“I never agreed to this,” Oswald huffed.
“What was your name again? Melissa? Delilah? Mmm. No. I think it started with T. Tania, perhaps? I don’t have any feelings for you.”
Miles spoke through gritted teeth, “My daughter’s name is Samantha, Alpha Oswald.”
Oswald nodded once, apparently satisfied that the mystery had finally been solved.
Vivianne almost snorted.
He had apparently just rejected a woman without even knowing her name.
The young woman beside Miles paled when Oswald frowned at her as though she had just suggested that the boar could float among the clouds.
“Surely, Alpha Oswald, you can reconsider. My daughter would make an excellent mate for you. Healthy, well-mannered, and smart.”
Ah, so this old bastard wanted to make his daughter to be Oswald’s mate.
Nepotism!
Judging by that glint in his eyes, he must be up to no good.
A wicked little smile appeared on Vivianne’s lips.
She wouldn’t let this old geezer bully her further!
“Finder keeper, old man. First come first serve,” Vivianne snapped.
“And Samantha. If you really like him, why do you let your dad speak on your behalf? Why don’t you go and confess your feelings to Oswald by yourself like a proper adult woman?”
They have framed me as a villain, haven’t they?
Then I better act like a proper one.
“Learn to take a hint, girl. Besides, Oswald already slept with me!”
The entire village stopped breathing.
Miles stood there gaping like a fish that had just been dumped onto dry land.
Someone in the crowd even coughed and took their pups away.
Another villager slowly turned his head toward the person beside him, as if silently questioning her sanity.
“She was really amazing,” Oswald nodded along.
Was it even okay for an Alpha to confirm that?
Samantha’s eyes slowly filled with tears.
“Alpha Oswald…” Her voice trembled.
“Why did you…?”
She couldn’t finish.
Samantha burst into tears and quickly darted away.
Miles was seething.
His knuckles were white as he snarled at Oswald.
Vivianne’s smug expression disappeared.
Did I go too far?
“Samantha!” Miles shouted at her.
The Elder turned back one last time.
His expression was dark enough to freeze the air.
“You will regret this, Alpha.”
Then Miles hurried after his daughter.
“What a match made in heaven. There wasn’t a single functioning brain cell between them.” A middle aged beastman shook his head and went away.
Vivianne stared at him.
Behind them, several villagers exchanged the same exhausted look.
“Nobody gets to decide who I should choose to be my mate.”
Oswald’s voice left no room for argument.
He took Vivianne’s hand and led her away from the commotion.
“Where are we going, Oswald?”
“My den.”
And just like that, the two of them walked away together while the entire village stood behind them, wondering how their Alpha had somehow found the only woman in the Beast World who was exactly as ridiculous as he was.
Wait.
This was actually a pretty good development, wasn’t it?
He had openly rejected another woman in front of everyone.
Oswald even admitted that they had already slept together.
And now he was taking her back to his den without the slightest hesitation.
So…
where’s my reward?
Vivianne waited but nothing happened.
Come on.
No glowing letters appeared in the air.
No cheerful notification chimed in her head.
Not even a pathetic little ding.
Vivianne’s eyebrow knitted.
Seriously?
She had practically just secured the Alpha’s affection—or at least made a considerable amount of progress—and the system had absolutely nothing to say about it?
[Ding!]
Vivianne nearly jumped.
[Host must reach a certain level of affection to be able to collect a husband.]
She stared blankly at the notification.
So Vivianne has to raise his affection first before she can collect a husband.
Damn.
Apparently men come with affection requirements now.
She sighed internally and followed Oswald into his den.
The moment she stepped inside, Vivianne was slightly surprised.
She had expected an Alpha’s den to be some enormous, gloomy cave filled with animal skins and the general atmosphere of a particularly aggressive bear’s house.
Instead, Oswald’s den had a cozy, rustic charm.
Warm wooden walls and soft, muted colors gave the space a gentle, welcoming feel, while woven carpets and thick furs were scattered across the floor and draped over the furniture.
Everything was simple, but carefully kept.
The pelts were thick and well-preserved, and even the smallest furnishings looked sturdy and well-made, giving the den a comfortable warmth without feeling overly lavish.
Well…
he was an Alpha, after all.
She supposed she shouldn’t have been surprised.
Before Vivianne could look around any further, a young woman suddenly appeared from deeper inside the den.
She hurried toward Oswald and threw her arms around him.
He simply let her, as though he were used to it.
“Ophelia.”
The young woman that has similar blue hair like Oswald finally released him and beamed at him with a bright smile.
Then her eyes shifted toward Vivianne.
Her eyes narrowed as she studied Vivianne, then slowly shifted toward her brother.
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
“Don’t tell me you picked up some random girl in the forest just because you were in heat, brother.”
Fuck, Ophelia figured it right away.
Oswald scratched the back of his neck.
“Actually, I did, Ophelia.”
Ophelia’s expression screamed, ‘Are you fucking serious?’ Honestly, I’d do the same if I were her.
After a long silence, she rolled her eyes.
“Mother and Father would beat you if they were still alive. Your stupidity always makes me miss them so dearly.”
Was this entire family like this?
Ophelia finally stepped closer and held out her hand.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Ophelia Theodolf. I hope my big brother hasn’t been giving you too much trouble.”
“Nice to meet you too. I’m Vivianne.”
Ophelia smiled and released her hand.
“You two must be tired. I’ll prepare something warm.”
She turned toward the small cooking area.
“Brother, help me with the cups.”
Oswald sighed and followed.
When he reached for the cup, his right palm turned upward.
Ophelia suddenly stopped.
“Brother.”
Oswald glanced at her.
“What?”
Her eyes were fixed on his right palm.
A faint brand was visible there, almost hidden beneath the skin.
It looked like a tiny flame curled into the shape of a bird.
“When did you get that?”
Vivianne’s head snapped toward his hand.
The moment she saw it, her heart skipped.
That shape was the fiery outline of a Phoenix.
Something about it felt strangely familiar.
Without thinking, she reached out and touched his palm.
The brand roared to life.
Flames erupted around their hands, swirling wildly between them.
They spiraled around Vivianne and Oswald in a blazing circle, yet neither of them felt the slightest bit of heat.
Vivianne’s eyes widened as she watched Oswald’s palm, too stunned to speak.
A sudden heat spread through her own right palm.
A faint brand was forming beneath her skin.
The same fiery Phoenix in the exact same place as Oswald’s.
The flames curled around her hand before sinking into the brand, leaving it glowing like a living ember beneath her skin.
Oswald’s brand did the same.
The two Phoenix-shaped brands pulsed together as if answering one another.
The flames suddenly curled around their bodies in a single blazing spiral and filled the den with a blinding golden light.
“What is happening?” Ophelia gasped.