Trapped in Beast World: My Husbands Are All Animals! Novel

---- Chapter 37 Crossing the Line Too Soon Ardenia acted with clear intent. She spoke softly and warmly, her voice teasing in his ear like a secret. Each subtle movement brought her eyelashes to his skin. Halden's face flushed almost instantly. Ardenia watched his cheeks redden, satisfaction evident in her eyes. That face is unreal. Ha. It's mine. The thought emboldened her. Her hands grew bolder. Halden was more than good-looking; his strong body made her lose focus, each touch distracting her. Halden met her gaze, his expression intense.

He swallowed, lips parting as his hand moved along her back, drawing her closer, as if to prolong the moment. She understood him perfectly. Ardenia straightened, lifting the fur skirt at his waist with steady hands. She sensed no warning signs. Her confident ---- smile remained. "Soon, you're mine." Excitement surged through Halden. He wanted to tell her the same thing. As the fur skirt slipped away, Ardenia stopped, her hands suspended in midair. A jolt of surprise raced through her. Her eyes dipped lower, then back to herself, as a sharp realization dawned.

Tonight, we're not just flirting with danger; we plunge into it. She met his gaze again; heat lingered in his eyes, his face still flushed, and a faint, satisfied smile played at the corner of his mouth. It was subtle but unmistakable. Desire surged, quickly replaced by fear. She had not intended for things to escalate this far tonight. Ardenia swallowed, the warmth jolting her from her composure. She hesitated, panic following immediately as she thought ---- about how to get up. Too much. This is way too much. | can't do this. Ladmit! can't do this. "|...

let's stop for today." She shifted her weight, snatched the sheet, and draped it over him in one swift motion. Halden stared at her, stunned. He sat up and pulled her close. The sudden gesture made her tense, her eyes narrowing as she realized she could not handle this. "You don't want me?" His voice came low and uncertain. "Or do you think I'm lacking?" He had never doubted himself before. Among others, he had always been confident. Now, that certainty wavered. Ardenia recognized the misunderstanding immediately. She knew this mattered to him more than he would admit.

She turned and whispered in his ear. Then, Halden fell silent. ---- His expression shifted, pride giving way to vulnerability. The part of himself he trusted now felt overwhelming. Still, he refused to retreat. "Can we try?" He gently guided her back onto the bed and leaned in. His voice coaxed rather than pressed, and his eyes stayed soft and careful. Ardenia nodded, dazed, as if carried by the moment. Relief washed over him. He kissed her slowly and gently. Yet when it reached the final step, she broke. Tears streamed down her face as she clung to him, her body shaking with sobs.

"It hurts!" The word echoed repeatedly in her mind. Halden kissed the tears from her face, his heart aching. Stopping now felt wrong; giving up might mean there would never be another chance. "I'll be careful." ---- His promise was steady and restrained. He resisted the urge to rush, forcing himself to move slowly. This was not something to claim, but something to protect. Ultimately, he stopped after several attempts. Ardenia curled up against him, crying until her breath came in short gasps. She felt both frustrated and afraid. How? What should | do? | can't be intimate with my mate.

Meanwhile, the group returning from the central square circled Ardenia's cave. They searched repeatedly, but she was nowhere to be found. Halden was missing as well. Vesper's expression darkened. Hmph! What she said to me earlier in that cave-now she is forgetting it entirely. If Ardenia had disappeared with anyone else that night, he wouldn't have cared. Halden was the sole exception. Her feelings were obvious to him. ---- She treated everyone the same, except Halden. Around him, her posture softened, her voice turned gentle, and her gaze lingered just a heartbeat longer.

The sight made Vesper seethe with jealousy. "I'm checking the river. Do whatever you want." He turned away sharply and disappeared into the darkness. The other three stood in heavy silence. During the Moon Tide Festival, Ardenia and Halden had left together. Anyone could guess what that implied. "This is ridiculous." Tobias shoved the snakeskin outfit he had prepared back into his arms. "She is openly favoring Halden." They were all her mates, and the imbalance stung. Tobias's mood darkened visibly. "Favoring?" Niall replied, his tone lazy.

"You should consider your own behavior first." Tobias scoffed. "You are no better." Niall shrugged, his foxy eyes narrowing into a sly smile. "I'm ---- different. I've been in her cave before. One more thing: her lips are incredibly soft."