Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband-Chapter 34: The Festival of Chaos

The Harvest Moon Festival was a sensory overload of lanterns, music, and the smell of roasted nuts. The streets of the capital were packed shoulder-to-shoulder with beast-kin in colorful masks and festive robes.

I stood behind my stall, Primrose’s Moon-Cakes, which was currently the most popular spot in the square. I had sold two hundred cakes in an hour.

Money, I thought, counting coins. Safety.

But just as I was handing a box to a Badger-mom, the crowd parted. It wasn’t out of politeness. It was out of self-preservation.

The Little Whiskers Family had arrived.

The Junior Search Party Re-Unites

Arjun arrived first, wearing a miniature General’s uniform. He vaulted over a flower planter. "PERIMETER SECURED!"

Jasper walked in behind him, wearing a silk robe that cost more than my shop. He looked at the crowd with deep disdain. "Too many mammals. The body heat is stifling."

Silas slipped out of the shadows, silent as a ghost, holding a single paper lantern.

Then, the crowd gasped.

Walking down the center of the street, hand-in-hand, were Vali and Clover.

Vali was wearing a tiny, custom-tailored tuxedo (Balthazar’s doing). He looked like a miniature, grumpy gentleman. Clover was wearing a fluffy pink dress. She was clutching Vali’s hand like a lifeline, and Vali was glaring at anyone who looked at her too long.

Arjun’s jaw dropped. "ALLIANCE DETECTED!" he shouted, pointing. "THE WOLF HAS SECURED THE BUNNY!"

Jasper adjusted his glasses. "Statistically improbable. Predator-Prey bonding in a high-stress environment? Fascinating."

Silas blinked. He pulled out a sketchbook and started drawing them holding hands.

Vali marched up to the group, his face bright red. "It’s tactical!" he barked defensively. "She gets lost! I have a nose! It’s... logistics!"

Clover beamed, holding up the grey river rock Vali had given her. "And I have my safety rock!"

"A tuxedo?" I whispered, leaning over the counter. "Vali, you look... dashing."

Vali hid his face in his scarf. "Balthazar made me. It itches."

If the cubs cleared a path, the Dads cleared the square.

Lord Rurik Jaeger loomed out of the crowd. He wasn’t wearing his armor. He was wearing a formal black coat with silver embroidery—the Wolf Clan’s finest. He looked dangerous, regal, and extremely irritated by the festive cheer.

General Rajah Khanda strutted in next, wearing a sleeveless festive tunic that was basically just a frame for his biceps. He was grinning and waving at the terrified crowd.

Archduke Cassian Argentis glided in, wearing emerald robes that shimmered with defensive wards. He looked like a bored god visiting mortals.

Duke Lucien Crepusci... well, I just suddenly noticed a shadow standing next to my stall that hadn’t been there before.

"Lady Primrose," Cassian said, ignoring the line of customers. "Sell me the rest of your stock. We are leaving. The air quality here is substandard."

"I am working, Archduke," I smiled, slapping his hand away from the cakes.

"You are exposed," Rurik grunted, stepping behind my counter and effectively acting as a bodyguard. He glared at a Raccoon-kin customer. "Move along. She is busy."

"Rurik, stop scaring the customers!"

"I’m securing the asset!"

"Lady Primrose!" Rajah boomed, leaning his elbows on the counter and flashing a blinding smile. "You look radiant! Is that a new apron? It highlights your... tactical readiness!"

I looked down. It was the same flour-stained apron. "Thank you, General."

Suddenly, there was a commotion near the fountain.

A figure in a heavily hooded, gold-embroidered cloak was trying to push through the crowd toward us. She was flanked by nervous guards in civilian clothes.

It was Princess Leonora.

She spotted Rajah. Her eyes (visible through the eye-holes of a terrible fox mask she was wearing) went wide.

She saw the biceps. She saw the sleeveless tunic. She saw him laughing.

She beelined for him.

"General!" Leonora squeaked, trying to deepen her voice. "A fine evening for... strategy!"

Rajah turned. He looked at the masked woman. "Indeed, citizen! Though you should check your mask, it is crooked!"

He reached out and helpfully straightened her mask with his giant hands. Leonora looked like she might combust.

"I... I was wondering," Leonora stammered, "if a warrior of your stature... likes... Moon-Cakes?"

"I LOVE PROTEIN!" Rajah roared. "But Lady Primrose makes excellent carbs!"

He grabbed a cake from my stall, split it in half, and handed one piece to the Princess. "Eat up, citizen! Build your strength!"

Leonora took the half-cake like it was a holy relic. She didn’t eat it. She just clutched it to her chest and stared at him.

She’s hopeless, I thought fondly. But at least he fed her.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement near the edge of the square.

Luna was walking—no, strutting—along the edge of the crowd. She looked confident, beautiful, and happy.

And walking right next to her, looking bored but with his hand resting casually on the hilt of a dagger, was Jax.

The rogue Fox-kin saw me looking. He gave me a lazy two-finger salute and a wink. Then he leaned down and whispered something to Luna that made her laugh and shove his shoulder.

Go, Luna, I thought. Tame that fox.

For a moment, everything was perfect.

The cubs were playing tag around the fountain (Vali still holding Clover’s hand).

The Dads were arguing over who would buy the first round of drinks.

The Princess was happily eating a cake Rajah had touched.

My money pouch was heavy.

I leaned against the counter, watching my strange, chaotic, terrifying family.

"This," I whispered to myself, "is actually going well."

Rurik turned to me, his icy eyes softening. "Primrose. When you are done... walk with me? There is a view of the fireworks from the bridge. It is... acceptable."

Cassian scoffed. "The bridge is crowded. I have a private barge."

Rajah flexed. "I can lift you high enough to see them from here!"

Lucien whispered, "The roof is quiet."

"I’ll think about it," I had said.

But as I looked at them—Rurik pointing at the bridge, Cassian gesturing to the docks, Rajah flexing his lifting muscles, and Lucien melding with the roof tiles—I realized I didn’t want to go to a bridge, or a barge, or a roof.

I wanted to stay right here. With my shop. With my strange, mismatched pack.

"Actually," I said, wiping the counter one last time. "I have a better idea."

The four men stopped arguing.

"The view from the porch is perfect," I said, stepping out and leaning against the railing. "And I have enough Sun-Root Buns left for everyone. Why split up? We’re already here."

I looked at them, offering a tired but genuine smile. "Let’s watch them together."

The Dads looked at each other. Usually, this would be the part where they argued about territory or air quality. But tonight... something was different.

Maybe it was the festival air. Maybe it was seeing their sons happily chasing fireflies by the fountain. Or maybe, just maybe, they were tired of fighting, too.

"Together," Rurik grunted, moving to stand on my left. "Acceptable."

"Strategic!" Rajah beamed, taking his post on my right. "Maximum visibility!"

"Efficient," Cassian murmured, leaning against the doorframe behind me.

Lucien didn’t speak. He just sat on the railing near my feet, a silent sentinel.

BOOM.

The first real volley of fireworks shot into the sky, painting the night in streaks of crimson and gold.

The crowd in the square cheered. Vali howled at the sky. Arjun tried to jump high enough to catch a spark. Jasper and Clover watched with wide, awestruck eyes. Silas reached out to trace the lights in the air.

I looked up, mesmerized by the colors blooming against the darkness. The light reflected in my amber eyes, washing over my face. I felt peace. I felt safe.

I was watching the sky.

(Four B.A.D.s POV)

The Four B.A.D.s... were watching her.

Lord Rurik Jaeger looked down at the silver-haired woman who had tamed his demon son. His icy-blue eyes, usually so sharp and guarded, had melted into something warm and terrifyingly intense. He watched the red light wash over her face, and his wolf instincts howled a single, undeniable truth: She is the hearth. She is the home I thought I lost.

General Rajah Khanda watched her laugh as a spark drizzled down. His jungle-green eyes crinkled at the corners. He didn’t see a failed fox; he saw a woman with a spine of steel and a heart of gold. He wanted to wrap her in his cape and never let anything hurt her again. She is the victory, his heart thudded. The only conquest that matters.

Archduke Cassian Argentis wasn’t looking at the expensive pyrotechnics he had likely funded. His liquid gold eyes were fixed on the curve of her smiling lips. He had spent his life valuing things by their cost, but looking at her, he realized he was looking at the only thing in the empire he couldn’t put a price tag on. She is rare, his mind whispered. Irreplaceable.

Duke Lucien Crepusci sat in the shadows, his violet eyes glowing softly. He watched the way the light caught her eyelashes. To a man who lived in the dark, she wasn’t just a chef or a nanny. She was the sun itself. And he would burn the world down to keep her shining. She is the light, his soul swore. Mine.

For one heartbeat, amidst the explosions and the cheers, the four rivals were united by a single, overwhelming emotion.

They were completely, hopelessly in love with the Nanny.

(Prim’s POV)

I turned my head, catching them staring.

"What?" I asked, blinking. "Is there flour on my face?"

Rurik cleared his throat, looking away. "No."

Rajah laughed nervously. "Just... checking security!"

Cassian adjusted his cuffs. "The lighting is... adequate."

Lucien pulled his hood up.

I smiled, shaking my head. Weirdos.

I turned back to the sky, letting the joy of the moment wash over me. I had done it. I had survived. I had friends. I had a family.

BOOM.

The finale exploded, a massive white starburst that turned the night into day.

It’s beautiful.