WORLD OF BEASTS: A Girl For The Beasts

Halvir Returns

Chapter 046: Halvir Returns

The effects of Anindira's fertility cycle had reached their peak.

The pheromone scent pouring from her body blanketed the air like an intoxicating mist—piercing through the last defenses of Gavriel's instincts, defenses already torn apart by injuries, exhaustion, and the surge of power within him that had yet to stabilize.

His reason collapsed.

Only primitive instinct remained.

Anindira no longer had the strength to resist. Her body trembled, her muscles refused to move, and silent tears continued to stream down her face. She was aware—fully aware—yet no longer capable of doing anything.

Gavriel pinned her down.

His eyes were empty. His face was cold, devoid of emotion, as though the soul she had known had vanished, replaced by something foreign and terrifying. Touches that should have protected her became brutal pressure that crushed everything in their path.

Anindira's scream died in her throat.

Pain spread throughout her body, breaking through both physical and mental limits. The world seemed to collapse into suffocating darkness, leaving behind nothing but fear, agony, and an indescribable emptiness.

Time lost all meaning.

When Gavriel finally stopped, it was not because his awareness had returned—but because his own body had given out.

He collapsed beside Anindira, gasping for breath, barely able to breathe. The injuries he had ignored were now demanding their price. Blood poured from his wounds, and his body teetered on the brink of death.

Anindira was unconscious.

Her body lay stiff and motionless, her breathing weak. Her clothes were torn, and her skin was covered in wounds and bruises—the remnants of a futile struggle.

Gavriel's last surviving instinct forced him to stay alive. With consciousness on the verge of fading, he struggled to regulate his breathing and endure... even though his soul had already shattered.

Elsewhere

Zia woke with a terrible premonition.

Anindira was gone.

Panic seized her immediately. She called for Kaj, who was assigned as escort duty that day, and within seconds, Anindira's scent became unmistakably clear in the air.

Too clear.

The trail led beyond the village's western border.

And there, Kaj found a sight that made his blood run cold:

Six guards—dead.

Without hesitation, he dragged Zia back and reported everything to Mischa.

Mischa's fury exploded.

Blow after blow struck Kaj until he collapsed, his body battered by guilt and failure.

Then Halvir returned.

There was no shouting.

No rage-filled outburst.

Yet the aura emanating from him made everyone tremble.

Even Mischa could not bring himself to meet his eyes.

Regret, fury, and devastation merged into Halvir's silence—far more terrifying than any scream.

Ezra and Zia trembled, their chests tightening painfully.

At last, Mischa spoke while holding the frightened Ezra close.

"Halvir... settle accounts with me later. Right now, we find Anindira."

Hans stepped forward, breaking the silence.

"We don't have time."

Halvir gave no response.

He was already gone, racing toward the western border with lightning speed.

Hans, Mischa, Ruvi, Axel, and Kaj followed.

The hunt began.

Halvir found the bodies of Hyenas scattered along the hunting route.

Their corpses had been torn apart brutally. Some were no longer even intact. Dried blood stained the ground black, mingling with a metallic smell that stung the nose.

Halvir's steps slowed.

His chest tightened.

Anindira's trail was still clear—far too clear—and mixed with an increasingly strong scent of blood. The moment he recognized that scent as Anindira's, Halvir's breath stopped.

His eyes widened.

His blood boiled.

Ahead of him lay two naked bodies covered in blood, barely moving. The sight struck his mind like a sledgehammer.

They were both still alive.

But only barely.

Gavriel's breathing and heartbeat were loud—too loud—yet chaotic and irregular, like a broken machine being forced to keep running. In contrast, Anindira's breathing and heartbeat were so weak they were nearly gone, like a candle waiting for its final gust of wind.

Halvir froze.

The world seemed to stop turning.

A small cough suddenly escaped Anindira's lips—followed by blood.

That was enough.

Halvir snapped back to reality. Without thinking, he immediately removed his shirt and covered Anindira's cold, fragile body. His hands trembled as he touched her.

Several seconds later, Mischa and the others arrived.

Their steps stopped at the same moment.

Their hearts seemed to be crushed at the sight of the two youths lying there, dying amid blood and death.

"Halvir!"

Hans's voice shattered the silence, pulling Halvir from his trance.

"*Amber. Give it to Anindira. Now!"

Without hesitation, Halvir pulled out the last few pieces of *Amber he possessed. His hands trembled as he gripped them. Deep regret crept into his heart, cutting deeper than any wound.

*If only I had taken storing Amber more seriously...

"Don't!"

Hans immediately grabbed Halvir's hand.

His gaze was sharp and calculating.

"One is enough."

"HANS, SHE'S SEVERELY INJURED!" Halvir shouted, his voice breaking with emotion.

"Exactly because of that!" Hans replied firmly. "Her breathing and heartbeat are extremely weak. Her blood circulation has nearly stopped. She's a woman—she won't be able to withstand a sudden surge of energy in such a critical condition."

Hans turned quickly.

"Axel, help me carry Gavriel! He's dying too!"

Hans's sense of smell and hearing, many times sharper than those of ordinary Beasts, immediately picked up the lingering scents on Gavriel and Anindira.

From the si-yazh he detected, Hans instantly understood what had truly happened.

But he remained silent.

This was not the time.

If he opened his mouth now, Gavriel's head would be separated from his body before anyone could save him.

With Halvir's emotions raging like this, no explanation would be heard—only slaughter.

The others exchanged glances, trying to piece things together. The mixed scents led them to the wrong conclusion. The Hyena scent clinging to Anindira and Gavriel misled them.

They assumed Anindira had been violated by the Hyenas and that Gavriel had been injured while trying to save her.

Unlike Hans.

Halvir himself was filled with sympathy for Gavriel. In his eyes, the youth had risked his life to protect Anindira. He wanted to give Gavriel the remaining *Amber as well, but there was too little left.

Reluctantly, he abandoned the idea.

In his heart, Halvir swore that if Gavriel survived, he would repay him properly.

If there was still a chance.

After giving three pieces of his *Amber, Halvir followed Hans's instructions and allowed Axel to take Gavriel to the clinic for further treatment. It was not merely because Anindira was a woman, but because her safety was the absolute priority—an unspoken request from Halvir, the friend Hans respected most.

Hans stood several steps away from Halvir. His shoulders sagged, and his breathing was heavy.

"Halvir..." Hans called quietly.

"I'm sorry..." he continued, his expression miserable. "It'll be difficult for her to survive the night..."

Hans lowered his head, delivering the bitter truth about Anindira's condition without being able to meet Halvir's eyes.

"What do you mean?!" Halvir stared at him in disbelief. His hands gripped Hans's shoulders.

"Do something! Anything!" he shouted, almost pleading.

"If *Amber is the problem, I'll repay it many times over. Green *Amber, Red *Amber—I'll get them for you!"

The man who had always been a role model for the younger generation.

The imposing figure with a nearly expressionless face.

The man whose greatness had convinced Hans to leave the Lion Kingdom and choose Blue Forest Village.

Now stood before him...

Broken.

"H A L V I R!"

Hans grabbed Halvir's shoulders in return, his voice trembling with emotion.

"I would do anything for you! Even if you never paid me a single thing!"

"But this—" Hans slowly shook his head, "—isn't something I can control. I've already done everything I should have done!"

As a doctor, Hans understood the meaning of a true Imprint. He understood how deeply that bond locked itself into the hidden chambers of Halvir's heart. Hans knew how precious Anindira was to his friend. But beyond sharing in that pain, there were boundaries he would not cross—he did not want to interfere in the relationship between Halvir and Anindira.

"I can't let her go, Hans!" Halvir's voice was hoarse, his eyes red.

"I've been with her for three months. I know her better than anyone here!"

"I like her—even without the Imprint, I still would've approached her!"

Hans took a long breath.

"The impacts and trauma have damaged her internal organs. That's affecting her breathing," Hans explained quietly.

"I've done everything I can. But Anindira's biggest problem... isn't only that."

His voice carried profound regret.

"Hans...?" Halvir stared at him, his face pale.

"What do you mean? Say it clearly. Stop talking in circles!" he exploded.