Ner held onto Berg tightly as she stared down at the Shifre.
The fear that had crept into her from Bergs icy words was suppressed with difficulty.
She tried to collect her wits, comforted by the warmth emanating from Berg.
Unwittingly, her grip on Bergs hand tightened, and her tail curled even more tightly.
He was a friend, her own ally.
She had no intention of letting him go right now.
She had no intention of denying that he was precious to her.
Shifre gazed at her for a long mont before collecting herself and bowed her head slightly.
...I am Shifre.
But when Shifre raised her head again, her eyes were filled with hostility.
As if Ner had committed so unforgivable error.
Ignoring Ner, Shifre looked up at Berg once more.
...I know it might seem that way. But Berg, I promise youI will never betray you.
Ner felt her priorities flipping inside out at Shifres words.
The fear and anxiety disappeared, replaced by a sticky anger.
...What are you doing right now?
...
Shifre looked back at Ner.
A combative air emanated from Shifre, the indomitable spirit of a rcenary leader making itself apparent.
...I know it may be rude, but the humans can practice polygamy, cant they?
If you know its rude, then you should stop.
Ner clung to Bergs arm even more fiercely.
Her clasped hands were so tight that the blood could scarcely circulate.
She liked the solidity she felt from such close contact.
It felt as unshakeable as the relationship between her and Berg.
Shifres expression turned even colder at Ners words.
Ignoring Ner again, she turned her gaze back to Berg.
...I know.
Bergs eyebrows shot up.
Shifre continued...
...I know this is all an act. YouBerg, you married her for the sake of the Red Flas, didnt you?
At her words, Ners heart hamred in her chest.
...Youre not even loved, are you? Always fighting through hardship? Youre just doing this out of a sense of duty, right?
...With an expression that seed to pity him.
Ner was struck to the core and found herself speechless.
Then Shifre reached out her hand.
She attempted to touch the injured Bergs cheek.
But if it were ... I would truly...
And with that direct action, Ners body moved on its own.
It might have been a reaction to the anxiety she had just felt.
Berg was the first to beco her ally.
He was her friend.
...He was hers.
She couldnt forget the way he had tenderly smiled while caressing her.
She couldnt stand soone else trying to touch him impulsively.
Her tribe had a strong sense of domain.
And Berg was her domain.
-Thud!
So Ner pushed Shifre away lightly and turned back to Berg.
...Ner?
Berg uttered in confusion as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
She jumped slightly, aiming for his neck.
Her teeth were bared.
She did not loosen her tail.
She held him tightly to ensure he couldnt escape.
-Chomp!
Then she bit down on his neck.
A few rcenaries who understood the aning of this action gasped.
This was one of the deep displays of affection among the werewolf couples.
Leaving a mark on ones partner.
To leave this mark, a deep love must be the foundation.
For a bite to remain, one must endure the accompanying pain.
Because it signified a bond so close that one carried the others mark on their body.
Ner felt her sharp fangs pressing against Bergs neck.
Suddenly, a sinister desire she didnt know she had writhed within her.
She slowly felt her fangs piercing through the flesh of Bergs neck.
Yet, she did not ease her strength.
-Grrruck... Sunk!
It was her first ti doing this.
...But it didnt feel like a mistake.
........
If there was anything that worried her, it was only what Berg might think.
But even that couldnt suppress her urges at the mont.
Regardless of what Berg might think, she wanted to leave her mark on him.
She wanted to prevent that woman nad Shifre from approaching him.
She wanted to boast of the intimate bond between them.
-Thump.
But Bergs subsequent actions set Ners heart racing once again.
Berg made no complaints about the pain, nor did he push her away.
Instead, he embraced Ner so she could bite his neck more comfortably.
He even accepted the pain.
Ner felt a thrill, like a shiver down her spine, flow through her.
Emboldened by his acceptance, she left an even more intense mark.
She bit down harder in excitent.
...Paha...
After a long ti and in the silence of many, Ner released his neck.
A string of saliva, followed by blood, began to flow, connecting her mouth to his wounded neck.
...
Before climbing down from Bergs embrace, Ner licked his neck once more.
To clean the blood off.
Upon this touch, Berg, who had remained still through the pain, flinched ever so slightly, as if tickled.
...
At that brief movent, a smile ford on Ners face.
Ner gazed at the wound she had left.
It was her own creation, yet it was beautiful.
It was also satisfying.
Ner then turned to Shifre.
...Do we still seem like were just pretending?
A werewolf rcenary approached Shifre, who looked flustered.
He whispered sothing in Shifres ear.
It seed to be an explanation of what had just transpired.
........
Afterwards, Shifre fell silent.
She looked back and forth between Berg and Ner, then finally turned away.
In the hollow silence that followed, she left.
Ner savored the subtle taste of victory she felt.
****
Returning to the camp, Ner apologizes to .
I... Im sorry, Berg. But-
I shook my head.
I had no intention of discussing the incident that just happened outdoors.
I might not have understood what it was, but I knew it was a special show of affection unique to her species.
That must be why Shifre left the way she did.
And so, we continued walking.
From a distance, Arwin approached.
...
Her eyes, montarily hardened, shifted to my neck.
She stayed frozen like that for a long while.
Lets go.
Passing by the frozen Arwin, I spoke to her.
Only then did she seem to snap out of it and follow behind .
Though Ners actions were disconcerting, I felt no aversion.
If this was an expression of affection, it was what I had asked for.
I had asked her to do this.
It was her preemptive action, ensuring that Shifre, who had seen through our relationship, could no longer harbor any doubts.
Ner did what I couldnt do.
In a way, I should be grateful.
As the negotiations had sowhat progressed, the evening was approaching.
I looked up at the sky.
The sky, gradually darkening, held a faintly visible moon.
It wasnt quite a full moon... a slightly distorted one.
Suddenly, I wondered if Ner didnt like this moon.
Now that the tension with the other rcenary groups had eased, I thought it might be nice to take her out for a walk.
****
Arwin entered the lodging with a cold expression.
Inside, Ner was already flustered, apologizing to Berg.
Berg! Im, Im sorry. You were startled.
Its fine. Just explain.
Arwin already knew about this act.
It was one of the werewolf tribes barbaric displays of affection.
An act of marking near the face of their partner to claim ownership.
A gesture to flaunt their relationship.
Inevitably accompanied by pain and ugly wounds, it was a practice not often done even among the werewolf couples.
And Ner had done it.
The sa Ner who had contemplated betrayal.
...Of course, Arwin understood that it was for Bergs sake.
But did it have to leave such a scar on his body?
How much more harm must be done before satisfaction is found?
How long will Berg continue to accept such actions with a smile?
Arwin couldnt tell.
Ner continued to explain.
...Its sothing married couples do. Shifre kept suspecting... so I felt I had to do sothing...
Berg nodded at her words, then quietly wiped the blood that had trickled down his neck.
...
Ner stared at the scar left on him for a long while before swallowing hard.
Then she said,
...Co on, Berg.
Ner then slightly lowered her clothes, revealing her neck to Berg.
Her pale, delicate neck was exposed.
...?
Berg stiffened in confusion.
...Leave one on too.
Ner said.
What?
...Im, Im sorry. You can bite too.
Berg let out a half-laugh.
Its fine.
As he declined, Ner hastily insisted.
Just one side is odd. It should be both sides, you know.
...
...Otherwise, all this might just go to waste.
You want to bite you?
Yeah. Its okay.
Berg clicked his tongue.
...Theres no need to go that far.
Ner declared with firmness at his expression.
Berg. I think Ill feel at ease if you do it. Please.
Arwin watched all this from a distance.
...Itll hurt.
Berg pointed out.
Thats what gives it aning.
Ner explained.
To endure such pain for soone...
She then fell silent.
Berg, after much contemplation, rose to et Ners gaze.
Arwin felt a jolt in her heart at Bergs resolve.
He declared,
...Ill do it in one go.
Arwin couldnt fathom why this was so painfully hard to watch.
Bergs right hand gently grasped Ners shoulder.
She noticed the ring she had inserted there.
A ring that had never once been worn on the left hand.
It seed lately that Berg had eyes only for Ner.
The Ner who contemplated betrayal.
The Ner who awaited a different destined one.
Berg lingered for a long mont, even as he gazed upon Ners neck.
Then he sighed deeply.
-Chomp.
He bit down on Ners neck.
Ah...!
Ner moaned, but Berg did not stop as he had promised to do it in one go.
Ner groaned in pain, tightly embracing Bergs neck.
It seed like a prepared embrace, to ensure he wouldnt back out.
...?
But contrary to her contorted expression, in that mont, Ners tail wagged discreetly.
At the sa ti, Ner and Arwins eyes t.
The tail stood stiffly.
...
...
The two of them looked at each other in silence for a long ti.
As ti passed, it beca increasingly difficult to understand Ners thoughts.
Then Ner blinked and pressed her lips tightly shut.
She wore an expression as if to say, Cant be helped, right?
Soon after, Ner averted her eyes.
She whispered to Berg.
...You can bite harder.
****
Ner lay in bed beside Berg, spending a quiet night awake.
Berg had already fallen asleep.
It had been a while since shed had a light drink of her favorite alcohol.
But Ner was tossing and turning, sleep eluding her.
Whenever she closed her eyes, that mont ca to mind.
Shifre, who had courted Berg.
The mont she tried to touch his cheek.
The mont Ner had pushed Shifre away and acted.
Berg, who had bitten her neck, then embraced her.
The chills she felt then were so intense, that the afterglow lingered still.
Her heartbeat seed to thrum endlessly against her skin.
It wouldnt calm down.
...Ah.
Ner soon touched the bite marks Berg had left on her neck.
The pain that flowed through that wound was not unpleasant.
She didnt expect it to happen at all, it was the teeth marks of a human race, yet the thought of disliking it never crossed her mind.
This mark, aningless to cover with a bandage, received no proper treatnt.
Such neglect was a morose and disgraceful act for the dically advanced werewolf tribe.
...Though Berg might not fully understand.
Ner soon turned around and looked at Berg.
She enjoyed the feeling of her tail touching him, so she rested it on his thigh.
What was this persistent heartbeat she felt?
She couldnt keep her body still.
As the night deepened, Ner began to rub herself familiarly against Berg.
Her pheromones, now erging, began to douse him.
And as she continued to rub against him, her body grew hotter and hotter.
More intense actions impulsively pricked at her mind.
...
Ner gazed at the bite mark she had left on Berg.
The wound had started to bruise without proper treatnt.
It did look a bit pitiful.
...
So Ner carefully opened her mouth.
Her moist tongue slowly erged.
For a mont, she pondered if this was alright.
They were a couple, after all.
There was nothing they couldnt do.
Ner, reassured by this thought, licked Bergs neck.
Specifically, she licked the wound.
Such behavior was commonplace in their culture.
Even if Berg were to wake, there would be no reason for him to be surprised.
Licking ones wounds was a natural act, after all.
But Ner felt her body heat up with the taste that lingered on her tongue from his neck.
She pressed her body even closer to his.
With one hand, she embraced Berg to steady him, and buried her face in his neck.
Her tongue did not cease its movent.
From his warm bare skin, Ner could not pull away.
...Haah.
Soon, Ner beca aware of the abnormal reaction stirring within her.
Why couldnt she stop?
Why couldnt she restrain herself?
Why did she want more?
...Why was it so sweet?
Her glowing yellow eyes swiftly road the dark room, searching as if for an excuse.
...
And then, through the slightly parted curtains, she saw the bright moon.
The sa moon that once reminded her solely of her destined partner.
But now, the thought of destiny didnt even cross her mind.
There was only one excuse that ca to her.
...It must be the mating season.
She thought to herself impulsively.
After a mont, she straightened her upper body and tidied her disheveled hair.
Then she clung back into Bergs embrace and resud lavishing his neck with licks.
The End of The Chapter
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