Seeing Loki's exasperated look, a dark glint flashed through Miche's ink-black eyes.
Night fell. A tall, well-built male stood beneath a tree, his pale yellow bangs swaying gently in the breeze. His brown eyes brimmed with deep affection as he gazed at the stone house. Only when the warm orange firelight inside gradually died out and all fell silent did he slowly crouch down to arrange the pile of dry hay on the ground.
"Who's there?" Tyler stood up sharply, instantly on high alert. His deep eyes locked onto a corner of an animal-skin skirt peeking out from behind the tree.
"It's me," Miche said, stepping slowly into view. She wore her most carefully practiced, picture-perfect expression. Her voice was as gentle as water, and her gaze fluttered as if overflowing with tender feelings. "Tyler, I—"
"What are you doing here?" the male interrupted. The biting frost in his eyes made Miche's rehearsed words die in her throat.
Biting her lower lip secretly, Miche stated her true purpose. "Loki said that as long as you help him hunt a tiger, he'll agree to dissolve his mating bond with Ophelia.
"Tyler, I know you like Ophelia. A single tiger is all it takes to sever their ties. That's worth it, isn't it? After all, you wouldn't want her to lose half a year of her lifespan for nothing."
Looking at the male's cold, handsome face, a flash of jealousy crossed Miche's eyes. She wondered why Tyler had to like that bitch Ophelia. Such a fine male obviously belonged to her.
"I can help him hunt a tiger, but he must keep his word." Tyler's tone was icy, and he couldn't hide the murderous intent swirling in his eyes.
He had genuinely wanted to kill Loki the moment he found out Ophelia was going to mate with a mere Wolf Beast. But he had forced himself to endure it, terrified that Ophelia would be heartbroken and resent him. He chose not to kill the wolf—not because he couldn't, nor because he didn't dare!
Intimidated by the fierce aura in his eyes, Miche nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry, he will."
"If that's all, stay away from me." His gaze was full of undisguised disgust, as if looking at a filthy maggot.
Frustrated and angry, Miche had no choice but to scurry away.
Early the next morning, Ophelia was still half-asleep when she vaguely heard the door being pushed open, followed by the savory aroma of roasted meat drifting to her nose. However, she had stayed up far too late working in her farming space the night before. Exhausted, she only roused for a brief moment before sinking back into a deep slumber.
"Ophelia, I will help you sever your bond with him," a soft voice murmured. "I will win you a free future."
The male pressed a devout kiss to the young female's fair, smooth forehead. The tiger hunt was fraught with danger, but he had to succeed!
When Ophelia finally woke up, the roasted meat on the table was already stone cold. She called out a few times, but there was no sign of Tyler anywhere. She had just stepped out to look for him when Miche's slender, swaying figure appeared in her line of sight.
Ophelia intended to ignore her, but just as they brushed past each other, Miche suddenly spoke up. "Are you looking for Tyler?"
Ophelia snapped her head back, her eyes burning with anger. "What did you do?"
"I merely told him that if he hunted down a tiger, Loki would agree to break his mating bond with you. So he eagerly rushed off to the forest to hunt first thing this morning," Miche said, a malicious, smug smirk spreading across her face. "I just don't know if he'll make it back alive."
"Who gave you permission to do that!" Ophelia raised her hand and delivered a vicious slap.
As a female of the Dragon Clan, she had a strong, sturdy physique and packed a heavy punch—nothing a fragile Fox Clan female could compare to. The force of the strike caused Miche's face to swell up instantly.
"It's the tigers' mating season, when they are at their absolute fiercest. Even if you beat me to death, he's never coming back!" Miche no longer bothered to hide her malice, her eyes brimming with pure resentment.
She figured that since Tyler looked down on her, there was no point in him living anyway.
SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!
Several more heavy slaps rained down in rapid succession. Miche felt as if her teeth were rattling loose.
"What are you doing?!" a male's furious roar exploded in their ears.
Loki's rough, large hand clamped down on Ophelia's porcelain-white wrist, gripping it so tightly that the skin reddened in mere seconds.
Ophelia frowned and forcefully wrenched her arm out of Loki's grasp, glaring coldly at Miche. "If anything happens to Tyler, I will take your life!"
Loki watched the resolute figure of the departing young female, a vague, sinking sensation in his chest warning him that he was about to lose something incredibly important. He wanted to chase after her, but Miche threw her arms tightly around his waist. "Loki, it hurts. I hurt so much.
"Why did Ophelia hit me? I only asked Tyler to help hunt a tiger for you. I did it all for you! As your partner, shouldn't she be supportive and agree with it?" Miche sobbed, her tears rolling down her cheeks in large drops.
Loki's attention was immediately pulled back to her. He gathered the crying female into his arms and began coaxing her softly.
Meanwhile, Ophelia strode toward the depths of the forest, a Bone Knife clutched tightly in her hand and a fiery rage burning in her chest. She had no idea exactly where Tyler was, but she vividly remembered the spot where they had hunted the tiger in her previous life. Whether by sheer coincidence or fate, the day of the tiger hunt in her past life was exactly the same as today.
In that past life, they had staked out the forest for three days and three nights, only managing to kill the beast at the cost of Tyler suffering severe injuries. This time, she would absolutely not allow history to repeat itself.
She glanced at the sky. They had originally encountered the tiger around dusk. It was still early now, so she prayed that things wouldn't deviate from her memories.
As she trekked onward, she scanned her surroundings. Relying on her modern agricultural knowledge, she spotted a prickly fruit plant growing by the path. Its sap had an immediate paralyzing effect—potent enough to drop an elephant.
She sliced off a corner of her animal-skin skirt and wrapped her hand thoroughly before daring to pluck a few of the fully ripe prickly fruits.
Upon arriving near the tiger's hunting grounds, Ophelia cautiously surveyed the area. After searching for about two hours, she finally spotted Tyler crouching behind a boulder in the thick brush.
At the same time, the sky began to darken. Right on cue, the massive tiger—sporting a streak of red fur on its head, a yellow coat, and piercing green eyes—made its appearance.
ROAR!
The giant beast stretched its limbs, preparing to commence its evening slaughter.
Tyler quietly rose to launch an ambush when he suddenly felt a warm palm press against his lean, muscular back. With sharp reflexes, he seized the hand, twisted it, and pinned the person behind him against the rock.
"It's... me," Ophelia whispered, suppressing a gasp of pain and keeping her voice low so as not to alert the tiger.
Realizing who he had pinned, Tyler immediately released his grip. He opened his mouth to speak, but a soft little hand quickly clamped over his lips. The natural, sweet fragrance lingering on the young female's skin flooded his senses, rushing to his head and making him want to surrender to its intoxicating scent. He moved his mouth slightly, trying to whisper, but his lips brushed against her tender, fragrant palm instead. Shamefully, his body reacted to the contact.
His cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and he dug his fingernails into his own palms to force his focus elsewhere.
Oblivious to his flustered state, Ophelia made a shushing gesture. She then tore off several large leaves, wrapping them around the prickly fruits and the blade of her Bone Knife. Adding a layer of animal skin on the outside, she squeezed and crushed them with all her might. Only when she was certain the paralyzing sap had thoroughly coated the blade did she finally stop.
Tyler couldn't fathom what she was doing, but seeing the tiger beginning to wander off made him anxious. "I'll go catch the tiger first. You wait here and don't run around."
Ophelia shot him a reproachful glare. "Are you in a rush to die? A tiger in its mating season is incredibly dangerous. Even though you are a Dragon Beast with formidable strength, you'd inevitably get hurt.
"The sap of these prickly fruits has a powerful paralyzing effect. As long as you lightly scratch it with this Bone Knife, it will pass out. There is no need to fight it head-on."
She thought to herself that since Loki was so determined to get this tiger, they would just have to see if he had the fortune to actually enjoy it.