Chapter 161: Magic Hole Is Closed for Business

[HOST!]

The screen exploded into view with such violent urgency that Tera nearly tripped over a cub.

’What the fuck?!’

[WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!]

[(⊙_⊙)!!!]

[THERE ARE ONLY FIVE PASSES LEFT!]

Tera blinked, her grin still plastered on her face from watching the beasts giggle and stumble back through the portal like cubs discovering puddles.

’What?’

[FIVE!]

[F-I-V-E!]

[OUT OF ONE HUNDRED!]

[Host has burned through NINETY-FIVE passes in less than twenty minutes!]

[(ᗒᗩᗕ)]

[What about the beast subjugation mission?!]

[What about transporting the hunting party?!]

[What about ALL THE THINGS HOST WILL NEED THIS PORTAL FOR OVER THE NEXT WEEK?!]

Tera’s smile vanished.

’That’s impossible. I only sent a handful of beasts through.’

She did a quick mental count. The six wolves who returned to their pack, that was six. Plus, herself going through twice to test it. That was eight. Then a few clan members who wanted to try—

’Hold on. How many clan members went through?’

[FORTY-THREE!]

’There is no way forty-three—’

[Each pass counts as one use, Host!]

[(ᗒᗩᗕ)]

[EACH. PASS.]

[Going through is one! Coming back is TWO!]

Tera’s stomach dropped.

Every single beast who had excitedly jumped through the portal and then bounced right back had used TWO passes. Not one.

And she had been standing there laughing and cheering them on like it was a carnival ride.

’Why didn’t you TELL me that sooner?!’

[THIS SYSTEM DID TELL HOST!]

[૮( `д´*)ა]

[This system clearly stated: "Up to 100 individuals can pass through the portal at one time"!]

[PASS THROUGH!]

[Not "100 individuals can go on a round trip"!]

[Not "100 beasts can play peek-a-boo with interdimensional travel"!]

[PASS. THROUGH!]

[(ᗒᗩᗕ)]

Tera opened her mouth to argue, but the words died.

The system was right.

It had said 100 passes. She was the one who had interpreted it as 100 people, when it was 100 individual crossings. Every beast who walked in and walked out had eaten two uses, and she had been burning through them like they were unlimited.

’Oh, fuck.’

She looked at the portal, still shimmering innocently in the clearing, and then at the cluster of clan members who were poking each other and debating who should go next.

"Okay! That is enough!" Tera clapped her hands firmly, a nervous laugh escaping her. "The magic hole is closed for business!"

Several disappointed groans rose from the group. One of the younger males had already been mid-stride toward the portal and skidded to a stop with a look of personal betrayal.

"But I didn’t get my turn!"

"Another time."

Tera pressed her fingers against her temples and sighed.

’I am such an idiot.’

[This system will not disagree]

[(ᵕ—ᴗ—)]

’I didn’t ask for your input!’

[This system is providing it free of charge]

[Unlike the portal passes, which are now nearly gone for the whole week]

Tera looked around at the clan members who were still chattering excitedly about the experience, their faces bright and their tails swishing with residual glee.

They had fun. And Tera too had done so at least.

Even the beasts that had not gone through with the others had been content enough to watch and listen to the experiences of the others.

Now she had one pass to get herself to the wolf pack, and two others for Bessier and Olaf, who would be escorting her back to the wolf pack. That left only two more passes for the week. She would use that to check in on her husband and cubs whenever she felt like during the week.

Which was only once.

Tera sighed again. She should have thought this far ahead, but she would be able to make do with one week.

This time she would be with two clan members.

Tera closed the portal with a thought, and the shimmering distortion collapsed inward like water being sucked down a drain. The air smoothed itself, and the space where another territory had been visible seconds ago was just forest again.

Several cubs whined at the disappearance, and one even waddled to the spot and patted the air with his tiny hand, confused about where the magic water had gone.

Tera turned to her mates.

Both males looked at her with a mixture of pride and concern. Xavi was more proud than concerned, while Ermin was the worried one.

Tera reached up and cradled Xavi’s face, pulling him down for a kiss that she pressed firmly against his lips.

"I will be back soon."

His golden eyes held hers as he gave a firm nod.

She turned to Ermin and kissed him too, her hand lingering on his jaw. "Take care of the girls. And don’t let Nadia eat any more rocks."

Ermin’s lips twitched, but he went right back to looking concerned again.

Tera softened, pulling Ermin’s cheek.

The panther flinched, his eyes widening in shock. "Don’t worry, Ermin. I will be fine. And I am not alone."

The three of them had already discussed this last night. Both Xavi and Ermin had wanted to go with her, but all three of them could not just be away from the twins, and while one of them could handle both cubs, it would not be fair for one of them to miss their father for a while.

One parent had to go rather than two.

But then again, thanks to the portal, visiting would not be a problem.

"Tera." Xavi’s hand settled on her shoulder.

The look on his face made her pause. It wasn’t the usual farewell concern. There was something heavier behind it.

"I am not comfortable with the wolf leader."

Tera blinked, genuinely surprised. She had assumed Xavi’s wariness was about the pack in general, the purist ideology he had warned her about. But the way he said ’the wolf leader’ specifically made her tilt her head.

Calis seemed the most reasonable, and the other wolves had become very warm to the clan in general, their views shifting.

Most especially Faelynn, who had even jokingly talked about moving to the Dow clan pack instead.

Thankfully, she hadn’t said that in front of Calis, or he would have had a heart attack.

"Why? I thought you were watching him during his stay. He seemed genuine."

’Even though he was acting distant for no reason.’

"I do not like him looking at you." Xavi slightly frowned. "He should be using his eyes for more important things."

’Eh?’

Tera did not know what to say to that. Shouldn’t Calis use his eyes?

’What does he even mean by this?’

[Hehehe]

[(¬‿¬)]

Tera’s eyes darted to the system screen. ’What’s so funny?’

[This system finds it adorable that Host has not yet connected the dots]

[(≖⩊≖)]

[Xavi’s concern has nothing to do with ideology or trust]

[It has everything to do with where Calis’ eyes have been pointing for the duration of his stay]

’What?’

[The wolf leader has been staring at Host quite a lot]

[(ಡ ͜ ʖ ಡ)]

[At meals, during conversations, while Host was playing with the cubs, while Host was walking, while Host was bending over to pick things up—]

’OKAY! I get it!’

[Host’s mates do not appreciate it]

[(◕‿◕✿)]

Tera was stunned as the pieces clicked into place.

Calis had been staring at her?