Moonlit vow

4.Kahar

The Next Morning

At dawn, Leiand brought Iris back to the tribe. The sight of the unfamiliar woman beside Leiand stirred curiosity among the tribe members. Some women, seeing Leiand's attentive care for a stranger, were envious and jealous.

Sensing Iris’s discomfort, Leiand quickly led her to his cave. There, he pulled out the dress and pearls he had made the previous night.

A little flustered, Leiand handed the dress to Iris, keeping his head low as he muttered, “For you.”

A white beast hide? And adorned with pearl decorations?

When Iris smiled at the pearls, Leiand’s heart leapt with joy. He thought, The merfolk didn’t lie; women really do like these things. Those ten hides were worth it after all.

He had already forgotten how annoyed he was on the day he learned the bracelet would cost ten hides.

Iris looked up, her voice tinged with excitement. “Are these pearl bracelets and the dress really for me?”

“I made them for you,” Leiand blurted. “I noticed your beast hide was dirty, and you had nothing to change into.” The words spilled out before he could stop himself, and the moment they did, he turned away and covered his mouth, feeling regretful.

Why did I say all that? Leiand shook his head, annoyed with himself.

Hearing his words, Iris couldn’t help but admire Leiand. What kind of treasure is this man? He made a dress for me? Incredible. So skilled and thoughtful.

Iris accepted the dress, eager to put it on. As she unfolded it, the pure white beast hide gleamed softly, and she felt a rush of excitement. Blushing, she said, “Leiand, could you turn around? I want to change.”

Seeing her flushed face, Leiand quickly understood. Without a word, he turned his back to her, giving Iris the space she needed.

Once dressed, Iris slipped on the pearl bracelet. A cool sensation spread from her wrist, and she unconsciously lifted her hand to admire it. The pearls shone with a luster reminiscent of sunlight on water, yet there was something unique about them.

After tidying her hair into a simple style, she felt more refreshed.

“All done. You can turn around now,” she called.

Hearing her voice, Leiand turned slowly. The moment his eyes landed on her, he froze. Iris, standing there in her new dress, her skirt swaying lightly in the breeze, took his breath away.

Leiand’s lips parted slightly, but all he managed was a low cough and a murmured, “You look... nice.”

Iris, shy under his gaze, fiddled with the hem of her skirt. Catching Leiand still staring at her from the corner of her eye, she felt flustered. Pretending to think seriously, she asked, “So, what’s for dinner tonight?”

Seeing her attempt to change the subject, Leiand decided to tease her. “Dinner doesn’t matter. Just looking at you is enough to fill me up.”

Iris glared at him, her voice low and indignant. “Stop joking, you... wolf!”

Turning away, she pretended to inspect the cave’s interior.

It was then that Iris noticed the cave’s surprising organization. A large stone bed, neatly covered with layers of beast hides, dominated one corner. Nearby was a stone table, complete with stone bowls and cups, while the walls were adorned with ornaments made from animal bones.

So Leiand is someone who values life, Iris thought, deeply moved. This was nothing like the chaotic, blood-stained image of a beastman’s lair she had imagined.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the cave. Iris turned warily toward the entrance.

A young woman rushed in first. She looked about 18 or 19, her youthful face full of energy, and she wore a brown beast-hide skirt.

“Lord Leiand!”

The woman’s voice was sweet and coy as she flung herself toward Leiand without hesitation. But her sudden movement was met with Leiand’s sharp gaze and a swift sidestep. She missed her mark and stumbled, looking upset.

By then, Leiand had positioned himself protectively in front of Iris. His voice was cold as he warned, “Do that again, and I won’t be so lenient.”

Iris rolled her eyes at Leiand. Does he realize he’s just made an enemy? Clearly, this girl, Ellie, has a crush on him.

Ellie’s attention quickly shifted to Iris, her hands clenched tightly, and her eyes flashed with resentment. Her voice dripped with malice as she sneered, “You’re just an outsider picked off the ground. What makes you so special? Why do you get to stay in Lord Leiand’s cave? You don’t belong here!”

Iris admitted to herself that she was, indeed, an outsider. She didn’t know much about this place, and if not Leiand’s cave, where else could she go? Still, Ellie’s words stung.

Head bowed, Iris tried to hide the tears welling in her eyes. Her heart ached at the thought of leaving Leiand’s side. Unknowingly, he had become her protector, and the idea of being without him filled her with fear.

Without hesitation, Leiand stepped forward, his tone icy. “If you want your life to go smoothly, you’d better stop saying such things to her.” His words were like blades, cutting through Ellie’s hostility.

When those protective words left Leiand’s mouth, Iris froze, her heartbeat quickening. Warmth spread through her, and she bit her lip, feeling deeply grateful to him.

At that moment, two more figures entered the cave. One was a man with sharp features, bearing a strong resemblance to Leiand. He too wore only a beast-hide around his waist. Beside him stood a pregnant woman, silent and expressionless, her head lowered.

“Kahar, brother!” Ellie exclaimed, her tone instantly softening as she rushed toward him, beaming.

But her expression soured the moment she glanced at the woman beside him. Rolling her eyes, Ellie huffed coldly, “Annie, why are you out of your cave?”

The sharpness in her voice startled Annie, who quickly lowered her head and hurried back outside, as if afraid of causing more trouble.

"Leiand, I heard you brought back a woman from outside the tribe." Kahar spoke while casting a direct, unreserved glance at Iris, sizing her up from head to toe.

Leiand's face darkened at his brother’s gaze, which he found deeply displeasing. However, since this was his own younger brother, he begrudgingly introduced him to Iris: "This is my brother, Kahar."

Iris smiled gently, her eyes radiating natural politeness but also a hint of aloofness. Her voice was clear and soft, "Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Iris."

Kahar was momentarily stunned by Iris's smile. It was warm and confident. In that instant, he seemed to understand why Leiand had brought this woman back. If it were him, he wouldn’t care which tribe she came from either.

Meanwhile, Iris's gaze shifted outside the cave toward Annie, piquing her curiosity. Was this world governed by male supremacy? Did that mean women had a low social status?

Suddenly, a thought struck her. She decided to test her mysterious ability by repeatedly asking this question in her mind. After a moment, an answer surfaced: In this world, medical resources are scarce, making survival challenging for women. With men outnumbering women, females are considered highly valuable.

Upon learning this, Iris understood the situation better. However, she couldn’t reconcile why Annie, a pregnant woman who should be seen as the tribe's hope, appeared so lowly.

She didn’t dwell on it further, figuring that living in this place would eventually reveal the answers she sought.

Leiand, on the other hand, grew increasingly uncomfortable with the way Kahar was looking at Iris, a sense of danger washing over him. Stepping forward, he moved Iris behind him, shielding her from view.

"Can I take a walk around the tribe?" Iris asked, her tone laced with curiosity.

Before Leiand could respond, Ellie interjected with evident dissatisfaction, "Stray females aren't allowed to wander freely. You should stay put in the cave." Then, as if struck by a thought, she added, "If you must, you can look around nearby—but don't leave the tribe." With a pointed look toward Annie, standing timidly outside the cave, she smirked with a hint of mischief and said, "You could ask her."

Ellie's voice was intentionally loud. Hearing her words, Annie lowered her head even further, her entire demeanor radiating subservience.

Ellie, like a victorious peacock, raised her head proudly. She subtly tugged on Kahar's hand, exchanging a brief glance before the two left the cave together. Iris didn’t understand their silent exchange but felt relieved by their departure.

Outside, Ellie leaned close to whisper in Kahar’s ear, "It seems you're interested in Iris. Aren't you always looking to take everything your brother has?"

Kahar smirked darkly, his hand boldly groping Ellie’s backside. "Of course. Everything of his is mine. I’ve never believed wolves can only have one mate in their lifetime. That includes you, too."

Ellie suppressed a shiver at his words, though she’d long been aware of Kahar's ambitions—not only to take Leiand’s position as the wolf king but to claim all the women in the tribe as his playthings. Softening her tone, she said sweetly, "Tonight is the full moon. You know what to do. This is a love fruit I got from my clan’s witch. You’ll be satisfied with it."

Kahar released his grip on her and inspected the black fruit in his hand, his expression pleased. "I know what you’re up to. You want Leiand. Let’s tear them apart, then." With that, he pocketed the love fruit and walked away.

Inside the cave, Iris looked at Leiand questioningly, her face full of confusion. Why wasn’t she allowed to move freely outside?

"It’s fine," Leiand said with a gentle smile. "You can go wherever you want. I just need to meet with the wolf king tonight to discuss some matters. I’ll accompany you later."

If anyone had seen Leiand at that moment, they would have been astonished. This was the tribe’s white wolf—known for his unmatched strength and revered as the embodiment of a god. He was always cold and distant, yet here he was, smiling softly and speaking kindly to Iris. It was shocking.

Thinking about his upcoming meeting with the wolf king, Leiand felt a headache coming on. Bringing someone from outside the tribe without permission was a significant breach. Kahar’s earlier visit, accompanied by Annie, was clearly meant as a warning to Iris.

Sighing, Leiand left the cave, heading for the wolf king’s dwelling. Left alone, Iris stepped out of the cave, gazing at the night sky. The moon hung high, round and bright like a luminous mirror, casting a gentle glow that illuminated the night.

Suddenly, she saw Annie approaching nervously, holding a cup of juice. Annie smiled warmly and said, “Hello, Iris. You’re new here, so you probably haven’t tasted our juice yet. This is for you.” Handing her the cup, Annie gave Iris a fleeting glance before quickly walking away.

Curious, Iris took a cautious sip. The rich, fruity aroma filled her mouth, and she couldn’t help but smile. "This is delicious! So refreshing!"

Immersed in the tranquility of the night, Iris didn’t notice Kahar quietly approaching from behind. Within moments, her vision blurred, and her gaze became unfocused. Her breath quickened, and her expression turned dazed. Her hands instinctively reached out, clutching Kahar as if seeking support.