Evangeline turned her head, looking at Julian, whose expression was just as grim.

She said softly, "Don’t worry. Now that I’ve brought you back, I won’t forget what I promised. I’ll make sure Drake’s injuries are treated properly. You should go wait outside with the others for now."

Julian stared at her calm, placid expression, but his gaze unconsciously fell upon her gently parting lips.

Her diamond-shaped lips, as crimson as blood, spoke soothing words and looked impossibly soft.

He couldn’t understand it. How could lips like those have produced the soul-shaking sounds from last night? Those broken sobs, those tear-choked gasps... they seemed capable of drawing out every last bit of violent desire hidden in a male’s very bones.

"What are you looking at?" Thorne’s menacing voice cut in.

His dark green, vertical pupils narrowed, his gaze landing on Julian, brimming with hostility.

’Snakes and Goldeagles were natural enemies. Drake was one thing—he’d been unwilling to form a Contract with the same female from the start, so why would he care about some other male? But now? He would absolutely not allow another bird to join them!’

Julian’s back stiffened. He clenched his fists, forcefully suppressing the lustful memories from his mind. Without looking back, he walked out of the bamboo house, obeying Evangeline’s words. It would have been more convincing if his back wasn’t as taut as a bowstring.

Thorne withdrew his gaze from Julian, his tongue flicking dangerously over his fangs. "Insolent bird."

"If anything happens, call us immediately."

Before leaving, Caden Albright gave Drake a meaningful glance, then ran his long fingers gently through Evangeline’s hair.

With that, he turned and left the bamboo house.

The moment he was gone, Thorne seized Evangeline by the waist. He grabbed her chin with his other hand and crushed his lips against hers in a harsh kiss. His fangs grazed her soft lips, a hint of punishment in the act.

"You flirtatious little female!" he panted, pressing his forehead against hers, a dark tide swirling in his dark green, vertical pupils.

The corner of Evangeline’s mouth twitched. ’I’m completely innocent here,’ she thought.

"Hmph." Thorne shot one last look at Drake, who was sitting on the bamboo bed, then scoffed and turned to leave.

As the door to the bamboo house closed, the room instantly fell silent.

Drake slowly raised his head. He looked around, then subconsciously pressed his lips together.

"Do you remember who I am?" Evangeline’s voice drifted over softly.

Drake paused, his body still, and followed the sound of her voice with his eyes.

When his gaze met her narrow, fox-like eyes, he said with a hint of surprise, "My female!"

Evangeline raised an eyebrow, discreetly sizing up the man before her.

’Drake’s gaze was sincere and crystal clear, without a hint of falsehood. He didn’t seem like an idiot, and the probability that he was faking it was zero.’

’From what I know of Drake, the man is proud to the bone. He has always been calm and steady. He’s definitely not the type to feign weakness for revenge; he would disdain faking amnesia to achieve his goals.’

The corners of her lips curved up slightly. She beckoned to Drake. "Come here."

Drake hesitated for a moment, but still rose and walked toward her. He hesitantly placed his long-fingered hand in her palm.

Evangeline took his hand. Unlike the slight coolness of her other males, Drake’s palm was warm and dry, his fingertips calloused. She tilted her head slightly. "Did Julian tell you I was your female?"

Drake first nodded, then shook his head. He said in a low voice, "Julian only told me I have a female, but he didn’t tell me who she was."

"Then how did you recognize me?" Evangeline’s tone was gentle, and she put on a curious expression at just the right moment. At the same time, her slender fingertips discreetly closed around Drake’s wrist. After a moment, she had her answer.

’Drake really did suffer brain damage from inhaling too much smoke from the wildfire after being severely injured, which caused the amnesia.’

’Under these circumstances, he can only recover slowly on his own. He’ll remember everything sooner or later.’

’Of course, even if I could heal him instantly right now, I wouldn’t.’

’A male who should have hated my guts has inexplicably lost his memory, even forgetting the abuse the original owner of this body inflicted on him. For me, this is a godsent opportunity to win him over. How could I possibly miss it?’

Drake pointed to her waist. Her crimson gauze dress revealed a sliver of her pale waistline, upon which various Contract Marks coiled like some sort of mysterious totem.

And in the hidden space where her waist met her hip, a pair of gold and crimson Feather Wings was unfurled. Though its full form was not visible, one could still tell the lifelike wings belonged to The Goldeagle Clan. It looked as if it might break free of its bonds at any moment and soar through the nine heavens.

Evangeline glanced down and chuckled. "Mm, that is indeed your Contract Mark."

Her voice was full of charm, yet tinged with a deliberate gentleness that made Drake’s tense nerves unconsciously relax.

His gold-and-crimson eyes were fixed on her as he said in a low voice, "You’re beautiful. I like you very much."

Evangeline was slightly surprised. She really hadn’t expected the amnesiac Drake to be capable of such sweet talk.

She quickly composed herself, gently stroking Drake’s cheek, her smile deepening. "What a coincidence. I like you very much, too."

’This is the perfect time to slowly, bit by bit, devour all of his affection points.’

’Of course, it’s not like I’m lying. Who doesn’t like a handsome man?’

’Every one of these Beast Husbands the original owner claimed for herself is a rare, peerless beauty, yet each is completely different from the others.’

’Danton’s gentleness, Thorne’s rebelliousness, Caden Albright’s decadent beauty, Lachlan’s languid indifference, Nix’s gloominess, Loras’s fragility, and The Everwake’s wildness... there are almost no repeats. It’s like collecting stamps, each with its own unique charm.’

’And the Drake before me now is different as well.’

’Even with amnesia, the things etched into his very bones can’t be erased.’

’He’s as steady as a mountain, profound and reserved, exuding a reassuring sense of reliability from his very core. It’s reflected in the way he sits now, his back perfectly straight, conveying an unyielding, solitary pride.’

This inexplicably reminded Evangeline of the scene at the tribal trade meet.

As a wandering Beastman being sold, he had been covered in wounds. While the other Beastmen wore numb expressions and begged pitifully, he alone remained utterly silent. Even covered in blood and in such a wretched state, his spirit was like unbending iron.

After recuperating in the Goldeagle Tribe for several days, he was no longer as gaunt as when she first saw him.

Drake was extremely tall, about the same height as Julian, giving him an air of standing out from the crowd.

He was wrapped in beast skin, but along the edges of his powerful physique, some gruesome scars were visible—likely from his time as a wandering Beastman. And yet, this scarred body was topped with an exceptionally handsome face.

His bone structure was outstanding. A few unhealed cuts remained on his fair face. His brows were like distant mountains, his nose straight and well-defined. His Adam’s apple bobbed slowly with each breath, possessing an ineffable sensuality.

Of all his features, his pair of intermingling gold and crimson eyes were the most striking. Although they lacked the cold glint they’d held at the tribal trade meet, their color still gave him a sharp, imposing aura. It was a keenness that dared others not to look directly at him, as if it could pierce the most hidden corners of a person’s heart.

"Like?" Drake froze for a second, his gaze fixed on her face.

Evangeline’s lips curved into a soft smile, her bright red lips parting slightly. "Yes, like. Since you’re my male, how could I not?"

Drake looked down at their joined hands, his fingertips suddenly tightening. In a low voice, he asked, "But Julian said... you personally broke my Feather Wings and shattered my Star Pattern, making it impossible for me to ever return to my tribe. Is that... true?"