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Huling Na-update:
2025-02-11 23:19:26
Kaugnay na kabanata
Tangled In Scales 11
The weekend sun poured through the open window, spilling golden light across the hardwood floor. A soft breeze drifted in, carrying the scent of pine and fresh morning dew. Outside, birds called to one another from the thick trees surrounding the house, their chirping a pleasant backdrop to the stillness inside.Ashwin stood at the counter, waiting for the coffee to finish brewing, his body still warm from sleep. He rubbed a hand over his face and ruffled his dark curls, his boxers hanging loosely on his hips. It wasn’t like he was trying to be indecent—this was his home, after all.And yet, he felt it.The heavy, unrelenting weight of Ishaan’s gaze.It prickled against his bare skin, tracing the curve of his spine, the sharp lines of his shoulders, the dip of his waist. Ashwin didn’t need to turn around to know Ishaan was watching him.Appreciating him.Ignoring the heat creeping up his neck, Ashwin grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured his coffee. “You’re up early.”Behind him,
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-13Tangled In Scales 12
Ashwin didn’t remember much about his earliest years—just flashes of movement and hushed voices. The memory that stuck, the one that always surfaced when he let his mind wander, was of the bus stop. The cracked pavement, the dull hum of traffic, the way his small hands gripped the edge of the bench as he sat there, waiting for someone who never came back.It was Hayden’s grandmother who found him. A kind woman with tired eyes and soft hands, she took one look at the abandoned boy and made a decision that changed both their lives. She raised Ashwin alongside Hayden, treating him as her own. And when Hayden lost his parents in a car crash, they became each other’s whole world—two boys with no one but each other, finding warmth in shared grief.But there were gaps in Ashwin’s memory, things that didn’t quite fit. Sometimes, when he thought too hard about that bus stop, the image wavered. Had he really been abandoned by a family of tourists, as Hayden’s grandmother always assumed? Or was
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-13Tangled In Scales 13
Ashwin stirred his tea half-heartedly, the spoon clinking against the ceramic as he gazed out through the kitchen window. The morning was quiet, Mount Haven still wrapped in the soft embrace of dawn, but his mind was anything but peaceful.His thoughts twisted, tangled, pulled in directions he didn’t understand.Hayden was missing. That should have been the only thing on his mind. The investigation, the police, the whispers around town—it all should have consumed him. And yet, here he was, sitting at the kitchen table, fingers curled around his cup, unable to think about anything except—Ishaan.Ashwin exhaled sharply, pressing his forehead against the cool rim of the mug.It didn’t make sense. None of this made sense.He had known Ishaan for a handful of weeks—less than two months—but it felt like Ishaan had been there forever, like he had slotted himself into Ashwin’s life so seamlessly that Ashwin couldn’t tell where the intru
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-13Tangled In Scales 14
Mount Haven’s market was a staple of small-town life, brimming with color, chatter, and the lingering scent of spiced bread. Ashwin found a sense of peace here—watching the townsfolk barter over fresh produce, admiring the handiwork of local artisans, and indulging in the occasional sweet treat.He sat on a rickety wooden chair outside a café, half-heartedly stirring his tea as he gazed through the kitchen window. But right now, his mind wasn’t on the market or the list of groceries he needed to buy. His thoughts were tangled—wrapped around something he couldn’t quite shake off.Or rather, someone.Ishaan.The man had only been in his life for a short while, but already, he was everywhere. In the spare room Ashwin had rented out. In the corners of his mind when he least expected it. In his dreams.Especially in his dreams.Ashwin sighed, his fingers tightening around his spoon. He told himself this was just an inconveni
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-13Tangled In Scales 15
Ashwin stirred the spoon in his tea half-heartedly, the rhythmic motion almost hypnotic as he gazed out the kitchen window. The glow of the streetlamp outside cast long shadows against the walls, making everything feel still—too still. The apartment was silent, save for the occasional creak of the wooden floors, the distant hum of a car passing by, and the soft ticking of the clock above the stove.Despite the quiet, Ashwin's mind was anything but calm.His grip on the ceramic mug tightened. Ishaan.It had only been a few weeks since he had moved in, but his presence was already disturbing Ashwin in ways he couldn’t understand. The man was too intense, too watchful, always lingering just close enough that Ashwin could feel him, even when he wasn’t looking.And that wasn’t the worst part.The worst part was the way Ashwin reacted to him.Every glance, every low murmur of his voice sent something sharp and confusing through Ashwin’s chest. His body tensed whenever Ishaan was near, but
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-14Tangled In Scales 16
Ashwin had been feeling… off.It had started subtly at first—a faint itch along his arms and legs, an odd tightness in his skin, as if it were stretched too thin. He had assumed it was just the changing weather, maybe dry air or the stress catching up to him. But by the time the weekend rolled around, it had worsened.The sensation wasn’t painful, just strange. Like something was crawling just beneath his skin, waiting to break free.Standing in front of the mirror, Ashwin frowned as he rubbed his hands over his arms. His skin was flaking—not dry, not sunburnt—just… shedding. The patches were pale, almost translucent, peeling away in small, thin layers like an old, discarded husk.The soft shuffle of feet outside his door made him glance up, and before he could react, his door creaked open.Ishaan stepped inside.Ashwin tensed, quickly wrapping his arms around himself, but Ishaan didn’t seem to notice.Or maybe he did.Because Ishaan suddenly stopped mid-step, his nostrils flaring sli
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-14Tangled In Scales 17
Ashwin didn’t notice it at first.The way his body responded to Ishaan without him realizing. The way he followed, the way he yielded—small, unconscious gestures that should have meant nothing.But Ishaan noticed.And Ishaan took full advantage of it.And possessed it.The morning sun poured through the window, casting golden hues across the kitchen. Ashwin stood at the counter, lazily stirring his coffee, still groggy from sleep. His oversized shirt hung loosely over his frame, exposing the smooth slope of his collarbone.Ishaan saw everything.And then—he moved.Not loud. Not rushed.Just there.A slow, purposeful step forward, closing the space between them until Ashwin felt warmth press against his back.Ashwin stilled.Ishaan didn’t touch him. Not at first.But Ashwin’s body reacted anyway.His spine curved ever so slightly, his weight shifting, his breath caught in his throat as if he expected something—wanted something.Ishaan exhaled, the sound barely audible over Ashwin’s pou
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-16Tangled In Scales 18
Back in bed, Ashwin lay on his side, his body still trembling from what had happened. His mind reeled, his heart pounding against his ribs as a sickening guilt began to claw at his stomach. He had cheated. On Hayden.The thought sent a wave of nausea through him, making him curl in on himself. His fingers clutched at the sheets as he tried to steady his breathing. He had always prided himself on being loyal, on doing the right thing, but now?Now, he felt tainted.Ishaan shifted beside him, the mattress dipping under his weight. "You're thinking too much again," he murmured, voice deep and smooth, like silk sliding over skin.Ashwin didn't respond. He couldn’t.Ishaan sighed as if amused, rolling onto his side to face him. “You cheated, huh?”Ashwin flinched at the word. "I—yes. I shouldn’t have done this." His voice was barely above a whisper.Ishaan let out a low chuckle, and Ashwin finally turned to look at him, confused by his reaction.Then Ishaan’s fingers brushed lightly over A
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-16
Pinakabagong kabanata
Tangled In Scales 104
Ohas was building something again. Not a home, not a sanctuary—no, right now, he was building Hayden’s pleasure, dragging him deeper and deeper into a haze of unbearable bliss.His mouth was wrapped around Hayden’s length, warm and slick, his forked tongue curling, teasing, pressing in all the right places. He was thorough, like he had all the time in the world, savoring every inch of Hayden like he was something precious, something worth worshipping.The wet slide of Ohas’ mouth was maddening, slow and indulgent, his lips sealing tight around him as he sucked, hollowing his cheeks before pulling back only to tease the head with delicate flicks of his tongue. His hands—large, warm, possessive—held Hayden’s hips still against the furs, preventing him from moving, from thrusting up into that sinful heat.Hayden’s breath came in ragged pants, his body trembling as pleasure coiled hot and tight in his stomach. "Ohas," he gasped, voice break
Tangled In Scales 103
The air in Kal’Raksha felt different today—charged with something Hayden couldn’t quite name. Maybe it was the weight of Ohas’ presence beside him, the curious gazes of the Kaur clan, or the realization that he was now one of them.A human among Nagas.Hayden wasn’t sure what he expected. Outrage? Resistance? Rejection? Instead, there was a quiet sort of acceptance. A wariness, yes, but also something else—gratitude.Because Ohas was changing.They had seen him teeter on the edge of madness, a beast barely holding itself together. But now? Now, he was stable.And they all knew who to thank.Hayden.That realization sat heavy in his chest as he moved through the clan’s territory.Because Hayden wasn’t just any human to them. He was Ohas’ mate.And that meant everything.Ohas hadn’t prepared him for the sheer scale of the clan. The lands stretched far and wide, golden savanna grasses sw
Tangled In Scales 102
Hayden sat stiffly on the bed, staring at the ceiling, Ohas’ confession still echoing in his head."I have accepted my fate.""If you ever get your hands on the pendant, I won’t stop you."His fingers curled into the sheets.He should have felt relieved. This should have been easy. Ohas was giving him an out—offering him the choice to end it all.And yet...He didn’t want to.Hayden squeezed his eyes shut, frustration rolling through him.He couldn’t explain it. Maybe it was the exhaustion. Maybe it was the way Ohas had looked at him—raw and unguarded. Maybe it was the quiet resignation in his voice, the way he had spoken about himself as though he had never once believed he could be saved.Maybe it was something worse.Something primal.Hayden’s pulse jumped at the thought, his body flushing with heat that had nothing to do with the thick Kal’Raksha air.Because the
Tangled In Scales 101
Ohas sat up slowly, the dim firelight casting long, wavering shadows over his scarred back. The thick, jagged mark that ran down his spine was a cruel testament to his past—a wound that had never truly healed, no matter how many years had passed.His hazel eyes, fractured and haunted, stared into the flames, his breath slow and measured, as if gathering the courage to speak."Before all of this," Ohas finally said, his voice low, rough, like something dragging over broken glass, "I was the eldest of twenty-two siblings."The weight of the words hung heavy in the air.Hayden’s breath hitched slightly, but he didn’t speak. He just listened, sensing that whatever Ohas was about to say wasn’t meant to be interrupted.Ohas exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face, his fingers lingering against his temple, as if trying to hold himself together.The outskirts of Kal'Raksha had always been dangerous, even for Nagas. His parents ha
Tangled In Scales 100
Hayden took a slow bite, chewing thoughtfully. Ohas’ gaze was heavy on him, burning into his skin, and for some reason, it made him restless.“You’re staring again,” Hayden muttered.Ohas didn’t deny it. His tail twitched behind him, a slow, deliberate movement.“You’re eating,” he said softly. “That’s good.”Hayden scoffed. “Would you rather I starve?”Ohas went quiet. His expression didn’t change, but something flickered behind his eyes.Hayden swallowed, unease curling in his gut. Ohas had always been a storm—violent, unpredictable, something that tore through Hayden’s life and left nothing but destruction in its wake. But now… now he was something else. Softer. Almost hesitant.He should have fought against it—should have pushed back, should have resisted. But Ohas was warm at night, and Hayden had been cold for far too long.That terrified him more than anything."We're going back," Ohas
Tangled In Scales 99
The air was cold.A crisp, biting chill that clung to Hayden’s skin despite the heavy fur coat draped over his shoulders. He lay on his side atop the thick bedding of furs, his body aching in a way that left his limbs heavy, his mind foggy with exhaustion. His breath curled in soft puffs of white, vanishing into the frigid night as he stared at the sky above him.The three moons of Kal’Raksha hung in perfect alignment—red, blue, and white. Their glow bathed the frozen land in an eerie, dreamlike light, painting the snow in hues of violet and silver. The sight was breathtaking, otherworldly, and for a fleeting moment, Hayden allowed himself to simply exist beneath their gaze.And then—A shift in the air.A presence behind him.Heat.Ohas.Hayden barely had time to react before a strong, familiar arm wrapped around his waist, dragging him back against a solid, burning-hot chest.
Tangled In Scales 98
It started subtly.At first, Ishaan barely noticed anything—Ashwin was always meticulous, always particular about his comfort. But then, little things began to shift.Ashwin’s appetite waned. He’d push food around on his plate, eat a few bites, then shove it aside with a wrinkle of his nose. When Ishaan brought it up, Ashwin snapped at him. "Maybe I just don’t want to eat, Ishaan. Stop hovering."That was new.Then came the restlessness.Ashwin was always moving, slithering from one room to the next, muttering about how the air felt too dry, how the furs on their bed were too rough, how everything was just wrong. More than once, Ishaan caught him standing by the bathing pools, dipping his fingers into the water with a pensive frown, as if debating whether to submerge himself for hours.And the nest—gods, the nest.Ishaan had seen brooding behavior before. He had watched females obsess over their nests
Tangled In Scales 97
The hut was warm, carrying the faint scent of burnt herbs and whatever incense Ishaan had lit the night before. Ashwin was sprawled out on the bed like a discarded offering, his green tail stretched lazily across the soft nest of blankets, still sluggish from—well, from being absolutely ruined.Unfortunately for him, he was not alone.Two other tails—one a deep, shimmery purple, the other a bright, fire-kissed orange—were tangled up with his own. Kire and Oti, his so-called friends, were on either side of him, watching him like he was the funniest thing they’d ever seen.And judging by their barely contained laughter, he probably was.Oti let out a loud, dramatic sigh, dragging a single finger down one of the many bite marks on his shoulder. “Ishaan is a menace,” she announced as if she had just made the greatest discovery known to Naga-kind.Kire, who had been admiring a particularly dark bruise on Ashwin’s thigh, sno
Tangled In Scales 96
The hut was alive with the soft giggles and hissing whispers of the twins. Koa and Kai tumbled across the fur-draped mattress, their small tails tangling as they rolled, shrieking when they landed in a pile of twisted limbs and scales.Imara, ever the composed one, sat primly at the edge of the bed, watching them with mild exasperation. She reached for a discarded pillow and tossed it at them with precise aim.Their hushed laughter filled the chamber, but beyond the walls, the night was anything but quiet.Steam curled in thick, lazy tendrils, perfumed with crushed herbs and the faint mineral scent of heated water.Droplets clung to the stone walls, catching the flickering torchlight, their glow casting shifting shadows over smooth surfaces and damp, glistening scales.The water sloshed gently, the only sound breaking the heavy silence—save for the quiet, breathless gasps that escaped Ashwin’s lips.Ishaan was relentles
