Chapter 3 You Really Gave It To Her

Karina froze for a moment before realization dawned. In her previous life, she had been blinded by Avani's words. She had cruelly tricked Zareth, pretending to accept him, only to summon the other beastwomen of the tribe to come and watch—humiliating him for daring to desire someone out of his league. She had shattered his dignity that day. Even after the chief had formally named him as her beast husband, Zareth never once sought her out again. A pang of guilt surged through her. “I was wrong before,” she admitted, her voice soft but unwavering. “But now, I understand.” Her eyes met his, unflinching. “Zareth, mate with me. I want to be your partner.” She only ever wanted to be with someone who truly loved her. But Zareth's gaze remained glacial, his grip tightening around her wrists. “What are you scheming now?” he asked, his voice edged with restrained fury. He wasn't fool enough to believe her words ever again. “Ouch...” Karina winced, instinctively pulling her hand back, her eyes misting with unshed tears. At the sight of her tear-filled eyes, Zareth's grip loosened, and his heart melted. The moment he let go, her soft arms slipped around his waist. Before he could react, her lips—cool as morning dew—pressed against his, yet it only served to ignite something deep and untamed. Her fingers trailed lightly over his skin, teasing, coaxing. A faint, knowing smile curled her lips. She was indeed playing tricks—but this time, it was only to draw closer to him. Zareth stiffened, his body taut as a drawn bow. His reason crumbled. “Karina, you've brought this upon yourself,” he ground out, his voice thick with warning. “There's no turning back now.” Karina arched her neck, deepening the kiss, her hands pressing firmly against him in silent invitation. Zareth no longer held back. In an instant, the last remnants of his restraint shattered, giving way to the primal instincts of a beastman fulfilling his role as her mate. By the latter part of the night, exhaustion claimed Karina, pulling her into a deep slumber. She had intended to make amends through her actions, hoping to soothe Zareth's resentment. Yet, she had forgotten—her body in this life was still fragile, untouched by the brutal hardships that had once hardened her. In her dreams, she saw the deceased Corvus and Lorcan. Both stood before her—battered, broken, their bodies marred by deep wounds. Tears streamed down her face as she wept uncontrollably, consumed by guilt and regret. “Xelrik...” In this lifetime, she was determined—determined to shield Corvus and Lorcan from harm, to ensure that Xelrik and Avani paid the price they owed. Zareth sat on the collapsed bed, gazing down at the woman nestled in his arms. The sharp edges of his usual cold demeanor had softened, replaced by an unfamiliar tenderness. That night had felt like a dream—no, even beyond what he had ever dared to dream. But then, a single tear slid down the corner of her eye, and she murmured softly, “Xelrik.” Zareth's fingers stiffened. A flicker of warmth in his eyes was instantly drowned by a storm of rage. Without hesitation, he shoved Karina away. I knew it. She still has that bastard in her heart. She only mated with me to prevent Xelrik from hating her! Karina was deep in slumber when, without warning, she found herself tumbling onto the floor. Startled, she sat up, rubbing her face. It was damp. Only then did the memories of the night before come rushing back. “Zareth...” Before she could say more, a cold, cutting voice interrupted her. “Yesterday, the chief tricked me into eating the Myndrel fruit, forcing me to lose control. If you regret it now, it's not too late. I can dissolve our mate contract. That way, Xelrik can still be your primary beast husband.” The Myndrel fruit—renowned for its aphrodisiac effects—was favored among seasoned beastmen, often used to enhance their intimate encounters. But for a young, inexperienced man, it acted as a dangerously potent stimulant. No wonder Zareth had been so aggressive last night. Karina lifted her gaze, only to be met with the sight of the young man beside the bed. He was bare-chested, his muscles taut and defined, each contour sculpted with effortless strength. His sharp features exuded an undeniable allure, yet his eyes and brows carried a lingering melancholy, casting a shadow over his handsomeness. At that moment, his expression was cold and unreadable, his face etched with distaste. Yet beneath the gloom, Karina caught a fleeting trace of vulnerability. As her gaze lowered, she noticed a swirling black serpent mark just below her collarbone, its sinuous form extending down the center of her chest. The mark of a mate contract—an unbreakable bond, where the female bore the imprint of her beast husband's beast form. “I don't want Xelrik. All I want is you.” Karina clutched the black serpent mark, as if it were a precious treasure, and shook her head with unwavering determination. The Beast God favored beastwomen, allowing them to take multiple beast husbands, while beastmen could only devote themselves to one mate for life. Once a mate contract was formed through intimacy, it became an unbreakable bond. If forcibly severed or if the mate perished, the beastman would suffer a devastating backlash. His strength would wither, reducing him to an ordinary beastman, gravely injured and weakened. In severe cases, it could even claim his life. Such a fate was the ultimate disgrace—a beastman stripped of his power, shunned by his kind. Zareth's expression darkened further. “Still lying to me, huh?” In this world, no beastwoman ever had just one beast husband. Zareth was certain—Karina had to be toying with him. There was no other explanation for why she would willingly choose him. “I'm not lying, and if you don't believe me, I'll prove it to you over time.” Karina raised three fingers, making her vow. Zareth scoffed, his voice cold as ice. “I already gave you a chance. Since you refused to take it, don't even think about getting rid of me—not even in death.” He fixed his gaze on her, searching for fear, for hesitation—anything. Instead, Karina smiled. She sat beside him on the bed, wrapping her arms around his. “Even in death? Great. That means you're willing to die with me. You must have forgiven me.” Zareth was momentarily speechless. Did she just... smile at me? His expression darkened with uncertainty. He studied the woman in front of him, his mind swirling with questions. What on earth is she planning? Noticing that Zareth didn't push her away again, Karina knew—the first step of her redemption had succeeded. She understood that the wounds she had inflicted on him wouldn't heal overnight, and she was prepared to keep trying, again and again, until he fully forgave her. However... Her gaze swept across the small wooden hut. The place was practically bare, and the only bed—now broken—was proof of the reckless passion they had shared the night before. Her cheeks warmed slightly. She quickly let go of his arm, shaking off any distracting thoughts. Zareth lived a frugal life, yet he had always given the best of what he had—to her. Beast crystals, fresh meat, beast hides, bone knives... In her past life, she had foolishly handed all of it over to Avani. And with those very resources, Avani and Xelrik had flourished, living in luxury while Zareth was left with nothing. These were symbols of Zareth's love for her. This time, she would take everything back. “Zareth, I need to see Xelrik,” Karina declared with determination. Avani had handed over all the resources to Xelrik, which meant they had to be with him now. At the mention of that name, Zareth's expression turned ice-cold. So much for her claims of only wanting me. She can't even hold back for long. As expected, she's lying. “That's none of my business,” he said flatly. Brushing her hand off his arm, he abruptly stood and stormed out of the room without another word. “Hey!” Karina called after him, rushing to the doorway, but Zareth was already gone, vanishing without a trace. “Why did he suddenly get so angry? I didn't even finish explaining...” she muttered. Forget it. I'll explain once I get the resources back. Maybe then he'll actually cheer up. No sooner had Karina stepped outside than she paused, her gaze landing on the forgotten Myndrel fruit tucked away in the corner. Realizing that retrieving the resources wouldn't be an easy task, she quickly came up with a plan. She tucked two Myndrel fruits into her bag before stepping out the door. Unbeknownst to her, behind the old tree next to the wooden cabin, Zareth stood hidden in the shadows. His expression was ominously dark as he silently watched her leave. Draven Hearthsong, Zareth's only close friend, happened to catch sight of the scene. His jaw nearly dropped to the ground. “How... how did she come out of your house?” Zareth's expression remained unreadable. “What do you think?” he asked coldly. Draven's eyes widened in disbelief. “No way. You actually gave it to her? After everything she did to you last time?” Zareth shot him a warning glance but remained silent. “You really gave it to her!” His voice rose in frustration. “Zareth, are you out of your mind? How could you be paired with a woman like her? She's arrogant, cruel, and not even that attractive! And worst of all—she's barren! You'll never be able to have children with her!” He was practically seething, feeling the injustice on behalf of his friend. Before he could say another word, Zareth reached down, grabbed a handful of dirt-covered grass, and shoved it straight into Draven's mouth. “Shut up,” he growled. “She's my mate now. I won't let you speak about her like that.”