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

---- Chapter 96 The Heart of Their Home "I'm coming with you," Ardenia declared. "Alright," Halden replied simply. Without another word, he lifted her into his arms and strode directly toward the tiny kitchen. Vesper knelt rigidly, every muscle taut. When Ardenia passed without sparing him a glance, he exhaled in frustration. Back in the cave, Ardenia had already guessed his intentions. Vesper now cursed himself silently for letting Niall sway him into this. Great, she wouldn't even glance at me now. Calder realized he had overstepped.

The fighting had stopped, and for once, their thoughts aligned -they all wanted to find a way to earn their little female's forgiveness. In the kitchen, Ardenia patiently guided Halden ---- through the process of making ravioli-mixing the dough, rolling out the wrappers, folding and sealing each one. She instructed carefully, and he absorbed every step with intense focus. "Halden..." she said softly. "Yeah?" he murmured, sensing her irritation, lowering his voice as much as possible. "Halden..." she repeated. "I'm here,' he replied gently.

"Halden..." "Be good, I'm almost done," he reassured her, his tone calm but firm. Though his voice was soft, a glimmer of steel flickered in his eyes at the thought of those three idiots. Once Ardenia had finished eating, Halden carried her to wash up. Only after she had drifted off to sleep did he step outside the cave. ---- The moment he appeared, the other four rushed forward. "Well? Is Ardenia asleep?" Halden glanced at them, his gaze sharp and unreadable. "Let's go to the back of the mountain," he instructed coldly. Achill ran through them as they exchanged uneasy looks.

Around midnight, Ardenia woke with a start-the storm outside was violent, thunder shaking the ground. Just as she tried to sit up, Halden returned, gathering her in his arms and whispering soothing words. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she soon slipped back into sleep. By morning, breakfast had already been prepared. Halden carried her to wash up and then brought her back to the kitchen. Ardenia froze the moment she saw them. "What happened last night? Did you all fight?" she asked, eyes wide. ---- Every one of them bore bruises across their faces -a chaotic, painful sight.

Hearing her speak, their tension eased, and they forgot their aches. They all crowded near her, then sank to their knees. Niall groaned. "Yeah, we did it. That thunder nearly scared the fur off my tail. I'm patchy now.' Tobias waved a dismissive hand. "No way to win. I don't stand a chance." He hadn't anticipated a leopard hitting so hard. The brute didn't hold back, even against his own allies-but Tobias didn't dare admit it. Calder remained silent; his expression said everything. Vesper stood with arms folded, still incredulous that he hadn't measured up to Halden. "Ardenia, I screwed up.

I shouldn't have lied, shouldn't have provoked all that... Please don't be mad. Hit me if you need to!" Calder said desperately, thrusting the stick in his hand toward ---- her. The little merfolk was bruised from top to bottom, though not by her own hand. "I messed up too," Niall admitted. "I shouldn't have pushed those two into a fight." Tobias added, "I... 1 don't even know what I did wrong. I didn't do anything!" His indignation was clear. Vesper cleared his throat. "Hands out," Ardenia commanded Calder. Calder glanced up at her, then slowly extended his hands. Crack! Crack! Crack!

She brought the stick down three times in measured strikes. "Does it hurt?" she asked calmly. Calder nodded. ---- Ardenia sighed. "I probably should have gone straight for dissolution with all of you. Would have saved a lot of trouble." The word "dissolution" made the kneeling men panic. Their heads shook violently. "Please, don't!" "If I don't," she said, "then tell me-what are we to each other? If I have a cub, what will that cub call you?" Silence fell. Every one of them lowered their eyes. No matter whose cub she bore, the cub would call all of them Father. They were her mates.

She was their female-the heart of their home. Ardenia exhaled again. "We're a family. Understand? Through good times and bad, we stick together. We share the victories, we share the falls. That's how it is." She then turned to Calder. "Calder, I've always seen you as young. My father brought you back for me. I treated you poorly before, and I've spent time wondering how to make it right. What you ---- did yesterday truly disappointed me." "I'm sorry,' Calder whispered, lowering his head. Tears fell like tiny pearls. "Tricks like that aren't for Tobias or Niall.

Do you understand?" she asked, meaning more than just his ability. Calder nodded, eyes glistening. He sniffled. "I know I was wrong. Ms. Snow, can you forgive me?" It was the first time he called her that, and he was genuinely afraid. "Please don't go through with dissolution," Calder pleaded, banging his head on the floor repeatedly. He couldn't bear the thought of their bond breaking. Of all of them, he was the only one whose totem had never lit. He vowed it never would again. "Get up," Ardenia said coldly, her expression unyielding. She couldn't soften now.

Unless she clarified things, it would only lead to more trouble in the future.