Maya’s voice carried embarrassment as her fingers unconsciously tugged at the animal hide dress.
Even knowing these bonded males despised the previous Maya and would never harbor inappropriate thoughts about her, being watched by five pairs of eyes while undressing for a bath would make anyone uncomfortable.
The beastmen heard her request and turned around without much hesitation.
They had already done this when she changed clothes earlier.
Caleb moved first, turning to face the shore.
His voice stayed cold.
“I’ll keep watch from here. If there’s trouble, I’ll warn you.”
Hunter spun around quickly and snorted.
“I’ll go check for Aberrant beast tracks over there!”He walked away deliberately, acting like he didn’t want to watch anyway.
Sage and Jasper exchanged looks and turned their backs too.
Sage moved next to Caleb, scanning the forest carefully.
Jasper leaned against a tree, his pale green eyes suddenly serious.
A female bathing alone on this dangerous planet was extremely risky.
No matter how much they disliked Maya, they had to keep her safe.
If their bonded female died by accident, they wouldn’t die instantly like they would if they killed her.
But they would feel the same pain she felt before dying.
If an aberrant beast killed the female, the males would feel like their bodies were being torn apart too.
Almost no males survived that kind of backlash from the bonding marks.
Finn looked at Maya standing by the river, her hands gripping the dress tightly.
His gaze settled on the marks still visible on her neck, and his expression darkened.
Without a word, he waded into the river and positioned himself with his back to her.
As a water type beastman, the river was his territory.
He could sense danger better in water than on land.
Him entering the water showed he would protect her.
Maya felt relieved.
The bonding marks really were powerful.
No matter how much they hated her, they still had to ensure her safety.
Maya looked at Finn gratefully, then spoke to the other beastmen’s backs.
“Thank you. I’ll wash quickly and won’t delay us long.”
The moment Maya spoke, all the beastmen’s bodies went stiff.
Caleb’s back became even straighter.
Confusion flashed in his dark red eyes.
Most words he heard from Maya were insults, commands, and cruel curses.
She actually knew how to say thank you?
Hunter’s foot froze mid step.
His ice blue eyes filled with confusion.
Sage’s hands clenched at his sides.
Complex emotions swirled in his amber eyes.
From asking to break the bond to sharing food with them, and now saying thank you.
Every action was strange.
But how could a person change so much overnight?
Was this a new way to torture them, or had she really become different?
Jasper shifted against the tree.
Interest flashed in his pale green eyes.
He had been sure this was Maya’s new trick.
He was waiting to see when she would show her true nature.
Only Finn in the water didn’t move.
His tail fin gently hit the water surface, creating small ripples.
But only he knew that hearing that “thank you” had completely shaken his heart.
Maya didn’t say another word.
She took a deep breath and walked behind the big boulder by the river.
Even knowing the guys had their backs turned, she still wanted some cover.
She quickly took off her animal hide top and skirt.
She folded them neatly, put them on the rock, then stepped carefully into the water.
The river water came up to her waist.
The cool current felt amazing against her skin, washing away all the sweat and stickiness from traveling.
She sighed with relief.
She scooped up water with her hands and poured it over her head.
Her deep purple hair got soaked instantly, sticking to her neck and back in wet strands.
The beastmen on shore weren’t completely focused on guard duty.
Finn and Sage kept their backs turned the whole time, not looking at all.
Jasper wasn’t so well behaved.
He leaned against his tree, pretending to stare into the distance while sneaking glances from the corner of his eye.
His pale green eyes widened with surprise.
With her wet hair clinging to her body, he could see her slim waist and pale skin.
She looked completely different from the cruel woman in his memories.
Caleb had only meant to glance back quickly.
But that one look caught Maya washing her hair.
Water drops slid down her face and onto her collarbones, sparkling in the sunlight.
His throat moved slightly before he turned his head away.
Hunter paced near the forest edge.
When he heard water splashing behind him, he walked a few steps toward the river. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
A female bathing alone was dangerous, so he had to stay alert.
It wasn’t because he wanted to peek.
Hunter looked up and saw Maya standing waist deep in water.
Her purple hair was wet and clinging to her shoulders.
A few strands hung over her pale neck, with water drops sliding down to her collarbones.
Her dark eyes looked down, her waist was slim, her whole figure graceful.
Her face had a soft pink glow in the sunlight.
Gone was her usual harshness, replaced by gentle beauty.
His breath caught and he couldn’t look away.
He even forgot to breathe.
He just stared at her figure in the water until Maya raised her hand to wipe her face.
Only then did he snap back to reality and quickly look away.
His ears turned bright red.
He gritted his teeth, telling himself that her sudden bath idea must be some kind of trick.
Just as Hunter frantically looked away, the water suddenly exploded with a loud splash.
It wasn’t Maya playing in the water.
It was the heavy sound of something massive breaking the surface.
He spun his head around, eyes going wide with shock.
A huge beast with a dark blue-black body burst from the water behind Maya.
It looked like a crocodile but was several times larger.
Its back was covered in scales that gleamed coldly.
Its snake-like tail whipped violently through the water.
Its massive jaws opened wide, showing rows of sharp fangs that flashed with cold light, heading straight for Maya’s back.
“Watch out!” Hunter yelled, instantly changing into his lion beast form.
His black mane bristled as he charged toward the river on four legs.
Maya felt a rush of wind carrying a fishy smell from behind.
She turned around and saw the gaping mouth full of deadly fangs.
All her hair stood up instantly.
She tried to back away, but her ankle caught on a stone underwater.
She stumbled and fell backward into the water.
The icy river water reached her chest.
She watched those terrifying fangs getting closer and closer.
A scream tore from her throat.