My Beastly Fertility System Chapter 79: A Choice That Was Never Real

"That was all a lie. You have no idea how hard I had to hold back. Still, it was worth it. I got to meet a female this beautiful. Claire, you're the only interesting part of this whole operation."

The last part was directed straight at Claire. Claire shot him a flat look, then turned her head away.

Fiona shrieked, her voice cracking. "That's impossible! Claire is ugly and scrawny. No one wants her. How could she ever compare to me?"

Jeffrey nudged her head with his foot, forcing her to face the cage, where Claire stood surrounded by the others.

"Open your eyes and take a good look. Tell me what you have that she does not."

Fiona looked at Claire, standing at the center of everyone's attention, and for the first time truly examined her rival. The hatred clouding her vision finally lifted, and her eyes opened.

When had Claire become so beautiful?

Refusing to accept it, Fiona clung to Jeffrey's leg.

"Jeffrey, I'm yours. You can't treat me like this!"

He kicked her away without hesitation, then turned to the worm beastfolk beside him.

"Take your female back. I don't want to see that face again."

The worm beastfolk grinned and stepped forward. Ignoring Fiona's screams, he grabbed her by the ankle and dragged her away toward his burrow. Her cries faded into the distance.

Inside the cage, the females were overwhelmed by a tangle of emotions. Hatred, pity, and despair.

Claire looked up at Jeffrey. At the same time, he was studying her with open interest, his gaze moving over her from head to toe.

Because of the winter, she was wrapped in thick fur layers, but her figure still showed through, graceful and unmistakable.

"Interesting. Claire, now you can become my female without any distractions. The nuisance is gone."

Jeffrey crossed his arms, speaking like he was granting her a favor.

Claire was tired from standing. She leaned back against the woven vines of the cage, her body worn, but her eyes clear and sharp.

"You think I'd choose you just because Fiona's gone? A cobra, right? Is your eyesight bad or something? Need a pair of glasses?"

"What did you say? I'm a king cobra, not just a cobra. King cobra!"

Jeffrey didn't catch the sarcasm, but the word cobra alone was enough to set him off. He snapped back immediately, as if missing that one word stripped him of everything.

Claire curled her lip. "Cobra or king cobra, doesn't matter. You're not my type. Don't even think about it."

"Is that so? Rogue beastfolk live for the moment. We don't care what females like. You're just tools to us."

Tools to satisfy their desires.

Laughter broke out again, loud and crude. Amid the noise, Jeffrey turned and walked away.

The fox clan females huddled behind Claire, trembling as they watched the rogue beastfolk laugh and shout.

They had always been cherished, treated like treasures by male beastfolk. Never had they been mocked like this, stripped of dignity so completely.

Their faces went pale. None of them dared meet those eyes.

When the laughter finally died down, chunks of raw, bloodied beast meat were tossed into the cage, each piece about the size of a fist.

Only the unfamiliar females rushed forward to grab them. The moment they got one, they stuffed it into their mouths, guarding it fiercely, afraid someone might snatch it away. The fox clan females could barely look. Their stomachs churned.

"Can you at least cook it first? I can't eat it like this. Please..."

One of the braver females spoke up, her voice trembling as she pleaded.

A whip lashed across her.

"You're lucky you get anything. Still picky? Then don't eat."

The rogue beastfolk glared at her. Another one stepped closer, less harsh but no less vile. He reached out and brushed her arm.

"How about you have some fun with me first? I'll cook your share. Deal?"

The female recoiled instantly, shrinking back into the group, shaking.

Once the meat had all been thrown in, roughly one piece per female, the two rogue beastfolk left, cursing as they went.

Because the fox clan females refused to touch the meat, most of it ended up taken by the others. Only seven or eight pieces were left on the ground. In the end, even those were divided up and taken.

Claire didn't move. Her stomach twisted with hunger, but the sight of raw, bloodied meat made her nauseous. There was no way she could swallow it.

Instead, she thought of the food in her storage space. Dried meat, smoked fish, still-warm boiled potatoes, and roasted sweet potatoes.

She held herself still and waited. She could only sneak something to eat once all the beastfolk were asleep. At least she had her storage space, and she had stocked it well in advance.

Her thoughts drifted back to Zane and Rufus. She didn't know how far they had gone, or whether the younglings were hungry. But with them there, they should be fine.

"Pome, how are the babies in my womb?"

"Don't worry, Master. Everything is fine. But I should remind you, in ten days, this litter will reach full term. If you haven't escaped by then, the outcome will be very grim."