Skylar had been secretly watching them, and Nolan's gentle, doting gaze toward Sasha made her stomach twist in irritation.
Once she caught a whiff of the aroma drifting her way, the meat in her own mouth suddenly tasted dry and bland.
Why did Sasha get to eat something so delicious while she could not? It made no sense.
Her jealousy only intensified as she looked at Sasha's bright, beautiful face. Sasha stole attention without even trying.
Skylar shot a sharp glare at Orion, blaming him for allowing Sasha into the tribe. Then she angrily tossed her meat onto the ground and marched away.
Her beastmen quickly jumped up to chase after her, eager to comfort and please her.
Orion could only sigh. He knew his female had taken a liking to Nolan, yet even as the patriarch, he could do nothing about it. Such was the helplessness of being a male in this world. Compromise was their fate.
Sasha clearly sensed Skylar's faint but persistent hostility. But as for herself? She felt none of the same competitiveness.
To Sasha, Skylar's behavior was simply childish.
Choosing not to waste time on such petty attitudes, Sasha happily continued eating the pieces of meat Nolan passed her.
Just then, a petite female approached and sat down beside Sasha. She greeted her shyly, "Hello, my name is Quinn."
Sasha turned to look at her. Quinn seemed to be around sixteen or seventeen, plain-looking but slender.
Since she approached with friendliness, Sasha responded with a pleasant smile. "Hello."
"What did you sprinkle on the roast? It smells amazing." Quinn stared at the wild boar with hungry eyes.
"It's chili powder. A seasoning." Sasha motioned for Nolan to give her another piece.
Nolan reluctantly tore a small chunk of meat and handed it to Quinn, clearly annoyed by this female coming over to snatch food.
Quinn happily accepted the fatty piece and took a big bite. Her eyes instantly widened. This taste was incredible.
She had never experienced such spiciness—so delicious she felt like even her tongue wanted more.
The piece disappeared quickly, and though she desperately wanted more, she felt too embarrassed to ask.
Seeing her expression, Sasha offered her an extra piece.
Blushing, Quinn ate while speaking, "I really envy you. You actually found a Moonclaw cat beast as a partner."
Sasha blinked in confusion. "Why? Are they special?"
"Of course. They're mysterious, powerful, and the dream partners of all females. But they wander unpredictably and are rarely seen. Some say they have nine lives. Once they bond with a mate, they can even share life energy with them." Quinn looked at her as if she couldn't believe Sasha didn't know this.
Well then. Sasha felt enlightened. There really were nine-tailed cat demons in this world.
She finally understood Nolan's strength more clearly.
Under the soft glow of the fire, she looked at Nolan. His handsome face was flawless, like someone drawn straight from a comic. No wonder he drew so much attention.
Nolan noticed Sasha watching him and returned her gaze with a bright, dazzling smile. With his small canine teeth showing and dimples appearing faintly, Sasha admitted to herself that he looked undeniably adorable.
Quinn, having eaten her fill of roasted meat, leaned toward Sasha with a cheerful tone. "If you're free, you can come play with me. I live not far from your stone house, the third one from the end."
Sasha nodded softly, her lips curving into a gentle smile. "Alright, I'll visit when I have time."
She felt genuinely happy to gain a friend over a simple barbecue meal. If she was going to live in this tribe long-term, she would need a few bonds. It would help her adapt to this place more quickly.
The welcome ceremony held for them did not end until midnight.
Back in the stone house, the two of them lay quietly on the spread-out animal skins. With her back turned toward Nolan, Sasha soon drifted off to sleep.
Nolan, however, stared helplessly at his lower body, enduring a familiar heat while tossing restlessly. The night felt unbearably long.
Morning arrived, and Sasha was awakened by a strong aroma of roasted meat. She slowly opened her eyes, let out a lazy yawn, stretched her arms, then pushed the door open to step outside.
The moment she walked out, she saw Nolan grilling meat in the open space by the entrance. Judging by the mottled fur scattered on the ground, the prey was a deer.
From the second Sasha opened the door, Nolan's gaze had been glued to her. Her loose black hair hung messily over her shoulders, her eyes carried the soft haze of sleep, and her whole posture radiated a languid charm. She seemed unaware of how alluring she looked to him.
Being watched with such open admiration had become something Sasha was slowly getting used to. She glanced at the buckskin and thought that it would make a good pair of boots for colder weather.
Male orcs here never wore shoes, relying on their thick fur even in human form. Females typically wore simple straw sandals woven from grass or rudimentary leather shoes.
"This buckskin looks nice. I can turn it into a pair of leather boots," Sasha commented to Nolan.
Of course, Nolan had never heard of such a thing. He only recognized the simple animal-skin shoes females occasionally wore. After listening to Sasha's description, he pieced together a vague idea—and as always, he was ready to fulfill any request she made.
He hoped that if he behaved well enough, Sasha would grow fond of him and eventually agree to form a mating bond.
Even though she lived with him now, Nolan felt that without a mating mark, she wasn't truly his. A quiet anxiety gnawed at him. He feared she could leave at any time, especially since she was so beautiful.
It was unexpected to see him become someone sentimental and uncertain. The change from the solitary, sharp-edged self he once was made even him sigh inwardly.
Seeing that the meat wasn't yet cooked, Sasha returned inside to grab her toiletries before heading to the river to wash her face and brush her teeth.
On the way, she drew the attention of countless male orcs. Even though Nolan had warned them before, many still looked at her with enthusiasm, eager to get close.