Trapped in Beast World: My Husbands Are All Animals! Novel

---- Chapter 35 After the Drama Scott turned toward her, voice heavy with accusation. "Deria, do you remember the promise you made me back in the Inkfox Tribe?" Silence spread through the crowd like a held breath. Every therian froze in place. Deria stiffened, her head bowing low, like an ostrich fleeing from a threat it couldn't confront. Ardenia's grin widened, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She enjoyed drama the way others enjoy special treats, and tonight she was getting plenty of it. "A promise?" she prodded, eyes glittering. "That sounds interesting.

Why don't you enlighten us?" Scott lifted both hands to his face, feigning overwhelm. His shoulders shook, and his voice trembled with exaggerated sobs. "You told me | was everything to you. You swore | was more than half your life, more than you ever planned to give anyone." Ventor nearly gagged. Well, this is rich. The infamous two-timer -turns out the joke's on me. ---- "You told me the same thing," he cut in quietly. With those words, Deria's fate was set. In a moment, her world fell apart-her reputation, pride, and status were gone, and she wished she could disappear.

She whimpered, eyes brimming with hurt as she glared at Ardenia. "Congratulations, Ardenia. You've just lost your best friend. | don't belong here anymore. I'm leaving." Ardenia's expression flattened. "If you want to bolt, own it. Spare everyone the pathetic excuses." Deria's teeth ground together. "You're vile, Ardenia." Escape was no longer possible. Even though Scott and Ventor had just met today, they moved together perfectly. One stepped forward, the other blocked her way out, and Deria felt trapped. Quincy watched with clear satisfaction. Wow.

One Level Eight therian joins the Wolf Tribe, and now another follows right behind. Deria, you're really out there delivering results. Impressive work. He immediately ordered a cave for Scott to be placed right ---- next to Deria's. She struggled in the guards' grip, weakly insisting there was no need to hurry. Scott smiled, repeatedly thanking the chief for his meticulous planning. Soon, the footsteps disappeared into the distance. The music from the Moon Tide Festival still echoed softly, but many therians had already left. Spring had come, bringing a time for new beginnings.

Cubs born now would grow strong because there was plenty of food again. The tribe quickly took advantage of this. Aprickling discomfort crawled up Ardenia's spine. Wordless, she melted into the night's shadows, vanishing alone. Earlier, she had danced with Niall until she was sweaty and out of breath. Now, she wanted nothing but the quiet and warmth of a bath. Halden's skill showed in the bathhouse. The strong wooden walls fit together so well that you could not see a single nail. Ardenia stayed for a moment, amazed by the care in every detail.

She looked down at the floorboards, each one shiny and ---- smooth, with no splinters at all. The wood under her bare feet felt softer than silk. Asmall smile tugged at her lips. /s this, at last, what it means to be cherished? Shelves lined the walls, each one made by Halden just for her. Seeing them made her feel quietly happy inside. Her master used to claim she was detached from family by nature. Now, the truth hurt more than ever. Her old life felt empty- practicing all day, quiet at night. Her parents talked about fairness and love, but she felt nothing, and no one listened to her.

Nothing had ever been truly fair. After leaving for the mountain, she barely returned home. Even now, the thought of going back felt unreachable. Ardenia knelt by the pool. When her fingers touched the water, one warm tear fell, disappeared into the dark, and made small waves on the surface. She undressed and eased herself into the water. ---- Here, in the water, tears vanished without a trace. They no longer needed to be counted. Yet old memories rose up, stubborn and impossible to drown. She pulled a dusty bottle of strong alcohol from her pocket space.

With a swift flick, the glass frosted over. The drink burned her throat, whether it was cold or not. She slumped against the pool's edge, eyes rimmed red. Emptiness gnawed at her, and longing for home only deepened the ache. Her wood-based technique filled the room with soft light. She watched dust float in the glow, took another drink, and let the dizziness dull her pain. After two bottles, her legs shook, and her vision blurred. Noises from outside-moans, gasps, bodies hitting each other -seemed to crash inside her head. When she climbed out of the pool, her foot slipped.

Her knees hit the floor hard. Pain shot through her, breaking down the barriers she had put up. She curled up, hugging her knees, and finally let all her ---- feelings out. That was the moment Halden stepped inside. He froze at the doorway. Ardenia sat naked on the floor, crying so hard that it made his chest hurt. "Ardenia..." Two long strides closed the distance. He shrugged off his fur coat and wrapped it around her without hesitation. Her head lifted slowly when she heard his voice. Tears stuck to her eyelashes. Her eyes were puffy. Her nose was bright red.

Halden's heart twisted violently. Who did this to her? Ascent drifted through the air, catching his attention. Sweet and fruity, yet edged with something sharp beneath it. His gaze sharpened as realization struck. Something is wrong. In all the time I've known her, she has never allowed herself to unravel like this. Cruel words never rattled her. Hostility never ---- cracks her composure. She always stays cool and steady.