By the time Xavier returned with the fruits, the sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving only the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the trees.
Without noticing the silent tears staining Ana's cheeks, he handed her the fruits before disappearing into the forest again—to hunt for himself.
Ana didn't say a word.
She was used to crying in silence.
Her whole life had been spent holding back sobs, hiding them from her bullies and her foster family.
Now… she did the same.
She quietly ate the fruits he had given her, then curled up in the corner of the cave, hugging her knees to her chest.
Late at night, Xavier returned.
Ana heard him before she saw him—the sound of scales gliding against stone, the low rumble of his breathing.
Then his deep voice filled the cave.
"Bella, come here. Let's sleep together."
Ana's entire body stiffened.
Her mind went blank for a second before it exploded with panic.
She whipped around, eyes wide, heart hammering against her ribs.
"N-No!" she stammered. "I don't want to mate with you! I'm not going to be your… your sex slave!"
Her voice broke.
"I'm too young to have babies... that too… snake babies! Noooo, please don't force yourself on me!"
As she poured out her fear, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Xavier's brows furrowed deeply.
He took a step forward, then stopped, realizing just how terrified she looked.
"Bella… I'd never force you."
His voice was soft but firm.
"I only meant we should sleep next to each other. That's all."
Ana hesitated.
'Can I believe him…?'
No.
Not yet.
It was safer to keep her distance until she truly understood what kind of person—or beast—he was.
She wiped her tears and looked away. "Then sleep over there. I'll sleep here."
Xavier studied her for a moment, then smirked.
"Whatever my princess wishes."
He lay down on the opposite side of the cave, resting his head on his folded arms.
For a while, Ana stayed awake, listening to the quiet sounds of the night.
The temperature dropped sharply, and soon, she began to shiver.
She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to stay warm, but it was useless. The cold bit into her skin, making her body tremble.
A soft slithering sound reached her ears.
Before she could react, something warm and heavy coiled around her waist.
Her heart leaped into her throat.
'W-What—'
She realized Xavier's thick, muscular tail had wrapped around her, pulling her into its warmth.
Trapping her.
She wanted to protest, but the warmth was so comforting…
So safe.
She hesitated for only a moment before closing her eyes and letting sleep take over.
The Next Morning
"KYAAAAAAAAA!!!"
Ana's scream echoed through the cave.
She woke up to find herself completely encased in a massive python's coils.
Xavier.
He had fully shifted.
She knew it was him… but still…
She didn't have the courage to open her eyes and see him like that.
"W-What happened, Bella?" Xavier's voice was groggy. "Why are you screaming?"
"D-Don't fully shift into snake form again!" she yelled, face still buried in his scales. "At least not until I get used to you!"
Xavier chuckled, loosening his coils. "Fine, fine. I'll shift back."
The moment his warm, human arms replaced the heavy coils, Ana scrambled away, still breathless from panic.
"Can you take me to a bathroom?" she asked, still trying to shake off the morning shock.
Xavier blinked. "What's a bathroom?"
Ana groaned. "Nevermind… I need to pee."
He carried her to a ditch near the river.
Ana did her business and then decided to bathe in the river to clear her mind.
She had barely begun to wash herself when she felt a presence behind her.
She froze.
"Shhh, Bella. It's just me."
Xavier's deep voice sent a shiver down her spine.
She whirled around.
"W-What are you doing here?!"
His golden eyes gleamed mischievously. "Bathing with you."
Ana's face turned red. "NO! You can't! I can bathe myself!"
Xavier grinned. "But it's my long-time dream to bathe with my mate. And I wanted to bathe you."
Ana swallowed hard. "I'm not your mate yet."
Ignoring her, Xavier stepped closer and helped her wash.
Ana wanted to resist.
But… she had worn her clothes into the water, so at least she wasn't fully exposed.
In the end, she let him—though she made sure to grouch the entire time.
When they returned to the cave, Xavier's expression grew serious.
"Bella, remove your clothes."
Ana's stomach dropped.
Her eyes burned with betrayal.
"No! You said you wouldn't force yourself on me! You can't go back on your words!"
Xavier sighed. "Bella… I'm doing this for your own good."
Ana shook her head, stepping back. "Liar! This isn't for my good! It's for yourself! You don't care about me, my feelings, or my life! You only want me to warm your bed and give you babies! You wouldn't even shed a single tear if I died, would you?! All you care about is… reproducing!"
She choked on her own words.
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
She hated this.
She hated feeling helpless.
Xavier's golden eyes darkened with pain.
For the first time since she met him…
He looked genuinely hurt.
"No, Bella." His voice was quiet, raw. "I asked you to remove your clothes because they're wet. If you sleep in them, you'll get sick. Since females are weak, there is also a probability where you can die."
Ana froze.
Xavier took a deep breath. "I have my shed skin. I was going to use it to make you new clothes."
Her lips parted in shock.
"And yes, I do want to mate with you one day. But not when you're weak like this." His eyes softened. "And I want children, too. But not because I want to reproduce. It's because I heard… that females get too attached to the father of their babies."
His voice faltered.
"Bella… haven't I taken care of you well? Do you hate me because I'm a feral?"
Ana's chest ached.
She had never seen him like this.
His usual cocky smirk was gone—replaced with something vulnerable.
"Can't you ever love me...?"
Without waiting for an answer, Xavier turned and walked out of the cave.
Ana stood there, frozen.
Her heart pounded.
"Love him…?"
She whispered the words to herself, confusion twisting inside her.
'Is he just like me…?'
'Wanting to be loved…?'