My Beastly Fertility System Chapter 9: Zane Reaches Level 1

There was a new mark on Zane's face. A thin, pale-red beast mark curved from his cheekbone back toward his ear, like someone had brushed a streak of wild color onto a flawless canvas. It gave his usually cool features a sharper, almost otherworldly edge.

Most days, he was distant and unreadable. But when he saw Claire wake up, that icy expression melted. A soft smile tugged at his mouth, and for a second, it felt like winter breaking into spring.

"You ranked up? You're a Level 1 now?"

Claire asked in pleasant surprise.

One night. That Amethyst Berry really wasn't just for show.

Zane dipped his head in a quiet nod and held something out to her.

He held out roasted meat sliced into neat, bite-sized pieces, each one the same size, like he'd measured them with a ruler.

Claire picked up a piece and offered it back to him. Zane leaned in and took it from her fingers—then, whether on purpose or "accidentally," his lips closed over the tips of her fingers too.

"You little menace," she muttered, heat flickering in her cheeks.

A thought jumped into her head. She blurted it out before she could second-guess herself. "Hey, where are your beast ears?"

Zane blinked, puzzled, but he didn't argue. He simply let his control slip. A pair of white wolf ears appeared on top of his head, twitching once as they settled. Soft, fluffy, ridiculously inviting.

Claire launched herself at him like a kid spotting cotton candy. One hand for each ear, she kneaded and rubbed them for a very long, very indulgent moment.

"Oh my God. They're so soft."

By the time she finally released them and straightened up, Zane's face was scarlet. Even that red beast mark looked darker, flushed right along with him.

So pure, she thought, amused.

Zane noticed how much she liked them, and his mood climbed. He kept his wolf ears out on purpose after that—making it as easy as possible for her to reach up and touch them whenever she wanted.

Later, when Claire mentioned she wanted to join the foraging team, Zane's first instinct was to say absolutely not. He was a Level 1 beastfolk now. He could easily provide for them both. Why should she drag herself into danger and hard work?

But Claire wanted to see more of this world. Sitting in a cave all day sounded like slow death. She pushed back, calm and stubborn.

"Fine. But you have to be careful."

Then, without warning, he swept her up into his arms.

Claire yelped, arms flying around his neck.

"I can walk, you know!"

Being carried all through the village in broad daylight was ... a bit much.

Zane leaned in close, his breath warm against the shell of her ear.

"Are you sure? Your legs don't hurt? I was too rough last night."

One sentence, and her whole face went nuclear. She shut her mouth and stopped arguing, letting him carry her like it was the most natural thing in the world.

By the time they reached the central square, it was already full.

On one side, the hunting team—rows of burly males. On the other side, mostly females with a few lower-ranked males, the foraging team.

When people realized Claire wasn't just walking in but being carried in Zane's arms, Fiona almost exploded on the spot.

"That ugly female actually let Zane carry her? She has no shame!"

She'd never even held his hand. Not once.

Her prize had been snatched right out from under her, and now Fiona could only stew over how stupid she'd been not to chain Zane to her earlier as her personal beast slave.

Someone else caught sight of Zane and yelled, stunned, "Hey—Zane's a Level 1 now!"

The shout rippled across the square. Heads turned.

Every gaze locked onto the red beast mark on his face. Beastfolks murmured to one another, eyes wide.

No one had ever seen a beastfolk jump from Level 0 to Level 1 before.

"No way ... Is that real?"

"Zane was already scary. Level-1 Zane? I'm betting most other Level 1s can't touch him."

As the two of them walked closer, the nearby beastfolk all caught the same thing in the air: their scent had changed.

Fiona marched up, hands planted on her hips.

"Zane, did you really bond with that ugly female?"

Zane had carried Claire the whole way, steady and unruffled. But the second Fiona's words hit his ears, his expression snapped from mild to lethal.

He gave her a flat, frigid look.

"You will speak about my mate with respect. Call Claire that again, and I won't be holding back."

He'd helped Claire before, sure—but never this openly, never this clearly on her side. Now that they were bonded, he didn't plan on leaving any room for doubt. His mate was under his protection.

Claire was extremely satisfied with his performance. She shot Fiona a smug little wink over Zane's shoulder.

"Don't get cocky, Claire. Zane won't be glued to your side forever!"

Once Zane was away, wouldn't Claire be just as easy to bully as before?

Fiona had done it many times; it was second nature to her.

Zane's eyes narrowed in warning, but he didn't bother with her again. Inside, though, a plan was already forming.

He'd have to find another strong beastfolk to be Claire's second mate. Someone powerful enough to guard her when Zane was out hunting.

For now, he intended to keep her all to himself for a few more days.

Claire slid down from his arms and took her place among the gatherers.

Nearby females whispered behind their hands.

"Hey, did you notice? Claire's skin looks lighter."

"You're right. She doesn't look as sallow as before. Think she's got some kind of secret remedy?"

They elbowed each other, nudging one another to go and ask. No one actually dared to move.

Claire heard every word, of course, but she pretended not to. She stood alone off to the side, eyes following Zane as he headed to join the hunters.

Compared to her chilly welcome, Zane's side was downright rowdy.

The hunters erupted into cheers and howls as he approached, crowding him without shame.

"Zane, how'd you rank up? Come on, tell us—I wanna hit Level 1, too!"

"Yeah, right. You can't even take down a boar. Train for a few more years. More importantly—Zane, about bonding with Claire ... you really did that willingly?"

Zane turned his head just enough to pin the last speaker with a cool stare.

"Claire is my mate. Anyone who disrespects her will regret it."

Everyone knew exactly how strong he was. The hunting party's success rate was basically "however well Zane feels like doing today."

Now that he was Level 1, no one was stupid enough to think they could push him around.

"Claire, Elodie wants a word," one of the females called out.

Claire looked up to find one of Elodie's attendants standing in front of her, chin tipped up, eyes full of mild, practiced arrogance.