.
The sound was loud and violent.
"You’re not here to dictate for me, are you?" Soren said, his words becoming clearer as anger cut through his intoxication. "You’re just going to bear my cubs for me as much as I want."
He paused, his eyes becoming darker.
"I wanted to send you to the outcasts since you were a thorn in my life," Soren continued, his voice filled with venom. "Thinking you could control me. Thinking you could make me accept you helping my people. Turning my brother against me like some kind of witch."
"I never did any of that," Neve said firmly, trying to keep his voice steady.
Soren stood up from his chair suddenly, swaying slightly as he balanced himself.
He started walking toward Neve with deliberate steps.
Aldric immediately wanted to stand between Neve and Soren, his protective instinct kicking in. But Neve’s grip around Aldric’s hand tightened sharply, signaling him to stay still and not interfere.
Soren got close to Neve, invading his personal space completely.
He slid his hand up Neve’s arm, moving slowly and deliberately. His fingers traced up to Neve’s chin and tilted his head up so he could look directly into Neve’s golden eyes.
His thumb slowly slid over Neve’s bottom lip as he grinned, his breath reeking of alcohol.
"You sure are very pretty for a man with a female scent," Soren whispered, his voice low and filled with possessiveness.
Neve tried to pull away but Soren’s grip was firm.
"I belong to your brother," Neve said, his voice steady despite his fear. "I can’t let you claim me. Cael would never allow it."
"Would you watch me?" Soren asked, his hand sliding down from Neve’s chin to his neck.
He moved lower, his touch becoming more possessive and invasive.
"How about I mark you right here," Soren said, his hand sliding down to Neve’s wrist which he yanked up forcefully. "Right now."
He drew his face close to Neve’s arm, starting to nuzzle against the skin where no other bond mark was showing. The spot was bare and unmarked. It was perfect for claiming.
His lips began to part, preparing to bite down and mark Neve as his own.
"Don’t you dare," Neve said, his voice sharp and filled with absolute rejection.
He yanked his arm back, trying to break free from Soren’s grip. But the leopard chief was stronger. Soren’s hand was tightly wrapped around his arm, holding him in place.
"Trust me, I’ll make sure it doesn’t hurt," Soren said, dragging his lips closer to Neve’s arm.
He was just about to open his mouth and sink his teeth into Neve’s skin when Neve reacted on pure instinct.
He used his knee and immediately hit Soren right between his legs. The strike was precise and powerful.
It connected directly with Soren’s genitals.
Soren screamed, a high pitched sound of pure pain and shock. He immediately pulled away from Neve, his body doubling over as he crashed down to his knee on the floor.
"You little," he gritted through his teeth, his body convulsing with pain.
"Hey! Make him kneel!" Soren commanded the guard, his voice filled with rage despite his compromised position.
The guard pulled the sharp weapon out immediately, preparing to attack Neve.
But Aldric reacted faster.
The shy bear beastman grabbed the guard by his hair with both hands, yanking him backward with incredible force. The guard flew backward, completely unprepared for the sudden attack.
Aldric crashed him to the ground with his full body weight on top of him.
Then Aldric slammed his fist into the guard’s chest with all the strength his bear form could provide. There was a loud crack as ribs broke under the force of the punch.
The man coughed up blood, his body going limp as the wind was knocked out of him.
Aldric looked at Neve, concern filling his eyes.
"Neve, are you alright?" Aldric asked, his voice filled with worry.
Neve slowly turned his head to look at Aldric.
But when he did, something was different about his expression. Something had changed in his eyes. The golden color seemed to shift and darken.
"Neve?" a new voice said through Neve’s lips "So, that’s his name," he said, confusion crossing his face as he stared at his own body.. "I warned you."
The voice was different and older. It was the voice that had been inside Neve’s head since that night in the kitchen.
The original owner.
He smirked, looking back at Soren who was still on his knees, clutching his damaged genitals in pain.
"I’ll take back my body," the voice said calmly.
Aldric froze.
He could sense it now. The shift in power. The change in presence. This was not Neve anymore. This was someone else. Someone using Neve’s body but speaking with a different voice. A different consciousness.
Aldric took a step back, his protective instinct warring with his confusion and fear.
"Who are you?" Aldric asked, his voice shaking slightly.