Hei Yan's growl deepened, vibrating through his chest like distant thunder. His eyebrows furrowed as he glared at the Tiger Alpha. "I have said she is mine. Back off, Feng Huang."
The Tiger Alpha's golden eyes twinkled, he clearly found the unfolding scene funny. He took one more glance at Xin Yi, and smiled, his sharp canines peeking through.
"And I have said, I do not see a mark anywhere on her pretty little neck." Feng Huang's voice was pure bedroom eyes in vocal form. How promiscous indeed! He walked closer to them, ignoring the way Hei Yan pushed Xin Yi back in a protective stance. "What shall we do?"
Xin Yi's hand flew to her neck. "Mating mark? What's a mating—"
[Oh no. Host is in TROUBLE now! (╯°□°)╯]
"A bite," Feng Huang explained, his smile widening. "Right here." He touched his own neck, right at the junction where shoulder met throat. "When a male claims a female, he marks her. It tells everyone else that she's taken. Bonded. Off-limits."
He leaned closer, and Xin Yi caught a whiff of smoke and spice. "But she doesn't have one. Which means…..." His grin was pure, distilled mischief. "She's still fair game."
"She is NOT—" Hei Yan started.
"Why?" Feng Huang interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "Why haven't you marked her yet, Hei Yan? It's been what, two days since you found her? That's more than enough time." His eyes sparkled. "Unless... she refused you?"
The gathered beastmen from both clans started murmuring. Xin Yi could feel dozens of eyes on her, curious, speculative...hungry.
"I—we—" Hei Yan's jaw clenched. "It's complicated."
"Complicated?" Feng Huang laughed. "There's nothing complicated about it. You bite. She accepts. Done." He looked at Xin Yi, his gaze intense. "So why hasn't he bitten you, little female?"
Xin Yi's brain short-circuited. "Because—because I don't even know him! We just met!"
Dead silence.
Every single beastman stared at her like she had just spoken in an alien language.
Feng Huang blinked. "You... just met?"
"Yes! Two days ago! That's not enough time to—to commit to someone for LIFE!"
"Two days is more than enough," one of the Tiger males called out. "My father marked my mother within an hour!"
"My grandfather marked my grandmother before she even opened her eyes!" another chimed in.
Xin Yi's eye twitched. "That's—that's KIDNAPPING!"
[Host, I don't think they understand what kidnapping means. (◕‿◕)]
Feng Huang's expression shifted from amused to intrigued. "You're.…..different from other females." He stepped even closer, forcing Hei Yan to bare his teeth. "Most females would be honored to be marked by an Alpha. But you're hesitating. Why?"
"Because where I come from, people DATE before they get MARRIED!"
"Date?" Feng Huang repeated slowly, testing the word. "What is.…..date?"
"It's—" Xin Yi floundered. "It's when two people spend time together to see if they're compatible before committing!"
The Tiger Alpha's eyes lit up. "Ah. A trial period." He nodded thoughtfully. "I see. So you want to test Hei Yan before accepting his mark."
"Yes! Exactly!"
"Then I demand the same opportunity."
Xin Yi froze. "What?"
Feng Huang spread his hands. "If you're testing males before choosing, then it's only fair that I get tested too." His smile was devastating. "After all, how do you know Hei Yan is the best choice if you don't compare?"
"WHAT?!" Hei Yan's voice was a roar. "Absolutely not!"
"Why not?" Feng Huang's expression was all innocence. "You haven't marked her. She has the right to choose. Or..." His voice fell to a lethal whisper. "Are you saying she doesn't have a choice? That you're forcing her?"
The atmosphere shifted instantly. The Panther Clan members tensed. The Tiger Clan bristled. Hei Yan looked trapped. Because Feng Huang had just publicly accused him of forcing a female, one of the greatest taboos in the Beast World.
Xin Yi could feel the tension crackling like lightning about to strike. One wrong word and these two Alphas would be tearing into each other.
"WAIT!" she shouted, stepping between them. "Wait wait wait! Everyone just CALM DOWN!"
Both Alphas stared at her.
"Nobody is forcing me to do anything!" She glared at Feng Huang. "And YOU—" She pointed at him. "—can't just demand a trial! That's not how it works!"
"Then how does it work?" he asked, genuinely curious.
Xin Yi's mind raced. She needed to de-escalate this situation before it turned into a bloodbath. And she needed to buy herself time before Hei Yan tried to bite her neck like some kind of vampire.
[Hint: Make up some rules! Fast! ☆]
"There's a process!" she blurted out. "A formal process!"
"What kind of process?" Hei Yan demanded.
"A... a..." Xin Yi scrambled. "A courting process! Yes! In my world, males have to prove themselves worthy through proper courtship!"
Feng Huang's eyebrows rose. "Courting? Like.…..bringing gifts?"
"Yes! Gifts! And—and providing for the female's needs! And showing they can protect and care for her!" Xin Yi was making this up as she went. "It's a very civilized tradition!"
"Civilized," Feng Huang repeated, rolling the word around like he was tasting it. "I like that word."
"How long does this.…..courting... take?" Hei Yan asked suspiciously.
"Um..." Xin Yi bit her lip. "It depends on how well the males perform!"
[New Quest Unlocked: Survive Your Own Terrible Idea!]
[Objective: Create courtship rules that keep both Alphas busy and away from your neck!]
[Reward: Temporary peace + 50 System Points]
[Failure: Get marked by an angry panther or adopted by an overly enthusiastic tiger. Or both. (◕‿◕)]
"So," Feng Huang said slowly, a dangerous glint in his eye. "What you're saying is.…..whoever courts you best wins your acceptance?"
"I—" Xin Yi hesitated. Was she really about to do this? "Yes. That's.….that's exactly what I'm saying."
"FINE." Hei Yan crossed his arms. "I accept this challenge."
"As do I." Feng Huang's smile was wolfish. "This should be.…..entertaining."
The two Alphas locked eyes, and Xin Yi could more or less see the sparks flying between them.
Oh no.
What had she just done?
~
That evening, after the Tiger Clan had set up camp nearby (much to the Panthers' displeasure), Xin Yi sat in her little constructed house with her head in her hands.
"I'm so stupid," she muttered. "Why did I open my big mouth?"
[Because Host has a survival instinct! That was actually clever! ☆]
"Clever?! I just started a competition between two Alphas! They're going to kill each other!"
[Probably! But at least they're not fighting over marking rights anymore! ╰(°▽°)╯]
There was a soft knock on her door.
"Little female?" Hei Yan's voice.
She opened the door. He stood there, looking uncomfortable, and he was holding.….something.
"I brought you this." He thrust a bundle into her hands.
It was meat. Raw, bloody meat.
"Um….." Xin Yi stared at it. "Thank you?"
"It's from the fattest deer in the forest," he said proudly. "I hunted it myself. For you."
"That's... very sweet but—"
"And I'll build you a better house tomorrow!" he added quickly. "Bigger than this one! With—with separate rooms! And a place for cooking!"
Xin Yi blinked. "You... you're already courting me?"
His ears turned pink. "The Tiger will try to win you with flashy gifts. But I can provide better. I'll show you." Before she could respond, he leaned down and licked her cheek.
"Sleep well, little female. Dream of me." And then he was gone.
Xin Yi touched her wet cheek, her heart doing weird fluttery things.
[Aww, he's trying! (*≧ω≦)]
"System, what have I gotten myself into?"
[A reverse harem situation, probably! (^▽^)]
"SYSTEM!"
[Just kidding! ...Maybe. ( ̄ω ̄)]