Whispers of the Wild: Fated Mates of the Beast World
The last thing Yun Xi remembered was the blinding flash of headlights and the screech of tires as the car spun out of control. Her world had been reduced to a kaleidoscope of light and fear—then darkness.
When she opened her eyes again, she was surrounded by golden light, the sun streaming through woven thatch. The scent of fresh earth, wildflowers, and something musky filled her senses, pulling her fully awake.
She sat up, startled by the softness of the fur blanket covering her. This was no sterile hospital room or city street. She blinked, taking in her surroundings: a round hut made of wooden logs and woven reeds, the walls adorned with colorful tapestries depicting scenes of hunting and feasting. The floor was covered with thick furs, and a small fire crackled in a stone hearth.
Yun Xi’s heart pounded. She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the beat of her own heart, the warmth of her skin. This was real.
She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, her bare feet sinking into the furs. She wore a simple shift of soft leather, unfamiliar yet comfortable. She could feel the weight of the world pressing down on her—this wasn’t home.
A low growl startled her. She turned sharply to see a man—a beast—standing in the doorway. He was impossibly tall, his broad shoulders filling the frame. Silver-white hair fell around his face like a mane, and his eyes glowed a piercing gold. His skin was tanned and smooth, but she could see patches of sleek fur along his arms and legs, and a bushy tail swayed behind him.
He was both beautiful and terrifying.
“You’re awake,” he said, his voice deep and resonant.
Yun Xi swallowed hard. “Where am I?” she managed, her voice shaking.
The beast-man stepped closer, his movements smooth and sure. He was dressed in a simple leather kilt, muscles rippling with each step. “You are in Moonfang Territory,” he said. “I am Kael, chieftain of this land.”
“Moonfang…?” Yun Xi’s head spun. “I don’t understand. I was in the city, and then—”
Kael’s gaze softened slightly, though his expression remained guarded. “You fell from the sky. The spirits brought you to us.”
“Fell from the sky? Spirits?” Yun Xi shook her head. “This has to be a dream.”
Kael reached out, his clawed fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face. His touch was gentle, almost reverent. “It is no dream, little one. You are here now, in our world. And you are under my protection.”
A shiver ran down her spine. She pulled away, clutching the fur blanket tighter around her. “Why me? I’m just an ordinary girl…”
Kael’s golden eyes darkened, something ancient and powerful flickering within them. “You are not ordinary here. Human females are rare—sacred. You are the Moon-Blessed One, foretold in our legends.”
“Moon-Blessed…?” Yun Xi echoed, feeling like the world was slipping out from under her feet.
Kael nodded. “It means you are fated to be the mate of the four primal tribes—wolf, lion, crane, and snake. Your arrival marks a new age, and the balance of the tribes rests on your shoulders.”
Yun Xi’s breath caught. “Four mates? That’s… that’s impossible. I don’t even know you.”
Kael’s expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “You will come to know us, in time. For now, you must rest. Adjust to our world. I will see to your safety.”
As he turned to leave, Yun Xi caught sight of the world beyond the hut—a sprawling village of wooden huts and animal-hide tents, surrounded by towering trees and a sky so blue it hurt her eyes. Warriors with furred limbs and sharp claws moved through the village, their eyes turning to her with curiosity and something more.
She felt like prey under their gaze.
Kael paused at the doorway, looking back at her. “Do not fear them. You are under my protection.”
Before she could respond, he was gone, leaving her alone in the unfamiliar hut.
Yun Xi sank to the edge of the bed, her mind racing. She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the flutter of her heart. How could this be real? She was an ordinary girl—just another face in the crowd back home. Now she was some kind of prophesied mate in a world of beasts?
She had to find a way back. She couldn’t stay here, couldn’t be the mate of anyone—let alone four powerful beastmen.
But as she stared at the doorway, the memory of Kael’s golden eyes haunted her. There was something in them—something ancient and powerful—that drew her in, despite her fear.
---
🌲 That Night
The sun set quickly in the beast world, the sky painted in shades of crimson and gold. Yun Xi sat by the fire, wrapped in the fur blanket. She had tried to leave the hut, but every time she stepped outside, the stares of the beastmen drove her back inside.
She was alone.
Or so she thought.
A soft rustle made her turn. Standing in the doorway was another man, this one with tawny-gold hair that fell in loose waves around his face. His eyes were a deep amber, and a faint smirk curved his lips.
“You must be the human female,” he said, his voice a low purr. “I am Rion, prince of the Lion Pride.”
Yun Xi’s breath caught. He was different from Kael—leaner, with an easy confidence that radiated from every movement. But he was no less imposing, his furred arms and powerful build marking him as another of the beastkind.
“I… I don’t understand any of this,” she said, her voice trembling. “Why am I here?”
Rion tilted his head, his amber eyes glinting with amusement. “The spirits chose you. You’re special here, little human.” He stepped closer, his gaze intense. “And you’re mine to protect.”
“Yours?” Yun Xi backed away instinctively.
Rion’s smirk widened. “You’ll understand soon enough. For now, rest. Tomorrow, you’ll meet the others.”
“The others?” she whispered.
Rion nodded. “The four of us—wolf, lion, crane, and snake. We are the ones fated to be your mates.”
Yun Xi’s mind reeled. Four mates? Four powerful beastmen who claimed her as theirs? It was too much.
But Rion simply laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that sent a shiver down her spine. “Don’t worry, little one. We’ll take good care of you.”
---
🌿 In the Darkness
That night, Yun Xi lay awake, staring at the thatched ceiling. The crackle of the fire was the only sound, but she could feel the weight of the prophecy pressing down on her.
She thought of Kael’s intense gaze, of Rion’s easy charm. And she wondered—who were the crane and the snake? What secrets did they hold?
A flicker of movement at the window caught her attention. She turned her head, and her breath caught. A pair of luminous silver eyes watched her from the darkness—eyes that seemed to glow with an inner light.
A whisper of silk against the wood, and the eyes disappeared, leaving only the night and the beating of her own heart.
Yun Xi closed her eyes, clutching the furs tight around her. She didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but one thing was certain—her life would never be the same again.
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 18 Episodes
Comments