Back at the clan's royal palace, the little cubs were beginning to doze off—and so was Travis himself. He was tired, utterly exhausted after a long, stressful day of battling to stay alive in an impossibly confusing world filled with shameless men and women.
He carried the cubs in his arms—Tilda was on his left, already deep in sleep, while Henry on his right still fought to keep his eyes open.
"Papa isn't back yet. I want to see Papa…" Henry cooed softly.
Travis sighed and gently shushed him. "Sleep, Henry. Papa will come talk to you when he gets back. Just a few minutes, okay?"
Before he could even finish speaking, the little one was already snoring adorably.
Finally! Babysitting was one hell of a stress. Whoever had been doing this before must have had nerves of steel—these two were definitely a handful.
He looked around, wondering where to lay them when suddenly—flash!—a tiny spark of light shimmered right before him.
He instantly recognized that glow. The annoying fairy was back.
"Oh, good to see you're still alive—and your head's still intact," she teased with a smile.
Travis only glared, rolling his eyes. "Come to gloat? Because if you are, get out of my way."
He marched toward the hut, frustrated and confused about where to go next. For heaven's sake, where's the damn bed—if they even have one here?
"Clueless again, aren't you?" the fairy said, grinning like one of those eerie clowns that had creeped him out back in the modern world. "Don't look like that—it doesn't suit you."
"Damn you, fairy! If you know where the room is, point it out and be on your way!" Travis snapped.
The fairy finally obeyed, fluttering silently ahead.
For a moment, Travis regretted his harsh tone. Did I hurt her feelings? But no—she started it first.
"Okay, this is it," the fairy announced, pointing at a dark space crawling with cobwebs.
Travis blinked. "This? You're joking, right?"
Aside from the dusty air, the only thing visible was a pile of leaves dumped in the corner. Oh my—he had a lot of changes to make here.
"Hmm, fairy," he muttered, "if you could be useful for once in your life, could you conjure up a bed or something?"
"I help perform tasks, not grant wishes, you moron," she ranted, folding her tiny arms.
Travis sighed. Of course—it was all on him again. Still, the fairy didn't vanish this time. She stayed around, lighting the room with her glow.
He looked at the cubs again, his expression softening. Poor kids… so this is where they've been sleeping all along?
If only he could help them…
Just as that thought crossed his mind, a warm glow began to radiate from his chest. It spread through his arms, and suddenly—whoosh!—the entire room lit up with floating lanterns. Then, out of thin air, an enormous, soft, foam-like bed appeared at the center of the room.
Travis stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief. "What… how did that—"
"It's a cradle space, dummy," the fairy explained. "When you rescued the baby, you activated it. It reacts to your emotions—it nurtures life. And right now, babysitting is life, isn't it?"
Travis nodded slowly, still awestruck.
He gently laid the cubs on the new bed, petting them softly, rubbing their little lion ears that twitched under his touch. Both of them relaxed, their breathing evened out, and within seconds—they were asleep.
"Thanks for today," Travis whispered.
But before he could turn, the fairy had already vanished—and in her place stood someone else.
Derek.
"Who are you talking to?" Derek's deep, husky voice sent a chill up Travis's spine.
Oh no. The fairy had made him talk aloud—now he'd have to explain.
When Derek's gaze landed on the bed, his expression shifted from confusion to shock.
"What kind of sorcery is this?" he demanded.
"It just… came," Travis stammered. "I don't know how!"
Derek smirked and took a slow step forward.
Not again. Still in his threadbare clothes, Travis began to retreat, but his back soon met the wall.
Derek leaned in, hovering dangerously close, inhaling his scent.
Damn, it was too good—too pure, too divine. That scent was something beyond explanation, something that pulled at every beastly instinct inside him.
"I could stay like this all day," Derek murmured, his breath brushing against Travis's lips.
"Unfortunately, King, you can't. I need to sleep," Travis replied sharply, hoping that would end it.
But Derek didn't move away.
"How can I sleep when someone like you is near?" Derek whispered. "Your body, your scent—it's so heavenly I can't get you out of my mind."
Travis's face flushed crimson. This man is hopelessly shameless.
"I just want to eat you right where you stand…" Derek murmured, his hand sliding down to Travis's thigh, fingers brushing against his skin beneath the thin fabric.
"You're trespassing…" Travis breathed out, startled as the king's calloused hand moved dangerously close.
Derek finally pulled back with a teasing smirk. "Go sleep. I can see you need your beauty rest."
Travis exhaled, realizing he'd been holding his breath. Thank the gods.
Just as he was about to crawl into bed, Derek's hand caught his fingertips—gently, almost pleadingly.
"Travis… you won't abandon me for someone else, right?"
The question came soft, almost fragile. Despite his commanding tone, Derek sounded scared—like a child afraid of losing his favorite dream.
Aww, how adorable, Travis thought with a faint smile. "Go to sleep, Lion. Tomorrow's another day."
He fell into bed beside the cubs, who instinctively cuddled against him.
Derek watched the three of them for a long moment, a small smile curling on his lips. Who else but him is perfect to care for his cubs? he thought bitterly. To hell with the clan's rules.
He took one last look before quietly leaving the room.
******
Travis suddenly found himself standing in a huge, shimmering garden. The ground was carpeted with countless flowers, and their fragrances hung sweetly in the air. It was breathtaking—like another paradise entirely.
But then, a voice echoed from within.
"This is the inner part of your soul core, where whatever you need is born."
Travis blinked. So this is where that bed came from… but how?
The place was magnificent, tranquil—until a drop landed on his cheek.
He touched it and froze.
It was blood.
Then more drops fell, splattering on the flowers. The once-lively blooms began to wilt. Trees trembled and collapsed; animals dropped lifeless to the ground.
Suddenly, the earth beneath him cracked open with a deafening quake, ripping the paradise apart.
Travis turned and ran, heart pounding. What's happening? This is supposed to be my soul core!
As blood pooled across the ground, horrifying visions appeared before his eyes. The lion clan surrounded by flames—their lands consumed by fire and falling debris. Beastmen crushed, bodies piling, screams echoing.
He saw himself—running with six cubs and three beast men through a burning, molten maze.
The sight made him shudder violently.
Then the same voice spoke again:
"You have one week to prepare. If you don't warn them, there will be no tribes left."
And just like that, the voice faded—leaving only silence.
A sudden, powerful force jolted him awake. He sat up, gasping—only to be greeted by bright sunlight.
It was morning.
But then he realized there was a heavy weight on him.
He looked down—and froze.
Right there, pressed against him, was Derek. Stark naked.
Their skin touched.
The fuck!? How did he get here—and when!?
Feeling something underneath his garment, Travis grabbed it and let out a loud, horrified screech.