Chapter 5

After I carried the cub back to my room, I immediately took out the moonlit herbs and healing elixirs I'd been saving.

I carefully fed them to him.

One cup, then a second, then a third.

By the time I poured the fourth, I glanced at what was left of my precious stash

and started having second thoughts.

How was this little guy burning through resources even faster than the griffin had the first time around?

I was not about to raise another ungrateful beast.

Just as I was grumbling to myself, a burst of white light exploded in the air before me.

Standing there was a tall, lean man with his bare chest completely exposed.

My face went red immediately.

"Oh my — put some clothes on! Now! You can't just walk around like that."

But before I could say anything else, I heard a quiet sniffle.

I looked up again.

He was crying.

Tears slid down his face — a face almost too perfect to look at.

And somehow, watching him cry, I felt a pull I had no business feeling.

Ugh. What was wrong with me?

I rushed over and steadied him.

"Wait — why are you crying? Did I scare you?

Come on, buddy, don't do anything stupid on me, okay?"

But he only looked at me with those deep, shimmering eyes and took my hand.

"I'm not worth wasting so many precious potions on."

"I'm just dead weight. I'd only cause trouble for you."

"My power is weak. I couldn't even beat a young forest wolf.

Training me would only waste your time and resources."

His voice was shaking the whole time.

It was obvious he had almost no confidence in himself.

A man that beautiful, crying right in front of you?

It hits different. I'm not going to lie.

When I opened my mouth to respond, I started stumbling over my own words.