Sorry, Fox. You’re Not My Only Mate.

Chapter 3

I slapped Bianca.

Then I slapped Gregory.

The office fell silent.

I was about to swing again when Felix caught my wrist.

He shoved me to the floor and pulled Bianca protectively against him.

"Ava, are you insane? That's your father and Bianca. When did you become this vicious?"

I let out a dry laugh.

"Felix, you're a bonded beastman who once begged me to take you home. You don't get to lecture me. Gregory, if family means nothing to you, don't blame me for treating you the same way. Let's see how well Quinn Group runs without me. And Bianca, don't worry. Anything you try to steal from me will slip through your fingers."

Bianca cried against Felix's chest.

"Felix, I really didn't do it. Why does Ava have to accuse me like this?"

Felix comforted her gently.

"Don't cry. This is Ava's fault. I'll make her apologize."

His expression hardened when he turned to me.

"Kneel and apologize."

I got up to leave.

Felix gave the security guards a look.

They kicked the backs of my knees.

I hit the floor hard. Pain shot through my knees, and whatever feelings I still had for Felix died in that instant.

Tears filled my eyes as I glared at Felix.

"You bastard."

"Ava, when you do something wrong, you should kneel and apologize to Bianca."

My father, silent until then, spoke sharply.

"Watch her. If she tries to stand up today, hit her."

Felix hesitated.

"Gregory, isn't that going too far? Publicly, she's still my beastmate."

My father looked up.

"Then make her kneel for 3 hours."

Felix opened his mouth as if he might object.

But Bianca happily linked her arm through his.

"Enough. I got promoted to vice president today. Come celebrate with me."

"All right."

The three of them left together in good spirits.

I remained on my knees under everyone's watchful gaze.

Whenever I tried to stand, the guards kicked my legs again.

After 3 full hours, I finally pulled myself up using a desk.

I limped out of the company with bruises covering my legs.

The physical pain was nothing compared with what I felt inside.

I walked home under the burning sun, driven forward by anger alone.

The house was brightly lit.

But after trying the code three times, I realized I had been locked out.

I immediately called Felix.

Bianca's sweet voice came through the phone first.

"Felix, keep going. Why did you stop?"

I swallowed my disgust.

"You changed the password?"

Felix sounded as if he suddenly remembered.

"Oh. Right. Bianca was messing with it earlier. I'll open the door."

2 minutes later, it finally opened.

Bianca stood there in sleepwear with countless red marks on her neck.

Felix's fox ears were visible.

Except during two heat cycles when instinct had made him cling to his beastmate, he had never shown them around me.

He always claimed he wasn't comfortable being touched.

Apparently, he simply hadn't wanted me touching him.

Bianca smiled smugly.

"Sorry, Ava. Felix spoils me too much."

I felt too sick and exhausted to argue.

I used the wall for support and headed toward my room.

Felix frowned and suddenly picked me up.

"Your legs are this bad and you didn't treat them?"

I tried to resist, but my overheated body instinctively leaned toward his cool skin.

Felix paused, visibly taken aback.

Bianca suddenly covered her mouth and started crying.

"Ava, did you come home without treating your injuries just so Felix would feel sorry for you and defend you against me?"

Felix immediately set me down and stroked Bianca's hair.

"Bianca, don't think like that. I'd never punish you. You're the only one I want."

My stomach turned.

I called building security.

"There are two unauthorized people inside my home. Please remove them immediately."