They were halfway back to the village when exhaustion finally hit him.
Hei Yan had been awake for.…..how long? Two days? More?
His legs felt very heavu, and a thunderous ache had began to form in his head. But he couldn't stop moving. Not now, not when he was so close.
But.…..
Wait.
A horrible, terrible thought crashed into his brain.
How long have I been gone?
He tried to think. Left yesterday morning. Searched all day. Tracked the cub through the night. Reached Snake territory at dawn. Spent HOURS in that standoff...
A day and a half.
Maybe more.
Oh no.
Feng Huang.
FENG HUANG.
That smug, handsy, inappropriately-attractive Tiger Alpha was still at the village.
With Xin Yi.
Alone.
For a day and a half.
Hei Yan's heart stopped as images flooded his mind.
Feng Huang smiling at her. Licking her. Touching her. Whispering things in her ear with his voice.
Xin Yi blushing. Laughing. Maybe even—
NO!
His exhaustion vanished, burned away by pure, territorial rage, and he shifted.
His beast exploded out of him with a roar that shook the trees.
"Alpha!" Xiao Hu squeaked.
"RUN HOME!" Hei Yan roared. "NOW!"
The cub didn't need to be told twice. He bolted.
And Hei Yan ran.
Not the careful, measured pace from before.
This was pure speed. Pure panic. Pure MINE MINE MINE.
Trees blurred. The ground disappeared beneath his paws. The wind screamed in his ears.
She's MINE. I found her FIRST. She's MINE.
His beast was in full control now.
One thought. One goal.
GET BACK TO YOUR FEMALE.
The village appeared, but Hei Yan didn't slow down.
He crashed through the underbrush like a meteor, sending birds scattering and smaller animals fleeing in terror.
And then he smelled it.
Tiger scent.
Fresh. Recent. All over EVERYTHING.
His vision went red.
HE ROARED.
The sound split the air like thunder, and every beastman in the clearing froze and looked up in alarm.
"Alpha?!"
"The Alpha is back!"
"Alpha Hei Yan is back!"
Hei Yan ignored all of them, still focused on his goal.
WHERE IS HE?!
His eyes scanned frantically—
There.
Feng Huang.
Lounging outside Xin Yi's palace and looking both relaxed and satisfied.
Oh, Hei Yan was going to murder him!
He launched himself, claws out, teeth bared, fully prepared to rip that stupid Tiger's throat out—
"HEI YAN!"
Xin Yi burst out of the palace, her eyes wide, face flushed.
"HEI YAN, YOU'RE BACK!"
She was running toward him, her face all flushed.
"Are you okay?! Are you hurt?! Where's the cub?!"
She reached him, his massive panther form, and without hesitation, threw her arms around his neck.
"I was so worried!" she said, her voice muffled against his fur. "You were gone so long! I thought something happened!"
Hei Yan's beast.….stuttered, and the murderous rage faltered.
All because she was hugging him.
Worried about him.
Feng Huang was still lounging there, watching with an amused smirk. "Welcome back, Panther. Took you long enough."
Hei Yan growled. This bastard.
Xin Yi pulled back, looking at him with those big, concerned eyes. "Are you hurt? Did you fight? Tell me what happened!"
He shifted back to human form.
And immediately realized three things:
One: He was naked.
Two: Xin Yi was very close.
Three: Feng Huang's scent was all over her.
"What," Hei Yan said slowly, his calm despite the storm in his chest, "did he do?"
"What?" Xin Yi, trying to avoid looking down there, forced herself to look at his face. "You're naked, Hei Yan. Allow me to—"
"Him." Hei Yan's purple eyes locked onto Feng Huang, ignoring what she said. "What did the Tiger do while I was gone?"
"Oh!" Xin Yi's face turned pink. "Nothing! He just.….visited. We talked. That's all."
"That's all?"
"Yes! I was worried about you, so he kept me company—"
"He kept you company."
"Hei Yan, why do you sound angry?"
"I'M NOT ANGRY!"
He was definitely angry.
Feng Huang stood up, stretching lazily. "Don't worry, Panther. I behaved myself." His smile was pure mischief. "Mostly."
"MOSTLY?!"
"HEI YAN!" Xin Yi grabbed his arm. "Calm down! You just got back! You need rest! And you need to cover up! Food! Tell me about the cub!"
The cub.
Right.
Hei Yan forced himself to take a breath. "The cub is safe. I retrieved him. He's over there."
"Oh, thank god." Xin Yi's shoulders sagged with relief. "I am so glad. Come on, let's get you cleaned up….and dressed up. You look exhausted."
She took his hand. Hei Yan shot the Tiger Alpha a triumphant look.
Feng Huang just smiled back. Unbothered.
This isn't over, that smile said.
Xin Yi tugged him toward the palace. "Come on. I'll make you food. You must be starving."
Hei Yan followed, but not before growling one more time at Feng Huang.
Mine.
~
[System Notification to Xin Yi]
[Ooh! Alpha is JEALOUS! (≧▽≦)]
[This is going to be FUN! ☆]