Prologue

Bariya, a ten-year-old wildcat beastkin, clutched a strangely mottled baby tiger tightly in her arms as she glanced around nervously.

Across from her sat three tiger beastkin with fierce expressions, glaring with sharp, piercing eyes.

The ruling family that governed all tiger beastkin—the Kalif family.

The head of the house, Veyden, his wife Sabrina, and their heir, Sirka.

Despite facing nothing more than a ten-year-old girl, the three exuded an overwhelmingly dangerous aura.

Grrr…

Sensing the tense atmosphere, the baby tiger in Bariya’s arms bared its tiny fangs.

Yet the three ignored the cub entirely, their intense gazes fixed solely on Bariya.

“You.”

The first to speak was the strikingly beautiful Sabrina Kalif.

“You dare wreck my mansion and run away?”

At her fierce tone, Bariya’s eyes rolled.

She knew she had done wrong—but she had no intention of reflecting on it.

Sabrina clenched her fist.

“You insolent runaway beastkin. I absolutely cannot forgive you!”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“I agree with Mother.”

At Sabrina’s fury, her husband Veyden and son Sirka nodded in agreement.

“So I’ll get straight to the point.”

Sabrina slammed a sheet of paper onto the table.

“You! Become our adopted daughter!”

It was an adoption document—declaring Bariya as a daughter of the Kalif family.

“…Huh?”

Bariya’s eyes widened in shock.

“Is everyone sick? Did you hit your heads or something…? Wait—was it because of me?”

“We are perfectly fine!”

Sabrina shouted.

“But if you refuse, our hearts will be hurt.”

At Sirka’s words, Veyden nodded solemnly.

“So become our daughter.”

“Or you can just be my little sister.”

Bariya looked utterly baffled.

“Isn’t that basically the same thing?”

Since Sirka was their son anyway.

“If you don’t want to call them Mother and Father, then just be my sister.”

“Nonsense. Becoming my daughter is far better.”

Sabrina snapped, cutting in sharply.

To Bariya, they were identical choices—but the two argued as if there were a great difference.

“So, Bariya. Which will you choose?”

“Pick. Choose.”

Surrounded by the three of them urging her, she was forced to decide.

Thus marked the very first moment a wildcat beastkin would be registered into a tiger clan.

Chapter 1

Deep in a forest filled with nothing but grass and trees—

With no one to help her, Bariya panted as she scanned her surroundings sharply.

Six or seven hyenas circled her, drool dripping from their jaws.

It was a life-or-death situation, yet Bariya remained calm, carefully observing.

It had already been three years since the hyenas started chasing her.

After three years, even an academy dog could write a thesis—running had become her specialty.

And ever since she had wandered into an unknown territory a few months ago, the pursuit had loosened.

At some point, only ordinary animals—not beastkin—continued the chase.

And beastkin were far superior to animals.

Even for Bariya, who was only ten.

“Hiss!”

Bariya snarled, slamming her tail against the ground.

The hyenas flinched at the tiny wildcat’s fierce presence.

Grrr…

But bound by orders, they refused to retreat.

Watching them inch closer, Bariya unsheathed her claws.

Come at me, you idiots. I’ll show you the greatness of a wildcat!

Just as she lunged to slash out one hyena’s eye—

Thud!

Yelp!

With a sickening crack, one hyena was sent flying.

Not just the pack, but Bariya herself turned in shock.

“Why are these annoying hyena bastards swarming like this?”

A young man with silver hair fluttering in the wind kicked another hyena aside.

Honestly, she barely even saw the movement.

No—more than that, it felt incredibly satisfying to see those annoying beasts get kicked like that.

But Bariya couldn’t react properly.

W-What kind of face is that…?

The young man, with silver hair and flawless skin like polished jade, was breathtakingly beautiful.

It was the first time Bariya realized that a man could be beautiful.

Then—

“…!”

The man turned toward her.

The moment their eyes met—eyes bluer than the sky—every hair on her body stood on end.

This was no time to be mesmerized by appearances.

Her instincts screamed.

That’s not an ordinary beastkin. If he catches me, I’m dead!

That was a predator far more dangerous than the hyenas.

“A baby cat?”

Her rising tension vanished instantly.

At his words, irritation surged.

I’m a wildcat, you brute!

Sure, she was small and admittedly a bit cute due to poor growth—but still!

How could he not tell the difference?!

But now’s not the time for that.

Any beastkin was dangerous.

Especially one stronger than the hyenas.

If she wanted to live, she had to run.

Grinding her teeth, Bariya twisted her body to escape—

But—

“Kyah?! (What?!)”

Before she could even take a step, her body lifted into the air.

The blue-eyed man had already grabbed her by the scruff.

“When I look closely… it really is a cat. Poor thing, surrounded by hyenas. You must’ve been scared.”

Another beastkin approached him.

Bariya thrashed wildly.

“Raaah! Let me go! Let me go!”

“…What a nasty temper.”

“Definitely not an ordinary cat.”

As they watched, the blue-eyed man suddenly buried his nose into the back of her neck.

“…!”

A chill ran down her spine.

For a split second, she imagined her throat being torn out.

“KYAAAH!”

Startled, Bariya lashed out, smacking his face repeatedly with her paws.

“Good heavens!”

The other beastkin gaped.

“She just did what no one else could—this precious little cat!”

He clapped at the paw prints stamped across the man’s cheek.

“We should take her back to the mansion.”

The man touched his cheek, a dangerous smile forming.

Bariya stiffened.

“…You’re not going to eat her, right? She’s just a clueless baby cat.”

“That wouldn’t be so bad.”

With that ominous reply, the man turned.

“We’re returning.”

Only then did Bariya notice—all the hyenas were dead.

Killed by the beastkin around him.

“Here, hold her until we get back.”

While she was distracted, the man handed her to another.

For a brief moment, Bariya regained freedom.

Her eyes gleamed.

You arrogant beast. You dared underestimate me?

Even if she had to run later—she’d get her revenge first!

“W-wait—?!”

“What?!”

Kicking off the man’s hands, Bariya flipped through the air.

Then, aiming at the man’s face—

SMACK!

Her hind legs struck cleanly.

His head snapped back.

Everyone froze in shock.

Sirka Kalif.

The heir of the tiger clan had just experienced something unprecedented in his life.

* * *

The Kalif family ruled all tiger beastkin.

Sirka, the heir, had come to the border of their territory because hyenas had been increasing recently.

Even if they were just animals, it was unsettling.

But I didn’t expect to find something like this.

What he thought was a swarm of annoying hyenas—

Was actually a tiny kitten surrounded by them.

Honestly, he hadn’t even noticed her at first.

“My lady kitten, if you want to live, you really shouldn’t behave like that.”

Jake, Sirka’s aide, sighed as he tightly wrapped the struggling kitten in cloth.

“Why are you speaking politely to a kitten?”

Another knight asked, baffled.

“Well, she’s the one who slapped the young master’s face. Show some respect.”

“Ah—fair point.”

The knights nodded seriously.

Sirka was speechless.

“Let me go!”

Even now, Bariya continued struggling relentlessly.

Everyone admired her fierce spirit.

“She won’t calm down. Maybe we should give her something to eat?”

You think I care about food right now?!

“Here, eat.”

“Mm?!”

Something was suddenly shoved into her mouth.

Savory aroma.

Perfectly salted.

Rich meat flavor filling her mouth.

Jerky—delicious, nutritious jerky.

It had been so long since she tasted real food.

Her resistance stopped.

“Mmm…”

“Oh, she’s eating well.”

“She must’ve been starving.”

The knights gathered around, watching her.

Wait… what if they take it back?

Clutching the jerky tightly, Bariya turned and hid inside the cloth bundle.

“Pfft.”

“Ha—!”

“Hehehe…”

As she wiggled her little body and devoured the jerky inside, the knights clutched their hearts.

They had completely forgotten how terrifying she had been just moments ago.