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"Sera, it's time for lunch" Rio announced making us all stop. "Oh my, I didn't notice it was already time to eat" Fara said as she saw one of her mates carrying a leaf filled with meat walk towards her.

Since the last time, they all have started using herbs on their food. "Maybe after this I should teach you guys how to make soups!" I grinned as Rio handed me a plate of what seems to be rabbit meat.

"Soups?" Fara, Serenity and another female named May asked at the same time. "Mhm! They're very delicious and nice to eat during cold season" I said as I began eating after Rio also handed me some chopsticks. Yes you heard it right, chopsticks.

"Oh? What's that you are using?" Fara asked as she looked at the chopsticks in my hand curiously, her gaze also fell to the plate I was holding.

"This are called chopsticks, I can use it to pick up food like this" I demonstrated to them how to use it. "That way I won't need to get fats or herbs on my fingers" I answered making them nod in response.

We then continued to talk about random things while we eat before heard a loud roar coming from the entrance of the village.

All the other female's looked a bit excited while I looked confused. "What's going on? Why are you guys excited?" I asked Serenity as they all began to stand up, I followed after them as they went to the village entrance.

"Oh well every time the cold season is near. Some kings would send males to different villages to help them protect themselves against rootless beast" Serenity explained making me nod in understanding.

When we got to the entrance, about 200 of more males were waiting in front of the Village entrance, lead by a panthern male.

'Huh, he looks like Archie' I blinked and looked at Archie who standing behind me and look back at the male.

From what I can tell, his a six star beast. "Ah, Calvin! Welcome, I see there are more males this time with you" Rio greeted the panther male, who's name I know now.

"Yes, the kings in Blackwood city have notice that more and more rootless beast are showing now that cold season is nearing" Calvin said making Rio nod in understanding.

The two of them then continued to talk about some things that I didn't really listen to as I began to look around, not to look at the newly arrived males but to look for Carlos as I have decided to finally take him as my mate.

"Archie have you seen Carlos?" I asked. "Hm? Your looking for me?" Carlos suddenly said from behind me making me jump a bit.

"Eh! Don't scare me like that!" I huffed and pouted at him. He didn't say anything and just let out a chuckle as his tail wrapped around my waist as he pulled me closer to him.

"Yes, I finally decided to accept you as my mate" I said making him blink in surprise for a moment before a smile crept up to his lips.

"Thank you" he mumbled as he hugged me. I couldn't help but let out a small laugh as I hugged him back.

But as I was about to say something, the cubs began to let out small roars, which means it was time for their feeding.

"Rio, we'll be over there. I just need to feed the cubs" I called out to Rio as Carlos, Tora, Kali and Kei followed behind me. Leaving him with Lucas and Archie at his side.

Carlos then put me down under a tree shade and I turned around before pulling my tops down and picked up Dos and Tres.

I then began feeding them while my mates stand around. "It's only been a few days yet you boys are getting much bigger" I muttered as I looked at the two cubs and Uno who was still whining in the basket.

"Well, you feed them with enough milk and they were born much healthier than most male cubs" Tora said and I just nodded in response.

Once I was done feeding both of them, I put them back in the basket and picked up Uno and began feeding him.

"Do those guards always come in villages every cold season?" I asked as I slightly looked back at my mates.

"Sometimes, it depends on how close a village is to a city. Since this one is about a week or so, the kings can send guards here" Tora explained making me nod.

"Oh alright" I nodded and finished feeding Uno. I put him back on the basket and pulled my tops back up.

"Pfft, how cute" I let out a small chuckle as I saw that my three cubs were now hurdled together.

"My cute cubs are so well behaved" I gushed out as I looked at the basket in awe. When I looked back my mates, they were all smiling at me.

And at the corner of my eyes, I can see Rio, Lucas and Archie approaching us. "You done talking with them?" I asked as Rio nodded in response.

"Yes, they'll be staying here until the cold season ends or unti late drizzle season" Rio said making me nod.

"How are the cubs? Are they behaving well?" Archie asked as he looked at the cubs who were now asleep in the basket.

"Yeah they're behavinh well" I grinned at him as I stood up and gently pick up the basket. "Let's go home now" I said as I began walking back to our den.

"You know, that panthern Calvin. He looks like you" I slightly turned my head to Archie. "Well he is my brother. His the oldest cub in our litter" Archie said earning surprised looks from us.

"He is?" Kei asked making Archie nod. "His the head of the guards in the city. His greatly respected, all the kings respect him too. He kept the city from harm for years" Archie said making me nod.

"His mate must be very lucky to have him then" I said as I looked at the basket in my hand. Internally squealing on how cute the cubs look.

"He doesn't have a mate. He didn't choose one even if countless females city offered to be his mate. Most of them just want him because of his power and crystals" Archie said making me look at him.

"Oh, that's sad" I said as we finally arrived back at the den. "There's going to be a bonfire later, to hold a competition for some of the city males, they might get a chance to find a mate here" Rio said before I can enter the den.

"Really? Can I come later?" I turned to my males and looked at them with the best puppy eyes I can muster.

"Pleaseee" I added with a small pout making them all nod obediently. "Of course, how can we say no to you" Kali said making me raise a brow.

"You didn't allow me to go out earlier" I said making them all look away, except for Carlos who looked a bit confused.

I couldn't help but let out a small sigh as I smiled at Carlos. "Welcome to the family" I grinned as I stepped inside the den.

The others followed after me, and Carlos was the last to go inside. "Can you wait until tomorrow before we mate?" I asked as I turned to Carlos after giving Kei the basket filled with adorable sleeping cubs.

"Of course. I'll wait no matter how long" he wrapped his tail on my waist and pulled me to him. 'Huh, even in the novel he really likes doing this to Cassie' I thought before smiling.
'Too bad, his mine now' I thought as Carlos pulled me into a hug.

"Sera? Do you want to eat something?" Tora asked making me nod. "Just some fruits please, specifically strawberries" I called out and I heard him look for some strawberries in the baskets that we have in our storage room.

"How's our smoked meat? Think we have enough for all of us? Now that Carlos is here" I asked making Tora paused.

"We do but me and Rio will go hunt for more later just in case" He answered before finally bringing me a bowl with strawberries.

"You don't have to worry about me eating a lot of meat. Most snakes hibernate during the cold season" Carlos said to Tora as he set me down on one of the pillows to let me eat.

"Do all snakes do that?" I curiously asked as I picked up a strawberry. "Not all, those with seven stars or higher don't need to hibernate, although they will be a bit inactive and lazy during cold seasons" Carlos said making me nod.

'So it's just like in the novel huh. When Carlos reached his seventh star, he really didn't need to hibernate. Though he was a bit inactive during cold seasons' I thought as I continued  munching on my strawberries.

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