Harem King's Collection: Turning Beastkins Into Desperate Wives!-Chapter 81: A Pain Behind The Eye

Byron Aschefell slowly shuffled across the large dining area the morning of the full moon, his cane tapping lightly as he went.

In the time since the attack, the Aschefell estate had grown terribly quiet and somber. It seemed the older wolf’s family was destined to be broken apart time and time again.

With Rust declared missing, Rouge had retracted into herself, reminding the old wolf of what the once reserved beast was like when the pregnant fox first arrived at his door with his son.

She hadn’t even left her room in days, and the only reason Byron knew she was still eating at all was due to him having a servant bring her what she needed. He knew the moon would make this trial even harder for her that day, the same as it would for his son, Amboss.

Amboss was passed out in his seat, sleeping propped up against one table in the dining area. There were a number of emptied wine bottles surrounding the broken wolf, with some laying shattered on the floor.

Amboss hadn’t been holding up well as it was, something Byron truly understood in a personal way, but the older wolf truly feared for his son’s mentality with the moon in play, so he needed to check on him.

As of that morning, this was the longest Amboss had ever been without firing up his forge. It was simply too painful without the joyful fox there to brighten the walls with both his cheerful laugh and his steady inquiries.

Everything seemed too painful without his son, so the wolf had simply been drinking that pain away until he could finally rest and wake to repeat his routine of misery all over again.

Amboss Aschefell lost something far more precious than even his right hand during that attack. Amboss finally understood why his father never complained about his leg injury. Losing Silbern must have felt like a far greater price as well.

As the dazed blacksmith stirred and raised his bloodshot eyes to meet his father’s own, Byron began to speak.

"My son... I know what you are dealing with. I understand the need for your vices here, but I have to ask that you refrain for today. Your wife needs you to be strong. She needs her husband, Amboss... That was something I once overlooked, too, in my sorrow."

The younger wolf grunted as he simply turned his head and reached for a bottle on the table. After finding it was empty, the broken blacksmith tossed it over his shoulder with a growl of frustration as the glass shattered against the wall.

The disheveled canine stood and began staggering towards the rack where the bottles were kept. Amboss pulled another and returned to his seat with a defeated plop.

The blacksmith pulled the cork with his teeth, turned and spat it out, and took a hefty swig of the maroon contents, ignoring his father’s pleas completely. Byron could say nothing more at the time.

It would only make things worse, so the older knight only lowered his head and made his leave.

As Byron made his way to the second floor, he paused on the steps ever so briefly. For a split second, the wolf almost felt a push at his consciousness, assuming Amboss was trying to reach out after all, but felt the attempt fade just as quickly.

The old beast only let out a sigh of defeat and continued on to where his former student Jagón still rested in the very room the panther’s son, Aster, had used a short time prior.

Jagón had not improved in the slightest, but he hadn’t gotten any worse either. The panther was lucky in that regard, as he was the only one in the estate that hadn’t fallen to ill spirits by that point.

Byron worried for his friend but knew the knight would find his way back eventually. Byron had a servant come by twice a day to get some water and food in the panther, as well as to tend to any other needs the resting beast may have had, but even still, the wolf liked to check on Jagón personally at least once a day.

The seasoned wolf enjoyed getting to vent to someone. Today was certainly no different.

"Well, my old friend... It is shaping up to be a long night under such a sorrowful moon... Everyone already had such heavy thoughts, and now, I worry how they will be able to cope with them at all... I don’t know how I will cope with it...

"Our children were doing so great together. They really had found solidity and comfort with one another... To tell you the truth, I was so hopeful that our families would be joined... I was happy that these walls could hold an entire family once more. I... I had so much hope for those two..."

Byron felt his voice break and turned away from his friend, determined not to let the tears start falling, for fear they wouldn’t stop under the influence of the moon.

So, instead, the older beast simply made his leave to check in with their other guest for the time being.

Talan had refused to leave his father’s side until he woke, as such, Byron had invited the knight to stay at their estate for the time being.

The young panther was desperately clinging to the last bit of his family that was still within reach, but Talan had a different coping method than the rest in the estate, and had spent the last week vigorously training his body from sun up to sun down.

The panther executed combat drill after combat drill, using his staff to beat the training dummies in the courtyard mercilessly between his exercise routine, ensuring his body was well exhausted before he fell into his dreams.

As it turned out, Talan vented the same way his father had when he first lost his wife and cub. Byron simply watched from a distance for a while, silently admiring the panther’s adept skill.

Truly, a Venatus son indeed. The wolf finally spoke as the young knight splintered a training dummy beneath a particularly hard blow.

"If only all of our enemies fell so easily beneath such might."

Talan looked to his father’s mentor and bowed lightly before he answered.

"Good morning, Sir Aschefell. I pray today has been easier on you."

The older wolf forced a smile. He was glad Talan was able to remain somewhat composed, at least. Byron nodded back.

"Thank you, Talan. I pray the same for you."

The pair talked on for a bit more, both grateful for a short distraction. Talan was struck with a small bit of panic when the older wolf suddenly stopped halfway through a sentence and clutched at his right eye, seemingly straining as he did so.

The young panther ran to the old wolf, asking if he was alright, but Byron stood back up shortly, releasing his grasp before he answered the panther. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"I am fine... Just... I think my tired mind may be playing tricks on me a bit... I think I could use some rest. Please, don’t let me hinder your training any further. I’ll check back in before dinner... And Talan? I know the reasons are far from ones to celebrate... But I am glad you decided to stay for a while as the capitol figures out how to move forward... I have enjoyed having a small bit of company, and this old wolf has found a bit of comfort in our talks. Thank you for that."

Talan bowed his head lightly and answered the beast with gratitude. In truth, he was just as grateful for the short reprieves and distractions as well.

Anything to stop his incessant worry for his younger brother’s sake. The panther resumed his training, and the old wolf made his way back to his private quarters a moment later while his mind dared to finally hope.

’It’s faint... But... Stahl... could... could it be you, my daughter?’

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