Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34: The Festival of Chaos

The Harvest Moon Festival was a sensory overload of lanterns, music, and the smell of roasted nuts. The streets of the capital were packed shoulder-to-shoulder with beast-kin in colorful masks and festive robes.

I stood behind my stall, Primrose’s Moon-Cakes, which was currently the most popular spot in the square. I had sold two hundred cakes in an hour.

Money, I thought, counting coins. Safety.

But just as I was handing a box to a Badger-mom, the crowd parted. It wasn’t out of politeness. It was out of self-preservation.

The Little Whiskers Family had arrived.

The Junior Search Party Re-Unites

Arjun arrived first, wearing a miniature General’s uniform. He vaulted over a flower planter. "PERIMETER SECURED!"

Jasper walked in behind him, wearing a silk robe that cost more than my shop. He looked at the crowd with deep disdain. "Too many mammals. The body heat is stifling."

Silas slipped out of the shadows, silent as a ghost, holding a single paper lantern.

Then, the crowd gasped.

Walking down the center of the street, hand-in-hand, were Vali and Clover.

Vali was wearing a tiny, custom-tailored tuxedo (Balthazar’s doing). He looked like a miniature, grumpy gentleman. Clover was wearing a fluffy pink dress. She was clutching Vali’s hand like a lifeline, and Vali was glaring at anyone who looked at her too long.

Arjun’s jaw dropped. "ALLIANCE DETECTED!" he shouted, pointing. "THE WOLF HAS SECURED THE BUNNY!"

Jasper adjusted his glasses. "Statistically improbable. Predator-Prey bonding in a high-stress environment? Fascinating."

Silas blinked. He pulled out a sketchbook and started drawing them holding hands.

Vali marched up to the group, his face bright red. "It’s tactical!" he barked defensively. "She gets lost! I have a nose! It’s... logistics!"

Clover beamed, holding up the grey river rock Vali had given her. "And I have my safety rock!"

"A tuxedo?" I whispered, leaning over the counter. "Vali, you look... dashing."

Vali hid his face in his scarf. "Balthazar made me. It itches."

If the cubs cleared a path, the Dads cleared the square.

Lord Rurik Jaeger loomed out of the crowd. He wasn’t wearing his armor. He was wearing a formal black coat with silver embroidery—the Wolf Clan’s finest. He looked dangerous, regal, and extremely irritated by the festive cheer.

General Rajah Khanda strutted in next, wearing a sleeveless festive tunic that was basically just a frame for his biceps. He was grinning and waving at the terrified crowd.

Archduke Cassian Argentis glided in, wearing emerald robes that shimmered with defensive wards. He looked like a bored god visiting mortals.

Duke Lucien Crepusci... well, I just suddenly noticed a shadow standing next to my stall that hadn’t been there before.

"Lady Primrose," Cassian said, ignoring the line of customers. "Sell me the rest of your stock. We are leaving. The air quality here is substandard."

"I am working, Archduke," I smiled, slapping his hand away from the cakes.

"You are exposed," Rurik grunted, stepping behind my counter and effectively acting as a bodyguard. He glared at a Raccoon-kin customer. "Move along. She is busy."

"Rurik, stop scaring the customers!"

"I’m securing the asset!"

"Lady Primrose!" Rajah boomed, leaning his elbows on the counter and flashing a blinding smile. "You look radiant! Is that a new apron? It highlights your... tactical readiness!"

I looked down. It was the same flour-stained apron. "Thank you, General."

Suddenly, there was a commotion near the fountain. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

A figure in a heavily hooded, gold-embroidered cloak was trying to push through the crowd toward us. She was flanked by nervous guards in civilian clothes.

It was Princess Leonora.

She spotted Rajah. Her eyes (visible through the eye-holes of a terrible fox mask she was wearing) went wide.

She saw the biceps. She saw the sleeveless tunic. She saw him laughing.

She beelined for him.

"General!" Leonora squeaked, trying to deepen her voice. "A fine evening for... strategy!"

Rajah turned. He looked at the masked woman. "Indeed, citizen! Though you should check your mask, it is crooked!"

He reached out and helpfully straightened her mask with his giant hands. Leonora looked like she might combust.

"I... I was wondering," Leonora stammered, "if a warrior of your stature... likes... Moon-Cakes?"

"I LOVE PROTEIN!" Rajah roared. "But Lady Primrose makes excellent carbs!"

He grabbed a cake from my stall, split it in half, and handed one piece to the Princess. "Eat up, citizen! Build your strength!"

Leonora took the half-cake like it was a holy relic. She didn’t eat it. She just clutched it to her chest and stared at him.

She’s hopeless, I thought fondly. But at least he fed her.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement near the edge of the square.

Luna was walking—no, strutting—along the edge of the crowd. She looked confident, beautiful, and happy.

And walking right next to her, looking bored but with his hand resting casually on the hilt of a dagger, was Jax.

The rogue Fox-kin saw me looking. He gave me a lazy two-finger salute and a wink. Then he leaned down and whispered something to Luna that made her laugh and shove his shoulder.

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