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"Mhm! What did you put on the meat? It taste so different and nice" Erika asked her mates. "We put herbs on them, your cub Xavier told us too. Saying you might enjoy it as much as his mate does" one of her mates, a bear beastman answered as he picked a few more meat to put of her plate.

"I didn't know herbs can be used this way on food! It makes it taste so much better" Erika said with a smile as she continued eating.

"If you want, I can have one of my mates to teach a few of your males how to cook meat with herbs" I offered, making her eyes sparkle in delight.

"Really? Oh please do! I'd like to eat tasty meat like this everyday!" She said with a smile and I nodded in return.

"Of course, I can ask Xavier since his your cub after all" I said and she immediately agreed, and with that we enjoyed the feast.

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It's been a few days since we were staying here, and Erika was currently inside her room due to her heat. I didn't bother her for the first few days of her heat, not wanting to face off some grumpy and irritated males of hers so instead I just went to explore the castle once again.

As I continue to walk around, I bumped into someone when I took a turn on the corner. "Ouch" I mumbled and looked at the person, or rather at the beastman, that I bumped into.

"Watch where you're going female" he said in a slightly annoyed tone as he sent me a slight glare.

He was a tall beastman, like most beastmen, he had fiery red hair and matching eyes. It wasn't quite clear what beastman he was but I think I had a guess.

"Sorry" I said and turned around before leaving. "Hmm, it's either his an ancient beast like a phoenix or maybe his just a snake or merfolk beastman" I mumbled to myself as I returned back to my room where my mates were.

"Hm? Who are you talking about little mate?" Carlos ask as he lifted me up using his tail and pulled me closer to him.

"Huh? Oh, a beastman I met. Or rather the beastman I bumped into" I answered him, leaning a bit to his touch as he began to gently comb my hair using his fingers.

"Oh? Did you get his name? Or perhaps are planning on taking him as a mate?" Calvin asked with a small chuckle.

"Hmph, he seemed a bit rude but I don't know that yet for sure" I huffed, making my mates chuckle.

"Well, what did he look like? It might be one of my brothers" Xavier said, still chuckling a bit. "Hmm, well his as tall as you and he had fiery red hair and eyes. I didn't see how many stars he had though" I said.

Xavier raised a brow at that. "Did he come off as rude? Kinda arrogant and looked stupid while doing so?" He asked and I raised a brow and chuckled.

"Well, he did come off as rude and kinda arrogant but not really stupid" I said with a soft laugh.

"Ah yes, that's my older brother Keith. His a phoenix beastman" he said making me blink in surprise. "Wait what? Really?" I asked a bit surprised, after all phoenix were one of the most picky beastmen when it comes to mates.

So Erika having one was a huge surprise for me. "Yes, his a phoenix beastman. And don't mind him, he might seem rude and arrogant and speaks like it but his a nice beastman" Xavier answered with a small chuckle.

"Why? Planning on taking him as your mate? Hm little one?" Ian asked making me think about it.

"How strong is he?" Kenji asked, turning to look at Xavier. "His a seven star beastman, close to being an eighth star actually" Xavier answered with a grin as he looked at me.

"I say you take him, if his close to being an eight star then it be great for your protection. But the choice is still yours little mate" Carlos said as he placed a small kiss on my head.

"Wow that a first, the snake was actually the one who offered to take him as a mate" Xavier laughed, earning a glare and hiss from Carlos.

"Now, now. No need to fight" I chuckled, knowing full well they won't really get into a fight.

"Damn bird, I'll roast you up if you won't shut up!" Carlos hissed, holding me close to him. "Heh, I'd like to see you try"  Xavier taunted making me facepalm as Carlos handed me to Roscoe and began to chase Xavier out of the room.

"Hah... Those two" I sighed and let out a small chuckle. "Don't mind them little mate, they won't get into a serious fight, Carlos would just probably smack Xavier" Roscoe chuckle as he gently pinched my cheeks.

"More like the other way around" Ian chimed in, earning several chuckles from me and my mates. "I can see that" Calvin snickered.

"Oh, there they are" He said, looking outside the window. Roscoe also stood up, still carrying me, and went to the window.

"Pffft...." I looked away and tried not to laugh as Xavier tripped due to Carlos using his tail. "Damn snake!!! That wasn't fair!" I heard Xavier complain as he chased Carlos around.

"They're acting like a bunch of cubs" Ian said, making the two below stop and look at us.

"I heard that!"

"I heard that!"

They both yelled at the same time which made me chuckle as Ian just smirked at them. "Get down here you damn fish! I'll fry you up!" Carlos yelled.

"Carlos, stop trying to make food out of the others!" I said, which just earned a huff and pout from Carlos.

"Ha! Smitten fool!" Ian shouted. "Damn fish! All of us are!" Carlos retorted back making me shake my head.

"I'm surrounded by grown beastmen who act like cubs" I said as I facepalmed.

"Hey! We take offense to that little mate!" Xavier, Carlos and Ian said at the same time. "Psh, whatever you say" I laughed, making them pout and huff.

I was about to say something else when Xavier smacked Carlos and took off running. "Damn bird! I'm really gonna roast you!" Carlos yelled as he chased Xavier again.

"Heh, it'll be fun to join in just to annoy him" Ian said and left to join Xavier. "See? They're some of my strongest mates yet they act like damn cubs" I sighed as I watched through the window as Ian burst out of the door and joined Xavier with annoying Carlos.

"How did he even get down so fast?" I groaned, which earned chuckled from Marlo, Kenji, Calvin and Roscoe.

"Just let them be little mate, they just act like that because there's no else around but us" Marlo said, earning a human from me as I watch Carlos trip Ian and run off.

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"Are you sure you're allowed to go out now?" I asked Erika, who was being carried by one of her mates.

"Mhm! It's been a few days now so I'm good to go out!" She said as we roamed around the market place, which earned several states from the other females and countless males.

After all Erika was one of the queens in autumn city and her cub Xavier, who was my mate and the one currently carrying me, was also well known around the city due to his unique trait of being a white peacock since it was rare to see them.

As we roamed around, I can hear several comments towards us.

"Who's she?"

"Look, is she prince Xavier's mate?"

"The peacock queen looks close to her"

"Did she move here? Or is she just visiting?"

"She's pretty"

"She's lucky to have that white peacock as her mate"

"She's surrounded by strong males, I wonder if I have a chance with her"

Were just a few things that I heard from the surrounding females and males. "Looks like your quite popular, especially with the males" Erika said making me chuckle.

"I suppose so" I said as I looked around, before my eyes spotted a slightly familiar beastman. Erika followed my line of sight once she saw me looking at something and smirk when she saw what it was.

"Your into one of my cubs huh, not just Xavier" she said making me look at her with a pout. "I don't even know him that well!" I answered, more like whined out, which earned a chuckle from her and my mates.

"Heh, no need to deny it. I'd be happy to introduce you to my cubs if you want! They really need a mate like you" she said with a smile, which earned a huff from Xavier.

"No, don't introduce her to those damn troublesome cubs" He said. "Keith is enough" he added making me hit his shoulders slightly.

"Looks like someone's getting shy" Marlo teased which earned a glare from me, which he just shrugged off with an Innocent smile.

"You're not sleeping besides me tonight" I said, making him pout. "No fair! It's my turn. I'm gonna kick who ever sleeps next to you tonight and take their place" he stuck his tongue at me and I playfully rolled my eyes at him.

"Damn childish cub" I snickered which just earned a chuckle from him.

••••••

Hiii there my dear readers, I'm so sorry for the very late update!!

And quick question, am I bad author for not sticking to my update schedule? Cause someone told me I am (T_T)