The World of Beasts: She's Got Their Hearts

The fries came sizzling out of the fryer, filling the kitchen with a mouthwatering aroma. Scott and Finlay both hovered cautiously at the doorway and instinctively leaned forward.

After plating the fries, Analise moved on to make some pasta for three.

Scott's gaze was unreadable, while Finlay looked completely starstruck. His eyes were shining with awe and a hint of anticipation.noveldrama

Analise's cooking already smelled amazing. It had to taste just as good.

Still, Finlay knew they couldn't always let her be the one to cook. He made a silent vow to step up more in the future.

Today had been one big misunderstanding.

However, Finlay glanced toward the dining table where a few charred, unrecognizable dishes still sat. After tonight, Analise probably wouldn't let Scott cook again. Which meant he might have more chances to impress her himself.

"Don't just stand there. Come on. Grab a plate and eat," Analise called out as she plated the pasta.

"It smells amazing, Ana! You're seriously talented!" Finlay trotted over, taking a long whiff of the pasta and fries.

Scott pursed his lips, quietly picked up the fries, and carried them to the table. On the way, he dumped his own burnt mess straight into the trash, quickly replacing the trash bag without a word.

"Come on. Dig in. I'm really just barely passable in the kitchen," Analise said as she sat down with her plate, before taking small, careful bites of her pasta.

She wasn't being modest. To humans, her cooking was nothing special.

But to Scott and Finlay, who'd lived off nutrient packs for who knew how long, this was gourmet-level stuff.

Scott silently slurped his pasta, more determined than ever.

In Interstellar Alliance, most females were pampered and protected. Most of them weren't expected to learn how to cook. It was practically unheard of.

After the meal, both Scott and Finlay volunteered to clean up and wash the dishes.

Analise thanked them and headed upstairs to wash up and go to bed.

In the days that followed, she asked Scott for a temporary access pass to the Stormclaw Alliance's library. With it, she could now explore every floor freely.

Each book in the library was locked and required a personal clearance card to access. Analise didn't have her card yet. Since the place functioned as both a library and an archive, that meant strict clearance checks before anyone could apply for a permanent pass.

Still, she'd spent the past few days digging into the history of the beast clans and learning more about

Interstellar Alliance. She now understood the origins of the

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alliances, their political web, and the balance of power between them.

Through the records Analise had accessed, Scott was able to confirm that she wasn't from Interstellar Alliance at all. He had spent days mulling this over in private.

Interstellar Alliance was made up of more than ten major alliances. Some of them were closely allied with Stormclaw Alliance, while others were rivals.

Analise's unique identity was already causing a stir in Cosmoseek.

These alliances probably knew that Analise was the first pure-blooded human woman to yield mind essence. Her calming ability also far surpassed any of the local females.

Hence, Analise's origin as an outsider had to be kept a secret.

This was a problem for Scott. He now had to decide who could be trusted and

pick his allies. This wasn't something that could be rushed.

Yet, one thought bothered him. Should he be the one to break the silence and tell Analise that he'd already figured out that she wasn't really from Interstellar Alliance?

Because he had a feeling the reason she kept him at arm's length-unlike how naturally she interacted with Finlay was her fear of being exposed.

Would Analise believe him if he came clean and promised to protect her no matter what? Would she start to trust him?

Late one night, just as Analise was drifting off in bed, she heard a knock at the door.

Analise sat up groggily and rubbed her eyes before opening the door. "Who is it? What's going on?"