Nick woke up early the next morning and panicked when he noticed Amber was not sleeping next to him. He could tell from the mate bond that she was safe and nearby. He went room by room until he could sense her in Barry's room.
He was a little foggy about last night but remembered them drinking after dinner. He fought with Ray and passed out in his room. He should have waited for Amber.
Now he could tell Amber had another mate. He could smell Barry all over her and he was not happy about it. He suddenly felt like punishing Oliver for even introducing that fruit wine to them.
He left in a huff to find Oliver and vent his frustration. He knew Barry loved Amber and would help protect her. Barry stayed with Eli to help raise him when they returned to Amber's world.
He wasn't mad at Barry or Amber because it was common to have multiple mates. He was jealous that he would have to share her with another mate. He could even follow them to Amber's world if Barry leveled up to his fifth level.
Nick found Oliver sleeping on the kitchen table. Oliver had passed out hugging the bowl of fruit wine. Nick huffed and slapped Oliver on the back of the head.
Oliver woke up with a start and a splitting headache. He almost vomited when he smelled the fruit wine. Nick picked up the bowl and threw it outside. He was not going to allow Amber to drink that ever again!
Oliver started to understand why Nick was so angry when he looked around for Amber and discovered she was sleeping in her new mate's arms.
He tried to leave quietly, but Nick stopped him at the door. "Wake up the others and follow me to the fields." Nick was going to make them work this morning in the hot fields.
It was harvest time and they needed the wheat for flour. He was planning on letting the new Cheetah beast men work in the fields, but today he needed to distract himself.
Oliver woke up Tyler, Tom, and Blue Tang who were all passed out in the living room. They went to the river and splashed the cold water on their faces to wake up.
Ray was not happy to be woken up so early after he was beaten up by Nick last night. Normally he would never challenge Nick since he was 2 levels lower, but the drink gave him courage.
Ray sniffed the air and could smell Barry and Amber's scents mingling together. He was enraged! He had tried to mate with Amber before and failed.
How was the Bear beast man better than him? He was the Wolf King's favorite son. He shouldn't still be a beast guardian. If Amber wasn't going to accept him as her mate maybe it was time to leave and find a new female.
He went to confront Nick. If Nick didn't beat him up till he passed out last night he might have had a chance with Amber instead of that Bear.
"What is your problem with me? Why did you make me pass out last night?" Ray yelled at Nick as he ran up and shoved Nick's chest hard. Nick was ready for another fight and pushed him back.
Ray fell to the ground and looked up at Nick with hatred in his eyes. Nick responded, "You started the fight last night. Don't blame me for finishing it. You shouldn't start fights if you know you can't win."
Ray was angry and embarrassed to be so easily defeated in front of the other mates and beast guardians. He got up and dusted himself off. "If it weren't for you, I may have had a chance with Amber instead of that Bear. What does he have that I don't?"
The others looked at him with pity. It wasn't up to the male to decide who a female chooses. They could only try to gain her love. They knew Ray thought highly of himself because of his father, but that did not matter to Amber.
She wasn't from this beast world and didn't care about status. She had asked all of them to be patient and they had all agreed. Fred was the only other beast guardian and even he didn't feel like Amber owed him anything.
Ray didn't get a response and threw his hands up as he exclaimed, "Forget this! I'm not going to stay in this family with the lowest status. I am the son of the Wolf King. Other females want me as their mate."
Nick watched silently as Ray walked away. He turned to the others and asked, "Does anyone else want to leave? You can leave now." They all shook their heads no and looked at Fred.
He looked around nervously and realized he was the only one who wasn't her mate now. He cleared his voice and told them, "I am happy to be her beast guardian even if she never mates with me. She is my family."
Nick nodded at his answer. He wouldn't allow anyone to pressure Amber into a mate bond. It should be her choice. They had more than enough beast guards to protect Amber.
She was the Cheetah Queen and has all of the Cheetah beast men to protect her. If they needed to go back to the sea, all of the Mermen would protect their Mermaid Queen.
Blue Tang was drying out under the sun and went to the river to get some water. Nick noticed his discomfort and assigned him to water the new seeds. Blue Tang gladly accepted this assignment.
Nick and Fred plowed the field and planted new seeds for the spring harvest. Tom and Tyler flew the harvested wheat back to the castle.
When they returned to the castle Amber was awake. Barry made some tea with honey, fruit, and bread for breakfast.
Amber was happy to eat the breakfast. It helped cure her hangover. Eli came out of his room and was happy to eat the fruit and bread with his mother. He noticed the new bear mark on her shoulder and looked at his Uncle Barry.
Barry noticed Eli's curious gaze and smiled. He nodded at Eli to tell him he was now mated to Amber. Eli was happy. He loved Barry and now they were officially family.
Amber noticed that Ray was not in the castle or with the others when they came back from the field. "Where is Ray? Did you beat him up too much? Is he ok?" Amber asked Nick.
Nick shrugged his shoulders and responded, "He was upset and left." Amber was shocked, "Where did he go?" Nick responded, "He went back to his father's castle. He told us that other females wanted him as their mate."
Amber felt bad that he left angry, but she didn't want to lead them on. She had asked all of them if they were ok being her beast guardian. If he wasn't, then he should have said so like Larry.
She was sad that he left their family, but hoped he could find his mate soon. She wanted them all to be happy. She remembered Fred and asked, "Do you feel that way? Are you upset that I didn't mate with you?"
She didn't want to lead him on. She thought of them all as her family members. She loved them all but wasn't ready to add another mate.
Fred shook his head and looked at Amber shyly. "I am not upset about you and Barry. I am happy as long as you are happy. I will gladly continue to be your beast guardian even if you never accept me as your mate."
Amber blushed when Fred mentioned her mating with Barry. Barry hugged her from behind and her blush turned bright red.
She looked at Fred and responded, "I'm glad you are not upset. I think of you all as my family and want you to be happy even if it's not with me."
Her mates were all quick to respond and promise her they would never leave her. Fred was happy as long as she was happy. He had met a lot of females who looked down on him.
He was small compared to other beast men and not as strong. He mostly foraged for food and would rather burrow or run away from a fight. Amber never treated him like he was lesser than the other beast men.
She didn't care about how strong they were or how they fought. She only wanted their love and care. He would gladly be a part of her family even if he never was officially her mate.
They all went in for a group hug. Amber was a little overwhelmed with emotions. Eli distracted her with a happy dance. She laughed at his dance and went to join him.
Meanwhile in the Wolf Castle...