Chapter 283: They Are All My Partners
When The Everwake saw the pointed tents standing on the coast from a distance, he paused. A hint of curiosity flickered in his eyes as he lowered his gaze to Evangeline, who was nestled in his arms. "What are those?" he asked softly.
Evangeline’s long lashes fluttered. She followed his gaze and, through the hazy, heavy snow, saw the pointed tents and the Beastmen moving about the camp. "Tents," she explained. "They’re like caves—a place to live temporarily. But they’re useless in a storm. They’re what keeps them from freezing to death during the Cold Season."
The Everwake marveled at this. When his seven-colored eyes looked at Evangeline, they held a peculiar light.
’He really wanted to know how many more surprises she had in store.’
As they were about to land in the camp, The Everwake suddenly grew nervous.
’He was about to see Genesis.’
His heart ached with deep guilt for the son he had failed for so long.
The boy had been alive for so long and still couldn’t even fly. Remembering his own clumsy attempts to master flight, The Everwake’s heart ached even more. He secretly resolved to be good to Genesis from now on and teach him everything he knew.
Lost in thought, The Everwake landed on the thick snow.
He was a tall man, but the snowdrifts came nearly to his waist. He instinctively held Evangeline higher, afraid the cold would seep through to her skin.
Before they had even gotten close, a clear voice rang out. "Eva!"
Danton had just herded two unruly cubs into a tent. When he came out, he saw a dark figure swooping down. As it landed, he realized the slender form held in its arms was exceptionally familiar, and surprise lit up his light blue eyes.
He strode over, his expression shifting slightly as he looked at the male holding Evangeline. He nodded at The Everwake.
Back when Danton had been brought to the Oasis Tribe, The Everwake was not yet one of Evangeline’s mates. He was just an insignificant and much-bullied Swarm Beastman. The two of them had hardly known each other, and then he had simply disappeared.
The Everwake looked at Danton and returned the slight nod, his expression far from warm.
He wasn’t the type to have a sunny disposition, so greeting people with a smile was out of the question. ’A nod is already a huge gesture of goodwill. After all, we’ll be living together from now on, and I don’t want to make things difficult for Evangeline.’
Danton, however, didn’t seem to mind his attitude. He turned to Evangeline and asked softly, "Are you tired?"
Evangeline shook her head and looked around. "Are Thorne and Loras back?"
Hearing this, Danton’s brow furrowed. He nodded, his expression subtle. "Let’s go inside first. They’ve been very worried."
Evangeline raised an eyebrow. ’Seeing his expression... did something happen?’
The Everwake, still carrying Evangeline, followed Danton into the tent.
As soon as they pushed aside the flap, a wave of warmth washed over them. The Everwake paused, slightly taken aback, before setting Evangeline down. He looked at the several cubs playing on the bed. Genesis was among them, but the little guy wasn’t smiling. He looked completely listless.
"Eva!" Thorne let out a sigh of relief the moment he saw Evangeline. He strode forward and pulled her into his arms.
After a moment, he pulled back to look her up and down. Seeing that she was all right, the ferocious glint in his dark green eyes finally faded.
However, when his gaze fell on the red marks on her skin, his eyes narrowed. He shot a look at The Everwake, who was standing to the side, and snorted. "Why did you suddenly follow her back?" he said sarcastically. "Weren’t you planning to stay behind and get yourself killed?"
’In the end, didn’t he still need Eva’s help to solve his clan’s crisis?’
The Everwake didn’t even look at him. His gaze was fixed on Genesis.
The little one heard the commotion and turned his head. When his eyes met the pair of seven-colored ones, they widened slightly, as if in disbelief. But soon, his attention was drawn to Evangeline beside him. His little mouth drooped, and his eyes immediately reddened.
Crying, he reached for Evangeline, choking out hoarsely, "Mama! Mama! Genesis doesn’t want Papa anymore! Don’t leave Genesis! Genesis only wants Mama!"
Hearing his words, The Everwake’s heart suddenly clenched with sorrow.
Evangeline stepped forward and gently gathered Genesis into her arms, stroking his little head. "Mama’s fine. See? I came back safely. And Papa... Mama brought your Papa back, too. He’ll always be with you from now on."
Her lips curved into a gentle smile. "Genesis, aren’t you happy?"
Genesis pouted, refusing to look at The Everwake. He just burrowed into Evangeline’s arms and mumbled sullenly, "No."
’He’d heard everything from Papa Thorne. Mama had told his other Papa to leave, but he refused and insisted on staying. In the end, Mama had to go back and save him. That was so stupid! He didn’t want a Papa that stupid, and he didn’t want Mama to leave him.’
Evangeline raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced at Thorne.
He was leaning against the front of the bed, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips and a look of pure schadenfreude on his face.
A moment later, his eyes met Evangeline’s. His dark green, slitted pupils blinked once, and his expression returned to normal. "What is it?"
Seeing his innocent act, Evangeline rolled her eyes. She cupped Genesis’s beautiful little face in her hands and said softly, "Listen to Mama, Genesis. Your Papa loves you very much; he just didn’t know you existed. Now, for your sake, he has to leave his clan and be all alone. Isn’t that pitiful? In this entire camp, you’re the only family he has."
At these words, Genesis’s little face scrunched up. He glanced hesitantly at The Everwake.
When he saw the hopeful yet nervous expression on The Everwake’s face, his eyes grew even redder. He fought back his tears, still clinging to Evangeline’s arm as he turned his face away. "But he put Mama in danger. Genesis doesn’t like that."
’He had always known that a male’s born duty was to protect females.’
’His Papa looked just like he had imagined, and he loved him very much. But he didn’t love Mama. He wasn’t good to Mama at all.’
’If that was the case, then he didn’t want a Papa.’
Evangeline felt a headache coming on. Thorne was a master of sarcasm; she hadn’t expected him to brainwash Genesis with just a few words. Still, seeing the little one reject The Everwake out of concern for her made a warm feeling spread through her heart.
She tilted her head to look at him, her eyes shimmering as she smiled. "Genesis, your Papa didn’t force me. Mama went because I wanted to. We’ve formed a Contract, and that means partners are one. If something happened to your Papa, neither Genesis nor Mama would be happy, right?"
"Besides, isn’t Mama the most powerful female Genesis has ever seen?"
"With Mama, it’s the female who protects the males. You can ask Papa Thorne, Papa Danton, and Papa Loras if Mama has ever faced danger and saved them before."
"To Mama, they are all my mates. They are all the same."
Evangeline’s voice was gentle as the soft pads of her fingers wiped the tears from the corners of Genesis’s eyes.
The Everwake stared at Evangeline, stunned. Then, an endless joy spread through his eyes, making them shimmer with a dazzling light.
