Three days went by and Sydney didn't get an ounce of sleep as she took care of Caden diligently. Lucky for her, the city witch master had returned and he gave Sydney medicinal herbs that she used throughout Caden's treatment.
Another development in those three days was that many males came to visit Sydney's home with food and crystals to woo her but they hadn't seen her for the past three days. Ken was playing guard at home and kept all beastmen away from their home.
"I feel alot better now Sydney...you should rest as well!" Caden helplessly said to Sydney.
"Sleep now! Don't anger me to death!" Sydney had become a mother hen and she was extremely protective of Caden.
"But I'm a sixth rank beastman now! I'm strong!" he boasted. Honestly speaking, it was bizarre for Caden to raise two ranks that easily! Even the witch master was in shock about this whole development. Ranking up took alot of training and resilience against harsh conditions and near death experiences yet it seemed like Caden got that without having to lift a finger!
"I'll beat you to a two rank beastman if you step out of that bed!" Sydney threatened with a hiss. Caden was out of options and lay back down. He didn't want to anger her anymore!
"Sydney, a female named Sia is here to see you!" Shawn came to tell Sydney. He was carrying a bowl of the green herbs they applied on Caden to aid his healing.
Sydney was surprised and immediately went to see Sia. It had been three days since she had last seen her. In the front yard, Sia stood there with five beastmen accompanying her. She was Sydney come out of the beautiful house and she called out happily.
"Sydney!" she ran over.
Sydney ran to and the two hugged. When they withdrew from the hug, they laughed. "It's been a while!" Sydney said and noticed something on Sia's body. They were tattoo drawings of different beasts.
"Oh...those are my mate's marks." Sia said happily and Sydney was surprised.
"That soon?!" she was stumped.
"Haha...while they provide for me, they also need assurance and this is what I can do for them." Sia said softly. She had agreed to mate with her chosen males. Having been bought from her village, she had a single mate whome she loved dearly back home but he was killed during a raid. Along with two other of her pursuers that she was yet to mate with....it hurt her so much and she learnt the value of the male beastmen.
She had balmed herself for the death of her mate as she believed that if she had more mates, then they'd have protected eachother.
Sydney looked back at the gruff looking beastmen and greeted them with a smile then dragged Sia over to the seat under the tree and the two sat.
"How's your mate doing??" Sia asked worriedly.
"He's been improving well and he should be up and about anytime soon!" Sydney said with delight.
"I'm glad he's fine. I was worried about you since you cried alot on the bonfire night." Sia sighed.
"I was only being a cry baby." laughed with embarrassment washing over her face. "Though he was in pain, he kept laughing at me..I didn't know beastmen were so thick skinned!" Sydney pouted feeling aggrieved.
"Hahah ....he was too happy to mind the pain because you care! Anyway, how come you haven't mated with your them?" Sia asked innocently. She admired the compassion Sydney had for her males but didn't understand why she wasn't giving them status.
"Um...they are not saying anything..." Sydney said her eyes darting around sheepishly. She knew mating involved her having sex with these men. She didn't detest the idea but she still had some unsettled feelings running rampant within her.
"Huh?" Sia was confused. "What do you mean?"
"They are not saying anything about mating." Sydney mumbled softly not wanting to be heard.
"Then you talk about it. Unless you haven't gone into heat before. But if you have, then you should consider mating soon since the mating season is coming up!" Sia lectured. If Sydney didn't utilise this chance, then she'd have to wait till next year to get off springs.
Sydney fell silent for a short while. "Won't it look weird talking about mating?!" Sydney wanted to cry. She was the only woman in the house and no matter how she tried, she couldn't see herself in a position talking about sex with four men! "Besides, though I'm not against mating, it feels too rushed. I've just know them for barely a fortnight."
Haha...I see where the issue is. Let me let you in on a secret..you see, the male beastmen are innocent as long as they aren't influenced by their peers and I can assure you, they won't talk about mating if you don't ever bring it up. First they fear to annoy you since they believe that if a female who leads the family doesn't bring up a subject, they have no right to bring it up. Secondly, if you don't mate with them, then be prepared to have them sticking to your side all day and all night throughout the year. Also, beastmen are genuine with their feelings, if they dedicate their life to you, then it's you for life. They can't like any other female until they die." Sia explained. "They honestly like you and will do everything for you but what about them? Isn't it unfair? You support them openly and even get intimate with them openly, why not give them a status?"
"So I need to talk about it!" Sydney listened to everything Sia said. It was ten days since she came to this place and Caden, Shawn, Ash and Ken had stuck to her side like glue. They did everything for her without question and went to hunt food for her as well. They made clothes and offered her protection. She was indeed being unfair yet at the same time, she felt like it was all rushed. She needed more time! She knew they were good people but...she didn't find it in herself to sleep with them for that reason.
"Yes!" Sia grinned seeing Sydney was seriously considering the matter. "I'll see you tomorrow. Hope you succeed." she stood up and bid farewell. She was still in the honeymoon phase with her five mates!
Lunch time came and everyone was having their lunch silently. Sydney who was usually talkative was the most silent which made the four males feel tense and they kept looking at eachother worriedly. But no one dared to say a word except for Caden of course!
"Sydney is something the matter?" Caden asked as he put more meat in her bowl.
With a sigh, Sydney chewed her meat with grievances written all over her face. She had promised to contribute her best during her stay but she didn't get any reassurance about returning to earth.
Yes, these men were exceptionally handsome and she was attracted to them like the opposite sex would be but honestly, she had no romantic feelings for them. That aside, how was she going to pick one man, sleep with him today, then pick another for tomorrow then the following day...her conscious mind was failing her! She raised her green eyes and scanned through them then sighed defeatedly. Her innocence was on the line!
In the evening, she went to find Sia. "I failed!" she slumped on the animal skin that was on the floor.
Sia laughed. "Pick your most desired male and begin. You won't have to do much and just lead him on. The rest will be his!"
"It's too soon!" Sydney cried.
"Then start slow. Invite them to sleep in your room one at a time and when you feel like it's right...you can mate." Sia advised.
At home
"Do you know why Sydney is like that?!" Ken asked feeling troubled. He was used to seeing a strong and decisive Sydney but today, she seemed like she had alot on her mind but she couldn't say it.
"And if we ask her, I don't think she will tell us but if we ask her friend, she can tell us the problem!" Caden said.
"I agree. Her friend can tell us!" Ash added. He also wanted to know what her problem was.
Coming to an agreement, they waited until Sydney returned home along with Shawn. Ken and Ash went to ask Sydney's friend.
Outside Sia's home.
"City lord....how may I help you?!" A tiger beastman asked. He was the one on night guard.amf one of Sia's mates.
"Our female has been to your home. We want to ask your female what is troubling our female." Ken said.
"Oh..that....city lord, if I may speak....I overheard the females speak in the evening."
"About what?!" Ash asked with a frown.
"Your female was worried about mating and my female told her to take it slow." the Tiger beastman spoke immediately seeing that the city lord was unhappy.
The corner of Ash's lips twitched as the message sunk in. Sydney wanted to mate with them? Did that mean that she loved them? Or that she was willing to stay in the beast world with them! And form a family! Oh beast god!!!
"What else did our female ask? What was her conclusion?!" Ken asked excitedly. He was finally going to mate with Sydney!!!
"She agreed to mate with you guys soon." The Tiger beastman answered dutifully. As a male, he was equally happy for his fellow beastmen. Those that found females were considered the luckiest males alive! And for her to give them status was a previlege that came once in a lifetime!
Ash and Ken returned home in silence each with thoughts of his own. Sydney had finished washing up and went to her nicely made bed.The door to her room was pushed open and four dashing men walked in.
"Why are you guys here?!" she asked with a laugh as she lay on her bed.
"I've come to wish you a good night." Shawn said innocently and walked over. He pecked her forehead with a smooch and stepped aside.
She thanked Shawn with a smile and the rest all did the same. After deliberating on the matter of mating while she relaxed in the shower, Sydney decided to sit and talk this matter out with these men the next day. "Oh ..I have a very important matter to address tomorrow morning. Please be there, all of you " she said calmly despite the current state of her heart. It was beating crazily from within.
Hearing her talk of an important matter, Ken could hardly keep his excitement. "Can't you talk about it now?!" he asked. He had taken a shower on his way back and eaten extra food for enough stamina for mating. He was exceptionally prepared and couldn't wait till tomorrow.
"NO!" Sydney's answer was strong that it couldn't be refuted at all.
With no choice left, the four men retreated to their rooms but barely any of them were able to sleep!
In the middle of the night, lightening stuck and a loud thunder raged in the sky. Like the sky was being peeled apart, a heavy down pour blessed the beast city announcing the arrival of the mating season!