Reborn As A Beast Queen with Too Many Husbands to Pet novel Chapter 32

Chapter 32 A Choice of His Own

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“But if he wants to return to how he was before, it will still take at least a year, maybe a year and a half.”

“Really?” Holly’s father and Holly blurted out at the same time.

Annelise nodded.

She applied the needles directly. The tiny wooden splinters she used were something they had never seen before.

After just a few insertions, Holly’s father exclaimed, “I can feel it!”

“You’ll feel even more in a moment,” Annelise said. “Your tendon wasn’t completely severed, so the results are showing faster.”

When she finished, she said, “Throw away the cane and take a few steps. Don’t put too much strength into it. Just walk normally.”

Holly’s father rose slowly, tossed the cane aside, and then-he really walked.

Before, his foot hadn’t even been able to touch the ground.

“Annelise, you’re amazing!”

“All right, pick the cane back up,” she said calmly. “This is just the blockage clearing. It’ll take two more days. Use the cane for now.”

Holly clasped her hands together. “Then what kind of game do I need to pay you with?”

“No need. Just bring me a few baskets of wild greens.”

As she spoke, Annelise raised her hand and rubbed Adrian’s head.

“We’re not short on meat anymore. It’s just that our big bunny needs wild greens and grass. Even the bitter ones you don’t like, or the smelly ones, are fine. I’m just too lazy to pick them myself.”

Adrian leaned in and kissed Annelise on the cheek.

“Ms. Crawford, that’s so nice of you.”

Evan saw all of it.

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Chapter 32 A Choice of His Own

He couldn’t help letting out a self-mocking smile.

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Three days passed, and Holly’s father was finally able to walk without the cane.

Evan’s treatment was also going smoothly. In just a few more days, it would be finished.

When Holly and her father were about to leave, Evan suddenly came out, leaning on his cane.

“Holly, wait. I have something to say.”

Hudson thought Evan had decided to stay.

Overjoyed, he said. “Evan, are you going to tell Holly you’re not leaving? Life here keeps getting better. Ms. Crawford really doesn’t hit anyone anymore, and she’s stopped drinking. The third room is finished, and we have more meat than we can eat. Oh, and we’re even raising chickens and ducks now. They lay eggs!”

Evan only reached out and patted Hudson’s head.

“No,” he said softly. “Holly, when my treatment is done, I’ll go with you.”

Holly hadn’t held out any hope.

Over the past few days, she and her father had talked a great deal with Annelise and gotten along wonderfully.

They had realized that Annelise, when she wasn’t drinking, was completely different from before-clear-minded, insightful, and remarkable in every way.

Her medical skills were superb, and she treated her mates extraordinarily well.

Sometimes, even better than Holly herself would have.

If Evan went with her, his life wouldn’t be as good as this place—at least not in spirit.

Holly had thought Evan would stay.

She never expected him to say this.

“You… You’ve really thought it through?”

Evan nodded. “I have. I’ll do everything I can to help you work. You’ll bond with me so I won’t lose control, and I won’t live off you for free. I may not be the kind of shifter who hunts, but I

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Chapter 32 A Choice of His Own

can do everything else.”

Holly choked up when she heard that.

:

After a moment, she said, “O-Okay. When your leg heals, I’ll come get you.”

After that, she supported her father and left.

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Hudson didn’t understand. “Evan, why are you going with her? Ms. Crawford is right here. She could re-form a bond with you and keep you from losing control.”

Evan shook his head. “It’s not about that. It’s…”

He couldn’t finish.

His heart was full of conflict.

The way Annelise lived with Adrian, Rokky, and Hudson didn’t suit him at all.

Evan couldn’t wag his tail and beg for affection. He couldn’t be cute like Adrian.

Yet in his mind were images of Annelise treating his leg, letting him bite her hand to endure the pain.

And earlier still, the memory of her feeding him medicine mouth to mouth.

All those contradictions finally condensed into one truth: if he stayed, everyone would feel uncomfortable.

“You’re free,” Annelise said. “Follow your heart. Do whatever you want.”

She also said to Adrian and the others, “You’re free too. If one day you’re unhappy with me, you can leave.”

Hudson immediately wrapped his arms around Annelise. “No way. I like you the most, Ms. Crawford. Just don’t abandon me.”

Adrian crossed his arms. “Hmph. What nonsense. If I leave, how am I supposed to pay you back for all those wild greens? I’ve already eaten so many baskets. I can’t repay that.”

Rokky lowered his head. “If I were to leave, it would only mean I’m unworthy of staying by your side, Ms. Crawford.”

Annelise laughed. “Look at you. I was just joking, and you all took it seriously. I only said that so Evan wouldn’t feel any pressure.”

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Chapter 32 A Choice of His Own

After that, Evan stayed in the small room where he had lived when his leg was crippled.

When he had nothing to do, he would stare out the window.

Hudson came by more than once to try to persuade him.

Evan said, “Don’t try anymore. I’ve made up my mind.”

“But Evan, you don’t like Holly. I can tell just by the way you look.”

Evan sighed. “Little fox, bonds between a male and a female have always been about mutual benefit.”

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