Chapter 24: He’s Dreaming If He Wants to Partner With Me?

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: He’s Dreaming If He Wants to Partner With Me?

"Don’t even think about leaving the Snow Wolf Clan today without my permission. Go and subdue the tiger immediately, or don’t blame me for being ruthless," Loki said, murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

"My sister is leaving. Let’s see who dares to stop her!" a dominant, resonant male voice echoed as it drew nearer.

An icy, overwhelming aura swept over the crowd. The weaker young males present were forced directly to their knees.

Ophelia was thoroughly surprised. "Laxus, what are you doing here?"

"I was passing by and thought I’d come see you. Are you alright?" Laxus stepped forward and rubbed his sister’s head, his eyes full of concern.

"I’m fine."

"Young Clan Leader, why didn’t you let us know you were coming? Our tribe is in such a mess, it must be a joke to you." Soro, the Clan Leader of the Snow Wolf Clan, had descended from the high platform the moment he saw the newcomer.

Laxus scoffed coldly. "If I hadn’t come, how would I have known that your Snow Wolf Clan dared to restrict the movements of the Princess of the Golden Dragon Clan?"

"What are you saying, Young Clan Leader? Loki just couldn’t bear to see Amy lose her mother, which is why he asked Ophelia to stay."

"Whether that’s true or not, Soro Clan Leader, you know best in your heart. I came today to take Ophelia away. Let’s see who dares to stop me."

Laxus’s merciless words made Soro’s expression turn ugly.

Meanwhile, Miche awkwardly dodged the tiger’s attacks. However, the scene was far too chaotic, and someone had pushed her to the ground.

"Father, Mother!" Amy, too terrified to stand, collapsed to the ground in tears.

Seeing the tiger’s bloody maw about to snap shut on her, Miche didn’t hesitate to grab Amy and shove her toward the beast.

A Golden Dragon Clan male who had been monitoring the situation cried out, "Young Clan Leader, this is bad! The young female cub Amy is in danger!"

Ophelia and the others immediately looked over.

A gust of wind flashed past her, fluttering the bangs on Ophelia’s forehead.

"ROAR!"

The two-meter-long tiger was sent flying by a kick from the blonde-haired male, crashing heavily into a nearby tree trunk.

The trunk, as thick as a barrel, snapped in half. The tiger cried out in pain, YOWLING continuously. Its spine had been completely severed by the kick. It vomited fresh blood and died on the spot.

"Amy, are you okay?"

Laxus walked back, carrying a pale-faced Amy in his arms, while Loki anxiously rushed up to meet them.

Behind them, Ophelia remained still, but she immediately scanned Amy’s entire body. Only after confirming that the child wasn’t injured did her tense, stiff shoulders finally relax.

Seeing her concern, Tyler said softly, "Go check on her."

Ophelia bit her lip. She truly couldn’t treat this ungrateful daughter the way she used to. Yet, after all, Amy was her own flesh and blood. It was impossible for her to completely let go of the child so suddenly. But doing so made her feel like she was being unfair to her past-life self. She hesitated.

"WAAAH!" Recovering from her sheer terror, Amy burst into loud wails.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and tears poured down her face like a waterfall.

"M-Mother." Pouting, she looked up at Ophelia with a pitiful, wronged expression.

Unaware of the silent, complex tension between his sister and Amy, Laxus raised his arms and handed the child over.

Ophelia clenched her fists. Ultimately, her heart softened, and she took the girl into her arms.

"Mother, I was so scared. I was so scared I’d never see you again."

Amy wrapped her arms tightly around Ophelia’s neck, tears sliding down her cheeks and onto Ophelia’s shoulder.

She felt a pang of sympathy. But then, the memory of her past life surfaced—the image of Amy urging Miche to eat her Dragon Heart. The welling affection in her eyes was instantly replaced by a chilling frost.

Hardening her heart, she forcefully shoved Amy into Loki’s arms. She said softly, "Laxus, let’s go."

She took Tyler’s hand and walked away.

Laxus didn’t understand what was going on, but he chose to respect his sister’s decision.

"Mother, do you really not want me anymore?" Amy cried out, her voice thick with sobs.

Ophelia’s footsteps didn’t falter in the slightest.

Back at the Golden Dragon Clan.

Knowing that her daughter was returning, Rebecca had sent her mate to the trading market early in the morning to exchange goods for fruit. Hearing footsteps outside, she rushed out to greet them, her eyes filled with pleasant surprise.

Immediately after, a red figure threw herself at her. "Mother, I’m back!"

"It’s good that you’re back. It’s so good that you’re back." Rebecca stroked her daughter’s soft hair, the anxiety that had hung over her heart for years finally settling. "Laxus has already cleaned up the stone house you used to live in. You can stay there and rest easy."

"Okay." Tears shimmered in Ophelia’s eyes as she nodded heavily.

That night in the Golden Dragon Clan was the most heartwarming time Ophelia had experienced since taking a mate. It was also the life she had longed for in her previous incarnation. Sleeping on the stone bed, breathing in the familiar scent of the animal skin quilts and sheets, she felt exceptionally at peace.

Outside the stone house, Tyler stood motionless for a long time. The moon quietly slipped out from behind the dark clouds, shining brighter than any other night.

The next morning.

Ophelia waited for a long time but didn’t see Tyler. Sitting under the corridor of the stone house, she kept looking around.

"Waiting for Tyler?" Rebecca asked, the corners of her eyes crinkling with a smile.

"N-No, I’m not. I ate too much, so I’m going for a walk to digest." Ophelia touched her nose, stood up, and quickly walked away.

Seeing her daughter regain the liveliness and shyness of a young girl, the smile never faded from Rebecca’s lips.

Following her memories, Ophelia found Tyler’s home. Tyler’s parents had died early, and he had been raised in her family since he was a child. After coming of age, he earned the right to residential land through a duel and built a simple stone house in the tribe.

A little green-haired female was holding onto Tyler, speaking excitedly. "Tyler, I’ve always liked you! Will you take me as your mate? I’ll let you be my primary partner."

Tyler pulled his hand back, his voice cold and clear. "I refuse. I already have a young female that I like."

"But Ophelia isn’t worthy of you at all! She degraded herself by taking a Wolf Beast as a mate. She’s no longer qualified to be the Princess of the Golden Dragon Clan, nor is she qualified to be your mate!"

Only in the High-level Tribes were the Clan Leader’s young female cubs called Princesses. Weak tribes like the Snow Wolf Clan had no such qualifications. Back then, Ophelia degrading herself to mate with a Wolf Beast had caused quite a storm within the Golden Dragon Clan.

"Shut up. I forbid you from slandering the Princess," Tyler reprimanded coldly.

"Am I wrong? Just watch. Even if she broke her mating contract, no male from the High-level Tribes will ever take her as a mate again."

"Shut up and leave!" Tyler’s face was as cold as frost.

The young female was unwilling to give up. She placed her hand on Tyler’s robust chest muscles and lowered her voice. "Tyler, I’ve always liked you. I’m willing to form a sole-mate contract with you. There won’t be any other males."

A young female’s willingness to form a sole-mate contract proved that she only wanted to bear offspring for that specific male. To any male, this was a fatal temptation.

Hearing this, Ophelia, who wasn’t far away, stopped in her tracks. Hiding subtly behind a tree, she wanted to see what Tyler would choose.

The veins on Tyler’s forehead bulged. He raised his hand and shoved the young female to the ground.

"Please leave." Even in his anger, he maintained the demeanor expected of a male.

The young female’s face, once full of affection, now twisted with malice. "Tyler, don’t be so shameless! Who else besides me would be willing to take an orphan male like you as a mate? You want to be Ophelia’s mate? In your dreams!"

"In his dreams? Does he need to dream to be my mate?"