My Wild Beast-Chapter 159: Too Peaceful...

Nova hummed, somewhat aware that she’d passed out after a very surreal and exhilarating night suspended in the air with Yoa. She never expected something like that, but she should have.

Yoa was wild and untamed, his boldness roused her passion, and he was beginning to surpass it, daring even. Heck, she wasn’t complaining. With him, she was fearless.

He must have carried her to bed. Through the darkness, she could make out where they were spending the night, and it wasn’t the treehouse, but the other hideout. Yoa must have given the others privacy as well, or perhaps the cave was closer to where they were earlier.

The world beyond was hushed again, the celebrations of all tribes now stilled, resting from their revelry. The fire across from the tree trunk cot had long since gone out, leaving the cavernous room space wrapped in stillness. Faint embers glowed beneath the ashes, casting a soft blush of light over them.

Nova snuggled into her Serakai, her hair wild, utterly dishevelled, and her body spent yet pleased to the point of feeling like she’d melted into a puddle. Yoa’s breathing guided her back to complete awareness. His arm was draped over her waist, his chest pressed firmly against her back, his warmth surrounding her like a living blanket.

Outside, the jungle whispered under the moonlight, the air damp with the scent of rain and distant flowers. Right now, in this moment of stillness, Nova could finally come to terms with everything.

It was done. The island had been sealed. The ground no longer trembled. She thought the air was fresh and unpolluted before, almost dizzying with oxygen she was so unaccustomed to in city life, that she didn’t realise there was something a little off.

For the first time in weeks, the air felt light- lighter—alive, even, not burdened. Yet the quiet pressed at her chest in a strange, aching way.

Was that it?

Yoa murmured something low in his sleep, his nose brushing the curve of her neck. She smiled faintly, turning in his arms so she could see his face. In the dim light, his features looked softer—unguarded, almost boyish beneath the warrior’s strength. She traced his jaw with gentle fingers, then let them wander to his hair, brushing a few loose strands from his brow.

He woke without opening his eyes, catching her hand before it could retreat. "Couldn’t sleep?" he asked, voice still rough from dreams.

Nova shook her head. "Somehow... I couldn’t. As much as you destroyed me earlier," she joked.

He smiled against her fingers, pressing a kiss to her palm. "You should. You’ve done more than anyone these past sunrises."

Her eyes softened. "So have you. You didn’t even let me stand alone for a second."

Yoa’s thumb brushed her cheek. "You were never meant to."

They lay there for a while, breathing in sync. The faint pulse of his heartbeat echoed beneath her fingertips, steady and sure. Nova listened to it, calming the trepidation slowly tightening in her chest.

She didn’t like this feeling. Why was she feeling so anxious? They’d sealed the island; her task was complete, and Tayun was safe again... right?

It was just overthinking...

Nova swallowed the thought and instead whispered, "It’s strange... the island feels quiet now. Like it’s sleeping."

"Maybe it is," he murmured. "It deserves rest. We all do."

Nova smiled faintly. "Even you?"

"Especially me." His lips curved against her temple. "Though I don’t think I could rest if you weren’t beside me."

Something tender and fragile bloomed in her chest at that, tightening her throat. She kissed him softly, a brush of warmth and salt and unspoken fear. He deepened it just enough to draw a sigh from her before resting his forehead to hers.

"Have I ever told you how much I love you?" She whispered, causing him to smile.

"Tell me once more," he replied, his voice low, expectant.

He loved hearing her say it, as she loved hearing the poet deep in his soul.

Nova snuggled into him more. ’I love you until the other world and back,’ she whispered through the bond that sizzled along the tether.

He sighed into her, a low rumbling from his beast purring at the sound of her voice in his soul.

’My goddess, the light to my darkness, the breath between my heartbeats, the calm that tames the wild within me...’

’Alright, show off,’ Nova laughed, biting his cheek playfully.

His rumbling laughter vibrated through her, his arms tightening briefly as he refrained from playing with her and mating again. Instead, he finished his sentence, meaning every word. "Even when the stars fade, I will find you in the dark."

Outside, the wind moved through the leaves again, carrying the faintest hum of energy—the magic that still lived within the island, within them.

Nova closed her eyes, holding him tighter as if to keep the world still. The celebration was over, the seal complete, but something told her that peace was only a pause between storms.

For now, though, she let herself believe in the quiet. In his heartbeat. In this.

With a soft smile, comforted and at ease once more, the peace in her soul, the tenderness in his embrace called to her body, dulling her trepidation into his safety net as she was pulled into sleep.

That peace burst like a pin through a bubble.

Yoa jolted awake, his eyes glowing vividly in the dark, accidentally dragging Nova into his vision. She sat upright with a gasp as the world materialised around her.

Bats burst free from a cave, screeches filled the air and-

Screams nearby snapped them out of the vision. Nova looked at Yoa, dread paling her face.

"Was that real..." Stupid question, Nova! The fierce expression on Yoa’s face spoke volumes. "Were they..."

"Vampiras," Yoa growled, hopping up, ready to fight.

Cries filled the air nearby. They must have been the Vohraki, or Tomaq’s tribe? Perhaps even Vulcan’s flock...

But that was impossible...

"They can’t be free..." She muttered, clambering out of the blankets. "And this far from where we sealed Tayun’s heart..."

How was this possible after what they just achieved?

Yoa paced as golden light pulsed along the walls in runes, reacting to his agitated state. His eyes flickered back and forth, his beast coming forward and backing down as he fought for control.

He paused, turning to look at his mate as horror locked his jaw in place, his eyes burning brightly. "Unless it was more than one cave they have escaped from..."

Nova froze, eyes widening. "You mean... ALL of them have escaped?"

There were at least FIVE giant caves she’d mapped out to avoid entering because of those creepy flying leeches.

Yoa’s silence confirmed it.

"I have to leave-"

"No!" Nova reached for him, her hand clasping on his wide forearm. He stopped and looked down at his mate, pain slicing his features at the idea of leaving her as well.

But she wasn’t asking him to stay with her. "We will leave."

"Nova-" he warned.

"No. We are a team." She interrupted. "I think I have proven myself quite useful... Besides... Who else is going to have your back against those naked weirdos?!"

Yoa’s expression softened, and although he didn’t want to take her into battle, he could tell from the look in her bottomless blue eyes that she was determined. If she were still defenceless like the first time they met, this wouldn’t even be a discussion.

"Alright," he relented, then called to his powers, and the rocky terrain rumbled, drawing apart and revealing multiple weapons. "Be ready. This isn’t going to be pretty."