Meanwhile, in the territory of the Goldeagle Clan.

The moment Evangeline landed, she smelled the stench of blood in the air.

Her brow furrowed. If she hadn’t already passed the morning sickness stage of her pregnancy, the smell alone would have been enough to make her retch.

The color drained from Julian’s face, leaving it ashen. He stared at his familiar tribe, his Adam’s apple bobbing violently. The next instant, he had transformed into a colossal Goldeagle, his gilded feathers shimmering brilliantly, like a dazzling sun.

The Goldeagle suddenly turned his head to look at Evangeline, his sharp, golden eyes roiling with unconcealable anxiety.

He lowered his beastly form slightly, spreading one of his Feather Wings into a ramp. Every sharp feather was held down flat, an invitation for Evangeline to sit on his back.

Evangeline gazed at his tense body, which seemed to seethe with molten magma. Yet he remained perfectly still, bowed and waiting for her to mount him. With a light touch of her toes, she landed on Julian’s back and stepped gently.

Perhaps unused to the sensation, Julian’s muscles tensed for a moment before quickly relaxing.

"Hold on," a low voice rumbled from Julian’s golden beak.

As soon as he spoke, with a shriek that could pierce clouds and shatter stone, he beat his massive Feather Wings, kicking up a storm of dust and sand.

The Goldeagle shot forward, fast as lightning, tearing through the sky.

The fierce winds howled, making Julian’s golden feathers rustle. Each feather rippled, creating waves of gold.

The members of the Goldeagle Tribe sensed the disturbance and took to the air, soaring out from their nests. But when they recognized the familiar golden Feather Wings, a chorus of cries echoed through the clouds, each shriek louder and more piercing than the last, ringing out endlessly.

Julian’s pupils constricted slightly. He let out a long cry in response.

Evangeline stood on Julian’s back, the gale whipping her long hair and fluttering the sleeves of her robe, making it seem as if she might ride the wind and fly away at any moment.

Suddenly, a familiar figure entered her field of vision.

It was Caden Albright.

He stood at the entrance of a nest cave, his silver-white hair whipping in the wind. His tall, slender body was like a drawn sword.

His amber eyes glinted with a cold light, sharp and menacing. It looked as if he was about to give the order to slaughter the intruder at any second. It had been a long time since she had seen such a grim, murderous expression on his face.

In her memory, Caden Albright had only ever looked like this when they first met at the foot of Thorncliff.

After they’d had cubs and he began spending every day by her side, he had completely hidden away his sharpest edges, limiting himself to verbal spars with Thorne and the others. It had almost made her forget that the Caden Albright before her now was once a ferocious leader whose name struck fear into the hearts of every Fallen Beastman tribe.

Standing on Julian’s back, Evangeline’s red lips curved into a slight smile as she waved to Caden Albright from afar.

Caden Albright’s gaze froze.

When he clearly saw the slender figure standing on the Goldeagle’s back, it was as if he’d been struck by lightning. Every muscle in his body instantly tensed.

He took a sharp step forward. The loose stones beneath his feet shattered, tumbling down with a sickening CRUNCH as they struck the cliff face.

Evangeline’s heart leaped. Without a second thought, she leaped from the Goldeagle, streaking toward Caden Albright like a crimson flash of light.

Julian only felt his back lighten.

’Even though I’ve always known that, in Evangeline’s heart, her Beast Husbands will always be the most important, every time I see it, the loneliness, envy, and longing still rush in like a tide, burning my heart with a painful heat.’

Julian silently folded his Feather Wings, his golden feathers seeming to dim a little.

The moment Evangeline’s toes touched the ground, a brutish force pulled her into an embrace.

Caden Albright’s long fingers dug into her waist, as if trying to merge her into his very bones and blood. His other hand pressed against the back of her head as he bent down, his scorching lips landing on hers with almost violent force, every movement of the kiss filled with suppressed longing.

After a long moment, he finally loosened his grip slightly, resting his forehead against hers as he gasped for breath.

"Eva," Caden Albright called out, his chest heaving. His voice, usually tender and lingering, was now breathless and urgent.

Evangeline raised a hand to stroke the tense lines of his back and said softly, "I’m here."

Held in Caden Albright’s embrace, she felt a profound sense of peace in both body and soul. Among her Beast Husbands, only Caden could make her feel this way—as if no matter what happened, she would never need to worry about him, and he could always provide her with a haven of stability.

Her warm breath brushed against the tip of his nose as she spoke, and Caden Albright’s body, drawn taut as a bow, finally began to relax.

’It’s not an illusion. It’s real. She’s really back.’

"Eva," Caden Albright called out again, his voice exceptionally gentle this time.

A warmth spread through Evangeline’s heart. She hugged Caden Albright tighter, her voice rising slightly. "I’m here, I’m here."

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps came from behind them. "Caden Albright, Drake’s condition is not good."

Evangeline paused and looked over Caden Albright’s shoulder.

She froze for a second when she saw Loras. He had changed since she’d left. The young man who had always been so meek and subservient seemed much more confident now. Amidst the timidity in his features, there was now a trace of resolve.

Loras obviously hadn’t expected to see Evangeline here either. He stopped abruptly, his lips trembling. "You... how are you..."

His voice caught in his throat. He unconsciously clenched the corner of his tunic, only to quickly let go.

"What’s wrong with Drake?" Evangeline hadn’t forgotten what she’d just heard. She pulled Caden Albright along as she turned and walked toward the cave.

Loras snapped back to his senses. His gaze lingered for a moment on Evangeline and Caden Albright’s clasped hands before he quickened his pace to follow them, his voice regaining its composure. "The Goldeagle Tribe has suffered heavy losses. Drake, he..."

Loras recounted the events of the past few days in a clear and orderly manner. As he spoke, he carried himself with a new, steady air. However, when he mentioned Drake’s injuries, his voice still softened unconsciously, betraying a hint of hidden worry.

The Vulture Clan was savage, bloodthirsty, and belligerent. They were notorious among the Avian Clan Beastmen for their love of carrion.

They lived as neighbors to the Goldeagle Tribe. In the past, they had been wary of Julian’s power as the leader, so the two clans only engaged in minor skirmishes. This time, however, they had brazenly attacked with their entire clan. This was an attempt to covet and seize their territory, so their methods were naturally ruthless.

The Goldeagle Tribe had lost both Drake and Julian one after another. With the remaining clan members not being particularly powerful, they were heavily damaged in the face of the Vulture Clan’s assault, though not completely helpless. They had no choice but to dispatch a clansman to Blackwater Swamp for help.

When Drake heard that his tribe was suffering, he couldn’t just sit by. He made the decisive choice to return to the tribe and fight alongside his people, to live or die with them.

Caden Albright knew full well how important these males were to Evangeline. Although he didn’t understand the mysterious connection, he knew that Drake had not yet recovered his Star Pattern’s power. If he returned to his clan, he would surely die.

With Evangeline absent, Caden Albright could only make the decision himself. He and Loras would assist Drake in driving out the Vulture Clan.

At the time, Thorne had disagreed. After all, their departure would mean splitting up Blackwater Swamp’s strongest fighting force: two experts of the Nine-star Extreme Realm.

But Caden Albright had only said one thing in reply:

"If Eva were here, she would never abandon the Goldeagle Clan."