34 Morning Light Under the Different Sky

A shriek, loud and grating, tore through the morning quiet, jolting Jack from his slumber. His head throbbed, a numb disorientation left over from the previous night's… workout. He swept a drowsy gaze around the room. A black crow the size of a chicken startled at his movement, fluttering its wings before launching into the sky.

A soft whimper beside him broke the stillness. A woman snuggled closer, her warmth a stark contrast to the morning chill.

"Oh…" he muttered, his fingers instinctively reaching for her bunny ears.

He'd always wanted to touch them. In his drowsy state, the thought that this might be his only chance surfaced.

As expected, they twitched at his touch.

Lupus's golden eyes fluttered open, staring at him questioningly.

"Ah, morning?" he managed, his gaze dropping from her eyes to his own bare chest, then to her unclothed body beside him. She sat up, meeting his gaze as she pulled the blanket to her collarbone, the fabric doing little to hide the curves of her chest.

"Morning!" she replied, her drowsiness vanishing in an instant — one of the many useful perks of being a bunny Wildren.

Without restraint, Lupus lunged forward. Her arms wrapped around his waist, her hands exploring the new, refined muscles of his abdomen — a clear result of proper nourishment.

The warmth of her embrace did little to suppress the awkwardness coiling in his gut. "Lupus, um… does this mean… we?" he asked dumbly, pointing between himself and her.

What had happened last night felt like a spur-of-the-moment decision, yet he was certain.

He liked this girl. No, he loved her.

"Yes, yes!" she replied, nodding gleefully, her fangs glistening in the morning light.

"I'm truly sorry!" Jack blurted, bowing his head. "I should've asked for your hand in marriage first!"

"But you did," Lupus said, tilting her head in mock confusion.

"I did?" Jack raised a brow.

Lupus chuckled, placing a hand over her stomach before flashing a toothy smile. "How could you not know? Accepting my essence is the same as asking for marriage," she teased, winking.

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"What?" Jack's jaw dropped.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk!" Lupus clicked her tongue theatrically. "You have so much to learn about essence, my esteemed Novitcius. Accepting one's innate essence is the highest display of trust. It's the equivalent of offering your weapon, your wisdom, and your life to another person." Her voice carried a melodic lilt as she explained.

"Ah, that makes sense," Jack mused, his interest ignited. "Considering innate essence is something you're born with and can't be obtained otherwise."

"Correct!" Lupus said, leaning in closer, her hair brushing against his shoulder. "Also, I'll let you in on a little secret…" She paused dramatically, letting his curiosity burn brighter. "It has a minor aphrodisiac effect on a partner, too. But Jackie… you sniffed the whole bunny nip. Fufufu!"

"Sheesh… that means I've been played from the start." His face went pale. "You cheeky rabbit!" he snapped lightheartedly.

"Also, Uncle, you popped my cherry, so you'd better take responsibility!" she quipped, poking his nose.

They exchanged smiles before bursting into gleeful laughter.

After a while, Jack's gaze met Lupus's golden eyes. There was something arcane about them, as mesmerising as the golden sun in a clear summer sky.

"Seriously, Lupus, I love you," Jack confessed wholeheartedly, his eyes never leaving her face.

Lupus's smile turned mischievous. "I think you said that a million times last night," she teased, nudging him.

Heat rose to his face. "Wait, what? Lupy, please! Stop teasing me!" he stammered, trying to hide his bashfulness. He did, after all, moan and groan those words more than a few times during their lovemaking.

"Make me!" she challenged, moving in close. Her lips were a hair's breadth away, her warm breath a ghost against his skin.

An invitation like that, he wouldn't refuse.

Slowly, he leaned closer.

"Uggghhh… you two are so loud!" a sluggish voice groaned from beneath the bed.

Frain's lion ears perked up before her annoyed face emerged. She yawned and stretched, completely unbothered by the scene.

The couple exchanged bewildered glances. "Wait! How did you get in here?" Lupus barked at the lion Wildren.

"Because you weren't in your room, Lupy," Frain explained in a monotone, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "I searched and searched until I stumbled upon Jack's room. So, I waited for you two to finish mating. Yes, I knew what that was. Then I snuck in and slept on the floor to keep you safe." She paused. "You forgot to lock the door, by the way."

"You what?!" Jack's jaw nearly dislocated.

"She's been listening to us, mate!" Lupus answered gleefully, clapping her hands like a proud mother.

"That was rhetorical! Damn it!" Jack groaned, shaking his head.

"Oh, my baby, come here!" Lupus cooed, her voice laced with affection as she extended her arms towards Frain.

Without hesitation, the lion cub leapt onto the bed and joined their embrace. "Family!" she declared joyfully.

A family may be lost, but never truly gone. For those who endure, a new one is won.

At last, their little family of three was fully realised — Jack, the hardworking genius tactician; Lupus, the strong, cunning, and playful mage; and Frain, the oddball powerhouse of muscles.

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