The Spoilt Beauty And Her Beasts-Chapter 580: I have work to do. Stop clinging to me
Osiris looked so pitiful that Isabella had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop a laugh from escaping.
His shoulders were hunched, his blonde hair falling around his face like a curtain of misery, and his mouth was pushed into the smallest pout she had ever seen.
"I do not like it here," he repeated, voice softer, as if the village itself might hear him and bully him more.
Isabella folded her arms. "Why not?"
Osiris glared at her suspiciously. "Do not laugh."
"I’m not laughing," Isabella lied, her lips twitching.
"You are," he said immediately. "Your eyes are laughing."
She covered her mouth. "Fine. Sorry. Continue."
Osiris took a deep breath, as if preparing his heart for heartbreak. "The people here stare at me. They whisper. They look like they want to eat me."
"That means they like you," Isabella said flatly.
"I do not want to be liked like food!"
Her shoulders shook from holding back laughter.
He stepped closer, eyes full of wounded pride. "But that is not the real problem."
"Oh? There is a real problem?"
"Yes!" he burst out. "Why did you not tell me you had so many men by your side?"
Isabella blinked. "What?"
Osiris pointed at the village with a dramatic sweep of his hand. "Cyrus. Kian. Zyran. Everywhere I walk, one of them is staring at you. Watching you. Feeding you. Carrying things for you. Breathing in your direction."
Isabella stared. "Breathing in my—?"
"Yes!" His chest rose angrily. "You only mentioned Cyrus on the mountain. Only Cyrus! You betrayed me."
"I betrayed you?" Isabella said slowly. "Osiris... what does any of this have to do with you?"
He leaned in, eyes narrowing. "You did not tell me."
"Tell you what? That I’m surrounded by idiots?"
"That you have so many males wanting you!"
Isabella opened her mouth, then froze.
He wasn’t wrong. Cyrus adored her. Zyran tried to climb into her bed every night. Kian hovered near her like a silent storm.
Her cheeks warmed.
Osiris saw it immediately.
"Aha!" he gasped. "You blush! That means you know it is true!"
"Mind your business," Isabella snapped, turning her head away.
Osiris stepped closer again, lowering his voice. "I also want to be by your side."
Silence.
Stone-hard silence.
Isabella stared at him, frozen stiff.
Did he...
Had he...
Did this man just propose himself as her mate with his whole bare chest out?
"What did you just say?" she demanded.
Osiris blinked, as if only now realizing what escaped his mouth. "I said... I also want to be by your..."
She smacked his chest without hesitation.
His muscles barely moved.
"Ow," he complained anyway, rubbing the spot.
"You— you can’t just say things like that!"
"Why not?" he said honestly. "It is true. Besides, you brought me here."
"I did not bring you here!"
"Yes, you did."
"No, I didn’t. You offered to come."
"You said yes."
"That is not the same thing!"
Osiris crossed his arms stubbornly. "You must take responsibility for me."
Isabella nearly choked on her own breath. "You’re a grown man."
"Yes," he said proudly, "a grown man who needs you."
"Osiris!"
He tilted his head. "Why are you angry? When Cyrus says sweet things, you smile. When Zyran acts shameless, you entertain him. When Kian breathes, you look at him."
"I do not look at him," Isabella snapped.
Osiris gave her a look that said you absolutely do.
She swatted his shoulder again just to shut him up.
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice, eyes softening. "Isabella... I like being by your side."
Her heart did a strange flip.
No no no. She was pregnant. She was emotional. This did not count.
Osiris hesitated, then lifted a hand and brushed her arm gently. "Let me stay here. I do not like being alone. On the mountain, it was just us. Here, everything is loud." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
His touch was warm.
His voice was quiet.
His face...
She pushed him away immediately.
"Stop being shameless," Isabella said quickly before she melted on the spot. "If you do not want to stay here, then leave."
He stiffened.
"I will not leave," he said fiercely. "I came because of you."
She froze.
Osiris realized what he said and looked away, cheeks faintly flushing. "I mean... you needed help. So I came. That is all."
"That is not all," Isabella muttered.
"Fine," he admitted, "it is not all."
She smacked him again.
He accepted it.
They glared at each other for a moment, then both looked away like grumpy teenagers.
Isabella exhaled sharply. "I have work to do. Stop clinging to me."
Osiris opened his mouth—probably to cling more—but before he could say a word, a loud noise echoed from the direction of the village entrance.
Shouts. Footsteps. A commotion.
Isabella’s expression sharpened immediately.
"What now?" she muttered.
Osiris leaned closer instinctively. "Should we check?"
"Yes. Come."
They walked quickly toward the sound. The further they went, the louder the voices became. By the time they neared the entrance path, Isabella could see a large cluster of beastmen gathered, their bodies tense, their movements defensive.
A group of unfamiliar men stood outside the entrance. Their clothes were torn, covered in dirt and dried blood. Their bodies were thin, faces sunken. Some leaned on makeshift sticks, others supported one another with trembling arms.
They didn’t look dangerous. They looked exhausted. Desperate.
But her village guard stood in front of them, firmly blocking the way.
"Leave," the guard said coldly. "We are not taking refugees. Find another tribe."
The men outside flinched but did not move. One of them fell to his knees, grabbing at the dirt with shaking fingers.
"Please," he begged. "Please let us in. We have nowhere to go."
Isabella frowned deeply.
The guard raised his voice. "We said no! Leave at once!"
Isabella stepped forward without hesitation.
"What is going on here?" she demanded.
The guards stiffened instantly.
Their eyes widened as if a deity had appeared before them.
They bowed low, voices trembling.
"Goddess Isabella!"
She stopped right in front of them, Osiris standing tall behind her like a shadow ready to pounce.
Her gaze swept across the refugees, her frown deepening.
