Daily Life of Monster Girls in Alabama

by GoatManofAnime

It's time for a MonMusu fanfiction that takes place in sweet home Alabama, nuff said.

101. Afterglow

Chapter 94: Afterglow

The morning sun shines down on the I.A. facility after, yet another, eventful full moon night. Students and staff could be seen going about their typical routines. One side sleeping off an endorphin and dopamine fueled night of passion and the other doing the usual damage control and clean up. Along with the usual damages to living units or I.A. property in general, personnel frequently had to handle unique circumstances of students getting too carried away.

Several I.A. personnel members and ContractANTs could be seen at a housing complex in the middle of their morning shift handling one such unique circumstance.

"Morning Ted.", A male I.A. member greets his colleague who was leaning against his patrol vehicle as the ContracANTs worked.

"Mornin' Carl.", Ted casually yet blankly greeted, sipping a cup of coffee, "How are you this…morning?"

"Oh, you know, just about to have a mental breakdown. You?"

"Currently in the middle of one.", Ted spoke with visible irritation and unhinged bitterness.

"So, what in the hell we got here?", Carl inquired looking at the bizarre yet comical sight before him.

The entire building was covered from the roof to the ground giving it the appearance of silverish-white circus tent. Several liminal students were all tied up and tangled in the webs, thrashing and shouting trying to free themselves. The ContractANTs could be seen helping to get them out using a clear liquid composed of sodium hydroxide and acetone to dissolve the silk.

"Apparently, some Arachne from the resource extraction center decided to throw a full moon bondage party and invited some of the other residents. From what I've been told, it's a part of some Arachne tradition to engage in group sexual dalliance on the full moon to encourage social harmony and release pent up emotions."

"Soooo basically a friendly neighborhood orgy, like the one those Papillons had last spring after they all pupated.", Carl intrinsically pointed out, waving through the grandiosity.

"Pretty much and don't remind me of them, please. I'm still cleaning scales out of my uniform.", Ted bitterly remarks, drinking his coffee to ease his nerves.

"How did it turn into this funnel fiasco?"

"Seems like someone brought a case of these to the party.", Ted answered pulling out an empty can of Monster energy drink, "86 goddamn grams of caffeine and those arachne eat drank TWICE times their species limit. Also explains the overproduction of silk. They could've died from nutrience loss or heart attacks."

"How do you know they were that drunk?", Carl skeptically asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ted wordlessly and plainly points off to a large tree next to the building covered in silk. Limply hanging in the tree were three heavily snoozing Arachne. One dangling upside down cradling a curtain, another slumped against the tree base with her abdomen painted with graffiti, the last at the very top of the tree completely topless save for pasties with red tassels over her nipples and wearing a black bird mask. All the while, a few ContractANT girls tried their best to get them all down.

"How did I not notice that?", Carl scratches his head then noticing the , "So what is it they're doing with the webs they're dissolving anyway?", he inquired gesturing at a few ContractANTs using large vacuum devices to suck up the melted silk.

"It's this policy the liminal research folks have about using every last bit of material produced to its fullest. They'll like to send that to a pulp extractor at the gremlin facility. Species like these Arachne have become very protective of whatever bodily materials they expel for commercial use or research. It became a whole legal issue a while back about material ownership. Is it the producer or the processors jurisdiction? So, to placate them, they've established procedures and bylaws protecting against overproduction cases like this. Plus, they're still compensated.

"That's uhhh…..",Carl trails off, thinking of the implications of such a system.

"Yes, it's EXACTLY what it sounds like. Fuckin' Marxist liberals.", Ted curses, shaking his head, drinking his coffee, "Frankly, I just wanna know who is the careless, braindead oaf who brought them this shit in the first place?!", he emphasized while shaking the mostly empty can.

At that moment, one of the ContractANT females finished pouring the solution on a large clump with a person wrapped inside loosening the fibers. A familiar manticore woman, Beyla, limply slides out of the cocoon to the ground groaning lethargically and half naked.

"Ah! Huh?! Wha…where am I? Why am I sticky and naked? Did I win the orgy? Agh, bright!", Beyla questions, looking around before shielding her eyes from the morning sun. She shakily got to her feet, body heavy then noticed ant girls staring at her muscular and attractive figure with intrigue, "What the hell are you staring at?!"

Ted shakes his head, gulping down the last of his coffee before grabbing another full cup he had on standby atop the vehicle hood, "It's only the first hour and it feels like a week has already gone by."

"On a Sunday no less. Well, if you think about it, we just sped through an entire week's pay in an hour.", Carl optimistically stated, "Besides, after the first two hours the worst of the damage is basically taken care of. Thank God for these Giant Ants. These girls can literally fix anything!"

"I can't argue with that."

"We're done repairing damages to the interior Ted sir!", One of the Giant Ant girls in a blue leader's hardhat and vest happily stated, saluting the two men. By her side were five other ant girls in yellow hats and vests.

"Very good! Please help extraction team and get those arachne down.", Ted instructed.

"Understood!", The blue hat ant girl stated before looking at Carl. A flirtatious grin spread across her face before seductively greeting, "~Good morning, Carl.~", She waved as she slowly scuttled away.

"Heh, uh, morning Rita.", Carl awkwardly smiling back while Ted raised an eyebrow, "Kii, Lila, Chocho, Bella, Amy."

"~Morning, Carl.~", "~Good morning, Mister Carl.~", "~Morning Carl Bae~" "~Morning Carl you cutie~ " "~Good morning Carl be safe.~", each of the Giant Ant girls flirtatiously greeted, blushing and waving as they followed behind the leader. Leaving Carl slightly embarrassed yet elated at how sweet and loving the girls were.

"Dude…are you fucking the ants?", Ted question with a incredulously expression.

"Maybe.. Ok yes I am. Only those six though. That's the maximum their queen here allows for 'Breather Males'."

"I can't believe you signed up to be one of THOSE guy. I get it's to keep them loyal to us but seriously. What is even the appeal there with them? On top of the bug parts they look uncomfortably young.", Ted questions gesturing at a Giant Ant girl's insect bodies as two were working together to get a wrap person down.

"First I like short women. Second you could say that about a lot of specie's hell have you looked at some those Angels recently? Third there incredibly earnest girl's once you get to know them that you just can't help but love them and their incredibly fast learners to anything they put their minds to. Besides their ant half is actually amazing it's just… well you kinda have to experience it yourself man. It'll change your life.", Carl remarks, leaning against the vehicle like a cool guy. "Honestly just go talk to some of those girls expanded your horizons and maybe you learn something about yourself you didn't know." Carl told his friend as he pointed

"Situations like these are why I don't take anything in this country seriously anymore.",Ted remarks before downing the rest of his coffee, "I'm getting another. You can deal with that.", He says walking off as he gestures behind himself at the half-naked manticore fuming at the building entrance.

"Where the hell are my fuckin' pants?! I put them in the microwave for safekeeping! Where are they at?! Did you take them!", Beyla irately demanded as a couple ContractANTs (Lila, Bella and Amy) try calming her.

"Maybe I should've got coffee too…" Carl remarks with a languid sigh. He noticed a metal lunch box that was sitting on hood of the car, seemingly out of nowhere. He opens it and finds six handmade donuts and a pink note reading 'Give it your best' with six cartoon ant drawings carrying red hearts. A smile appears on his face before returning his attention to the erratic manticore woman, "Alright, leave them alone. Let's calm down and look for your pants together."

…Elsewhere…

The morning sun crept in through the bedroom window, shining its rays on the bodies of Caleb and Kaiya. Both lying sprawled on the bed fully naked and softly snoozing with the latter lying on top of him.

Caleb stirred first from his slumber, eyes fluttering open. He glances around the room before looking down at the sleeping Hellhound. He could feel her soft breathing as her head rested on his collar bone. A comforting warmth spread throughout his body as her bare, soft chest mushed against his with dark nipples partially visible. Her thick arms hugging him tightly in her sleep with soft black fur like a muscular security blanket; an instinctual characteristic of her species to protect their mate even while unconscious.

He then looks around at the state of the bedroom. Deep claw marks were dug down the wall, the bookshelf and other pieces of furniture were damaged, clothes and other items in the room were tossed around like a tornado had ripped through, and the entire area reeked of a combination of sweat, musk, and shameless unmentionable fluids. He would probably need to call those Ant maintenance girls later; a part of him not looking forward to explaining himself.

Even his body, which had notable bites and small scratches that, surprisingly, didn't hurt in the slightest, was also filthy. The good kind of filthy but still they went really hard last night.

He smiled to himself thinking of the night before. The last time he went at it like that was the last full moon with Mirabelle and the others. Last night was even one of the nights he DIDN'T need to sleep but Kaiya wore him down so much he just passed out. She truly was an incredible woman.

He smiled down at the sleeping hellhound, gently petting the top of her black head even flattening her ears down a bit, as she smiled and moaned softly in her sleep. He shudders a bit as her knee involuntarily brushes against his crotch. Her large plump thigh lying atop his leg with a pleasant heaviness. As he took in how wonderfully plump, alluring and sexy her body was, his hand drifted down her smooth yet firm obsidian back, feeling even contours of her muscles and cute tiny freckles. He lovingly caressed her sides and tail base making her shudder in her sleep before making it to her perfect round ass giving it a little squeeze. Kaiya softly gasp, mouth slightly agape, as her dark nipples hardened against his skin. He audibly gulps, enjoying the pleasant sensation of his fingers sinking into her soft, malleable yet springy cheeks. He quickly transitions to groping and lustfully caressing her thigh. His finger gliding across her tender flesh and feeling her muscles underneath as soft, breathy moans could be heard from the hellhound.

"Mmmm…r-right there.", Kaiya softly uttered, catching him by surprise, looking up at him, eyes covered by thick black bangs and smiling lewdly with heated blush.

"Ah, y-you're awake!", He expressed, withdrawing his hand quickly, to her disappointment.

"Hehe, I've actually been awake a while now. I was just watching you sleep for a bit. You looked so cute..", Kaiya admitted as Caleb, once again, was misled by her personal follicle visor blocking her eyes completely. She then smirks flirtatiously, "~I didn't expect you to start groping my butt though, hehe.~"

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that.", Caleb apologies, feeling ashamed for doing that to her without her knowledge or consent.

"Hehe, don't be,.", Kaiya shifts up in bed, straddling his waist and mushing her breasts, hips checks before tenderly yet passionately kissing his, "I'm your mate now. ~You can play with my body as much as you want, when you want to. As long as I get to do the same to you~."

"Hehe, sounds fair to me.", Caleb sweetly replies, gently brushing her hair to the side, letting one of her bright blue hellish eyes with azure flames spew forth. The flames, surprisingly, did not burn him or even hurt in the slightest. In fact, it felt more like a pleasant heat similar to holding ones hand over boiling water in Winter, "Morning, Baby Blue."

"Hm? Is that supposed to be my new name?", Kaiya sweetly giggles, nuzzling his chest.

"If you're ok with it. Came up with it just now actually. I can workshop later"

"I like it though. Hmm, maaaybe only say it when we're together like this. I don't want to draw too much attention."

"Understandable and very much relatable, ok, Baby Blue. 'B.B.' for short.", Caleb remarks with a smile as Kaiya's eyes brighten up and heart flutters.

"I love that and I love you.", Kaiya expressed, gently kissing and sucking his neck, as her hips undulated and grinded against his lap. He could feel her plump, juicy thighs and breasts with hardening nipples scraping wantonly against him. He shudders and sighs feeling quickly hardening member grind against his heated pussy prompt a hungry sigh from her, "~Haaa, you were so eager to taste me again so early in the morning even though we did it so much last night, huh? Not that I'm any different though.~"

"What can I say? I'm a simple man. I see someone I love, I give them love.", Caleb slyly remarks, hugging her closely then pecking her on the lips making her giggle.

"Why don't we start our first morning as lovers off right then?~", Kaiya emphasized, grinding her butt cheeks against his hardened cock making him grunt in pleasure.

"Hngh, great idea but...I don't think this room can take any more of our 'love'.", He says, glancing with his eyes at the damages from the previous night, "Besides, I feel kinda nasty and sticky down there."

Kaiya blushes at the comment before quickly realizing she felt a similar sensation between her legs, especially now that their region were pressed against each other. A faint cool wetness lingering combined with a dry stickiness. It almost felt like they were glued together with partially dry adhesive. A sensation she found both wonderfully romantic and slightly gross.

An naughty idea suddenly pops into her head.

"Why don't we clean ourselves then... ~as lovers~?"

Caleb flushes then smirks back at her, "I'd like that."

...Lemon...

Down the hallway, steam could be seen wafting from the bottom of the bathroom door. The sound of the shower waters striking the bathroom wall was accompanied by faint moans of pleasure. The inside was full of steam, so much the mirror had completely fogged over, as the moans of pleasure were combined with a squelching sound of flesh.

"Haaaa...", Kaiya elicits a shrill moaning, her breasts pressed against the wall of the shower. Her body and fur covered in soap bubbles as Caleb, also covered in soap, rubbed her down.

She shudders, feeling his rock-hard manhood covered in soap rubbing attentively between her ass cheeks. Her wagging tail, brushed against his body acting almost like a large bath brush, tickling his skin and spurring his desire more. Caleb grunts and moans, squeezing her plump cheeks together to envelop his cock as he thrusts himself against her. The sound of wet flesh slapping and her pleasured moans exciting him even more. He gives her butt nice audible slap, prompting a surprised yipping bark from the Hellhound as her flesh ripples.

"~Haaaa! Yes. I like that. Do it again!~", Kaiya stated with maddened lust, tongue hung out as she panted with a lewd grin, eye glowing with little blue burning hearts.

"Haa, anything you want, BB.", Caleb happily complied, using her new nickname before giving her butt another good slap, making her loudly yip from the pleasant pain.

"Haaa! More! More!", Kaiya almost begs, grinding her rear against his groin, demanding more attention.

Caleb happily obliges, proceeding to spank her rear, making flesh ripple and become slightly red as Kaiya body shook with delight. She feels his slick, rock-hard cock sliding against entrances sending jolts of pleasure. Her womanhood quivered and tensed as each strike made it feel like it was being penetrated. The hot water, though not bothersome due to her skins natural resistance to heat, still made every strike hurt more.

Despite that, she liked the pain. That much was made abundantly clear to her last night. She knew, as her species dictates, it was her responsibility as the female to naturally be the dominant partner in the relationship. However, she very much enjoyed letting her mate take control and ravish her body. In fact, though she's never told anyone else—not even members of her family—but she was secretly fond being dominated by a strong partner. It mainly stemmed from being exposed to books and stories of females in those scenarios. Sometimes, she'd imagine herself being tenderly but voraciously ravaged by her own mate someday. This, of course, would be considered blasphemy in the female Hellhound community and many of those kinds of literature were quickly rounded up and destroyed; much to Kaiya's dismay. How they ended up in her country at all is anyone's guess.

Now, at this moment, as the literal pain in her rear increased so to did her excitement and pleasure. She felt free to express her true self for the first time ever. That alone, coupled by the face of her new human lover vigorously pounding her rear and giving her all this attention, made a familiar pressure in her lower tummy grow until it couldn't be held back.

"~So good! I'm cumming! I'M CUMMING~!", Kaiya loudly expressed, eyes rolling upwards in pure bliss as she hit her climax all over the tub.

"Haaa! Fuck!", Caleb stated, giving one last thrust before shooting his load all over her dark gray back and part of her fur, coating her in hot, white splotches.

The Hellhound woman shudders from sensation. His seed, while not as hot as the water cascading down of the burning fields of home, seared a mark onto her body that said 'she belonged to him and he belonged to her'. It was indescribable yet not the least but unpleasant; almost physical proof of his love and attraction to her before it was washed away much to her disappointment.

Kaiya's legs trembleed but held firm, claws dug against the wall as she caught her breath. At that moment, to her surprise, she felt Caleb's arms grab her waist and upper chest and pull her towards him. He turns her head towards and plants a deep kiss she quickly melts into. She felt his tongue eagerly shove into her mouth, tussling with her own prompting to return the gesture; even pulling him closer by the head to deepen the kiss more. She gasps in his mouth feeling his hand slide up her chubby tummy then gently squeeze her breast. His cock once again hardened much to the hellhound woman's satisfaction.

"Hehe. How is it you still have more to give me?", Kaiya teases, licking his neck.

"I don't know. Maybe being in love has raised my libido.", Caleb whispers in her canine ear, gently nibbling it much to her delight.

"In that case...", Kaiya huskily spoke, reaching up and changing the shower nozzle position to only hit the wall. She bends over placing one hand on the wall and the other spreads open her pulsating, wet womanhood. The alluring scent emanating from her dark pink flesh sent a jolt through Caleb's primal senses, "...Why don't I make you love me even more?", She emphasized, shaking her rear, making her glistening flesh jiggle enticingly.

Caleb, spurred by primal lust, wordlessly grabs her hips, moves her tail to the side and lines himself up to her entrance. In a deep, husky voice he says, "Bet."

He thrusts himself inside, burying as the Hellhound woman elicits a loud moan of delight at the sensation of his sturdy cock inside her. Her walls clamp around it securely, locking him in place to ensure not a drop of his essence gets away. She loved this feeling. She felt complete and loved deeply in every sense of the word.

Caleb began thrusting, sending jolts of pleasure ripping throughout her body. The fleshy sound of him pounding her rear and unrestrained pleasured moans echoed throughout the bathroom.

...LEMON Pudding...

Outside the bathroom, Drei could be seen standing in front of the bathroom door, holding a small green towel, hypoallergenic soap, and homemade scented body oil, listening to cries of pleasure from inside with a melancholic expression.

"Darling! Darling! Yes! I love you so much!", Kaiya cried out in ecstasy from inside as Drei rolled her eyes.

"Well, guess I'm bathing in the kitchen sink.", Drei sighed, not wanting to bathe in whatever horrendously horny mess they leave behind.

…. Meanwhile….

In a familiar apartment complex for I.A. staff, Nick could be seen waking up from his slumber. He raises up in bed yawning and stretching feeling strangely refreshed; more so than he's been the last couple weeks.

He had the most pleasant dream last night about his beloved Mars pleasing him in her 'DeLune' form . He could see her beautiful face, crimson hair, and adorable auburn eyes, clear as day. He could even feel the warmth of her hot mouth in his—

'Ok! That's enough of that!', Nick thought, already feeling his morning wood stiffening even more. He looked down at his boxers, seeing the partly pulled down to fully expose his genitals. His crotch felt slightly damp and cool believing he somehow pulled them down in his sleep. He couldn't help ruminating on how real it all felt. He must really miss her even more than he realized.

"Haa, well at least it's the weekend. I probably won't have much to do. Maybe I can ask the supervisor if I can finally visit the coven.", Nick spoke to himself, hoping that'd be the case. He'd probably get some weird even disgusted looks but nothing he wasn't already used to. He got out of bed to go shower but noticed five medium-sized feathers, two black and three white, lying on the floor. He kneels down picking up a white and black feather in each hand, curiously inspecting them, "What the hell?", he expressed, unsure if he accidentally tracked them in with his shoes. If so, what kind of bird has black AND white plumage; let alone this big. He used to be into bird watching but he's never seen feathers like this, not even on the few Harpy species he met.

"KYAAAHHHHHH!", a loud, horrified scream from outside shook the young man from his thoughts. It was quickly followed by the panicking and hysterical yells from some of the other residents.

Curious of what was happening, Nick quickly puts on some sweatpants and hurries out the front door of his apartment. As he flings open the door, a pair human I.A. workers, out of uniform, go rushing past him to join a crowd of people gathered near a unit downstairs to his own. Their voices were a hodgepodge of terrified chatter, cries, shouting as on-duty medical staff and security arrived on the scene, and yelling for others to 'stay back'.

Nick walks up to a barely dressed male werecat looking over the guardrails at the scene, "Hey! What's going on down there?"

"Apparently some mantis lady killed and ate her human boyfriend during the full moon last night!", the werecat grimly answered, pointing to a gurney being pushed out of the crown. A white sheet covering the cadaver of the former IA officer. All the while, Nick looks on in shock trying to fully process the situation.

"MARK!", Cried out a feminine voice, prompting the crowd to elicit shocked panic as the female mantis murderer in question frantically stumbles out of the apartment. Her clothes consisting of a light green nightgown were ragged and covered and bloodstain. Her face stained with a combination of dry blood and tears from hours of sobbing, causing her eyes to be puffy and pink. She sees the gurney carrying the remains of her lover in sight and bolts for it, "MAARRK!"

Two officers, a dark elf female and male human, come rushing out the apartment to restrain her once again. The dark elf woman forms a magenta magic seal in her palm that quickly transformed into a glow lasso, which skillfully uses to ensnare the Mantis' legs causing her to fall to the ground.

"You're not going anywhere! Every non-IA security officer or medical responder, clear the area right now!", the dark elf woman commanded.

"C-class officers or above detain her right now!", her human partner stated prompting a few IA officers, human and liminal even ones out of uniform, quickly obey his orders.

"No! No! Get away! Get away from us!", the Mantis screamed while thrashing. Subsequently, kicking the dark elf in the lower stomach making her lurch forward and giving the mantis an opening to lunge for the gurney; all while agent quickly closed in on her, "MARK! MAARRK!", she cried out in sheer desperation.

She knocks a medical personnel member away and grabs the gurney, causing it, and herself, to fall over. The lifeless, headless body of her partner flops to the ground like a bag of potatoes. His head, which rolled right into view of the mantis and everyone else, was nearly stripped of flesh, fully exposing bloody muscle tissue, cartilage, chewed off lips exposing teeth and gums, and even the eye sockets that were missing both eyes. There were several bite patterns taken from his head almost like a wild animal had gone to him.

Several human and liminals residents cried out in pure shock and horror; a few even vomiting on the spot out of disgust at the horrendous sight. The mantis woman merely stared in pure horror at the sight of her butchered lover.

"Mark...Darling...", She utters in disbelief, tears rolling down her eyes. The memories of the previous night flashing in her head. It couldn't be real, she told herself. It has to be a nightmare. A bad dream. She would NEVER hurt him. Never! She loves him. Yet, the fear left in his eyes, the smell of blood, even the lingering taste of his flesh in her mouth were all evident of what she had done. Her heart was tearing at the seams. She elicits choking sobs, trying to reach out and caress what was left of her beloved mate's head before being grabbed by the dark elf and two other officers, dragging her away, "No! NOOO!"

"Restrain her! Watch the scythes on her arms!", One of the officers instructed as they pinned her arms restraining her with high-density handcuffs.

The mantis woman loudly wails in despair to the sky, inconsolable, while officers load her into the back of a squad car; mostly because of possible danger she poses but also to give her some privacy.

"Put her in a holding cell under HEAVY surveillance and get that cadaver over to forensic immediately. Also, search that apartment top to bottom for anything out of place.", One of the officers says as his dark elf partner focuses her mana on the back squad car, casting a spell to dampen the mantis reflexes and somewhat calm her.

"Understood, sir!", a male werefox officers wearing a haphazardly thrown together uniform complied.

As the squad car carrying the mantis pulled off and paramedics recollect the cadaver of the IA officer, other security personnel instructed the other residents to return to their units until further notice.

"Damn, hell of a way to start off a morning...", the male werecat next to Nick despondently remarks shaking his head.

Nick out over the railing at the horribly mutilated severed head on the ground which was picked up by a medical personnel and put in a large bag. The entire scene moments had shaken to his core, still trying to fully process it all. He never thought he'd ever bare witness to liminal female losing control and EATING her boyfriend. It almost never happened since liminals became commonplace but...he has read about CERTAIN cases around the country of similar tragedies. Still, they were nothing like THIS. A small part if him wonder what could happen if Mars ever lost herself before that thought out his head.

"No. She's not like that. She's... different...", Nick utters as his mind went back to his 'little sister' and the rest of the coven. He hoped they were alright with their 'big brothers' forced to be apart from them.

He truly wanted to go see her but with today's little tragedy, he doubted he would get permission without attracting some suspicion. It's not like they needed much reason to think so considering his unsavory background. The Malones simultaneously improved and ruined his life.

Sighing lethargically and not having many options, he decided to return to his living unit for now as he mumbles, "What a way to start a morning indeed..."

...Back to Caleb...

After getting themselves clean, twice, and getting dressed, Caleb could now be seen in the kitchen cooking up breakfast for the three of them. Next to him was a large stack of cinnamon pancakes on a plate. He wore plain black sweatpants and light blue 'straight outta Compton' t-shirt.

Kaiya stood beside him with a pleasant grin, tail slightly wagging, her skin and fur were shining like polished volcanic glass, and happily assisting him. She was wearing a red sweater with small cow skulls on it and black shorts. .

Well, 'assisting' isn't the right word.

"Uhh, Kaiya?"

"~Yes, Darling?~", she asks in a sing-songy tone.

"It's kinda hard to cook like this.", Caleb replies, noting the hellhound hugging him from behind and pressing her whole body against him as he stirred the eggs and turkey bacon. It wasn't unpleasant, quite the opposite, but it WAS distracting, "Don't you wanna sit down?"

"Why? I only helping my mate?", Kaiya emphasized her point by stirring a boiling pot of buttered grits next to the pan while nuzzling him; even mushing her breasts more firmly against his back. She smiles cutely at his blushing face, "See?"

"Yes, I do. I also feel hotter caught between a stove and a hellhound so can you please back up a bit?"

Kaiya puffs her cheeks then softly groans, "Alright. I guess we can compromise."

Moments later, Kaiya now stood next to Caleb stirring the grits with one hand and the other place of his waist. He, of course, held her as well despite his slight dissatisfaction.

"You know, I don't really know what I expected when you said 'compromise' but I knew it'd be the girlfriend or wife version.", Caleb remarks, finishing the eggs and bacon then throwing some chopped up beef in the skillet too; gotta satisfy the carnivores in the house.

"I can't help it. I just love your warmth. Plus, cooking goes faster and tastes better if we do it together, darling."

"True, but again, if I keep sweating I might need another shower. A cold one this time."

"Oh? What's the matter? Can't take the heat?", Kaiya cheekily smirks.

"Who can't take the heat? I've lived through 25 years worth of Alabama Summers. Unlike you liminal folks who ADOPTED the heat, I was born in it. Raised in it. Molded by it.", Caleb jokingly replied in his best Bane impression, making the hellhound giggle.

"I don't know about other liminals but I too was BORN in a born, raised, and molded in searing heat bosom of Raukadona. Actually, when my family and I arrived in this part of the country, it was in mid-Summer."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it was mostly since the ICEP branch back home sponsoring our integration recommended it to give our bodies time to acclimate the country's climate."

"Acclimate? You mean like the weather here? Didn't you say you grew up around geothermal reservoirs, low humidity and actual lava pools? Is the Summer sun down here really that much?"

"Well, no. Apparently, liminal species adapted to certain environments have a higher chance of becoming sick due to the extreme temperature change. In fact, it was quite cool here compared to home. TOO cool in fact! I think it was only around 95 degrees.", Kaiya remarks, shivering at the thought as Caleb raised an eyebrow incredulously.

"Yeah, uh, that's hot as hell down here."

"Then you humans need a new word for your 'Summers'. Our Summers are usually twice that.", she explained much to Caleb's shock, "For the first few days, my family and I mostly stayed inside with the heating cranked up, even lit a few fires to keep our body temperature normal. Well, normal for us."

"Damn. Still, nobody in your family got sick, right?", Caleb asked in concern.

"No, thank Cerberus, but we were lucky. I heard that some liminals have gone into critical condition due to being transferred to inhospitable environments in the past; whether by mistake, carelessness, or a random unseasonal weather change. I learned it's also why ICEP ensures that incoming species are sent to certain regions of the country at specific times of the year. Liminals adapted to snowy, icey environments are sent to northern states during heavy Winter. Liminals like me are sent to Southern states in mid-Summer.", Kaiya explained while stirring the grits as they started bubbling and popping.

"Smart. I guess that's one reason I've never heard of anyone hosting a Yuki-Onna or any ice elemental species anywhere down South. I imagine a 30 degree Winter here would feel like 80 degrees for them."

"Maybe hotter. Not that I've ever met any ice liminals before. Actually, I wonder how some of them are even alive with their body's so cold. I imagine their metabolism is really slow. If that's the case, does that mean their libido is super low? It's a miracle they're not extinct entirely.", Kaiya pondered out loud forgetting to stir the grits. She then catches Caleb stares at her curiously before correcting herself, "Oh! S-Sorry, I got carried away…again."

"Don't apologize. I like it when you're your most relaxed self.", Caleb assures her, gently squeezing her side.

"Hehe, I'm most relaxed when I'm around—Oop.", Kaiya says before a glob of searing hot bubbling grits lands on her hand from not stirring the pot which she barely reacts to.

"Shit! Are you ok?", Caleb responds, quickly shutting off the burn for the grits, then grabs a towel and wipes her hand.

"I'm fine, don't worry. It was just a little splash, the rest of the food is okay."

"Forget the grits! Is your hand ok?",

"It's fine. See?", Kaiya assured, showing off her dark gray furry hands with no injury on them whatsoever, "It take a lot more heat than that to hurt, you know. We hellhounds are very resilient to heat and fire; even the lava-born golems or Salamanders will struggle to faze us with their heat."

"Damn."

"It is good to know you care so much for my safety though.", Kaiya warmly says, giving a loving smile.

"Yeah, but honestly, I was mostly reacting out of trauma. I remember the first time my mom told me to stir grits and I slacked off a bit. Let me TELL YOU when that pot started bubbling and the tiniest glob of grit less than five centimeters in diameter hit my bare flesh woooo. THE worst pain of my life at that point. I'm talking five-hundred kelvins of skin-melting, bone-charring, holler-inducing agony!"

Kaiya chuckles at his anecdote, imagining a little child of him, "Hehe, that sounds awful. Good thing I never have to experience anything like that."

"Yeah, lucky you. Your heat resistance is stronger than mine.", Caleb remarks in slight annoyance, turning off the other burners and piling up the scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and medium rare steaks up in a couple other large plates next to the pancakes.

"Don't worry, darling. That just means I'll be your shield against high temperature-related dangers! I'll make sure not a single glob of hot grit ever touches you again!", Kaiya half-teased, flexing her bicep with a dedicated smile.

"Hehe, my beautiful blue-eyed warrior…", Caleb jests while loving stroking her cheek, parting her bangs and letting the blue flames of her azure spew through as she happily nuzzles his palm. The hellhound stares at him passionately before leaning in for a kiss.

"Oh good. You've got TWO girls to be vanilla with now.", Drei sarcastically chimes in, startling the pair, "Though, in this case, it's more like a fudge sundae. Is breakfast finished yet?", She inquires, ignoring the strange look the hellhound gaze at her. At least she thought it was with bangs covering up her eyes, but could tell by the hellhound's body language she was now very cautious; even pressing herself closer to Caleb.

"Yeah, everything is basically done. Want me to fix a plate for you?"

"I'm fine, thanks. Honestly, I haven't–", Drei answered, reaching for the spatula in Caleb's hand but was abruptly stopped by Kaiya placing herself between them, barking and growling while baring her teeth at the weasel. All to Caleb's surprise and confusion. Drei just stared intently at the now aggressive hellhound, tail erect and scythes partially extended.

"Hey! Whoa, Kaiya? What's wrong?", Caleb inquires, grabbing the Hellhound shoulders and moving her away from Drei, not wanting a morning brawl in the kitchen.

"I…I'm not sure…", Kaiya utters in a confused yet uneasy tone, repeatedly glancing at Drei.

Caleb gives her a slightly concerned look before Drei interjects.

"At the risk of starting a fight—which I'd definitely win by the way—can I have my breakfast now please?", Drei plainly asked as the hellhound lowly growled upon hearing her voice again.

"Yeah, sure.", Caleb places the spatula on the counter and Drei quickly fills her plate with healthy servings of food then walks away, barely acknowledging the Hellhound who watched as the weasel leaves, "Come on, let's dig in before everything gets cold. Ok?"

"...O-Ok?", Kaiya awkwardly replied.

…Elsewhere…

Further away near the shopping district, there is a coffee shop run by a small group of Kikimora baristas called 'Cool Beans'. Several customers, humans and liminal, could be seen ordering coffee for work, chatting or gossiping with friends about last night's full moon, or simply enjoying leisurely activities like reading. There were a few groggy even languid Liminals recovering from the effects of the sleeping pills, hoping the caffeine would alleviate their burdens.

Heidi and Tubala could be seen at one of the tables sitting together. Heidi was happily chatting about her favorite lemon desserts and ones she'd like to try with a warm smile and blush as Tubala smiles back nodding attentively.

This, however, was just Tubala's 'social autopilot' as she called it and wasn't really listening or caring about the blonde devils prattling. Honestly, she didn't even intend on going out with her like this. She tried to sneak out while Heidi was asleep and try scoping out the area she told about where Caleb resided. Little did she know that Heidi was an early riser and was already looking around to surprise her with breakfast but had little to work with thanks to Beyla eating all the food Tubala brings in. She even cleaned up the apartment a bit! How did she still have so much energy after last night?!

Moreover…

"Honestly, the creamy center is always a wonderful addition for any pastry! Wouldn't you agree, Fraulein?", Heidi cutely teases presenting lemon-raspberry cheese danish, her fair skin glowing and brimming with health and tail wrapped itself around the black wavy haired devil's own tail, much to Tubala's discontent.

'Why is she so damn clingy?! And why is she glowing so much?!', Tubala snarled in her head through a strained smile.

"Ye enjoying yourselves, lassies?", one of the Kikimora females jubilantly stated with a thick Northern Irish accent, getting their attention. She had an green name tag that read 'Agnes' shaped to for a four-leaf clover from dog paws, "I hope our fresh baked treats and brew are to yer likin'", She ask with a smile, holding a pot of coffee as she refills their cups.

Tubala glares at the dog woman, her voice and accent grating to her ears.

"Oh! They're delicious, danke! Right, Tubala?", Heidi happily remarks, beaming a smile her way as her tail coiled tighter.

"Yes…delicious.", Tubala forced out, feeling a jolt go up her spine at the sensation. She was inches away from cutting the blonde's tail off.

"Hoho, don't you wee lasses look sweet together. I reckon ye both enjoyed yer full moon night as well, ay?", The Kikimora asks with a saucy grin to Tubala's annoyance.

"Oh, you can tell that just by looking?"

"Ay. Yer not the first craics in this establishment. Certainly not the first of the same sex. All are welcome here! Though, I can tell by yer jib it was more than a night's shift in the sheets, ay?", The Kikimora winks at them, making Heidi blush.

"I don't see why ANY of that is your business.", Tubala bitterly spoke, fist clenched and giving the Irish dog woman a venomous glare.

"Tubala honey, it's ok. She's only teasing.", Heidi assured.

'The fuck did she call me?', Tubala thought, shooting a look at Heidi.

"Ay, no need to go all barmy on me. Besides, you're among the right bonniest pairs I've seen all week. I remember seeing a lass and swine fella with a face like a jockey's bollocks! I imagine ye don't look at the mantelpiece when you're poking the fire like that, ay? Hahaha!", The Kikimora heartily chuckles as Heidi joins in, despite not fully understanding what she said.

"Why don't we congratulate ye both with a couple of blueberry scones on the house?"

"We'd love that! Veilen danke!", Heidi stated giving an expectant look at Tubala.

"Veilen danke…"

"Right, I'll be back! Don't go and sod off now.", The Kikimora expressed before walking back inside the shop.

"I swear to Chaos, she's so fuckin' annoying…"

"She's not that bad, just clearly enjoys her job."

"She could at least speak normally. I can hardly understand what she was saying." Tubala said, annoyed at the Kikimora.

"I understood a little. Gaelic was never my strong suit but I can decipher bits of it. Besides, she was just being supportive of us.", Heidi happily remarks, playfully bumping Tubala's shoulder.

"Yeah…about that, can you maybe tone down the cutesy behavior in public. It's a little…embarrassing."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I am just so… happy I haven't felt this way before. I'll try toning it down if you're a little awkward. This is just something new to me." Heidi assured her with blushing cheeks.

"Danke. You can start by maybe uncoiling your tail from mine.", Tubala requests, lightly trembling with every little jolt of electricity produced by the wriggling of her tail against her own.

"Ah, well um…I've been trying for a couple minutes now but…I think I'm stuck.", Heidi awkwardly grins, rubbing her head as her tail struggles to uncoil from Tubala's.

'Is this girl serious?!', Tubala thought, irritated

At that moment, they could hear I.A. and medical van sirens approaching in the distance before passing down the street they were on. The procession of nine vehicles passed by, Tubala could sense faint but strong traces of her own mana for a brief moment. She knew exactly where it was coming from and smirks in satisfaction.

"Goodness, I wonder if something happened. They were certainly in a rush. I hope everything is ok.", Heidi remarks looking off with a slightly worried expression. Tubala getting rubs her back, calming her down.

"I'm sure it's fine. Besides, it's not our responsibility to worry about what goes on here right? Let the humans and their helpers earn their paychecks while we see to our OWN business, yeah?"

"Hmm, I suppose you're right. Still…", Heidi murmurs, reminded of the night with Kaiya nearly getting poisoned. What if it was something worse?

"Hey! We will make our own place here. We just need to be careful and not draw attention to our fellow chaos-borns.", Tubala advised, now in a better mood, gently caressing the blonde devil's back.

"Y-Yeah, you're right. Hehe, you're always so rational. I can't wait to tell everyone the good news about us in the next meeting."

"Right, about that…I would like to keep our 'relationship' a secret for now."

Heidi gives her a confused look, "Why though?"

"I just feel that with the current friction between CERTAIN members, it'd cause more unneeded tension. It's best to introduce the news when everything is calmer. Wouldn't you agree?", Tubala calmly answered, trailing her fingers up the blonde devil's spine, "Besides, I'd very much like to get to know my…'girlfriend' better in private.", Tubala strains out the word, holding back her urge to vomit.

"G-Girlfriend?!", Heidi blurted out as her face blushes beet red, then looks away fidgeting, "W-W-Well, if you think that's best then I won't breathe a word."

"Good."

"But…even if it's a secret for now…just know…"

Tubala looks at the blonde in anticipation, wondering what her terms could possibly be and how to circumvent them.

"I'll be fighting the urge to scream to the whole world we're LOVERS!", Heidi emphatically and proudly stated with sparkling ruby red eyes.

Tubala stared at her incredulously then shook her head and grins, "I appreciate your restraint."

"Here ya are, lassies! A couple of blueberry scones!", The Kikimora happily stated, placing one pastry on each of their plates.

"Danke!", Heidi appreciatively stated before quickly digging into her treat, humming in content at the flavor as Tubala watched.

As Tubala took a bite of her own, she grinned to herself, thinking of the Mantis she encountered the other day. She wondered how the news would affect those in the facility and ways she could use it to her advantage. Not that she has another willing pawn, her life should get a bit easier.

At that moment, Heidi's tail tightens around Tubala's, sending a strong jolt throughout her body as she visibly tenses in discomfort.

Heidi, upon noticing her demeanor, looks down behind them with an embarrassed, "Oh, right, I guess we should untangle ourselves."

Tubala gives her a strained voice and nods while thinking, 'No shit! And why the hell aren't YOU affected at all by this?!'

…Back to Caleb's…

Drei could be seen sipping tea that she just finished brewing while enjoying her meat and pancakes. She then looks across from her at the Hellhound and human, seated side-by-side, feeding each other food from their own plates. They were really flexing that 'vanilla' tag.

"Feeling better?", Caleb asks his hellhound girlfriend after feeding her a piece of his juicy meat(beef).

Kaiya swallow and says, "Y-Yeah, I do.", she then turns to Drei with a sorrowful demeanor, "I-I'm sorry about earlier, Ms. Drei, I don't know what overcame me. It was like a part of me felt you'd do something to my mate if you got too close."

"It's fine. I don't consider this something to hold a grudge over. It was just your newly awakened 'Wife Instincts' taking over."

"Wife Instincts?", Caleb dubiously questioned, eyebrow raised.

"Many Karmaitachi females experience something similar once they've mated for the first time ever. It's very common among other liminal species, especially Kobolds, so I've heard."

"Really? Is that like an evolutionary thing to keep other females away? Kinda like a male lion does with its pride.", Caleb chimes in.

"Pretty much, especially if you've been raised in an environment where there's few mates to go around as is. You have to protect your physical AND generational territory. Can't let the bloodline die out.", Drei shrugged while taking a sip of tea.

"I can actually relate to that. ", Kaiya joined the conversation, "Mama would tell stories of her and auntie protecting our territory, Papa and uncle from rival females who wanted both. It could get really bloody at times since many females don't typically give up after one attempt. It'd be worse if they know there are male pups in the pack."

"Why?", Caleb inquires.

"They'll try to capture them and raise them to be husbands either for the daughters they give birth to or worse just for themselves. It's become a bigger problem in the last decade or so. What with fewer males being born."

"That uh…that's pretty dark actually."

"It's the way of the world sometimes. Honestly, that's a drop in the bucket of dark things other species have done; humans included.", Drei plainly remarks while taking a bite of bacon.

"I guess you're right. Wait, you said other Kobold like species behave like that as well. Lyca didn't act like that when we first did it. She was completely fine with Moon pie, Camilla, even the three of you.", Caleb pondered out loud as Kaiya looks at him curiously.

"It doesn't always affect certain liminals to the same extent. For Ms. Kessler's case, I'd say she's a deviant, in more ways than one. She doesn't exactly ACT like typical werewolves from what I've observed. Why? Maybe it's in her genes? The environment she was raised in juxtaposed with the one she currently resides in? Her personality in general? Take your pick. Though the simplest answer is she likely didn't see the other females in your house as rivals or threats. She was very familiar with and on good terms with both of your other houseguests and took an immediate liking to my sister. That's my personal theory, at least for the moment."

"Interesting. Though, I am glad Lyca is the way she is. I mean that genuinely. I imagine things could've been so much worse.", Caleb remarks, noticing Kaiya's uneasy demeanor and places a hand on her shoulder, "Not that I couldn't handle it in the end."

"Yeah, but I still don't want to cause trouble for you…"

"Give it a few days to a couple weeks, your hormones should settle down by then. You won't want to rip off a girl's face just for looking at him after that. For now, just enjoy your weekend time together.", Drei assured her to which the Hellhound female nodded in appreciation.

"You're oddly supportive to someone you haven't known more than a week.", Caleb cheekily teases.

"I can say the same about you, Mr. 'Happy wife, happy life'."

Caleb pauses a moment, "Touche'", he responds before hearing a knock at the door, getting their attention, "I'll–"

"I'LL get it.", Drei interjects, shooting him look before getting up from her seat to perform one of her duties as a bodyguard. She goes over and answers the door. Standing before her was a Giant Ant female in typical uniform smiling warmly with a tool box in hand, "Can I help you?"

"Morning! I'm Yuna with ContractANTS! My squad are doing routine checkups on all units in case any damages were done during the full moon. Are you in need of any repairs?", The Giant Ant woman inquires.

"Who is it, Drei?"

"It's one of the ContractANTs! She wants to know if you two damaged IA property while having sex!", Drei answered back as the woman's eye widened at her bluntness.

Caleb then appears behind, surprising the Giant Ant woman, "Would it kill you to use some tact? You got Kaiya over there flustered as shit.", he remarks with discontent gesturing to the blushing Hellhound burying her face in paws.

"Would you rather her ask if you literally BROKE the bed? I imagine that's a common occurrence around here, right?", Drei inquires to the Giant ant

"Why yes! We have at least 20 cases a month. Our code phrase for it is 'banana splits'."

"They got codewords for this shit…", Caleb sighs, rubbing his forehead in disbelief.

"Sooo are there any damages in need of taking care of or…?"

"Yes. As a matter of fact, it's just one bedroom that I honestly meant to call you about later so…might as well have you look at it now."

"Understood. I'll just go and assess the damages and give you a timeframe of when we'll finish.", The ContractANT cheerfully answered.

"W-We didn't break anything! A-At least not TOO bad…I think.", Kaiya stated in an embarrassed tone as Caleb rubs his head awkwardly.

"Look, It's…exactly what it looks like but let me explain for context."

"No need, sir. My sisters and I have handled dozens of these repairs. There's little we HAVEN'T seen before. Also, whatever you did stays between me and my sisters. It's our family policy.", the Giant Ant assured.

"O-Ok, if you say so.", Caleb replied feeling a little more at ease, as did Kaiya.

"Now then, If I may?"

"Sure, it's the second door on the left…"

"Thank you.", the Giant ant woman scuttled inside, going to his bedroom, passing a still flustered Kaiya who then gets a call on her cellular phone.

"Wait, if they call it a 'banana splits'...does that imply that the cherry is—?", Drei pondered out loud before interjects.

"Nope! Don't care, it's none of our business just let the professionals work.", Caleb interjects and was about to close the door but then heard the familiar voice of his neighbor.

"Seriously?! Can't you, I don't know, try something else?", Scarlett inquires, standing in her doorway talking to a another Giant ant scuttling out.

"I'm sorry, miss but the pipes in this building are of a specific brand and are too badly damaged. I need to go back to my colony to pick out a full set for my sisters and I to replace. Until then, the water main for your unit is down."

"Haaa, you've gotta be kidding me.", Scarlett groaned in annoyance, pinching the bridge of her face.

"Hey? Is something wrong, Scarlett?"

The redhead devil turns to him a bit startled and flustered before trying to compose herself, "Ahem, they've shut down the water to my unit for repairs. Apparently, this wererabbit-werefox couple above me got a little too…enthusiastic last night and ended up smashing through a wall containing a 'vertical stack' or whatever."

"Smashed THROUGH it?", Caleb stated as Drei, uninterested in the conversation, goes back to finish breakfast.

"You should see the indentation. It left a perfect butt-shaped cavity where their hips collided and—", The Giant Ant informs sounding impressed.

"Don't need the details!", Caleb interjects, refusing to picture it.

"Seriously, this sucks. I could really use a shower right now." Scarlett said wishing she had showered last night after her own…activities. She still felt sticky down there.

"You could use ours. If you want to, that is.", Caleb suggested, taking the devil woman by surprise.

"N-No, that's alright. I can just…maybe go to Jocelyn's and use her shower. She's only like twenty blocks down."

"That far?! Come on, you don't have to do that. You're more than welcome.",

"I…I just don't want to intrude on you and…Kaiya", Scarlett admits, a bit awkwardly and avoiding looking him in the eye.

"Not at all! It's just neighbors helping out neighbors.", Caleb assured her with a welcoming grin.

Scarlett glances away reluctantly, thinking to herself a moment then replies, "Well…I guess if you insist…"

"Excellent! You can use HIS pipes while my sisters and I work on your pipes!", The Giant Ant woman ecstatically stated, making Scarlett tense up.

"Weird way to phrase it but okay. You need to grab any clothes?", Caleb remarked.

"Oh, they're actually right here?", Scarlett answered, conjuring a small blue magic seal in hand that appears on her pants pocket, "Hana taught me this spell to store small items in a temporary space."

"Huh, cool, magic pockets. Alright, come on in."

"A-Alright…", She murmurs, surprised by his matter-of-fact tone. As she proceeds inside, she then sees Kaiya seated at the table talking on the phone while Drei enjoys her steak strips. Scarlett winces a bit, smelling the cooked meat in the air.

"Asante! Ninakupenda, Mama! Nitakuona hivi karibuni(Thank you! I love you, Mother. I'll see you really soon.). End!", Kaiya happily stated with a notable blush as she hung up the phone with a voice command; her fingers too big for the buttons.

"Checking in from home, I assume?", Caleb asks.

"Sort of, it was actually—", Kaiya turns to him with a smile quickly morphing to surprise upon seeing Scarlett awkwardly standing next to him. A surge of protective instinct shot through her that she desperately tried to suppress, "D-Darling…what is Scarlett doing here?", she asks, straining a bit.

"Oh! Her water pipes are damaged so I offered to let her use my shower. That's all.", Caleb assured, stepping to the hellhound's side, petting her head to calm her down.

'D-Darling…?', Scarlett thought to herself, sensing how close they were now.

"I-Is that right?"

"Yeah, I won't go into the details but that's why I'm here. No other reason.", Scarlett assured, turning away as Caleb scratched his head believing she was still a bit upset.

"How convincing. Still, you'd probably do better with a garden hose than that shower.", Drei comments.

"Huh?"

"Why would you say that? Why?", Caleb questions in discontent as Kaiya visibly blushes, "Don't listen to her. There's nothing wrong with the shower."

"Tell that to the dishes in the sink.", Drei flatly responded.

"Will you stop?! It's perfectly fine and clean.", Caleb assured trying his best not to let the guilt show.

Scarlett glances between him and Kaiya, who fidgets with an embarrassed blushing grin. She sighs, already putting two-and-two together and deciding they were both nasty, "Ok, I believe you. I'm sure it's clean…enough."

Caleb sighed to himself, "Anyway, it's the first door on the right."

As Scarlett turn to head down the hallway, she's stopped by another Giant Ant female scuttling down the hallway.

"Hello, sir! I've just finished doing the inspection on the bedroom. The damages aren't too bad, all things considered, just a few claw and scorch marks and minor indentations on the walls and furniture. Though, several wooden planks in your bed's foundation have been broken. You were a couple away from being a full 'banana split'. Bravo.", The Giant Ant woman cheekily congratulated the pair as Caleb and Scarlett tense up and Kaiya blushes with a proud smile.

'T-They almost broke the bed?!', Scarlett screams internally as her heart raced.

"E-Excuse me! I'm going to take a shower now.", Scarlett stated, stepping past the Giant Ant woman, and hurrying down the hallway much to the her surprise.

"Was it something I said?"

"No, but please get our room fixed up.", Caleb replied, still unsure how to take her earlier compliment.

"Certainly! I'll be back in a few minutes."

As the giant ant woman scuttled out through the door, Caleb noticed Kaiya smiling dreamily at him.

"What?"

"You called it OUR room, hehe.", Kaiya giddily remarks as Caleb smiles and shrugged.

"By the way, what was your mom talking about on the phone?"

"Oh, she and my sisters wanted me to say thank you for helping Tristan the other day. He seems to be doing fine too."

"That's good to hear. Honestly, it's we good we got to him in time. Hehe, I'm sure your sisters would've really messed those guys up."

"Oh, they intend to.", Kaiya casually remarks with a smile, taking a bite of eggs.

Caleb and Drei pause and look at the smiling Hellhound enjoying her food.

"Uhh, what?"

"Well, not them particularly, but Krea did say Tristan told them who led him to those guys.", Kaiya says in a calm tone, "She and the others are tracking her down as we speak. Nobody ever gets away with harming members of our pack. That includes you now, darling.", She sweetly answered while still eating as Caleb stared at her intrigued and a bit disturbed.

…Elsewhere…

Somewhere in the large recreational area, near a rest area with three vending machines. A familiar white and golden-haired well-endowed female Inari, Junko, could be seen jogging up to the area in an all white and gold tracksuit. She was sweating and panting trying to jog out her frustrations of the previous day.

"Too slow this time around. Dammit, this sucks! I can't believe the guy ICEP matches me with pulls out at the last minute AND I'm left mateless on the full moon! Who cares about some 'accident' on the interstate?! Certainly not my heat cycle, fuck.", The inari bitterly stated as her takes out some coin, inserting them into the machine then smacking the button with her fist to vent.

At that moment, a large dark gray muscular elbow slams against the machine, startling her. The Inari turns, to her shock, to see Krea's imposing form standing leaning against the machine with a toothy grin.

"Hey there, Junko, right?", Krea casually yet venomously asks with a smile, staring the Inari down before the canned drink audibly plops down, "Gettin' a drink?"

"Uhhh…y-yeah?", the Inari shakily asked.

"Good. Why don't you get about five more of those for my sisters and me?", Krea suggests as five of her sisters emerge and quickly surround the now terrified Inari with vicious expressions. Krea's calm grin remains but with an aura of malice enveloping the fox woman, "We need to have a little chat about what you did to our cousin.", Krea says as her and her sisters fiery eyes bore down threatening to incinerate the Inari down to the bone.

"Ehh?", the Inari fearfully squeaked, her golden fur turning pale yellow.

Sidenote: NEVER bring harm to a member of Hellhound pack or suffer severe consequences.

…Later…

Inside the bathroom, Scarlett steps out of the shower as steam wafts throughout the room. She takes a deep breath, feeling refreshed as she splays out her shimmering crimson locks. Luckily for her, there wasn't much of a mess when she first entered; aside from a faint musky odor.

She then conjures a small light blue magic causing every drop of water to be stripped off her naked body and hair then forming it all into one small rippling ball and splattering it in the bathtub. She wipes the steam off the mirror and stares at her reflection wondering how she was going to face Caleb and Kaiya. The images of everything he did to the hellhound last night were still fresh in her mind. Her red nipples became stiff thinking of how he groped her. Her womanhood tightened as remembered him thrusting her against the wall. Even in this bathroom, she could only imagine what they did here. It made it hard to look at Caleb without…

Scarlett shook her head then smacked the sides of her face, "Dammit, get it together. That's none of your business! Using that spell was YOUR mistake. You could've stopped…but you didn't. It was none of your business so…", She berated herself, leaning against the sink and sighs thinking of her and Caleb conversation a couple days ago, "I should just leave now. I shouldn't be here."

She proceeds to dress herself in the clothes she had neatly folded on the counter. A pair of black panties with red roses, black yoga pants with a hole for her tail, and a white tank top with slits for her wings. As she exited the bathroom, two Giant Ant females scuttled down the hall carrying buckets of plaster and other tools.

"Excuse us!", both girls said in unison as they went into an open bedroom where another Giant ant was working on the bed frames.

Scarlett guessed that it was Caleb's bedroom. The entire inside now smelled like martyr fumes but also a distinct, intoxicating musk that made her nerves tingle. Even the Giant Ant girls couldn't help being intrigued by the scent, noted by their blushing faces.

"Ignore it, just ignore it.", Scarlett murmurs to her speed walking down the hall entering the dining area where the others sat, "I'm done. Thank you for the shower.", She stated, walking past them trying not to make eye contact.

"Wait! You hungry?", Caleb called out, stopping the redhead devil in her tracks.

"What?"

"I made a few extra pancakes for you with some fruit on the side because, you know, vegetarian.", Caleb remarks, gesturing to the stack of five pancakes drizzled in syrup with blueberries and strawberries on the side.

Scarlett looks at the food curiously, "You made those…for me?"

"Yeah. Well, I was making a little extra for Kaiya anyway so figured I'd make you some too. Besides, you're a guest right now.", Caleb remarks as the Hellhound woman happily enjoys her second stack of pancakes and meat, "So, wanna join us?"

Scarlett thought for a moment, looking between the front door and the table, and responded, "Yeah. I appreciate it."

"No problem. Now this one can stop eyeing that stack like I don't feed her.", Caleb shoots a knowing look at Drei as Scarlett takes a seat at the table.

"You don't decide when I've had enough. Only my metabolism does.", Drei shot back before taking a bite of her second helping of beef strips.

"Is your metabolism powered by a Duracell? I saw you eat half your entire weight in chicken strips yesterday!"

"Mid-morning snack.", Drei comments earning a dubious look from Caleb and Scarlett.

"I agree. If it's HER weight, I'd call that a light snack.", Kaiya remarks, taking a bite of pancake.

"What in the Scooby and Shaggy are y'all on?", Caleb incredulously spoke, making Scarlett and Kaiya chuckle.

"You live around highly carnivorous liminals. What do you expect? Our bodies are literally adapted to process calories fast."

"Makes sense but still. Where do all extra calories go?"

"I can't speak for them but for us devils or any magic users really. A lot of extra nutrients we take in gets converted to mana. Any mana that isn't used turns into raw strength, increased healing, or act as backup energy if we can't find food.", Scarlett chimes in taking a bite of pancake and strawberry, enjoying the fluffy tangy treat, "Still we need actual food and water to survive and replace the mana used up."

"One big mana cycle huh? I remember Camilla talking about it.", Caleb slyly remarks, intentionally leaving out another part of her explanation on how 'spirit energy' can be a more potent substitute for replenishing mana quickly; followed by a hands-on demonstration.

"It's a similar case with Ki actually. Though, for my species it's mostly related to breathing techniques rather than food consumption. Our bodies just typically require a relatively high amount of calories to function properly.", Drei explained, before waggling a forkful of beef at Caleb, "And THAT, sir, is why I deserve extra portions."

"Yeah, I don't think that tracks and don't wave your fork at my face.", Caleb remarks in slight annoyance.

"I think it's just her way of saying she just loves your cooking, darling.", Kaiya teased as Drei shot her a blank look then turned away, stuffing her mouth, "You're a really great cook. Isn't he, Scarlett? I've heard you humming every bite since you sat down.", Kaiya points out, making the redhead tense up and blush in embarrassment.

"I uhh…yeah, his pancakes are really good. Though, it's not like I've tried anything else he made so…", Scarlett, a bit flustered, answers while trying to avoid Caleb's gaze on her.

"Well, I'd say this meal is a great indicator of his skills.", Kaiya sweetly stated.

"Thanks, Kaiya. Glad you guys enjoy it. Heh, I guess the time I spent as bachelor preparing my own meals at home is coming in handy.", Caleb half-jokingly responded.

"Yeah. It makes me really happy to know our pups will get to enjoy meals like this everyday too.", Kaiya happily giggled, shocking the others, even causing Scarlett to almost choke on her and Drei to comically spit out her tea.

"*Cough cough* What?", Drei strained out.

"I second that! What?!", Caleb added, equally shocked and a bit worried his messed up somehow.

"Y-YOU'RE PREGNANT?! ALREADY?!", Scarlett loudly exclaims, hopping up from her seat.

"Well, yeah. By how much we did it last night, I'm sure that I am! That's why I asked for a second helping, darling. I have to make sure our pups are well-fed too.", Kaiya happily replies, tail wagging jubilantly at the prospect of having children with her first love, "~Huhuhu, I wonder how many we'll have! I hope it's five but no more than nine. Though, I have heard…~"

As Kaiya whimsically prattled on, imagining their future together, Scarlett plopped back down with a listless expression, barely processing the news, then stiffly turned a dubious gaze at Caleb-who appeared equally stunned and deflated almost like he spontaneously aged thirty years. His thoughts and youth flashing before him a million miles a second trying to comprehend how it was possible and what his next move would be. All the while, Kaiya continues prattling about what to name their hypothetical children.

Drei tapped his knee, jolting him from his thoughts, as he turned a nearly lifeless gaze at her.

"Hey? You DID use it, right?", She says in a serious tone as Scarlett raises an eyebrow.

"Y-Yeah. Yes! I did. I'm not even sure what she's-", Caleb answered as Drei raised a doubtful eyebrow, "I DID."

"Did what, Darling?", Kaiya curiously asks with a loving smile.

"Should I tell her or should you?", Drei asked, looking at Caleb with a raised eyebrow, "I'm kinda used to delivering bad news."

"Tell me what? What bad news?"

"Drei...", Caleb shoots a glare at the weasel girl who simply shrugs, gesturing to him to proceed. He took a deep breath and gently placed his hand onto Kaiya's, "Kaiya, baby, I hate to say it but... you're likely, well, definitely, not pregnant."

Kaiya stares at him a bit confused, "W-What do you mean? We did it so much last night and...I'm pretty sure it was a safe day for me."

Caleb and Drei exchange looks of confusion as Scarlett glances between, equally confused.

"What exactly is your definition of 'safe day'?", Caleb inquires.

"You know, the time frame out of every month where it's safe for the male to impregnate a female. It's not always on a full moon though, last night was just perfect timing. I hear humans have something similar.", she explained as Drei, Scarlett and Caleb give her varying degrees of befuddlement.

"Yeah...but the meaning is reversed in their case.", Drei points out.

"Huh?"

"Ok, cultural misunderstandings aside...thing is it wouldn't have made a difference because I used Drei's spermicide oil before we...you know. It basically guarantees a pregnancy WON'T happen. At least, it's supposed to.", Caleb informed, glancing at Drei as Kaiya and Scarlett looked at him astonished.

"I take pride in my 99.999% efficiency, thank you!", Drei stated, offended by his insinuation.

"W-Wait a minute! So on top of a miracle salve that nullifies full moon effects, you ALSO have an oil that...prevents pregnancies too?! What are you, some kind of Chinese Hippocrates?!", Scarlett questions in disbelief.

"No, but I'm getting there. Plus, that medicine is credited to my mother who made it so she and my aunts/sister-mothers could mate without accidental pregnancy."

"That explanation just raises more questions…", Scarlett replies, rubbing her forehead in exasperation.

"S-So...we're not going to have pups together...?", Kaiya sadly questions, her words trembling with pain as her heart was slowly breaking apart at the news. A part of her feeling their efforts last night were a waste.

"I'm afraid not...", Caleb softly answers as Kaiya lowered her head despondently, tail drooping and ears flattened as her lips quivered and her body trembles on the verge of tears. She then feels him gently tilting her head up, "At least not yet."

Kaiya's ears perked up as she looked at him confused yet hopeful, "I...I don't understand. That...oil-"

"Is temporary.", Caleb interjects much to her surprise, "I just need to not use for about 24 hours and the effect wears off."

"R-Really?", Kaiya questions, a small hopeful grin on her face as her tail perks up.

"It's actually closer to 36 but yeah. He can stop using it at any time with no real negative effects. My mother made sure to test it to near perfection.", Drei gave her seal of approval.

"How... exactly did she test it again?", Caleb inquires curiously.

"Details aren't important."

"I beg to damn differ."

"So is...that what you meant by us mating without 'consequence', Miss Drei?", Kaiya questions as Scarlett looks to the Hellhound curiously then back at the weasel.

"Yes. I imagine you had your own definition for that as well?"

"I just thought you meant it was something to improve his stamina, libido, and durability so...I wouldn't hurt him if I didn't hold back.", Kaiya answered, blushing a bit as Scarlett flushed as well as reminded of their activities.

"Oh, no, he doesn't need help with any of that, believe it or not. Everything you two did together was his own natural capability. I just provide the baby batter killer.", Drei answers while taking a sip of tea as Caleb and the girls look at her with different degrees of flabbergasted.

'ALL OF THAT WE/THEY DID WAS HIS OWN SKILL?!', Kaiya and Scarlett screamed in their heads, jaws dropped and blushing feverishly, remembering everything they did that night. Neither girl could hardly believe he was really human.

"I wish she would have phrased all of that differently but...what she's saying is all true, Kaiya.", Caleb chimes in, not even bothering to deny the weasel's strange method of praise, "I just hope you're not too disappointed."

"Hmmm, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little...but I'm just glad that there's nothing wrong with either of us. We can still have pups if we wanna in the end! You...you DO want pups with me...right?"

The question caught him off guard. He scratches his head awkwardly as the Hellhound, and even Scarlett, looked at with anticipation.

"...It's kind of complicated to answer, but the long run yes, I do. I would like to have kids down the line with you and the others... just not right now.", Caleb answered honestly as Scarlett stared at him with intrigue, "We both still need to get to know each other. Hell, I still don't know the others enough yet but I'mma stick by them and you because...I want us to work. I won't bring children into the mix if we aren't all well-adjusted. Can you accept that?"

Kaiya pauses a moment in thought before looking up at him with a small grin, "Y-Yes, my darling, I accept. I-I'll just have to try extra hard, right? The father of my pups needs to know he can rely on and trust their mother. From now on to show you the real me, all of me, even the weirdest sides of me, and you can't leave! I'm going anywhere!", She emphatically stated with a challenging smirk.

"Eh, you should see me and others I live with. You're gonna bare witness to weird, crazy, and downright deplorable behavior. Bring it on.", Caleb challenges back.

"Second.", Drei cheekily confirms as look at her then to each other and share a laugh together.

All the while, Scarlett looks on at them, seeing their delighted expressions despite the initial awkward and depressing atmosphere. Now they were joking around as if none of it mattered. How could they be so...so natural around each other? Are all human-kobold couples like this?

As the redhead devil observed the pair blissfully chatting, even feeding each other, while the Karmaitachi enjoyed her tea, she couldn't help being reminded of...him. The two of them sat down at a dinner table like this before yet...did they ever look this happy?

'Is this... what real couples are supposed to look like?', Scarlett thought to herself, seeing Caleb and Kaiya pressing closer to each other as the demoness listlessly stabbed her fork into the pancakes.

"Ok, sir! Your repairs are finished!", One of the Giant ant females happily stated as she and three others scuttled down the hallway carrying their tools and plaster buckets.

"Oh, thank you so much! We appreciate it.", Caleb politely stated as Kaiya watched them all carefully.

"Certainly! We'll be on our way now. Oh, and congratulations on the new baby, you two!", The Giant woman proudly saluted, quickly scuttling out the front door followed by the others. Scarlett nearly choked on her pancake again, realizing they must have heard her scream earlier.

"What? No! We're NOT pregnant!", Caleb stated, not wanting them to get the wrong idea.

"Not yet at least!", Kaiya chimes in, staking her claim.

"Not helping!"

"Hey, it's fine, you're secret safe with us.", One of the Giant ant females assured before blushing with a saucy grin, "If you're feeling generous though, I wouldn't mind getting a taste of what you're packing. If you know what I mean.", she said with a wink taking Scarlett and Caleb by surprise.

"GET OUT!", Kaiya shouted with a thunderous, bone-chilling bark, teeth bared and loudly growling, shocking the others to their very core and replacing the ant woman's lust with overwhelming fear.

Scarlett was incredibly shocked that the normally quiet Kaiya could have a voice that powerful. For a second, she almost thought the hellhound was angry at her.

"EEEK, IT WAS JOKE MOSTLY!", She shrieks before scuttling out the about at incredible speed.

When Kaiya was certain they were gone, she stops snarling and smiles innocently at Caleb, tail wagging, "Now I'm helping."

"Uhh...y-yeah, you sure did...", Caleb awkwardly smiles, heart racing recovering from having the fear of god shoot through his nerves.

"I think I peed a little...", Drei muttered, still recovering from the overwhelming sense of doom that shot through her.

"I-I'm sorry but…can we PLEASE get off the talk about…babies and stuff?", Scarlett questions, embarrassed and feeling a bit weird the more she thought of him having children with Camilla.

"Yeah! Yeah, sorry, guess we got carried away a bit.", Caleb apologized, understanding it might have been a sensitive subject considering her species' fertility issues. That and it's just weird breakfast conversation in general. He then changed the subject, "So, you guys had anything else planned for today? Personally, I'm fine just chilling here this Sunday."

"N-Not really…I'm basically free all day.", Scarlett replies.

"Same. I'm just spending time together, darling.", Kaiya sweetly remarks before an idea pops in her head, "Oh! Why don't we play this interesting card game I discovered while back?", Kaiya proposes.

"Uhh, Sure! What's it called?"

" 'Cards Against Humanity'."

"Wow, you got that? I love that game! I used to play it in college with my dorm buddy Christian.", Caleb smiled fondly as Scarlett raised an eyebrow wondering who Christian was.

"Really?! I just thought the name had an interesting horror theme, so I got it!", Kaiya happily stated.

"Yeah, that tracks. Though, it's not that type of horror. More like the horrors of human stupidity.", Caleb informs.

"You mean like internet memes and capitalism?", Drei comments.

"Went for the low hanging fruit, huh?"

"It's usually the sweetest and a lot of it."

"It still sounds fun though. We should play it. You can join us too, Scarlett. If you want to.", Kaiya warmly spoke looking at the devil woman.

"Oh, really? You know you don't have to. I can't just finish my pancakes and leave.", Scarlett replies, not wanting to get between their quality time.

"You're more than welcome to join, you know. We're not exactly strangers or anything.", Caleb assures her with a smile.

Scarlett glances away, not wanting to look at him directly, "I ummm…"

"Come on, look at it this way. It's the weekend, you ain't got no job until Monday, and you don't have shit important to do. Might as well have fun."

"Is that your way of trying to sell me the idea?", Scarlett asks with a skeptical eyebrow raise.

"I went to school for engineering, not business. I'm just saying we'd love for you to join us.", He says with an earnest expression.

Scarlett's cheeks flushed pink a moment and heart skipped a beat. She could sense his desire to genuinely spend time with her and it warmed her deeply, "W-Well, if you insist that strongly…"

"Eeee, I'll be right back! Nobody move!", Kaiya happily yet somewhat forcefully stated, glancing at the two females in particular, before going to the bedroom.

"Why…did she look at us like that?", Scarlett questions.

"She was giving a look?", Drei chimes, noting the hellhound bangs obscuring half her face.

Caleb softly sighed, hoping the Hellhound woman's protective instincts would die down soon.

…Meanwhile…

Further away, in the Angel Congregation, many of its residents were going about their usual routines following yet another full moon. The cherubs could be seen cleaning and tending to the living quarters of their higher rank angel masters.

Enocha could be seen walking through a large garden of white roses having recently left the communion area for 'Sunday Exaltation'. A weekly devotional service to the Chief God of all Angelkind that all her kin observe; usually given by archangel consuls. As usual, Michael rambled on a bit longer than intended. Though, it was still more meaningful compared to her uncle Baliel's sermons that essentially amounted to 'angels good, everyone else sucks.'

"Haaa, I barely got much sleep last night. I almost fell asleep through Michael reading Zadkiel's verse for the gazillionth time. I seriously wasn't looking forward to another paddling from Miss Nepheli.", Enocha yawns moving through the rose garden, running her hands along the flowerheads and avoiding the thorns. She sighs, removing one of the white rose heads observing, "I didn't see my sister last night OR during worship. Where could she be?", she says in a worried tone.

"Where have you been, Ophelia?!", came the voice of Helga further away, catching Enocha's attention.

"Huh? Sister?"

Further away, at a large white and gold painted octagonal gazebo, Helga and Muriel could be seen standing near a patio table set where Ophelia and, surprisingly, Uriel were seated together enjoying tea served by male cherub.

"Helga, please calm down.", Uriel requested, not wanting to make a scene.

"No, I don't think I will because how are YOU calm about this?! Your betrothed has barely been around for DAYS on end, hardly talks to anyone in the congregation anymore, and now you're both just having tea like everything's hunky-dory?!", Helga contested as Ophelia, unflinchingly, sips her tea while giving her plaintive stare. Muriel looks between the two of them nervously.

"I-I don't really see a problem with it. She just needed time to herself. I can understand that. Besides, Ophelia was the one who came to me requesting we have tea together.", Uriel replies giving a caring smile to his future wife who smiles back before sipping her tea.

"That's right. I just thought it was only fair to finally spend time with my beloved fiance after clearing my head.", Ophelia casually remarks with a loving grin as the cherub servant pours her more tea.

Helga looks between her and Uriel, feeling as though something was off. She's never been this affectionate towards Uriel since she first arrived. Why now?

"Ophelia!", Enocha called out, getting their attention as she descended from above, "There you are, sister! What's going on? Is everything ok?"

"Yes, everything is just fine, dear sister. We were just having an enthusiastic discussion, that's all.", Ophelia assured taking another audible sip of her tea.

"It's anything BUT enthusiastic. We just want to know what she's been up to lately!"

Enocha was taken aback by the statement, remembering the day she followed Ophelia in secret and witnessed her observing and discreetly assisting a random human male with heavenly arts. She has been wondering if it would be right to tell the others but remembered how happy her sister looked helping that human. It wasn't usual for her race to assist humans in secret—though it's become much less common as their technology advanced and volatility towards their own species increased. Still, even though it appeared to be therapeutic in a way, Enocha couldn't shake the feeling that her sister's philanthropic behavior went deeper somehow.

"Can we please just drop it? If Ophelia says she just leaves to clear her head, why vilify such harmless behavior?

"And HOW exactly has been 'clearing' your head, I wonder. Half the time we can barely set foot in the congregation without wanting to get photos of us on those phones they use. Where exactly does she go that is so relaxing yet she doesn't stand out?", Helga questions glaring down as Ophelia meets her gaze, barely fazed but slightly annoyed.

"H-Helga…", Muriel muttered, gently tugging her arm sleeve.

"She doesn't have to answer that.", Uriel interjects.

"Yes, she does. I heard this morning that one of the cherub gardeners caught her sneaking into the congregation. That's not suspicious to you?!", Helga contested as Uriel's eyes widen then looks at Ophelia questioningly as Enocha became nervous, "The last thing we need is one of our own involved in another incident. You haven't been in the devil's areas of the complex right? You know what'll happen to us again if you're caught by them!"

"O-Of course she knows!", Enocha interjects defensively, "She hasn't done anything wrong and she's been doing her best NOT to draw attention!", she stated, earning a skeptical look from her sister.

"And how would you know that? Do you know where she goes or what she's doing, Enocha?", Helga questioned with a suspicious stare.

Enocha turns her nervous gaze away, adding to the suspicion, "I-I don't know what you're talking about. I just told you she's not doing anything or with anyone."

"I never said 'anyone'.", Helga interrogatively remarks making Enocha visibly tense up from letting that detail slip as Uriel and Muriel focus intently as well, "Is that what's going on? She's meeting up with someone?"

"N-No, I-I mean, I-I ummm…", Enocha stutters as their expectant gaze bare down on her.

"Enough!", Ophelia stated in agitation, slamming her hand against the table startling the others. She glared intensely at Helga with cold blue eyes, "I will not take anymore of this slander! I simply wished to enjoy fresh tea with my betrothed. What I do to relax in my free time is of little concern to you, Helga."

"It IS if we want to avoid more encounters with those wretched devils like last time!"

"Forgive me but we're YOU the one who suggested we visit that spa? YOU said you went there on occasion; likely BEFORE they hired devils. Who are you to tell me not to break the rules when you were doing so before?"

Helga's eyes widened, clenching her teeth and fists in frustration, "Ghhh…look, I admit that was my mistake. I should've been more careful as well but don't go putting the blame entirely on me. You also knew we were in devil territory and chose to say nothing. Why is that?"

"I trusted you, that's why. Look what it got me.", Ophelia bitterly replies, glaring intensely at Helga who glances away shamefully.

As Muriel tries to comfort the now speechless Helga, Enocha looks to her sister a bit surprised by her cold and uncompromising demeanor. It was very much unlike her despite being the most mature between them.

"Hey, it's alright, Ophelia…", Uriel tries to comfort, even reaching for her hand but stops upon hearing a familiar voice call his name.

"URIEL?!", Shouted the voice of Baliel who came flying down towards them, land several meters away before hastily marching towards the table, an irate expression on his face.

"U-Uncle?", Enocha softly and worriedly expressed as Ophelia gives an unamused stare at the burly angel.

"Oh goodness, this can't be good.", Muriel muttered with dread.

"Lord Baliel, what's wron—GAHH!", Uriel stands up from his seat only to be grabbed by the collar and lifted up off the ground, much to everyone's surprise, save for Ophelia's shock.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, BOY?!"

"I-I don't understand! What are you talking about, My Lord?!", Uriel asks, panicked and confused.

"Lord Baliel, what's the matter?! Put him down!", Helga frantically inquires.

"The I.A. security officers sent one of their plebian representatives to address a certain matter. Angels from our congregation spying on the Chaosborn filth! Not only that, the even knew the NAMES of the angels doing so! You're exited his lowly tongue. WHY IS THAT, URIEL?!",

"I-I-I don't know! I don't know why either! I swear!"

"Uncle, please!", Enocha pleaded with him, frightened by his rage as was the trembling Cherub servant. Ophelia casually sips her tea; completely unfazed and even slightly amused by the sight.

"Do you understand! Because of your mistake our ability to keep those filthy Chaosborn in check has been compromised meaning we won't know their planning! How do you intend to atone for this?"

"I…I don't know.", Uriel uttered, looking away shamefully much to Baliel's irritation.

"Bah!", Baliel expressed, dropping him on his butt, "I should've known that to relying on high-born, soft-bellied noble children that have never ever seen a REAL battle was a mistake.", he spat as Uriel looked away in shame.

"There's no real point in getting angry at him, Uncle.", Ophelia chimed in while placing her cup down getting their attention, "If the humans know about your activity, then it can't be helped. We are merely guests in this land and can only adapt to their rules."

Baliel looks at her with a malign expression, "You would throw away your pride to appease such lowly creatures? Have you no shame girl? Surely, my sister raised you better than this."

Enocha felt the sting from the comment as Helga, Uriel and even Muriel wanted to interject at the harshness of his word. Yet, to their surprise, Ophelia merely took a deep breath and responds.

"Of course I do, uncle, I just know when it's appropriate to use it.", she unflinchingly spoke, getting an irritated and confused look from her uncle, "Instead of blaming my betrothed, and YOUR future benefactor, look at it as a learning experience. If Uriel was discovered after all this time, clearly the Chaos-born are adapting. It could've been one of their kind that secretly reported his activity. Either that or maybe it was that 'Boohawhaw' you all were chasing around two days ago.", Ophelia jokingly remarks as Enocha tense up at the mention of the events.

"Don't get smart with me, girl!", Baliel snarled, putting Uriel on edge, worried for her safety.

"I'm just saying, we should adapt as well, uncle. Maybe with a more inconspicuous spy? And most humans love us and are the only other race that can go anywhere unhindered.", she casually pointed out.

"You mean…have a human spy on them for us?", Uriel asks curiously.

"Precisely."

Baliel eyes widen touching his beard in thought, "Yes…yes, that could work. These humans would do practically anything if we so much as suggest it. The last Crusade is definite proof. Hmm, but it can't be too obvious that's what we're using them for."

Ophelia audibly clears her throat, "Ahem, if I may Uncle, I overhead a group of IA officers during one of my 'walks'. They apparently have a group of human workers that perform whatever menial task given to them without question. I heard them saying the one called 'Nicholas' is the most obedient.", she remarks, eye twitching in slight anger at the memory of the terrible things those men said. She'll be sure to punish them soon.

"Nicholas huh? That gives me a brilliant idea.", Baliel smirks in satisfaction, "Helga! Other one!"

"Y-Yes, Lord Baliel!?", they stated in unison, stiffening up.

"Summon the others for daily combat practice and make that request to IA for that worker!"

"But, shouldn't we talk with Lord Michael about this as well–"

"Are you talking back to me?", Baliel questions with a vicious gaze, his words like the growl of a barely restrained feral beast.

"No! N-Never, Lord Baliel! C-Come on Helga, let's go.", Muriel fearfully urges, scared he'd tear them both apart if they disobeyed.

"...Alright.", She reluctantly spoke before noticing Ophelia sipping her tea and staring then discreetly gesturing 'go away' with her hand. She scowls at her before spreading her wing taking off with Muriel following suit.

"Apologies for earlier, Uriel. Give my regards to your parents in your next communion. Also, ask if they have any potential suitors for this one as well. The older the better to keep her in line.", Baliel remarks in slight disdain as Enocha clenches her fists in frustration.

"Um, I'll certainly try Lord Baliel, hehe.", Uriel awkwardly smiles looking to Ophelia, who side-eyes Enocha who wore a discouraged frown.

"Good. In the meantime, I expect you to keep her out of trouble, Ophelia."

"Of course.", she plainly responds as Enocha fidgets nervously.

The muscular angel takes off into the sky, leaving the trio alone.

"Ophelia, I just—", Enocha tried to apologize but her sister cuts her off.

"Enocha, I would advise you not to speak on matters you have no business or knowledge on. I also want you to stop following me in secret when I'm trying to relax. Understand?", Ophelia firmly stated, holding back much of her anger towards her younger sister's big mouth.

Enocha looks down in shame, wings drooping down, "I…I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Now run along and leave us alone."

"And don't worry about what Lord Baliel said. I'll make sure my parents find someone just around your age and maybe even with lots of cute lambs.", Uriel assured her with a caring smile.

"O-Ok. I'll leave you both then.", Enocha says forcing a smile, knowing her meant well, as she walks away. She glances back at her sister, a part of her feeling something was off about her.

"You know, I somewhat agree with uncle. She's definitely going to need someone to keep her under control; maybe not someone too old though."

"Come now, she's not that bad. Plus, she still has you."

"She won't forever, though. That's why she needs to grow up more.", Ophelia interjects.

"I…guess you're right. Hehe, I guess those outings are doing wonders. You've changed a bit.", Uriel remarks smiling sweetly.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm the same as ever.", Ophelia innocently remarks while sipping her tea.

In the back of her mind, she felt immense satisfaction and joy. She took a chance at a random golden opportunity and it paid off. Soon enough, her precious Nick will be coming to her and eventually become her. All she had to do for now was play the role of devoted fiance until her true love arrives. Oh, how she couldn't wait to see him, hold him, smell him, but especially…to taste that sweet nectar of his again.

Ophelia hums in delight at the smooth, richness of the tea, imagining how it would taste with her beloved Nick's nectar, as her sweet smile shifts into a delighted wicked grin. Unbeknownst to anyone, even herself, underneath her down of snow-white feathers was a barely visible layer of charcoal black plumage.

…Elsewhere…

Caleb and the girls spent the next hour and a half sitting in the living room enjoying a few rounds, laughs, snacks and unhinged conversations involving the game. It took a bit of trial and error, along with Caleb explaining how the game works and setting the conditions to win for Scarlett to get the hang of it. It also took her some time to, ironically, get used to the chaotic nature of the game. The absolute randomness and sheer absurdity was equally hilarious and exhausting in a good way.

They each had three cards in hand with one previous place facedown on the floor responding to a black card that read, "What's a place you can expect convicts to work after release?"

"Ok, for Scarlett's answer we got…'Governor of Florida'.", Drei, acting as the dealer this round read aloud making Caleb chuckle followed by Kaiya, who was seat beside him.

"Hehehe, it just seemed to fit.", Scarlett shrugged with a chuckle.

"You not wrong but I'm pretty sure they have someone like that NOW!", Caleb heartily chuckled.

"I don't know if that's hilarious or just sad.", Scarlett chuckles.

"Why not both?", Kaiya chimes in with similar energy.

"Ok next, for Kaiya, she had…'The graveyard shift at a morgue in Transylvania.', Drei read aloud prompting a fit of laughter from the others.

"Ok, ok, to be fair, they were already locked up so I thought they'd be used to bleak and hopeless environments.", Kaiya chuckles while pleading her case.

"Yeah, but they JUST got out of prison. Now you wanna send them to Nosferatu land?! Wait, is that racist to vampires?", Scarlett ponders aloud.

"Only if you assume all vampires come from Transylvania.", Drei comments.

"Or even call themselves 'Nosferatu'. I heard somewhere that it's typically used as a slur by vampire-human hybrids called 'Dhampir'. They have a number of slurs actually: Suck-Face, Jagger teeth, oversized leech, Flat pulse, Cadaver cunts—", Kaiya listed off all the ones she knew off.

"Ok, got it! Wait, you said they were hybrids? Are they self-hating vampires?!", Scarlett cuts her off with a surprise tone.

"In many ways, yes."

"At least they're inventive with their racism. The 'N-word' at this point feels like a lazy, uncreative cop out.", Caleb remarks, arms folded getting strange looks.

"Are you saying you want to be discriminated against more creatively?", Drei raises an eyebrow as did Scarlett.

"Me personally? No, but it couldn't hurt to put real effort into your hate, you know. Someone can call me a 'chicken chomping chimpanzee' or a 'beatboxing baboon', I'd be mad as hell, sure…but at least I can respect the game."

"I'm honestly not sure what to say about that. You're weird. You're very weird.", Scarlett remarks, feeling every step she'd make on that topic is a landmine.

"I dare ANYONE to call you ANYTHING like that.", Kaiya vehemently stated, baring her fangs snarling at the hypothetical racists.

"Appreciate it, baby, but you can put THOSE chompers away. These hands are enough.", Caleb smiled in assurance, cracking his knuckles in a tight grip as Kaiya smiled back pleased by his confidence. She'd still jump in to help no matter what though.

"Ok, moving on, Caleb. You answered…'Dollar General'.", Drei says in an incredulous tone getting a hearty fit of laughter from the trio, "Honestly, that might count as cruel and unusual punishment."

"Worse than Transylvania?! Ok, I went into the dollar general store that just opened up a couple times. It's honestly not that bad.", Scarlett points out.

"That's because you're a shopper not an employee.", Caleb informed as she looked at him curiously, "Plus, you only been to the dollar store in this facility. Where most folks care about their work. Go to ANY other dollar store in the South and see the number of fucks not given!"

"Isn't dollar general one of those low cost retail stores all over this country? My uncle called them a 'capitalist melting pot of monotony and off-brand food'.", Kaiya chimes in.

"He ain't wrong. Hell, I remember the first time I ever went into a Dollar General with my mom when I was seven. I exaggerate nothing when I say this guy working the counter looks like he just got outta prison the previous day and wasn't scared of going back. I'm talkin' seven foot, muscular gains, tattoos and chains, and a jawline with 'Talk shit get Hit' chiseled in it!", Caleb enthusiastically spoke as the others chuckled in amusement, "He had this deep voice too, that blue-collar 85 hour work week voice. I half-expected him to say 'Welcome to the 'Broke-ass Motherfucker' store. How broke are ya?", Caleb jokingly spoke, giving his best impression as Kaiya and Scarlett heartily chuckled, the former lying on the floor holding her stomach.

"How broke am I? How broke am I!?", Drei questions, playing along, "I had a bowl hopes and dreams for breakfast…without any milk.", she says in her best cryptic voice.

"Hehe, I thought you were gonna say 'without any Hope'", Kaiya chuckles doing her own masculine voice impression..

"Without any Dreams.", Caleb chimed in mimicking the Hellhound.

"Without any bowl.", Scarlett says in her own gruff voice, chuckling at herself with the others.

"Yeah, without ANYTHING. She conjured that shit in her mind."

"If only I had that ability…", Drei dreamily remarks, imagining being able to conjure limitless snack with a thought.

"Hehehe, Haaaa alright. Hey, I just need to use the bathroom real quick…", Scarlett sighs contently, standing up from the floor.

"Sure, alright.", Caleb casually replies as she gets up and leaves.

"Oh, what card did you put down for your answer, Miss Drei?", Kaiya curiously asks, pointing to the fourth white card on the weasel's side.

Drei picks it up and presents it to them and says, " 'The world of Pokemon.'"

Kaiya and Caleb snorted loudly, chuckling at the answer as the weasel girl shook her head.

"Haha, you know what? I vote on that one. That one wins this round."

"Second!", Kaiya chimed in.

"It's a bit conceited to vote for yourself, but third."

Several minutes passed as Scarlett could be seen leaving the bathroom, having just washed her hands of dirty deeds. She could hear the others voices and laughter from the living room, smiling to herself. Suddenly, a familiar alluring scent caught her attention then noticed the door to one of the bedrooms was partially open.

She quickly realized it was Caleb's scent with a strong hint of something else. As the others kept chatting away, and against her better judgement, she warily pushes open the door and steps inside. The once damaged walls, stained furniture and floors were restored to pristine condition. She noticed the several luggage bags neatly stacked in the corner from smallest to largest. Did he really need so many?

'So, this is his room, it… looks neater than I thought it would be.', Scarlett thought to herself, technically being the second time she saw his bedroom. The first time she was merely observing from her own bedroom and everything he did with Kaiya the previous night. Now, she was standing where it all happened and it felt strange.

Scarlett walked around the room, her mind wandering to the previous night and everything they did. She carefully sat down on the well made-up bed in the exact spot the Hellhound straddled his waist, riding his lap. Scarlett touches her breasts thinking of how it must've felt before looking over of the nearby desk. She remembers him sitting her on top and thrusting Kaiya's pussy as she moaned in delight, her legs raised and resting on his shoulders. Simply imagining how deep he must've been made her heart race. Her other hand reflexively slid down into her yoga pants, teasing her lips through her panties and sending a jolt up through her nerves.

Scarlett eyes shot wide open and she hops up to her feet, heart racing as she tries to compose herself, "W-What am I doing? They're right in the other room! I must be out of my mind.", she expressed, holding her forehead as the leftover scent of their love-making made her head numb.

She tried to turn and leave but then looks to a familiar wall. The one that connected their bedrooms and tentatively walks up and lays her hand against it. The memory of watching Kaiya being taken from behind, palms flat against the wall, breasts flopping, and her face contorting in animalistic desire flooded her mind. As if guided by that memory, wanting to understand how she felt, Scarlett places her palms against the wall, in the exact position Kaiya was, then sticks out her butt a bit, letting her tail sway and lower lips stretch in the outline of her yoga pants.

Using the tip of her tail, she teased her own womanhood, imagining it was Caleb doing so. Her face flushed and breathing ragged, imaging him grabbing her sides and lining himself up to her entrance. She wiggles her butt in anticipation, imagining the sensation of him thrust—

"Now where did I put it.", came the voice of Caleb who teleports into the room, greatly startling the redhead devil who elicits a frightened screech, startling him, "Ahh! What the?! Scarlett?! Sorry!"

Caleb then teleports out of the room leaving Scarlett confused and embarrassed before he then teleports back inside.

"Wait, this is MY room! What are you doing here?"

Scarlett tenses up and starts visibly sweating and stutters, "I-I just um…I wanted to, I mean I was looking for uh, well maybe not looking but uhh…"

Caleb looks at the stuttering and seemingly flustered devil, eyebrow raised by her suddenly awkward demeanor.

"You were looking for what in my room exactly?", He asks wanting to understand what's going on with her.

Scarlett's mind raced trying to think of something, ANYTHING, that could justify her reasons to be here.

"Uhh, T-The photo! The one with Camilla's mark you mentioned on your phone once!" Scarlett stated, blushing in embarrassment, hoping he'd buy it.

"Her mark?", Caleb questions, eyebrow raised before it quickly clicks in his head, "Ohhh, you mean that destined one mark right? Still, you could've just asked. It's on my phone. That's what I'm here for.", he says, getting his phone out of the pants, draped on the desk chair he wore last night.

"O-Oh?"

"Still, It's pretty rude to just go looking around someone's room without permission.", he chastises.

"S-Sorry, I just felt embarrassed to ask something so…a-anyway, I'll just leave now.", Scarlett desperately says, trying to get out of the room and save further embarrassment.

"It's fine, actually. If you wanna see it, I'll show you." Caleb said with a smile, quickly pulling up the image on his phone, stopping her in her tracks, "Here, check it out."

Scarlett curiously steps closer, blushing a bit as she sees the image of Camilla bathing suit area with the tattoo-like ovary mark. Her mouth goes agape in awe with the fascinated expression similar to a small child. It was a cute and quite familiar expression.

"Hehe, you have the same look in your eye Camilla has.", Caleb muses.

"Eh? What do you mean by that?" Scarlett asked, genuinely curious about what he meant.

"Camilla has that same inquisitive look in her eye when she sees something new or intrigues her. It's adorable actually."

Scarlett's heart flutters at his words and cheeks flush red, "I-Is that so? Do you…think it's cute when I do it?"

Caleb looks at her a bit surprised by the question, "Huh?"

"N-Nevermind! Don't answer that.", Scarlett quickly withdraws, feeling more awkward and embarrassed. Her heart racing uncontrollably as she seems to struggle to calm herself down.

"It is, actually…", Caleb answered honestly much to her surprise, "I mean, you've got your own charm when you do it but yeah."

Scarlett felt a sudden wave of satisfaction and slight joy at those words before handing his phone back, "T-Thank you for showing me."

"No problem."

"And…I'm sorry.", Scarlett apologizes.

"About what? Barging in my room? Honestly, I'm not even that upset so you're goo–"

"No, well yes that too, but…I mean about when I accused you of not being loyal to Camilla."

Caleb gives a slightly confused look before remembering their talk a few days ago, "Oh, that, well…don't worry about it. You were just worried about her."

"Yeah but it still wasn't my place to be. Besides, I see the way you and Kaiya are together. It's…more than just lust and temporary companionship…you genuinely love and care for her and she feels the same.", Scarlett admitted, cradling her chest.

"I'm…glad you don't think I'm some kinda sleazeball?", Caleb half joked then replies, "Like I said, I want to make this all work so I'm trying my best to BE my best. I want to be someone who deserves their love."

"I believe they already think so but, if that's what you want, I won't protest. It's just fortunate they have someone like you. Many of us…aren't so lucky.", Scarlett replies in a somber tone, looking away in melancholy. Her thoughts turn to someone she once trusted the same way Camilla and the others do him.

"Not yet, at least."

"Huh?"

"You never know who you'll meet in this life, when, or how. Today's loneliness is tomorrow's friendships followed by love. The right person could be right around the corner or even next door. You just need to hold on, keep working on yourself, and hell maybe they'll find you instead.", Caleb encouraged the redhead devil who stared at him intrigued, "Besides, a beautiful, dedicated and strong devil like you will surely attract a truly good person; maybe even find that 'destined one'. ", He cheekily added, prompting a deep blush from Scarlett.

"Y-You think I'm…beautiful? And strong? Y-You really shouldn't say stuff like–AH!", Scarlett expressed, flustered and hastily backing away but ended up tripping over backwards on a small half open suit case left by Kaiya forgot about.

"Shit!"', Caleb stated, instinctively teleporting to catch her before she hits her head or fractures a wing. He catches her arm then teleports again, "You ok?"

"Y-Yeah, I'm fi—", Scarlett stops upon noticing their position. He had unintentionally pinned her against the wall—same spot as Kaiya–to cushion her fall; a realization that was not lost on him either.

At that moment, a sudden spark shot through them both. They each wordlessly stared at each other, their faces mere inches away. Scarlett gazed into his soft brown eyes, taking in his intoxicating scent and broad masculine features while Caleb stared into her ruby red pools, unable to help admiring her gorgeous red hair and soft pink lips. Their hearts pounded in their respective chests, gradually matching each other's pace in a metronome of beats. Scarlett parts her lips as if to speak while Caleb audible gulps the lump in his throat. They both inch towards each other, driven by an unknown yet strong attractive force until—

*Knock knock knock*

A knock at the bedroom door startled them both out of their daze.

"Hey? Are you still in there? Come to living room, asap!", Drei spoke from the other side, a bit of urgency in her tone.

"A-Alright! Be there in a sec!", Caleb stated, backing away from the redhead devil, as she slightly reaches then withdraws in disappointment. He looks at her, shifting his gaze awkwardly before clearing his throat, "L-Let's uh…go see what's going on…"

"...Yeah."

Caleb awkwardly offers his hand to teleport out with him but she quickly rebuffs the gesture.

"I'll…just walk out. Thanks.", She says, believing it'd be awkward to show up together.

"Ok then. That's…yeah.", Caleb teleports away to avoid embarrassing himself further.

Scarlett leans her back against the wall and sighs heavily into her hands. Then looks to the ceiling in thought while her heart continues pounding.

"Why…why can't I calm myself down whenever he's around.", Scarlett bemoans softly, completely unaware of the few strands of red locks that had gained a snow-white luster during their encounter.

After a minute to cool off, she then rejoined the others in the living room finding them gathered around with another voice coming from Kaiya's phone speaker. They all wore shocked, even unnerved expressions as she entered.

"What's going on?", Scarlett inquires.

'Is that Scarlett?! Hun, where have you been, we've been texting you for almost an hour! I had to get Krea to send me Kaiya's number just to ask CALEB!', Came the voice of Jocelyn from the device.

"Sorry, my phone's in my apartment. What's wrong?"

'Scar, a man got EATEN last night and not in a fun way!', Jocelyn stated in a serious tone, shocking and confusing the redhead, while Caleb and Kaiya looked at each other.

"It's much worse than it actually sounds.", Drei comments, arms folded.

…Later…

After a bit more context, at least from what they knew or heard, Caleb and the others were understandably shocked by the news. The fact that a member of the facility's own security, a Mantis at that, could lose control during a full moon and commit an act so vile was beyond upsetting. It really called into question how reliable the staff truly were among the students. On the other hand, this tragedy could further strain the already tenuous trust human visitors—and staff members—have towards their non-human coworkers.

However, the entire situation didn't make sense; especially to those like Drei.

She'd lived much of her life near mantis. Despite the complicated and bloody history their two species share, one thing they at least have in common is how they treat their mated partners. They'd NEVER kill their mate. All these years, this was the first time Drei ever heard of a mantis killing much less devouring their partner. Unless it's a rival clan's mate but even then it's very rare. She's heard of them subduing or smacking around their mate to keep them humble or as punishment for their behavior; her species does virtually the same. Regardless of species, even after thousands of years of evolution, that fact holds true. A mantis would NEVER kill their own mate.

There had to be some powerful outside influence but she, nor the others, were sure what specifically. But Drei knew one thing for sure she WON'T make the same mistake she made last time. This time she will be ready.

…Later in the Evening…

After some time to digest the very disturbing news, Caleb and the others continued trying to enjoy the rest of their day.

Caleb and Kaiya prepared a wonderful dinner of cape buffalo steaks—a first Caleb but she assured him it was similar to preparing regular beef steaks—roasted garlic and herb potatoes, red beans and rice, and cheddar cheese broccoli; much to Drei's dismay. They invited Scarlett over which she, a bit reluctantly, accepted with Caleb preparing her a special vegetarian meal from his 'Moon pie palette' repertoire; a lemon pepper veggie and rice stir fry. They enjoyed their dinner in the living room while watching 'Judge Dredd'.

The entire time, Scarlett would sneak glances at Kaiya and Caleb snuggled together on the couch with a tinge of jealousy even she didn't fully comprehend. When she eventually left to go to bed early for her first job tomorrow, Caleb could see hints of sadness in her eyes. Hopefully a good night's sleep will help them both move past that awkward moment earlier.

Right now, Caleb could be seen in his bedroom, lying down in his sleepwear and reflecting on the last week or so. Between helping get Jovi and Carmine's business together, his dates with Kaiya, and dungeon crawling through an angel compound, he's been insanely active. It was starting to become overwhelming. Nice, boring and relatively uneventful days like this were a welcome relief from the chaos in his life. That is not to say it didn't come with it's blessings.

"Haaa, that was nice shower, darling.", contently hummed the voice of Kaiya, getting his attention, as she entered the bedroom having just finished her usual after-dinner shower. She wore an oversized blue T-shirt with a cerulean moon and stars design stopping at her plump thighs and black lace panties. Her skin steaming with her as she bends down, going through her suitcase for a brush, giving a good view of her juicy rear and shapely legs.

"Case and point.", Caleb muttered with a sly smirk, admiring the view.

"What was that about a 'case', darling?", she curiously asks, approaching him with the brush.

"Nothing, just thinking out loud.", Caleb says, repositioning into a seated up on bed's edge, "You ready?"

Kaiya sweetly nods, handing him the brush and sitting in his lap, as flinches at the sensation of her nearly bare ass resting on his groin, much to the hellhound's amusement. He calms himself before carefully dragging the brush along her shaggy, furry arms.

Sidenote: It's part of Hellhound tradition in Raukadona called 'Mwenzi akichunga manyoya(Mate fur tending)' where newly formed mates take turns grooming each other.

"Hahh, thank you again for agreeing to this. It feels really good.", Kaiya hummed at the pleasant sensation.

"It's no problem. I already said I'm used to it. I live with a werewolf and a centaur after all.", he casually replies, noting that her fur's a bit more manageable than the Lyca's but way longer than Mirabelle's.

"Still, I don't want it to be too much of a burden on you."

"You're not. I'm your boyfriend and soon-to-be host, it's only natural I get used to this. Other arm please.", Caleb requested, having already finished the first arm, before she presented her other arm.

"I…guess you're right. Honestly, it makes me nervous."

"What does?"

"There's still so much I don't understand about this country, you, or the females you live with. I wonder if I'll be able to adapt to it all in order to be with you.", Kaiya says with an uncertain expression, still enjoying the sensation of the brush against her fur.

"You aren't the only non-human who's thought that, I'm sure. I know a few personally that still have trouble trying to navigate this country. Hell, the same goes for humans. Still, none of us are alone, because we have each other in the midst of the bullshit. That's the way I see it.", Caleb says, dragging the brush to her clawed hand, lifting it with the other.

"...I guess our homeland isn't too different aside from temperatures. A lone Hellhound without their pack doesn't survive very long."

"Well, it's not dangerous to THAT degree but it's still unpredictable and harsh at times.", Caleb emphasized, lifting her hand, feeling her soft paw pads against his palm, brushing the knots from her wrist tufts.

Kaiya enjoyed the sensation but looks at her crimson claws lighting grazing his skin. It made her nervous.

"C-Caleb, do you…ever feel worried that…one of your mates will hurt you?"

Caleb stops brushing a moment then looks to her with a pensive expression, "Is this about what happened early with that dude?"

"A little…a lot, honestly. It just reminds me of how fragile your species can truly be at times. We can easily break your bones, slice into your skin, or even straight up kill you; whether intentional or not. It's scary to think one careless mistake can…", Kaiya somberly spoke, looking at her large rough furry canine paws with small but sharp claws compared to his smaller, fleshy hands.

"True, my species may not be the strongest, the fastest, or even the smartest at times…but we are still here aren't we?", he asks as Kaiya looks at him curiously, "Still, to answer your question, I was worried at first even after I became a host. Mirabelle could straight kick my head off if she wanted. Lyca is strong enough to literally toss me like a chew toy. Don't even get me started on Camilla. That's the funny thing about growing closer to people, you tend to forget what they're capable of."

"That's what makes it scary. We shouldn't forget, maybe then stuff like that male officer wouldn't…"

"I understand what you mean. Isn't that why you're holding yourself back right now?", Caleb asks with a warm grin as Kaiya is slightly taken about, "Even now, I can tell you're being careful not to scratch me with your claws or hold me too tight. That's how the others are around me everyday. They constantly hold back, watch their step, and avoid harming me even accidentally so I think it's second nature at this point. Maybe that's something all liminals intuit after a while of living with a human."

"Is that really enough though?", Kaiya questions, more so herself as Caleb lifts up her leg, surprising her with his strength to do so.

"Nothing's perfect, baby, just be happy the chances of anything bad happening become lower the more restraint one has.", Caleb emphasized with every stroke of the brush on her leg fur, making her shudder, "And you're stronger than you know, I feel it."

"Darling…", Kaiya dreamily utters before pressing herself against him, nuzzling her head underneath his neck; a sign of temporary submission among Hellhound women, "I know this goes without saying but…I would never, NEVER harm you even by mistake or accident. I'd sooner chew off both arms than ever turn my fists or fangs against you!"

"I believe that morbid mouth of yours but I prefer my beautiful blue-eyed baby with both her arms.", Caleb cheekily mutters making her giggle sweetly, tail thumping against the bed.

"Ok! That's enough with my legs.", Kaiya stated, raising off her and repositioning herself carefully. She lies down across his lap on her stomach with her butt and tail presented for him, "Now, you can do my tail. Though you miiiight need to move that outta the way", she says with a naughty smirk, making her plump butt cheeks jiggle through the shirt that also obscured part of her tail.

Caleb gulps audibly before replies, "A-Alright, no problem…"

He hooks his fingers on the hem of the blue fabric and peels it back like he's unwrapping a gift, revealing the rest of her tail base and her plump, juicy gray cheeks and thighs with little black freckles. He could feel her shudder in anticipation before she gently grabbed her tail, making her gasp in pleasure before dragging the brush along her soft, fuzzy wolf-like tail. Every stroke he made sent a jolt through her spine as she softly moaned in delight.

The sensation made her so happy it caused her tail to wag as it Caleb struggled to grab hold of it.

"Hey! Pfffft, can you stop wagging your tail? Trying to brush it.", Caleb stated, spitting out any fur that got in his mouth.

"Sorry, darling, this thing has a mind of it's own sometimes. Though, it seems you have something with its own mind too.", Kaiya saucily spoke with a lewd smirk, teasingly grinding her womanhood against his bulge making him tense up. She then gently slaps his face with her tail a few times.

"You better stop that.", Caleb requested in a slightly serious tone.

"Or what, Darling? You're gonna spank me? Strike my big, juicy booty?", Kaiya teased, undulating a bit making her flesh jiggle enticingly.

"Yes.", Caleb plainly replies before slapping her butt just hard enough to make the sound echo through the room as the Hellhound lets out a startled yipping bark.

The sensation stunned the Hellhound woman who processes this feeling as the stinging pain, the exquisite stinging pain, made her shudder in pleasure. It gave her body the illusion that something thrusted inside her a second. She wanted more.

"~That's the best you got? I'm stronger than I look, remember? Give me all of you, darling?~", Kaiya playfully taunted, looking back at him while moving her bangs away. She was panting with her tongue out, cheeks blushing heavily, and azure blue eyes filled with love.

"~You asked for it.~", Caleb happily obliges, sliding down her underwear then giving her bare rear a good slap, sending ripples throughout her flesh as she howls in delight.

Outside their room Drei could be seen reading a book while wearing the noise canceling headphones she had "acquired" from their neighbor 'I'm really glad I took these.' she thought as she flipped to the next page.

….Later that night…

Hours passed and the pair could now be seen in bed together, their clothes strung about as they lay in naked embrace after a few passionate love making sessions. They each blissfully slept with Kaiya's head nestled in the crook of his neck dreaming blissfully.

…Dreamscape…

Kaiya lay on the ground surrounded by a field of purple chrysanthemums. The calming aroma quickly fills her senses as her eyes flutter open before shooting wide. She quickly raises up, looking around at the seemingly endless sea of purple plumage. There was a gentle breeze blowing petals around her and the sky above had a bizarrely violet sheen, confusing the young Hellhound. She then became worried as Caleb was nowhere in sight.

'Ah, good, you're finally awake.', came a familiar voice catching Kaiya's attention. She turned to see, much to her surprise, a female centaur dressed in purple ceremonial ropes with a hood. She removes her hood revealing Mirabelle's calm grin, 'Though, I suppose awake is relative in this place.'

"W-Who are you? W-Where am I? What have you done with my mate?!", Kaiya demanded, becoming more worried for his safety which pleased the centaur knowing she cared.

"Well, to put it simply, you're in a dream and I-"

"Wait! Dream?! Are you one of those Popo Báya mama who told us stories about?!", Kaiya stated in horrified yet excited realization, "Have you trapped my mate in one of your evil labyrinths where he's forced to fight the souls of other victims to protect his anal chastity?!"

Mirabelle pauses taking a moment to compose herself, "...No. I haven't done anything so ghastly to my Dear. I assure you he's perfectly safe. Also, I believe humans call that 'prison'."

"You still haven't answered my question! And why are you calling him, 'dear'?"

"Ah, because I'm his wife. Mirabelle Marequine.", Mirabelle happily replies as Kaiya is visibly taken aback, "And you must be Kaiya Cerberjack, the fourth woman he fell in love with."

Kaiya takes a moment to collect herself, "Y-Your…his mate? So you're the one he, wait, but you're not a devil at all."

"No, that would be Camilla. She and Lyca can't be with us tonight, unfortunately, because of some…let's say 'battery' is on the blink."

"Ohhh so…you're his true first mate.", Kaiya says in realization.

"I suppose so, technically speaking, but there is no true mate. We all love him therefore we're equals. That includes you."

"I…think I understand. Still though, how exactly are you here? Are you…in my head? Is this your power?"

"How observant. Why yes, I am within your dreamscape. The 'me' you see is merely a projection of my true body. Though, at first I merely intended to enter Dear's, but then I sensed another pool of astral energy nearby, so I decided to investigate. I was pleasantly surprised to find our soon-to-be new sister-mate."

"So, you wanted to meet me…well, sort of in person? What about Caleb?"

"Dear is having a grand time with my Warden in his dreamscape. See?", Mirabelle conjures a rectangular glowing mirror with the image of Caleb in a purple tuxedo singing and playing piano rendition of 'purple rain' with another version of Mirabelle in purple glitter dress. Kaiya looks between Mirabelle and the one in front of her questioningly, "Before you ask, it's actually an astral guardian I created to protect my Dear from spiritual and psyche attacks."

"That's…actually very thoughtful. You seem like a good wife to him."

"You seem to be as well. That's why I had to meet you for myself and see who you are exactly. I'm happy to tell you, I fully approve of you. I hope you'll think of me and the others in your extended family."

"I do! I did the moment he told me you all accept me. I'll do my best in this new family of mine!", Kaiya heartily stated.

Mirabelle smiles, pleased by her response but also choosing not to mention that she went through some of the hellhound's memories. She could still see images of a young, quiet child version of Kaiya growing up in the geothermal energy and lava streams riddled, and scarce water areas of Raukadona. She went through memories of her sisters, mom, father and the rest of her family seeing her grow up, surprisingly, lonely. She didn't seem to fit any mold of her species, leaving her depressed some days. It didn't help that she was constantly bullied by rival clans because of her 'condition'. One of the bullies who was especially cruel towards her reminded her of another Hellhound from Dear's memory; 'Chrolla'.

Regardless, Mirabelle also saw that her feeling she held for her Caleb were true and she was willing get along with them.

"Um, Miss Mirabelle?"

"Hehe, you can just call me Mirabelle."

"Ok, um, would you mind if we talked for a bit longer? I know Caleb told me about you but…I want to know you and the others for myself.", Kaiya says with a warm grin.

Mirabelle smiles back, summoning her dream scythe, tapping the ground, summoning a purple table with a tea set and several different snacks including meaty ones, much to Kaiya's amazement, "Well now, let's have a seat and begin."

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…WN…

Sup fam! I hope everyone is doing well and surviving this year so far. I'm doing the best I can as well, despite everything. Girlfriend went to the hospital(she gets out next week), nearly lost a hand at work because of these folks we're hiring dumb as hell, and sister had a bad experience in Florida( she's back home where she belong.

Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. I know not much happens in it but that's kinda the point. It's to give characters a breather. Don't worry we'll be back to our regularly scheduled bs later. Also, it's bit awkward to release a chapter like this on the first day of black history month but screw it. That one scene would make Douglas proud, I just know it.

That's about it be sure to let me know what your highlights are, check out the deviantart page in my name, thank you to Sandshrewmaster and my betas. Don't forget to hug your parents, drink water, get some sleep, exercise, DON'T listen to a Hellhound when she says it's a 'safe day', and I'll see y'all later.

Peace Fam.