Chapter 9

AURORA

I woke up next to Rin, the room still shrouded in darkness. But a faint light peeked through the curtain, hinting at the early morning hour. I sat up slowly, careful not to disturb Rin’s peaceful slumber. I couldn’t help but admire him as he slept.

He was a striking creature, his body resembling a human man’s but with a strength and definition that was beyond human. His red hair, ears, and tail suited him perfectly.

My mind wandered back to the previous night, and a blush crept up my cheeks. I couldn’t believe how quickly I’d given in to my desires. But I couldn’t deny the powerful attraction I felt for him. It was there from the moment we met, which was why I’d never been afraid of Rin. He was not only handsome, but there was an immediate pull towards him.

Was I destined to be his beta?

I wasn’t sure, but my dreams made me question if any of this was a coincidence. The field, the sky, the surrounding forest; it was all too familiar. I was certain of it.

With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I carefully slipped out of bed. I felt sticky between my legs, a reminder of the previous night’s activities, and decided to freshen up.

As I looked around the room, my eyes landed on the bookshelf. I remembered Rin flipping through a journal the night before.

~I wonder if he’s still writing in it.~

Curiosity got the better of me, and I picked up the journal. There was enough light to read by, so I flipped through the pages until I found the first blank one. The opposite page had recent entries about me.

~I found a girl at the snake’s den. He was keeping and selling kidnapped females as slaves, just like they said, and I’ve put a stop to that. But I’m sure it’s her. She’s the one I waited so long for. I could feel it when I looked into her eyes. Such beautiful blue eyes. Her hair is too. She reminds me of the sky. She brings out a longing in me that I’ve never known before. I’ve finally found her. I’m sure of it.~

I felt a lump in my throat as I put the journal back. He truly believed I was the one he’d been waiting for. I didn’t know how to process this and quickly retreated to the bathroom to shower, hoping the water would hide any tears that might fall.

It’s difficult to confront memories you’d rather forget. I sat in the shower, letting the water wash over me, but the pain in my chest remained. I wanted to escape my past, to forget who I was and become someone else. But I was learning that even in this magical world, that was easier said than done.

I was born into a cold, religious household. My parents were fanatics, and everything revolved around God. Any questioning was met with accusations of heresy.

I never felt wanted. My father often told me I was born from sin and needed redemption. My mother blamed me for my father’s disdain. I was a product of sin and needed to repent constantly.

This was also why I stopped speaking. Every word was met with anger and admonitions to pray. I wasn’t allowed to attend school because the world was sinful, and I was already on the wrong path.

In short, my life was a hell disguised as heaven.

That’s why I ran away. I planned it for two years before I found the courage to do it. I didn’t know where I’d go or what the world outside was like. But I was determined to make it.

I never imagined I’d end up here, in a mystical world as a fox’s lover.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice the footsteps until Rin’s voice pulled me back to reality.

“Are you all right? You’ve been in here for a while,” he said, concern lacing his voice.

I looked up as he turned off the shower and knelt in front of me, brushing my bangs back to look at my face. His concern caught me off guard.

“I… I’m fine. I was just thinking. I’m sorry that I was taking so long,” I apologized.

It felt strange to be speaking again, especially without being yelled at to be quiet.

“Don’t do that. You don’t ~ever~ have to apologize to me,” Rin said sternly, then softened. “I was just worried. Are you sure I didn’t hurt you last night?”

I shook my head, surprised by his question. Was he really that worried about hurting me?

“No. I’m fine. I’m not hurting at all.”

Rin seemed relieved. “That’s good,” he sighed.

I decided to be honest with him, at least to some extent. He deserved that much.

“I didn’t mean to make you worry. Sometimes I get lost in my thoughts and lose track of time,” I explained.

“I understand. I do that too sometimes, especially when I’m alone,” Rin admitted.

The cool air nipped at my damp skin, making me shiver. The den wasn’t particularly chilly, but being wet amplified the cold.

Rin noticed my discomfort and fetched a towel. He draped it over my shoulders, his smile warm and reassuring.

“Why don’t you dry off and get dressed? The mornings here can still be a little cold,” he suggested.

I nodded, allowing him to help me up. He planted a kiss on my forehead before leaving the bathroom. I was left standing there, feeling a bit shaken, and it wasn’t because of the cold. His smile was so genuine. It wasn’t the first time he’d smiled at me like that. Was this how alphas usually behaved with their betas?

It didn’t feel like that to me. His words from his journal echoed in my mind: I was the one he’d been waiting for.

As insane as it sounded, I wanted to believe it.

Drying off took some effort, and I kept the towel wrapped around me as I stepped out of the bathroom. Rin was in the main room, dressed in dark pants and examining some clothes he’d pulled from a large canvas bag that had been left for us the previous night.

I wondered if he was contemplating what he wanted me to wear today.

“Ah, there you are. Come look at your new clothes,” he said when he saw me.

I walked over to him, examining the clothes. They were all high quality, much like the dress I’d worn the day before. They were in various pale shades; whites, blues, tans, and light browns.

There were several dresses, but also jeans and light tops.

“I didn’t know they had jeans over here,” I confessed.

Rin chuckled. “You’d be surprised how progressive the spiders can be with such things. Many of them enjoy traveling between the worlds, and they bring clothing back with them to learn how to make the fabrics and work with them. I have a couple of pairs of jeans that they’ve made, but I prefer pants like these because they’re lighter and allow me to move faster,” he explained.

“That makes sense. It’s probably safer in this world if you can move quickly,” I reasoned.

“True. While there are many peaceful creatures here, there are also a lot of feral ones in the forests, especially at night, not to mention some that are just nasty to begin with. I’d rather be able to move fast and escape them if they decide to be foolish enough to attack me,” Rin stated.

“Has that happened before?”

“Occasionally, but most know better than to cross me.”

I nodded, unable to suppress a smile. I liked the clothes that had been left for me. There were even a few sets of bras and underwear.

That would be much more comfortable than going without.

Rin turned to me. “Why don’t you choose what you like best while I get cleaned up, and then we can head outside so I can show you more of this place? It’s going to be another nice day, so we should take advantage of it.”

“Okay.”

“Great. I’ll be back in a bit.”

Rin gave me a quick kiss, then grabbed a clean shirt and pants from a nearby wardrobe and headed into the bathroom. I waited a few minutes, listening for the shower to start before I took off my towel to get dressed.

I settled on a pair of light jeans and a loose blue top. The material was incredibly soft, and I liked how it fit. Anika had done a good job with my measurements.

A smile spread across my face as I looked down at my clothes. This was so much nicer than what I’d been able to have before. It was also the first time I’d ever been allowed to wear any kind of pants. My parents had always made me wear long, dark skirts and white tops.

Rin finished up and joined me not long after I got dressed. He seemed pleased with how I looked.

“Wonderful. You’re already looking much better and healthier,” he happily pointed out.

“I have been feeling better, but I am a little hungry,” I admitted.

“That’s fine. I know a nice place we can go, and it’ll let you see more of this world while we’re at it,” Rin responded.

I tilted my head. “You want to take me out?”

“Why wouldn’t I? You are my beta,” Rin looked up at the skylight. “It’s still plenty early enough, so we don’t have to rush anything. Let’s head on, shall we?”

I agreed, letting him pick me up so that he could hop out of the den. Bright sunlight greeted us, along with the coolness of the morning. The fresh smell of greenery and flowers was in the air, which brought a smile to my face.

Oh, how I loved all of it.

Rin glanced at the entrance to the den. “You know, I’ve been thinking too; I’m going to make it so that you can get in and out as you please.”

“That sounds good, but are you sure I should do that? It might be dangerous for me,” I reminded him.

“It’ll be fine. This area is mine, and I’ve set things up to where it’s protected, especially when I’m not around. Even though I don’t want to, there are going to be times when I’ll have to leave for a few hours or maybe even half a day to take care of things we’ll need. I don’t want you to feel like you need to stay in the den all the time, nor do I feel like that’s fair, so I’ll take steps to make sure you stay safe here,” Rin promised.

“I guess if you’re sure about that,” I reluctantly agreed, looking down as I held my arm. It felt impossible to hide how nervous those things made me.

“It’s going to be okay,” Rin promised, making sure I was looking at him. “I won’t let anything harm you. And I won’t be away too much.”

I nodded, accepting his words. “Alright. I trust you.”

Rin leaned in, planting a kiss on my lips. “That’s all I need to hear. Let’s get going. I’m starting to feel a bit peckish.” With ease, he lifted me onto his back, and I clung to his shoulders. “Hold tight.”

Riding on his back as he darted through the forest was an odd yet exhilarating experience. The forest was as breathtaking as it had been the day before. Sunlight filtered through the towering trees, casting a warm glow on everything around us.

Just like the previous day, I caught sight of distant creatures through the trees, but none seemed disturbed by our presence.

Eventually, Rin slowed his pace, coming to a halt at the forest’s edge. A dirt path unfurled before us, leading to a stone bridge that arched over a gently flowing river.

Beyond the bridge, I could see a town.

“We can walk from here. You okay with that?” Rin asked, setting me down.

“I’m fine with it. I don’t mind,” I assured him.

As we started down the road, I stayed close to Rin. The dirt was soft beneath my bare feet, and I found myself playfully kicking at it, my mood light.

Despite the strangeness of it all, being here with Rin was starting to feel normal.

Rin glanced at my feet. “We should find you some shoes while we’re in town. I don’t want you to hurt your feet.”

“I don’t mind going barefoot, but you’re right. I could step on something sharp,” I conceded.

“There’s a Gnome I know who makes great shoes. We can stop by his shop. I’m sure he can find you a few comfortable pairs,” Rin suggested.

“Are there many different creatures living in this town, or is it like the elf village?” I asked.

“This place is more diverse. Elves usually stick to their own kind and live in specific areas. The same goes for other creatures like the spiders. And, as you might guess, the feral creatures stick to the forests, mountains, and oceans. But many creatures have formed these villages and towns, working together to keep them running. I guess they find this way of life more rewarding than going it alone,” Rin explained.