The slap didn't deter him; instead, he came closer, trapping Travis against the wall, caging him with both arms.
"Soon, you'll be all mine…" His voice was thick with yearning.
Travis's eyes darted to his lips, face flushing red at where his gaze had lingered. Why all this? He was too young for any of this breeding madness — they could all carry their lustful thoughts somewhere else.
"Your Majesty, the herbs are still working on you. You need to rest and relax," said an elderly woman, half lion and half human, stepping out from the healing chamber.
Her eyes drifted toward Travis beside Derek. Compared to the towering alphas around him, Travis looked painfully small — like a lost child among beasts. His thin frame was nothing against their massive builds, and for a moment, he feared one of them might accidentally snap him in half.
"Sarah, I'll be fine. It's just a minor injury," Derek said, his lion ears twitching as his tail swished lazily. "A meeting with the elders has been called concerning the crack we saw. I must attend and represent my clan."
As he spoke, his tail wrapped slyly around Travis's ankle. Travis jumped in fright, only to realize it was Derek's doing. He frowned deeply.
Sarah, whose advice had been brushed aside like dust, twisted her face in visible distaste. "My King, we were just discussing—"
"I remember saying I am fine," Derek snapped sharply. "Or do you wish to be relieved of your duties that badly?"
His harsh tone made her flinch. But then — as suddenly as a storm turning calm — his voice melted into a soft whisper when he turned back to Travis. The healer, now humiliated, walked away, her face as red as burning coal.
"Come," Derek said gently. "If you help with the treatment, my pain will fade."
He inched closer, eyes shimmering like molten gold in sunlight.
Travis's jaw tightened. Before he could react, Derek tilted his head again — aiming for a kiss — but Travis shoved him back hard.
"Not this time, lion…" Travis muttered, shaking his head. Still, he couldn't help wondering why his eyes had to be that beautiful. That golden hue, that wild mane — Derek was gorgeous.
Men in this world were truly on another level. Pity the females weren't the same.
Suddenly, Derek staggered and nearly collapsed on top of him. Travis's eyes widened.
"What's happening to the lion man…" He tried to move Derek's heavy frame aside, but the king was unyielding, his body still strong despite the weakness in his limbs.
"Maybe you should go with the healer. You look really weak," Travis urged, but Derek refused stubbornly.
"If I go, you'll leave me… and I don't want that," Derek murmured softly, sounding almost like a child.
Travis blinked in disbelief. This was the mighty king? His constant switch in personality was terrifying. Just how old was this man anyway?
Before Travis could speak again, Derek swayed once more — then collapsed to the ground completely.
"Derek!" Travis gasped, horrified. "Wake up, Your Majesty! Please wake up!"
Panic filled him. No, no, no! If the king died here, they'd accuse him of murder and burn him alive at the stake. No one would care about his innocence.
Hands trembling, he touched Derek's face and combed through his soft, golden mane. The man looked too peaceful — too still. Just when Travis thought he'd lose his mind, Derek's body began to glow.
Luckily, the healer was gone, and it was only the two of them in the quiet hut. Light poured from Derek's body the moment Travis's palm touched his chest, and before his eyes, a rain of shimmering light consumed them both.
Travis gasped as he began to float — the same way it happened in the forest with the cub. But this time, it was stronger, brighter — blinding. The light filled the entire hut, chasing away the shadows until it dimmed again.
When it faded, Derek stood tall and strong once more, breathing deeply.
"Travis! You did it!" Derek beamed, eyes full of awe. "I knew it — you're the goddess! My own goddess!"
Before Travis could even react, Derek scooped him up into a suffocating embrace.
"I can't breathe—my neck—" Travis croaked out.
Derek immediately loosened his grip, and Travis gasped for air. That was close! He almost got crushed by this lion of a man. Why were all the males here built like living mountains?
And during their ridiculous naked fiestas, he'd noticed something else — their manhoods were monstrous. He was certain if one of them ever tried mating with him, he'd be split clean in half. No way was he dying like that. He was only twenty — still too young to die from that.
His thoughts were cut short by the growl of his stomach. Loud. Embarrassing. He quickly covered his face in humiliation as Derek stared at him with amusement.
"You must be starving," Derek said warmly. "I've got a delicacy saved just for you."
And before Travis could protest, Derek had already rushed out of the hut, dragging him along. Outside, the entire pride was gathered.
"What's happening?" Travis whispered, uneasy.
"Oh, they must've been worried when I passed out. They're too sensitive," Derek said casually, releasing his hand as he climbed onto a rock podium.
Raising his voice, Derek addressed the pride. "Everyone, I am fine. Travis here — my soon-to-be mate — saved me! From this day forth, he is a member of the Lion Tribe. Not only did he save me, but he also rescued my daughter!"
The crowd erupted. One by one, they morphed into lions and began to roar, their thunderous growls echoing across the field.
Travis blinked, frozen. "What the hell…"
The fairy appeared out of nowhere, munching on a fruit.
"You're back from the dead?" Travis snapped, hands on his hips. "You're supposed to be my guide — not vanish when I need you!"
The fairy ignored his tone, smirking. "Confused, aren't you?"
"I'm not confused," Travis said stiffly, then added, "Okay, fine — I'm completely confused. What is this?"
"It's a tribute. The tribe's thanking you for saving their king. And apparently, your spatial attributes make you even more valuable than before," she explained.
"Spatial what now?" Travis muttered. But before he could ask more, the fairy vanished again.
"Great. Useless as always," Travis hissed. "At this point, I'm as good as dead."
Meanwhile, the pride began chanting, "Astrid! Astrid! Astrid!"
Travis frowned. "Okay, this is getting disturbing… and what about the food? I saved a cub, not ended world hunger."
He crept toward Derek and gave him a sharp pinch on the leg.
Derek flinched, glancing down at him.
"I'm starving. Where's the food?" Travis demanded.
Derek only smiled and stepped off the rock, leading him toward an area where bamboo sticks were arranged in angular shapes.
"Sit here. They're bringing the food," he said proudly.
Travis eyed the makeshift seat in confusion. "That's a seat?"
Around him, lionesses in human form sat gracefully on the bamboo, peeling something from the bark of a tree. The thought of sitting there made his spine ache. Still, he tried — and instantly regretted it.
His backside nearly split in half. Horrifying.
Two cubs suddenly ran up, their tiny voices chiming, "Papa! Papa!"
It was Astrid — the same little female cub — and another boy, probably her brother.
"Henry! How are you?" Derek cooed.
Travis's heart softened instantly. They were adorable. He wanted to hug them so bad — but then came the "food."
Several lion men approached, carrying a giant leaf.
"This is one of our snacks," Derek announced proudly. "Eat this while we boil the meat for the main dish."
Excited, Travis leaned forward — and froze.
Inside the leaf wriggled a variety of bugs — fat, slimy, and crawling.
"Ahhhhhh!" he screamed, jumping back.
The cubs, however, squealed with delight and immediately dove in, gobbling the insects like noodles. Even the others joined, slurping the bugs down bare-handed.
Travis couldn't take it anymore. He bolted to the corner and vomited.
"God save me," he muttered between gasps. "That was disgusting!"