Rayna, Ezra, Yunxi, and Soren were escorted into a vast hall, Soren still bound firmly by the guards.
The space was imposing, its sheer size amplified by the silence that filled it.
Rows of carved chairs lined the sides, leaving the center wide and open, as though made for gatherings or judgments.
Tall windows stretched along the walls, their panes letting in streams of daylight that bathed the stone interior in a pale glow, making the hall airy and cool.
The woven mats that covered the floor muffled their footsteps, adding to the weight of the moment.
At the far end, raised slightly above the hall on a rugged platform, stood a decorated chair—a throne of sorts. And upon it sat a male beastman. The platform had stairs that descended on both the sides.
He looked quite young, yet carried an undeniable authority.
His long, purplish hair shimmered faintly in the light, flowing past his shoulders. A crown of feathers rested upon his head, accentuating his sharp features. He had golden eyes.
Around his neck hung layered necklaces that glinted with beads and stones, and a single earring dangled from his ear, catching the light with each subtle movement.
Everyone around her bowed instinctively—Ezra, Yunxi, even the guards holding Soren.
Rayna hesitated, frozen in place.
But... his picture doesn't match the portrait I saw earlier, Rayna thought, her brows furrowing in confusion.
Ezra leaned closer, his warm breath brushing her ear as he whispered, "Rayna, I know... seeing Soren like this isn't pleasant. But for now, it's better if we don't act rashly."
Rayna clenched her fists. But we can't just—
Her thought was cut short by a commanding voice that echoed across the hall.
"So... Soren. Finally, you're here."
The Beast Lord leaned forward on his throne, eyes sharp. "If I hadn't brought you in like this, I doubt you would have come willingly."
Soren lifted his head, his expression calm despite the bindings. "That's not true, my Lord."
The Lord's voice hardened. "Since you're here, and given your high intellect, you must already know the reason for your crime."
Soren's golden eyes glinted as he paused deliberately. "...I'm afraid I don't. If you could be lenient enough to clarify, I'd appreciate it."
A heavy silence followed before the Lord's brows drew together. His voice trembled, not with anger but with something heavier.
"You have committed a serious crime, Soren." His tone cracked with restrained hurt.
"How could you do that? You left me and the Patriarch—devastated."
His words sounded as if he was hurt.
"You should be punished."
"But that decision is not mine to make. Once the Patriarch arrives, he will take the final call. He is already on his way." The Beast lord said.
"And I'm here."
The hall fell into silence as the Patriarch stepped in, his deep voice echoing like thunder rolling across the mountains.
Rayna turned and yes... that was him. The man from the portrait.
Unlike the Beast Lord, who sat adorned in feather crowns and ornaments, the Patriarch carried no such excess.
His aura alone was enough. He crossed them from behind climbed up the stairs to get on the platform.
His face bore wrinkles carved by time, yet it only added to the handsomeness of his strong features. Faded scars crossed his body and arms. He was sweating, and seemed a bit restless yet he stood with the authority of someone unshaken.
His eyes found Soren instantly.
And there—beneath the hardened gaze—flickered something raw. His lips pressed tight as if holding back words that had long been buried. He too had golden eyes glistened. They brimmed with emotions too tangled to name. It looked like a combination of hurt, relief, yearning.
The Patriarch called out softly,
"Soren..."
It wasn't a harsh or a reprimanding voice. But something soft and gentle.
Soren bowed low, his voice steady. "Greetings, Patriarch."
There was a heavy pause. Before the moment could settle, the Beast Lord's sharp voice cut through.
"Yes, now father—punish him. He deserves it." His arms folded across his chest.
"For leaving us... he should be imprisoned for at least one season."
But before the Patriarch could respond, Rayna suddenly stepped forward, planting herself firmly in front of Soren. Her eyes blazed, her voice sharp and unwavering.
"Hey! Don't you think this is unfair? Without any explanation, without a trial, without even clarity on what exactly he's done—you call for imprisonment? That's harsh. You're the Lord of Beast City, yet you're acting unjustly!"
Her tone carried both irritation and fierce protectiveness, the kind only someone speaking from the heart could muster.
The hall went still.
The Beast Lord's eyes widened, his brows shooting upward in disbelief. Even the Patriarch's stoic expression cracked, his gaze flicking between Soren and the fearless female now shielding him.
"...Who is she?" the Patriarch asked at last, his deep voice edged with surprise.
Soren opened his mouth, but Rayna lifted her chin and answered first, her voice steady as stone.
"I am Rayna. Soren is my mate."
Her words echoed through the hall, carrying a confidence that stunned the onlookers.
Behind her, Yunxi fidgeted nervously, glancing around and Ezra, meanwhile, couldn't help the wry smile tugging at his lips.
"She looked like a tiny storm about to topple the whole palace."
Hah... and here I thought a few words could rein her in. What a joke. Clearly, nothing in this world—or the next—can stop Rayna once it's about Soren, or any of her mates in fact. Not even an army of beastmen with sticks up their tails. That's my sunshine.
"Soren's got a mate? For real? Someone is actually handling his stoic temper?"
The words slipped from the Patriarch's mouth as naturally as breathing, his weathered face shifting with disbelief.
A small chuckle escaped the Beast Lord, though he masked it quickly, clearing his throat. Still, his lips betrayed the ghost of a smile.
"Father," he whispered, though his voice carried easily across the hall, "Soren wasn't that hopeless. Shouldn't you be happy for him?"
The Patriarch's gaze snapped to his son, sharp yet softened by something unreadable. "Of course I am. Just... it's a bit unbelievable. Some female is actually living with him."
Ezra smothered a laugh behind his hand while Yunxi glanced nervously between them.
The Beast Lord turned his amused gaze on Soren, lips curving in a half-smile.
"So, the reason you left your post here so abruptly—the reason you ran off to play guardian of the Vukari Village... was her?" His tone was light, almost teasing.
Rayna blinked, caught completely off guard. "Wait... what is going on here?"
Soren's voice was calm as he came forward in front of Rayna, but the edge beneath it was unmistakable.
"I hadn't even met Rayna then. So don't you dare involve her in this. It was you lot who compelled me to leave." His golden eyes narrowed, his annoyance clear.
The Beast Lord bristled, straightening his stance.
"We didn't do anything," he shot back, his tone defensive but laced with frustration.
"You did everything," Soren muttered under his breath, his voice low but cutting enough for all to hear.
The Beast Lord's jaw tightened. "Being the eldest son, you were supposed to take over as Beast Lord. You even had the ceremony with Lyra!" His voice rose with each word, echoing across the hall. "And then what did you do? You just picked yourself up and went off to Vukari Village like that. No explanation. Nothing."
Rayna's eyes widened. Beside her, Yunxi wore the same stunned expression—while Ezra only leaned back crossing his arms as though he had expected something like this all along.
Now that she noticed it, Rayna realized there were similarities among them.
Their golden eyes, bright and unwavering, stood out the most. And beyond that, there was something in their features too—a subtle resemblance she hadn't paid attention to before.
The Beast lord leaned forward, "Do you know what we had to go through because of you? Do you know how it felt to stand before the Beast City, and explain your absence? You always did your duty then why the heck—"
The Patriarch interrupted sharply. "Enough, Darian! You shouldn't speak to your elder brother like that. He must have had his reasons, and we'll discuss them later. For now—since he is here—let us hold a feast and enjoy. It has been a long time since we have had a feast and that too with all our family members present."
Then, the Patriarch's eyes softened as they drifted to Rayna. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Besides... I need to speak with Rayna—and with the others." His gaze flicked briefly to Yunxi and Ezra.
Darian's frown deepened. "Father, you're being too lenient with him. You always are! Do you know, if I hadn't brought him bound by guards, he would have flown away again!"
The Patriarch's eyes hardened instantly, turning sharp. "You... brought him here like a criminal?"
Darian flinched at the sudden change in tone, curling up slightly. "F-Father, I only—"
The Patriarch strode forward and, without hesitation, smacked Darian hard on the head.
"Ahh—!" Darian yelped, rubbing his head with a scrunched-up face.
"You are the Beast Lord, and he is your elder brother! And you dare drag him in like this? Seriously, boy? Do you have any sense in that head, or is it stuffed with mud?" The Patriarch's voice rumbled like thunder.
Darian's face flushed with both shame and anger. "But because of him, I had to take on this suffocating job! Even my ceremony with Juna was ru—"
"Shut up! Childish! This was too much. Only you could turn this into such a drama. Exaggeration really is your specialty, isn't it?" The Patriarch's roar cut him short.
And then, to everyone's astonishment, the old beastman descended from the platform himself. He grabbed Darian by the ear, tugging him down like a scolded cub. Dragging him forward, he stopped before Soren and Rayna.
"Now... apologize." His voice brooked no argument.
"But Father, I'm the Beast Lord! At least let me—"
"I said... apologize."
Darian winced, guilt flickering in his eyes.
Finally, he lowered his head. "I'm sorry, elder brother. It's just... because of you, my ceremony with Juna was ruined, and this heavy, boring responsibility was dumped on me."
"I—" His voice cracked. "I'm sorry."
Soren exhaled softly, his expression unreadable—then smirked.
"It's fine. Just do a hundred laps around the Ibala grounds... and while you're at it, go through the Reserves Report of the Beast City. I noticed some messes when I came here."
Darian's face scrunched up in dismay. "Wait— the Reserves Report isn't even under my—"
"Darian." The Patriarch's single word cut him off like a blade. His sharp gaze pinned his younger son, stern, but half-reminding him.
Darian instantly straightened, shoulders stiff. "...Yes, Father."
The Patriarch's ordered the burly beastmen guards. "Escort them to their resting chambers for now."
The guards bowed and moved forward.
"We'll meet soon, Rayna," the Patriarch added, his gaze softening as he smiled at her, then gave a polite nod to Yunxi and Ezra.
Rayna blinked, a little surprised by his warmth, before he turned and left.
Darian trailed behind the patriarch, still looking like a scolded puppy, ears low and pout etched on his face.
Rayna sighed, crossing her arms. Her gaze immediately fell on Soren. She didn't even speak—just looked at him.
Soren exhaled, his composure slipping ever so slightly. He raised a hand as though already surrendering. "My love... the situation is—"
"I'm hurt, you know." Rayna's voice came sharp and stern. "You hid something this important from me."
"My love, I didn't intend to—"
Before he could finish, Ezra strolled up with that infuriating smirk.
"Soren, Soren, Soren..." he clicked his tongue, shaking his head in mock disappointment.
"Once again, you've committed a serioouuss crime. Hiding something this important from your mate? From Rayna? Seriously? Tch, tch, tch."
He glanced over his shoulder. "Isn't that right, Yunxi?"
Yunxi flinched, leaning in and whispering, "Ezra, why are you adding oil to the fire?"
Ezra's grin widened. "Shhh. Just follow my lead—it's fun."
Before anyone could stop him, Ezra slid behind Rayna and hugged her from the back, resting his chin lightly on her shoulder. "My sunshine," he cooed, "I never did this to you. I never hid anything, right?" He pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.
Rayna huffed, her cheeks flaring red but her arms staying firmly crossed.
"Anyways... Soren, I'm angry. And I'm tired too. Let's rest. Hmph."
With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, the guards immediately stepping in to guide her to her chambers. Yunxi immediately rushed walking side by side Rayna.
Soren stood there, shoulders sinking, watching her retreating figure. He dragged a hand down his face with a weary sigh.
"Ah... I'll have to make it up to her."
Ezra chuckled under his breath, his foxlike grin flashing. "Good luck with that, big guy."