Felix's Point of View

By the time we got back to the house, the sky had already begun to darken, the last rays of sunlight casting long shadows over the village. I let out a deep breath, rolling my shoulders before heading to the cooking area outside.

Dinner. Right.

I wasn't particularly fond of cooking. It wasn't that I couldn't cook-I was actually damn good at it. My mother had made sure all my brothers learned how, saying that a male who could cook was always appreciated by females. But out of all of us, I was the only one who excelled at it. The problem was, I just never cared about it.

But now?

I glanced toward the house, where Shira had disappeared inside.

I found myself looking forward to making the next meal. It was ridiculous, really. But seeing her eat with such enthusiasm, the way her face lit up when she enjoyed something-it made me want to cook more.

Shaking my head, I turned my focus back to preparing the ingredients, chopping some vegetables with quick, precise movements.

Then came Shira's voice from inside.

"Felix! Don't come in for a while, I'm changing!"

I scoffed, smirking to myself. "Not like I want to see you naked, anyway."

A moment of silence.

Then her irritated voice. "I heard that!"

I chuckled but obeyed, continuing my task. The broth was starting to simmer when her voice called again.

"Felix, can you come inside for a moment? I need a bit of help."

I frowned, wiping my hands on a cloth before striding inside. "Help with wha-"

The words died in my throat.

Shira stood in the middle of the room, half-dressed.

And not in her usual loose, overly modest clothing that barely revealed a shape under all the fabric. No-this was different.

She was wearing her usual long-bottoms, those strange "pants" she always insisted on, but her top-or rather, what she called a T or something was nothing like her usual attire. It was short, stopping just below her chest, leaving her waist completely bare. It looped around her shoulders and neck, tied at the back-but it was currently untied, hanging loosely around her as she struggled to reach behind her back to tie it.

She turned her head to look at me, completely oblivious to my stunned state.

"Can you tie this up? The cloth came a bit short, so I can't reach it in the front."

My brain blanked.

This... must be that binding for the chest she mentioned earlier.

Not gonna lie, she did have a-

Nope. Nope. Don't go there.

I clenched my jaw, willing the heat creeping up my neck to disappear. My face felt like it was on fire. I wasn't shy about female bodies-I had seen plenty barely covered females before. But this? It made me nervous.

And seeing her like this for the first time-bare shoulders, smooth skin, the delicate curve of her waist-

I swallowed.

"Felix? Will you?"

"Y-yeah, yeah, I'm doing it." My voice came out gruffer than I intended.

I stepped forward, my hands moving to tie the fabric. I forced myself to focus-not too tight, not too loose. Just enough to hold.

The warmth of her skin was way too noticeable.

The scent of her-light, a little sweet from the honey candy earlier-made my brain fuzzy.

I tied it quickly and immediately stepped back. "Done."

Before she could say anything else, I spun on my heel and walked out.

"I'm going back. The broth will overboil," I muttered, escaping outside.

I exhaled sharply once I was out of the house, rubbing a hand over my face.

Damn it.

That was way more embarrassing than it needed to be.

By the time Shira returned, she was back in her usual attire-her strange, loose-fitting clothes that covered her from head to toe, especially needed in this early winter. I couldn't even tell if she had actually worn the chest binding or not.

Not that it mattered. Nope. Definitely did not matter.

Dinner went as usual-except for the fact that Shira seemed to enjoy it too much. As always.

She ate every last bit with an enthusiasm that was almost entertaining to watch. Every bite brought out different facial expressions. Honestly, it was kind of hilarious.

Maybe that self-inflicted fruit torture she put herself through made her appreciate my cooking even more.

"This is really so awesome, Felix!" she exclaimed between bites.

I smirked, leaning back on my hands. "I do have a talent, you know."

She rolled her eyes, but the grin on her face didn't fade. "Well, I'm never letting you stop cooking. This is your life now, atleast till winter end."

I just shook my head, amused. I didn't mind. If she liked it so much, I'd keep cooking. Till winter end. Till I leave. Simple as that.

Later That Night

There were still a few hours before sleep time, but after struggling all morning to get her hand free from my grip during training, Shira must've been exhausted.

The moment she lay down in that ridiculously warm sleep blanket Allmer had given her, she knocked out.

Just like that.

I watched for a second, half in disbelief.

That man... Allmer was too perfect as a mate. If you ignored the whole feral thing, of course. He spoiled his female way too much, giving her everything without hesitation.

And Shira?

She atleast wasn't like other overly cranky females. She didn't demand things. She didn't expect to be showered with gifts and attention.

She was... normal.

It was weird. I didn't even think females could be so normal, especially after seeing the mates my brothers ended up with.

Allmer was lucky. Hell, he was beyond lucky.

The fact that he was the one pushing her to take on more mates instead of the other way around? Hilarious.

Too bad his efforts to make Ace her mate were still failing miserably.

That man thought if he asked her to be her mate outright, she'd pull away and break whatever weird friendship they had.

Honestly? I think I know her better than he does.

A chilly breeze drifted in from the door, perfect for me to lay near in my tiger form. I stretched out, enjoying the cool air against my skin, just about to shift-

Then noticed something.

She was shivering.

Not much, just a little. But enough that I could tell she was cold, even under her thick clothes.

I frowned, sitting up slightly.

Should I block the door? Put something in front of it?

Just as I was about to move, she rolled over-right near the fire.

Her shivering stopped instantly.

I sighed and lay back down. Guess that was the perfect temperature for her.

I let my gaze drift around the room, taking in all the things Allmer had brought. That man really had stocked up for winter. Clothes, bowls, food-

Then, movement caught my eye.

I turned my head-

And froze.

Shira rolled again.

Straight too close to the fire.

"Damn it-"

I was up in an instant, moving without thinking.

Before she could roll once more and tumble directly into the flames, I stood between her and the fire, blocking her path.

She's careless.

Maybe this was why Allmer hugged her so tight while sleeping.

Huh. This was exactly why females needed at least four mates-to keep them safe from their own recklessness.

I let out a heavy sigh, rubbing my forehead.

With much effort, I shifted the fire a little farther away, making sure it was still close enough for warmth but not close enough for her to roll into it and turn into a roasted Shira.

Then, after some consideration, I lay down between her and the fire.

She was still deep in sleep, her breathing slow and even.

With a quiet exhale, I loosely draped an arm around her from behind-not too tight, just enough to keep her warm and keep her from rolling into danger again.

She instinctively curled slightly into the warmth.

...Hushhh.

I was going to have to wake up before her tomorrow.

With that final thought, I closed my eyes and let sleep take over.