As a result, Jisen had dinner at the cabin every so often, and Misha would even occasionally have him accompany her to the forest to gather salty fruits.
Rumors soon began to spread throughout the tribe that Misha and Jisen were going to become partners.
No one was more thrilled by this than Katie.
One day, Katie dragged Misha to the square.
The ground of the tribal square was covered with a dazzling array of animal hides in various colors—Katie had brought out every single pelt she had saved up at home.
“Katie, what are you doing?” Lisi, the resident gossip, was also there.
“These hides are so beautiful, and they’ve been cleaned perfectly,” Cui Na commented fairly.
Katie proudly flipped her pale-yellow curls.
“Of course they are.
These are all the pelts Jisen has hunted over the years.
Misha, take your pick—whichever ones you like.”
Misha licked her lips.
“I couldn’t possibly…” She somehow got the feeling that Katie was trying to give her a dowry.
“It’s fine, just pick whatever you want.
It’s a gift, so don’t feel burdened,” Katie said, patting Misha’s hand to reassure her.
She knew her younger brother still hadn’t managed to win Misha’s heart, so she wanted to help him out.
“Thank you, then.” Misha began to browse earnestly and actually found one she liked.
It was a purple fox pelt.
Purple fox fur was extremely rare, and this one had been processed so well that there was no strange odor at all.
It had caught her eye immediately.
“I like this one.”
Looking at the purple fox pelt, Katie felt a sharp pang of reluctance.
However, for the sake of her brother’s future happiness, she forced a smile and nodded.
“If you like it, take it.”
The young females present knew a thing or two about this particular purple fox pelt.
When Katie first got it, she had shown it off to no end in the tribe, making everyone green with envy.
Dora had also fancied the pelt and offered many things in exchange, but Katie had turned them all down.
Seeing Katie hand it over to Misha so effortlessly now sparked a wave of jealousy in Dora, and she couldn’t resist stirring up trouble.
“Katie, you’re being so attentive, but haven’t you forgotten about Misha’s low fertility?
If Jisen really becomes her partner, I’m afraid his bloodline will end with him.”
Hearing this, Katie flew into a rage.
“You never have anything good to say!
Stop spouting your toxic nonsense.
Misha’s heat cycle is normal, which means she can bear cubs.
Don’t start trouble here, or don’t blame me for getting nasty.”
Because Katie had a tiger beast partner, she had the confidence to fear no one in the tribe.
Coupled with her fiery temper, even Clan Leader Saki had to yield to her somewhat.
Misha was left speechless.
Being discussed like that in public was truly embarrassing.
“Why didn’t you introduce your brother to Misha back when she was ugly?
You’re only doing this now because she’s gotten pretty.”
Dora’s words were a slap in the face to many of the young females present.
After all, who among them hadn’t introduced their own brothers or relatives to Misha?
Misha sneered.
“That’s right.
Even your beloved Caesar is just as superficial.
He’s been sending me plenty of things lately, and the supply of fresh fruit hasn’t stopped once.”
Dora’s face instantly darkened.
Gritting her teeth in fury, she stomped her foot and spat, “You little bitch!
It’s only because you seduced Caesar.
You’re just an orphan, yet you dare to be so arrogant?
Let’s see if I don’t scratch your face up!”
Ever since Misha had recovered her looks, the urge to claw at her face had been screaming in Dora’s mind constantly.
Misha wasn’t afraid in the slightest, the smile on her face unwavering.
“Let’s see if you have what it takes.” She stood calmly in place, watching as Dora charged toward her.
Just as Dora’s hand was about to strike, a large hand intercepted it.
Dora stared at the male before her in disbelief, her eyes turning red with grievance.
She screamed hysterically, “Caesar, why are you protecting her?!”
“Dora, stop causing a scene.
You’re already an adult; you need to control your temper,” Caesar said, frowning with a hint of displeasure in his eyes.
Having spent so much time around Misha lately, he increasingly found Dora to be incredibly foolish.
If it weren’t for her connection to the Clan Leader, he wouldn’t even want to look at her.
He felt more and more that the only one worthy of him was Misha.
Deep down, he had a feeling that as long as he had Misha by his side, he would smoothly ascend to the position of Clan Leader.
“You’re blaming me because of this little bitch?” Tears slipped from her eyes as Dora looked utterly heartbroken.
“Dora, I won’t allow you to speak of Misha like that.” Caesar’s tone was heavy, and his eyes held a warning glint.
Her heart shattering even further, Dora shot Misha a vicious glare before turning and running away.
Having accepted Katie’s precious fox pelt, Misha gave her some of the cured meat she had prepared as a return gift.
After trying it, Katie went around proclaiming how delicious Misha’s cured meat was.
Out of spite, Dora stole a piece, determined to taste just how good this meat really was.
Upon taking a bite, she immediately noticed something unusual—the meat was salty.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
She then had one of her suitors hang an animal skin on a tree outside the tribe.
The shadow was incredibly familiar with the layout and found Dora’s room with unerring accuracy.
Dora was still awake.
The moment she heard the noise, she hurriedly lifted the animal hide curtain.
A tall figure blocked the doorway, the dim glow of the firelight revealing the male’s true face.
He had a deep scar on his cheek that stretched from his brow bone across his entire face, making him look absolutely terrifying.
“AH!” Dora gasped in fright.
The next second, the male reached out and clamped a hand over her mouth.
“Don’t make a sound.
Someone will hear you.”
Dora nodded, and the male let go.
“Jira, what happened to your face?”
Indeed, the visitor was Jira, the one who had previously attempted to assassinate Misha.
After being exiled from the tribe and becoming a Wandering Beast, Misha hadn’t bothered with him anymore.
Because of this, the contract between them was still intact, and Jira was free from any constraints.
Jira’s face darkened, clearly unwilling to discuss it.
He stepped into the room, sat down on a stone stool, and asked coldly, “What did you call me here for?”
Dora was a little scared, but the hatred in her heart pushed those fears aside.
If things kept going like this, Caesar really would be stolen away by Misha.
“I want you to help me destroy the salt storage.
I need to make sure Misha dies this time!” Dora’s gaze was venomous.
Since she couldn’t be killed in secret, she would make Misha incur public outrage.
Then they would see who could still protect her.
“I can help you, but what’s in it for me?” Jira’s gaze burned as his explicit stare roamed over Dora without any disguise.
Dora’s heart tightened.
She felt that Jira had changed.
In the past, his eyes were always filled with love, but now, his gaze was raw and naked—like a wild beast staring at its long-desired prey.
“As long as we succeed, I’ll give you whatever you want!” Dora bit her lip, her cheeks flushing red.
Jira stepped up to Dora, his long, defined fingers gripping her chin.
He licked his lips.
“Is that so?”
Her eyes darting away nervously, Dora gave a slight nod.
A satisfied smile curled on Jira’s lips.
He scooped her up by the waist and walked toward the straw bed in the room.
After a night of reckless abandon, Dora woke up the next day.
Looking at the bruises and marks covering her body, her eyes filled with toxic resentment.
“Misha, I hate you.
This is all because of you!
You deserve to die!”