My Beastly Fertility System Chapter 46: Surrounded by Suitors

Claire thought the beastfolk from the morning would be gone by now. But when she stretched and walked out of the cave, she froze. More than a dozen male beastfolk were sitting quietly in the yard.

The moment they saw her, their eyes lit up. They rushed over right away.

"Claire, you're awake!"

"Want some water? Or are you hungry? I learned what you taught this morning. I can cook for you!"

They crowded around her, full of energy. Still, they kept a careful distance so they wouldn't bump into her stomach.

Zane had warned them about that before he left.

"You... why aren't you guys going home?" Claire asked, confused.

Are they really that free today?

One of the males scratched his head, looking a little shy. Then he flexed his bicep and asked, "Claire, would you bond with me?"

"Me too! I want to be your mate!"

"You guys step aside. I'm the best choice!"

Claire watched them all try to promote themselves and couldn't help but laugh.

Last night, Rufus had hesitated so much that she almost lost confidence in her charm. But now, it seemed she was still pretty popular.

Still, this was a bit too much.

"Sorry. I'm not looking for more mates right now."

She turned and walked out of the clan.

Claire wanted to take a walk nearby and see if she had missed any herbs or food.

Just as she stepped outside, Rufus—who had stayed awake all night in the trees—looked down at her.

Last night, when she asked him to be her mate, he should have been happy. But he hesitated. After he flew off, he spent the whole night thinking. Still, he couldn't figure it out.

Now his head just hurt.

Was she going for a walk?

He was about to show himself when he noticed something behind her.

A whole group of young males!

Cute ones, strong ones, handsome ones, plain ones, tall, thin, muscular—every type you could imagine.

And all of them were showing off, like peacocks in full display.

What is this?

They like her? They all want to bond with her?

Rufus felt his blood rush straight to his head.

Last night, she asked him to be her second mate. And today, all these males were chasing after her?

Was it because he didn't agree right away?

I didn't reject her!

I just... startled. I need time to think.

Below, the males were still trying to win Claire over, hoping she would accept them as her mate. None of them cared what number they would be.

What a fickle female! Let them fight over her! What does it have to do with me?

He forced himself to spread his wings and fly higher into the sky, muttering under his breath, repeating the same words over and over: Don't look back.

Hidden in the shade of a distant tree, Zane kept himself out of sight. He watched the fading figure of the gyrfalcon in the distance.

"I don't believe you can hold back," he murmured. "Rufus, just follow your heart."

His eyes stayed locked on Claire as she was once again surrounded by eager males. He held himself back, fighting the urge to step in, and simply waited.

Since arriving in this world, Claire had never talked to so many males at once. And she had definitely never been surrounded like this.

She touched the abs of one on her left, then squeezed the chest of another on her right... and then...

Well, it wasn't her fault. They grabbed her hands and made her feel their groin.

If she refused, it would seem rude.

Hmm. Not bad.

Suddenly, a dark shadow swooped down.

Before Claire could even see what it was, a strong pair of arms wrapped around her and lifted her up. Her feet left the ground. Her whole body went weightless.

In the next second, she was already rising fast, heading straight into the clouds.

A familiar voice sounded by her ear.

"Did they feel good?"

It was Rufus.

He had only formed a pair of wide wings on his back. He looked almost like an angel—if you ignored the dark look on his face.

"Uh... I didn't mean to touch them..."

"Hmph."

Rufus felt a sharp, bitter ache in his chest. He forced himself not to look down at the beautiful female in his arms.

Yesterday, he had been too focused on eating to really look at her. But just now, at the edge of the clan, he noticed Claire had become even more beautiful.

Her skin was smooth like cream. Her round eyes looked soft and pitiful when she tried to act innocent. Her nose was small, barely the size of his thumb. And her lips, full and red...

Stop!

Rufus cleared his throat, his tone softening.

"I'll give you one chance to explain. What was going on with those clueless males?"

Claire was still a little dazed.

"How would I know? They came this morning to learn cooking. I thought they had left. They said the smell last night was so good it made them crazy hungry. Tyne said the food she brought home made her mate brag about it all day in front of others. Maybe that's why they came."

Rufus flew fast, weaving through the clouds. Still, he made sure to block the wind for her. He even pulled his fur cloak over her head.