Chapter 4

His handsome face was inches away.

I was softening at his closeness when the TV in the other room crackled with an urgent news bulletin.

"We interrupt this broadcast. Frost Lab is reporting a high-risk biological specimen escape. A giant black crocodile beastman undergoing experimentation broke containment three days ago. The subject, codename Twelve, is extremely violent and dangerous. Though equipped with high-precision restraint devices, there remains a risk of breach. The head researcher, Mr. Miller, is cooperating with authorities in the pursuit. Citizens are advised not to engage the subject directly. Please contact the lab or police immediately if sighted..."

Twelve went rigid.

The collar around his neck blazed red, like a stop signal.

I started to sense something off. Slowly, I relaxed my brow and reached up, taking his chin.

"Twelve... you..."

His arm around my waist tightened. His pupils trembled violently, like they were about to shatter.

I hesitated, then let the rest of the words out.

"...are your teeth hurting?"

Twelve stared at me. His usually cold, flat eyes shifted, rippling with emotion.

His lips stayed parted, silent for a long moment.

No answer came. I grew impatient and slipped two fingers into his mouth, forcing his lips wider.

His breath stalled against my fingers.

"Doesn't look like anything's wrong..." I tilted his mouth to get a better look. "Where does it hurt?"

He let me do whatever I wanted. Not a flicker of annoyance when I pried his mouth open.

After a few seconds, the light on his collar shifted from red to yellow, then back to green.

Suddenly, my body lifted.

Twelve scooped me up in his arms, stepped out of the tub in one long stride, and walked toward the living room.

Water dripped steadily from both of us, soaking the absorbent mat beneath.

He grabbed a towel from the hook, draped it over me, and carried me all the way to the couch.

He set me down, then turned and jabbed the TV off.

The room fell silent.

Twelve looked at me. His lips moved, rough and hesitant.

"Why...?"

"Why what?" I asked.

"Why... aren't you afraid of me?"

He spoke slowly, softly. Like he wasn't used to talking. Like he was terrified of what I'd say.

I didn't know what he was so afraid of. But I could see how unsettled he was.

He curled up on the rug by my feet, like a dog scared of being abandoned.

I reached down and placed my hand on his head.

"Why would I be afraid of you?" I asked gently. "I think you're adorable, Twelve."

Twelve said nothing.

My fingers slid down, brushing the damp hair from his forehead. My words came clear and steady.

"You're my beastman. And you're my family. The one I chose."

"I don't know what you've been through. But it's over now."

"I'll tell you as many times as you need—I'm not scared of you. I'm not leaving you. And I'm not giving up on you." I spoke each word like a vow. "Can you trust me?"

Twelve looked up at me. The light on his collar flickered, then settled into a steady green.

After a long silence, he silently wrapped his fingers around mine.