"Listen, I just want to thank you all for helping me out and getting this far," I said, but Perita spoke up, pushing some of her long red hair out of her face.


    "I could hardly say that we have helped you. Since you havee, we have constantly ced our burdens on you. At first, you epted to all of our surprises," Perita exined, and the other women nodded along.


    "I, for one, have been one of the biggest thorns, but I am thankful for the person that you have turned out to be," Nixi said as she came walking down the stairs.


    The women all started to voice my praise, and that was not what I had intended. Luckily, Clesh seemed to notice the uneasy look on my face and stood up, quieting down the others.


    "I think what Zack meant was for the work we have been doing. We should all enjoy that, and most of us should be getting to bed. Tomorrow is ourst day on this ind, and we all have much left to do," Clesh told the women like she was the oldest among them.


    Surprisingly, the woman nodded at her words and got up. The group of them thanked me and then headed upstairs.


    I guess that they have all lived lives under thumb, even Nixi. This was finally a chance for everyone to change for the better, and I would be the catalyst.


    Each of them gave me an intimate look that left me wanting more. That was about the time that my stomach let out a loud rumble that made all the womenugh as they headed up.


    I groaned and turned to Nushi, who had a hand over her mouth, covering augh. I made a frowning face, and she pulled her hand away, still smiling.


    I seized the moment, even with Mary wrapped around me. I reached out quickly, pulling Nushi for a quick kiss.


    The feeling of her firm body in my arms as our lips pressed together was amazing. The closeness of us drove all thoughts of food from my mind.


    The kiss was short but meaningful, and we broke apart after a few seconds. We headed into the kitchen, where Howl now had arge meat te on the floor.


    My wolf pup was tearing into the food like it was his first meal ever. I swear I could even see tears pouring out of the little blue wolf''s eyes.


    "I hope you are hungry; I made you some-," Lidy started to say, but I put a hand up to stop.


    I walked around the kitchen ind where she was cooking and went over to give her a kiss. I wasn''t sure what kind of meat she was preparing at this point, but I was hungry.


    After I broke the kiss with her soft pillow lips, I smiled at Lidy and said, "Don''t tell me what it is; I just want to eat some of your amazing cooking!"


    "Alright, go sit down, and I will te you," Lidy replied after giving me another quick kiss and a smile.


    I grinned like a fool but then did as I was told. I turned back and was about to walk over to the table in the corner but stopped.


    "What are you looking at?" Chey asked me from the back of the table where he was sitting.


    I hadn''t noticed Chey because of him mostly being in the shadows. The look really wasn''t that bad on him, but I could understand the feelings he might be having.


    When I had shrunk down from all the training, I almost felt less of a man. This was obviously different, but I still understood how he might feel.


    "Sorry, I just didn''t see you there in the shadows. You know that you can change back any time, right?" I told Chey as I walked over and joined him and Nushi at the table.


    "I tried that, but I towered over everyone, even with my lower halfying on the floor. I will have to admit that this form is much better for rxing. I just don''t understand this ridiculous head I have in this form! Neigh!" Cheyined with frustration, but his eyes wentrge at the noise he made at the end.


    Chey through his hands up to cover his mouth as the house noise slipped out. Thankfully, everyone kept a calmposer, and I held myugh back.


    Thest thing that we needed to do wasugh at the poor guy. I was sure that Chey would gain better control of his form with some training.


    "Don''t worry. Remember that you just got this ability, right? You should know that nothing is mastered the first time you do it," I exined to Chey, and he seemed to rx.


    "The girls that transform like you do can help you out. Some have been doing it their entire life, while others are learning like you," Nushi added.


    "I guess that you are right, but there is one thing I can''t get over. Why do I all of a sudden hate meat in this form? That te of meat that your cook is bringing overlooks delicious, but it smells like death to me in this form!" Cheyined, and that made meugh as Lidy came over.


    She ced arge te of meat in front of me that looked like it could feed eight. A teal arm shot over my shoulder before I even had the chance to reason the massive te of meat.


    A steak was snatched up with lightning speed and then flew back past my head. I had forgotten Mary wrapped around me so effortlessly since I was sitting on a stool instead of a chair.


    "Thank you, Lidy, this is all great, but you should get to bed. I will clean up after we are done, but we all have a big day tomorrow," I told Lidy, and she smiled and then leaned down to kiss my cheek before leaving the kitchen.


    I smiled and turned back to my food, picking up the cutlery Lidy had brought me. I quickly cut one steak into big chunks and plopped one in my mouth before anyone could interrupt me.


    "So, What are you nning to do with the rest of the Astral Rings?" Asked the familiar voice of Libra from behind me.