The valley was warm.
Sunlight filtered through the tall grass, the breeze carried the scent of flowers, and for the first time since she arrived in Beastworld, Kanah felt…
alive.
Not fighting.
Not running.
Not breaking.
Just living.
She walked beside Owain, who refused to be more than an inch away from her. His hand brushed hers every few steps, as if checking she was still there.
"Stop hovering," she murmured.
"I'm not hovering," Owain said immediately—
while hovering.
Kanah smirked.
"You're protecting."
"Yes," he said, without shame. "Always."
His honesty made her stomach warm.
HEALING TOUCH — WITH GERRIN
Gerrin caught up to them with a small satchel of herbs.
"Kanah," he called gently, "may I check your mana flow?"
Owain growled lightly.
"She's fine."
Gerrin smiled calmly.
"Her seed is fine. Her emotions are not."
Kanah actually laughed.
"Owain… let him."
Owain grumbled but stepped aside just enough.
Gerrin stood in front of Kanah, lifting one hand toward her chest.
"I won't touch you, not without your permission."
Kanah nodded.
"You can."
His fingers brushed lightly against her sternum.
Heat tingled beneath her skin—warm, but gentle, like someone lighting a candle behind her ribs.
She inhaled sharply.
Gerrin pulled back immediately.
"Too much?"
"No," she whispered.
"It just… surprised me."
Owain stiffened behind her.
Gerrin's eyes softened.
"Your resonance responds to comfort now," he murmured.
"That's good. Very good."
Kanah breathed slowly.
For the first time ever, the soothing touch didn't feel like an intrusion.
It felt…
wanted.
PROTECTION — FROM YLLAS
Not long after, Kanah wandered a little too close to a sunning dragon's tail.
A harmless tail.
A lazy, unmoving tail.
But Yllas appeared beside her in two strides, pulling her gently back by the forearm.
"Careful," he murmured.
"Rhaegor is asleep. If you step on his tail, he may swing."
Kanah blinked.
"Oh—sorry. I didn't notice."
Yllas's grip softened but didn't drop immediately.
"You're distracted today."
Kanah flushed.
"I'm just… thinking."
"About?"
She hesitated.
Owain, Gerrin, Helion, Yllas…
How close they were.
How warm.
How safe she felt with each of them in different ways.
"…everything," she finally said.
Yllas brushed his thumb gently over her wrist before releasing her.
"Then you do not have to think alone."
Owain's growl echoed from behind them.
"Yllas—"
But Kanah stepped between them.
"It's okay," she whispered.
And suddenly—
Owain stopped growling.
Just like that.
Her words alone could calm him now.
Yllas inclined his head respectfully.
"She is learning to breathe again," he said.
Owain huffed.
"She's learning to make me insane."
Kanah laughed.
She didn't stop him.
LAUGHTER — WITH HELION
The leopard lord arrived next—
dropping from a tree and landing right in front of her.
"Little human," he purred.
"You're glowing today."
Kanah blinked.
"I am?"
"Oh yes," Helion grinned. "You look like someone who finally slept. And ate. And enjoyed being held."
Owain bristled violently.
Helion smirked at him.
"Oh relax, wolf. If I wanted her in my arms, I'd ask."
Owain nearly lunged.
Kanah stepped forward, placing a hand on his chest.
"Owain. Don't."
He froze immediately.
Kanah turned to Helion.
"You're teasing him on purpose."
Helion flicked his tail.
"Of course. He's funny when he's jealous."
Owain snarled.
Kanah sighed.
"Helion, stop provoking him."
Helion blinked.
Then quietly padded closer.
"Fine," he murmured. "But come here."
Kanah stiffened slightly.
"Why?"
"So I can give you something."
Owain growled.
"Helion—"
But the leopard reached out and placed a small, polished stone into Kanah's palm.
"It reminded me of you," he said simply.
Kanah blinked.
A dark stone flecked with gold.
"Helion… it's beautiful."
He shrugged casually.
"It's shiny. You like shiny things."
Owain blinked.
"She does?"
Kanah flushed.
"I do not—"
Helion grinned.
"You kept five glowing berries yesterday."
Owain turned toward her slowly.
"Kana?"
She covered her face.
"I like shiny things, okay?"
Helion cackled.
Owain melted.
He actually melted—expression softening to something helpless and enamored.
"…gods, you're adorable."
Kanah's face burned.
"Stop," she muttered.
Helion only laughed harder.
A SHIFT INSIDE HER
By midday, Kanah's heart felt…
different.
Like something inside her was warming from the inside out—
soft, gentle heat spreading beneath her skin.
It wasn't fear.
It wasn't hunger.
It was—
desire?
Not just physical.
Not lust.
Something deeper.
Something connected.
When Owain touched her arm—
her pulse quickened.
When Gerrin guided her breathing—
she felt steadier than she ever had.
When Yllas shielded her—
her heart thudded.
When Helion made her laugh—
her chest fluttered.
She wasn't choosing anyone.
She wasn't expected to.
But…
She wanted them near.
All of them.
She felt pulled toward them—
not by magic
not by instinct
not by the Devourer's seed—
But by her own heart.
And that terrified her.
And thrilled her.
Both.
THE CONFESSION (NOT FROM HER)
As the sun began to set, Kanah sat on a smooth rock by the river, toes in the water.
Owain approached first, sitting beside her.
"You ran from me," he murmured.
"I didn't run," she protested.
"You walked fast."
"I needed air."
Owain studied her.
"You're thinking hard again."
Kanah swallowed.
"I… feel strange."
Owain leaned closer.
"What kind of strange?"
She hesitated.
Then—
Before she could answer—
Helion dropped onto her other side.
Yllas sat behind her on a boulder.
Gerrin settled at her feet.
Owain growled softly.
"Why are you all here?"
Helion grinned.
"She's thinking."
Gerrin added softly:
"And hurting."
Yllas murmured:
"And overwhelmed."
Kanah stared at them—
their closeness
their warmth
their tenderness
their protectiveness—
And she felt a slow ache bloom in her chest.
"I don't know how to handle all of this," she whispered.
"Everything you feel. Everything you're giving me. I don't know if I'm ready."
Owain took her hand.
"We'll wait."
Gerrin nodded.
"We'll help."
Yllas bowed his head.
"We'll not push."
Helion smiled softly.
"We'll stay."
Kanah's breath caught.
Her voice broke.
"…Even if I choose more than one of you?"
Silence.
Then—
Owain kissed her hand.
"Kana," he murmured,
"you can choose all of us."
Her heart stopped.
Gerrin's voice softened.
"We already knew."
Yllas nodded once.
"It is ancient, but not forbidden."
Helion grinned.
"And we don't mind sharing. With each other? No. But with you? Absolutely."
Kanah's breath shook.
Tears filled her eyes.
She wasn't a burden.
She wasn't a mistake.
She wasn't too much, or too broken, or too late.
She was wanted.
Wanted by all of them.
Her throat tightened.
"…Thank you."
Owain pulled her gently into his arms.
Helion rested a hand on her back.
Gerrin laid a warm palm on her knee.
Yllas placed his hand over hers.
Together.
All at once.
Kanah inhaled deeply—
and for the first time ever, the air didn't hurt.
It filled her.
Warm.
Soft.
Hopeful.
Peaceful.
Loved.