A Tiger Rolled Into My Life, Bringing Chaos With It - Chapter 17

“Elephants….”

Like most carnivorous shifters, Jakan knew almost nothing about the herbivorous district. However, he did know that elephant shifters had been merely rumors for decades, beings without any confirmed existence.

Stories claimed that one kick from them could knock out a lion shifter, or that they swept through groups of carnivorous shifters without leaving a trace. Tales where no one knew what was real and what was fabricated. They were so outlandish that it was embarrassing to believe them. In Jakan’s view, these were just fake stories spread by herbivorous shifters to prevent carnivorous incursions. But their leader had an unusual certainty about these beings.

He wanted to tell him to stop chasing such strange creatures and come back, but… he couldn’t go looking for their leader who had crossed into the herbivorous district. Even with scent neutralizers, he was a carnivorous shifter from head to toe. Unless one was stupid, what carnivorous shifter would cross into the herbivorous district? Of course, their leader was an exception due to his special qualities.

Knock knock.

“Mr. Jakan. I heard you called for us.”

“Come in.”

Soon, the door opened, and two men wearing hooded robes entered.

“How many ‘medicines’ do we currently have?”

“Ten in total. All have lower concentrations than the previous version.”

“Ten? Didn’t you say you could make more before?”

The men fidgeted uncomfortably under Jakan’s sharp gaze.

“A-actually, we may have drawn too much blood, and the test subject died suddenly a week ago.”

“You should have told me this earlier.”

“We-we’re sorry. We originally planned to get another test subject, but the broker suddenly demanded more money. He said he couldn’t provide one for the same price as before…”

“How much more?”

After hesitating, they quietly answered, ’20 gold more…’ Jakan frowned. Even though the hyenas had lost territory to the tigers in their last defeat, they weren’t so poor that they couldn’t afford 20 gold. But it was certainly high for just one specimen.

“Fine.”

“Thank you.”

With Cher still uncaptured and medicine production lagging, he wouldn’t have any face to show their returning leader. Jakan took out money and handed it to the robed shifter. As the shifter was about to take the 20 gold and leave, Jakan suddenly grabbed his head roughly through the robe, making his knees buckle.

“Ugh…!”

As the man groaned, Jakan’s voice pierced down at him.

“You know what happens if you try to cheat me.”

Sweat slowly trickled down the man’s forehead. Jakan’s eyes, right in front of him, weren’t looking at a shifter’s face but measuring a piece of meat. The man instinctively swallowed.

“I-I would never cheat you.”

His cowering response spread through the empty air. Only then did Jakan’s hand slowly release his head. The man hastily clutched his robe and backed away.

“Dismissed.”

“Y-yes.”

He firmly gripped the money pouch Jakan had given him and left the building.

***

Tinya’s impression after using a bed she could never afford on her income was simple.

‘Comfortable.’

It was so comfortable that her eyes were drooping despite lying in the same bed with Cher in his human form. It wasn’t just the bed. The pillow and blanket that came with it were also exceptional. The softness gently supporting her neck and the cozy sensation wrapping around her body like sun-dried bedding made her fall asleep instantly.

She even caught herself thinking, ‘It’s fortunate that Cher broke the bed.’ She had assumed all beds were more or less the same, but that was a misconception. The difference was as significant as between fresh romaine lettuce and something that wasn’t romaine.

However, there was one thing that disrupted this comfort… Cher, who was using her as a pillow and holding her close. In the early dawn, he had suddenly wrapped his arm around her waist, startling her, and maintained that position until morning. Their positions might have shifted slightly during the night, but she remained trapped.

‘Nngh!’

So heavy! She had felt it at dawn too, but were there rocks in his arms? His weight was so firmly fixed that her attempts to slip away kept failing. Now that she noticed, not just his arms but his chest was incredibly firm too.

‘I wish I could change into animal form and escape…’

But if she did, she might reveal her animal form. Although her transformation back to human wasn’t particularly slow, if he opened his eyes during that brief moment, it would be disastrous. Besides, they were currently facing each other directly. Extremely dangerous.

Finally, Tinya changed tactics. She began slowly extracting herself by sliding under his embrace.

‘Why do I have to struggle so much just to get up?’

This is my home! My bed—though he paid for it—but still!

Just as a pouty expression was about to form at the corners of her mouth…

“Pfft.”

…Pfft?

At the clearly audible suppressed laughter, Tinya’s head slowly turned upward. Where her gaze landed, clear eyes that showed no signs of sleepiness were quietly shining. His face didn’t look like someone who had just woken up. The curved eyes, trying to swallow his laughter, suggested he had been awake for quite some time.

“W-when did you wake up?”

“When you were feeling up my chest?”

At those words, Tinya flapped like a startled fish and shouted.

“I-I wasn’t feeling you up, I was pushing you away!”

“Your touch seemed too lecherous for that. You said mating wasn’t allowed, but did you actually want to?”

“That’s not…”

“You kept rubbing against me here while sliding down.”

Cher demonstratively thrust his lower body forward. Following that pressure, a distinct sensation transmitted to Tinya’s stomach. Despite the clothing between them, she could feel the heat. Her stomach felt warm where they touched. As her lips quivered from the strange feeling, Cher’s gaze became subtle.

He observed Tinya intently. Judging by her reaction, she didn’t seem to dislike it.

Let’s test this.

“If you want, you can change your mind. You’re the boss, so I’ll accommodate you.”

With those words, he slowly rolled his hips, subtly rubbing his connected lower body against her. As the soft sensation rubbed against her stomach, a startled Tinya pushed him away with rough movements.

“I… I’m not changing my mind!”

She shrieked and quickly escaped from the bed before he could grab her. Cher leisurely reached out and caught her wrist. When he pulled sharply, Tinya’s body was helplessly dragged along. One knee bent and pressed against the bed.

“Are you going to leave me like this?”

Contrary to her expectation of seeing a teasing face, his expression was seriously subdued. Tinya flinched and unconsciously glanced at his lower body. Unlike usual, his g***n area was prominent. She recalled the shape of the genitalia that had risen to her stomach.

‘Is he… in that state now? Why, when it’s not even mating season?’

Ah. He was also e***t when they first met. Suddenly, something she had heard before came to mind. Some shifters mate regardless of mating seasons. Thinking about it, even in her former group, they didn’t necessarily limit intimacy to mating seasons.

What should she do? She had planned to ignore it and leave, but now that she knew he was in the same state as before, she hesitated. It seemed too pitiful to leave him alone like this. Her wavering emotions were fully conveyed to Cher.

‘This isn’t like wagging a tail in front of a predator asking to be eaten.’

He was holding her hand loosely enough that she could break free if she wanted, yet she showed no sign of escaping. Having expected to be pushed away again, her current docile response was somewhat unexpected. It was hard to believe this was the same shifter who had avoided him for over half a year.

Why? Because he bought her a bed? But there had been no change in attitude when he gave large tips before. Suddenly, someone’s words flashed through his mind: “They say once you’ve had body contact, feelings change.” Immediately after, her excuses for avoiding mating also occupied his thoughts.

‘She never said she disliked it.’

She only said work was tiring. Of course, there was no way she could have disliked mating with him. His mind changed. Though his lower region had become heavy from her squirming, he hadn’t planned to do anything, but now he couldn’t help it. S*xual desire slowly pooled in his yellow eyes.

Suppressing the urge to immediately push her down onto the bed, he slowly moved along their joined hands. His palm gently stroked the back of her hand. When Tinya’s eyes wavered slightly, Cher silently moistened the tip of his tongue.

Just a little more.

His index finger wedged between her fingers. He slowly rubbed against the bones on the back of her hand. He was ready to pounce at the slightest sign of consent. They didn’t need to go all the way. Just rubbing his c*ck against the beginning of her triangle would be enough. Or having her watch him m*sturbate would also be good.

His eyes narrowed languidly. The hand not holding her slightly lifted his top and slipped into the gap of his pants. The thin line of his abs was revealed, and his thumb disappearing into his lower clothing aroused strange feelings in her.

Though it was her first time being seduced by a male, his touch was so sticky and his gaze so intense that she instinctively sensed what he wanted. It felt as if the humidity in the room had suddenly risen, like on a rainy day.

His appearance, which had been impressive enough to make her forget he was a carnivorous shifter on their first day, further fueled the precarious atmosphere. Tinya swallowed, her mouth feeling dry. Just as her lips were carefully about to open—

Rrrrrring!

Breaking the silence, the alarm clock at the bedside rang loudly.