My Beastly Fertility System Chapter 78: The Truth She Refused to Face

Bound by Jeffrey's orders, not a single beastfolk dared to defy him.

Fiona had everything again, and this time, she'd taken it with her own hands. Satisfaction settled deep in her chest, rich and intoxicating.

As for the fall of the fox clan, the slaughter of her people, the brutal death of her own family, she had long since cast it all aside.

What did a few insults from prisoners matter? Just the helpless rage of the defeated.

Fiona looked at Claire. Now, with a single command, any rogue beastfolk could snap Claire's neck like it was nothing.

She laughed, sharp and triumphant. "Claire, go on. Tell me, who's the winner now? Look at you."

Claire studied her, watching the arrogance swell, then shook her head.

"Fiona, it's only been a day. Have you already forgotten how your mom died?"

She tilted her chin toward the platform above.

"She's inside that snake right now. And you look happy. Funny, isn't it? No matter what you did before, your mom always protected you. Gave you everything. Treated you like her whole world. If she knew you'd fallen for the one who killed her, she'd probably claw her way back to life just to curse you."

The words hit like a blade. Fiona's chest tightened. She had buried that memory on purpose, too afraid to face it. Now Claire dragged it back into the light, and her whole body began to shake.

"Why... Why would you bring that up? I didn't kill her. I didn't!"

Seeing Fiona on the verge of losing her mind, Claire pressed even harder.

"You didn't kill her, but she died because of you. If you hadn't let the enemy in, would she have died? Would the clan have been wiped out?"

The surrounding females glared at Fiona, their eyes burning with hatred. Fiona clutched her head and collapsed to the ground.

"No... it's not my fault. It's Claire's fault. Not mine..."

She muttered it over and over, then suddenly jerked upright, as if something had clicked. Scrambling on all fours, she crawled toward the platform where Jeffrey stood.

"Jeffrey... you love me, don't you? You promised me. You said you wouldn't hurt anyone. My mom... my mom... You're my first mate. You wouldn't lie to me."

She crawled as she spoke, sobbing, pleading, questioning all at once.

Jeffrey watched the entire scene unfold with idle amusement, as if it were nothing more than a performance. His gaze followed her slow, desperate climb, entertained.

From a distance, Claire watched too. The cold indifference of the rogue beastfolk sank deeper than ever.

Fiona finally reached the last step. Just two more steps to him. She reached out, grabbing at the edge of his fur tunic.

Jeffrey looked down at her, disgust flickering across his face at her tear-streaked, swollen features. His lips parted.

"You seem to have misunderstood something."

With a casual push of his foot, he sent her tumbling.

Her body rolled down the steps, the sound echoing through the vast limestone cave.

She hit the ground hard. It felt like her body had come apart, every bone screaming as if trying to break through her skin. Her face was bruised and swollen, two teeth knocked loose, blood smeared across her mouth.

"Jeffrey... you didn't mean to... right? You're my first mate... my only mate..."

Her mind drifted to the six mates she once had. The way they cared for her, obeyed her, protected her without question. Even Gavin, stubborn as he was, had still cared.

And Jeffrey, the one she chose over all of them, the only one she kept, didn't care whether she lived or died.

She had rolled to a stop beside the cage. Still, her eyes clung to the platform, desperate, hopeful.

Claire crouched beside her, her voice empty of pity.

"Fiona, are you satisfied now? You traded an entire clan for that mate. Don't give up on him so easily."

Fiona didn't seem to hear. She only shouted toward Jeffrey.

"Jeffrey, we bonded. No matter what you are, rogue beastfolk or anything else, you're my mate. I'll love you!"

Jeffrey dropped from the platform, landing lightly, spotless as ever, right beside her.

"Bonded?" He laughed. "Did you forget? We rogue beastfolk don't have first times."

Laughter erupted around them. Every rogue beastfolk doubled over, howling.

"You really thought you could bind me with that? You ugly waste of space. If it weren't for your clan, I wouldn't have looked at you twice. As for that night you're talking about... someone else handled it for me. There. That one."

He pointed casually. A filthy, fat male stepped forward. His face wore a dull grin, snot hanging from his nose, flies buzzing around him. He thrust his hips at Fiona.

Claire gagged. Fiona froze. For several seconds, she could only stare back and forth between Jeffrey and the grotesque male.

"A lowly worm beastfolk? That's impossible. Jeffrey, you're lying, right? It can't be true. You were so gentle with me..."