Chapter 6

Cora lay flat against the broad back of the giant white fox. Her fingers were buried deep in the thick, coarse fur around his neck, gripping tight as his massive muscles bunched and released beneath her.

The freezing wind screamed past her ears, but Dax's body radiated a blistering heat that formed a physical shield around her. The cold couldn't touch her. Her husband's body was her armor. This was his purpose.

She peeked out from the heavy fur coat, staring at the endless, blinding white of the wasteland.

In her mind, she commanded Kay Lake to pull up the data on the world's power structure.

Mutants absorb beast cores to level up, the system explained. Tiers 1 to 3 are the bottom feeders. Tiers 4 to 6 are elite warriors. Tier 7 and above are apex warlords. Females naturally ascend faster due to biological superiority in energy absorption. Males require female anchors to stabilize their advancement.

Cora swallowed hard. The beast she was riding was Tier-9. He was a walking weapon of mass destruction. And he belonged to her. The realization sent a thrill of absolute safety through her chest.

Suddenly, the white fox slammed on the brakes. His massive paws dug into the ice. His ears pinned back flat against his skull, and a low, vibrating snarl ripped from his throat. A threat to his female. He would annihilate it.

Cora followed his gaze. Thirty yards ahead, the snow exploded upward.

Thick, black vines, as wide as tree trunks, erupted from the frozen ground. They whipped through the air, covered in razor-sharp thorns.

Warning, the system blared. Tier-4 mutant flora detected. Strangler Vine. Highly aggressive.

The Strangler Vine sensed their body heat. It whipped forward like a nest of striking snakes, aiming straight for the fox and the woman on his back.

Cora gasped, her heart jumping into her throat. She squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face in Dax's fur. Her husband would protect her. He had to.

Dax didn't even bother to dodge. A flash of pure, arrogant disdain crossed his ice-blue eyes. This pathetic plant dared to threaten his pregnant female?

He opened his massive jaws. A torrent of blinding, blue fire erupted from his throat. The flames hit the black vines like a physical wall.

BOOM.

The impact shook the ground. The moment the blue fire touched the vines, they incinerated. The air filled with the sickening stench of burning sap and ash.

The Tier-4 predator didn't even have time to scream. It was reduced to a pile of smoking black dust in less than two seconds.

Cora opened her eyes. She stared at the scorched, empty crater in the snow. Her jaw dropped. It was a total, effortless slaughter. Her male was a monster. Her monster.

The white fox turned his head slightly, catching her eye. He let out a soft huff, his tail flicking proudly, seeking his female's approval. Then he resumed his steady pace.

Cora couldn't help it. She patted his thick neck vigorously. "Dax, that was incredible! You are a worthy first husband. "

The tips of the fox's ears turned a distinct shade of pink. His female had praised him. His pace quickened, his paws barely leaving prints in the snow as he bounded forward. He would earn more of her praise.

Hours later, the snowstorm finally broke. On the horizon, a sprawling cluster of crude stone huts and heavy wooden palisades appeared.

Cora's chest tightened. She pointed a finger toward the walls. "Look! That's it. The Hickman Settlement!"

The fox slowed to a halt. His eyes darkened. He could smell the stench of hundreds of weak, pathetic males inside those walls. Males who might try to take his place. Males who might be the bastard who abandoned his female.

He shifted. The giant beast vanished, and Dax caught Cora in his arms before she could hit the ground. He set her on her feet, pulling the fur coat tight around her neck.

His face was a mask of lethal seriousness. "When we go in, you stay right beside me. Do not leave my sight. Any male who approaches without my permission dies. "

Cora looked at his tense jaw. She knew exactly what he was doing. He was preparing to go to war with her imaginary ex-boyfriend. She bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

She nodded obediently and reached out, sliding her small hand into his massive, calloused palm. "Don't worry. I'm not scared with you here. You are my first husband. They will respect that. "

Dax's fingers clamped down on hers, locking their hands together. He pulled her flush against his side and marched toward the settlement gates. His female was entering her domain. He would be the sword at her side.

Two rabbit-mutant guards stood shivering by the heavy wooden doors. When they saw the towering, terrifying man approaching, they panicked and raised their bone-tipped spears.

Then, one of the guards locked eyes with Cora. His jaw dropped open. He rubbed his eyes frantically. "Cora?! You... you're not dead?!"

Cora lifted her chin. A sharp, confident smile crossed her face. She was a female returning to claim her place. "I'm not dead. And I brought a plus-one. My first husband. Open the gate."