Chapter 180 - 178

Chapter 180: Chapter 178

Kayden closed his eyes as a faint shimmer of energy surrounded his body. Then, in the span of a few seconds, his human form disappeared and was replaced by his massive beast form.

I stared at him for a few moments before he shifted back.

"Like that."

I slowly put my face in my hands. "That explained absolutely nothing."

Kayden seemed to consider my complaint for a moment before gently coaxing, "Why don’t you try it? We’ll guide you."

I lowered my hands and stared at him.

"Fine."

I stood up and moved to the center of the greenhouse, giving myself plenty of space.

"Okay..."

I closed my eyes.

Remington spoke first. "Now, clear everything from your mind. Calm yourself and think about your beast form."

I took a slow breath. ’Think about my beast.’

"Don’t think about changing your form," Colt continued. "Otherwise, your beast will only come to hate you."

I frowned slightly. ’Wait... what?’

"Once you feel your beast, don’t ty fighting it, and just let it merge with you," Gawain added.

For the first time, I stopped trying to force anything, and simply let the strange sensation inside me spread.

It felt like something inside me was slowly waking up.

Kayden’s voice came last. "When you feel ready, let it go."

I took one final breath as something inside me shifted. My body suddenly felt lighter as my senses sharpened even more. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to being a leopard cub.

I did it.

I actually did it!

"I can finally shift!"

I quickly closed my mouth when I heard myself speaking normally.

"Can you understand what I’m saying?"

"Yes," Colt answered.

"You don’t hear me saying nyang or nya?"

"Do we look like we’re deaf?" Remington asked sarcastically.

I decided not to let him ruin my mood further. "I can finally speak in my beast form! Wahaha!"

However my laughter slowly faded as I looked down at my tiny paws again.

"Damn it. How do I even grow into an adult?"

"Maybe you’re suffering from dwarfism?" Remington decided to open his mouth again.

I finally glared at him.

He immediately raised both hands. "I’m just saying! Your father’s a frog, so maybe you inherited it from your genes..."

"At least I’m still cute and fluffy. What’s your excuse for looking like a walking electrical hazard?"

Colt snorted into his tea.

Remington looked personally offended. "That’s a completely different matter!"

"Of course it is. Your shortcomings are always a different matter."

Gawain and Colt burst out laughing, throwing one teasing remark after another at Remington, who was now glaring at both of them.

I watched the three of them and sighed. ’These three are useless.’

If I wanted an actual answer, I clearly had to ask someone competent.

My gaze shifted towards Kayden and quickly padded over to him.

"Please tell me I can still get bigger."

"Of course."

"Then tell me!"

"I will, but first..."

Before I could ask what he meant, he scooped me up without hesitation.

"Even you?!" I protested.

’What’s with everyone always carrying me around?!’

"It’s tiring to look down at you," Kayden explained, completely unbothered.

Unfortunately, he seemed more interested in playing with my ears than answering my question.

I flicked my tail against his arm. "Can you stop?"

"I can’t help it. You’re too fluffy."

"Stop!" I immediately covered my ears with my paws.

"Alright. Just one more pet."

"That’s what you said last time!"

He ignored my complaint and gave my ears one last gentle rub.

"Kayden!"

For some inexplicable reason, I suddenly shifted back into my human form.

I blinked in surprise, finding myself sitting comfortably in Kayden’s arms.

He adjusted his hold to make sure I wouldn’t fall, looking entirely unfazed by the sudden transformation.

’Wait. Did I just shift back because he was petting me?’

Before I could investigate, Kayden finally continued as though nothing unusual had happened.

"One way is to grow naturally. As you mature, your beast form matures as well."

"Well that crosses out of my list," I said. "What’s the next one?"

"Some beastkin don’t mature based on age alone. Their beast forms develop as they grow stronger, whether through training, strengthening their core, or overcoming personal limitations."

"I... I can do that, I guess."

I sighed. It wasn’t exactly the quick solution I was hoping for.

"I take back what I said, that sounds exhausting."

Kayden gave me a look.

"What?"

"You asked."

"I know, but aren’t there any more ways?"

"There is one more, but you’re not ready for that."

He said it so casually that I immediately narrowed my eyes.

"Why not? I’m ready! I’m definitely ready! I’ll do anything if it means I can stop being floofy and getting carried around all the time!"

Kayden gently placed me on a chair before looking down at me. "Trust me. You’re not ready."

"How would you know that?"

"Because I know what it involves."

I opened my mouth to argue, but he continued before I could get a word in.

"Focus on training instead. It’s safer that way."

I crossed my arms and sank into the chair. "But it’s slower to reach adulthood," I mumbled.

I couldn’t believe it. After finally learning how to transform, I was still stuck with the body of a cub. And apparently, there was a way to fix it, but Kayden refused to tell me what it was.

’What kind of ridiculous secret is this?’

I looked up at him suspiciously. "Is it really that dangerous?"

Kayden smiled faintly. "Something like that."

That answer did absolutely nothing to reassure me.

"It’s fine if you won’t tell me, let’s just carve your energy stone."

"Now?" Kayden raised a brow.

"Yes. Now."

"You don’t even have your tools with you."

"Shift," I pointed at the empty space before us.

His eyebrow twitched. "Are you getting bratty with me right now?"

"No."

"Just because I won’t tell you the third way?"

"Just shift."

He stared at me for another moment before suddenly reaching down and pinching both of my cheeks.

I immediately grabbed his hands. "What are you doing?!"

Instead of letting go, he leaned closer until his lips were right beside my ear.

"Getting bossy with me gets you nowhere," he whispered. "If anything, I like it even more."

My face immediately heated up.