My Beastly Fertility System Chapter 16: Tight Feeling

Going out once the cold season hit was basically gambling with your life.

Claire couldn't help thinking about her father's last winter, forced to leave the clan and hunt during the last winter because there wasn't enough food, only to die out there in the snow.

In her memories, Tom had been almost too kind, always saving the best bites for his daughter and barely eating anything himself.

The thought left a dull ache in her chest.

Zane picked up on her mood immediately; he slipped one arm around her shoulders, pulling her close in quiet comfort.

"Don't worry. We're going to be fine. Your father's already back in the Beast God's arms. From now on, you have me."

Claire leaned into him, mind already ticking through everything they'd need to survive the cold season.

They had about one month left before it arrived, and once it started, winter would lock them in for almost five whole months.

Food, warm furs, a safer cave—every piece had to be ready before the first snow fell.

After a quick breakfast, she and Zane headed to the central square like they always did.

They'd barely stepped into view when Fiona's mocking voice cut through the noise.

"Claire, didn't my mom say yesterday you're kicked out of the foraging team? What are you doing here—pretending you didn't hear her?"

Claire ignored her, treating the words like hot air.

Punching air never felt good; Fiona looked like she'd overexerted herself, clutching her stomach in frustration.

Claire simply walked Zane over to the hunting team's side.

Today, the hunters were heading somewhere crawling with wild beasts—great for prey, but the risk level was just as high.

She couldn't help feeling uneasy about it.

"Zane, you'd better come back alive."

Zane nodded once.

"I know. Just wait for me here in the clan. You don't need to go foraging—whatever you need, I can trade for with meat."

Claire knew he was only thinking of her, so she smiled and waved him off.

Over in the foraging team, the females were already whispering to each other.

"Did you hear? Mona's two beast mates got beaten half to death last night."

"For real?"

"Of course. Listen, here's what happened..."

The two females kept sneaking looks at Claire as they leaned close and gossiped.

Claire didn't need the details—she knew instantly Zane must have been the one who'd gone to knock some sense into them.

Warmth spread through her chest like someone had quietly lit a little fire there.

Thank you, Zane, she thought.

Already a good distance away, Zane paused as if he felt something, glanced back over his shoulder, and dipped his head in a small nod.

Claire flung both arms up and waved hard, that bright, bouncy energy of hers enough to infect anyone watching.

High in a tree outside the clan, buried in a tangle of thick branches, Rufus lounged along a wide trunk, tossing a purple berry up and down in one hand.

So, that's her beast mate, huh? he mused. I was right—it's the same white wolf who came for her the day she climbed that cliff. And now he's already Level 1.

He remembered clearly that back then, the guy hadn't had a single beast mark on his face.

"Guess this Amethyst Berry's useless now," he muttered under his breath.

He'd flown all over the nearby mountains to find that berry, planning to give it to Claire so she'd look at him like he'd hung the moon.

What a waste.

He'd just showed up one step too late.

Rufus shoved the Amethyst Berry into the inside pouch of his cloak, not even sure what he was feeling—just a tight, heavy weight in his chest that made him want to shoot into the sky and fly until the rush of air scraped it clean.

Whenever his mood tanked, that was always his cure—high, reckless speed in open sky.

Only today, he stayed where he was a little longer, wanting to see what Claire would do next.

Fiona was coming for her with blood in her eyes; clearly, she had no intention of letting Claire go.

Fiona led the foraging team right past Claire, females filing by one after another.

She made a show of speaking casually as she passed.

"Oh, winter's almost here. Some females can't even leave the clan to forage—how are they supposed to survive the cold season?"

One of her cronies chimed in right on cue.

"Fiona has such a kind heart. If you ask me, useless females are better off dead."

"Hahaha, exactly!" another crowed.

Listening to them, Claire actually laughed.

"You're so kind, huh? So generous and soft-hearted—why don't I ever see you visiting the orphans or the old beastfolk with no family? All talk and no action is easy. Anyone can do that."

Fiona stopped dead, eyes flaring as she glared at Claire.

"I've just been busy, that's all. When I get back today, I'll send them meat."

Claire clapped her hands, putting on a face of exaggerated delight.

"Wow, that's great. But a good deed isn't a one-time thing. If you're really that kind, it should last longer than just one day, right? Or are you only kind today and heartless again tomorrow?"

Provoked, Fiona blurted before she could stop herself, "Fine! I'll take care of their food from now on. All of it. Happy now?"

Seeing she'd gotten exactly what she wanted, Claire raised her voice so everyone could hear.

"You all heard that, right? Ms. Miller just promised herself to provide food for the orphans and the old folks from now on. Once you say it, you don't get to take it back. Everyone, make sure you remember this."

The females around them cheered and praised Fiona to the skies, piling compliments on her "kind heart."

In truth, Fiona knew the second the words left her mouth that she'd been played, but with everyone around her fawning over how generous she was, her vanity swelled so high she didn't even consider taking it back.

Worst case, I'll just send all five of my beast mates out to hunt more. No way I can't afford a few old and weak mouths.

While the foraging team was still basking in that fake warm glow, Claire slipped around them and took another path out of the clan.

She headed in the exact opposite direction from the foraging grounds.

By the time the crowd quieted down and anyone thought to look for her, Claire was already long gone.

Fiona watched Claire walk away and silently wished she'd die somewhere out in the wild.