Instincts

Ivaylo had to return to his family's residence. The grandfather on his father's side became seriously ill and was hospitalized. The everyday visits were wearing him down. He hated to see him in that weakened state.

Ivaylo always treasured his family. He remembered those sad rainy days, every time he had to go to a funeral. When it came to the funerals of his great-grandparents he was still a Beastchild.

His phone kept silent, no messages... Those two bastards are too stubborn. Why... they won't let him explain? He was wondering if Paetyn didn't seek him up when he wasn't at his Outskirts home. He hoped not...

Despite what Ivaylo told Rose, she still didn't give up and is still actively bothering him at his parent's house, pretending to be his girlfriend. He tries to be considerate of the situation at home, so he ignores her but she is slowly working him up and it soon will make him snap.



Ivaylo was called drinking after lunch, by the guy from the former Outskirt mixer. He heard about his grandfather and wanted to cheer him up. This time, he chose a completely different city part closer to the center, so no humans.

The bar had a tropical theme, so a lot of plants and palm trees. It felt weird for Ivaylo, to see such a view in the middle of the winter. He was already preparing for the Christmas celebration, which will come next week.

The warm, damp air, mixed with artificial scents bothered him a lot. Ivaylo rubbed his nose repeatedly. His drinking buddy nudged him and then pointed to the table across the bar. Two pretty hybrids smiled their way. Ivaylo took a peek and then turned to that Beastguy next to him.

"Those are pretty. Should we check them out or send them a drink?" Ivaylo threw the whisky into his throat and aggressively put the glass back on the table. "I don't care." Fakely offended, the guy chuckled. "Oh common! Maybe you will find your fated mate in one of them?"

Ivaylo rolled his eyes. "I don't need one. Go by yourself." The guy glanced at Ivaylo and then at the couple of females. "Will, be right back..." He made a stop at the bar, ordered drinks, and then walked over to them. Even a minute didn't pass and he was back... Sitting down disappointed.

"They both are pretty, but nothing for me." Curious, Ivaylo pressed for more information. "How could you tell so fast? Did you even talk to them?!" The dude pointed to his nose. "I am searching for the ultimate one." That short snip of information awoke even deeper curiosity in Ivaylo. "Does scent have to do with that?"

His Beast friend sighed. "Exactly! I heard that our instincts can make you experience the ultimate pleasure, if you know what I mean. I am searching for that kind of mate. You see, if you meet a female, who makes you get drunk on her scent, that means, you are physically compatible to the maximum. I didn't meet mine, yet..." He leaned over his drink.

Now everything clicked for Ivaylo. The conclusion to his weird desires and obsessiveness... but why does it have to be with a human girl? Does that still matter for him? It's true, he always hated himself for what he was, he loathed humankind... but in the end, the other Beastman turned their back on him, when he needed them the most, and a human girl saved his life...

That kind but shy smile, those wavy long brown hair and icy gray eyes... Ivaylo didn't mind her looks and found Paetyn even pretty and attractive. Ivaylo was observing the hand, with which he was holding hers a while ago. He still could feel her pulse on his fingertips.

He blushed at the thought of becoming closer to her in a physical way. He did enjoy holding her in his arms, making him sleep peacefully. Listening to her heartbeat had a calming effect, not to mention her scent, which always tore him out of his most desperate situations. Is she his fate one?

Ivaylo turned to his drinking friend. "When you meet someone that special, does that person feel the same?" The guy nodded. "Of course, our species has the same wild instincts, as our ancestors." Ivaylo froze. He couldn't tell him, that he experienced that kind of a thing to a human. Could he?

"What if you get crazy in that way with a human?" The Beastman next to him began to laugh out loud. "That's impossible! They are not Beastmen. These are our specific animalistic traits. Humans are humans, who would even want such kind of a mate." The guy patted a disappointed Ivaylo on his back.



Sitting at his desk at his parent's home, Ivaylo was replaying the whole conversation again. Why does he go crazy, when it comes to Paetyn's scent then? Which part of him is the perpetrator, the animal or the human one?

His mother knocked on his door to call him for dinner. Downstairs they were busy with eating and with a small talk at the table. They were curious about Ivaylo's job and girlfriend Rose. Of course, she was bothering his family again.

Ivaylo sat down as far, as possible but she grabbed her plate and sat right next to him. His mother was delighted and he was extremely annoyed. Rose was a persistent one. "Where should we go for our next date? Or do you want to meet again at that tiny apartment..."

Ivaylo cut her off. He was mortified. If she would continue, she could spill the beans about Paetyn. "I don't care..." His parents looked at each other. That was a weird reaction. "So, why did you rent that place?!" his father asked. Ivaylo had to come up with a valid explanation. He glanced over to Rose. He hoped she would keep her mouth shut.

"I wanted to get used to the human... odor. It makes it easier for me to work with them at the headquarters. At the Outskirts, there are a lot of humans living..." Rose was eating like nothing much was happening. Lies on lies... How far does he have to go with deceiving his family to protect Paetyn's existence?

Should he get rid of the apartment and forget about Paetyn? It would be easier. Then he wouldn't need to lie and his life would become peaceful...

The realization sank in... No, it wouldn't, he would go back to that miserable depressive Beastman he was before. He needs Paetyn!