My own sister tricked me into choosing a fox as my Beast-kin mate. I tore off my arm for him, plucking rare herbs to help him grow his nine tails. Yet, at the most crucial moment, when I was about to claim victory in the trials, he betrayed me. He personally pushed me into a fiery abyss, all to help my sister seize the Clan Leader’s position. But then, my eyes snapped open. I was back. Reborn to the very day I had to choose my Beast-kin. Kaelen, the fox, looked at me with yearning, his eyes wide and hopeful. Under his expectant gaze, I pointed to the small, unnoticed wolf standing quietly in the corner. “I want him!” Kaelen instantly crumbled, clinging desperately to my leg. “Please, take me with you!” The little wolf, Ryker, kicked him away. “She’s mine! Don’t you dare try to snatch her!” In our Clan, the women hold all the power. Women can have multiple partners and attendants, but their primary mate must always be a Beast-kin. So, once a girl turns eighteen, she must choose a Beast-kin to be her lifelong companion. Today was the big day. Mom was taking my sister, Valerie, and me to choose our Beast-kin. The arena buzzed with excitement. A spectacular Beast-kin challenge was in full swing. On the platform, a magnificent Leopard Beast-kin, massive and imposing, had won eight matches in a row, unchallenged. Below, the crowd roared with cheers, and girls showered him with flowers, tossing them onto the stage. Valerie immediately set her heart on that formidable, awe-inspiring Leopard Beast-kin. But I was the older sister, and according to tradition, I was supposed to choose first. “The Leopard is my lucky spirit beast, Mom! He’s perfect for me! I want him!” Before I could even speak, Valerie threw her arms around Mom’s arm, whining and trying to charm her. In my previous life, to prevent me from picking the strongest Beast-kin, she’d tricked me, poisoning me with a potent sedative. I never even made it to the arena, too incapacitated to choose a Beast-kin. This time, I’d poured out that spiked bird’s nest soup. Valerie knew I might pick the strongest, so she’d tried to get ahead of me. Mom, doting on Valerie, patted her hand. Then she turned to me, her voice brooking no argument. “Cassandra, the Leopard isn’t right for you. Since Valerie likes him so much, just let her have him!” Valerie’s father was Mom’s favorite partner, and her favoritism for him spilled over to Valerie, making her the darling of Mom’s heart. My own father, though he was Mom’s primary mate, was aloof and proud, never one to curry favor with her. Three years ago, he’d fallen ill and passed away. Mom had always been biased, but now it was a blatant display of favoritism.
I paused for a moment, then nodded. “If Valerie likes him, then I’ll follow Mom’s wishes. She can have him.” They hadn’t expected me to agree so quickly. Delighted, they eagerly started helping me choose my Beast-kin husband. Mom, as the Clan Leader, gave an order, and a parade of handsome, exceptional Beast-kin males were presented before me. “Cassandra, this is the last group. What kind do you even like?” Mom was starting to get impatient, seeing me take so long to choose. Valerie, ever eager, chimed in. “Sister, that fox Beast-kin is so handsome! His perfect face makes my heart flutter. If I didn’t have my Leopard, I’d definitely pick him!” Kaelen exchanged a complex glance with Valerie, then his eyes, burning with expectation, turned to me. Under his hopeful gaze, I calmly pointed to the frail-looking young Beast-kin standing on the very edge. “I want him!” The young Beast-kin had a tall, slender build. He’d just come down from the arena, still covered in wounds, looking utterly worn out. But when he looked up and saw me, his beautiful eyes instantly lit up. Kaelen’s pupils dilated. A mix of hurt and disbelief plastered across his face, as if silently asking why I no longer wanted him. In my past life, I’d always been a sucker for good looks, utterly defenseless against handsome men. So, after Valerie’s schemes led to my unexpected bond with Kaelen, I chose him as my sole Beast-kin mate. I loved him, I gave him my everything, my whole heart. Anything he desired, I’d move heaven and earth to get for him. He was a six-tailed fox, desperate to become a nine-tailed fox. To help him achieve his dream, I went to the sacred Spirit Peaks to gather mystical herbs. The guardian beasts there bit off my arm. After he got the herbs and grew his nine tails, he tearfully embraced me, swearing I was the one who loved him most in the world, promising to never leave my side. But what was the result? When Valerie and I entered the trial dungeon, competing for the Clan Leader position, he actually betrayed me, pushing me into a fiery abyss, a point of no return. Only as I died did I understand: Valerie had always been the ‘one true love’ of his life. He hated me for claiming him, for keeping him from her. I struggled in agony in the inferno. He just watched me coldly, unmoved. Then, he turned and walked straight into Valerie’s embrace. This time, I wanted a man fiercely loyal to me, no matter what. I would reclaim what was rightfully mine — the Clan Leader position! And I would make them all pay the price they deserved!
At that moment, Mom looked worried. “Choosing a Beast-kin means choosing someone to face life and death with, to go through trials with. This wolf is too weak, Cassandra. Are you sure you want him?” “Sister, you should still choose the fox! He’s a six-tailed fox, much stronger than that wolf Beast-kin!” Valerie pushed for Kaelen. This made me seriously suspect they’d already conspired, waiting for me to fall into their trap. Mom was the Cloud Clan Leader, and Valerie and I, as heir candidates, had to enter the Clan Leader assessment dungeon with our Beast-kin. That dungeon was treacherous and dangerous; most who entered never returned. Only by successfully navigating it and retrieving the Clan Leader’s Staff could one inherit the position. So, powerful and mighty Beast-kin were hot commodities. They thought the wolf Beast-kin I chose was useless! But the truth was, only I knew he was hiding his true strength, how incredibly powerful he actually was! He was the infamous Beast-kin, Ryker, who later unified the entire Beast-kin tribes. Yet, for me, he’d torn up the Beast-kin and Cloud Clan marriage treaty and used all his spiritual power to destroy the Cloud Clan’s sacrificial altar, just to give me a chance at rebirth. In my memories, Ryker and I had never crossed paths. I didn’t understand why he would sacrifice so much for me. So, this time, I chose him. Not only to repay his kindness, but also to unravel the mysteries in my heart. “Wolves have only one mate for life. I only like loyal men.” Seeing my firm stance, ready to leave with Ryker, Kaelen desperately grabbed my arm. “He’s the weakest of all the Beast-kin! He was just brought in to fill a spot, he’s practically dying! Why do you want him? Choose me, I’ll be loyal to you!” Loyal to me? That was the funniest joke I’d ever heard. “Get lost! I hate foxes!” He scrambled up and hugged my leg, his posture incredibly pathetic. “I’ll do anything you want, just don’t leave me! I can be a secondary…” “Valerie, he’s so devoted to you, why don’t you keep him?” High-ranking women in our Clan could have multiple partners. Mom even said if I was willing, she wouldn’t mind if I got another Beast-kin. If I hadn’t lived through the last life, I might have wavered. But now, I certainly wouldn’t invite a fox into my den to cause trouble again! Ryker watched Kaelen, his face growing darker and darker. Without a word, he kicked Kaelen away. “Good boy.” I playfully squeezed his smooth, pale cheek. He nervously turned his head, the tips of his ears flushing slightly.
With my careful nurturing, Ryker’s injuries healed completely. His spiritual power surged incredibly fast, and he grew stronger with each passing day. When we were alone, he’d often shift into his wolf form and play with me. When he got tired, he’d automatically transform into my soft, furry pillow. It was only later that I realized: whenever he was in human form, he’d blush uncontrollably around me. So, the sly guy just decided to stay in wolf form to avoid the awkwardness. What truly puzzled me was that Ryker, in this life, couldn’t speak for some reason. I guessed it was a heavenly punishment for helping me defy fate and change my destiny. To cure his muteness, I took him to countless doctors, but they all said it was incurable. The whole clan, hearing that my chosen Beast-kin was not only the weakest but also mute, secretly mocked me for my poor judgment. They guessed I’d never get the Clan Leader’s Staff and started flocking to Valerie, sucking up to her. I, however, enjoyed the peace and quiet. One afternoon in the garden. I leaned back against Ryker. I idly played with his fluffy ears while telling him the story of the scar on the back of my hand. His bright eyes misted over with a gentle haze as he tenderly licked the scar. His soft tongue felt like silk, tickling me deep inside. I couldn’t help but laugh, pushing his head away, telling him to stop licking. He seemed incredibly happy, rolling over and shifting into his human form. He held my hand, his gaze burning as he looked at me. “Oops, am I interrupting something?” Valerie walked over, a bright smile on her face. Seeing the sticky look in her eyes as she gazed at my Ryker, I sent Ryker away to fetch me a shawl. “Did you need something?” Valerie reluctantly pulled her gaze away. “I never would have guessed that little wolf no one wanted would turn out to be such a handsome man! Too bad he’s mute!” Seeing my face darken, she smirked slyly. “I have an East Sea Pearl here that can cure Ryker’s muteness. Do you want it, Sister?” Valerie snapped her fingers. Kaelen, holding a brocade box, walked over, his head bowed submissively. “Sister, Kaelen got this treasure for me, using every method he could, risking his life for it. He wants to serve in your household, and this is his welcome gift.” Legend had it that the East Sea Pearl was a rare treasure, capable of completely curing any kind of blindness, deafness, or muteness. 5
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