u/LuciferXMazikeen

Chapter 1 Reborn

"The hell is wrong with this kid? Half his body's covered in black scales."

"He's tainted. The whole city shield's gone. Nothing left but monsters."

A tall beastman kicked the child clinging to his mother, sending the small body flying into the roadside ditch.

"Finish him off?" a squadmate asked.

"My kick did the job. He's got one breath left, maybe. Let's move; mission first."

A squad of beastmen in sleek tactical armor walked past the piles of corpses, indifferent. They updated their command while moving toward their target coordinates.

"Wasteland City is clear, sir. Proceeding as ordered."

The small figure dragged himself to his mother's side. He pressed his face against Gillian Sterling's cold cheek, his gaze sweeping over the lifeless ruins. The stench of rot was overwhelming.

"Mom, everyone's dead. Let's burn it all down. These b*stards deserve to die."

With the last of his strength, he shifted her body aside. Underneath her was a dormant taint core. He clawed at his own chest and tore out his primal core, then thrust it into the dormant one.

The dormant core, hit with that energy, woke like a wild animal. It exploded from the ground, swallowing everything in sight.

"No!"

A sharp pain in her chest jolted Gillian awake.

Darkness surrounded her. A pair of familiar, aged hands held her tight, gently patting her back.

"Gillian, sweetheart, it's okay. Grandma's here."

"Grandma?" Gillian mumbled, her mind foggy.

Mabel Sterling had been sitting by her bed, watching over her. She pulled her granddaughter into a crushing hug, her heart aching.

"You've been through hell! No amount of hush money from that damned Cleric Academy is enough! I'm suing them!"

"Cleric Academy?"

Gillian's eyes were unfocused. The words made no sense.

And... Grandma died years ago, didn't she?

"Gillian, please, say something. You're scaring me," Mabel pleaded, her voice trembling.

Her precious granddaughter had collapsed in her arms that afternoon. Her clothes were torn and messy, her skin covered in bruises. It was painfully clear what someone had tried to do to her.

"Let me take you to the hospital. We won't worry about gossip. We'll get those animals arrested."

"I..."

The warmth of Mabel's hold and the date on her wrist terminal left no doubt. This was real.

This wasn't the hellscape of Wasteland City. This was... Goldspine City. Eight years in the past.

Void Star had two parts: the fancy Capital Planet and the rougher Outer Planet. Goldspine City was just a small spot on the Outer Planet, but it was a thousand times safer than Wasteland City.

Did I... go back? Am I really twenty again?

Gillian's hand flew to her lower abdomen. She pushed inward with her psionic power, a skill long unused and terribly rusty.

There. Two faint, new life-sparks, bound to her by blood.

Asher? Elias? Is it really you two?

A wave of emotion hit her so hard it made her head pound.

The memories of that day came flooding back.

It had started with her graduation from the Cleric Academy.

After the ceremony, they never handed over their Cleric Licenses. Instead, she and the other female clerics were led to a private hall.

The moment she walked in, everything went black.

She came to with a jolt. A disgusting man with a face full of freckles was tearing at her pristine white cleric's robes. The fabric was already in shreds on the floor.

Fire raged under her skin. Someone had forced heat powder down her throat. He wanted her completely, chemically subdued.

Gillian had played along, biding her time.

At the last second, she struck—a vicious psionic blow that snapped his d*ck clean off for good.

Luckily, there were no beastman guards outside.

Burning through her remaining strength, she'd fought her way out of the hotel.

But she'd waited too long. The heat powder had turned her primal core solid pink. If she didn't bond soon, it would burst.

A female without a primal core was as good as dead.

As if by fate, a temporary recruitment outpost for the 9th Legion was just down the street.

A bright, garish hologram flashed above the gate.

"Love Her. Protect Her. Provide For Her. The 9th Legion: Prime Beastmate Material. Each one 6'3", built, and packing heat."

She knew the legion sometimes arranged bonds between their soldiers and willing civilians. If both consented, they could form the bond right there.

Better a soldier sworn to protect than the monsters who tried to break me.

Gillian didn't hesitate. She ran straight into the 9th Legion building.

The guys chasing her saw where she went and scattered. They weren't stupid enough to follow.

Gillian breathed a sigh of relief. I made it.

The woman behind the front desk, Freya Reed, looked up, one eyebrow arched in surprise.

A female walking in for a bond? And a cleric, by the looks of her robes—a powerful one, too. But her clothes are ripped...

Freya glanced outside and saw a few shady-looking beastmen lurking.

This girl's in deep trouble. Then again... trouble is the 9th Legion's business.

Any female brave enough to choose a military bond was a friend in their book.

"Don't you worry, honey," Freya said, her smile warm. "We've got the finest selection in the system here. All handsome, all loyal, all prime specimens. Every single one a solid 6'3" and built to last."

She was laying it on thick. It had been ages since a female just walked in.

Gillian forced out, "Someone my age. Healthy. Not hideous. Someone who can be here in three minutes. I need to bond. Now."

Those were her only terms. No time to be picky.

Freya frowned. Such basic demands. She's desperate.

By some insane stroke of luck, the system pinged with a near-perfect match. His profile said: 24, healthy, three minutes away.

His location tag placed him right there in the building.

Talk about luck. The legion's getting a two-for-one today.

"Him. I want him. Now," Gillian said, shoving her ID across the counter.

"You sure about this? It's pretty quick," Freya asked.

"I'm sure."

A sharp, knowing grin spread across Freya's face. Her hands flew over the console, submitting the expedited military bonding application.

"As you wish. Once he accepts, you'll have yourself a prime 6'3" beastmate."

Afraid Gillian might change her mind, Freya quickly guided her to a bonding room.

The room was dim, lit with soft pink light. A bouquet of synth-roses sat on the large bed in the center.

This is it? This is where I tie my life to a stranger?

Outwardly, Gillian held herself together, but her mind was a chaotic storm. Her skin was on fire, her face flushed. She leaned heavily against the doorframe, every breath a struggle.

Less than a minute later, the door slid open.

The man who walked in had a stunning physique. Even the standard black uniform looked high-end on him. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, legs that seemed to go on forever.

Oh, my. Can I even handle that?

Her body moved on desperate instinct. Before she could think, she threw herself at him. Survival was the only thought.

Merrick Cole had come to say he wasn't there for a bond. He hadn't expected the female to launch herself at him and wrap herself around him.

She even unleashed her psionic power, pinning him in place.

A small, soft hand slipped inside his uniform, fingers brushing his chest.

She's no ordinary female.

Then he saw her flushed face and froze.

"Gillian?"

She was the very female he'd been searching for. And there she was, in his own outpost, trying to bond with him.

She is meant for me.

But her state was all wrong. She was sweating and breathing ragged, barely able to stand.

His hands came up to steady her automatically. "What's wrong? You're burning up."

Before he could finish the question, Gillian pushed, and he let himself fall back onto the bed.

The golden psionic bonds tightened, holding him down.

The impact dislodged the bouquet of synth-roses. Hitting the floor triggered their bloom cycle, and they all burst open at once, filling the room with a heavy, sweet smell.

The cloying scent hit her senses, unsettling her control.

Gillian's world swam. Hearing him say her name was all the confirmation she needed.

Right guy. Got him.

Her kisses were clumsy, and her scent hung thick around his nose.

"Help me," she breathed against his neck, "and I'll bear your children. I'll give you heirs."

Merrick lay beneath her, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. He finally recognized the signs.

"You're on heat powder? Who gave it to you?"

"Please. I need you. Now."

When he remained still, a broken sob escaped her. He doesn't want me?

The pain was growing unbearable. Her core felt like it was cracking.

"We're forming a core bond," he said, his voice too calm, too controlled. He let her struggle, let her breathing turn ragged. "Why should I help you?"

Gillian clenched her jaw. Her face was flushed with the effort of holding on.

"A core bond... gives you a shot at your mate's ability," she gasped out. "I'm a level 2 cleric. The power to purify the taint... doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"That's a campfire story. I've never seen proof it works." Merrick's fingers lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Seems like I'm getting a raw deal here."

Gillian's last shred of hope dissolved. That's it. I'm done.

She really is a crier. Something twisted in Merrick's chest.

He flexed his power, and the golden bonds holding him shattered like glass. In one smooth move, he flipped their positions, rolling so she was beneath him.

He held her face, his thumb brushing away a tear. "Gillian, why choose me?"

Why else? Because he was the three-minute guy.

She almost said it, but her foggy brain struggled to give a softer answer.

"The soldiers of the 9th Legion... are heroes," she whispered.

Her face looked innocent, eyes wide and pleading. Her voice was hoarse.

That seemed to please him. A faint smile touched his lips.

"Remember my name. Merrick Cole."

"Merrick Cole..." Gillian repeated obediently.

He let out a soft chuckle.

The next moment, a sharp pain pierced Gillian's chest, where her primal core rested. He had drawn blood.

Then a drop of Merrick's burning-hot heart's blood fell onto the wound. The heat made Gillian shiver all over.

Their hearts' blood mingled. Gillian's pink core began to glow with soft golden light, seeping into both of their primal cores.

Inside Gillian's core, the faint silhouette of a dark beast took shape. Inside Merrick's, a small flame of white and gold appeared.

As the visions solidified, both of them let out an involuntary moan.

Gillian's soft fingers dug sharply into Merrick's back.

"Easy," Merrick murmured, his voice strained. "Don't cry. The bond takes priority. We have... all night."

Chapter 2 Going With the Legion

So much for the "three-minute man"... This feels deadly.

That was the last clear thought in Gillian's mind. She was completely wrecked.

The synthetic roses on the floor had bloomed fully. They filled the room with a heavy, sweet scent.

A small petal had shed its outer layer, shyly revealing its stamen. Clusters of blossoms were packed tight. Some of the delicate petals were already crushed and fallen.

Crimson petals, caught in a draft, tumbled and swirled through the air. The breeze pushed them against the table edge and over the bedsheets—relentless.

It kept going until even the brightest petals were crushed and mangled beyond recognition.

Finally, the air stilled. One petal landed on the white cleric's robe. Fresh sap stained the fabric in vivid, overlapping layers.

Before she passed out, a dangerous, predatory gleam flashed in those deep eyes.

Did I just bond with someone dangerous...?

*****

The beastmen of the 9th Legion were stationed year-round in Wasteland City. They only came back for one month a year.

As they put it, it was to "take care of personal business." But any female with half a brain wouldn't follow the legion back to their post.

Wasteland City was the worst place on the entire Outer Planet. It was practically a barren wasteland. Vicious creatures overran it.

Females who bonded with 9th Legion soldiers got a big settlement and the legion's protection. Even with that, nobody wanted to go.

Rumor had it that no cleric had joined the legion in three years. And not a single female had volunteered to follow them for a full year.

In her past life, after that bonding, Gillian never saw that beastman again.

The 9th Legion got urgently recalled to Wasteland City that same day.

Once she had the military marriage certificate, the beastmen chasing her vanished without a trace.

Gillian turned down the legion's escort. She dragged her broken body home alone.

A month later, news hit: the entire 9th Legion had been wiped out.

And that beastman she'd neutered? He showed up at her house that very day.

Mabel tried to protect her and was brutally killed. Gillian's primal core was shattered, her face disfigured, and she was shipped off to Wasteland City.

Only after arriving did she learn why the legion had fallen. They'd used their own bodies to form a living wall at the source of the outbreak, holding back the taint core.

By all rights, Gillian—without a primal core—should never have survived in Wasteland City. But she was pregnant. Her two children kept her alive.

The three of them struggled to get by for eight long years. Then the taint finally broke through the beastmen's body wall.

Soon after, a well-armed band of space pirates showed up. They burned and killed everything in their path.

Her children died one after another, protecting her until the end. They were just her little babies—so small, so good. They never knew a moment of peace.

Now, fate had given her a second chance. This time, she'd protect everyone she loved.

"Gillian, sweetie, don't cry," Mabel said softly. She dabbed her tears away. "Tell me who did this! I'll make him pay, even if it costs me everything!"

Seeing Gillian's red, swollen eyes filled Mabel with a murderous rage.

Gillian remembered. In her last life, she'd been too ashamed to tell Mabel the truth. Mabel had called the authorities and stormed the Cleric Academy.

The fight left Mabel so angry she suffered a stroke. By the time the academy sent her home, she'd lost the ability to speak.

An official inquiry was forced open, but before any verdict was reached, Gillian had already been "dealt with."

"Grandma, I'm okay. He saved me. The one who tried to hurt me... didn't get what he wanted," Gillian said firmly. She'd take her own revenge.

She looked Mabel dead in the eye. "I crossed a beastman from the Grayson family. I neutered him. We need to leave, fast. We have to go before they figure out what happened and come for us."

"Neutered?" Mabel gasped.

Even she knew the Graysons basically ran Goldspine City. Hardly anyone could stand up to them. If Gillian had neutered one of theirs, retaliation was a given.

"Yes. By his clothes, he was probably someone important. Maybe even the heir."

"Good! Serves him right! Let's go, now!" Mabel spat, grinding her teeth.

Heir or not, anyone who hurt her granddaughter got what they deserved.

But a problem lingered. "Gillian, where can we even go?"

They couldn't afford a ticket off-planet. Not even if they sold every last thing they owned.

"Grandma, I'll join as a military dependent. I'm going to Wasteland City with the 9th Legion." It was the only way out of this mess.

"The 9th Legion?" Mabel shot to her feet, shocked.

The man she bonded with is from the 9th Legion? Going to Wasteland City is no joke. Conditions there are horrific. My poor girl. No. She can't go.

Mabel asked, "Can't you... get a divorce?"

"We formed a core bond. The only way to break it is if one of us dies."

Gillian thought of the beast-shape sleeping in her core. It was an unchangeable fact.

"A core bond?" Mabel's blood ran cold.

A normal marriage allowed one to walk away. A core bond was the highest form of marital contract—breakable only by death.

Those beasts wanted to turn her into their puppet!

"Don't talk about dying," Mabel said. Her face hardened with resolve. "A 9th Legion beastman? Fine. We don't back down from anyone. We'll go."

Gillian was already a level 2 cleric. For someone her age, level 1 was exceptional. Level 2 was exactly why they'd targeted her.

By Capital Planet rules, if she reached level 3 before 25, she'd get a free starliner ticket. It was worth over ten million coins. She'd been so close to a safe, normal future.

Mabel couldn't help but ache inside. It's my fault. I couldn't protect her.

Right now, joining the legion was the best choice. It was just the two of them. Leaving would be simple.

The Ultimate Litter: A Beast World System Tale

Chapter 1 Transmigrated to the Beast World

At the entrance of the Greenwood General Hospital, Claire Harris stood on the sidewalk, her steps weak and unsteady. In her hand, she held a medical report, crumpled tight in her fist.

This was her seventh miscarriage.

She had been trying to get pregnant for ten years. She quit the job she loved, ran to the hospital every day, took medicine, had needle therapy, and went through seven rounds of IVF. Each time, she couldn't make it past two months.

When she thought about her husband's face, how he looked more and more annoyed with her, Claire felt completely hopeless.

Suddenly, a car came speeding straight at her.

Claire felt a sharp pain all over, even her numb heart twisted tight.

Maybe it's better to die like this.As she drifted in thought, she heard the faint sound of children shouting.

"Grandpa, please help our mom! She's so pitiful!"

"Yeah! If you help us, we'll come with you!"

Claire tried to open her eyes. Through a blur, she saw seven toddlers, about two or three years old, running toward her, giggling, grabbing her hands and feet, and tossing her up with all their little strength.

The strong feeling of falling made her mind clear a little. Moments later, she shot up from the ground and sat upright.

"Ugh!"

As soon as she sat, her whole body ached as if it were falling apart.

The asphalt road in front of her was gone. In front of her was a deep, endless canyon. Mist swirled in the air, and she could see the tops of tall trees rising far away.

Claire jumped in fright and shrank back.

Suddenly, a mechanical voice rang in her mind.

"System activated. Pomella Fertility System at your service!"

Claire asked, confused, "Who are you?"

"Master, I'm Pome! Even though I'm still a beginner and this is my first mission, I will help you have lots and lots of babies in the Beast World!"

Claire caught one part right away.

"Babies? Lots?"

Pome continued, "Yes! The body you're in now is also named Claire Harris. She is a female fox in the Beast World. Do you want to receive the original host's memories now?"

Only then did Claire realize that this body wasn't her old one at all.

Before she started trying to get pregnant, she had been slim. But after ten years of medicine and shots, her body had grown heavy. She had three thick rolls of fat on her stomach, full of needle marks. She didn't dare to diet or exercise, afraid it might hurt her chances of getting pregnant.

In the last few years, whenever her husband looked at her body, he showed no interest. Even during the days she carefully counted as her most fertile time, he rushed through it without care.

Now, Claire looked down at her thin waist, small enough to hold in one hand, and her long legs. Even though her chest and hips weren't very full, she was already very satisfied.

"I'll receive the memories now," Claire said.

As soon as she finished speaking, a flood of memory pieces rushed wildly into her mind.

She felt dizzy for half an hour. At last, she sorted everything out.

The original Claire was only sixteen years old, a young female in the fox clan of the Beast World. When she was born, her mother left her and her father. She ran away from the clan with other male mates.

In the Beast World, females were rare and precious. But she was still very young and had lost her mother. She had to rely only on her father, Tom Harris, to hunt for food. They were often hungry, and she became thin and weak. No male was willing to feed her.

Last winter, Tom went out to hunt and was bitten to death by a wild beast in Black Mountain.

After losing her only protector, Claire was often pushed aside by the other clan members. The one who led the bullying was a female named Fiona Miller.

Two days ago, Fiona framed Claire, saying she had stolen and eaten the Sacred Fruit. The chief of the fox clan was Fiona's mother, Hazel Miller. Without asking any questions, she locked Claire in a cold, damp punishment cave.

Every day, Fiona came to beat her. Claire couldn't stand it anymore. She secretly ran away from the clan. But by accident, she slipped and rolled off a cliff.

"The original Claire was so pitiful," Claire whispered.

She couldn't help thinking about the children she had faintly seen after the car accident.

Could they be the seven children she had lost? Was it they who gave her a second life?

Claire didn't know if she should feel comforted or guilty. After a long time, she finally came back to her senses.

"Pome, right? So you're saying this body can get pregnant now?" she asked.

"Yes! You definitely can!"

After hearing Pome's firm answer, Claire suddenly felt happy inside.

Maybe those seven children could be born to her again.

"Fine! Then I'll have a hundred babies!"

Claire made up her mind.

A cold mountain wind blew past her, and she shivered.

The clouds and mist slowly cleared. In front of her was a bottomless cliff. It was so deep that it made her heart pound.

Only then did Claire clearly see where she was. She took a sharp breath.

She was sitting on a small piece of rock sticking out from the cliff. It was less than 20 square feet wide, hanging alone over the edge.

Good thing she hadn't moved around.

It seemed the original Claire had fallen onto this rock and died there.

Claire checked her body. She was covered in old and new wounds. Her leg was probably broken from the fall. It hurt sharply whenever she tried to move.

She couldn't move at all.

How am I supposed to get out of here?

"Pome, what should I do now? Do you have any medicine or something?"

Claire carefully lay back down on the rock and slowly shifted toward the inner side, trying to stay as far from the cliff edge as possible.

"Master, you only get rewards after you have babies!" Pome replied.

Claire felt a headache coming on.

"Who am I supposed to have babies with right now? And even if I were pregnant, am I supposed to stay here until I give birth?"

That was impossible.

Pome replied, "Then I can't help! Master, you can only rely on yourself! But don't worry. Once you have babies, the rewards will be more than you can imagine."

Seeing that the system couldn't help her at all, Claire had no choice but to think of a way on her own.

In the Beast World, both male and female beastfolk could change into their beast form. Females could only stay in human form when they were pregnant. Her animal form was a Fox.

Claire felt curious. With a thought, she changed into a fox with yellow fur. She was a little bigger than a normal fox in the modern world.

But her fur was dull and dry, and she looked thin, like skin over bones. Even without injuries, she wouldn't be able to climb the cliff.

"Looks like I have to climb in human form," Claire said.

In her past life, Claire loved rock climbing. Before she got married, she was somewhat well-known in the climbing world. When she quit climbing because of marriage, many people felt sorry for her.

Claire changed back into her human form. At least she was much taller than the fox form. Even though she was thin and weak, she still stood five feet seven inches tall.

She found a long, flat stone. Then she tore a strip from her dirty fur tunic and used it to tie and support her broken leg.

Holding onto the cliff wall, Claire slowly stood up.

"Good thing my hands aren't hurt!"

She moved her fingers, then carefully studied the cliff. Below her was a bottomless drop. Above her was also very high, but at least she could see the top.

After choosing a path, Claire began to climb up the cliff wall.

The strong mountain wind blew behind her, drying the cold sweat on her back.

"Master, this is too dangerous! You have to climb more than 600 feet! Can you really do it? Boo hoo, I don't want to fail my first mission so fast! Be careful, Master!"

Claire kept quiet and held her breath, trying hard not to let the sweat on her nose drip onto the place where she needed to step.

One good foot supported her. The other leg couldn't help at all.

This was probably the hardest climb she had ever faced. There was no safety rope, and her body wasn't even whole. One mistake, and she would fall to pieces.

She didn't think she would be lucky enough to be reborn again.

Maybe beastfolk were stronger than humans. She could feel that she had a little more strength than in her past life. Even though every move was very hard, she was still slowly climbing up.

When she reached halfway, a strong wave of hunger suddenly hit her.

This body hadn't eaten any real food for two days.

While running away from the clan, the original Claire had only grabbed two handfuls of wild grass and taken a sip of spring water.

Now she felt like all her strength was leaving her.

"Master! There's a small plant in front of you to the left. It's a Level 1 Amethyst Berry! Very rare! Hurry and pick it and eat it!"

Sensing Claire's hunger, Pome quickly reminded her.

Claire steadied herself and slowly turned her head to look.

It was a small plant, less than a foot and a half tall. In the middle of four leaves grew a purple fruit, about the size of a grape. It looked slightly misty and very tasty.

But it was too small.

It didn't even look big enough to fill the gap between her teeth.

Claire carefully climbed over and picked the fruit. She looked at it from every side and then put it into her fur tunic.

Right after that, she pulled the whole plant out by the roots and stuffed it into her mouth to chew.

A strong taste of dirt filled her mouth.

But Claire still swallowed it down.

"Damn, I'm so unlucky! Other transmigrators become princesses or rich women. Or they are surrounded by handsome men. And me? I start with total disaster."

After calming her empty stomach, Claire kept complaining about her life. The more she talked, the angrier she felt. A stubborn fire slowly rose inside her.

"I don't believe it. I'm already this miserable—how much worse can it get? It's just rock climbing. I'll climb!"

All ten of her fingers ached and felt like they wanted to give up.

"Hey, stupid hands, hold tight!"

Even Pome felt nervous for her and didn't dare to talk much.

The rough cliff scraped against her stomach, making it burn with pain.

Claire started cursing the fur tunic again.

"This Beast World is way too open. This tiny fur tunic barely covers anything. The top won't stay in place, and the bottom leaves me freezing."

She gritted her teeth and kept climbing. She didn't dare look down even once. Her body pressed tightly against the cliff wall, as if she wanted to sink into it.

All of this was seen by a gyrfalcon circling high in the sky.

At last, Claire touched the edge of the cliff. She used the last bit of her strength and pulled her body up.

She rolled forward twice, barely getting away from the cliff's edge, and then fainted from exhaustion.

In the last moment before she lost consciousness, she saw a huge white wolf running straight toward her.

It's over.

I just made myself an easy meal.

That was Claire's final thought before everything went dark.

Chapter 2 Back to the Clan

When the huge white wolf saw Claire, his pupils suddenly shrank. He lowered his head and gently held her fur tunic in his mouth. The wolf picked her up and softly placed her on his back.

Before leaving, the wolf sniffed the air. He lifted his head and looked at the sky. There was nothing there. He pushed down the doubt in his heart, then turned and ran at full speed.

In her daze, Claire felt as though she was floating on water, rising and falling. She reached out to touch what was under her. Her palm met soft, smooth fur.

She tried hard to open her eyes. Her first thought was, I didn't get eaten!

The white wolf she saw before she passed out had almost scared her to death.

"You're awake?"

A gentle male voice spoke.

Claire's mind suddenly became clear.

She looked down and saw that she was lying on the white wolf's back. In her hand, she was holding his fur.

The wolf was huge. With his tail, he was about 20 feet long and more than 16 feet tall.

The land under his feet moved quickly backward, but Claire didn't feel very bumpy.

A strong feeling of familiarity rose in her heart.

"Zane?"

Claire called out softly, testing the name.

The white wolf answered with a soft "Mm," and continued speaking, "I just came back from hunting when I heard you ran out. I searched over several hills before I found you. You must be in a lot of pain. Hold on a little longer. We'll be at the healer's place soon."

Claire remembered now. This white wolf was Zane Evans. He was her only friend in the fox clan.

Because she'd been abandoned by her mother, the clan saw her as a jinx. Wherever she went, other beastfolk pointed at her and whispered.

Not a single child wanted to play with her.

Zane joined the fox clan when he was about eight years old. At that time, he had been wandering alone in the forest. Hazel found him and brought him back to the clan.

One time, when other beastfolk bullied Claire, Zane saw it. He'd been the first one to stand up for her!

At that moment, Claire thought Zane was like a hero. In her heart, she quietly kept a secret.

But Zane was the chief's adopted son. He couldn't protect Claire every single time.

"Thank you, Zane!"

If it weren't for him, Claire would've been eaten by wild beasts while she was passed out.

A short while later, Zane carried her back to the fox clan and went straight to the healer's cave.

The healer of the fox clan was an old female from the rabbit clan, Elodie Palmer. When she saw the wounds all over Claire's body, she didn't say anything.

She knew how those injuries had happened.

But the broken bone in her leg needed careful treatment.

When Elodie untied the stones tied around Claire's leg, she looked surprised.

"Did you tie this yourself?" she asked.

Claire nodded.

Elodie praised her and said, "You thought of this on your own? That's very smart! It kept the injury from getting worse. I must write this method down."

Claire blinked.

The Beast World was truly primitive!

But being primitive had its good sides.

There was natural food, clean air, and water. And bold, open cultures.

Just now, on the road from the clan gate to the healer's cave, she saw more than once couples standing out in the open, shirtless, hugging and kissing each other.

Some were even bolder. They went behind the trees and started making babies right there.

Claire felt like her eyes were burning.

But the other beastfolk didn't even glance their way, as if they saw nothing at all.

It seemed that this kind of life was normal here.

After Elodie treated her again, Claire's leg was covered with sticky herbs and wrapped up once more. This time, flat, thin wooden boards were used instead of stones.

Zane carefully carried Claire again and took her back to her cave.

All the beastfolk in the fox clan lived in caves.

Claire's cave was at the very edge of the clan. It was only about 15 feet deep. Inside, there were only a few old and worn fur tunics and a pile of dry grass.

Zane put Claire down. He fixed the pile of dry grass and spread a slightly better fur tunic on top. Then he helped Claire lie down on it.

After that, Zane walked out. No one knew where he got it, but he came back with a piece of bright red meat and began roasting it over the fire.

Watching him move around, busy with everything, even Claire, who usually wasn't easy to embarrass, felt her cheeks grow warm.

On the open space in front of the cave, Zane put down the meat. The huge wolf's fur shook, and he changed into human form.

He looked at least six feet three inches tall. He wore only a simple fur tunic wrapped around his waist. His upper body was bare, and the muscles on his chest and arms stood out clearly. All eight abs lined up neatly across his stomach.

His skin was fair, and his broad chest only added to his impressive, well-built body.

His silver hair fell straight down to his waist.

On his handsome face, the most striking feature was his pair of brown eyes. When he looked over, they seemed to shine.

Claire stared at him.

He was way too handsome!

Claire praised him in her heart.

Pome also screamed in agreement, "Zane is perfect! Not only is he handsome, but he is kind! Master, if you don't make a move, I'll feel bad for you!"

Claire complained silently, Feel bad? It's not like you can do anything about it!

Still, Zane was exactly her type!

Zane finished roasting the meat. He wrapped it in a large leaf and placed it beside Claire.

He said, "Claire, rest in the cave and focus on healing. During this time, I'll come every day to bring you food."

After a short pause, he added, "As for the Sacred Fruit, I believe you. I know you didn't do it. I'll help you find out the truth."

Claire felt a little embarrassed.

"Thank you, Zane. You've brought me meat so many times before. I really don't know how to thank you!"

In her heart, she was shouting like crazy, Marry him! Marry him!

Zane gave a small smile.

"When your dad was still alive, you once saved my life. What I'm doing now is only right."

Claire paused, feeling a little disappointed by that answer.

It was true. When Zane first came to the clan, he was an orphan. Hazel had many children and barely paid attention to him. One time, he fainted from hunger right outside Claire's cave.

Claire gave him some of the prey Tom had just hunted. That was how he survived.

She didn't expect that one simple meal would lead to this much kindness in return.

These days, Zane had already done more than enough.

Noticing that Claire seemed a little down, Zane sat beside her. He picked up the roasted meat. His fingers changed into sharp wolf claws and easily cut the meat into even, small pieces.

Such sharp claws!

Claire had seen them before in the original Claire's memories, but this was her first time seeing them so close. She couldn't help but tremble a little.

But Zane was truly gentle. He brought the small pieces of meat to Claire's lips.

"Eat more. You'll heal faster."

Claire didn't know what kind of wild animal the meat came from. It was soft and juicy, but there wasn't any seasoning. After only a few bites, she couldn't swallow any more.

Watching Zane so focused on feeding her, Claire's mind started wandering.

But wait, wolves and foxes? Could they even have babies?

Claire couldn't help but doubt it.

Pome burst out laughing.

"Master, this is the Beast World. Those worries don't exist here. Any beastfolk can have kids together, no matter what kind!

"Come on, Master, win him over! Have a bunch of babies with him! There will be lots of rewards!

"It's just a pity that Zane doesn't have any beast marks on his face. He's not even a Level 1 beastfolk. His strength is a little weak, so the kids would be weak too. If you became mates with a Level 3 beastfolk, the kids would start at a much higher level!"

As Claire listened to Pome talking nonstop, she learned more about the Beast World.

The beastfolk here had levels of strength. They were ranked from Level 1 to Level 3. Most beastfolk didn't have any beast marks, so they couldn't even reach Level 1. But once a beastfolk transformed into human form and a beast mark appeared on their face, they became a leveled beastfolk.

One beast mark meant Level 1. Level 1 was the weakest, and Level 3 the strongest.

Only males had levels.

Almost all females didn't have any.

Claire couldn't help thinking about the Amethyst Berry in her arms.

Pome had said that it could upgrade someone from Level 0 to Level 1. It was very rare! If that was true, she could give it to Zane and let him try it.

Claire slowly ate her meat while making plans in her mind.

Across from her, Zane was also thinking.

Claire's accident was partly his fault. If he hadn't gone out hunting, Fiona wouldn't have taken the chance to frame her.

Fiona was truly unreasonable and annoying!

She was the chief's daughter. He had tolerated her many times before, but now he had had enough.

The two beastfolk in the cave were both lost in their own thoughts.

Suddenly, a shadow walked in from the cave entrance.

A sharp, furious voice cut through the cave.

"Claire, you ugly freak! How dare you run away! You're done!"

Chapter 3 Will You Be My Mate?

Three beastfolk walked into the cave. The one in front was round and chubby, taller than Claire, with broad shoulders and a big belly that even her fur tunic couldn't hide, bouncing as she walked.

It was Fiona.

The two male beastfolk following her were her beast mates, both with a beast mark on their cheeks.

They both seemed to be Level 1 beastfolk.

Fiona looked plain, but she had big breast and wide hips, and many males in the clan liked her.

She had just become an adult less than a year ago, yet she already had five beast mates.

Seeing Zane in Claire's cave, so close to her, made Fiona even angrier.

"Ugly freak! You're still trying to seduce Zane! He's mine! Look at you—so skinny and small, like a runt that never grew right. You're barely even fit to have kids! If my mom weren't kind, you'd have been kicked out of the clan a long time ago."

Fiona's mother was the chief of the fox clan.

Before Claire could say anything, Zane beside her spoke up, "Fiona, I will never agree to be your beast slave. You can forget it!"

A beast slave was basically a bed slave, not even considered a mate. Totally without dignity and could be discarded at any time.

One of Fiona's beast mates sneered, "Hmph! You don't even have a beast mark. Fiona's too kind, making you her beast slave!"

Zane stayed calm, but inside he felt a sting.

Not having a beast mark was his biggest shame.

Even though most beastfolk didn't have a mark, he believed he was strong. Still, he had none.

Claire felt Zane's body tense up.

She smiled and said to Fiona, "Fiona, whether it's a beast mate or a beast slave, both sides have to agree to the bond. If Zane doesn't want it, forcing him won't work."

Fiona stepped forward angrily, glaring down at Claire.

"You thief, stealing the Sacred Fruit, and you still dare talk back? Hah, think you're tough now? If you ran away, why come back to the clan?"

The other beast mate behind her chimed in, "Isn't it obvious? This ugly freak probably couldn't survive outside, so she had no choice but to come back. So shameless!"

"Haha, exactly! An ugly female who can't even have babies—where else would she go? When she ran away, I told my mom not to chase her. See, she came back on her own!"

Fiona beamed with pride as she and her beast mates laughed in agreement.

Claire patted her fur tunic. Her hand hit a fruit hidden inside, and she couldn't help smiling. She took it out.

She held it up in front of her eyes and studied it slowly.

"Th-this ... this is an Amethyst Berry?!"

Fiona and the two beast mates stared in disbelief, their eyes blazing at the purple fruit.

"Ugly freak, where did you steal that Amethyst Berry?"

Fiona screamed and lunged to grab it.

Claire moved quickly, dodging her hand, switched the berry to her other hand, and casually waved it past the three of them.

"This? Oh, I picked it outside myself. Don't try to claim it's yours. Our clan doesn't have this fruit."

Claire knew just how rare an Amethyst Berry was.

Fiona tried to argue back.

"Liar! There's no way you could just pick an Amethyst Berry like that! You must've stolen it from another beastfolk. Give it back! Or I'll have my mom lock you in the beast cave again!"

Zane watched Claire with a smile. She no longer looked insecure or timid like before. This bold, confident glow suited her.

Claire suddenly turned the Amethyst Berry toward Zane, tilting her head up slightly, and said, "The reason I went outside was to pick this berry. I saw it a while ago, but it wasn't ripe yet. I counted the days, and today it's just perfect. So I snuck out to pick it. Zane, it's for you!"

Zane's eyebrows lifted slightly.

"For me?"

He really wanted the Amethyst Berry, but he still remembered when he first found Claire. She had been lying at the cliff's edge, her heart barely beating, limbs weak, as if she was about to return to the Beast God.

Luckily, the Beast God had returned her.

She actually risked her life for me?

Could it be that she likes me?

Fiona was about to explode with rage. She charged forward with all her strength, trying to snatch the Amethyst Berry.

Even though it didn't really benefit her as a female, she just wanted it!

She shouted, "Ugly freak! I'm the chief's daughter! Everything in this clan belongs to me! Give it to me right now!"

Zane grabbed Claire and effortlessly dodged Fiona's attack.

Claire ignored Fiona's unreasonable tantrum. She held the Amethyst Berry up to Zane's lips.

"Zane, this is a gift for you. Do you like it?"

Zane looked closely at Claire's palm-sized, little face.

Her eyes were huge, her chin was sharp, and she was way too thin.

"Yes. I like it."

Encouraged, Claire pressed on.

"Then, would you be my beast mate? I'll treat you well, and we can have lots of kids."

Inside her, Pome buzzed with excitement.

"Master, you're amazing! Just like this! Snag the first mate at lightning speed, have ten kids, then I can level up and finally sing my freedom in the system realm!"

Zane didn't answer for a long time. The cave was silent enough to hear a pin drop.

Even Fiona was shocked by Claire's bold confession!

Was this really the same ugly female I had bullied for years—silent, submissive, and never dared fight back?

Had she lost her mind?

Mistakenly Summoned Him From Hell

Chapter 01

My beastman was disobedient.

So I made a wish to Santa Claus for a puppy who would love me.

A week later, an arrogant man with black wings appeared at my door, walking a three-headed hellhound.

"This is the most dog-like creature where we come from. He's a bit on the large side, and his stamina is rather fierce..."

"But I, Satan, have already trained him well. Now he can wag his tail and spin in circles."

"You don't need to prepare food. If he gets hungry, he'll take the initiative to give kisses or do other naughty things."

As if to prove his words were true, Satan blew a whistle.

The giant black hound sitting on the ground paused for a second, then stood up and spun in a circle anyway.

Was I dreaming?

I rubbed my eyes hard.

The man and the giant hound still hadn't disappeared.

"I think there might be some mistake. I made a wish to Santa Claus for a puppy..."

"No mistake. The letter said Satan."

I meant to write Santa!

The man flicked the paper in his hand with his fingertips, his eyes narrowing:

"You're not trying to back out, are you?"

He flashed closer, and the surrounding lights quickly went out.

Only a harsh beam of light struck from his chin to his brows, casting heavy shadows beneath his prominent brow bone.

It was terrifying.

I gulped and whispered no.

"Good. I thought you wanted to back out."

"The last guy who played me was torn to shreds by Cerberus and hung on the eaves to air-dry. He hasn't even finished eating him yet."

I shivered, unable to resist stealing a glance at the hellhound.

Crimson pupils stared down at me from above.

His black fur was sleek and glossy, shining with a dazzling, pearl-like luster just like an ancient Greek statue.

He wasn't wearing pants, and his masculine endowment was pointing right at me.

"Grab it, and the pact will be sealed."

I froze. “Grab what?”

He looked huge and intimidating, but grabbing that spot right when we first met was way too much.

Besides, my hands were too small. I probably couldn’t even…

“His tail. What else?”

I snapped back to reality at once.

The hellhound obediently lifted his fluffy tail. My face turned bright red.

“Haha, the tail! I knew you meant the tail.”

The door slammed shut loudly.

I stood there, utterly mortified and dying of embarrassment.

But in the end, I still opened the door and grabbed the hellhound's tail.

Satan closed his notebook with satisfaction.

Before closing the door, he bared his fangs and said:

"Now you can name him yourself."

I hesitated for a moment.

"Then... can I call him Milo?"

As soon as the words fell, a dazzling red light emerged around the giant hound.

When the light faded, Satan disappeared.

A wolf-like youth with an eight-pack, a V-taper physique, and a high-bridged nose suddenly appeared before my eyes.

He was ten thousand times prettier than the caracal my parents gave me and my sister.

It only took me one second to accept him.

Wolves belong to the canine family and are very loyal to humans.

Even though I didn't have outstanding looks, he probably wouldn't hate me like Oliver Hayes did.

Seeing as he was still completely naked.

I covered my eyes, talking to him through the gaps between my fingers.

"Hello, my name is Chloe Bennett. Go to my room and change into some clothes first."

I pushed him into the room.

Just as I threw Oliver's clothes into the room, the door opened again.

Laughter and chatter flooded into the room.

It was my sister, Lillian Bennett, coming home.
Chapter 02

She and Oliver were arm in arm, snuggled close together.

So intimate that there wasn't a single crack for me to fit into.

Even though Oliver was the beastman our parents gave to both of us.

But he only wanted to stick to Lillian, and only let her touch his tail.

Seeing me standing in the living room, Lillian gave a subtle eye roll.

"Can't you even say hello when your sister comes home?"

"You never say anything nice. No wonder the whole family dislikes you."

"And could you change your clothes?"

"Even at home, stop dressing like a ragpicker. It's bad luck, okay?"

I looked down at my cheap short sleeves, then at Oliver's beautiful fur.

Caracal beastmen are hard to care for.

Not only do they need a lot of time for grooming, but their daily food and supplies must also be high-end products.

Before our parents passed away, they set up trust funds for my sister and me.

Before turning eighteen, we could only receive a meager living allowance.

Most of my share went into raising Oliver.

After I started working, I was the one covering all his basic needs.

Naturally, unlike Lillian, I didn't have extra money to dress myself up.

I always thought that if I just gave a little more, he would like me as much as he liked my sister.

But he didn't. In the end, he just didn't.

A faint, mocking smirk curled the corners of Oliver's lips.

"It's not like everyone is a natural beauty like you, Lillian."

"No matter how nice her clothes are, she still looks like she's wearing a potato sack."

"What a pity. If only I could be your beastman and yours alone, Lillian..."

I had known since I was little.

Compared to me, everyone liked Lillian more.

The year she was born, Dad got promoted, and Mom even won the lottery.

But when I was born, it coincided with their failed investments, during their most financially difficult years.

Ever since I could remember.

I had said many times that I didn't want to celebrate my birthday with my sister next year, and I didn't want to share the same birthday gift.

Mom and Dad said yes every time.

But the following year, they would still make me delay it a few days to celebrate together with my sister.

My joy of anticipating my own exclusive cake turned into disappointment after midnight.

And then, on Lillian's birthday, it became an unconcealable sadness.

Once, Mom and Dad couldn't help but hit me.

"Do you have to look so miserable?"

"It's just a few days apart. What's wrong with celebrating together?"

"Our family isn't exactly well-off. Why do you have to be so petty about this?"

Because whenever it was a shared gift, Lillian always got to use it first.

Even the beastman preferred my tall, beautiful sister.

Even when our family's situation improved a lot later on, and Dad had the ability to set up trust funds.

The share given to me was still far less than what was given to Lillian.

I became increasingly quiet and withdrawn.

Mom and Dad found me dull, not as well-spoken as my sister, and favored Lillian even more.

Consequently, Oliver, who joined this family last, didn't like me either.

Every time he finished his nutritional supplements, he would push the plate away and run back to Lillian to act spoiled.

"She's so boring. All she does is feed me, and she doesn't care about what I like at all."

"It's no fun at all being with her."

He only saw the expensive toys Lillian bought.

He never considered that on an empty stomach, he wouldn't even have the energy to play with toys.

That's why on Christmas Eve, I wished for a puppy who would love me.

A puppy that belonged only to me.

But now, it seemed I had messed that up too.

I suppressed my disappointment and asked Oliver:

"Do you really want to be Lillian's beastman and hers alone?"

"If you say yes, I won't look after you anymore."

Perhaps my tone was too cold, for Oliver froze for a split second.

He pursed his lips, then lifted his chin, declaring with absolute certainty:

"Who needs you to look after me!"

"You can't even compare to Lillian!"

Fine, I'd like to see about that.

Let's see if her spending habits can keep you alive and kicking.

"Alright, you belong solely to her from now on."

Without another word, I turned and went back to my room.
Chapter 03

Oliver pulled Lillian away, heading downstairs for a late-night snack.

I returned to my bedroom and sat beside the dark-skinned boy who was still struggling with his zipper.

"Should I... eat them?"

I finally snapped out of my daze and looked at Milo.

"Are you hungry?"

He didn't seem used to the human language system yet, his speech a bit halting.

"Not hungry. Desire... can feed me."

I was a little confused: "Then why do you want to eat them?"

If two living, breathing people vanished into thin air from my house, I'd probably be taken in for questioning tomorrow.

"Ugly... words. Made you... angry."

What he didn't say was this.

Had Satan not instructed that a little dog needs its master's permission to act,

he might have rushed out just now.

After all, protection was a hellhound's highest calling.

Whether it was the gates of hell, or this fragile human before him.

Anything that dared to offend, he just needed to eat them all.

Right, speaking of eating...

The boy stood up and leaned over, his prominent nose gently brushing against my forehead.

A faint halo of light immediately emanated from where our skin touched.

He was devouring my bad mood.

I gradually relaxed, almost greedily enjoying this rare peace in my life.

Until the sound of a button popping off rang out.

When I saw clearly what had popped out, my face instantly flushed beet red!

I screamed and bolted out the door.

Leaving the boy to stare blankly at his burst pants, frowning.

"...Size... too small."

I went to a nearby mall and bought a few new sets of clothes.

When I got home, Lillian's car was parked downstairs.

She rolled down the window and spoke frivolously:

"I'm going out with my boyfriend soon, so I'll leave Oliver with you for a few days."

The old house had been in disrepair for years.

Lillian usually lived in a small apartment our parents had set aside for her, rarely coming back.

Occasionally, she would take Oliver over for a few days, and once he got dirty, smelly, or she just got bored of him, she would send him right back.

I wasn't willing and flatly refused.

"He's your beastman, not mine."

Lillian scoffed:

"It's just for a few days. Why are you being so petty?"

Just like our parents.

Whenever they wanted to take advantage of someone, they'd tell them not to be petty.

I turned my head and walked away.

But Lillian grew anxious, getting out of the car to grab me.

"Fine, fine, I'll pay for his boarding, alright!"

Normally, she wouldn't fork over a single cent.

But this time was different.

Her new boyfriend was Mr. Right, and she had to hold onto him.

And Oliver was highly possessive of her.

With him around, it was inconvenient for her to do things with her boyfriend.

Lillian transferred half a month's salary to me.

I glanced at it casually and lowered my eyes: "Not enough."

"Not enough?"

"He's so skinny, how much could he possibly eat?"

Seeing me stay silent, Lillian gritted her teeth and transferred another half month's worth.

"If you want to pet Oliver from now on, I'll be charging you too!"

"I won't."

I wouldn't want to pet him anyway.

I tapped to accept the transfer.

The amount was just enough to buy a new bed for Milo.

The one Oliver sleeps in is way too small for a 1.9-meter hellhound.

Turning around with a blank expression, I waved my phone.

"This is only enough for seven days of boarding."

"If you don't come pick him up when the time is up, I'll throw him out."

Behind me, Lillian crossed his arms and scoffed:

"Throw him out then. I don't believe you actually have the heart to."
Chapter 04

I carried the shopping bags home.

Unprecedentedly, Oliver was waiting by the door.

Usually at this time, he would be lying on the balcony, reluctantly watching Lillian leave.

Hearing footsteps, Oliver turned around in agitation, his first words a sharp reprimand:

"What took you so long? This stupid door won't open again."

"It's bad enough that I have to eat garbage living with you, but now I can't even get inside the house."

"Why didn't you change the lock earlier?"

Last month, when I was about to change the lock, Oliver got seriously ill.

I took him to the beastman hospital and drained all my available funds, leaving me with no money to replace the lock.

Did Oliver not know about this?

No.

He just felt entitled to everything I did for him.

Perhaps what I really needed to replace wasn't the lock, but him.

I didn't bother arguing.

I pulled out my key, jammed it into the keyhole, and yanked upward with force.

It still didn't open.

It might really be broken.

As I was searching for a locksmith's number.

Oliver sneakily rummaged through the shopping bags I had set on the floor.

"I've told you so many times, I hate these baggy pants!"

"This pajama style is so tacky, and the color is hideous."

"Next time you want to get me something, could you just give me the cash instead?"

"Otherwise I have to sell them first just to buy a gift for Lillian."

My hand paused.

No wonder I had never seen him wear any of those gifts.

When asked before, Oliver always said he had put them away.

I thought he had at least taken good care of the more expensive items.

It turned out, they were all used to take credit for someone else's gift.

I raised my head, my voice colder than usual:

"Those aren't for you. Put them back."

Oliver's rummaging hands froze. He glanced at me, then let out a disdainful scoff: "If they aren't for me, who else could they be for?"

Just as I was about to say I already had a new beastman, the door handle gave a soft click.

The door was pushed open from the inside.

A tall, stunningly handsome young man, still shirtless, casually appeared right in front of us.

He pointed at the cylinder inside the keyhole, his voice deep and steady:

"This part might need a little oil."