Kael's furrowed brows gradually deepened into a hard, unforgiving scowl, his jaw clenching with every word. The thought of such treachery—Isabella, a sister, conspiring to destroy Ava out of jealousy—disgusted him. His eyes flickered with cold anger.
George, now holding Ava protectively in his arms, growled low in his throat. His body tensed, and his grip around her tightened slightly as the full weight of the story settled over him.
The jaguar beastman's golden eyes glowed with fury, his tail flicking back and forth in agitation. "I've never met them, but I hate them already," he snarled, the anger clear in his voice. The thought of someone like Isabella, who would betray her own sister for selfish gain, filled him with contempt. But it wasn't just Isabella's betrayal that angered him—it was Ethan's involvement, too.
Kael shook his head in disbelief, his mind racing with questions. How could Ethan be so blind, so foolish as to trust a woman like Isabella? "A female willing to betray her own blood can never be trusted," Kael muttered darkly, his voice cold and sharp. "Does he not see that? If she's willing to turn on her sister, what makes him think she wouldn't do the same to him?"
George growled again in agreement, his feline instincts boiling with protective rage. He couldn't fathom how Ethan had failed to realize the danger he had welcomed into his life. In this world, where females could take multiple mates, loyalty was everything. A female capable of betraying her family so ruthlessly would have no qualms about betraying her mate. The foolishness of it burned in George's chest.
"He's blinded by lust and ambition," Kael continued, his voice low and laced with contempt. "He thinks he's won something by taking Isabella, but he doesn't see the venom she carries inside her. She'll turn on him the moment it benefits her, just like she did with you." He glanced at Ava, his heart heavy with frustration for the pain she had endured at the hands of her own sister.
A heavy silence fell between the three of them, the weight of Ava's story sinking in. Both Kael and George shared a deep, unspoken understanding of what this betrayal meant. To them, trust and loyalty were sacred, especially in a world where alliances between mates could shape the future of entire tribes. For Ethan to ignore the warning signs, to choose a mate who had already betrayed her blood, was not only foolish but dangerous. If Isabella had no loyalty to her own sister, what was stopping her from turning against Ethan if the opportunity presented itself?
George, still seething, spoke again, his voice tight with anger. "He's a fool if he thinks she won't betray him next. She can take many mates, and when she finds someone more powerful or useful than him, she'll discard him just like she did to you." The jaguar beastman's tone was filled with disgust, as though the very thought of such dishonor made his skin crawl.
Kael nodded in agreement, his expression hardening further.
Both Kael and George felt a protective surge toward Ava, not just because of what she had gone through, but because they both knew the deep scars betrayal like this could leave. They couldn't stand the thought of someone like Isabella manipulating her way into power at the cost of Ava's happiness. As they held Ava close, their shared anger was palpable—a fierce, protective rage for the woman they both cared for deeply. Ethan's blindness, his inability to see the poison in Isabella, only cemented their contempt for him. They both knew that a betrayal like this could never be forgiven, and neither of them would forget the wrongs done to Ava.
As Ava listened to Kael and George express their anger and disgust at Isabella and Ethan's betrayal, a deep warmth spread through her chest. Their protective words made her feel seen and supported, something she hadn't realized she craved so badly. The pain of recalling the original Ava's memories had always been heavy, but hearing their unwavering support lightened the burden. She hated feeling like this, it was like she was becoming Ava or could it be that the original Ava's soul still resided in her? Probably not..
She gently ruffled George's hair, feeling comforted by his presence, and her heart swelled with gratitude for both him and Kael. With renewed strength, she furrowed her brow, ready to continue sharing the painful memories of the past.
She remembered vividly that she was surrounded by all sides by stray beastmen who had half beast forms, looking far back behind the stray beastmen she could see her sister, Isabella in the arms of Ethan, The both had an evil grin on their faces as they watched her getting attacked from all sides Ava revealed her claws and tried her best to hack and slash at any stray beastmen that dared to get close to her...
but suddenly her strength began to wane and she felt weak in the knees.
Ava's eyes widened in shock as the memory flooded back to her, vivid and painful. It had been the night of the grand celebration marking the arrival of the Red Fox Clan, a night that was supposed to unite her tribe with the Red Fox tribe through her mating ceremony with Ethan, the son of the Fox Chief.
The event was filled with laughter and feasting, and the air was thick with excitement and anticipation. Ava had felt a mixture of nervousness, knowing that the ceremony symbolized the joining of two powerful tribes. It was meant to be a joyous occasion—one that would elevate her status and secure a future of prosperity for both her tribe and the Red Fox tribe.
Among the festivities, Ava's younger sister, Isabella, had approached her with an oddly friendly demeanor. Isabella had always been more reserved as they grew older, often lingering in Ava's shadow, but that night she had seemed unusually eager to talk. With a sweet smile, she had handed Ava a drink—a fruit juice that the Fox Clan had prepared specially for the night's festivities. Ava had never tasted or seen it before, and the vibrant red liquid looked exotic and enticing.
"Try this," Isabella had said, her voice light and casual, though Ava had noticed a glint in her sister's eyes that she couldn't quite place. "The Fox Clan made it just for the occasion. It's supposed to be really good."
Ava had hesitated for only a moment, but not wanting to seem rude, she had taken a sip. The flavor was sweet with a hint of strangeness, not quite like anything she had ever tasted before. She smiled at her sister, assuming it was due to herbs and thinking nothing more of it. The night was already filled with new experiences, and this seemed like just another part of the celebration.
After she finished the drink, Isabella had leaned in closer, her tone shifting to something more serious. "Ava, can we talk? I need to tell you something, but it's private. It's about a relationship with a male that's been weighing on me for a while, and I really need your advice."
Ava had been surprised by Isabella's request. Though they were sisters, they had never been particularly close, but the genuine tone in Isabella's voice had piqued her curiosity. Perhaps this was an opportunity for them to bond, Ava had thought. Perhaps Isabella had something important to share, and this could be a moment to deepen their relationship as sisters, she wondered which male she wanted to talk about.
Without much thought, Ava had agreed. She followed Isabella as she led her away from the noisy atmosphere, weaving through the crowd and away from the bonfire until they were at the outskirts of the tribe. The sounds of the celebration faded as they ventured further from the tribe, leaving behind the laughter, noise and flickering lights of the torches. The night air was cool, and the sky was lit by a canopy of stars, casting a serene glow over the landscape.
Isabella had led Ava to a secluded spot just beyond the tribe boundaries. It was a quiet place where they wouldn't be disturbed. "Wait here," Isabella had said, her voice soft and reassuring. "I'll be right back. I just need to grab something."
Ava nodded, trusting her sister without hesitation. She watched as Isabella disappeared into the shadows, leaving her alone in the darkened clearing. The air around her felt still, and Ava stood there patiently, waiting for her sister's return. She had assumed Isabella was going to fetch something personal, maybe a token or gift related to the "relationship secret" she wanted to share.
As Ava waited, a strange feeling began to settle over her. She wasn't sure if it was the quiet of the night or the aftereffects of the sweet drink she had consumed, but something didn't feel right. Her head felt lighter than usual, and her body began to grow weak. Her vision blurred for a moment, and she had to steady herself against a tree. Dismissing it as exhaustion from the long day of celebrations, she shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts.
Tired and feeling increasingly drowsy, Ava stood alone, waiting as minutes passed without any sign of Isabella. The once lively celebration now felt distant, and a growing sense of unease crept over her. She tried to shake off the exhaustion, blaming the day's excitement, unaware of the real reason her body felt so heavy. If only she knew what lay ahead—that this night would alter the course of her life forever. A cruel betrayal loomed just beyond the shadows, and as Ava waited in the quiet darkness, she had no idea how drastically everything was about to change.