Beta

Alice hesitated only a second before pressing [Beta Selected].

The system chimed happily.

[Selection Confirmed: Beta Path Initiated]

Heat surged through her body, burning and tingling all at once. She gasped as her teeth sharpened into small, predatory fangs; her nails lengthened into hooked claws. Pain flashed across her skull ears shifting, elongating, sprouting soft black fur until they stood pointed and tufted like a lynx’s.

“Oh oh gods ” she panted, voice trembling between agony and something disturbingly close to pleasure. The itch at the base of her spine built into a pulsing, electric pressure until pop a fluffy red rabbit tail burst forth, twitching madly.

Alice froze, chest heaving, staring at the reflection in the system pane. Not monstrous. Not divine. Just… her, but more animal.

(Yeah. Figures. I pick Beta and the system gives me the body that already screams “kick me.” Perfect.)

[Status Sheet: Alice]

(Aww, look at you, little half-breed Beta. Soft ears, sharp claws, and one very confused libido.)

Race: Chimeran (Beta Sub-Type) – A hybrid of prey and predator instincts. Think cute bunny with the occasional **** streak.

Class: Beastmaster (because apparently

Level: 1 (barely housebroken)

Title: Sweet Survivor (+5 Constitution, +5 Willpower. Still sticky.)

Affiliations:

Inspira Guild (Daddy’s guild. Try not to make family dinners weird.)

Ravens howl (They’ll get used to the fur.)

HP: 42 ( from 35 extra fluff = extra padding)

Mana: 70 ( from 60 that new tail has a mana node. Don’t ask.)

Body

Strength: 27 ( from 26 claws help)

Constitution: 36 ( from 33 tougher skin, softer heart)

Agility: 44 ( from 41 you hop fast now)

Appearance: 42 ( from 38 )

Mind

Charisma: 34 (from 31 shy charm hits different)

Intelligence: 38 (same still thinking with instinct more than logic)

Willpower: 52 (from 50 submissive doesn’t mean weak, sweetheart)

Perception: 55 (from 52 lynx ears are basically cheating)

Magical

Magical Strength:13 (↑ from 5 minor bump, major sass)

Magical Control: 24 (↑ from 3 baby steps, fuzzy one)

Traits

Touched by Mana (Minor): The womb lottery prize that keeps on giving.

Sticky Situation: Still irresistible to beasts and bonded mates. They’ll follow the scent trail.

Mated: Shared stats, shared pain, shared awkward eye contact.

Beta Instincts (New):

Passive empathy link with bonded Alphas.

Heightened healing when obeying or protecting the pack.

Emotional sensitivity boosted. (Crying during sad movies now 200% more likely.)

Chimeran Physiology:

Fangs, claws, lynx ears, and rabbit tail equipped.

+5 to Constitution and Agility when fighting in packs.

Bonus effect: reduced aggression aura. Creatures approach curiously instead of attacking outright.

Features

Cash Shop: Unlocked. Try not to spend all your Attribute Points on grooming supplies.

Race Evolution: Complete. Congratulations, you’re officially half-fluff, half-problem.

(Beta confirmed. Instincts submissive, empathy boosted, libido unchanged. You’ll make a great support character and an even better pillow.)

Alice staggered back a few steps, gasping as the last ripples of transformation faded. Her reflection shimmered faintly in the system panel’s glassy surface, alien, yet familiar. The ears twitching at the top of her head weren’t human anymore, sleek and furred like a lynx’s, little tufts flicking at the edges. Her claws caught the light when she lifted her hands, black and sharp.

She opened her mouth experimentally and winced when the tips of her new fangs scraped her lower lip.

(Okay. Not dreaming. Definitely not dreaming.)

Her breathing hitched. Every sound in the world was louder now the soft hum of mana in the air, the quiet shuffle of fabric, even her own pulse. It was like the entire world had turned the volume knob to “way too load.”

Alice's new ears twitched atop her head, her sense of touch was dialed up past ten, every sensation overwhelming. She shifted, feeling her cock brush against the towel. It sent an electric jolt of arousal through her, making her cock throb.

Alice squeezed her eyes shut, trying to ignore the building heat and desire. Her body felt foreign, oversensitive. "Alright... Beta," she muttered to herself. "Soft ears, soft heart, no control over my own hormones. Fantastic."

She gripped the edge of a seat, her claws retracting. The rabbit tail twitched behind her, making her face flush. "Just breathe," she whispered shakily. "You can handle this..."

Against her will, Alice pictured stroking herself, giving in to the **** need building inside her. Her hand trembled, aching to reach down and grasp her cock, stroke it until the painful arousal crested and broke. Her cock pulsed in time with her rapid heartbeat, slickness wetting her thighs.

But no, she couldn't - wouldn't - give in. Shuddering with the effort, Alice **** herself upright, digging her nails into her palm. The arousal didn't abate, but she managed to fight it down, biting back a frustrated whimper. Now was not the time.

“Just breathe,” she whispered, voice shaky. “You can handle this. You’ve handled worse. You’ve… okay, no, you’ve never handled this, but still.”

Her tail gave another flick, and her ears flattened.

She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling her heart hammering so fast it almost vibrated. Every sense screamed alive scent, sound, warmth, even the faint pulse of mana through the air. It wasn’t just power; it was instinct.

“This is what I get for being honest with myself,” she said through gritted teeth. “Should’ve picked Alpha. Should’ve gone full scary wolf bitch. At least then I’d feel dangerous instead of…”

Her ears drooped, tail flicking once more.

“…adorable.”

Alice exhaled slowly, forcing herself upright, her towel clutched tight. The glowing system text still hovered nearby, quietly congratulating her on her “successful adaptation.”

She glared at it.

“Shut up, Dice.”

The panel winked cheekily, as if it were laughing.

The modified stretch-hummer glided to a stop in front of The Velvet Bottle, Maria’s pride and joy a neon-trimmed bar that looked like it belonged halfway between a jazz bar and a night club,

Outside, Jen and Ignition were already waiting. Both wore clean borrowed clothes that Maria had scrounged,

Then the car door opened.

Maria hopped out first in her ridiculous heels, still the picture of confidence and chaos in motion. “Alright, darlings, we’re ho ” She stopped mid-sentence, blinking as Alice stepped out behind her.

Silence.

The faint hum of the bar’s signage was the only sound for a moment as everyone took in the sight.

Alice froze halfway out of the car, towel still clutched around her, ears twitching nervously atop her head. The little lynx tufts stood on end, and her fluffy red tail betrayed every emotion she tried to hide.

Maria’s painted lips parted. “Oh. My. Goddess.”

“Mom,” Alice started, voice small, “I can explain ”

“Oh, baby, no explaining needed,” Maria cut in, circling her like a fascinated cat. “You’re adorable! Look at those ears! Look at that tail! I could just die.”

Jen and Ignition exchanged a look; Jen’s brow lifted, while Ignition’s expression was unreadable, just quiet,ice cold eyes that made Alice’s heart skip.

Alice groaned softly, pulling the towel tighter. “Mom, please don’t ”

Maria clapped her hands, squealing. “No, seriously, you’re the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Forget bartending, I could put you on stage and have you selling shots in five minutes!”

“Mom!”

Maria threw her hands up. “What? I’m supporting my daughter’s self-discovery!”

Alice’s ears flattened completely, and she stared at the ground. Her cock twitching at the idea of being stared at on stage. She **** a shaky breath through her nose, trying to calm her racing pulse.

Jen stepped forward awkwardly, trying to shift the attention. “Uh… does this happen often?”

Maria spun toward her, gesturing dramatically. “Not in my family, it doesn’t! I mean, look at her! Half predator, half bunny it’s like a crime against fashion and I love it.”

Alice finally lifted her gaze, cheeks red. “Can we please just go inside before someone recognizes me?”

Maria blinked, then waved a manicured hand toward the bar’s front door. “Fine, fine! Upstairs, darling. You can hide in your room while I grab you something to wear. Don’t shed on the furniture.”

Alice sighed in defeat, slipping past them toward the bar’s side entrance, tail flicking in frustration. Jen and Ignition followed, exchanging quiet, uncertain smiles.

The back stairwell of The Velvet Bottle creaked under their feet as they climbed. The hum of the bar below was a muffled throb of bass and laughter Maria’s empire in full swing even this early in the evening.

Alice kept her head down, tugging at the oversized hoodie her mom had tossed her to cover the towel. Her lynx ears twitched through the fabric anyway, betraying every flicker of embarrassment. The soft swish of her new bunny tail brushed against her thighs as she walked, and she winced every time it moved.

(Perfect. Just perfect. Walking anatomy lesson with witnesses. Thanks, Dice.)

Behind her, Jen tried her best not to stare, though her curiosity was plain. “Does it… hurt?” she asked softly, nodding toward the ears.

Alice rubbed the back of her neck. “No. Just feels weird.”

Ignition followed last, silent as ever. His heavy steps made the wood groan, and the heat that radiated from him seemed to make the narrow hallway even smaller. Every time Alice’s ears flicked back, they picked up his steady breathing, his heartbeat strong and steady like a drum. It made her shiver.

Maria reached the landing first, heels clicking, voice bright as ever. “Welcome to Casa de Chaos! Shoes off, claws in, no biting the furniture.”

Alice muttered, “You say that like it’s a regular problem.”

Maria threw her a wink. “That’s because it is, sweetheart.”

The apartment was cozy but loud with personality: hanging plants, neon light strips, old posters from her mother’s bar, and a faint smell of citrus cleaner over spilled liquor,

Jen stopped just inside the door, looking around. “It’s… homely,” she said politely.

Maria beamed. “Thank you, dear! That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said after surviving one of my rides.”

Alice groaned, sinking into the nearest chair. “Please don’t call it that, Mom.”

Her tail puffed out in mortification as she realized both Jen and Ignition were still watching her. She tugged the hoodie tighter, muttering, “I swear, if anyone says I’m cute, I’m moving out.”

Maria smirked. “But you are cute, baby.”

“Mom!”

The two guests tried not to laugh, though Jen failed first, covering her mouth as a snort escaped. Ignition only shook his head, but there was the faintest curve of a smile on his lips.

Maria clapped her hands. “Alright! Jen, bathroom’s down the hall if you want to freshen up. Kairos, kitchen’s that way if you want a drink. Alice, sweetheart take a breath. You’re safe here.”

Alice looked up, the irritation fading from her expression. Her mother’s tone, light though it was, carried genuine warmth.

“Yeah,” she said quietly, sinking deeper into the chair. “I know.”

Her tail gave a slow, lazy twitch, betraying a sliver of calm at last.

Alice shut the door behind her a little harder than she meant to. The soft thunk echoed in the quiet, making the walls vibrate just enough for the corner of an old movie poster to peel loose.

Her room greeted her like a time capsule. The grainy horror posters faded slasher villains, blood-smeared masks, creatures with glowing eyes and bad special effects watched her from the walls. They’d always been her comfort zone, proof of who she was before all this. But now their stares felt heavy, like she’d walked into a room full of silent judges.

The corner holo-console still blinked faintly, screensaver pulsing in dull neon. The controllers lay in a heap, cords tangled like lazy snakes. Everything was exactly where she’d left it. The candy wrappers. The empty cans. The half-eaten packet of chips sagging on the desk.

It all looked like it was waiting for someone else, a version of her that didn’t have claws, ears, or a tail.

Alice swallowed hard, her throat dry. (I feel like I broke into my own life.)

She went to her dresser, forcing her shaking hands to cooperate. Her new claws scraped against the wooden handles, leaving faint marks. “Damn it…” she whispered, fumbling the drawer open.

The smell of fabric and faint detergent met her, and for a second that ordinary scent almost steadied her. The clothes were folded neatly T-shirts, tank tops, jeans. Safe, normal, human things.

She dug through the drawer, fingers brushing over soft cotton until she found one of her favorites: a black tee with a cracked white print of a screaming ghoul mid-shriek. The fabric was worn thin in places, the hem slightly uneven from where she’d tried to fix it herself.

She held it up against her chest, staring at the faded image.

Her reflection in the nearby mirror caught her eye wild hair, tufted lynx ears poking through it, sharp fangs glinting as she bit her lip. Her eyes gleamed faintly sliver under the light. And behind her, that ridiculous fluffy red rabbit tail swayed nervously, like it didn’t know what to do either.

Alice let out a weak laugh. “Yeah. Real horror show now, huh?”

She tugged the shirt over her head and pulled on the first pair of jeans she could find, hissing as her claws snagged the denim. The tail fought the waistband. She finally managed to wedge it through the back, panting slightly.

“Okay,” she muttered to no one. “You’re dressed. You’re fine. Totally normal, completely not a hybrid freak.”

Her ears twitched. Her tail flicked. And for the first time, the silence of her messy little room felt too loud.

She turned toward the door, hand lingering on the knob. (Just act natural. Like you didn’t just… evolve. Like you’re still you.)

With one last steadying breath, she opened the door and stepped out.

Alice stepped back into the living room, trying her best to look casual. Her tail twitching behind her like it hadn’t gotten the memo.

The first thing she saw was her mother sitting on the couch far too close to Ignition, one hand resting boldly on his chest.

Maria’s voice purred like she was auditioning for trouble. “So tell me, big guy,” she said, running her fingers over the faint burn scars along his shoulder, “are those from your dungeon fights, or do you just run hot all the time?”

Ignition looked like he wanted to sink into the floor. His posture was tense, eyes darting anywhere but at her. His heat shimmered faintly, but it wasn’t the confident, dominating presence Alice remembered from the dungeon. He looked… lost. Cornered.

Alice froze mid-step. (Wait. Why is he letting her do that? …Oh. Oh, gods, he’s embarrassed.)

The realization came with an odd, dizzying pulse in her chest. Something deep inside her clicked a thread tightening between them, electric and undeniable. Her breath caught as the sensation rippled outward, bringing with it a wash of emotions that weren’t hers.

Confusion. Flustered panic. An ache of guilt and… loneliness.

Ignition’s feelings.

She could feel him.

Alice blinked rapidly, heart pounding as the empathy link settled. The connection felt intimate in a way that terrified her raw, open, impossible to shut off. And beneath it all was a strange, instinctive certainty: he’s mine.

(Oh no. No no no. Don’t do this, brain. Don’t make this weird.)

Her tail bristled as Maria leaned in closer, clearly enjoying herself far too much.

“Well?” her mom teased. “You can touch me more, you know i'm ready for Round 2.. I don’t bite… unless you ask nicely.”

That was it.

“Hey!” Alice blurted, marching forward before she even realized she was moving. “Back off, Mom. I’m calling dibs.”

The room went quiet for half a heartbeat. Jen, standing by the kitchenette, nearly dropped the glass she was holding. Ignition blinked, heat flaring faintly across his shoulders in visible confusion.

Maria turned to her, eyebrows raised high. “Dibs? On him?”

“Yes,” Alice said, crossing her arms with far more confidence than she felt. “Dibs. You heard me. I’m claiming first rights. That’s how it works.”

Her mother laughed not mocking, but amused in the way only a parent could be when watching their kid try to act tough. “Sweetheart, that’s not fair. I already had a head start.”

Alice’s ears went red. “Too bad. You snooze, you lose.”

Maria gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. “Oh, so that’s how it is now? Betrayed by my own daughter. And after I raised you with such excellent taste in men.”

“Yeah, well, I inherited that taste,” Alice muttered, glancing at Ignition. His expression hadn’t changed much, but through the bond she could feel the swirl of awkwardness and confusion under the surface like a storm.

And then, under that, something else. Warmth. Gratitude.

He didn’t say anything, but his gaze softened. The faintest hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

The bond hummed like a heartbeat between them, and Alice had to fight the sudden, stupid urge to walk over and hug him. Or worse nibble at his ear just to see how he’d react.

She shoved her hands into her pockets, trying to look bored. “Anyway, I’m serious, Mom. Dibs. I’m not negotiating.”

Maria sighed with exaggerated defeat, though her grin said otherwise. “Fine, fine. You win this round, sweetheart. But remember…” She leaned back on the couch, crossing her legs. “You may have called dibs, but I’m still the one who taught you how to flirt.”

Alice groaned. “Please stop talking forever.”

Jen coughed to hide a laugh, and Ignition just looked between them, bewildered but oddly calmer than before.

(Yeah,) Alice thought, stealing one more glance at him. (He’s definitely my Alpha… even if he has no idea what to do with that.)

They’d all ended up sitting on the big couch in the lounge Ignition in the middle, still radiating that faint heat he couldn’t seem to turn off, Alice on one side, and Jen hovering uncertainly on the far armrest like she wasn’t sure she belonged there at all.

Jen’s remaining hand fidgeted with the edge of a throw pillow. Every so often, her gaze darted down to the stump where her other arm should’ve been, wrapped neatly in fresh bandages. Normally that sight would’ve sunk her stomach, but right now… the weird, domestic absurdity of it all was almost distracting.

(Well,) she thought dryly, (at least I’m too mortified to feel sorry for myself.)

Alice leaned back with **** nonchalance, pretending she wasn’t hyper-aware of every inch between her and Ignition. Her ears twitched once, twice, and before she even realized what she was doing, she leaned in closer.

The warmth rolling off him was intoxicating like standing beside a bonfire. Her new instincts hummed in the back of her head, some quiet biological certainty whispering safe, strong, ours.

Her nose brushed against his shoulder. The scent hit her immediately smoke, salt, and faint traces of blood and metal. She inhaled again, slower this time, almost trembling.

(Oh gods, stop that. Stop that right now.)

But she didn’t. Her tail twitched, betraying her.

Ignition’s head tilted slightly toward her, confusion flickering across his face. Through their link, she could feel it embarrassment, the awkward thrum of someone trying desperately to figure out what “normal” behavior was supposed to look like.

He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t even uncomfortable in the way she expected, just caught off guard, uncertain. And that only made her chest ache harder.

Jen watched the whole thing, mouth slightly open. She couldn’t decide if it was horrifying, adorable, or both.

(What… what is she doing?)

Alice inhaled again, eyes half-lidded now, looking far too content.

“Oh my god,” Jen muttered under her breath.

Before she could stop herself, she slid off the armrest and onto the cushion beside him. “You, uh… you okay there, big guy?” she asked, trying to sound casual.

Ignition blinked, startled by the sudden attention from both sides. “I… yeah. I think?”

Jen smiled a little too wide. “Good. Good! Just checking. Making sure you’re not, you know, overheating or anything.”

Her cheeks were bright red. She didn’t even know why she’d moved closer, only that sitting way over there suddenly felt wrong.

Alice glanced over, ears twitching. “Really, Jen?”

Jen coughed. “What?”

“You’re crowding him.”

“Oh, I’m crowding him?” Jen gestured at Alice with her one hand. “You were literally sniffing him!”

Alice’s eyes widened. “I was not ”

“You were.”

“Okay, maybe a little! But that’s different!”

“How is that different?”

“I was being… instinctive!”

Jen’s brows lifted. “That’s your excuse?”

Alice crossed her arms, looking away, tail fluffing up behind her. “Shut up.”

Ignition looked between them helplessly, lips twitching like he couldn’t decide whether to laugh or run away.

Maria, from the kitchen doorway, sipped her drink with an amused smile. “Ah,” she said softly to herself. “It’s like watching puppies fight over a bone.”

Alice’s tail snapped upright. “Mom!”

Maria raised her glass in salute. “Just saying, sweetheart.”

The bond in Alice’s chest pulsed again, warm, heavy, confusing. She could feel Ignition’s heart hammering between them, his confusion melting slowly into something softer.

And that scared her more than anything else.

“Okay, so… this is my room,” Alice announced, pushing the door open and instantly regretting it.

It wasn’t that it was dirty, exactly more like organized chaos. Piles of clothes half-folded, dvd cases stacked like miniature towers, empty snack wrappers here and there, and horror posters glaring down at everyone like judgmental ghosts.

Jen blinked. Ignition hesitated in the doorway, ducking slightly to avoid the low hanging led strip lights.

“Wow,” Jen said after a beat. “This is… definitely a vibe.”

“It’s a work in progress,” Alice muttered.

Still, she waved them in. “Come on. You two look like you need some decompression time. And I ” she coughed, “ could use a little normal.”

The room was barely big enough for one person, but somehow three ended up sitting on the bed: Alice wedged in the middle, Ignition trying to make himself small (a losing battle, considering his size), and Jen perched cross-legged on the edge with one knee brushing Alice’s thigh.

Alice grabbed the holo-console remote and flicked it on. The screen on the wall hummed to life, casting them all in the blue light of the game menu.

“Alright,” Alice said, handing out controllers. “Time for a proper distraction.”

Ignition accepted his controller like someone being handed a live explosive. “I’ve… never played one of these,” he admitted quietly.

“You’ve never ?” Alice stared. “Okay, emergency priority shift. We’re teaching you Mario Brawl before you go near an actual dungeon again.”

Jen snickered, taking her own controller. Then Alice frowned, realizing

“Oh. Wait.” Her smile faltered. “Jen, I sorry, I didn’t think ”

Jen waved her off before she could finish. “It’s fine. I’ve got this.”

And before Alice could even ask what she meant, Jen dropped the controller to the bed, hooked her toes around it, and started navigating the game menu with alarming precision.

Alice’s jaw dropped. “You… what?!”

Jen grinned, never missing a beat. “I used to play like this all the time. Didn’t really have anyone else to play with, so, you know… improvise.”

Ignition blinked, clearly impressed. “That’s… kind of amazing.”

“It’s kind of weird!” Alice said, eyes wide. “Like impressive, weird, but still weird! Are you part monkey or something?”

Jen gave her a deadpan look. “No, I’m just that good. Unlike some people who knock over half their soda cans every time they try to grab a snack.”

Alice’s tail flicked in irritation. “That was one time.”

“Sure it was, I can tell by the stains” Jen teased.

Ignition chuckled, the sound low and unexpectedly warm. “You two argue like siblings.”

Alice crossed her arms. “Don’t make it weird.”

Jen, smirking, tapped the start button with her toe. “Too late.”

The game began chaos immediately ensued. Buttons clicked, holographic avatars crashed into each other, and the tiny bedroom filled with laughter, shouts, and competitive trash talk.

Despite the close quarters, despite the heat and the tension, it felt… good. Almost normal.

Alice found herself leaning against Ignition’s shoulder again without thinking, his warmth grounding her. Jen caught the motion from the corner of her eye and this time, instead of jealousy, she just smiled faintly.

For a little while, they weren’t heroes, survivors, or monsters. They were just three tired people trying to remember how to be human.

Morning light filtered through the stained-glass skylight of Inspira’s main hall, tinting the marble floors in soft gold and crimson. The guild was already alive with noise: armor clanking, quills scratching, and the low hum of adventurers swapping lies over breakfast.

At the center of it all stood Jen, her arm stump still bandaged but her chin high. Her old party, The Company of the Coin, surrounded her hugging, joking, all trying to mask the lump in their throats.

“Hey, don’t start crying yet,” Jen teased, voice cracking halfway through the sentence. “You’ll make me look soft.”

“You are soft,” one of them shot back. “Now you’ll just be someone else’s problem.”

Jen smirked and flicked his forehead with her good hand. “You’ll miss me, admit it.”

The laughter that followed was uneven but real. Someone squeezed her shoulder a little too tight before letting go. She wiped at her eyes quickly when she thought no one was looking, cheeks flushed with the effort of pretending she wasn’t crying. Then she turned toward the registration counter where Alice and Ignition waited.

Alice smiled faintly. “Guess that’s it, huh?”

“Yeah.” Jen exhaled, her grin wobbling. “End of one disaster, start of another.”

“That’s the spirit,” Alice said. “Welcome to Raven’s Howl.”

As if summoned by the name, the temperature in the room seemed to dip. A hush rolled through the nearby adventurers as Nia approached.

She was impossible to miss towering six-foot-seven, her skin pale as moonlight, long white hair cascading over one shoulder. Her rabbit ears, tufted and twitching faintly, stood high above her head, and the swish of her horse tail gave her a strange, powerful grace. The air around her carried that quiet, unnerving energy of someone who could crush a man’s skull but didn’t need to prove it.

Her armor was simple, functional, and flecked with dried blood, the kind of barbarian’s plate that spoke of close, personal fights. Her crimson eyes flicked between them all before finally settling on Kairos.

“You’re the one they call Ignition,” she said, voice even, calm as still water.

Kairos didn’t move much, just inclined his head, shoulders tense. “That’s me.”

She stopped in front of him, close enough that the difference in height was obvious Ignition still a half foot taller than her, but neither looked away. The two of them standing there muscle and heat, it made even the clerks stop pretending not to eavesdrop.

“I’ve read the report,”

Her tone wasn’t accusatory, just factual. Kairos’ jaw flexed, but he didn’t interrupt.

Nia’s expression didn’t change when she said the next part.

“If you fail to protect Jen, I will kill you.”

The words landed like a hammer blow not shouted, not dramatized, just absolute.

Alice stiffened beside them. Jen blinked. Kairos didn’t flinch.

He simply let out a long, slow breath through his nose. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, roughened by years of restraint. “...I believe you would.”

“I would,” Nia said plainly. “And I’d make sure you knew exactly why before it happened.”

Silence. Then, slowly, she shifted her gaze to Jen softer, but still assessing. “You’re good at getting into trouble. Try being good at surviving it too.”

Jen gave a half-laugh that was more sniffle than humor. “Yes, ma’am.”

Nia’s ears twitched once, like a silent good. She turned and began to leave the crowd parting instinctively around her but not before glancing back at Kairos again.

“You’ve lost a team before,” she said, matter-of-fact. “Don’t lose this one.”

Kairos’ eyes flickered a brief flare of something haunted before settling into their usual disciplined focus. “I won’t.”

And for once, it didn’t sound like a promise made to anyone else. It sounded like an oath made to himself.

As Nia left, Alice exhaled, the tension slowly bleeding from her shoulders. “Okay,” she muttered under her breath. “That woman’s terrifying.”

Jen elbowed her. “She’s sweet, once you get past the ‘I’ll **** you’ part.”

Kairos ran a hand over his face and sighed. “You two sure you still want to join my party?”

Alice smirked. “Hey, we already survived your dungeon meltdown. How much worse can it get?”

Jen grinned, throwing her one good arm around Alice’s shoulders. “Famous last words.”

Kairos actually smiled a small, tired, genuine thing that made Alice’s chest twist with something uncomfortably warm. The three of them stood there in the middle of the bustling guild hall, newly registered under Raven’s Howl,

The hot desert wind carried the smell of dust, oil, and mana-burned metal as the doors of the Guild swung open. Alice stepped out beside Jen and Ignition, squinting at the shimmer of sunlight reflecting off the streets of Ikos.

And there it was Maria’s car, impossible to miss.

Maria was leaning against the open driver’s door, sunglasses perched on her nose, waving like she’d just won a beauty pageant. “There’s my favorite troublemakers! How’d the big guild debut go?”

Alice groaned under her breath. “Subtle as ever, Mom.”

Jen grinned. “I like her.”

Ignition muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, “Of course you do.”

As they descended the Guild steps, Alice felt it the weight of someone’s gaze on her. Instinct made her glance back over her shoulder.

Up on the second-floor balcony, Nia stood watching them leave. The tall, pale Chimeran’s red eyes caught the light for a brief moment before narrowing ever so slightly. Her ears twitched once, slow and deliberate.

Alice froze. Her tail gave an involuntary flick.

(...Was she staring at my butt?)

Her face burned before she could stop it.

No, it couldn’t be that. Probably just… standard observation. Professional curiosity. Tactical awareness. Whatever excuse her brain could grab.

But the way Nia’s head tilted that faint, assessing look made something deep in Alice’s chest twist. Not fear. Something… softer. A weird flutter she didn’t want to name.

Her Beta instincts hummed under her skin, whispering submission, warmth, a strange urge to be seen and approved of by that towering woman.

“Oh gods,” Alice muttered under her breath, turning quickly away. (Nope. Not dealing with that. She’s six-foot-seven, built like a statue, and probably crushes skulls for breakfast. I am not into that. Definitely not. Probably not.)

Jen noticed her sudden stiffness. “You okay?”

“Yep. Totally fine.”

“You look flushed.”

“It’s hot out!” Alice snapped, tail twitching again. “Let’s just get in the car!”

Maria popped the door open with a grin that showed far too many teeth. “Come on, kiddos, mama’s got the AC running and mimosas chilling!”

Alice sank into the back seat beside Ignition, burying her burning face in her hands. As the car purred to life and rolled away from the Guild, she risked one last glance out the window.

Nia was still there, still watching, not smiling, not glaring, just… present. Her expression unreadable, but her ears twitched once more before she turned and walked back into the guild hall.

Alice’s heart did a weird little flip. She told herself it was just nerves.