My Beastly Fertility System Chapter 10: Heading Out to Gather

A group of females led by Fiona broke into mocking laughter.

"Haha, I told you so! A low-grade female like her, hogging a male like Zane—she deserves to get chewed out by the healer!"

"Exactly! Zane's a Level 1 now. He should be paired with a much higher-grade female!"

Fiona hadn't told them about the Amethyst Berry; they still believed Zane had reached Level 1 entirely on his own.

Listening to the biting sarcasm aimed at Claire, Fiona felt a flicker of satisfaction.

She kept her eyes fixed on Claire as she walked forward, eager to savor the sight of her being reprimanded by the healer.

But in the next instant, Elodie looked at Claire with a beaming smile.

"Claire, would you like to become the next healer?"

Her voice was warmer than anyone had ever heard before.

The two females standing behind Elodie stiffened. They had served the healer for years, all for the chance to learn medical skills and inherit that title.

Once someone became the clan's healer, her status was second only to the Chief.

Yet, Claire had just arrived and was already being warmly invited—how could they not feel jealousy burning in their chests?

Their eyes locked onto Claire like open flames. Fiona and the rest of the females stood frozen, exchanging looks of stunned humiliation.

The slap to the face had come far too quickly.

Moments ago, they were mocking her without restraint. If Claire truly became the healer, what would happen the next time they fell sick?

Claire could almost picture Fiona seething. A faint smile curved her lips as she addressed the elderly healer.

"Ms. Palmer, I need a little time to think about it. May I give you an answer in a few days?"

"Yes, yes, of course. That's only proper. But there's something else I'd like to ask."

"Please, go ahead."

Elodie lowered her voice. "Where did you learn about the Sacred Fruit?"

So that was it.

Claire understood immediately. The knowledge had come from Pome, but even if she said so, the healer probably wouldn't believe her.

So, she went with something safer.

"My father told me before he died."

Tom was gone either way; even if Elodie wanted to verify it, there was no one left to ask.

Elodie clearly wasn't thrilled with that answer, but she still forced a smile, exchanged a few polite words with Claire, and finally turned away.

When Claire rejoined the foraging team, she heard Fiona's voice, her teeth practically grinding.

"Claire, you really think a little favor from Elodie means you're suddenly somebody? My mom is the chief. She will never let you become the next healer."

"Fiona, if I were you, I'd keep my mouth clamped shut. Every time you open it, everyone gets a nice, clear look at that black tongue."

Claire dropped the line and calmly moved a few paces farther away.

Fiona seethed, her cheeks puffed with rage, but she didn't dare snap back.

As long as that ugly black streak was there, it made her skin crawl.

She, Fiona, the perfect female of the Beast World—how could she be walking around with a flaw like that?

And then there was Zane; every time she looked at his sharp face and that new beast mark, she wanted to grind her teeth to dust—if she'd known he could reach Level 1, she would've chained him as her beast slave ages ago.

No, as her beast mate.

With his power now, Zane absolutely deserved the title of first mate.

She could have gone out and found him an Amethyst Berry, too, and helped him upgrade herself.

This was all Claire's fault—she'd stolen both the berry and the male that should have been hers.

Fiona's thoughts twisted darker and darker.

Just then, Hazel shot her daughter a soothing look.

Hazel was torn, annoyed that Fiona hadn't claimed Zane sooner, but she'd always spoiled her daughter and couldn't bring herself to scold her now.

Still, she couldn't help imagining: if Zane were Fiona's mate, her prestige in the fox clan would be soaring.

The hunting team and foraging team set out from the village in separate lines.

Even though Zane worried about Claire, he had no choice but to go hunt; without meat, how was she supposed to put on weight?

He adored every inch of her as she was, but a little extra softness would make the cold season safer.

Thinking of that, his mind wandered straight back to last night's bonding, and his thoughts drifted as they walked.

The foraging team's destination wasn't far, and they reached it quickly.

The foraging grounds sat in a flat stretch between two hills, with fewer tall trees and mostly low shrubs, the open view perfect for the males on guard duty.

It was untouched wilderness, beautiful and clean; Claire drew in a deep breath, and fresh air flooded her chest, leaving her light and clear-headed.

"Oh wow, aren't these raspberries? They're huge—and all those colors. They look completely organic and ridiculously good."

Delighted, Claire reached out to pick one.

The raspberry bushes weren't tall, but their branches were studded with sharp thorns; one careless grab and you'd be bleeding.

She moved carefully toward the plumpest berry, and just as her fingers were about to touch it, a hand shot in from the side and snatched it away.

Claire turned her head.

A tall female stood there—Mona Dickens, Fiona's most loyal little shadow.

Mona smiled, all fake sweetness.

"Oops, finder's keepers. Maybe try moving faster next time?"

Claire glanced around; the foraging grounds were huge, with berry bushes everywhere, and yet somehow Mona had to crowd into this exact patch to steal from the exact branch she'd reached for.

There was no way that wasn't on purpose—no beastfolk alive would believe otherwise.

Claire didn't bother arguing; she gave Mona a cool look, turned away, and calmly chose another bush.