Reborn As A Beast Queen with Too Many Husbands to Pet novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12 Questioning the Sacrifice.

“The chief must have no other choice… That’s why she needs a sacrifice.”

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Annelise snorted. It was just a male they had exiled before–he somehow hadn’t died, and now he returned. And of course, the chief assumed it was a bad omen.

She crossed her arms and said again, “I don’t agree. What proof is there that a sacrifice will solve anything? Nobody can even explain it properly–so why should I agree? And what if, after the sacrifice, the attacker doesn’t stop and keeps coming after us?”

Clapping her hands lightly, she added, “And then we just keep sacrificing more? Each family sends another mate? I only have two mates total–if I sacrifice them, what’s left for me?”

Clara’s mates visibly bristled.

“Annelise, how can you speak to our matriarch like that? Besides, the chief is doing this to protect the weak in the tribe. That includes you. If there were no weaklings, if it were just the matriarch and the chief, we would fight that thing ourselves.”

Annelise tapped her forehead, dredging up memories from the original host.

In this shifter world, males had ranks–some strong, some weak. The stronger ones who hunted more were drawn to females with stronger spirit energy.

It was natural–they all admired strength, believing that offspring born this way were less likely to die young.

Normal logic. But that didn’t mean the peacock deserved to die.

“So,” Annelise continued, “you haven’t answered my question. Will a sacrifice actually guarantee the problem gets solved? If not, I want the chief to explain herself. Right now, why is that thing attacking us? Who caused him to attack? And if we don’t figure it out now, what happens when it happens again? If we have to sacrifice several mates across cycles before the cubs even grow up, who can bear that?”

Her words struck a chord. Clara and her mates found it hard to refute. Even the mates who were bound, waiting to be sacrificed, began to hesitate.

“Yeah… if it happens again, our sacrifices will mean nothing.”

“My matriarch only has four mates. If they sacrifice me, there’ll only be three left–not even enough for hunting.”

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19:54 Mon, Jan 19

Chapter 12 Questioning the Sacrifice

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Annelise turned to Evan. “Don’t worry, Evan. Go lie down in your room. Your leg isn’t healed yet.”

Evan looked at her, his thin lips pressed together, a storm of conflicting emotions in his eyes.

This Annelise might really not be the original host because she would never dare to oppose such a sacrifice. She might even despise his weakness, rush to send him off herself, and still take credit.

“Um…”

“No ‘um‘ or ‘but.‘ Just go rest.”

She tried to guide him back, but the moment her hand brushed his back, Evan instinctively shivered. His stress response was far stronger than the fox’s had been.

Annelise had Hudson support him back to the room.

Seeing the discussion around them grow louder, Clara clasped her hands behind her back and said, “Annelise, you should come with us to meet my mother. Say these things to her yourself.”

“Fine!”

Annelise thought, Fine, let’s go–I’m not afraid of anyone.

At first, she’d felt a twinge of unease. How would she adapt to a new environment?

Soon, she realized this tribe had only just emerged from a barely clothed, primitive lifestyle. The males and females here were only slightly smarter than savages.

As long as she acted normally, she’d be fine.

Adrian followed when Annelise was taken away. He worried that the chief might target her.

But on the way, Annelise showed no signs of nervousness at all and even chatted with him.

“Hey, bunny, why are you following? You should be at home with the fox and the peacock.”

Adrian huffed, pride tinging his voice. “I haven’t met your tribe’s chief yet. It’s a good chance to see her.”

“Wow, you’re brave.”

“I’m a shifter from another tribe. What’s there to fear?”

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19:54 Mon, Jan 19

Chapter 12 Questioning the Sacrifice

24

+20 Free Coins

Annelise shook her head slightly, faking a worried expression. “Have you forgotten what happened when that female sold you in this tribe?”

“Uh…” Adrian blinked, hesitating. “The chief wouldn’t do something like that, would she?”

“You’re wrong. Think about it–you’re a male from another tribe, and you came here with a female, right?”

“Yes.”

“If you died here, your tribe’s shifters and chief wouldn’t even know.”

“Uh… yeah.”

Annelise gestured seriously. “Now think–that weird five–tailed shifter had tried to attack you. Do you really think our chief wouldn’t consider sacrificing you, too? You don’t even have a matriarch. I wouldn’t even have an excuse to protect you.”

Sweat ran down Adrian’s forehead.

“I… I didn’t think about any of that,” he admitted.

Annelise nodded, trying not to laugh. “So… maybe you should form a bond with me. That way, when we meet the chief, if she tries to sacrifice you, I’ll have a reason to protect you.”