Sydney kept her pointed look at Caden till he was literally squirming in place. "Don't be mad okay?! You can tell them or leave once they return...me and Shawn will do as you wish." he looked at her with an indulgent expression.
"They shall have to first participate during the bonfire as well. They've helped me so I won't make it difficult for them." She said and went to sit herself down.
"In my former world, a female can only be with one male...I told you about it before..." she sighed. "I don't know about having romantic feelings for them...I really don't know how that's going to work out.."
"Feelings can grow over time. You don't have to push yourself to love someone." Caden came and sat on the ground. He took her feet wrapped in skin boots and took the shoes off. He busied himself with massaging her legs as they had this heartfelt talk.
"What if I accept someone who I can't love afterwards...won't I be unfair to him?!"
"Well, of all females in this city, you are one who worries about that." he gave her a smile for being considerate. " When we chose a female to love, mere acceptance by her is enough and considered great. Not all males a female takes in get to enjoy the previleges, the female's most favourite male is one of the few."
"So I have to mate with all the males I chose?!" her hairs stood as she looked at him incredulously.
"For the sake of establishing a mate bond..yes you have to but can choose not to. If the males insist on staying then they become guardian beasts which is the second best option for any male alive."
"Guardian beast?" Sydney asked with confusion.
"A guardian beast is also considered part of the females family but they can do everything like a female's mate except mating with her. They can't have off springs and in most cases won't be noticed by their female."
"That's cruel!" Sydney felt a prick of pain to her chest. It's like using someone and not showing gratitude for their efforts at the very end.
"It is indeed cruel but those are the rules our world was built up on. With few females around and thousands of male beasts, it's only natural for something like this to happen." He placed her fully massaged feet back into their boots and looked up at her.
"You are different from other females bought from the smaller tribes out there. You'll get to do what you want without anyone saying otherwise. If it had been up to me, I also wouldn't want you taking in other males but I can't. You are too beautiful to have few males around you." He meant that if she kept only two males, the ones that felt bitter about being left out would surely conive and kill her present males secretly and then another bonfire would be established for her to choose other mates. He wanted to be selfish but he knew that wouldn't get him anywhere..even with his title as the eagle prince.
Some beastmen wouldn't give a fuck about his position and try to kill him to take his place and so the best option was to bend his possessiveness and allow potential mates to showcase their talents to her so that she could chose more mates.
Sydney understood his point and felt heavy in the chest. Ash is fine to her but Ken was so arrogant and he dared to insult Shawn?! She was a person that held onto grudges for a long long time. "Shawn will decide if Ken stays or leaves." she spoke shocking Caden. "As for the city lord, I'll decide and tell you." she relented after organising her thoughts and emotions.
"Okay.." Caden smiled at her for considering and not becoming bitter and all.
"I want to go visit the other females to play and make some friends." she said and lay on the sofa. She needed to eat first since she had ran away from the her room at the city Hall without eating anything.
"Ash should be back soon. I'll cook you a healthy breakfast!" he promised with a smile. "Oh right..I've been meaning to ask you..have you gone into your estrous cycle yet?!" he asked.
"Huh?" Sydney turned to him. She knew that was a cycle among animals..why was he asking her that?! She had periods not estrous cycle!
"The mating season is coming soon. We were wondering who is going to get....this c...chance....as..the birth rate is low...all chances must be utilized. What I mean...our pregnancy periods aren't too long....and it's..um.. easier to give birth....so, the chanc..chance.. shouldn't be wasted....um..." Caden nearly bit off his tongue as he stammered.
They had discussed this matter last night while she was asleep and Caden who was her favourite was tasked with the duty of asking her. He didn't know it'd be this tough! He was usually composed around her but when he thought of mating with her and her baring her children, his sense and emotions went into a frenzy. Even as he spoke, his tough expression couldn't hide the flush on his face. He was very red!
Sydney had guessed this but she also had a life to return to. Can she afford to produce children?! If she did and then she had to go back to earth..what would happen to her children?! That aside, if she took them back with her, they'd be considered mutants and end up in lab facilities to be tortured and tormented yet she couldn't bring herself to leave them behind.
Is it necessary to give birth?!" she asked sadly.
You don't have to if you don't want to. We will do as you want." Caden said seeing her expression looking pale to some point.
I have periods so...I guess I'm already at my cycle." Sydney answered his first question bringing a bright smile to Caden's face.
That's great! That's good!" he beamed. Since she was already of age, he and the others didn't have to worry, as matters concerning mating and birthing off springs would he discussed later!
Shawn in his wolf form sprinted into the room with a skin bag on his back. He softly growled at Sydney and ran off to the second floor to organise her room.
On cue, Ash too returned with nicely cut and cleaned meat. He walked straight to the kitchen and Caden followed dutifully. Ken soon walked into the house with a skin bag full of various fruits. He looked over to the kitchen but didn't go there.