Chapter 4 It Is My Turn Now

Draven spat out the dirt, coughing in disgust. His frustration only grew. He wanted nothing more than to pry open Zareth's head and see just what he was thinking. What on earth is so good about that wicked beastwoman? What is it about her that makes him so infatuated and stubborn? “Zareth, would you just wake up already? She doesn't even like you! She's going to Xelrik right now, isn't she?” Draven squared his shoulders, bracing himself. Even if he got beaten up today, he was determined to knock some sense into his friend. Zareth's fists clenched at his sides, his expression dark and unreadable. Just as Draven thought his words were sinking in, Zareth finally spoke. “She accepted all the resources I gave her. If she truly felt nothing for me, why would she take them?” Draven nearly choked on his frustration. “She immediately handed them over to Avani!” Zareth's brows furrowed in deep thought before he muttered, “Then maybe... the resources I gave her weren't good enough.” Draven stared at him in utter disbelief. He's hopeless. “Zareth, where are you going now?” Draven demanded, hastening after him as Zareth turned to leave. “She was exhausted last night. I'm going hunting for her,” Zareth replied, his tone gruff. A faint blush crept up his ears at the memory, but he quickly masked it with a stern expression. “If she dies, the contract will seriously injure me.” Draven stared at him in disbelief. Does he think I look like an idiot? Meanwhile, Karina arrived at Xelrik's house and rapped sharply on the door. Thump! Thump! Thump! The delicate laughter inside abruptly ceased. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing Avani. A flicker of fleeting displeasure crossed her face before she forced a smile. “Rina? What brings you here? Yesterday, you—” Avani barely managed to squeeze out a concerned smile and had just begun to speak when—swift as lightning—Karina shoved two Myndrel fruits into her mouth. Before Avani could react, Karina seized her chin and forced her to swallow. In her past life, Karina had been born with brute strength—a gift that should have secured her a high status in a world where power was everything. But Avani had deceived her, whispering lies about how Xelrik preferred petite, delicate women. Foolishly, Karina had starved herself down to skin and bone, sacrificing her strength in a desperate attempt to fit his ideal. Now, though her body was still frail, some of that raw power remained. And this time, she would wield it wisely. “Ah! What did you make me eat?” Avani staggered back, covering her mouth, her voice trembling with fear. At the sound of her distress, Xelrik stormed over, his eyes blazing with fury. “Karina! What the h*ll do you think you're doing?” Karina's lips curved into a teasing smile as she raised a finger to her lips. “Shh... Don't be so quick to scold me. You'd better bring her back to your room first. She just swallowed two Myndrel fruits. Do you think you can handle her? If not... well, she might have to wander the tribe looking for a male who can.” “You wretched woman! How could you feed her two Myndrel fruits?” Xelrik's face contorted in shock. A single Myndrel fruit was enough to set a beastman's desire ablaze. She had given Avani two. Avani's cheeks were flushed, her body radiating heat as she clung desperately to Xelrik's neck. Her fingers fumbled at the ties of her beast-skin clothing, her body writhing restlessly against him. “Xelrik, a beastman of unbridled aggression, was powerless against the primal energy coursing through Avani. His expression darkened instantly. With a final, seething glare at Karina, he scooped Avani into his arms and stormed into the room.” The door slammed shut with a resounding thud. Moments later, muffled sounds of gasps, moans, and frantic movements seeped through the walls. Perhaps it was the Myndrel fruit, but their voices rose in waves, loud enough to be heard from afar. Standing outside with her arms crossed, Karina let out a low, cynical chuckle, a smirk curving her lips. In Karina's previous life, Avani had been the tribe's beloved social butterfly, effortlessly ensnaring Xelrik's heart while stringing along countless other admirers with her honeyed words. Blinded by infatuation, those men had willingly sacrificed everything for her—even defying the chief's designated mates and dooming themselves to a lonely, mate-less end. Their unwavering devotion had been one of the pillars supporting Avani's lavish, comfortable life. But this time, Karina would ensure that Avani and Xelrik became an official pair—bound so tightly that there would be no room for anyone else. A slow, satisfied smirk curled Karina's lips. Avani, your reign is over. “Ava, what's wrong? Ava!” The cries from within the house quickly drew a crowd of anxious beastmen, all clamoring to get inside. Karina blocked the doorway. “Xelrik is currently being very intimate with Avani. What exactly are you planning to do? Join them?” The beastmen froze, eyes widening in disbelief. “Impossible! Ava told me I was her favorite! She swore she'd make me her primary husband!” “That's nonsense,” another scoffed. “She clearly has feelings for me. She said she only wanted me as her mate!” “You're both wrong!” a third protested. “She said I was the only one she'd ever love!” One by one, each of the dozen men stepped forward, recounting similar promises Avani had made to them. By the time the last voice had spoken, silence fell over the group. Even a fool would have realized the truth by now—they had all been played. With a scoff, Karina smirked, adding fuel to the fire. “Don't believe me? Then listen closely.” She tilted her head toward the house. The beastmen had a sharp hearing, and despite the raucous sounds coming from within, they could clearly make out the whispered conversation. “Ava, do you recognize who I am?” “You're Xelrik. Xelrik, hurry... give me more...” “Do you like those men who always bring you gifts?” “Hah, those fools? I was just toying with them. The only one I truly want is you... Ah—” The murmured words struck like thunderbolts. One by one, the beastmen's faces twisted in disbelief, then darkened with anger. They had all been played. The crowd outside the house had only grown larger, drawn by curiosity and the unfolding drama. Yawning, Karina stretched her arms. She knew this spectacle wouldn't end anytime soon, so she casually made herself comfortable under a nearby tree and drifted off for a nap. By the time she awoke, the sun was still high in the sky—barely nearing noon. The door creaked open, and out stepped the pair who had just been intimate. Xelrik looked pale and utterly drained, while Avani's flushed face still carried traces of lingering excitement. However, the moment Avani spotted the cold, disappointed gazes of the gathered beastmen, her expression shifted dramatically. Panic drained the color from her face. “W-Wait! Let me explain!” she stammered. “It was Karina! She forced me to eat the Myndrel fruit—” Karina lazily stretched, interrupting with an amused smirk. “Explain?” she drawled. “So, what are you saying? That you don't actually like Xelrik? That the only reason you were all over him was because of the Myndrel fruit?” Xelrik's brows knitted together as he turned to Avani, his expression dark and questioning. “N-No, that's not it.” Avani's face went ghostly pale. That wretched b*tch! She set me up! If she denied it, she would humiliate Xelrik in front of everyone. She clenched her fists, seething inside, but in the end, she had no choice but to swallow her frustration. Only then did Xelrik's expression ease. No matter what tricks Karina was playing, it didn't change the fact that Avani was the most outstanding female in the tribe. She wasn't just highly fertile—she could also provide him with beast crystals, crucial for strengthening his abilities. Becoming Avani's mate was nothing short of striking gold. “All right, you've had your fun. Now it's my turn.” Clapping her hands together, Karina stepped forward, effortlessly parting the stunned crowd as she approached the guilty pair. She stretched out her hand, palm up, her tone light yet commanding. “Return the beast crystal I entrusted to you.” Beast crystals were the core of wild beasts, their value immeasurable. In the beast world, they served as both currency and a vital source of energy, enhancing a beasthuman's strength. Avani's expression stiffened. Her gaze flickered, avoiding Karina's piercing stare. “W-What beast crystal? I have no idea what you're talking about.” Karina let out a slow, amused hum as she began counting on her fingers. “You, Xelrik, and your entire family—the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the resources you use, and, of course, the beast crystals—every last one of them came from me. You haven't forgotten that, have you?” Xelrik's expression darkened as he turned to Avani, his voice laced with suspicion. “Ava, what's going on? Did you take her things?” Avani had always lived lavishly and extravagantly. He had never questioned it before. But now, as Karina's words sank in, a realization struck him—Avani's mother had only two beast husbands, both ordinary men with no means of acquiring such wealth. So where had all those beast crystals really come from? Karina, narrowing her gaze, smiled at Xelrik. “And you, most beastwomen can't absorb beast crystals, so those must have ended up in your stomach, right? Now, since you're Avani's beast husband, her debts are your responsibility to repay. My parents left me a total of one hundred Level-One beast crystals, two Level-Two beast crystals, and a single Level-Three beast crystal. As for the additional resources my elder brother gifted me... well, I won't bore you with the details, but let's just say they're worth another twenty Level-One beast crystals. So, pay up. Now. Immediately.”