Chapter 162: What the Eyes See

Tera had barely noticed because the cubs had been taking so much of her time. She then thought back to his strange behaviour. The aloofness, the clipped responses, the way he had been so carefully composed during their walk.

’Hold on. Does Calis have the hots for me?’

Before Tera could process this revelation, Ermin spoke up too with a pinched expression.

"I have also noticed."

Tera turned to him. "You too?"

"He stares at you." Ermin’s frown deepened, and his tail gave a single, sharp lash. "When he thinks no one is looking. But I am always looking."

Xavi nodded in firm agreement.

Ermin then grumbled, "I do not like him."

"You liked him fine two days ago!" Tera sputtered.

"That was before I knew he was ogling my mate!"

Tera’s eyes widened. She was about to ask where Ermin had learnt that word when she realised the males had started picking a few things from her.

"His eyes were on you more than the food." Xavi frowned. "And these wolves eat like they have never seen meat before, so that is saying something."

Tera soon realised that her mates were jealous.

They were wearing grumpy faces because a wolf had been sneaking looks at their mate.

It was so cute she almost couldn’t handle it.

"So..." Tera smiled slowly, looking between them. "I am not saying I fancy him or anything..."

[You Liar!]

[Σ(°ロ°)]

[If only your mates knew what went on in that depraved head of yours!]

’What the fuck?! I didn’t even say anything yet!’

Tera ignored the system. "You two don’t want me to have another mate?"

The reactions were instantaneous.

Xavi grumbled, his jaw tightening. "He would not be a good fit for you."

Ermin frowned. "Another mate would take your attention away from us."

The bluntness of both responses, delivered with such earnest displeasure, made Tera’s heart warm.

"Oh..."

She stepped forward and took each of their hands, squeezing firmly.

"Listen to me." Her voice softened, and she looked between them with a warmth that made both males go still. "Nothing can ever take my time away from you. I love you both. You know that."

She pressed their hands against her chest.

"Even if I had twenty mates, you would still be the most special to me. Both of you. Always."

Xavi’s expression softened, and a low chuckle rumbled from his chest. His golden eyes were fond as he looked down at her.

Ermin, however, had frozen.

"Twenty?!"

His voice came out strangled, his green eyes wide with a horror so pure that Tera couldn’t hold it in anymore.

She burst out laughing. "I am joking! I was joking, Ermin!"

Xavi reached over and patted Ermin’s back with one massive hand, still chuckling. The panther visibly deflated with relief, his tail unwinding from where it had clenched around his own ankle.

[You gluttonous female]

[(╭ರ_•́)]

’Excuse me?!’

[What does Host want to do with twenty males?]

’I DIDN’T SAY I WANTED TWENTY MALES! It was a joke!’

[This system knows that deep down, Host would not mind that many males]

Tera smiled, choosing not to dignify that with a response. She decided to kiss her males again.

[Host did not deny it!]

[(⊙_⊙)]

[THIS SYSTEM KNEW IT!]

[Host’s silence was VERY telling!]

[(ᕼ✧ᴗ✧ᕼ)]

[This system has documented this interaction for future reference!]

’THERE IS NOTHING TO DOCUMENT!’

[The data suggests otherwise!]

Tera shoved the system out of her head through sheer force of will and turned back to kiss the cubs. Nadia grabbed a fistful of Tera’s hair and laughed, refusing to let go. It took Ermin’s careful intervention to free her.

Althea received her kiss with regal composure and continued grappling with Puff Dumpling, who was in her grip.

Tera was only amazed that Ermin was carrying both the struggling cub and her pet.

Althea had basically stolen Puff Dumpling from her, but Tera could only smile.

"I love you both, and I will see you all in a few days."

Tera opened the portal again, and Bessier and Olaf picked up the remaining bundles of smoked meat and roasted portions the clan had prepared for her and the two males.

Both males smiled warmly and took turns to kiss Tera’s face.

"We love you too—"

"We also love leader!"

Tera, Xavi, and Ermin nearly jumped in surprise at the uproar from the whole clan, who were grinning from ear to ear.

Tera almost felt shy and embarrassed at the moment, but it was very funny at the same time.

The entire Dow clan was beaming at her, some of them swaying with the giddy energy of children who had just done something naughty and were very proud of it.

Tera dropped her hands and let out a breathless laugh. "You..."

"We mean it!" someone called from the back.

"Yes! We love leader!"

"Leader is the best!"

Tera shook her head, grinning so hard her cheeks ached.

"Thank you." Tera eyed them gently and nodded. "Take care of each other while I am gone."

[Influence +4!]

[Charm +3!]

Tera was stunned.

[The Dow clan’s collective admiration for Host has reached a new threshold!]

[(◕‿◕✿)]

[The clan genuinely values Host as their leader]

Tera smiled and turned to Bessier and Olaf.

"Ready?"

Both males nodded eagerly, and Tera headed for the portal.

"Let’s go."

The three of them stepped through.

The transition was instant, and the cool, damp air of the Glimmer Pack’s territory wrapped around Tera’s skin.

"THE HOLE IS BACK!"

"It’s the shiftless female!"

"Don’t call her that!"

The wolves who had been converging on the area stopped at Calis’ shout. His stern tone even caused Bessier and Olaf to stiffen, who had never seen or heard this side of the wolf leader before.

Calis was glaring at the others.

"She is Tera, not ’shiftless female’. You will be respectful to the female who helped us."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Multiple wolves exchanged stunned glances.

The elders were thankfully not here, and the only female present was Faelynn, who had nodded and turned to the other wolves.

"Yes, and she is also a very important clan leader!" she huffed, while clutching her prized possession of smoked meat to her chest.

Luth eyed it greedily but didn’t dare to touch it.

Girruk’s eyes narrowed as he watched their alpha defend the shiftless female’s dignity in front of everyone.

This did not make any sense.

Calis walked toward Tera. "Welcome, and thank you for coming."

Tera snapped out of her shock, her voice low as she responded to Calis. "Uh... thank you."

He nodded.

’Hmm...’ Tera narrowed her eyes at Calis.

The wolf leader looked slightly relieved as he turned away from Tera to address the wolves.

[This system is curious]

’What?’

[How exactly does Host plan to unite the Dow clan and the Glimmer Pack for the beast subjugation when the teleportation limit has nearly been exhausted?]

[ ಠ ͜ʖ ಠ ]

The other wolves cautiously eyed Olaf and Bessier as Calis was in a deep conversation with his sister. The four wolves that had come along with Calis and his sister to visit the Dow clan had already swiftly warmed up to the two males, and the other wolves were slowly moving towards them to join in the conversation.

’I can’t. Not yet.’

[Oh?]

’Technically, that wouldn’t even be possible now. I haven’t even familiarised myself with all the pack members, and with what Xavi had told me about the wolves—which Calis had confirmed—it would be a bit difficult having them work together with my clan for now.’

[Hmm...]

[That is true]

Even if the portal limit was nowhere near being reached, Tera did not feel the monster subjugation was something she should be doing first. Xavi and Calis had been so uncertain about it, how else would the rest of the pack react?

[So Host has changed her mind about working despite the possible threat?]

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

Tera groaned.

’Yes, but you will be on the lookout. ALWAYS!’

[( ˘ω˘ )]

[Yes, Host!]

[Ding!]

[New Task!]

Tera’s eyes widened in horror.

’Hold on a fucking minute! I am not asking for one now!’

[( ’’˶°ヮ°˶ )]

[Too late]