After Giving Birth, All My Beast Ex-Husbands Suddenly Want Me Back

Chapter 303: Finally belonged to her

The male stepped aside and opened the door wider. "Come in."

Idir carried Nina inside, only for his brows to knit tightly the moment he saw the courtyard crowded with beastmen.

Why were there so many people here? Did everyone decide to mate today?

The moment the others saw Nina and Idir, the entire courtyard fell briefly silent.

What an unbelievably beautiful pair...

Nina patted Idir lightly, signaling for him to put her down. Then she pulled him off to the side and lowered her voice.

"You want to form a mating bond with me?"

Idir nodded immediately. "Yes."

"You’re serious?" Nina searched his eyes carefully.

Idir met her gaze with complete sincerity. "Nina, I’ve never been more serious."

No one knew better than him how desperately he wanted to become her mate.

Nina hesitated. Should she really bind herself to Idir while he was in this unstable state?

Even though his feelings had once seemed uncertain, after everything that had happened recently, she could already sense his heart clearly.

And truthfully... Her own feelings toward him seemed to have changed too.

Besides, if she rejected him now... Nina suddenly shivered. She had a strong feeling the consequences might become very serious.

Looking at Idir, she wondered silently whether completing the mating bond tonight might calm him again.

"You..." she said carefully, "are you sure you won’t regret it?"

Idir clasped her hand firmly. "Never."

Nina looked at him, still conflicted. After all, he wasn’t entirely rational right now.

A trace of panic flashed through Idir’s eyes. His grip tightened. Without another word, he suddenly scooped Nina back into his arms and strode toward the shaman.

Stopping in front of him, Idir said coldly, "Do ours first."

The shaman barely lifted his head. "Get in line."

At once, a terrifyingly violent aura erupted from Idir. The surrounding beastmen stiffened in alarm and hurriedly retreated, fear appearing in their eyes.

What horrifying pressure...

Even the shaman’s expression changed slightly, though he forced himself to remain calm and continued his work.

When it became the next pair’s turn, the couple glanced nervously at Idir, too intimidated to step forward.

Nina pressed a hand against Idir’s chest. "No cutting in line."

She tilted her chin toward the back of the queue. "Go wait properly."

Idir glanced at Nina, then at the long line ahead of them. Reluctantly, he carried her to the very end. The entire time, his gaze remained fixed anxiously on the shaman, silently urging him to hurry. He was terrified that if they waited too long, Nina would change her mind.

Even now, she hadn’t truly agreed. She simply hadn’t refused him outright.

And the longer they waited, the more restless he became.

Watching him pace anxiously while clutching her so tightly, Nina suddenly felt the urge to laugh.

She patted his shoulder. "You can put me down."

Idir immediately shook his head. "No."

He was afraid that if he let go, Nina would suddenly run away.

"Doesn’t carrying me this long get tiring?" Nina asked helplessly.

He had been holding her for nearly the entire day.

Idir looked at her with a raised brow. "You’re very light."

To him, carrying Nina could never be exhausting. If she were willing, he could hold her forever.

Nina smiled helplessly and stopped trying to persuade him.

After a long wait, it finally became their turn. Idir immediately stepped forward and gently set Nina down before the shaman. Without hesitation, he extended his hand.

The shaman pierced his fingertip with a sharp tool.

Nina’s fingers curled slightly. Now that the moment had truly arrived... she still felt uncertain.

Idir’s unease deepened instantly.

"Nina..."

Did she still not want to become mates with him? Then what was he supposed to do?

He looked at her pleadingly, panic and vulnerability filling his eyes.

Nina lowered her gaze, unable to make a decision.

The shaman frowned deeply. "Dear female, if you’re unwilling, you can reject him openly."

His voice turned cold as he looked at Idir. "Males are not allowed to force females. As long as you refuse, I absolutely will not perform the marking today."

The surrounding beastmen looked at Nina and Idir with similar confusion.

Several males were already glaring at Idir with hostility. Clearly, they had reached the same conclusion as the shaman.

Nina hurriedly waved her hands. "It’s not what you think."

But there was no way for her to properly explain the complicated situation.

Idir’s expression dimmed.

Yes. He really was forcing her. Nina had never actually agreed.

Slowly, he withdrew his hand. He couldn’t make Nina do something she didn’t want to do. Nor should he use coercion to bind her to him.

Idir gently took Nina’s hand.

"Nina," he said quietly, "let’s go back."

But Nina didn’t move. Her gaze dimmed.

"You’re giving up on the mating bond?"

A shadow crossed Idir’s eyes.

"I want to become mates with you more than anything," he admitted softly. "But I don’t want to force you into something you don’t want."

His gaze softened with heartbreaking tenderness.

"Come on," he murmured gently. "I’ll take you home."

But Nina suddenly tightened her grip on Idir’s hand.

At last, she made her decision. Slowly, she extended her other hand toward the shaman.

"I’m going to do it."

Idir’s eyes widened. Nina had just said... She was going to do it.

His heartbeat shook uncontrollably. Nina was willing to become mates with him.

The shaman did not immediately pierce Nina’s fingertip. Instead, he looked at her seriously.

"Little female, are you truly willing?"

Nina’s voice was calm but firm. "I truly am."

Then she turned to Idir. "You’ve thought this through, right? Once the mark is made, there’s no taking it back."

Idir tightened his hold on her hand. "I’ve thought it through."

His eyes overflowed with love as he looked at her. "I will never regret this."

How could he possibly regret it? He only wanted to spend the rest of his life loving her with everything he had.

Nina looked back toward the shaman. "Please help us complete the marking."

If Idir regretted it later, that would be his problem. After all, he was the one who had kidnapped her here.

The shaman nodded and pierced Nina’s fingertip.

Idir held his breath as he watched the ritual unfold. And the instant it was completed, joy exploded inside him, melting his heart.

He had truly become Nina’s mate.

He finally... finally belonged to her.

Lowering his head, he looked at Nina with burning emotion. Now there was only one final step left.

Overflowing with happiness, he scooped her into his arms.

"Nina, let’s go."

"Go where?" Nina blinked. "Aren’t we going home?"

Idir immediately looked pitiful. "Nina... I don’t want to go home."

If they went back now, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to complete that final step.

"Then where do you want to go?" she asked helplessly.

"Anywhere," he answered instantly. "As long as it’s not home."

The moment he finished speaking, he carried her swiftly out of the shaman’s residence.

His strides were impossibly fast. Truthfully, he wanted to fly, but he was afraid Odian and the others would notice him.

Right now was the most important moment of his life. He absolutely could not let those jealous males ruin it.

After weaving through countless streets, Idir finally found a district that rented private residences.

Without hesitation, he chose the most luxurious and comfortable one available. He carried Nina inside and gently laid her down on the bed before immediately leaning in to kiss her.

But Nina pressed a hand lightly against his lips. "Give me back my bracelet first. I need to let the others know I’m safe."

Idir looked upset. "Nina... today is our mating day. I don’t want any other males coming here."

He wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Today, you belong to me."

Only him.

Nina sighed softly. "I’m only letting them know I’m safe. I’m not asking them to come."

"Really?" Idir asked uncertainly.

Nina held out her hand. "Give it to me."

Unable to disobey her, Idir reluctantly returned the locator bracelet.

The moment she got it back, Nina immediately connected to Odian’s communicator. The instant Odian felt the device vibrate, relief flooded through him.

He answered immediately. "Nina? Where are you? Are you alright?"

"I’m fine," Nina reassured quickly. "Don’t worry about me. You don’t need to keep searching. I’ll come back later."

"But—"

Before Odian could finish speaking, Idir abruptly cut the connection.

"Nina, you already reported that you’re safe."

Then he tossed the communicator aside again. A moment later, he produced a pink pearl necklace.

"This is for you."

One by one, he removed all the necklaces given by her other mates before replacing them with his own.

Nina looked down at the necklace around her neck.

For some reason... Something felt off. But before she could figure out what it was, Idir had already pressed her beneath him.

A storm of scorching kisses fell across her lips.

"Nina," he breathed hoarsely, "we should complete the final step now."

He couldn’t give her any chance to regret this. And soon, Nina lost the ability to think entirely as Idir’s burning love engulfed her completely.

Before long, breathless sounds filled the room, warm and intoxicating.

. . .

Elsewhere, Odian stared darkly at the abruptly disconnected communicator.

"That damned snake..."

He had hung up on Nina’s communicator again.

The moment Idir returned, Odian fully intended to beat him senseless one more time.

Clenching his fists, he informed the other mates of Nina’s message before deciding to head back first.

Searching aimlessly through the city like this would never work.

Odian cast one final glance ahead before disappearing into the crowd.

***

The next morning, Nina slowly woke in Idir’s embrace. After gathering her senses, she sat up.

Her fingers brushed the pearl necklace around her neck and suddenly, she finally realized what had felt wrong.

The instant Idir saw her wake, he immediately sat up and dropped to his knees in front of her.

"Nina," he said obediently, "I did something bad."

Resting her chin lazily against one hand, Nina narrowed her eyes at him.

"So... you were pretending yesterday?"