Ava woke up to find her body meticulously cleaned, but Kael was no longer lying beside her. Sore from head to toe, she rose from the padded bed of soft fur, stretching her limbs as she stepped outside. The freedom of being able to walk out of the house on her own was a refreshing change, a luxury she had missed during her confinement.
As Ava stepped out onto the porch, the crisp morning air greeted her, but it was the rich, mouthwatering aroma that truly captured her attention. The scent of roasted meat hit her senses like a wave, thick and smoky, with hints of fat sizzling and caramelizing over an open flame. Her stomach immediately responded with a loud, insistent growl, reminding her of how empty it was after the intensity of last night with Kale. She hadn't realized just how deep her hunger ran until the smell filled her nose, wrapping around her like a warm blanket.
The savory aroma was intoxicating, pulling her in, and with every breath she took, the scent seemed to become more layered. She could almost taste it on the air—the crisp, charred edges of the meat, the juices sizzling and dripping into the fire, sending up little bursts of smoke that carried the flavor straight to her. Her mouth watered uncontrollably at the thought.
Drawn by the smell, Ava found herself moving toward the side of the house as if in a trance. There, she saw Kale crouched by the makeshift brick stove, skillfully turning skewers of meat over the fire. The sight made her stomach tighten further with hunger. Each piece of meat was perfectly browned, the fat glistening in the morning light, dripping slightly as it crackled over the hot coals. A fine layer of smoke curled up from the stove, carrying with it the earthy, rich scent of meat that had been seasoned just right, neither too salty nor bland—just perfect.
The closer Ava got, the stronger the smell became, enveloping her senses entirely. Her hunger now gnawed at her, sharp and demanding, as if she hadn't eaten in days. She could hear the faint crackle of the fire, the subtle hiss of the meat as its juices dripped onto the coals below, and it made her stomach twist with anticipation.
Kale looked up from his work, a smile forming on his lips as he noticed her standing there, clearly drawn by the irresistible smell. But Ava barely registered his greeting. All she could focus on was the skewer he was holding, the meat so perfectly cooked it seemed to be calling her name. She licked her lips instinctively, her body almost aching with the need to take a bite, to feel the tender meat in her mouth and the warmth of it sliding down her throat.
"Morning," Kale said, amused by her obvious hunger, Ava barely managed to hear him over the roaring need inside her. The smell, the sight, the sound of the roasting—it was all too much to resist.
"Good morning, babe," Ava replied, walking up behind him and wrapping her arms around him in a gentle hug. She planted a soft kiss on his cheek, feeling a rush of warmth in her chest.
Her eyes were glued to the skewers. Each one looked more tempting than the last, and she could already imagine sinking her teeth into the tender, smoky meat, tearing it apart, and savoring every single bite. The aroma alone was enough to make her lightheaded, but she knew that the taste would be even better.
Kael blushed slightly as he chuckled softly and turned back to the stove, carefully plucking a skewer from the fire. The sight of it, dripping with juices and steaming slightly in the cool morning air, made Ava's stomach twist painfully with hunger. It was as if her body had been waiting for this exact moment, this exact meal, and now that it was so close, she could hardly contain herself.
As he handed the skewer to her, the warmth from the meat radiated through her fingers. She could smell the intense flavors even more up close—the smoky richness combined with the slightly sweet, earthy undertones of the firewood.
Ava nodded eagerly, accepting the offering, she took a deep breath, the scent flooding her senses completely, before eagerly biting into the meat. The taste was everything she had hoped for—rich, savory, and tender, with just the right amount of crispiness on the outside and a juicy, flavorful center.
A moan of satisfaction escaped her lips as she chewed, savoring every morsel, and with each bite, the hunger that had been clawing at her was finally being appeased. The combination of the perfectly roasted meat and the intense hunger made the experience almost overwhelming, as though nothing else existed but the taste, the warmth, and the satisfaction of finally eating.
Kale watched her with amusement, handing her more skewers as she devoured the first one, knowing she wouldn't stop until she had her fill..
The fatty meat had been perfectly toasted, giving the meat a delightful crunch. It tasted remarkably similar to goat meat, with a hint of smokiness. "This is really good! What kind of meat is this?" she asked between bites.
Kael watched her eat with satisfaction. "It's from a Sunom beast, a wild creature with horns. Its meat is usually favored by females. I'm glad you like it."
As Kael finished roasting the remaining meat, he began to pack it onto large leaves for easy transport. "Let's take this inside so you can finish eating," he suggested.
Ava agreed, but suddenly, a thought struck her. "Oh no! I completely forgot about George!" She hadn't seen the beast since yesterday when she and Kael had been busy installing the windows and doors in their new home. And with everything that had happened last night, she had entirely neglected him. A wave of guilt washed over her, her face turning red with shame. "Poor George! He's been all alone. I didn't even think to bring him food," she muttered, feeling a sharp pang of regret.
Kael placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his cold touch calming her nerves. "Don't worry," he said softly. "I fed him this morning. His limbs are fully healed now, but I told him to wait until you could check on him yourself."
Ava felt a wave of relief but then noticed something strange. Kael's hand slowly moved down to her breastbone, gently caressing her chest. She glanced down and saw a metallic blue snake tattoo that appeared to slither between her breasts. It wasn't like any ordinary tattoo—it seemed to be alive, shimmering in the light. "Is this the mate's mark?" she asked in astonishment. The memory of the previous owner's body had shown her similar marks on other females, but seeing it on herself was an entirely different experience.
Kael chuckled, tilting her chin upward to meet his gaze. "Sometimes it's as if you don't know the simplest things," he teased. "Yes, this is my mate mark. And it's very close to your heart, which means you must care for me deeply. I never realized you liked me this much."
Ava suddenly recalled that the placement of the mate's mark indicated how much affection a female had for her mate. The closer it was to her heart, the stronger her feelings for him were. Embarrassed, she turned away from Kael and focused on her food, hoping to hide the blush spreading across her face. "Hmmph. If you're done boasting, why don't you go bring George down here? Since we'll all be living together now, it's about time he joined us."
Kael sighed, a hint of disappointment in his voice as he replied, "Alright, I'll bring him." Though happy to help, there was a part of him that regretted the end of his precious alone time with Ava.
After Kael left, Ava took a deep breath, letting the calmness of the morning wash over her. She felt a strange mix of emotions—contentment, affection, and a touch of nervousness as she considered what the future held. She has finally taken Kael as her mate and would soon accept George, She wasn't sure how everything would unfold, but she knew one thing for sure: she was ready to start living this new life.
A few minutes later, Kael returned with George, who looked stronger and healthier than ever as they entered the sitting room. His once injured limbs were now fully healed, and he walked with ease, his large eyes shining with gratitude as he saw Ava. He trotted over to her, his tail swaying back and forth in excitement. Ava smiled warmly at him, patting his side gently.
"Welcome to our new home, George, did you miss me?," Ava said softly, teasing. She felt a sense of completion now that all three of them were finally together.
George growled softly, placing his once-injured paw on Ava's lap. She carefully inspected his limbs, asking if any part still hurt. George responded with another growl, but Ava, not understanding, suggested, "George, try to see if you can transform."
George had known for a while that he could shift back into his beast man form, but he had been enjoying Ava's doting attention and so had never attempted it. With a flash, he transformed, standing tall before Ava, completely naked.
Ava's face turned crimson, and she quickly covered her eyes, shouting, "You're naked!"
Realizing his mistake, George blurted, "Oh! I'll be right back," and darted outside. As Ava cautiously opened her eyes, he returned, now wearing a skirt. George was secretly pleased—her flustered reaction to seeing him unclothed had to mean she was attracted to him, right?
Without hesitation, he rushed to her side and wrapped her in a warm embrace. "I've missed holding you like this," he said, his voice full of emotion. "I've missed talking to you, Ava. This past month has been unbearable."
Kael, standing nearby and observing the entire scene, scoffed quietly. This jaguar was clearly playing the sympathy card, trying to win Ava's affection with his dramatic antics.
Ava smiled and hugged him, she knew George was being naughty, but she was willing to entertain his antics. She pat his head full of gold black hair. "So George, what do you think about our new home?"
"I think the cave is nice and I think your really smart to have thought of something like this," Though George was happy when Ava referred to it as "our home," he couldn't help but wonder if she came from a big clan as they are the only ones that know how to build and make strange things and procedures to making these things were usually a tightly guarded secret. "Ava are you from the Beast City?"
Ava Still caressing his hair, Ava replied, "Am not from the Beast City, never even been there before,"
"Then which tribe are you from?" George pressed further
Ava's body tensed. She realized perhaps it might be time to reveal her past, after all she is starting a new life with these people.
"Alright, I will tell you guys everything about myself", Ava took a deep breath