The Beauty's Hidden Beast

Mitchell's POV

"Our female has a name, and you will refer to her as Queen Nivi," the hawk snarled.

"Queen Nivi, Queen Nivi, Queen Nivi," I repeated provocatively. Skaris's habits had rubbed off on me, and I wasn't sure whether I wanted to shake them off. "I like that sound. Very well. Queen Nivi, I've come here to ask for your love, but it looks like I will have to work for it. What do I have to do?"

The males looked like they were about to murder me, but Queen Nivi raised her hand, silencing them.

"First, you have to gain my and my male's approval. I can't simply take a random beastman's words for granted, especially one from a hostile kingdom," the Queen said.

I scoffed, "Respect can be gained with time and effort, but fear is instant. How many years do you think I will have to spend before they even consider trusting me?"

"Fear is not earned; it is taken by force. The only thing it proves is your cowardice, and nothing more," she said, shaking her head. "I don't care about your background or where you are from. All I need to know is what's in your heart. Are you here to harm us or help us? What are your motives? What do you hope to achieve?"

The Tiger Queen was not an ordinary female. Her words were sharp, and her voice was not weak or timid. Her gaze was focused, her stance unwavering. Her eyes held intelligence and wisdom, which I'd never seen in a female before.

Or maybe I did, but she would barely let me hear her speak, let alone see her eyes. Why was I thinking about her, anyway? That female was not someone I should think about. She was not even close to the level of the Tiger Queen.

I smiled, amused, "What is there to prove when it is already obvious," I said, looking up at her, "Would you be interested in having a Scorpion King as one of your males?"

Her eyes widened in shock, and she stepped back, "W-what?"

"I have no reason to deceive you. I just want to know if you find me attractive and if I can earn your favor," I said, still on the ground. No matter how low they tried to make me look before their female, I held my head high.

Her cheeks reddened, her expression troubled. She took a step back, bumping into the tiger behind her, who immediately wrapped his arms around her, "Are you alright, Nivi?"

"Y-yes," The Tiger Queen cleared her throat, her tone returning to its previous seriousness, "I will not mate with you, or anyone, until I know for sure if you are trustworthy, and I will not accept an outsider as one of my mates unless I am absolutely certain he has my best interests at heart," she said.

"That doesn't answer my question. Do you find me attractive or not?" I asked and saw the jealousy in her male's eyes. She only had a handful of males, even though she could have more, which showed her consideration for her mates' feelings. But what if she got attracted to another male? Would their opinion still matter? I doubted it.

"I..." The Queen took a deep breath, avoiding eye contact, "I've seen better," she finished, her gaze sharp as she tried to gain the upper hand, "I would be stupid to fall for someone just because he's handsome."

I smiled, unfazed by her words. I was glad my looks didn't blind her ─ it meant she was worth having, "If you find me attractive, wouldn't that make you want to trust me?" I asked, holding her gaze. "All I have to do is prove I'm worth it, and you'll be mine. It's just a matter of time, isn't it?"

Her mouth twitched, unable to deny the logic in my words, "What if I reject you right now? Would you leave quietly? I have enough males. I don't need you."

"You don't need me, but do you want me?" I asked.

She crossed her arms, a bit flustered, "Are you trying to provoke me into admitting that I find you attractive?"

I smiled, "Is it working?"

"No," she said, but her eyes betrayed her words.

"Don't worry, my dear. I won't force myself upon you. I will win you over the right way," I promised and saw the doubt in her eyes.

"You are welcome to try," she said.

"Try?" I chuckled, "There is no trying. I will succeed," I laughed, causing another wave of Beast pressure to crash on me.

Muir, that fool, didn't even wait for me to wake up. He dropped me in a stranger's house and disappeared just as suddenly as he appeared.

· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·

I stayed in the Tiger Tribe for a few days, helping the Queen with her household. Her males didn't allow me to go outside alone and always had someone watching me.

"You are not what I expected," the Queen said as she approached me.

I was chopping food and was just finishing up. "What did you expect?" I asked. I didn't know how to do everything, but I learned quickly.

She stared at my chest and abdomen, her eyes roaming my body. She was trying to hide it, but I could tell she was enjoying the view.

"I thought you were going to be an arrogant Scorpion King, who would cause problems all the time, and yet here you are, doing chores like a normal male," she said, smiling softly.

"It's easy when you tell me what you want and why," I replied. Not like a certain female. I never knew, and she would never say. She didn't care if I obeyed her. If I did, she would send the cubs to attack me. If I didn't, yes, you guessed it. She would send the cubs to attack me. Either way, I would have to suffer.

I never mentioned the foul female and her males. What we went through together was too personal, like a private joke that only we could understand. Nivi didn't mention her males and what they went through together either. There was no need.

Nivi told me a bit about herself, and I told her about me. I only wanted it to be about us, and she had no objections.

· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·

Two weeks later...

After sunset, Nivi invited me to a big party to welcome me to the Tiger Tribe. She introduced me as a scorpion beastman who was "different" compared to the rest, and told the tribe's people about my plans and how I hoped to change things for the better. Everyone welcomed me, and I was given a lot of attention.

I finally received recognition from the others, something I used to complain about. One after another, my wishes were being granted as if the Beast God had finally heard me. It felt strange. I socialized and laughed, but my smile never reached my eyes.

Nivi's males would sit around a large fire, worshiping her in every way possible. I played with her leopard cubs, and their fathers would suddenly switch their attention from their female to me, watching me closely, afraid I would somehow hurt their little ones.

Then, I would observe how Nivi would shower her males with love. Both mated and unmated males were jealous of their close bond. This was what I should desire ─ a family that loved me, a family that would give their lives for me, and a female who would be proud to be mine.

Yet, as I was sitting there, surrounded by people, I felt more alone than ever. If I wanted to fit in, I would have to follow their rules, follow the traditions. I would have to act and be a slave to their expectations.

I received more freedom to roam around the tribe, and whoever I met would praise the Tiger Queen as if the changes in the Flame City were all due to her and Winston's influence. It wasn't me or the scorpion beastmen, who were fundamentally reshaping themselves to drive these changes. Their ignorance made me crave war just to prove them wrong.

At night, I would return to my new sleeping place where the continuation of her male's worship would begin. From my room, I could hear the Queen's moans and gasps of pleasure.

Come on, Mitchell, feel something. I told myself, trying to find the spark, the same burning desire her males felt for her.

But all I could think about was how much I wanted to leave this place.

I jumped out of the tree house and landed on the ground, my eyes looking up at the night sky.

I suddenly missed the boys and the way they were always up to no good.

So what if I wanted to see the Tiger Queen?

They didn't have to throw me right before her and leave.

· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·

I left the tiger tribe, roaming around the dark forest.

"You guys are real assholes," I whispered to myself. "Sure, she treats her males wonderfully, she's smart, beautiful, and has a perfect body. She's everything I could ever dream of in a female─everything I've never had."

I scoffed. "Everyone is kind and sweet and welcoming. It's all good, it's all great, it's all wonderful. Are you not going to take it away from me and say, 'Ha ha, you dumb scorpion! You fell into our trap!' That's what you want me to think that I have everything I could wish for, and then─" I hit the tree with my fist. "You would take it away and laugh at me!" I yelled.

No answer came.

Why would someone go to such great lengths for my sake?

Who would give me everything I wished for and not expect anything in return?

"This is a prank, isn't it? You are just messing with me, right?"

The wind howled, and the leaves rustled.

"Right?" I yelled at the night sky.

There was no answer, no one came, and no one woke me up from my dream.

I sighed and slid down the tree, sitting on the ground, my hand running through my hair.

My dreams, huh?

They were getting out of control.

I would fall asleep with her lips on mine, her tongue licking my teeth and my neck, and wake up with the thought of choking her to death.

I would fall asleep with my hands on her body, stroking her skin and kissing her legs, and wake up thinking about how her screams would sound if I tortured her.

I would fall asleep planning our future, and wake up planning her murder.

I would have her in my dreams, and would lose her when I wake up.

It was a vicious circle that I tried to take control of, but the more I tried, the less control I had.

It couldn't be love, right?

No males in love would ever want their loved ones to be hurt, or suffer, right?

Then what was it?

Lust?

I was a scorpion in his prime; it was normal to have urges, and my mind would conjure a female to fantasize about, and the female would happen to be her.

Why not Nivi?

The things I wanted to do when in heat were not things that should ever be done to a female, and yet, I couldn't help myself.

My thoughts were dark and dangerous, and my instincts were sick and twisted. I would always blame them on my feral side.

I would blame it on everything. Except me.

I decided whether to follow those thoughts and if I chose not to, that was my decision.

My actions were under my control, not my instincts.

But, if I wanted something, the instinct inside me pushed me forward.

And now, they were telling me to get the fuck out of here.

Nivi was like the sun, bringing warmth and joy to her surroundings. Everyone gathered around her and bathed in her light.

Yaya was like the night sky. A cold and dark sky that allowed all the stars to shine brilliantly. She was the darkness that made the stars stand out, and without her, no one would notice them.

I couldn't fit into Nivi's family, not because she wouldn't let me, but because I didn't belong there. She was the sun herself. Her males were like her plants. They were nothing without her─absolutely nothing. I didn't feel jealous of them, and I didn't respect them either. They were the most pitiful beings, and her warmth for them was the only thing that gave them strength and power.

I couldn't be like them, and I didn't want to be like them.

Yaya's males were like the stars. They were not afraid of the dark. The dark was where they could shine and stand out. The dark was their home, and they were the light that lit up her miserable life.

I'm a scorpion.

I thrive in the dark.

So logically, it made sense that I would rather spend time with that foul female than Nivi.

That's it. That's the reason.

I would rather be in the company of other shining stars than be a sun-worshiping tree.

· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·

The next morning...

"Queen Nivi, may the Beast God bless your life and protect you," I bowed, showing her respect, finding whatever excuse, like having to do my kingly duties or some shit like that, just to get out of here.

"Scorpion King," she smiled, "I'm glad you liked your stay with us. Feel free to visit anytime you wish," she said, her gaze lingering on me, her eyes filled with curiosity.

I smiled, and nodded, turning around and walking away.

"Mitchell," she called, stopping me in my tracks.

"Yes, Queen Nivi?" I said, turning around.

She got on her tiptoes and kissed my chin, too short to reach higher. "Have a safe journey," she smiled, "And please don't call me Queen. You are not a part of my tribe, and we are friends. Just Nivi will do. I want you to feel comfortable around me," she said.

I rubbed my chin, my smile faltering, "What are you? A cub? What kind of kiss was that?"

"A what?" She gasped.

"Come here," I said, leaning down, "Let me teach you a real kiss."

Her eyes widened. Her cheeks reddened, and her mouth opened and closed.

It was fun teasing her...and her males, too.

I dodged the tiger claw coming for my head and took off. Winston ran behind me, chasing me with his claws and fire in his eyes. Soon, his roars summoned the rest of her males.

I transformed into my scorpion form and quickly burrowed into the underground tunnel, vanishing from their sight.

· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·

"The Tiger Queen's alliance with the Scorpion King has crumbled. Let this be the talk of every corner," I commanded my men. "Spread the word far and wide."

If the beastmen want to use gossip against us, then let's spread something juicy and scandalous about their favorite Queen.

All the beastmen can die in a ditch!

How dare they believe they are better than us, scorpions?

They look down on us as if we're nothing.

I'm sick of their shit.

The scorpion race will rise, and we will conquer.

Just wait and see.

We will have the last laugh, and it will be glorious.

I headed to the nearest scorpion tribe and gave orders, and soon, the scorpion tribes were all mobilized.

Me, a second Winston?

Someone she doesn't hate but doesn't want to have anything to do with?

Hah!

As if!

Scorpions don't beg. They take.

When I want something, I get it.

I'm a King.

Not a damn second anything.

╔═══ Author's note ════╗

I hope you enjoyed the chapters. It seems like trouble is coming YY's way. 🤭

I've added info about the Flame City into our Beastpedia. I'm now working on the characters. There are still a few things I'm researching about them. 🤗

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