She moved forward like a blur of fur and flesh, claws raised to rip his chest. He only had time to roll to the side, causing the young she-wolf to miss her charge. He stood up cautiously, still analyzing the situation.
Her growl reverberated in the cave like contained thunder. Eren Vale kept the machete low, blade sideways, ready to parry — not kill.
The young she-wolf was less than two meters away. Now he could observe her features a bit better.
Her trunk and thigh muscles trembled with predatory restraint, faint light dancing over her grayish skin covered in short fur with irregular patterns. She wasn't fully beastly — she was hybrid.
And beautiful, in her brutal way.
Fit, athletic, with well-defined arms and shoulders, without grotesque exaggeration. Her smooth, strong belly expanded with each panting breath. Firm breasts — partially covered by improvised strips of old fabric, stained with blood and dust — rose and fell in an animal rhythm.
Long, black, heavy hair fell like a mane over her lupine-humanoid face. Her eyes were pure fire: intense amber, with narrow vertical pupils full of hunger — but not just for flesh.
She had something of a wild queen. A brutal magnetism that didn't come from smiles or kindness, but from raw power.
Fit slim. Predator. Dominant. Offensive posture, but hesitant.
She growled again, stepping forward. Her bare feet — half-human, half-lupine — sank into the muddy ground, short claws digging into the damp stone.
He raised the machete a centimeter.
"I don't want to kill you."
She growled louder, showing teeth too sharp for a human mouth. Saliva dripped in a glistening strand as she bared her lower lip.
The tail — long, feline-lupine — whipped the air behind her.
Intimidating stance. Territorial. Want to expel me? No. Want to assess me.
She took another step, arms flexed like springs. Her abdominal muscles contracted.
Eren inhaled slowly.
Imminent attack. Non-lethal. I'll allow it.
He exhaled. Relaxed his dominant shoulder. She saw. And came.
A low leap, almost feline, too quick for normal humans to follow. He felt the air shift before he saw her fully.
The claws sliced through the air beside his head — by her choice. The warm, humid body landed on his, weight distributed masterfully.
Eren grunted as he hit the ground on his back. The blade fell to the side, scraping against the stone.
She remained on top of him.
Her legs — strong, bare up to the knees — straddled his hips, pinning him. The claws pressed into his chest, not tearing, but holding firmly.
She lowered her face to his.
Her warm breath smelled of old blood, raw meat, but also a feral hint of musk and sweat.
Eren remained still.
Weight ~60 kilos. Superior strength. Control position. Aggressive feminine power. Wants domination.
Her eyes burned. Pupils narrowed into a thin line of pure analysis.
She didn't speak. Didn't know how. But growled low, her voice vibrating like a war drum.
Her tongue passed over her teeth, moistening her lower lip with thick saliva.
Test. Marking. Intimidation or invitation?
She sniffed him. Literally.
The tip of her nose brushed against his jaw. Moved down to his neck. Inhaled the scent of human sweat.
She shivered.
Her thighs tightened further.
Eren analyzed every inch.
Doesn't bite. Doesn't scratch. Sniffs. Recognizes scent. Predatory courtship ethogram.
The growl turned into a deeper sound. Almost a guttural purr.
She hasn't seen many living humans. I'm a novelty. I don't show fear.
She buried her nose in the curve between his neck and shoulder. Inhaled loudly.
The wet sound was almost pornographic.
Eren clenched his jaw.
Is she in heat? Or is it a fertile phase?
Her hands slid to his shoulders, long fingers with short claws pressing as if wanting to sink into the flesh. But not tearing. Just marking territory.
She growled again.
The sound reverberated in his chest.
Her gaze burned. Her teeth clenched in a fierce, yet not entirely hostile smile.
Almost an invitation. But also a warning.
Eren took a deep breath, eyes locked on hers.
That's it. Wants to test me as a partner. See if I accept. If I submit. No human ritual. Animal ritual.
He exhaled slowly.
"Alright."
The voice came out low, but firm.
Mental agreement. Accept domination. Partial submission. Conscious consent. Better than trying to kill her.
She seemed to understand the tone.
Her lupine ears contracted slightly backward. The growling decreased.
She sniffed harder, inhaling his neck as if wanting to absorb his soul.
Her body's warmth was palpable.
Her breasts pressed against his chest. Her legs, bare, warm, rough with short fur, held firm like shackles.
She licked the side of his face — a slow, possessive movement, too wet to be chaste.
Eren didn't move.
"I accept."
The growl turned into something low, almost a moan.
He allowed himself to relax his dominant arm, setting the machete aside.
Better alive than dead. Possible contract later. Priority: survive. Gain trust.
She pulled her face back a centimeter.
The amber eyes glowed.
Eren breathed heavily, eyes fixed on hers.
Eren's hand moved up with deliberate care to her nape, fingers sinking into the thick, sweat-and-dust-laden strands. He didn't squeeze immediately — just held her firm enough for her to feel his warmth.
The result was almost immediate.
A subtle tremor ran through her muscular body. Her defined shoulders shivered, the short hairs standing on end in an involuntary reaction. A sound escaped her throat — not a pure growl, but a hoarse, wet sigh, almost embarrassed to exist.
Her eyes — golden, slit like a predator's — shone differently. Deeper. Hungrier.
Eren didn't smile. But in his cold mind, an alert sounded:
Confirmation. Instinctive response. Probably in fertile phase. Ready for mating.
She stared at him with restrained anger, but did not move away. On the contrary: she leaned in closer, growling softly, her voice reverberating in her chest like a slow drum.
Her scent was stronger now. Dense. A mix of dried blood, warm sweat, wet moss. But beneath it was something more animalistic, impossible to ignore — a heavy pheromone, almost intoxicating, that seemed to want to cling to his skin.
She moved her hips over him, as if testing the fit. Her strong thighs squeezed his flanks, holding him on the cold cave floor.
Eren kept his hand on her nape, feeling her muscles contract under his touch. He noticed everything: her accelerated breathing, the hair on her forearm standing on end, the restrained grinding of claws against stone to avoid accidentally tearing him apart.
She's holding back. Dominant, yet conscious. Wants to keep me alive.
She growled something that was not human language. A guttural sound, full of broken vowels, but it sounded like a command.
He understood.
He dropped the blade.
Let his arm fall to the side, bare, exposed.
She lowered her face to his neck. Her warm breath made his skin tingle. She inhaled deeply, taking in his scent as if it were sustenance. Her cold, damp nose brushed the sensitive skin behind his ear.
A sound of approval rumbled in her chest — a hoarse, animalistic purr.
Then she licked his neck.
Her rough, warm tongue left a damp trail down to his collarbone.
Eren did not move.
Confirmation. Courtship. Acceptance ritual. Non-verbal contract.
Her hands pushed him with raw, controlled strength, speaking louder than any words. The dull thud of his body against the cold stone echoed in the cave, but he did not resist.
Her claws scratched at the torn fabric of his coat, not tearing his skin — just marking, possessive. It was a silent warning of who was in charge.
Her hips started to move in a slow, deliberate rhythm, increasing the cruel and delicious friction between them.
The sound of the cave changed.
Her panting grew denser. Heavier. Wet. Each breath came out broken, urgent. Her breathing came in moist gasps that crashed against his face, warm as steam.
The muscles of her abdomen contracted in an irregular, almost spasmodic pattern. He felt each tremor in the palm of his hand as he held her by the waist.
She growled low, but there was no pure threat there. It was more like a sound of hunger — not for flesh, but for something primal, deeper. Occasionally, a louder growl tore from her throat, half-word, half-guttural order that needed no language to be understood.
Her eyes were burning embers in the dim light. Golden slits that burned with a wild demand.
She wants to have sex with me. But it's not an act of violence — it's biological need. Fertility at its limit."
Eren kept his other hand firm at the base of her spine, feeling the pulsating heat of her body, the warm sweat trickling down in hot rivulets. Each drop mingled with the heavy scent of musk and blood.
She bit his shoulder, not breaking the skin — just marking territory. A line of hot saliva ran from the corner of her lips.
The growl turned into a strangled sound — almost a cry of restrained pleasure. A deep, drawn-out moan that vibrated against his skin.
She pressed him even harder against the ground, her full weight on his chest, as if trying to sink him into the stone.
The heat rose like a tide. Her scent became denser, almost intoxicating — a maddening mix of wet earth, blood, and desire.
Sweat dripped from her temples in heavy drops that fell on his face, burning in his eyes. Both were panting.
The sound of their bodies moving in friction echoed against the rocky walls — an almost ritualistic, wild rhythm.
She demanded nothing. She commanded.
Her hips gained speed, the friction becoming frantic.
Her nails scratched his arms, leaving hot red trails.
Eren did not resist.
He held firm, hands on her waist and the base of her spine, guiding her lightly but making it clear: the rhythm was hers.
Her growl exploded into a louder sound.
It broke into a high-pitched, wet moan. A pure, shameless animalistic sound.
Her body went into spasms.
Her strong thighs closed around his hips, pressing with brutal force, trembling as if in a spasm.
She threw her head back, her black hair spreading in dirty, wet waves.
Her scream echoed in the cave — a chilling howl, almost beautiful in its primal nature.
The sound vibrated in his chest, pulling a low moan from Eren's throat — something he did not control.
The heat between them exploded, radiating like liquid fire. An involuntary tremor ran up his spine, shaking every muscle.
They managed to reach together a kind of synchronicity.
The silence that followed was punctuated only by their heavy breathing. She collapsed on him like a dead weight — but warm, damp, alive. Her face buried in his neck, letting out a hoarse, tired growl.
Her heart pounded frantically, almost in sync with his. The mixed sweat ran down them both, getting lost in the torn clothes and the dirt on the ground. She sighed. A deep, satisfied sound, almost tender in its brutality.
[System]
[Affinity: 100%.]
[Monster bonded: Kaela]
[Reward: Special cooperation skill unlocked.]
[Penalty: Reputation -5 / Karma -10]
Eren read without blinking.
"Reputation worsens. Negative karma. Consequence. Variable accepted."
Kaela moaned softly, her arms giving way. She slid to his side, still breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling like a tired bellows.
Her eyes closed slowly.
She seemed to smile. A sleepy growl escaped her lips.
"Hm... meat…"
Eren took a deep breath.
"Complete acceptance. Contract sealed."
He moved slowly, gently pushing her body. She murmured something unintelligible, but did not resist.
She was limp, exhausted.
He got up with difficulty, pulling the torn cloak over his body. He wiped the blade on the damp ground, even though he didn't need to.
He looked at her, lying on the side, her disheveled hair covering half of her face.
She opened a lazy eye, shining amber, but didn't growl.
"Get up," he said, emotionless.
She blinked slowly.
She made a low sound, almost a purr, before moving reluctantly.
"Mnghh…"
She rose, unsteady, trembling a little, but obeyed.
Eren adjusted the machete on his belt.
"Contract validated. Linked unit available. Combat capability increased."
He didn't think much about the rest.
He turned his back and started to walk.
Kaela staggered to keep up with him, panting, still sleepy, but without hesitation.
Together, they began to leave the cave.
The cold night wind greeted them like a slap. And then they walked toward the village.
The icy wind swept the uneven road leading back to Veilmoor. The moon was high, casting a milky glow that turned the crooked trees into monstrous silhouettes.
Eren walked in front, his heavy cloak swaying at his ankles. The machete lightly tapped against the side of his leg, stained with dried blood.
Kaela walked beside him, barefoot, her half-human, half-wolf feet digging into the soft ground with firm feline grace. Her disheveled black hair fell in wild waves around her face, sticking to her sweaty temples. Even in the darkness, her eyes burned golden, capturing any light like live embers.
The silence between them was dense. But comfortable — in its own animalistic way.
Eren took a deep breath.
"System."
The translucent window opened, cold and impersonal.
[Status Updated]
[Strength: +5]
[HP: +150]
[Skill Unlocked: Feral Coordination (level 1)]
[Description: Partially syncs senses and instinct with linked partner.]
He observed without apparent emotion.
"Strength. HP. A bit more survival. Basic synchronization — useful for ambushes, tracking. Worth the effort."
He closed the display with a mental command.
To test, he stopped near a large stone — the size of a roughly cut barrel, cracked in the middle. He raised his fist and struck.
The dry sound cracked in the air.
The rock gave way more than he expected. An entire piece broke off, shattering into larger fragments.
Among the shards rolled a roughly spherical stone, the size of a clenched fist.
Eren bent down, picked it up. Weighed it in his hand.
"Good density. Great for throwing."
He raised his arm to throw, rotating his shoulder to test the joint. But before he could hurl it forcefully, he noticed the sideways movement.
Kaela watched him with what could only be hungry curiosity.
Her tongue licked her teeth. A low growl escaped — but not threatening. Almost a hoarse whine.
He frowned.
"Do you want this?"
She didn't respond with words. She only moved forward, body flexed, thighs contracted, like a predator before the leap. Her eyes shone almost childlike — but the tension in her shoulders betrayed the power.
Eren sighed.
Without much force, he threw the stone. It flew a few meters, bouncing on the earth before rolling further, disappearing among dry grasses.
Kaela exploded into motion.
A blur of muscles and disheveled hair. Strong legs tore the ground, claws leaving tracks. She reached the stone in seconds, lowering in a controlled leap, back arched, shoulders shaking.
Eren crossed his arms, watching.
She grabbed the stone with short-clawed hands, pressed it against her chest. Her eyes glowed when she turned to him.
She ran back, almost leaping, the sound of her feet beating rhythmically on the ground.
She stopped a meter from him, panting. Threw the stone at his feet.
A low growl. An invitation.
"Fetch play. Evident canine instinct. Social satisfaction. Bond reinforced."
He picked up the stone again. Adjusted it in his hand.
Kaela swayed, the muscles in her legs vibrating with anticipation. Her chest rose and fell faster, her breasts covered in improvised bands that didn't hide the firm shape. Her disheveled hair fell over her golden eyes, which didn't stray from him.
Eren rotated his arm and threw the stone a little farther.
This time she jumped even before he released it.
The wind pushed her hair back, revealing pointed ears and a wild smile, full of sharp teeth.
She returned a few minutes later, dirtier, sweatier, her shoulders glistening with moisture. But with the stone firm in her hand.
She tossed it back to him, growling with what sounded almost like laughter.
He caught it, spun it in his fingers.
"Enough."
Kaela wrinkled her nose, growled lower, but didn't protest. Only let out a heavy sigh, like a frustrated dog.
They started walking.
The sound of his boots sinking into the earth mixed with the faint muffled plop of her hybrid feet.
For a few minutes, silence.
Then, out of nowhere, she spoke.
Her voice was hoarse, deep, a bit scratchy. Like someone not used to uttering words.
"Piece... of... meat."
Eren didn't react immediately.
"Her speech was unlocked with the contract. Basic linguistic capacity. Limited vocabulary."
"Is that what you're going to call me?"
She looked at him sideways. Her eyes shone. Her tongue passed over sharp teeth.
"Yes. Piece of meat... good."
He took a deep breath.
"Can you say more than that?"
She frowned.
"Piece of meat asks... too much."
The tone was provocative, almost arrogant.
Eren didn't smile. But his eyebrow raised a millimeter.
"You're quite bossy."
Kaela growled low, satisfied.
"I command. I take."
She paused for a moment. Her eyes scanned his body, unabashed, as if assessing livestock.
"You... obey."
Eren just sighed.
"Functional."
She seemed to like that. Let out a sound between a laugh and a growl.
"Good piece of meat."
They continued walking.
The night wind swayed her hair, revealing her sensitive wolf ears. The golden glow of her eyes seemed almost ethereal in the moonlight.
She walked barefoot effortlessly, hips swaying with a confident and wild air. Her muscles contracted with each step, the long tail lazily swaying from side to side, almost as if wagging at him.
Eren analyzed without apparent emotion.
"Dominant. Wild. But now linked. High cooperation potential."
She spoke again, her voice low.
"I smell you. Good. Strong.
Eren stared at her.
"I'll remember that.
Kaela growled, satisfied.
"You'll obey later.
He didn't reply. He just kept walking.
She moved closer, her shoulder brushing against his, short fur grazing the cloak. Her warm breath in his ear.
"Piece of meat... mine.
Eren sighed. He was starting to lose his patience.
In the end, together they followed the road, shadows stretching ahead, towards the sleeping village.