Chapter 2

The next day, I picked out a gift for Chloe in return for the crystal flute.

Chloe was a black snake with striking green eyes, so I chose a snake necklace with emerald eyes for her.

I could not help but smile wryly to myself. After all, the Douglas family was rich and powerful. What more could I ask for?

I had just paid my bill and was about to leave when a loud, shocked voice caught my attention.

"James, you're such a liar! You say you don't want to be Rowena's beast slave, but you're secretly spending a fortune on her birthday present. I could never be that sneaky," the voice said.

Hank hugged Rowena close and flashed a winner's grin.

That was when it hit me: today was Rowena's birthday.

They actually thought I bought the gift to win Rowena over.

Rowena glanced at the necklace I was holding with a look of disgust.

"You're not as tough as I thought. You'd do anything to avoid being given to a nomad beastwoman, even groveling to me. This necklace is so ugly! I don't like it. Go get me a silver wolf necklace instead!"

I frowned and cut her off, "This is for my fiancée, not you."

Rowena let out a laugh as if she had just heard the funniest joke. "Quit being so stubborn. You're twenty-five. Who would marry an old beastman like you? I wouldn't even let you be a beast slave if you kept your act."

Hank glanced over at the shop that branded beast slaves.

"Rowena, they can give James a beast slave mark over there. I can't stand to see him scared. Let's just do it today."

Rowena snuggled into Hank's arms. "Hank, you're such a sweetheart."

She looked at me as if she were doing me a huge favor. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go!"

As if I should have been grateful for the 'honor'.

A large basin of charcoal fire sat in the middle of the shop, surrounded by branding irons stamped with shameful words.

A beastman was being branded. His screams filled the air, even though he was one of the strongest around.

Rowena shivered but nodded to Hank, who signaled the guards to drag me into the shop.

In that instant, I felt like Rowena, who used to love and protect me when I was little, who never let anyone pick on me, was just a mirage.

Hank's grip was like a vice, nothing like his usual weak self.

His face was mean. "I'll choose a nice beast slave mark for you."

He looked around the room and stopped at a branding iron stamped with 'slave'.

Holding the iron, Hank let out a small laugh and moved closer to me. "This one seems just right for you."

I tried hard to get away from the bodyguard, but before I could reach Hank, he pretended I had pushed him and stumbled backward.

The iron dropped, sparking a tiny flame on his hand, but it left no mark.

Hank clutched his hand, his eyes watering a little.

"James, I was only trying to save you from the fate of those wandering beastwomen! How could you try to burn me?"

Before I could say anything, Rowena burst in.

She knocked me into the charcoal, and my hand landed on a hot coal. The pain was like an overwhelming wave crashing over me, knocking all the air out of my lungs.

I had just pulled my hand out of the coals when a sharp slap hit my face.

Slap!

Rowena glared at me, her face full of hate.

"James, you're so mean. And to think he still said nice things about you to me. How could you treat your own brother like that? Tell Hank you're sorry!"