Chapter 201: The Kiss And The Lion Tribe Stranger!

Neve did not know what to say or how to react to what Sable had just said.

Sable had easily confessed that he loved him and his favorability meter was finally maxed at 50 percent.

But the system had not sent a mission complete notification. That meant he still had to go ahead with the kiss. He still had to seal their thing properly.

Neve swallowed hard, looking at Sable.

He remembered when Sorin had brought him here for the first time and claimed that Sable was soft. That the fox beastman had a gentle heart despite being an assassin.

From then till now, Neve had not believed him. He never saw the softness in Sable. The coldness. The distance. The way Sable kept pushing him away.

But now, he saw it clearly. The tears rolling down Sable’s cheeks like rivers. That soft vulnerable look on his face. The way his body was trembling slightly.

Neve felt his heart flutter even more that his cheeks reddened deeply.

"I love you too, Sable. I will always love you and cherish you like I do all my mates," Neve replied, holding his hands gently.

Sable nodded, wiping his tears with the back of his hand. His orange eyes were still wet and red from crying.

Neve blinked repeatedly, trying to figure out what to do next. He did not know where this was going. He could not see any opening for the kiss. He could not just stand on his toes and kiss Sable.

And looking at Sable, the fox beastman clearly would not initiate the kiss himself. He was too shy. Too embarrassed about his feelings.

They just stood in front of each other, blinking and staring at each other like it was some kind of competition.

"Ugh!" someone groaned from the side loudly.

Neve flinched and turned to see who it was. Sable did not even look, probably because as an assassin, he had already felt the person’s presence.

The person jumped down from the tree close to the cave entrance.

"I have been waiting for you two to end your drama so I can go in," she said, folding her hands across her chest.

Neve’s eyes widened and his ears reddened with embarrassment.

"Sif?" he called out.

Neve had no idea he had been watched by anyone. Not to mention being watched by a child. He felt so embarrassed by the situation.

But he did not hate it. He was actually relieved that Sif had interrupted.

"How long have you been there?" he asked.

"Since you stepped out of the cave to meet him," Sif pointed at Sable who finally turned his head away from Neve to look at the young girl who was talking to them.

"But that is not the important thing," Sif pouted her lips dramatically. "I thought you two were going to kiss. I came to watch."

’Oh! Nice one Sif!’ Neve gave her an invisible thumbs up mentally. Sif would be the reason they would actually initiate the kiss. The pressure from being watched would push them into it.

"A kiss?" Sable lifted his brows, turning back to Neve. "Would it be alright?"

"What? Of course, yes," Neve smiled, trying not to look desperate or too eager.

"Good luck with that," Sif waved her hand as she walked into the cave, leaving Neve and Sable outside alone in the snow.

Neve’s eyes followed Sif and he turned back to Sable.

Sable took a step forward, closing the distance between them.

"I have not done it before, so it... it could seem weird and messy," Sable said, his voice uncertain.

"Hmm," Neve smiled reassuringly. "Just do it as you can. I do not mind."

Sable stepped forward until his body pressed gently against Neve’s belly. His hands came up and cupped Neve’s face carefully, as if Neve was made of glass and could break.

He leaned his face closer slowly.

Neve could feel Sable’s breath fanning against his face as he closed his eyes and waited.

Their lips brushed together softly at first.

It was gentle. Like Sable was testing it.

Neve slowly felt Sable’s cold lips against his. The fox’s skin was cool from the snow, but the touch was warm and full of emotion.

Sable’s lips were soft and hesitant. He moved them slowly, unsure of what he was doing but trying his best.

Neve kissed back, encouraging him.

Sable seemed to gain confidence from Neve’s response. His lips pressed a bit firmer against Neve’s. His hands on Neve’s face moved gently, his fingers threading through Neve’s soft red hair.

The kiss deepened slowly.

Neve’s tongue brushed against Sable’s lips and the fox beastman’s breath hitched. Sable opened his mouth slightly, allowing Neve’s tongue to enter.

The kiss became more intense. More passionate.

Sable’s hands in Neve’s hair tightened slightly as he pulled the red panda closer. Neve’s own hands went up to grip Sable’s chest, holding onto him as the kiss continued.

It was perfect. It was exactly what the system mission required.

Finally, Sable pulled away, his face completely flushed red. His lips were swollen slightly from the kiss and his eyes were wide and slightly dazed.

It was his first kiss. Neve could see exactly how embarrassed and overwhelmed he was by the entire experience. His whole body was shaking slightly.

The system suddenly dinged loudly in front of Neve.

[New Mission Completed]

[Reward: 150 Bond Points]

Neve’s eyes widened in shock. 150 Bond Points? That was so good. That was incredible.

He had originally gotten 75 Bond Points and with this additional 150, he now had a total of 225 Bond Points.

Of course, the system showed the updated total immediately.

[Total Bond Points: 225]

Neve was busy staring at the system panel when he heard a groaning sound from the other side of the cave. The sound was coming from towards the border between the leopard tribe and the eagle tribe.

"Who do you think it is?" Neve muttered, tilting his head.

"Maybe an enemy got caught in one of the traps," Sable said and Neve’s eyes widened at the possibility.

He turned and began heading in that direction immediately.

"No!" Sable spread his arms in front of Neve, blocking his path. "I cannot let you go there. What if it is dangerous? You are pregnant. You should not be running into danger."

"Do not worry, no one is going to harm me," Neve said, trying to walk around Sable. But in reality, he was scared. He did not know why he felt the need to go there. Maybe it was some kind of main character syndrome kicking in.

He groaned and turned to Sable. "Since you are with me, we can go together. That way you can protect me if anything goes wrong."

Sable sighed deeply, clearly not happy about the situation but understanding that Neve was not going to back down.

"Fine. But stay close to me," he said.

They walked towards the small woods before the border, where Neve used to steal potatoes and tomatoes from when he was bored.

Just right at the last trap, a man with long brown hair was lying on the ground, completely covered with blood.

Neve gasped, covering his mouth with his palms in shock.

"Wh-who is that?" he asked, his voice shaking.

"It is someone from the lion tribe. Why is he here?" Sable frowned, studying the stranger carefully.

"Is he an enemy?" Neve asked.

"The lion tribe is too prideful. They are enemies to almost all the tribes," Sable explained. "Well, except the leopards and tigers. They are almost family to the lion tribe."

"I see," Neve muttered and then clapped his hands together. "Let us save him then. We cannot just let him die."

"We cannot!" Sable frowned deeply. "He is... he is going to die anyway."

"Huh?" Neve lifted his brows in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"

Neve pointed at the blood covering the man’s body. "You see... that blood on his body is not caused by the traps. It is because of his broken bond."

"Broken bond? What is that?" Neve asked, not understanding.

"His mate has broken her bond with him," Sable explained quietly. "If a female breaks a bond with her male partner, they will bleed and die. The bond is so strong that breaking it causes physical pain and eventually death."

Neve gasped again. It sounded so terrible. So painful.

"That is so awful. Is there nothing we can do?" he asked desperately.

"Except..." Sable started to say but then stopped himself and turned his face away.

"Oh Sable," Neve tilted his head. "Your jealousy has given you away. Does someone have to rebond with him for him to live?"

Sable flinched at being called out so easily. Neve smirked. That was definitely the answer.

"I will find a female who is interested in bonding with him in the tribe," Neve explained. "I cannot bond with someone that is not my fated mate. That would not be right."

"Well, that is a good thing," Sable said and pulled the brown haired beastman up so they could get a better look at the stranger.

As soon as the man’s bloody face came into view, Neve saw the floating panel above his head glowing brightly.

[Roan: 0%]

The favorability meter was hovering above this stranger’s head. Only one thing could mean that.

This man was one of Neve’s remaining mates. The final one he was supposed to bond with.

"Oh shit," Neve muttered.