Jade went quiet after that.
Of course, she knew what this meant.
Gale had sidelined her—someone who had been sticking with him through his whole journey until he could build a kingdom for the beastmen—for a crippled mate who wasn't even his real fated mate.
Her gaze cooled off after Gale passed his judgment, and she said, "I see that you care for her. Do you not realize that you're only digging a deeper hole for yourself?"
"It's not your problem," Gale retorted.
"It is my problem, Gale. Your curse forces you to mark as many women as possible. That's why I don't want you to get too attached to Swan or any of your mates in the future. You are not supposed to love them! They are just tools to vent your rut so it won't kill you!"
Gale knew Jade was right, and it would be wiser to keep her around in case of any problem that he couldn't finish with intimidation or brute force alone.
