Ken's eye twitched when the topic Sydney had asked him to talk with Shawn sunk in. Caden stood at the side and looked at Ken who was silent.
"Ken, what Sydney said is right because what you did was indeed disrespectful. You trying to degrade Shawn was wrong of you. Sydney decided this way because she doesn't want hatred to grow inconspicuously among us. She said that all emotions are justified but hate is something too big to let go by."
"I was only saying the truth!!!" Ken bellowed in anger.
"It is the truth but that doesn't justify the insults. So it's going to be easy...one, apologize to Shawn, bury this matter forever and receive Sydney's approval or two, let your pride get the better of you and lose a place in this home. Sydney is a complex female and different from the females we've grown up seeing." Caden said his voice stern.
"I have no issue with Ken." Shawn said his blind eyes settling where Ken was seated.
"No, you do have!" Caden insisted on what Sydney had said. It's true that Shawn hardly reacted but that didn't mean he wasn't hurt or affected by those words. "That's why Sydney suggested this method to resolve this issue before it grows."
"Then let's duel." Shawn stood up from where he sat and looked at Caden. "We will duel tomorrow at noon. Do you object?!" Shawn asked Ken who shook his head and replied with a smirk. "I'm fine with the duel." Males always settled their differences by dueling and sometimes to the point of death!
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Sydney laughed when Camelia cracked a joke, the girls company was comfortable. "Oh, I've been meaning to ask...how old are you guys?!" Sydney asked. Since of all the females here, most of them had mates and has birthed either two or three litters of cubs or hatchlings.
"I'm seventeen." Camelia replied with a smile shocking Sydney who looked dumbfounded. "What?!!" Sydney shrieked out loud.
"Why are you shocked? It's a normal occasion. Once a female goes into heat, she's considered old enough. Also the birth rate is very low so it's the females responsibility to ensure that our population doesn't drop. It'd be very risky!" Camelia explained in detail to Sydney who was wide open in shock as she absorbed the information.
She had her period at 12 years and that means had she been from around here, she'd have given birth to hundreds of babies!!! She thanked heavens that she came here when she was old enough! Giving birth at 12 would be fatal!!!
"Umm have you gone into heat yet?!" one of the females asked drawing Sydney's attention back to them. Looking up, Sydney realised that everyone was looking at her, she laughed nervously but that didn't bail her out of the question. From the corner of her eye, she caught a few males looking her way and they seemed extremely attentive. It was only then she realised that the place had become as silent as a grave and all eyes on her!
'Why's the atmosphere this serious?!' Sydney thought but looked at Camelia who was looking at her expectantly. "Yes." She answered and Camelia smiled.
"That's great! Once your fire banquet is done, you can mate and birth your own little ones. It's even great since it's the mating season soon! Your first male would be so lucky!" Camelia and the others gushed with happily while Sydney turned red in embarrassment. She wanted to say that she didn't want to give birth but the atmosphere was filled with jubliation and she didn't want to ruin it. She wasn't a party popper!!
Sydney immediately turned the topic of conversation to prevent herself from being asked unnecessary questions but her questions were extremely foreign that she ended up in a classroom session explaining to her friends what she meant.
The topic of hobbies or work was so foreign and her friends seemed confused and not happy about it but after explaining, they found the topic extremely intriguing that they caged Sydney to talk more about it!
Only when it was past noon and Camelia and the others mates come to take them to eat did Sydney stop talking nearly panting.
Ash also came from his hiding spot his aura startling many beastmen who looked his way and observed him. It was widely known that Ash liked his alone time best and that's why his appearance was of great astonishment. On the other hand, the females were in awe looking at Ash the city lord. He was the most formidable male alive and he was very good looking. The bad side to him was that no female could cajole him into joining their families but with his likeable personality, despite his blunt refusal to various proposals, that didn't stop many females from dreaming of having him in their families.
In the black skin skirt Sydney had personally made for him, his somber emerald eyes looked at her softly like he was the centre of his world. He walked over with a predatory elegance till he was standing right before Sydney "It's time for your afternoon snack." his voice was cool but had a doting tone to it. It's already past her afternoon snack time but he hated interrupting her play time with the other females.
Camelia looked at Sydney in shock!
Sydney smiled shyly towards Ash. He was extremely handsome and his arm muscles rippled sexily. This man oozed of sexual appeal without even trying like an elegant cat and Sydney felt the butterflies in her stomach flutter.
Everyone looked at Sydney in shock!!!
What did the city lord mean?!
"Oh...it's already lunch time! Let's go!" Sydney cleared her throat and exclaimed diverting her gaze from Ash who was looking at her with a raised brow. She didn't pay attention to the expressions of the people around. "Camelia..see you tomorrow!" Sydney bid her farewell and led the way back home, more like escaping from assaulting this man before her. This physical attraction was driving her mad!
Ash smiled as if knowing what was going on in her mind and followed behind her his eyes locked on her back. "Have you had fun playing today?" Ash asked wanting to have small talk with her.
Feeling her face heat up, Sydney chided herself and turned to look at him with a faint smile and walked backwards with her hands locked at her lower back so she could look at him. "I made friends and they were really nice!" she said.
"I'm happy for you!" Ash have her a soft smile and Sydney was compelled to give him a bigger smile. This man looked heavenly when he smiled and Sydney wanted to admire it a little bit more however, since she wasn't looking where she was going, she stumbled on a stone and yelped as she fell backwards.
Ash who had been keen on observing her had gotten lost in her angelic smile but when she let out a surprises cry, he rushed forward and held her before she fell down.
Sydney who had willed her self for the fall felt a strong mascular arms wrap around her and pulled her back only for her to crash into a hard warm chest. A choco mint scent lingered and it seemed to come from Ash. Her hands that were plastered on his bare chest felt a strong erratic heart beat and immense heat come from him.
"Are you alright?!" Ash asked worriedly but since he couldn't see her small face, he got flustered.
Sydney came back to earth and nodded. This intimate proximity was messing with her and despite wanting to escape, his firm hold around her waist made it impossible to break free.
Ash asked no more and hoisted her up in his arms like a princess startling Sydney whose arms went around his neck to support herself. He rushed home and in a few strides, they were right infront of their home. Caden who was waiting for Sydney to return saw her in Ash's arms and ran out to see what happened to her.
"What's wrong?!" he asked frantically as his eyes scanned Sydney's frail body. Sydney was one that enjoyed walking around instead of riding on her males backs. Seeing her being held in Ash's arms only meant something had happened!
"She stumbled and almost fell but I caught her! We need to check where she's hurt!" Ash explained and walked into the home with haste steps.
Shawn was in the kitchen when he heard that Sydney almost fell. Putting aside what he was doing, he got the 'medicine kit' like Sydney had called it which he had filled up with herbs and rushed to the sitting room.
Sydney on the other hand was speechless! Why were these men overreacting!!?? She didn't get to think further and was placed in the seat gently. When they saw her red face, they associated it to pain and immediately, Caden took off her boots to check her feet.
Shawn didn't ask much and got the medicine bowl and started grinding it. He couldn't see and there was no scent of blood so he could only anxiously make sure the medicine was ready.
"Where does it hurt?!" Caden asked after confirming that her feet were fine.
"I'm fine. I was being reckless and ended up stumbling." She said ashamed.