Chapter 327: Episode 325: I thought I saw someone.

Roxy’s grand, independent, and highly practical “quick trip” to the Central Beast Market had completely failed.

She had tried to put her foot down. She had eloquently argued that a simple grocery and textile run did not require all of them to go together.

But did they listen?

No.

They simply crossed their massive arms, planted their boots, and flatly refused to let her leave the territory without them.

Which was exactly how Roxy found herself sitting in the center of a transport wagon.

Roxy was seated on plush velvet cushions, wearing a heavy, fur-lined winter cloak over her dress. Tyara was strapped securely to her chest, fast asleep and entirely oblivious to the bumping of the wooden wheels.

Nestled in a nest of blankets beside Roxy was Tanith, the toddler snake-shifter having stubbornly refused to hibernate if it meant missing out on an adventure. Zale sat quietly in his abyssal-silk stroller at the back of the wagon, while Axel, Onyx, and Iris practically vibrated with energy, hanging their little heads over the wooden railing to watch the passing scenery.

Flanking the massive transport wagon were her mates.

Caspian walked directly beside Roxy’s side of the wagon, his mortal legs holding up surprisingly well on the dirt road, his silver-blue eyes constantly checking on her and Zale.

Even teenage Drax was marching in full formation, while Dena the wolf-shifter scurried along beside the cart, clutching a massive scroll of inventory lists.

“I feel like a conquering empress instead of a mother trying to buy winter squash,” Roxy grumbled, resting her chin in her hand as she looked at her ridiculous, overprotective harem.

“You are the Queen of the Beastworld, Roxy,” Ren chuckled, his vibrant red hair catching the morning sun. “You do not simply ’run errands.’ You grace the market with your presence.”

As the dense, neutral forests finally broke, the sprawling, chaotic expanse of the Central Beast Market came into view. It was a massive, bustling hub of commerce, a chaotic sea of brightly colored canvas tents, roaring merchant fires, and the mingling, overpowering scents of roasted meats, exotic spices, and cured leather.

The moment the massive Iron-Wood draft-beasts pulled the royal wagon into the main thoroughfare, the chaotic noise of the market violently died.

It was as if someone had sucked all the air out of the valley.

The crowd parted like the Red Sea. Merchants dropped their wares. Hardened mercenaries stopped mid-brawl. The beasts of the continent turned, their eyes blowing wide in shock and respect.

They all knew the Matriarch of the Iron-Wood had recently given birth. But seeing her arriving in person, flanked by her mates, was a sight ripped straight from ancient myth.

Whispers immediately broke out, rippling through the dense crowd like a tidal wave.

“It’s Queen Roxann… “

“The Dragon King is massive in person…”

“Wait, who is the white-haired man? He has no beast aura… but he walks with the Kings…”

The intense curiosity and astonishment were overwhelming. Hundreds of eyes were glued to the wagon, staring intently at the radiant Matriarch and the gaggle of rare, powerful children tucked inside with her.

Axel’s fluffy black wolf ears were pinned straight back. The seven-year-old pup did not like the way the strangers were staring at his mother.

Axel leaned over the wooden railing, baring his tiny, sharp white fangs. A shockingly deep, feral growl vibrated in his small chest. Beside him, Onyx immediately followed suit, puffing out his chest and snarling at a passing merchant who had lingered too long.

Even sweet little Iris narrowed her violet eyes, letting out a fierce, protective little huff.

Drax, walking beside the wagon, crossed his arms and let out a concussive, chest-rattling draconic hiss that sent a nearby group of onlookers scrambling backward in sheer terror.

“Boys, put your fangs away,” Roxy scolded gently, reaching out to pat Axel’s head, though she couldn’t hide the fond, amused smile tugging at her lips. “We are here to shop, not to conquer the textile merchants. Stand down, Drax.”

Drax grumbled but immediately ceased his hissing, and the wolf triplets reluctantly pulled their fangs back, though they kept their eyes narrowed in strict, suspicious vigilance.

Once the initial shock of their arrival faded, the sheer, absolute joy of the shopping trip began.

Roxy stepped down from the wagon, flanked instantly by Zarek and Torian, and made her way through the bustling stalls. She had a strict mission: restock the winter groceries, acquire silks for Tanith and Zale, and procure new clothing accessories for the rapidly growing children.

However, commerce in the Beastworld proved to be entirely broken when you were the beloved savior of the continent.

Roxy approached a sprawling textile stall draped in heavy, shimmering winter velvets and silks. She carefully inspected a bolt of deep emerald fabric, perfect for Syris and Tanith.

“I will take ten yards of the emerald, and ten of the crimson,” Roxy told the merchant, signaling for Dena to bring the coin purse forward.

The merchant, an older bear-shifter, looked at the coin purse as if it were highly offensive. He violently shook his head.

“Absolutely not, Queen Roxy,” the bear-shifter declared, his voice trembling with profound gratitude. “You saved my entire clan from the Wither-Rot. Your cure brought my son back from the brink of death. You will take the silks for free. My entire stall is yours.”

“I am not taking your livelihood for free,” Roxy argued strictly. She pushed a heavy pouch of gold coins onto his table. “You have a family to feed through the winter. Take the coin.”

The merchant looked at the gold, deeply conflicted. He couldn’t refuse the Queen’s direct order, but his honor absolutely refused to simply sell to her like a commoner.

A bright idea sparked in the merchant’s eyes. He scooped up the gold, but instead of cutting twenty yards of silk, he hauled four massive, entire bolts of fabric off his shelves, easily double her requested amount, and shoved them directly into Ren’s waiting arms.

“Then you shall have twice what you paid for, my Queen!” the merchant boomed happily. “Two for the price of one! It is the law of the market for the Iron-Wood!”

Roxy rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t fight the man’s stubborn gratitude.

The trend continued at every single stall. When Roxy tried to buy a cart of fresh venison, the butcher refused her coin entirely until she forced it upon him, resulting in Torian carrying away double the meat she had asked for. Kaelen found himself organizing twice the amount of root vegetables and spices, while Caspian carried beautifully carved wooden toys that the craftsmen had practically thrown into the wagon just to earn a smile from the royal children.

The atmosphere was incredibly joyous. The sun was shining, the children were laughing as they devoured candied apples, and the heavy, terrifying weight of the past few weeks seemed to temporarily lift from Roxy’s shoulders.

She watched Zarek awkwardly but gently accept a woven flower crown from a brave little rabbit-shifter girl, his terrifying scowl entirely melting under the child’s absolute adoration.

It’s surprising how much he had changed compared to when they first met.

Roxy smiled, leaning against the wooden side of the wagon as Dena cataloged their massive, overflowing haul.

But then, a sudden chill swept through her veins, violently bypassing her thick winter cloak. The hair on the back of her neck stood straight up.

Her heart stuttered, missing a crucial beat as a heavy, suffocating, and terrifyingly dark presence pressed down on the very edges of her consciousness.

It wasn’t a beast. It wasn’t the feral, recognizable aura of a warlord or a rogue monster. It felt entirely artificial. It felt like lines of cold, digital code wrapping tightly around her throat.

She was being watched. Roxy gasped, her green eyes widening. She whipped her head around, her heart hammering against her ribs. She stared past the bustling crowds, her eyes scanning the dark, shaded alleyways between the canvas tents.

But there was nothing. Just the oblivious, chattering merchants and the smoke of the roasting fires. The cold, suffocating presence vanished just as abruptly as it had appeared, leaving Roxy trembling violently, her knuckles white as she gripped the wooden wagon railing.

Directly beside her, Zarek noticed a shift in her scent. He closed the distance between them, his massive hands gently yet urgently gripping her shoulders.

“Roxy, what’s wrong?” Zarek demanded, as his eyes scanned the crowd for threats.

Roxy swallowed hard, her mouth entirely dry. She forced her trembling muscles to relax, looking up into his fiercely protective face.

Roxy immediately shook her head, forcing a weak, unconvincing smile.

“Nothing,” Roxy whispered, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to mask her terror. “I thought I saw someone.”

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