Chapter 5

As soon as Finlay tapped the screen, the panel immediately flipped to the next page. [Ms. Chamber, please proceed with iris verification.] Finlay stepped back and motioned for Analise to focus on the red dot in the center of the screen. Once the scan confirmed her identity, Finlay began walking her through everything—how to check her funds, browse the online marketplace, use the social platform, add friends, and more. With Finlay guiding her step by step, Analise gradually got the hang of the system. The so-called chip was basically a digital ID—but way more advanced. It was tied to everything she needed—a bank-style account, an online marketplace, social media, and more. It was like someone had fused an ID and a smartphone into one sleek implant. She glanced at the balance in her account and raised her hand to count the number of zeroes. "I-Is this stipend a one-time payment?" Analise stared at the screen, a little dizzy from the number—one million Cosmocoins. If she were earning the usual way, it would take her nearly ten years to make that much. "Nope. That's just your monthly allowance." Finlay gave her a cheeky wink. "Every month, I get one million Cosmocoins?" she asked, wide-eyed. "Yep." "And what exactly does a female have to do?" Analise raised a brow, clearly suspicious. Finley replied, "Just eat, relax, enjoy life… and when a male gets injured, help comfort him." "Comfort how?" "Like how you comforted me back in the forest," Finlay replied patiently. "That's it?" Analise looked genuinely shocked. He nodded. "That's it! Males are in charge of fighting, protecting females, and raising the young. Females just need to be there to soothe the males and carry the next generation. Every alliance works the same way." … Meanwhile, inside a luxury estate elsewhere in the city. "What? Scott actually agreed to be the guardian of a pure-human female?" A tall, fair-skinned woman in heels stormed down the hallway, heels clicking sharply as she overheard her mother, Lily Khielson, talking with her father, Jamari Sellers. It was Vera Khielson. In the Interstellar therian world, children would take their mother's surname. "That's right. I heard that pure-human girl has mind essence, too, but it's only F-grade," Lily replied with a frown. She looked clearly irritated, and honestly, even more upset than Vera. "Vera is SS-grade! What the hell is Scott thinking?" she added, her face tight with frustration. "Mom, come on. If Scott didn't choose me, then he didn't choose me. Why are you getting mad over it?" Vera flipped her hair, pretending she did not care. But deep down, she did. It stung knowing that, in Scott's eyes, she lost to a pure human girl with the lowest possible mind essence. Lily snapped, "Vera, this is exactly the problem! You never fight for what's yours. If you had just been a little more assertive, I don't believe Scott would've dared break Interstellar Alliance protocol. "Now look. He's taken on a pure human. He's obviously making a fool out of you! Everyone in Stormclaw knows you're the only female with an SS-grade mind essence." Vera rolled her eyes. "What do you want me to do? Force him? I don't do that. Besides, Scott's the type who never backs down once he's made a decision. "Even if I had pushed him to be my guardian based on mind essence alone, he wouldn't have agreed. He'd probably rather face prison time than be forced into it." She paused, then added quietly, "Sure, females have higher status than males, but that doesn't mean we get to trample over their free will. Interstellar Law says if a male refuses to become a female's guardian or partner, that choice has to be respected." With that, Vera turned and walked back toward her own place, her expression faintly bitter. She had only come to Lily's estate to confirm the rumors about Scott. Now that she knew the truth, which was not the answer she wanted, she saw no reason to stick around. After all, she needed time to sit with her disappointment and process it alone. … "I'm feeling fine now. Can I be discharged?" Analise asked the moment Kyle walked into the room. Earlier, she had already added Scott's contact info with Finlay's help. Scott had told her he had an extra house she could stay in after leaving the hospital and mentioned that someone was already cleaning it up for her. Once she was discharged, she just needed Finlay to drive her over. Analise figured that as long as she had a place to stay, that would be good enough. Besides, Scott was a commander and was probably too busy to keep tabs on her all the time. Kyle nodded. "Yeah, everything looks good. You're clear to go. Just make sure your guardian takes proper care of you and come back right away if anything feels off." Once the paperwork was finished, Finlay drove Analise to the house Scott mentioned. It was about a ten-minute drive from the city, and the area was surprisingly scenic and peaceful. Analise guessed Scott probably preferred quiet surroundings. "Alright, Ms. Chamber. We're here," Finlay announced as he stepped out of the car and opened the passenger door for her. As Analise got out, she noticed Scott walking out of the house at that exact moment. This time, he was dressed casually in a relaxed outfit, completely different from how he looked back in the hospital. There, he had been wearing a uniform—probably a military suit from this interstellar world that screamed authority, even when he smiled. But now, the soft tones of his clothes, paired with his messy dark hair falling over his forehead, gave him a totally different air—like the charming guy next door. And that perfectly timed smile on his face? Yeah, it definitely added to the effect. Well, except for those animal ears, which looked like he was actually role-playing. Analise absentmindedly wiped at the corner of her mouth even though there was no drool and said to the system in her head, "I don't think he's watching me… I think he's flirting with me." The system replied, "There's nothing to doubt—he is flirting. In the animal kingdom, the males usually compete for mates. Now that humanity's beastial DNA is activated and people have become therians, male competition is just part of nature again. "The whole 'female rivalry' thing in human society was a result of thousands of years of conditioning. But once instincts come back into play, females naturally seek out strong, comforting, and protective males to bond with. "So, males end up evolving—visibly and emotionally—toward what females like, whether it's strength, looks, or personality. Of course, some males are drawn to powerful females, too." "Scott, didn't you always wear black?" Finlay asked, scratching his head with a confused look. "Dr. Davies said black feels too harsh. I didn't want to make Ms. Chamber feel uneasy or intimidated, so I bought clothes with softer tones," Scott replied casually, though his eyes never left Analise. "Is that so? Then, I guess I'll buy some new outfits, too," Finlay said thoughtfully. Analise noticed that the corner of Scott's mouth was not curled up nearly as much after Finlay said that. She thought, "Well, well... Is this the start of some good old-fashioned male rivalry?" So, maybe she was wrong—Scott was not watching her like a soldier. Instead, he was watching her like a man interested in her. She glanced over at Finlay, who was still smiling like a happy golden retriever, and thought that being a little clueless might not be such a bad thing, after all. "Ms. Chamber, Scott's house is in a great spot. There's a natural lake right at the base of that hill, just a few minutes from the backyard trail," Finlay said excitedly, pointing behind the house. "It's spring now, so the trees back there are probably in full bloom, too. It's a perfect place to get some fresh air and clear your head. You want to go check it out with me?" Analise saw Scott's brow twitch slightly at Finlay's enthusiasm, and it somehow made her happy. She replied, "It's getting dark. Let's go tomorrow." Maybe this really was not about surveillance, after all. She looked at Scott again and wondered if a commander like him would actually lose his cool during male rivalry—she was kind of hoping he would.