After an accident, Imara, a 28-year-old plus-size black woman, ends up in a strange rainforest world from a bittersweet novel she read. This wild jungle is full of mysterious and dangerous beastmen, just like the stories she used to read.
To stay al...
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"Bart?"
The moment the name left my lips, a sharp, stunned silence fell over the clearing.
Rosa's head snapped toward me, her eyes narrowing with something unreadable—something dangerous. Her fingers twitched, gripping Bart's arm with a sudden possessiveness, her breathing uneven.
She didn't like that I may have knew him.
He looked at me, just as confused as I was. Everyone else seemed just as caught off guard, their gazes flicking between us, searching for an explanation.
Then, Winston stepped forward, his expression unreadable, but his silver eyes sharp, assessing.
"You know him?"
His tone was serious, cutting straight through the tension that had settled over the clearing.
I stiffened, suddenly very aware of the weight of everyone's stares. My mouth opened, but for some reason, my voice hesitated. Why was I nervous? I forced myself to shake it off.
"N-no," I said, a little too quick. Damn it, Imara, get it together.
I cleared my throat and tried again, forcing my tone into something more casual. "I just—I've heard of him before. He looks like Shuu to a degree, that's all."
Rosa, who had been watching Bart carefully, narrowed her eyes at me now, her expression shifting into something unreadable. "Do you know her, Bart?!" Her voice was sharp, laced with unhidden accusation and something even deeper beneath it—jealousy.
Bart didn't answer right away. His jaw tightened slightly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his gaze before he finally shook his head.
No.
Rosa exhaled, her shoulders easing as if she had been holding her breath, her relief tangible. But the moment was short-lived. Her eyes snapped back to me, dark and wild.
"He's mine!" she hissed, possessive, as if declaring it would solidify it.
I blinked at her. Then I scoffed. "Bitch, I don't want him." A laugh slipped from my lips, dry and unbothered, as I tilted my head, giving her a slow, deliberate once-over.
"Girl." I let my voice drip with amusement, my weight shifting as I rolled my neck. "I got what I wanted." And just for good measure, I let my gaze flick over to Winston, my expression smug.
Rosa's face twisted, her nostrils flaring, and I damn near felt the way her fury spiked.
Good.
Then, Shuu stepped forward, arms crossed, his usual easy demeanor laced with something a little more guarded. "That's my brother," he confirmed, his sharp gaze flicking between me and Bart. "So, you're right."
I exhaled, nodding quickly. "See? And yet, for some reason, I still felt the weight of Winston's stare.
