Eden Transmigration

Melinoe stood frozen, her wide eyes locked onto the piercing blue gaze of the man before her. She barely registered the sudden appearance of another leopard at his side, shifting into a cloaked figure who draped a long black fabric over the tan-skinned man's shoulders.

Her breath hitched. Even with the cloak, the man's body was impossible to ignore. His broad shoulders, chiseled chest, and sharply defined abs glistened slightly under the warm glow of the fires still raging behind them. His waist tapered into lean, powerful hips, his thighs thick with muscle, promising the kind of strength that could pin an enemy—or a lover—effortlessly. His skin was golden, smooth, and flawless, marred only by faint scars tracing along his biceps and abdomen. He was dangerously beautiful.

Melinoe snapped her head to the side, trying to ignore the heat rising in her cheeks. Instead, she focused on the chaos around them. The once-bustling marketplace had turned into an inferno of destruction. Tents burned, and captured beastmen and animals were being unshackled by cloaked figures. Voices shouted orders, weapons clashed in the distance, and the air was thick with smoke and blood.

The other cloaked man standing beside the tall beastman spoke, "We've secured the area. The illegal merchants have been detained and will be dealt with accordingly." He shifted his gaze toward the imprisoned beastmen. "What should we do with them?"

The tall man merely nodded, his expression unreadable, before turning his full attention back to Melinoe.

Her breath hitched. The moment their eyes met, her stomach twisted in nervous anticipation. She didn't know what to expect, but every instinct screamed that this man was dangerous—dangerous in ways she didn't fully understand yet.

Melinoe stiffened as he stepped closer, her heart pounding erratically. She didn't know where to look, so she chose the safest option: down.

Big mistake.

Her eyes trailed lower, lower—

Realization struck like a slap to the face. Her head jerked up so fast she nearly gave herself whiplash. The man was towering over her, his presence suffocating. She was barely at his chest level, and he was so close that she could feel the heat radiating from his body.

A calloused hand reached up, gently brushing away strands of her hair that had fallen over her face. His fingers barely grazed her ear, yet the touch sent an involuntary shiver down her spine. Her entire body heated up with a mix of confusion and something unfamiliar.

"Nyxpanther Draeven," the man finally spoke, his deep, velvety voice sending tingles across her skin. "Yours?"

Melinoe blinked. It took her a full moment to process the question.

"M-Melinoe Ka-Karma," she stammered, feeling utterly out of her depth.

A slow, satisfied smile spread across Nyxpanther's lips. "Beautiful name."

Before she could react, his strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her against him in a possessive embrace.

Then, he kissed her.

The world around them seemed to vanish. The flames, the screams, the destruction—it all faded into the background. The only thing Melinoe could focus on was the firm, demanding lips pressing against hers.

Nyxpanther Draeven's POV

From the moment he saw her, he knew she was his.

Hidden within the dense foliage of the forest, he had watched as she wandered aimlessly, fear lacing every step. He had remained still, blending into the shadows, his sleek black fur rendering him invisible to untrained eyes. But he had seen her.

The first thing that caught his attention was her scent. It was unlike anything he had ever encountered before—sweet yet soothing, with an underlying warmth that called to something primal within him. It wasn't just her beauty that captivated him, though she was undeniably stunning. It was the way she moved, the way her lips parted slightly when she whispered to herself, the way her hands clutched the strap of her bag as if it were the only thing tethering her to reality.

He had followed her, silent as the night, unable to look away. Then she was taken.

The moment those filthy hands had grabbed her, his vision had gone red. His instincts roared in protest, demanding he rip them apart. But he had waited, biding his time.

Then, in the cage, she had clung to him, crying softly.

Something inside him had snapped.

She was his.

His to protect. His to claim. His to possess.

When she was nearly sold off like livestock, he could no longer hold back. Blood had been spilled, but it wasn't enough to quell the rage inside him. He had transformed, slaughtering the one who dared to lay claim to her. Now, she was safe.

Now, she was his.

Standing before her, his mind was clouded with the scent of her, the warmth of her presence, the deep-seated need to make sure she never left his side.

She tried to look away, but he wouldn't allow it.

He needed to see her eyes. Needed to see the recognition in them. The acceptance.

"Nyxpanther Draeven," he murmured, watching her closely.

She hesitated, nervous. "…Melinoe Ka-Karma."

Beautiful.

He didn't stop himself.

He wrapped an arm around her delicate frame, pulling her flush against his body, her soft curves molding against him. And then, he kissed her.

And gods, he was never letting her go.