#22

I blinked in disbelief, unable to hide my astonishment. As I had feared, Zerakiel was truly an unpredictable guy.

I couldn’t understand his psychology at all, especially when he seemed to enjoy being hit.

Ivan, with his expression now shattered, sighed dramatically.

“Was it like that? Please let me know such things sooner. I almost pledged my eternal loyalty.”

“Everyone, leave.”

Zerakiel commanded, clearly uninterested in indulging Ivan’s complaints. Ivan sighed deeply and gestured to me.

“Let’s go, Miss ChiChi.”

I was about to follow them out when Zerakiel flashed a sly smile and warned,

“ChiChi stays.”

“But now that she’s transformed, sharing a room is too… perfect. It would be more comfortable for Miss ChiChi as well. Right? See, she agrees.”

Ivan, playing both roles in the conversation, quickly led Melina to the door.

Wait, what about my opinion?

* * *

With the noisy Ivan gone, Zerakiel finally had ChiChi all to himself.

He stared at the hand he held, lost in thought. Her skin was as white as her hair, capturing his gaze.

‘It looks like it would break if I applied too much pressure.’

Her soft, slender wrist was still delicate, not much different from when she was a weasel.

Though her body had grown, she still looked fragile and in need of protection.

ChiChi’s pheromones felt more stable now that she had successfully transformed into a human.

The sweet pheromones that had made him feel intoxicated just hours ago had vanished like a seasoned predator. Only a faint, sweet scent lingered.

It was the first time he had ever felt so overwhelmed by another’s pheromones. They had the power to neutralize even the top-tier seductive pheromones, known for their exclusivity.

He wasn’t sure whether it was fortunate or unfortunate that they hadn’t fully manifested yet. If anyone discovered this power, they would surely target her.

Due to her incomplete transformation, her pheromones occasionally spiked unexpectedly. It was only a matter of time before other beastmen noticed.

What should he do?

Zerakiel impulsively brought her wrist to his nose. Her skin, covered with his pheromones, emitted a faint sweet scent.

If her pheromones couldn’t be hidden, he needed to take measures to ensure no one dared to approach her. After all, ChiChi was his.

ChiChi looked at him with wary eyes and asked,

“What are you doing…?”

“You smell sweet.”

“What?”

“I’m trying to figure out what to do about it.”

Zerakiel smiled languidly and pressed her wrist gently, as if marking his territory. Her pheromones responded weakly to his touch.

It was hard to believe this was the same pheromone that had overwhelmed him last night. The reaction was so faint that even he couldn’t discern its true nature.

Despite this, he wanted to experience that feeling again. Her pheromones were that captivating.

No, maybe it was ChiChi who was captivating.

Zerakiel couldn’t determine whether his instincts were driven by hunger, possessiveness, or simple curiosity.

I couldn’t hide my astonishment, blinking in disbelief. Zerakiel was truly an enigma.

I had already realized that my behavior towards ChiChi was excessive, even if it was just because of her pheromones.

I should have let her suffer, as there was no need to alleviate her pain at such a risk.

It was ChiChi’s fault for wandering around Hebel so recklessly. If she had died, it would have been an unavoidable consequence.

But seeing ChiChi in pain made me anxious, and I couldn’t help but intervene. These feelings were unfamiliar and unsettling.

Our journey together had started out of simple curiosity. I had taken her in because I wanted to, but the closer I got, the more inexplicably attached I became.

It never felt like I had her under control. Instead, it felt like I was the one caught in her grasp. The fact that I didn’t mind this was the most intriguing part.

Thinking about Heathcliff playing with ChiChi on the grass made my mood plummet. Right now, Heathcliff was probably my biggest threat, especially since ChiChi seemed particularly comfortable around him.

“Don’t you have something to say to me?”

Zerakiel’s eyes narrowed as he questioned her, and ChiChi averted her gaze. She knew exactly what he was referring to.

“I-I was just going out for a bit. I even left a note.”

“Ah, so you confidently went out for a stroll with a hyena?”

“I didn’t know I was being followed!”

ChiChi protested indignantly. It only made Zerakiel more irritated.

Who does he think he is to follow ChiChi?

Zerakiel struggled with the rising wave of unpleasant emotions. He brought ChiChi’s wrist to his lips and asked in a confirming tone,

“So, did he bite you too?”

Depending on her answer, someone might end up flying to heaven.

Seeing Zerakiel’s fierce demeanor, ChiChi broke into a cold sweat.

She didn’t understand what had upset him so much, but she knew this answer was crucial.

“…No, he didn’t bite me.”

“Really?”

“Yeah! You told me not to let anyone else bite me. You said only you could bite!”

From the start, Zerakiel was the only one who demanded that she let him bite her. Ivan was the type to dodge quickly before any blows could land.

What exactly goes on in that beautiful head of his?

If given the chance, she would love to peek inside that pretty head of his.

At that moment, Zerakiel flashed a radiant smile. His golden eyes sparkled with a honey-like sweetness.

“Yes. From now on, only I can bite you.”

Without warning, he bit her wrist hard, as if it had been his intention all along. It was a deliberate act, marking her as his own.

* * *

Meanwhile, representatives from the families of the East, West, South, and North had all arrived in Hebel.

It was rare for these influential figures to gather in one place, but ever since the territorial dispute that caused great turmoil in the past, they convened quarterly to solidify alliances and friendships.

The meetings were always held in Hebel to prevent potential bloodshed, as Hebel was a neutral territory that did not side with any faction.

Devon, the head of the Page family from the North, greeted Zakari, the representative from the South.

“It’s been a while.”

“Were we ever on such friendly terms that we needed to greet each other?”

Zakari, looking annoyed, dismissed Devon, who shrugged.

“At least in Hebel, we are.”

Outside Hebel, who knows?

Zakari chuckled at Devon’s thinly veiled honesty. It was amusing to see him inadvertently reveal his true feelings.

Although they called it a gathering for friendship, it was essentially a venue for surveillance and espionage. The Jabisi family, known for their powerful pheromones, was always the prime target of other families’ scrutiny.

Especially with the Page family, their relationship was particularly strained. The most intense territorial disputes had occurred between the North and South regions.

As Zakari’s expression hardened, Devon smirked and muttered,

“Don’t take it so harshly. If you keep that up, people might think you want to repeat the past.”

Devon’s blatant provocation made Zakari raise an eyebrow, revealing his irritation.

The fact that Devon knew Jabisi was the main cause of the great chaos made his words sting even more.

The great chaos had erupted because the head of the Jabisi family, consumed by madness, went on a rampage that the direct descendants couldn’t quell. This unexpected outbreak had occurred so suddenly that the cause of the early rampage still hadn’t been determined.

Zakari shot a cold look at Devon, trying to gauge his intentions. Judging by Devon’s expression, it didn’t seem like he knew anything specific. If he did, he wouldn’t be so composed.

In reality, the Jabisi family had a garden that only direct descendants could access. Known as the Secret Garden, it housed a horrifying legacy passed down through generations.

Within that garden bloomed the flower of madness, known as the “Flower of Frenzy” (狂亂花). This flower was a toxic presence to all Jabisis, slowly consuming their lives. Like a curse that followed them through the ages, this beautiful yet sinister flower was the root cause of the Jabisi’s madness.