Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband novel Chapter 131

Chapter 131: The Descent

The adrenaline was fading, and reality was setting in. And reality, as it turned out, was extremely heavy.

Primrose tried to stand up.

"Okay," she grunted, pushing off the crystal floor. "Up we go. Easy does it."

She got halfway up before she felt a strange, massive weight drag her backward. It was like wearing a backpack filled with bricks that also had a mind of its own.

"Whoa!" Primrose flailed, tipping backward.

Whump.

She landed hard on her butt. The massive, five-foot-long white tail fluffed out behind her like a cloudy cushion, saving her from a bruise, but not from embarrassment.

"Are you okay?" Caspian asked, rushing over. He was clutching his chest where the Void Lance had hit him, but he was more worried about her.

"I’m fine," Primrose wheezed, blowing a strand of hair out of her face. "I just... I didn’t think it would be this heavy! It’s like towing a boat!"

Vali, who had fully woken up and was currently vibrating with energy, poked the tail.

"It’s fluffy!" Vali cheered. He buried his face in the white fur. "It smells like snow and sugar! Can I sleep on it?"

"Get off, you little rascal," Primrose laughed, trying to stand up again.

This time, she leaned forward, compensating for the new counterweight. She managed to stay upright, but she felt like a toddler learning to walk. The tail swayed left; she stumbled right. The tail swished right; she nearly face-planted into Rurik’s chest.

Rurik caught her by the shoulders, grinning.

"Nice balance, Fox," Rurik teased. "You walk like a newborn pup."

"Shut up, Wolf," Primrose muttered, gripping his arm for support. "I’ve gone twenty years without a tail. My center of gravity is confused."

"It suits you," Rurik said, his voice dropping a little lower, softer. He reached out and tugged one of her fox ears. "You finally look complete."

Primrose felt a flash of warmth on her cheeks. She knew she shouldn’t care—Caspian had told her a hundred times he loved her regardless of her tail status—but hearing the usually gruff Warlord acknowledge her transformation felt validating in a different way. It wasn’t about being "broken" before; it was about finally unlocking the power she knew was inside her.

But before she could respond, a high-pitched shriek echoed from the web above.

"GET OFF ME!"

Everyone looked up.

High above, Freya and Konrad were helping the last few children down from the precarious web strands. Freya moved with gentle efficiency, lifting small wolf cubs onto her back, while Konrad looked terrified he might break them.

"Easy now," Konrad muttered, awkwardly holding a small boy who was clinging to his cape. "Do not... do not sneeze on the Lord’s cloak. Please."

Freya chuckled, patting her husband’s arm. "You’re doing fine, dear. Just pretend they are very fragile swords."

As they reached the ground floor, the adults finally spotted the two small figures standing near the entrance.

Astrid and Orion.

"Astrid!" Freya marched over, her mother-voice activating instantly. "I told you to stay in the courtyard! You disobeyed a direct order!"

"And you brought the Prince!" Caspian added, frowning at his son. "Orion, that was incredibly dangerous. You are not built for high-altitude rescue missions."

Astrid stood her ground, though she looked a little guilty. She gripped her oversized sword.

"We couldn’t just stay," Astrid argued. "The beacon wasn’t enough! We had to help!"

"It was a calculated risk," Orion added, shivering slightly but looking his father in the eye. "We knew the odds were bad, but sitting still felt... illogical. We had to try."

Rurik crossed his arms, trying to look stern, but his tail was wagging traitorously behind him.

"You two are in so much trouble," Rurik growled. "But..."

Before he could finish, a grey blur launched itself at them.

"PACK HUG!" Vali screamed.

He tackled Astrid and Orion, knocking them both into the snow. He wrapped his arms around them, squeezing tight.

"You came back!" Vali cheered, burying his face in Astrid’s shoulder. "I saw you! You jumped! You’re crazy!"

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