The World of Beasts: She's Got Their Hearts

Analise guessed Wayne had to be at least 270 years old by now.

"I just turned 300 this year," Wayne said with a grin.

"But your brother looks really young," Analise said, surprised.

Even though she had read about this in the Therian Reproductive Studies book, it still caught her off guard.

The book explained that therians aged similarly to humans for the first 30 years. But between the ages of 30 and 230, their appearance barely changed as they remained in their prime.

After 240 years old, their aging would begin again, slowly mirroring how humans looked past 30 years old. Their control over mind essence would also start to decline.

"Sawyer and I share the same parents, but he was born more than 50 years after me. So of course he looks a lot younger," Wayne explained.

Analise had just recently turned of age and didn't yet bear any markings or have children. So, he figured she probably hadn't been taught much about the deeper biology of their kind since she was unmated. That was common for unmated females.

"I see." Analise nodded.

That reproduction manual had been way too detailed when it came to the structure and physiology of therians. She had mostly skimmed through, but she did remember the lifespan breakdown.

She figured female therians probably had long reproductive lifespans, too.

"Ms. Chambers, what do you think—any chance my son might end up being your first mate?" Wayne asked with a hearty laugh. His tone was playful, but there was still a hint of hope as he tried to vouch for the shy Karl.

Even if deep down, he knew Karl likely wouldn't be Analise's first.

Wayne knew Karl wasn't usually so shy around other females, only toward the ones he liked.

"Dad, why would you say that to Ms. Chambers?" Karl muttered, sneaking a glance at Analise as his cheeks turned red-hot.

Finlay had stopped eating by then. He watched Karl quietly for a second, his brows furrowed, then opened his interface and messaged a trusted friend.

Finlay: "Dude, do you think quiet, pretty-boy types are popular with females?"

Smarty: "Of course they are. You got new competition?"

Finlay: "Yeah, but he stutters and acts all nervous around females."

Smarty: "Oh? He's a threat?"

Finlay: "What does that mean?"

Smarty: "You wouldn't get it. You're in trouble. I'll check him out later. Or better yet, secretly record a video of him with the female. I'll analyze it for you."

Finlay: "I can't do it right now."

Smarty: "Fine. We'll talk later. It's spring now. I'm busy making babies with my

mate. Don't bother me for the next three to five days. Bye."

Finlay was speechless. Babies? He glanced at Analise and immediately started daydreaming about what their baby would look like. Would the kid take after her more or him?

While Finlay was grinning foolishly at Analise, Scott slapped the back of his head. "What are you grinning about? We're talking about serious business here. Listen up!"

Scott didn't like Finlay's smile or his gaze toward Analise. He knew Finlay had to be up to no good.

Knowing Finlay's straightforward personality, Scott had a horrible thought. Even though his heat cycle had ended, Finlay might still walk right up to Analise and just ask if she wanted to mate.

He recalled the day Finlay came out of the shower half-dressed, clearly trying to show off his body, and Analise even watched him with admiration. Just the memory made Scott feel sour. noveldrama

"Alright. Now that we've all eaten, let's get moving with the plan." Wayne smiled and looked at the ones gathered around the table, thinking it was good to be young.