- 8 hours ago
Ditched by Wolves, Claimed by the EP
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00The three wolves I saved wanted me in bed every single day.
00:03But the truth is, they didn't like me.
00:05They just wanted to use me to get close to my sister.
00:08So I called her and asked to switch mates.
00:11Three horny wolves in exchange for one cold serpent.
00:14Today, after being fully claimed, I fell into sound sleep.
00:18God, look at her. That body, that stamina.
00:21And she thought she could handle three of us.
00:23Doesn't matter. The second she taps out, she'll hand us off to her sister.
00:26She can't even get out of bed right now.
00:27A few more days of this and she'll give up on us for good.
00:30The conversation from the living room kept going.
00:32They thought I was still asleep.
00:34I kept my eyes low, watching the marks on my wrists and legs
00:37and the amber glow of the bedside lamp.
00:39Every single one of them. Unmistakable.
00:41She's not going to hand all three of us over to her sister.
00:44Right. Which means at least one of us stays.
00:46Ugh.
00:47Elena's dull and boring.
00:48You want to stay? Go ahead. I don't.
00:51Same.
00:51Whatever.
00:52Fate decides. Is she up yet?
00:55No way. She was crying so hard she nearly passed out.
00:57She's not waking up anytime soon.
00:59So weak.
01:00Let's get her up in a bit.
01:01A few more days of this and she'll give up on us.
01:03My vision went dark.
01:04I reached for my phone, face pale, and called Chloe.
01:07She picked up fast.
01:09What's wrong, sis?
01:11Weren't you just saying you were unsatisfied?
01:14Take all three of mine.
01:16Give me that celibate snake shifter of yours.
01:20Is that okay?
01:21Are they willing?
01:22They like you.
01:24She understood because it was the truth.
01:26Everyone liked Chloe more.
01:29All right.
01:29Your place is small anyway.
01:31Not really ideal for them.
01:32But my snake shifter, sis?
01:35He's cold.
01:36If he weren't celibic, I wouldn't have asked for him in the first place.
01:39I'm completely wrecked.
01:43I just need someone to handle the housework.
01:48I just hope he doesn't turn out like these three wolves.
01:52Don't worry.
01:53I haven't managed to tame him yet.
01:55He's not going to be interested in you.
01:57I'll come pick them up this afternoon.
01:59The line went dead.
02:00That exact second, the bedroom door swung open.
02:03You're up?
02:03He crossed the room and reached for my blanket.
02:06Wait!
02:07What is it, mistress?
02:08I'm exhausted.
02:09I need to rest.
02:10Can't do that, he said easily.
02:12Mistress, you took us in.
02:13That means you're responsible for us.
02:14We're nowhere near satisfied.
02:15If you rest, what are we supposed to do?
02:19Chloe's coming to take all of you this afternoon.
02:22He went still.
02:24The two leaning in the doorway froze too.
02:26Which two of us?
02:29All of you.
02:30I found the three wolf pups on a wet, gray afternoon.
02:34They were collapsed on the concrete.
02:36Fur matted, blood soaked from the rain.
02:39I almost walked away.
02:40But then, one of them flicked its tail.
02:42Just twice, slow and weak.
02:44Then curled it around my ankle.
02:46I couldn't leave them.
02:47I brought them home.
02:48Under my care, they recovered fast.
02:50A few months later, they hit their maturation phase.
02:53And all three of them shifted into men.
02:56I should have brought them to a shifter registry.
02:58But the registry told me they'd already bonded.
03:00Recognized me completely as their owner.
03:03Releasing them without care would cause serious psychological harm.
03:06I looked at those three pairs of beautiful eyes and caved.
03:10I let them stay.
03:10They said they had no names.
03:12So I gave them some.
03:13Oldest to youngest.
03:14Ethan, Eric, Evan.
03:16Young, hot-blooded wolf shifters with energy to burn.
03:20Even in human form, they couldn't stop their ears and tails from flickering.
03:24Clinging to me every hour of every day.
03:26Then one afternoon, Chloe called.
03:29Sis, aren't you going to come home for the arranged marriage?
03:32The man has had three wives die on him.
03:34And he's ugly.
03:34But his family has money.
03:36I looked away.
03:37That was exactly why my family had cut me off after I fought the arrangement.
03:41They couldn't bring themselves to send Chloe in my place.
03:44So instead, they applied steady, relentless pressure on me.
03:48Eric, who always read the room perfectly.
03:50Don't like the call?
03:51Hang up.
03:51What was that voice?
03:52I took the opening to change the subject.
03:54I rescued three injured wolf pups a while back.
03:57They just shifted recently and they won't leave me alone.
04:00I can barely keep up.
04:02A few seconds of silence.
04:03I'm honestly jealous.
04:05My snake shifter won't even let me touch him.
04:08He'll warm up eventually.
04:10Chloe just gave a soft, unconvinced hum.
04:12The next day, she showed up at my door with bags upon bags.
04:16She wore a pretty little white dress, beaming at me.
04:19Surprise, sis.
04:21I turned around.
04:22All three shifters' eyes went straight to her.
04:25I quietly turned back.
04:26I was used to it, honestly.
04:28Everyone gravitated toward Chloe.
04:30She was radiant and magnetic.
04:32Every gesture, every smile pulled at people without even trying.
04:35Standing next to her, I felt exactly like what I was.
04:38Plain and unremarkable.
04:40Chloe glanced around.
04:41Your apartment is so much smaller than the family estate.
04:44Is there even enough room for them?
04:46It's fine.
04:47Then I watched Ethan, usually disinterested in everything,
04:51let his gaze drift to Chloe.
04:53Eric's devastating smile turned itself on her instead.
04:55Even Evan, the moody one, propped his head up to stare at her,
04:59his wolf ears flickering nonstop.
05:02Chloe didn't seem to notice.
05:03She sipped her water with perfect innocence.
05:05In that moment, I knew.
05:07My things were about to drift quietly toward Chloe again.
05:11After that, the gentle, clingy warmth disappeared.
05:14They became crueler, like they wanted me destroyed,
05:17like they couldn't stop themselves.
05:18Until I heard their conversation, I'd been right all along.
05:22One look at Chloe, and they'd fallen.
05:24The afternoon came fast.
05:26A knock at the door.
05:27Chloe arrived.
05:28The silence that had settled over the apartment deepened into something heavier.
05:32You're really giving all three of us to her?
05:35Yes.
05:36Not keeping one for yourself?
05:37Which of you wants to stay with me?
05:39The air curdled.
05:40No one answered.
05:41Finally, Evan got up and went to open the door.
05:44He rolled his eyes, a flick of contempt on his face.
05:47Stop pretending to be decent.
05:49Both of you.
05:50Chloe's bright smile filled the frame.
05:52Hi, boys.
05:54My sister already explained things, right?
05:56You all belong to me now.
05:58Hey there, new mistress.
06:01Chloe looked him over with satisfaction,
06:02then let her gaze sweep across Eric and Ethan.
06:06You're all gorgeous.
06:07Did you pack?
06:09Actually, never mind.
06:10I'm sure my sister couldn't afford to buy you much anyway.
06:13We'll get everything new at the villa.
06:15Ethan gave a lazy murmur of agreement.
06:17Eric glanced at Chloe, then slid his eyes over to me.
06:20I kept my face blank.
06:22Every set of eyes in the room landed on me at once.
06:25Chloe noticed.
06:26She walked up to me.
06:26Don't worry, sis.
06:28I'll take better care of them.
06:29And when you're done playing house,
06:31just come home and do the arranged marriage.
06:35Stop stressing mom and dad.
06:37Arranged marriage?
06:38What arranged marriage?
06:40Chloe didn't explain.
06:41She studied my expression.
06:43Nothing there.
06:43Maybe one of them should stay with you.
06:45You seem upset.
06:47Evan didn't move from Chloe's side.
06:49Ethan leaned against the wall, bored.
06:51Eric's smile stayed thin and cool.
06:54No one spoke.
06:55Chloe wasn't surprised.
06:56She gave me a small, comforting smile.
06:59Between the two of us,
07:00I was never the one who got chosen.
07:02We'd both made peace with that a long time ago.
07:05And him?
07:06Add my words,
07:07Chloe's posture barely shifted.
07:08Then she turned towards the door.
07:10Come in!
07:11Heavy footsteps.
07:12A man stepped forward,
07:14tall,
07:15with an almost aggressive stillness to him.
07:18The next second,
07:19I was looking directly into a pair of dark,
07:22shadow-filled eyes.
07:25Hello.
07:26His gaze came from above,
07:27sticky, appraising.
07:29I broke out in goosebumps.
07:31He didn't acknowledge me.
07:32He's just like this, sis.
07:34If it's too much,
07:36tell me and I'll take him back.
07:37Who is he?
07:38Chloe clearly didn't want to explain.
07:40I didn't know where to begin, either.
07:43She smiled and pivoted.
07:45The car's waiting downstairs.
07:47Shall we?
07:47The wolves were quiet for a beat,
07:50then didn't push further.
07:51They followed Chloe out on long strides.
07:54The snake shifter stayed.
07:55I was about to close the door when...
07:57Eric looked back at me.
07:59Something unreadable in his face,
08:01and the man beside me
08:02suddenly contracted his pupils
08:04into a cold,
08:05a smooth tail wound around my waist.
08:08A strange, overwhelming scent
08:10burst through the air.
08:14You...
08:15You're in heat!
08:19But his tail cushioned the impact.
08:21It didn't hurt.
08:22His breath spilled across my neck.
08:24My skin broke into shivers.
08:26Then, sharp knocking at the door,
08:27Eric's voice from outside.
08:29Are you okay?
08:30My fingers stirred.
08:31The pale, cold, gold, vertical pupils
08:33staring down at me
08:34seemed to darken.
08:36The coil around my waist tightened.
08:37I didn't reach for the door.
08:39Are you in pain?
08:40Let me get you some heat suppresses, okay?
08:43The pressure around me paused.
08:44The mating scent
08:45that had been thickening
08:46stopped spreading.
08:47More knocking.
08:48Harder now.
08:48Chloe's voice uncertain.
08:49Sis?
08:50Are you both okay in there?
08:52I thought I'd calmed him down.
08:54I let out a breath.
08:54I was about to speak.
08:56A coldness at my neck.
08:57He bit me.
08:58Not soft, like claiming something.
09:00And yet beneath it,
09:01a trace of something
09:02almost indulgent.
09:03I muffled a sound.
09:05My voice came out
09:05slightly adrift.
09:06We're fine.
09:07You can go.
09:09Ethan's drawl.
09:10You sure?
09:12She said she's fine.
09:13Evan cut in, impatient.
09:14Then, a beat later.
09:15Elena, that snake
09:17didn't hit you, did he?
09:18No.
09:19I bit my lower lip.
09:20Behind my neck,
09:21a cool tongue
09:22traced over the mark.
09:23Good thing the door
09:23had closed in time.
09:25The scent hadn't drifted out.
09:27The footsteps faded.
09:28I pushed the snake shifter off
09:29and didn't let myself
09:30look at his tail.
09:31I rummaged quickly
09:32for the heat suppressants.
09:33The same ones I'd used
09:35on Ethan, Eric, and Evan
09:36during their heat cycles.
09:38When it became too much,
09:39even for me,
09:40plenty left.
09:40I tossed them to him,
09:41then went to wash my face.
09:43When I came back
09:44to the living room,
09:45his tail was gone.
09:46The man was draped
09:47across the couch,
09:48long legs crossed,
09:49expression back to its
09:50cold, shuttered default.
09:52He glanced up at me.
09:53I thought you were...
09:55I started confused.
09:56Celibate?
09:56His voice was low and rough.
09:58It's a theological response.
09:59It's been too long
10:00since my last suppressor.
10:01Oh.
10:02Knowing Chloe's personality,
10:03if she'd actually wanted
10:04to sleep with him,
10:05she wouldn't have kept him
10:05on suppressants.
10:06And judging by what
10:07had just happened,
10:08it wasn't like he could
10:08hold back indefinitely.
10:09So how had he been
10:10managing before?
10:11But if he didn't want to say,
10:12I wasn't going to pry.
10:13I poured a glass of warm water
10:15and handed it to him.
10:16Rest today.
10:16You can help with
10:17the housework tomorrow,
10:18and if you need more
10:19recovery time, take it.
10:20He cut me off.
10:21You treated them the same way?
10:22I blinked.
10:23Them.
10:24He meant Ethan and the others.
10:26I was quiet for a second,
10:27then nodded.
10:28Equality between pure humans
10:30and shifters was the standard now,
10:32technically.
10:32But given a shifter's nature,
10:34the bonding,
10:35the recognition of owners,
10:36there was always emphasis
10:37on extending extra
10:38consideration to them.
10:40Long quietness.
10:42My name is Vance.
10:43I registered it and smiled.
10:44Nice to meet you.
10:45I'm Elena.
10:46He stood, expressionless,
10:47and walked toward the balcony.
10:49The bedroom isn't that way.
10:50Wait, are you going to jump?
10:52If you don't like it here,
10:53I can ask Chloe to take you back.
10:54I rushed after him.
10:55Found him bent over
10:56the washing machine,
10:57pulling out clean laundry,
10:58piece by piece,
10:59hanging it to dry.
11:00Eric had put my clothes
11:00in the wash that morning.
11:01He hadn't taken them out
11:02before he left.
11:03I watched Vance's long fingers
11:05handle my clothes
11:06and scratched my cheek.
11:08I'll buy a dryer in a few days,
11:09then you won't have to do this.
11:10Vance said nothing.
11:11I never got the chance
11:12to buy that dryer.
11:13The next morning,
11:14an uninvited guest appeared.
11:16The Ashford Estate's butler
11:18stood at my door
11:19with measured deference.
11:21Miss, your father says
11:23you've had enough time.
11:24It's time to return
11:26and proceed
11:26with the arranged marriage.
11:28No.
11:29The butler smiled.
11:31Miss, this is the wish
11:33of both the master and madam.
11:36He stepped aside.
11:38Several bodyguards
11:39materialized behind him.
11:41I laughed coldly.
11:42Aren't you worried
11:43I'll stab the man
11:44with a knife on the wedding day
11:45and then kill myself?
11:46The butler's expression faltered.
11:48The master said
11:49should you agree
11:50to the marriage
11:51you will receive 5%
11:53of the Ashford group shares.
11:55My hand on the door went still.
11:56The butler seemed
11:57to have anticipated
11:58exactly this.
11:59The car is waiting downstairs.
12:02Also,
12:04the second miss
12:05asked that you bring
12:06Mr. Vance along.
12:07I glanced back at Vance.
12:09We made eye contact.
12:11His dark eyes
12:12were as unreadable as ever.
12:14Yet somehow,
12:15a chill crawled
12:16down my spine.
12:17Back at the Ashford estate.
12:19The entire first floor.
12:21Just Ethan,
12:22Eric,
12:22and Evan.
12:23The atmosphere was awkward.
12:25Evan set down
12:26his game controller
12:27and glanced up,
12:28eyes tracking from me
12:29to Vance.
12:30Ethan drawled.
12:32Why are you here?
12:34It's my house.
12:35Can I come back?
12:36Ethan's expression
12:36didn't change,
12:37but the corner of his mouth
12:38curved up slightly.
12:39I stared.
12:40Eric set down
12:41on the fruit
12:41he'd been arranging
12:42and walked toward me.
12:45Chloe said you refused
12:46to come home for months
12:47and now you show up.
12:48Did you miss us?
12:50I stepped back.
12:51Before I could speak,
12:51Evan stopped.
12:52Don't even wonder.
12:53Without us,
12:54she couldn't last a day.
12:55She doesn't look
12:56particularly heartbroken to me.
12:59Ethan's eyes snapped up.
13:01Who asked you?
13:02A sharp,
13:03hostile energy
13:04surged through the room.
13:05I reached back quickly
13:06and pressed my hand
13:07over Vance's,
13:08cool beneath my palm,
13:09trying to calm him.
13:10The same as yesterday.
13:11Wolves and snakes
13:12were both apex level shifters.
13:14If they actually fought,
13:15it wouldn't end clean.
13:17What,
13:17you brought him here
13:18to make us jealous?
13:21Snakes are cold-blooded
13:22and from what Chloe says,
13:24this one's worse than most.
13:25No feelings at all.
13:28You don't actually think
13:29you can change him,
13:30do you?
13:31Then,
13:31Eric grabbed my jaw,
13:33fingers tight,
13:34uncomfortably tight.
13:35His stare locked onto my neck,
13:37the mark from last night.
13:39His voice came down
13:40slow and deliberate.
13:41What's that?
13:42A hickey?
13:43That single sentence
13:45detonated.
13:46Evan unfolded himself
13:47from the couch,
13:48pulling that sharp grin.
13:50Come again?
13:51Then a cool hand
13:52yanked me behind him.
13:54Vance smiled,
13:55barely.
13:56Back off.
13:57Eric's expression hardened.
13:58What did you just say?
13:59The tension in the room
14:01snapped taut.
14:02Then Chloe came down
14:03from upstairs,
14:04all brightness.
14:04I could hear you
14:05from my room.
14:06What's going on?
14:08They think the mark
14:08on my neck is a hickey.
14:10They seem unhappy about it
14:12and want to investigate.
14:15Predictably,
14:15Chloe's smile flickered.
14:17Her gaze settled on my neck.
14:21So is it?
14:23What do you think?
14:24I deflected.
14:25She didn't answer.
14:26Silence.
14:27Ethan sauntered over,
14:29hands in his pocket.
14:30You always covered marks like that.
14:32Why show it today?
14:34Probably because I don't
14:35consider this a hiccup.
14:36That seemed to click
14:37for the others.
14:38Evan blinked.
14:38Now that you mention it,
14:40you used to cover everything.
14:41Eric's eyes narrowed.
14:43Sis,
14:43father wants you in his study.
14:45You don't need to follow her up.
14:47I slipped my hand quietly
14:48from Vance's grip
14:49and paused.
14:50I looked back at the room.
14:51Don't give him trouble.
14:55We give him trouble?
14:58Elena,
14:59in your eyes,
15:00we're-
15:00I turned and walked away
15:00before he could finish.
15:02Silence behind me.
15:03Register the marriage first.
15:05Hold the wedding after.
15:06Father leaned back in his chair
15:08and sift his tea.
15:09Once everything is settled,
15:11I'll transfer the 5%.
15:12I didn't hesitate.
15:14I want the shares
15:15the moment the certificate is signed.
15:16The teacup hit the saucer hard.
15:18The lines around his eyes
15:19deepened with irritation.
15:20You really have that little faith
15:21in your own family?
15:22I sighed.
15:23I'm just worried
15:24Chloe might throw a fit
15:25and my share disappears again.
15:26He flinched, visibly.
15:28The irritation held,
15:29but after a long beat,
15:30he relented.
15:31Come back with your husband
15:32and the marriage certificate.
15:34It said everything about
15:34what my compliance meant to them
15:36and beyond that.
15:37This share transfer
15:38would also serve
15:38as a gesture of loyalty
15:39to the man I was marrying.
15:41After all,
15:42assets acquired during marriage
15:43get split between spouses.
15:45I didn't comment on any of that
15:47and stood to leave.
15:49You'll stay at the estate
15:50until the wedding.
15:51No wandering off.
15:52And those shifters,
15:53cut that off
15:54before the ceremony.
15:58I came back downstairs
15:59to the same quiet.
16:00I walked over to Vance.
16:02I also had something
16:03to say to him.
16:04Let me show you my room.
16:06Evan looked at me suspiciously.
16:07You haven't been back in months.
16:09What's there to see?
16:13Want to come too?
16:15Who said I did?
16:16Chloe was picking
16:17through the fruit bowl.
16:18Father's still home.
16:20Maybe it's not appropriate.
16:22Her voice was deliberate.
16:23You have three shifters with you.
16:25I'm bringing one to my room.
16:27What exactly isn't appropriate?
16:32We never...
16:34You make a fair point, sis.
16:37But Vance still has to be willing.
16:39Every pair of eyes in the room
16:41turned to the man
16:42with the perfectly unreadable face.
16:44Let's go.
16:45I nodded and gestured
16:46for him to follow.
16:47Whatever the others
16:48looked like behind me,
16:49I didn't care to check.
16:51My room was white and minimal.
16:52Clean.
16:53Someone had kept it dusted.
16:54I cleared my throat.
16:55Ready to speak.
16:56Something coiled around my waist.
16:58The tail.
16:59Your scent is so strong here.
17:03I haven't lived here in months.
17:05It's still that strong?
17:08Something dangerous
17:09spread through the air.
17:10I genuinely feared
17:11he'd consume me.
17:12His sharp teeth
17:13dragged against my collarbone.
17:17You just took us
17:19to press his yesterday.
17:20I brought you up here
17:21to tell you something.
17:23I'm getting married.
17:25Vance didn't release me
17:26the way I expected.
17:27Instead,
17:28his tail coiled tighter
17:29and I was lifted
17:30and dropped onto the bed.
17:31He loomed over me.
17:33Then his tail slipped
17:34beneath the hem of my shirt.
17:36I grabbed it on instinct
17:37then looked away fast.
17:39He watched me,
17:41gaze darkening.
17:42You dislike me?
17:46No, that's not...
17:47Aren't you my owner?
17:48Shadow fell over me.
17:50Or are you afraid?
17:51Honestly?
17:52A little.
17:53First,
17:54snakes were notoriously insatiable.
17:56Snake shifters,
17:57even more so.
17:58If Chloe hadn't said
17:59he was celibate,
18:00I never would have asked for him.
18:02Second,
18:03certain things were simply
18:04too much.
18:05But I really am getting married,
18:06so I'll probably need
18:08to give you back to Chloe
18:09for now.
18:09She won't be marrying
18:10anytime soon.
18:11Something moved
18:12behind Vance's eyes at last.
18:14Right as something brutal
18:15flickered across his gaze,
18:16I asked quietly,
18:17Do you wanna
18:19go back to Chloe?
18:21Have I made you miserable?
18:24No.
18:25You're actually pretty
18:26proactive about the housework.
18:28The next second,
18:29he lowered himself over me,
18:31his shadow swallowing everything.
18:35Then don't even think
18:36about getting rid of me.
18:38I was quiet.
18:39Then I reached out
18:40and gently touched his tail.
18:43Don't worry.
18:45About what, exactly?
18:46I shook my head inwardly.
18:48I had a plan already.
18:49A few days later,
18:51a private room
18:51at a cafe.
18:52I took a calm sip of coffee.
18:54I looked across the table
18:55and cut straight to the point.
18:57I know you're in love
18:57with Chloe.
18:58He looked up,
18:59surprised,
19:00set his phone down.
19:01I also know you've been
19:02approaching our family
19:03with a marriage proposal.
19:05You want Chloe,
19:07but they keep deflecting you
19:08with the excuse
19:09that the eldest daughter
19:09has to marry first.
19:11Who wouldn't prefer
19:12your sister?
19:13She's not indifferent
19:14to me either.
19:15She just says
19:16she won't compete with you
19:17because you liked me first.
19:19I have a way
19:20to get you what you want.
19:22What way?
19:23We get a fake marriage certificate.
19:26If Chloe really does
19:27feel something for you,
19:28she'll get jealous
19:29when she sees us together.
19:31Right?
19:31A fake certificate?
19:33People only realize
19:34what they want
19:35when they think
19:35they're losing it.
19:37If you act close to me,
19:38let her see it,
19:39she'll be devastated.
19:40Then,
19:41at the ceremony itself,
19:42I disappear.
19:44No bride.
19:45She won't be able
19:46to stand watching you
19:47humiliated in front of everyone.
19:49She'll step in.
19:54Then you tell her
19:55it's always been her.
19:57Have a ring ready.
19:58Something chosen just for her.
20:00She'll be moved.
20:02That's not wrong.
20:08I know we'd never
20:08make each other happy.
20:10You love Chloe that deeply
20:11and she feels something for you.
20:13I'd rather the two of you
20:14get to be happy.
20:16Miss Ashford,
20:17I misjudged you.
20:18I had no idea
20:19you were so generous.
20:22As long as you're both happy.
20:24The day I came home
20:25with the marriage certificate
20:26and my fake husband,
20:28the entire Ashford family
20:29was seated at the dining table.
20:31Everyone's face
20:31said something different.
20:32The news about
20:33the arranged marriage
20:34had already spread
20:35through the household.
20:36I caught Vance's eye
20:38from across the room.
20:39A small, reassuring look.
20:41His expression was flat,
20:42but I could feel it.
20:43The suppressed hostility
20:44simmering underneath.
20:45The faint darkness
20:46around him.
20:47It was fine.
20:48Once everything was resolved,
20:49I had a place for him
20:50and what came next.
20:51I gave him a small,
20:52calm smile
20:52from across the room.
20:53He glanced at me once,
20:55then looked away.
20:56When I slipped into the kitchen
20:57to help carry dishes,
20:59Eric was at the sink.
21:00You don't like him.
21:02Who?
21:02Your husband.
21:04Eric smiled pleasantly.
21:08Elena,
21:09ask me nicely
21:10and I'll help you run.
21:11I looked at him.
21:11He clarified.
21:12The other two are on board too.
21:14The other two,
21:15Ethan and Evan.
21:15That explained why all three
21:17of them had been off today.
21:18Eric's voice dropped,
21:19just a shade too deliberate.
21:21You don't want to spend
21:21the rest of your life
21:22with someone you don't even like,
21:24do you?
21:24Mind your own business.
21:26You'll regret this, Elena.
21:28Regret?
21:30After dinner,
21:31Chloe chatted brightly
21:32with my fake husband,
21:33effortless and radiant.
21:36I slipped away to the study alone
21:38and signed the share transfer documents.
21:41Next week,
21:42the grand wedding
21:43and the show
21:43was just getting started.
21:45The days before the wedding,
21:46I was perfectly calm.
21:48I tried on jewelry.
21:49The estate,
21:50meanwhile,
21:50had developed its own
21:51sustained low pressure system.
21:53Even Chloe,
21:54who normally at least
21:55maintained the pretense
21:56of civility,
21:57stopped by to take a shot.
21:58Didn't expect 5% of the shares
22:00to be enough to break you.
22:01I had no reaction.
22:02That seemed to infuriate her more.
22:04Do you know how much
22:05I'll have eventually?
22:06When father's gone,
22:08all of it comes to me.
22:10I paused.
22:11I actually looked at her.
22:12She looked satisfied.
22:14Jealous?
22:15The filial piety
22:17in this household
22:17is truly something
22:18I couldn't help but think.
22:21Pathetic.
22:22Evan kept his face blank.
22:23Eric nodded.
22:24Ethan scrolled through his phone
22:26and said nothing.
22:27Pathetic?
22:27Are they talking about me?
22:29I didn't care what they thought.
22:30I was watching Vance.
22:31He wasn't as dark
22:32as I'd expected.
22:33He just lifted his gaze
22:35and those black,
22:36fathomless eyes
22:37met mine.
22:38That's when I realized it.
22:40When his eyes
22:40weren't carrying
22:41that cold hostility,
22:43they were beautiful.
22:44The shape subtle.
22:45The outer corners
22:46lifting just slightly.
22:47An unintentional,
22:48almost lazy quality
22:50to the look.
22:50The wedding day arrived.
22:52The city's
22:52most prestigious hotel.
22:54Over 30,000 white roses
22:55cascading from the ceiling.
22:57Crystal chandeliers
22:58threading through
22:58the waterfall of petals.
23:00Long tables draped
23:01in ivory jacquard.
23:02Champagne flutes
23:03standing in neat rows.
23:04Catching the light
23:05with a faint golden tint.
23:06Every detail was breathtaking.
23:08Big budget.
23:08I took one look,
23:09then was ushered
23:10into the backstage dressing room.
23:11Over the next three hours,
23:12the guest list filled.
23:14From backstage,
23:14I heard the steady murmur
23:15of congratulations.
23:17My parents appeared
23:17several times
23:18to confirm I was still there
23:19and cooperating.
23:20I looked at myself
23:21in the mirror.
23:22Flawless makeup.
23:23Then I checked the clock.
23:24The ceremony
23:24was about to begin.
23:25I'd already taken care
23:26of the makeup artist
23:27and assistant in advance.
23:28I gathered the heavy skirt
23:30and slipped out.
23:31Elena, the bathroom's
23:31straight ahead.
23:32The assistant kept pace,
23:33so no one in the hallway
23:34questioned it.
23:38Once inside,
23:39I stripped off the gown
23:40efficiently
23:41and changed into the clothes
23:42she'd stashed in her bag.
23:44Something light,
23:44with sneakers,
23:45and opened the window.
23:46A black car was parked
23:47close by.
23:48First floor.
23:49I climbed onto the sill
23:50and dropped down cleanly.
23:54Once in the car,
23:55I called Vance.
23:59Two rings.
24:00No answer.
24:01I frowned.
24:02Maybe the venue was too loud.
24:03He didn't hear it.
24:04Head to the airport.
24:05The car pulled into traffic.
24:06I opened my phone
24:07and found the live stream.
24:08My fake husband
24:09had insisted on broadcasting
24:11the ceremony.
24:11He wanted the world
24:12to see the moment
24:13Chloe stepped forward
24:14out of love.
24:15Lucky for me,
24:16that made watching
24:16very convenient.
24:17Please welcome
24:17our bride and groom
24:19from both sides!
24:21Both doors opened
24:22simultaneously.
24:23The right side,
24:24where I was supposed to stand,
24:25was empty.
24:26I laughed.
24:27Then I looked at the left side,
24:28a shadow,
24:29there for just a second.
24:30My smile faded.
24:33Vance?
24:34The left side was also empty.
24:36The venue erupted.
24:37I stared at the screen.
24:38Two minutes later,
24:39my fake husband rushed in.
24:41He recovered,
24:42took the microphone.
24:43Actually,
24:44today's bride
24:45was never Elena Ashfun.
24:46The bride I've been waiting for
24:48is my true love,
24:50Miss Chloe Ashfun!
24:52That was when Vance's call
24:54came through.
24:57Where are you?
24:58On the way to the airport.
24:59You...
25:00Before I could finish asking,
25:02a news alert pushed to my screen.
25:03Male family heir
25:04confirmed for tonight's
25:05high-profile wedding.
25:07Not a pure human.
25:08Reports indicate he is a shifter.
25:09I tapped it immediately.
25:11A tall,
25:11unmistakable silhouette.
25:13Comments below.
25:14Looks like a snake shifter.
25:15Cold-blooded running a corporation.
25:17Actually kind of fitting.
25:18Something clicked in my mind.
25:20Vance,
25:20were you just trying to...
25:21Trashed the wedding.
25:22I swallowed it back.
25:23I'm planning to lay low abroad
25:24for a while
25:24until things settle.
25:25I hung up.
25:26If Vance wanted to follow,
25:27he would.
25:28If not,
25:28I didn't mind either way.
25:30I turned back to the live stream.
25:31Total chaos at the venue.
25:33Chloe's perfect face
25:34was streaked with tears.
25:36Shaking her head.
25:37Backing behind my father.
25:38Father's face was iron gray.
25:40Where's Elena?
25:41Find her!
25:42She's gone too far!
25:43You said you had feelings for me.
25:45Her sister was willing
25:46to step aside for us
25:46and you can't even...
25:47I have no idea what's going on.
25:49Since my son loves Chloe,
25:50why not let Chloe take her place?
25:51It's still a happy occasion
25:52for both families.
25:53I'd had the foresight
25:54to block my parents,
25:55the butler,
25:56and Chloe before leaving.
25:57Even with the groom's mother
25:58trying to smooth things over,
26:00they couldn't afford
26:00to make a scene.
26:01My mother went still,
26:03then looked at Chloe.
26:04Chloe bit her lip.
26:04Her voice came out.
26:06No!
26:07What do you mean no?
26:08Were you lying to me
26:08this whole time?
26:09Don't you have feelings for me?
26:10I don't!
26:11You had three wives die on you!
26:13Why would I ever like you?
26:14Complete chaos.
26:18I watched with genuine satisfaction.
26:20Then I spotted Ethan,
26:21Eric, and Evan
26:22in the corner of the frame.
26:24Their expressions
26:24were something else entirely.
26:26At the airport,
26:27my phone rang.
26:31The fake husband.
26:32His voice was hard.
26:34Come back.
26:35Marry me.
26:35What's your problem?
26:37You're not worth it.
26:38I blocked him, too.
26:41Honestly,
26:42I'd overlooked him.
26:43I hadn't thought
26:43he'd be this delusional.
26:46I'd been waiting for a while
26:47when a shadow fell across me.
26:49I smiled without looking up.
26:50You're here.
26:51I raised my eyes.
26:52Ethan.
26:52I blinked.
26:53What's that face?
26:56Disappointed?
26:58Who were you expecting?
26:59Vance.
27:00His expression went cold.
27:01You really can't catch a break.
27:03He's not coming.
27:04I nodded.
27:05I kept my face easy.
27:06Ethan dropped into the seat beside me.
27:08I didn't expect you
27:09to actually pull off an escape.
27:10Don't bother me.
27:11I really...
27:11I cut him off.
27:12He shut his mouth.
27:13Bit down on his back teeth.
27:14He switched tactics.
27:15No cold edge this time.
27:17Where are you going?
27:17Not your business.
27:19Elena.
27:20Where are Eric and Evan?
27:22Ethan's expression changed.
27:25They're blocking Vance.
27:27Aren't they?
27:28His face went tight.
27:30Then I saw him.
27:31Vance came through the crowd
27:32in long strides.
27:33A dried cut at his temple.
27:34Marks on his neck.
27:35Something low and dark
27:36in the set of his expression.
27:38When he reached me,
27:38the sharp smell of blood
27:39came with him.
27:40Are you okay?
27:42Ethan clenched his jaw.
27:46What did you do to them?
27:52Vance settled behind me,
27:54his chin coming to rest
27:55on my shoulder,
27:56one arm loosely circling my waist.
27:58An embrace,
27:59cool as winter air.
28:01I'm talking to you.
28:02Vance smiled.
28:04Why?
28:05Something unsettling in it.
28:06Would it make you happy
28:07if something happened to them?
28:09I paused.
28:10Eric and Evan were Ethan's brothers.
28:12Why would their getting hurt
28:14make him happy?
28:15Ethan's throat moved.
28:18Where are they?
28:19No idea.
28:20Probably close to dead though.
28:23Ice went through me.
28:24But Ethan,
28:25contrary to everything I'd expected,
28:27didn't turn and run.
28:29You're both leaving.
28:31Together.
28:33Isn't it obvious?
28:35Why are you taking him?
28:36The vein at Ethan's temple
28:38stood out.
28:38Are you alright?
28:40Chloe gave him to me.
28:42I'm his owner.
28:44Then you're still mine.
28:45You all belong to Chloe now.
28:47Don't you remember?
28:51You're the one
28:51who sent me to her.
28:53Something dark
28:54pooled in his eyes.
28:55I heard everything you said
28:57in the living room that morning.
28:59How much you all liked Chloe.
29:01I was doing you a favor.
29:03And now you're turning it around on me?
29:05You heard all of that?
29:07I had nothing more to say to him.
29:09I pulled Vance by the hand
29:10and turned to go.
29:12Ethan moved to follow
29:13and was stopped by the airport security
29:15I'd quietly arranged in advance.
29:18Vance sat beside me on the flight.
29:19He looked down,
29:20long lashes casting a faint shadow
29:22across his cheeks.
29:25So...
29:26You really were gonna take the groom's place
29:28and marry me?
29:30Hmm.
29:33You move fast.
29:34After realizing I wasn't there,
29:36it slipped out immediately.
29:37That brief shadow on the live stream,
29:39only I would have recognized it.
29:41Your scent went faint.
29:43Right.
29:43The terrifying thing about shifters
29:45was their sense of smell.
29:46Precise and absolute.
29:49I'll be overseas for a while.
29:50Until the timing is right to come back.
29:53Vance leaned in close.
29:54That cool, faint air of his
29:56wrapped around me.
29:58His lips pressed lightly
30:00to the side of my neck.
30:01This time,
30:02he didn't bite.
30:03I almost smiled.
30:04They said wolves were canines,
30:06bonded hard.
30:06But this cold-blooded snake
30:08seemed more bonded
30:09than any of them.
30:10Over the months that followed,
30:12the Ashford family
30:13fell into disarray.
30:14I switched to an overseas number.
30:16No one could reach me.
30:17Chloe never ended up
30:18marrying the man.
30:19The two families became enemies.
30:21When I returned,
30:22my parents had aged.
30:23My father spent most of his time
30:24in a hospital bed.
30:25They couldn't trust the extended family
30:27with the company,
30:28so they'd given it to Chloe.
30:29But under Chloe's management,
30:31the group was declining.
30:32Steadily.
30:33Then I walked through the door.
30:35My mother's hand rose on instinct.
30:36She was going to slap me.
30:38I stepped back.
30:39I smiled.
30:40Are you sure?
30:41I'm the only one who can save you now.
30:43We froze mid-air.
30:44I looked over.
30:45Chloe had her eyes locked on me,
30:47sharp and searching.
30:48But she looked nothing like before.
30:50The polish was gone.
30:52She was frayed,
30:53worn down by everything
30:54she'd been holding together
30:55and looked at her, too.
30:56Long time no see,
30:57little sister.
30:58Or her gaze away
30:58and burst into tears.
31:00Chloe had hated her sister
31:01since childhood.
31:03Why?
31:03It started in primary school.
31:05Her sister always had people around her,
31:07boys and girls,
31:08a full crowd.
31:09Her sister stood in the middle of them,
31:11smiling.
31:11Then she noticed Chloe
31:12and waved.
31:18Chloe!
31:20Come here!
31:20Come here!
31:21When the others saw Chloe,
31:22their expressions shifted
31:23to something like wonder.
31:25Chloe walked over.
31:26Her sister reached into her pocket
31:28and pressed a candy into her hand.
31:30I saved this for you.
31:33Strawberry, your favorite.
31:35Chloe took it happily.
31:36Then one of the girls said,
31:39Elena is so thoughtful.
31:41She remembers everyone's favorite!
31:43Chloe's smile went stiff.
31:44Why?
31:45She was her sister.
31:46Why was she this nice to everyone?
31:47Shouldn't she save the best of herself for Chloe?
31:50Chloe turned and walked away.
31:55Behind her, voices floated.
32:04She didn't hear what her sister said back.
32:06She turned the corner
32:07and dropped the strawberry candy
32:09into a trash can.
32:10As they got older,
32:12Chloe learned something.
32:13She was prettier than her sister.
32:14Not that her sister was ugly.
32:15She was genuinely lovely
32:16in a quiet, clean way.
32:18But Chloe had inherited
32:19every striking feature
32:20with perfect precision,
32:22head to toe.
32:23So the pattern became this.
32:24Those who saw Chloe first,
32:26then her sister,
32:26looked vaguely let down.
32:28Those who saw her sister first,
32:29then Chloe,
32:30looked stunned.
32:32Every time this happened,
32:33Chloe thought to herself,
32:34her sister must be so hurt,
32:36so humiliated.
32:38When they were teenagers,
32:39her sister drew attention.
32:40The Ashford family's eldest daughter,
32:42graceful enough that boys noticed,
32:44despite everything.
32:45Inevitably,
32:46those boys noticed Chloe
32:47and redirected.
32:48Of course they did.
32:49She was brighter,
32:50prettier,
32:50warmer,
32:51pathetic,
32:51shallow idiots.
32:52Chloe thought it internally,
32:53all contempt.
32:54But honestly,
32:55if they'd spent more time
32:56with her sister,
32:57they'd have found out.
32:58Her sister was smarter
32:59and more interesting
33:00than anyone gave her credit for.
33:01Too bad they lacked the patience
33:03to look past the surface.
33:04At that thought,
33:05Chloe would feel something
33:06almost like pity.
33:08Poor thing.
33:08No matter how kind
33:09her sister was to everyone,
33:11people still chose Chloe.
33:12She imagined her sister in the dark,
33:14seething with jealousy,
33:15hating her.
33:16Somehow,
33:16that thought made the exhaustion
33:18of performing warmth
33:19all day vanish.
33:20Chloe would hum to herself,
33:22lighter.
33:22Then she met a snake shifter.
33:25Tall, striking,
33:26almost violently beautiful.
33:27She recognized him.
33:29Her sister,
33:29as a child,
33:30had found a half-dead,
33:31venomous snake
33:32and refused to leave it alone.
33:33Chloe had screamed at her then.
33:35Get away from it!
33:36Are you insane?
33:37Her kind, oblivious sister
33:38hadn't listened.
33:39She'd nursed the snake
33:40back to health.
33:41Her sister had probably
33:41forgotten all about it.
33:43Chloe remembered,
33:43so she brought Vance home.
33:45She knew why he agreed.
33:46He could smell her sister's
33:47presence in the house.
33:48Traces left from childhood.
33:49Here to repay a kindness?
33:51What a pity.
33:51My sister won't even know
33:52who you are.
33:53Vance didn't like Chloe,
33:54not even a little.
33:55And the more he didn't,
33:56the more she wanted that to change.
33:58It never did.
33:59Then her sister called,
34:00wanting to trade.
34:00Chloe barely thought about it
34:02and said yes, good.
34:03Let this cold snake
34:04see exactly what kind of person
34:05her sister is,
34:06how she opens her hands
34:07for everyone,
34:08and how quickly
34:09she can close them.
34:10As expected,
34:10the three wolves
34:11took to Chloe
34:12almost instantly.
34:13But what she hadn't expected,
34:14her sister had genuinely
34:15forgotten Vance.
34:16And yet,
34:17she still treated him gently,
34:18instinctively.
34:19Why?
34:20After everything
34:20that's been done to her,
34:21why can't she just stop?
34:22A dying snake as a child,
34:24a litter of abandoned wolf pups.
34:25She picked them all up.
34:27Impossible.
34:28Infuriating.
34:28It was fine.
34:29Her sister was about
34:30to be forced into a marriage
34:31with a man
34:32who'd outlasted three wives.
34:33The pressure would crush her.
34:35Would she come crawling
34:35to Chloe then,
34:36the way Chloe used to visit?
34:37Bringing gifts
34:38to that small apartment,
34:39playing the generous sibling?
34:41Would she finally be desperate
34:42enough to need Chloe's help?
34:43That would be the right choice.
34:45Come to her sister,
34:46not scatter kindness
34:46into the void.
34:47Chloe thought about all of it
34:48with something close to pleasure,
34:50until she realized
34:51her sister had played her.
34:53I stepped into the role
34:54Chloe had been holding,
34:55and I was better at it.
34:57The group began to stabilize.
34:59My father's condition
35:00improved somewhat.
35:01I mentioned it to Vance,
35:03absently,
35:04in the top floor office.
35:08When a sick person
35:09suddenly gets better,
35:10sometimes it's a last flare
35:12of strength before the end.
35:13Vance's pale fingers
35:15wound slowly
35:16through a strand of my hair.
35:21father got worse again.
35:24His current condition
35:26left him with no real grip
35:27on the company.
35:28He knew it.
35:29I went to visit him.
35:34Sign over whatever shares
35:36you have left.
35:37All of them.
35:38The man in the hospital bed,
35:40frail now,
35:41aged past recognition,
35:43erupted in fury,
35:44but all he could do
35:45was cough.
35:46You built this company?
35:48Do you want to watch
35:49Chloe run it into the ground?
35:51He glared.
35:52I smiled.
35:54Give a little now,
35:55and I'll make sure
35:56she's taken care of.
35:57You've already seen
35:59what she becomes without me.
36:00That's your precious daughter
36:02when you're not watching.
36:07Father,
36:09I'm your daughter too.
36:11I have your blood.
36:14Who better to leave it with?
36:16He stared at me
36:17for a long time.
36:18Something painful
36:19moved behind his eyes.
36:21I smiled.
36:23Everything was in place.
36:25Vance was often with me
36:26when I worked.
36:27Sometimes,
36:28when I'd been absorbed
36:29in something too long,
36:30a cool, smooth tail
36:31would drift over
36:32and coil slowly
36:34around my waist.
36:35Why is he so clingy?
36:36I sighed,
36:37more fond than exasperated,
36:39and stroked a tail
36:40in what I hoped
36:41was reassuring.
36:42Human form this time,
36:43please?
36:44Shifter form is
36:46genuinely too much for me.
36:51Okay.
36:52I never asked
36:53about his other identity,
36:55whether he was the heir
36:56to some family
36:57or the head
36:57of some organization,
36:58what his name meant
36:59in the world
37:00outside these walls.
37:01I wasn't curious.
37:02I only needed him here.
37:04That was enough.
37:05The way Ethan
37:05had once said
37:06at the airport,
37:07We actually have
37:08our own names.
37:09I don't need to know,
37:10and I don't want to.
37:11That had been
37:12the end of it.
37:12As for the business deals
37:14Vance had quietly helped
37:15put into motion,
37:16I chose not to notice.
37:17I simply rewarded him
37:18from time to time.
37:20Small things,
37:21warmly given.
37:22Vance had hurt
37:22Eric and Evan badly enough
37:24that it had taken time
37:25for them to recover.
37:26By the time they were well,
37:27I was gone.
37:28They couldn't find me.
37:29Eventually,
37:30it seemed they'd left
37:31the Ashford estate too,
37:32until recently.
37:37Director Ashford,
37:38there are three people
37:39downstairs requesting
37:40to see you.
37:41They say their names
37:42are Ethan,
37:43Eric,
37:43and Evan.
37:46Put them through.
37:47Yes, ma'am.
37:49Elena?
37:51You're back in the country?
37:53I am.
37:55Come meet us.
37:57No time.
37:59Not interested.
38:02Afraid the snake
38:03gets jealous?
38:05His feelings
38:06aren't my concern.
38:07But I genuinely
38:08can't be bothered
38:08to see you.
38:09I'm not your owner anymore.
38:11You are!
38:11We never thought of
38:13Chloe as our owner.
38:14We never touched her either.
38:16If you'd wanted,
38:17we would have helped you
38:19disappear from that wedding
38:20a long time ago.
38:21So in your eyes,
38:23I'm still your owner.
38:25But in mine,
38:26you haven't been worth that
38:28in a long time.
38:33Director Ashford,
38:34these contracts need your review.
38:36Come in.
38:37I set the pen down.
38:40Before you go,
38:41let everyone know.
38:42Those three shifters
38:44downstairs are not
38:44to be let up.
38:45If they come back,
38:46have security remove them.
38:48Understood, Director.
38:49Also,
38:50you have a meeting shortly.
38:51What coffee would you like?
38:53Oh, right.
38:54The meeting.
38:55I picked up my phone
38:56and sent Vance a small emoji.
38:58A little pat.
38:59Might be home late.
39:00Be good and wait for me.
39:02Without waiting for a reply,
39:03I stood,
39:04smoothed the front of my jacket
39:05and walked out.
39:08Actually,
39:09no coffee.
39:10Just water.
39:11Tell everyone the conference room.
39:12Of course.
39:14Director Ashford.
39:15divided into theodel.
39:15And all
39:15right. We're
39:16We're making it
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