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"With her condition, she won't last without us." That's what Silas said outside the tent. He thought I couldn't hear. Three years, I'd paid them, fed them, and kept them warm. I thought we had an arrangement. They thought I was desperate. I saw the floating comments. They told me everything. The underground arena. The lions. The female lead who would cure me and then throw me away. I termin@ted the contract. "You'll come crawling back," Jaxon said. I didn't. When my condition flared, every clinic in Sterling City turned me away. They were too afraid of the snow wolf brothers to help. So I went to the underground market. I bought a black panther shifter from the very last cage. He was chained. Wounded. Half his face in shadow. But his heat was unmistakable. "Can you just hold me now?" I asked. He pulled me into his arms. His warmth hit me like fire. This wasn't any ordinary black panther. I'd bought him to survive. But I had a feeling I'd just changed the course of my entire life. And the snow wolves had no idea what was coming. Bad news. I had a rare condition, and not the normal kind.Bad news. I had a condition, and not the normal kind. If no one kept me warm for twelve hours, my core temperature would plummet.If no one kept me warm for twelve hours, my whole body went cold. Good news. I had transmigrated into the Eldridge Continent. And if there was one thing this world had plenty of, it was beast shifters: warm-blooded, thick-furred walking furnaces in human form. So I splurged and bought myself a pair of snow wolf brothers. Silas Thorne was quiet and cold. Jaxon Thorne was wild, completely untamable. I put them on a rotation. Silas took the day shift. Jaxon took the night shift. If either of them stepped out of line, I made them sit by the door, tails out, and think about what they'd done.I put them on a rotation. Silas took days. Jaxon took nights. If either of them stepped out of line, I made them sit by the door, tails out, and think about what they'd done. Life was good. Then one night, I was tucked between the two of them under the covers, warm and half-asleep, and I mumbled, "Let's just share the bed tonight."Then one night, I was tucked between the two of them under the covers, warm and half-asleep, and I mumbled, "Let's just all sleep here tonight." A string of floating comments scrolled across my vision. [lmaooo the villainess is all over the male leads again] [every time she touches them, the wolf brothers go scrub themselves raw in the snow just to wash her scent off. I feel so bad for them][every time she touches them, the wolf brothers go wash in the snow three times just to scrub her off. I feel so bad for them] [Chloe's about to show up btw. she'll cure the villainess's condition and then ship her straight to the underground arena to get fed to the lions] My heart plummeted. I almost rolled right off the mattress.My heart nearly stopped. I almost rolled off the bed. The underground arena? They'd feed me to the lions? I yanked the blankets tight around myself and scrambled back flat against the wall.I yanked the blankets tight around myself and pressed my back flat against the wall. "No. Forget I said anything. You two need to sleep in your own rooms tonight.""No. Forget it. You two should sleep somewhere else tonight." Silas and Jaxon had just draped their tails across my arms. Now they were staring at me like I'd lost my mind.Silas and Jaxon had just draped their tails into my arms. Now they were staring at me like I'd lost my mind. *** I pressed into the corner of the bed, quilt pulled to my chin, watching them. Dread crawled up my spine. Silas broke the silence first. "Are you having a chill again?"Silas broke the silence first. "Is it the cold again?" He stood at the edge of the bed, the fleece blanket he'd warmed for me folded over one arm. A small crease sat between his brows. Jaxon was on one knee beside the mattress, his tail hovering where he'd been about to rest it against my leg. He'd gone still, his expression darkening by degrees.Jaxon was on one knee beside the mattress, his tail hovering where he'd been about to lay it against my leg. He'd gone still, his expression darkening by degrees. "What's your problem now?""What are you doing now?" My throat tightened. I gripped the fabric tighter. "I don't need either of you tonight.""I don't need you two tonight." "Just get out.""Just go." Jaxon let out a dry laugh.Jaxon almost laughed. "You were freezing just earlier. Now you're fine?""You were freezing half an hour ago. Now you're fine?" "I'm fine.""Yes." "Elara." His eyes locked on mine. "You think playing games with us is funny?""Elara." His eyes locked on mine. "You think messing with us is funny?" I forced my voice steady. "I just want to sleep alone tonight.""I want to sleep alone tonight." Jaxon pushed to his feet with a sneer. "Fine." "Don't come banging on my door in the middle of the night when the cold hits.""Don't come banging on my door in the middle of the night when it hits." Silas hadn't moved. He was still watching me. He'd never been much of a talker. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet.He'd never been much of a talker. When he finally spoke, his voice barely carried. "Are you sure you don't need us?""You're sure you don't need us?" I nodded. A beat passed. Then he turned and followed Jaxon out. The door clicked shut, and the silence crashed down over the room.The door clicked shut, and the silence dropped like a weight. I sat there for a long time, clutching the bedding to my chest, before I finally looked up. The floating comments were still there. Of course they were. [lol she's playing hard to get again][lol she's doing the push-pull thing again] [she does this every time. pushes them away and then waits for them to come crawling back to comfort her] [too bad it won't work this time lol. Chloe's almost here] [just wait till the FL shows up. she'll cure her first, and then toss her into the arena to die] I threw off the covers and rummaged through the cabinet. At the very bottom, shoved behind everything else, was the contract.I threw off the covers and went for the cabinet. At the very bottom, shoved behind everything else, was the contract. The pages had yellowed and gone soft at the edges. I held it in both hands and stared until the words blurred. Then, slowly, my fingers curled, crumpling the edges.I held it in both hands and stared until the words blurred. Then, slowly, my fingers curled around the paper. I couldn't keep Silas and Jaxon tied to me. Not anymore.I couldn't keep Silas and Jaxon. Not anymore. The next day, I went to Frostpeak Camp. I almost turned back at the door, but three years was a long time. They deserved to hear it from me in person.I almost turned back at the door, but three years was a long time. They deserved to hear it from me. The camp guards knew my face. They waved me through without a second look. I made it all the way to the strategy tent before I stopped. A voice drifted out from inside, soft and a little hesitant.I made it all the way to the strategy tent before I stopped. A voice drifted out from inside, soft and a little shaky. "This is my first time going to Glacier Valley. I'm worried I'll slow you two down... Would you be willing to guide me?""This is my first time going to Glacier Valley. I'm worried I'll slow you two down... Would you be willing to show me the way?" I leaned in and peered through the gap in the tent canvas.I leaned in and peered through the gap in the tent flap. A fox shifter stood inside. She was small and delicate, with round eyes and the faint glow of a healing aura still clinging to her skin.A fox shifter stood inside. She was small and pale, with round eyes and the faint glow of a healing aura still clinging to her skin. I recognized her instantly. Chloe Bennett, the girl from the floating comments. The female lead.I recognized her instantly. Chloe, the girl from the floating comments. The story's original heroine. Silas had the Glacier Valley route map spread in front of her, his voice low and even, carrying a gentle patience I'd almost never heard from him.Silas had the Glacier Valley route map spread in front of her, his voice low and even, carrying a patience I'd almost never heard from him. "There are a lot of dangerous drafts in Glacier Valley. Don't go off on your own.""There are a lot of wind gaps in Glacier Valley. Don't go off on your own." Jaxon lounged against the edge of the table, spinning a bone pen between his fingers. His usual edge was completely gone.Jaxon lounged against the edge of the table, spinning a bone pen between his fingers. His usual sharpness was nowhere to be found. "If you lose us, shoot up a flare. Don't wander off by yourself.""If you fall behind, send a signal. Don't wander off by yourself." I stood outside, and the air caught in my throat.I stood outside, and the air thinned in my lungs. So they were capable of being gentle.So they did know how to be gentle. Just never with me. That's when Jaxon's gaze snapped to the entrance and caught mine.That's when Jaxon's gaze flicked up and caught mine. The ease vanished from his face. He crossed the space in three strides and yanked the tent flap open.The ease vanished from his face. He crossed the space in three strides and yanked the canvas aside. "What are you doing here?" He didn't raise his voice, but every head in the room turned. Silas looked up too. For a split second, all I wanted was to run. And right on cue, the floating comments started scrolling again. [ugh, the villainess is here] [she's keeping tabs on them again. so clingy it's embarrassing][she's checking up on them again. so clingy it's embarrassing] [watch her throw a fit in three, two, one...] My skin prickled, and the words left my mouth before I could think. "I was just passing by.""Just passing through." "Don't let me interrupt.""Keep going." I turned and walked. Two steps later, Jaxon caught my arm from behind and shoved a wooden pass into my palm.I turned and walked. Two steps later, Jaxon caught my arm from behind and pressed a wooden pass into my hand. "Go to my tent. Wait for me there.""Go to my tent. Wait there." "We'll be done soon." He let go and turned back before I could refuse.He was gone before I could say no. For a long time, I just stood there, pass in hand. I went anyway. Jaxon's tent was as messy as he was, and just as unapologetic about it. His jacket hung off the back of a chair and his wrist guards lay tossed across the table, but the whole space was thick with his scent.Jaxon's tent was as messy as he was, and just as unapologetic about it. His jacket hung off the back of a chair and his wrist guards lay tossed across the table, but the whole space was thick with snow wolf scent. I'd only come to wait for them and say what I needed to say. But I'd been white-knuckling it since last night. Too many hours without their warmth, and my body was done pretending it could handle it. Minutes after I sat down, the cold crept in. It started in my fingers, spread to my feet, then seeped into my bones.Minutes after I sat down, the cold crept in. It started in my fingers, spread to my feet, then everywhere. I grabbed the fleece blanket off the bed and tucked it around my shoulders, then leaned against the headboard, trying to ride it out. My eyelids grew heavy.My eyelids dragged shut. When I forced them open, Jaxon was looming over me.When I opened them, Jaxon was right there. He had one arm braced against the headboard, hand gripping my waist, tail coiled around my leg.He had one arm braced above me, hand pressed flat against my waist, tail coiled around my leg. I jolted awake. "What are you doing?" I shoved at his chest, but he caught my wrist and pinned it to the mattress.I shoved at his chest, but he caught my wrist and pinned it back down. His head dropped lower, eyes dark with irritation.His head dropped lower, eyes dark. "You climbed into my bed on your own, and you're asking me?""You crawled into my bed on your own, and you're asking me?" "I didn't." "You kicked us out last night." He leaned in closer, breath hot against my skin. "And now you show up here. What game are you playing, Elara?""You kicked us out last night." He leaned in closer, breath hot against my skin. "And now you show up here. What are you doing, Elara?" My mind went blank. Normally, I would've given in.Before all this, I would've given in. But the floating comments were blazing across my vision. [oh please, she's so desperate for their attention][oh please, like she doesn't love this. she's always all over the male leads] [she plays the sick card in front of Silas and Jaxon every single time][she fakes being sick in front of Silas and Jaxon every single time] [she's only throwing a tantrum because Chloe showed up lol][she's only acting up because Chloe showed up lol] I clenched my jaw and pushed hard against his shoulders.I clenched my jaw and shoved him off. "That's not why I'm here." His jaw tightened, but he stayed silent.Jaxon held my stare. He didn't say a word. I sat up while I had the chance, smoothed down my clothes, and reached for the contract folder I'd brought.I sat up while I had the chance, pulled my collar straight, and reached for the contract folder I'd brought. "I came to terminate our contract.""I'm here to end our contract." Jaxon went still. Then his expression went hard as stone. "What did you say?" "End the contract." I met his eyes. "What part of that wasn't clear?" He looked at me like he was trying to figure out what kind of crazy I was pulling this time.He looked at me like he was trying to figure out what kind of crazy I was trying this time. "Is this about the fox shifter outside?""This is because of the fox shifter outside?" "It's got nothing to do with her." "Nothing to do with her, and you're pulling this stunt?" He scoffed. "I already told you. She was just helping someone out. Elara, how long are you going to keep this up?""Nothing to do with her, and you're doing this?" He scoffed. "I already told you. She was helping someone out. Elara, how long are you going to keep this up?" Keep this up. That phrase sank under my skin like a hook. It all came back at once. The night my condition flared at 2 a.m. and I knocked on his door, he'd opened it with a scowl. Stop using your condition to mess with us.The night my condition flared at 2 a.m. and I knocked on his door, he'd opened it with a scowl. Stop using your condition to mess with people. The time Silas came back hurt and I waited outside the med tent for hours. He'd told me I was being dramatic. The healers have it handled.The time Silas came back hurt and I waited outside the med tent for hours. He'd told me I was being dramatic. The healers had it handled. Even when the cold got so bad I couldn't get words out, they always gave me the same answer. Stop making a scene. Stop being difficult. My grip tightened on the contract folder, and my voice went flat. "I'm not making a scene." "I came here to tell you. Not to ask." The tent flap lifted behind me. Silas walked in. His eyes went to me first, then to Jaxon, then down to the contract folder in my hand. "What's going on?" Jaxon didn't move. His voice came out cold and mocking.Jaxon didn't move. His voice came out cold and hard. "She says she wants to end the contract.""She wants to end the contract." Silas stopped mid-step and looked at me. The tent went silent. He was the one who spoke first. He always was. "Why?" I couldn't exactly bring up the floating comments. I couldn't tell him I already knew I'd end up in the underground arena. I looked at him for a long time, and what came out was the only thing I could say. "I'm done." The air went still. Jaxon erupted first. "The he11 did you just say?""Say that again." I lifted my chin and gave him the thinnest smile I had. "I said I'm done. Three years of settling was plenty." Jaxon shot to his feet, his expression twisting into something dangerous. "Settling?" "Half the women in this camp would kill for a contract with us. We never turned you away, and you're the one who's done?""Half the women in the tribe would kill for a contract with us. We never turned you away, and you're the one who's done?" I met his eyes, and something between a laugh and a sigh almost escaped. "You never turned me away. Am I supposed to drop to my knees and thank you for that?" I let that land. Then I kept going. "And who says I can't be the one to walk away?""And who says I can't be the one who's done first?" That one cut deeper. I could see it. Jaxon's jaw locked so tight it looked like something was about to snap. For a second, I thought he was going to pin me down again. But Silas caught his arm. He was watching me, still and quiet, like he was deciding whether I meant it. A long silence passed. Then he nodded. "Fine.""Okay." Jaxon's head snapped toward him. "Silas!" "If she's thought it through, then that's that." Silas's voice was light, like he was approving a supply request. "We're heading to Glacier Valley soon, and we won't be back for a while. We'll handle the paperwork once the mission's done. You can stay at the house until then.""We're heading to Glacier Valley soon, and we won't be back for a while. We'll handle the paperwork once the mission's done. Use the house and everything in it until then." I hadn't expected him to agree that easily. For a second, I didn't know what to do with it. But then the relief came. He was letting me go. That was enough. I picked up the contract folder and turned to leave. Jaxon's voice followed me out, low and hard. "Elara. Don't come crawling back to us when you regret this.""Elara. Don't come crying to us when you regret this." I didn't look back. I made it all the way to the camp gates before I realized I'd left one of the forms behind in Jaxon's tent.I made it all the way to the camp gates before I realized I'd left a document behind in Jaxon's tent. I turned back. But the moment I reached the entrance, I heard his voice. "Why would you agree to that?" My feet locked to the ground. Then Silas's voice drifted through the canvas, as calm as ever. "Relax." "With her condition, she won't last without us." Every musc1e in my body went rigid. They kept talking. "Twelve hours without physical contact and she'll be shaking. All of this today? She saw Chloe and got jealous. She's using the contract to force our hand.""Twelve hours without physical contact and she'll be shaking. All of this today? She saw Chloe and got jealous. She's using the contract to make us grovel." "Let her cool off." "Once the symptoms get bad enough, she'll come crawling back on her own." Jaxon was quiet for a moment. Then he swore under his breath. "And if she goes looking for another shifter?""And if she goes looking for another beast shifter?" Silas didn't miss a beat. "Everyone in Sterling City knows she's ours." "With our rank, no beast shifter in this city would touch her." "She has nowhere to go but back to us." I stood outside that tent, and the cold spreading through my hands and feet had nothing to do with my condition. The floating comments tore across my vision. [did you hear that. that's what they really think] [it was never about caring. her condition is just leverage to them] [they're not worried about her suffering. they're just mad she's acting out][they're not worried about her suffering. they're worried about her disobeying] I stared at those words, and a laugh almost clawed its way out of my throat. So that's what it looked like when someone didn't care about you. It was this obvious. They didn't just overlook my pain. They saw it, and weaponized it.They didn't fail to notice I was hurting. They noticed, and decided it didn't matter. I didn't go back inside. I turned and walked. That afternoon, I went straight to Sterling City's registry office and filed the termination myself. The second my name hit the paper, something in my chest hollowed out. But only for a second. Because Silas was right. Two days after the snow wolf brothers left, my condition flared.

"With her condition, she won't last without us." That's what Silas said outside the tent. He thought I couldn't hear. Three years, I'd paid them, fed them, and kept them warm. I thought we had an arrangement. They thought I was desperate. I saw the floating comments. They told me everything. The underground arena. The lions. The female lead who would cure me and then throw me away. I termin@ted the contract. "You'll come crawling back," Jaxon said. I didn't. When my condition flared, every clinic in Sterling City turned me away. They were too afraid of the snow wolf brothers to help. So I went to the underground market. I bought a black panther shifter from the very last cage. He was chained. Wounded. Half his face in shadow. But his heat was unmistakable. "Can you just hold me now?" I asked. He pulled me into his arms. His warmth hit me like fire. This wasn't any ordinary black panther. I'd bought him to survive. But I had a feeling I'd just changed the course of my entire life. And the snow wolves had no idea what was coming. Bad news. I had a rare condition, and not the normal kind.Bad news. I had a condition, and not the normal kind. If no one kept me warm for twelve hours, my core temperature would plummet.If no one kept me warm for twelve hours, my whole body went cold. Good news. I had transmigrated into the Eldridge Continent. And if there was one thing this world had plenty of, it was beast shifters: warm-blooded, thick-furred walking furnaces in human form. So I splurged and bought myself a pair of snow wolf brothers. Silas Thorne was quiet and cold. Jaxon Thorne was wild, completely untamable. I put them on a rotation. Silas took the day shift. Jaxon took the night shift. If either of them stepped out of line, I made them sit by the door, tails out, and think about what they'd done.I put them on a rotation. Silas took days. Jaxon took nights. If either of them stepped out of line, I made them sit by the door, tails out, and think about what they'd done. Life was good. Then one night, I was tucked between the two of them under the covers, warm and half-asleep, and I mumbled, "Let's just share the bed tonight."Then one night, I was tucked between the two of them under the covers, warm and half-asleep, and I mumbled, "Let's just all sleep here tonight." A string of floating comments scrolled across my vision. [lmaooo the villainess is all over the male leads again] [every time she touches them, the wolf brothers go scrub themselves raw in the snow just to wash her scent off. I feel so bad for them][every time she touches them, the wolf brothers go wash in the snow three times just to scrub her off. I feel so bad for them] [Chloe's about to show up btw. she'll cure the villainess's condition and then ship her straight to the underground arena to get fed to the lions] My heart plummeted. I almost rolled right off the mattress.My heart nearly stopped. I almost rolled off the bed. The underground arena? They'd feed me to the lions? I yanked the blankets tight around myself and scrambled back flat against the wall.I yanked the blankets tight around myself and pressed my back flat against the wall. "No. Forget I said anything. You two need to sleep in your own rooms tonight.""No. Forget it. You two should sleep somewhere else tonight." Silas and Jaxon had just draped their tails across my arms. Now they were staring at me like I'd lost my mind.Silas and Jaxon had just draped their tails into my arms. Now they were staring at me like I'd lost my mind. *** I pressed into the corner of the bed, quilt pulled to my chin, watching them. Dread crawled up my spine. Silas broke the silence first. "Are you having a chill again?"Silas broke the silence first. "Is it the cold again?" He stood at the edge of the bed, the fleece blanket he'd warmed for me folded over one arm. A small crease sat between his brows. Jaxon was on one knee beside the mattress, his tail hovering where he'd been about to rest it against my leg. He'd gone still, his expression darkening by degrees.Jaxon was on one knee beside the mattress, his tail hovering where he'd been about to lay it against my leg. He'd gone still, his expression darkening by degrees. "What's your problem now?""What are you doing now?" My throat tightened. I gripped the fabric tighter. "I don't need either of you tonight.""I don't need you two tonight." "Just get out.""Just go." Jaxon let out a dry laugh.Jaxon almost laughed. "You were freezing just earlier. Now you're fine?""You were freezing half an hour ago. Now you're fine?" "I'm fine.""Yes." "Elara." His eyes locked on mine. "You think playing games with us is funny?""Elara." His eyes locked on mine. "You think messing with us is funny?" I forced my voice steady. "I just want to sleep alone tonight.""I want to sleep alone tonight." Jaxon pushed to his feet with a sneer. "Fine." "Don't come banging on my door in the middle of the night when the cold hits.""Don't come banging on my door in the middle of the night when it hits." Silas hadn't moved. He was still watching me. He'd never been much of a talker. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet.He'd never been much of a talker. When he finally spoke, his voice barely carried. "Are you sure you don't need us?""You're sure you don't need us?" I nodded. A beat passed. Then he turned and followed Jaxon out. The door clicked shut, and the silence crashed down over the room.The door clicked shut, and the silence dropped like a weight. I sat there for a long time, clutching the bedding to my chest, before I finally looked up. The floating comments were still there. Of course they were. [lol she's playing hard to get again][lol she's doing the push-pull thing again] [she does this every time. pushes them away and then waits for them to come crawling back to comfort her] [too bad it won't work this time lol. Chloe's almost here] [just wait till the FL shows up. she'll cure her first, and then toss her into the arena to die] I threw off the covers and rummaged through the cabinet. At the very bottom, shoved behind everything else, was the contract.I threw off the covers and went for the cabinet. At the very bottom, shoved behind everything else, was the contract. The pages had yellowed and gone soft at the edges. I held it in both hands and stared until the words blurred. Then, slowly, my fingers curled, crumpling the edges.I held it in both hands and stared until the words blurred. Then, slowly, my fingers curled around the paper. I couldn't keep Silas and Jaxon tied to me. Not anymore.I couldn't keep Silas and Jaxon. Not anymore. The next day, I went to Frostpeak Camp. I almost turned back at the door, but three years was a long time. They deserved to hear it from me in person.I almost turned back at the door, but three years was a long time. They deserved to hear it from me. The camp guards knew my face. They waved me through without a second look. I made it all the way to the strategy tent before I stopped. A voice drifted out from inside, soft and a little hesitant.I made it all the way to the strategy tent before I stopped. A voice drifted out from inside, soft and a little shaky. "This is my first time going to Glacier Valley. I'm worried I'll slow you two down... Would you be willing to guide me?""This is my first time going to Glacier Valley. I'm worried I'll slow you two down... Would you be willing to show me the way?" I leaned in and peered through the gap in the tent canvas.I leaned in and peered through the gap in the tent flap. A fox shifter stood inside. She was small and delicate, with round eyes and the faint glow of a healing aura still clinging to her skin.A fox shifter stood inside. She was small and pale, with round eyes and the faint glow of a healing aura still clinging to her skin. I recognized her instantly. Chloe Bennett, the girl from the floating comments. The female lead.I recognized her instantly. Chloe, the girl from the floating comments. The story's original heroine. Silas had the Glacier Valley route map spread in front of her, his voice low and even, carrying a gentle patience I'd almost never heard from him.Silas had the Glacier Valley route map spread in front of her, his voice low and even, carrying a patience I'd almost never heard from him. "There are a lot of dangerous drafts in Glacier Valley. Don't go off on your own.""There are a lot of wind gaps in Glacier Valley. Don't go off on your own." Jaxon lounged against the edge of the table, spinning a bone pen between his fingers. His usual edge was completely gone.Jaxon lounged against the edge of the table, spinning a bone pen between his fingers. His usual sharpness was nowhere to be found. "If you lose us, shoot up a flare. Don't wander off by yourself.""If you fall behind, send a signal. Don't wander off by yourself." I stood outside, and the air caught in my throat.I stood outside, and the air thinned in my lungs. So they were capable of being gentle.So they did know how to be gentle. Just never with me. That's when Jaxon's gaze snapped to the entrance and caught mine.That's when Jaxon's gaze flicked up and caught mine. The ease vanished from his face. He crossed the space in three strides and yanked the tent flap open.The ease vanished from his face. He crossed the space in three strides and yanked the canvas aside. "What are you doing here?" He didn't raise his voice, but every head in the room turned. Silas looked up too. For a split second, all I wanted was to run. And right on cue, the floating comments started scrolling again. [ugh, the villainess is here] [she's keeping tabs on them again. so clingy it's embarrassing][she's checking up on them again. so clingy it's embarrassing] [watch her throw a fit in three, two, one...] My skin prickled, and the words left my mouth before I could think. "I was just passing by.""Just passing through." "Don't let me interrupt.""Keep going." I turned and walked. Two steps later, Jaxon caught my arm from behind and shoved a wooden pass into my palm.I turned and walked. Two steps later, Jaxon caught my arm from behind and pressed a wooden pass into my hand. "Go to my tent. Wait for me there.""Go to my tent. Wait there." "We'll be done soon." He let go and turned back before I could refuse.He was gone before I could say no. For a long time, I just stood there, pass in hand. I went anyway. Jaxon's tent was as messy as he was, and just as unapologetic about it. His jacket hung off the back of a chair and his wrist guards lay tossed across the table, but the whole space was thick with his scent.Jaxon's tent was as messy as he was, and just as unapologetic about it. His jacket hung off the back of a chair and his wrist guards lay tossed across the table, but the whole space was thick with snow wolf scent. I'd only come to wait for them and say what I needed to say. But I'd been white-knuckling it since last night. Too many hours without their warmth, and my body was done pretending it could handle it. Minutes after I sat down, the cold crept in. It started in my fingers, spread to my feet, then seeped into my bones.Minutes after I sat down, the cold crept in. It started in my fingers, spread to my feet, then everywhere. I grabbed the fleece blanket off the bed and tucked it around my shoulders, then leaned against the headboard, trying to ride it out. My eyelids grew heavy.My eyelids dragged shut. When I forced them open, Jaxon was looming over me.When I opened them, Jaxon was right there. He had one arm braced against the headboard, hand gripping my waist, tail coiled around my leg.He had one arm braced above me, hand pressed flat against my waist, tail coiled around my leg. I jolted awake. "What are you doing?" I shoved at his chest, but he caught my wrist and pinned it to the mattress.I shoved at his chest, but he caught my wrist and pinned it back down. His head dropped lower, eyes dark with irritation.His head dropped lower, eyes dark. "You climbed into my bed on your own, and you're asking me?""You crawled into my bed on your own, and you're asking me?" "I didn't." "You kicked us out last night." He leaned in closer, breath hot against my skin. "And now you show up here. What game are you playing, Elara?""You kicked us out last night." He leaned in closer, breath hot against my skin. "And now you show up here. What are you doing, Elara?" My mind went blank. Normally, I would've given in.Before all this, I would've given in. But the floating comments were blazing across my vision. [oh please, she's so desperate for their attention][oh please, like she doesn't love this. she's always all over the male leads] [she plays the sick card in front of Silas and Jaxon every single time][she fakes being sick in front of Silas and Jaxon every single time] [she's only throwing a tantrum because Chloe showed up lol][she's only acting up because Chloe showed up lol] I clenched my jaw and pushed hard against his shoulders.I clenched my jaw and shoved him off. "That's not why I'm here." His jaw tightened, but he stayed silent.Jaxon held my stare. He didn't say a word. I sat up while I had the chance, smoothed down my clothes, and reached for the contract folder I'd brought.I sat up while I had the chance, pulled my collar straight, and reached for the contract folder I'd brought. "I came to terminate our contract.""I'm here to end our contract." Jaxon went still. Then his expression went hard as stone. "What did you say?" "End the contract." I met his eyes. "What part of that wasn't clear?" He looked at me like he was trying to figure out what kind of crazy I was pulling this time.He looked at me like he was trying to figure out what kind of crazy I was trying this time. "Is this about the fox shifter outside?""This is because of the fox shifter outside?" "It's got nothing to do with her." "Nothing to do with her, and you're pulling this stunt?" He scoffed. "I already told you. She was just helping someone out. Elara, how long are you going to keep this up?""Nothing to do with her, and you're doing this?" He scoffed. "I already told you. She was helping someone out. Elara, how long are you going to keep this up?" Keep this up. That phrase sank under my skin like a hook. It all came back at once. The night my condition flared at 2 a.m. and I knocked on his door, he'd opened it with a scowl. Stop using your condition to mess with us.The night my condition flared at 2 a.m. and I knocked on his door, he'd opened it with a scowl. Stop using your condition to mess with people. The time Silas came back hurt and I waited outside the med tent for hours. He'd told me I was being dramatic. The healers have it handled.The time Silas came back hurt and I waited outside the med tent for hours. He'd told me I was being dramatic. The healers had it handled. Even when the cold got so bad I couldn't get words out, they always gave me the same answer. Stop making a scene. Stop being difficult. My grip tightened on the contract folder, and my voice went flat. "I'm not making a scene." "I came here to tell you. Not to ask." The tent flap lifted behind me. Silas walked in. His eyes went to me first, then to Jaxon, then down to the contract folder in my hand. "What's going on?" Jaxon didn't move. His voice came out cold and mocking.Jaxon didn't move. His voice came out cold and hard. "She says she wants to end the contract.""She wants to end the contract." Silas stopped mid-step and looked at me. The tent went silent. He was the one who spoke first. He always was. "Why?" I couldn't exactly bring up the floating comments. I couldn't tell him I already knew I'd end up in the underground arena. I looked at him for a long time, and what came out was the only thing I could say. "I'm done." The air went still. Jaxon erupted first. "The he11 did you just say?""Say that again." I lifted my chin and gave him the thinnest smile I had. "I said I'm done. Three years of settling was plenty." Jaxon shot to his feet, his expression twisting into something dangerous. "Settling?" "Half the women in this camp would kill for a contract with us. We never turned you away, and you're the one who's done?""Half the women in the tribe would kill for a contract with us. We never turned you away, and you're the one who's done?" I met his eyes, and something between a laugh and a sigh almost escaped. "You never turned me away. Am I supposed to drop to my knees and thank you for that?" I let that land. Then I kept going. "And who says I can't be the one to walk away?""And who says I can't be the one who's done first?" That one cut deeper. I could see it. Jaxon's jaw locked so tight it looked like something was about to snap. For a second, I thought he was going to pin me down again. But Silas caught his arm. He was watching me, still and quiet, like he was deciding whether I meant it. A long silence passed. Then he nodded. "Fine.""Okay." Jaxon's head snapped toward him. "Silas!" "If she's thought it through, then that's that." Silas's voice was light, like he was approving a supply request. "We're heading to Glacier Valley soon, and we won't be back for a while. We'll handle the paperwork once the mission's done. You can stay at the house until then.""We're heading to Glacier Valley soon, and we won't be back for a while. We'll handle the paperwork once the mission's done. Use the house and everything in it until then." I hadn't expected him to agree that easily. For a second, I didn't know what to do with it. But then the relief came. He was letting me go. That was enough. I picked up the contract folder and turned to leave. Jaxon's voice followed me out, low and hard. "Elara. Don't come crawling back to us when you regret this.""Elara. Don't come crying to us when you regret this." I didn't look back. I made it all the way to the camp gates before I realized I'd left one of the forms behind in Jaxon's tent.I made it all the way to the camp gates before I realized I'd left a document behind in Jaxon's tent. I turned back. But the moment I reached the entrance, I heard his voice. "Why would you agree to that?" My feet locked to the ground. Then Silas's voice drifted through the canvas, as calm as ever. "Relax." "With her condition, she won't last without us." Every musc1e in my body went rigid. They kept talking. "Twelve hours without physical contact and she'll be shaking. All of this today? She saw Chloe and got jealous. She's using the contract to force our hand.""Twelve hours without physical contact and she'll be shaking. All of this today? She saw Chloe and got jealous. She's using the contract to make us grovel." "Let her cool off." "Once the symptoms get bad enough, she'll come crawling back on her own." Jaxon was quiet for a moment. Then he swore under his breath. "And if she goes looking for another shifter?""And if she goes looking for another beast shifter?" Silas didn't miss a beat. "Everyone in Sterling City knows she's ours." "With our rank, no beast shifter in this city would touch her." "She has nowhere to go but back to us." I stood outside that tent, and the cold spreading through my hands and feet had nothing to do with my condition. The floating comments tore across my vision. [did you hear that. that's what they really think] [it was never about caring. her condition is just leverage to them] [they're not worried about her suffering. they're just mad she's acting out][they're not worried about her suffering. they're worried about her disobeying] I stared at those words, and a laugh almost clawed its way out of my throat. So that's what it looked like when someone didn't care about you. It was this obvious. They didn't just overlook my pain. They saw it, and weaponized it.They didn't fail to notice I was hurting. They noticed, and decided it didn't matter. I didn't go back inside. I turned and walked. That afternoon, I went straight to Sterling City's registry office and filed the termination myself. The second my name hit the paper, something in my chest hollowed out. But only for a second. Because Silas was right. Two days after the snow wolf brothers left, my condition flared.

I had been waiting three months to tell Ethan about our b4#&by. At Yara's wedding, I reached for the bouquet—the one that meant "next to marry." Zoe reached too. Ethan st.uck his leg out and tripped me. I landed on a brass candle stand. The b1#&00d pooled beneath me while he laughed and told me to stop embarrassing myself. The b4#&by was g0ne before he even knew it existed. And in the hospital, he said it was just an embryo anyway. Said these things happen. Said we could try again. I stayed silent. But I remembered everything. While I was in surg3ry, he moved his assistant into our home. Zoe's parents showed up—he played the perfect boyfriend for them. Shopping trips. Dinner parties. The group chat full of photos. Even the raffle he rigged. Even the bouquet he stole. I walked through my own front door and saw his hand on her back. Zoe's mother asked who I was. Ethan said: "She's my assistant." So I smiled. I nodded. And I decided right then—I was done. Ethan Hale gave my future away like it was nothing. Now I'm giving him back. Ethan Hale stuck his leg out and tripped me. I lost the b@by. The brass candle stand I knocked over landed right on my stomach. I was shaking so hard I could barely stand, and Ethan was laughing. "Get up. You're making a scene at someone else's wedding." "I was just trying to slow you down. No need to fight Zoe for the bouquet." While I was still on the ground, Zoe Fischer had already caught the bridal bouquet, smiling. Ethan was watching her, but his hand was wrapped around my arm, yanking me up like I was a piece of luggage. "Come on. Get up." "Don't embarrass yourself here." I didn't say a word. Until people started looking at me. b!0od was pooling on the floor, soaking into the hem of Ethan's pants before he even noticed. He finally caught the metal1!c smell, thick and heavy, and blinked at me, confused. "Ellie, where's all this b!0od coming from...?" My plan was to catch the bouquet, then tell Ethan the secret I'd been keeping for three months. To ask him when we were getting married. But I didn't need to catch anything anymore. And I didn't need to ask. ... Ethan sat by the hospital bed, finishing a text to Zoe, before he finally looked at me with something close to annoyance. "You didn't know you were pr3gn^nt?" "You're a grown woman. How do you not take care of yourself?" While I was in surgery, he'd gone home and changed. There was no b!0od on him anymore. He told me the reception had been awkward after I left. Because of what happened. "When you're out, I'll take everyone to dinner. You can apologize to Yara and her husband." I stared at the ceiling, my voice flat. "Ethan, is this my fault? Did I fall on purpose?" "Did I want to m!sc3rry?" He paused, taking in my pale face. "You shouldn't have run so fast." "I was just trying to hold you back. Let Zoe have the bouquet." "You know she's been through a divorce, she's still struggling." "She just wanted a little bit of good luck. Why did you have to compete with her?" Our mutual friends were getting married. The couple had been together for years. Solid. Yara was tossing the bouquet and she was playful about it. "Get ready, everyone! Whoever catches it is getting married next!" Before the ceremony, she'd pulled me and Ethan aside. "When I toss the bouquet, I'm aiming it right at you two." "Ethan, I wouldn't mind if you proposed at my wedding. Double the happiness." She winked at both of us. Everyone wanted that kind of blessing from a happy couple. I did too. I thought Ethan understood the hint, just like I did. So I ran to the front, reaching for the bouquet that meant marriage. Zoe and I both had our hands on it. Then Ethan stuck his leg out. I tripped. The bouquet bounced off my fingers and landed in Zoe's arms. When I went quiet, Ethan leaned in and patted my hand, brushing it off like it was nothing. "Okay. Let's not talk about this anymore." Like he was being magnanimous. "You don't want to apologize? Then don't." "The b@by was just an embryo anyway. These things happen. It's gone." "Don't be too upset." "Rest up. We can always have another one." I pulled my hand back and closed my eyes. I remembered it so clearly—just a few days ago, at my check-up, the doctor smiled and said: "In a few more weeks, you'll start feeling movement." I rested my hand on my stomach. But now there was nothing there. Empty. The hospital room was filled with hollow breathing. Probably thinking I was asleep, Ethan lowered his voice and called Yara. "I hired someone to look after her." "If you guys have time, come keep her company. Cheer her up." "Me?" "I've got work at the firm. I can't be here all day." "Besides, seeing her like this... it's a lot of pressure." "She doesn't want to talk. Sitting here, it just makes me restless." The door opened. And closed. Ethan's voice faded, until I couldn't hear him anymore. I stayed at the recovery center for another two weeks. Ethan only came twice. He never lasted more than ten minutes. "There's not much I can do here anyway. Got things to take care of. I'll head out." He couldn't do much. And he was busy. His phone kept buzzing. Zoe's name kept popping up. He replied to every single one without looking up. "I'll come get you when you're discharged." But he didn't remember the day I was getting out. The caregiver called him. He didn't listen to what she said. Just mumbled a couple of distracted "uh-huhs" and rushed to hang up. "I'm swamped over here. Whatever it is, you guys handle it." In the background, I could hear Zoe calling his name, all sweet and syrupy. The caregiver stared at her phone, then gave me an awkward look. The house was buzzing when I got home. I pushed the door open. A woman I didn't recognize was carrying the last dish out of the kitchen, chattering as she went. "Ethan, you have to try this. It's my signature dish." "Zoe's absolute favorite." Ethan laughed, smooth as ever. "Zoe's favorite? Then I know I'll love it. She's been telling me about your cooking forever." Zoe buried her face in her hands, cheeks bu//rning red. I stepped inside. It felt like I was interrupting something, like I was the outsider in my own home. Zoe's M0m hesitated. "And who's this?" Ethan stood up, already steering me toward the door, one hand on my shoulder, the other waving off Zoe's family. He searched for a label, and finally settled on one. "She's my assistant. Just dropping something off." My body was tired. My he@rt was tired too. Ethan grabbed my hand. "After Zoe's divorce, her parents have been on her case nonstop." "She panicked and told them she had a new boyfriend." "Then they showed up out of nowhere. So she asked me to help." "Just play along as her boyfriend for a few days. Until they leave." He shrugged, like it was no big deal, and gave my hand a little shake. "Ethan. When did they get here?" He blinked, like he didn't expect me to ask. Then he told me the date. The day I had my surgery. I let out a slow, quiet laugh. "No wonder you've been so busy lately." He saw me smile and relaxed. "You know Zoe's been with me through a lot these past few years." "She's my assistant, but she's also my friend. I couldn't really turn her down." "I put in a little time, her parents go home thinking she's doing fine. Everyone wins." He'd thought it all through. Every angle. I said it, genuinely. "Ethan. You're so good to her." I put my hand on his ch3st and pushed him back. Zoe came out right behind him, rushing to stand in front of him like I was some kind of threat. "Ellie, don't! Don't hit him!" "It was my idea. I asked Ethan to help. Blame me, not him!" "My apartment's too small, and he knew my parents barely ever visit. He figured since you weren't around anyway, it'd be fine if we stayed here." My being gone worked in their favor. Not just a meal. Not just a dinner. They were living together. "Don't fight because of me. I'll take my parents and leave right now." She said she was leaving, but she didn't move an inch. Ethan pulled her behind him and lowered his voice. "Don't worry about me. No one's fighting." "Your parents are almost gone. Stop overthinking. Just stay." Zoe looked at me nervously. "Ellie... you're okay with this?" I watched the light fall on their hands, still touching. I gave a quiet "Mm." "I don't mind." "It's Ethan's place. If he wants you to stay, then stay." I thought about a lot of things. Me and Ethan. Him and Zoe. Myself. And I realized, there was nothing left to care about. I was going to break up with Ethan Hale. My phone wouldn't stop buzzing. One of my friends posted a photo in our group chat. Ethan was at the mall with Zoe's whole family. Shopping bags hanging off both arms. The perfect boyfriend, the perfect son-in-law act. Every inch of it. "Ellie, what is Ethan doing?" Like they couldn't hold it in anymore. The words came out raw, unfiltered. "Ellie, I've been wanting to tell you for a while." "I've seen Ethan with his 'assistant' outside of work more times than I can count." "I didn't say anything before. Didn't want to seem like I was stirring sh^t." "But then at Yara's wedding, he insisted on bringing her along." "You had a m!sc3rriage, and he's not home taking care of you? He's got time to play shopping buddy?" "Anyone looking at them would think they were the couple." My stomach cramped, like it was reacting to those words. My friend had held back. So had I. From the day Zoe said she was getting divorced to the day it was final. Ethan was there every step of the way. He handled her ex when he wouldn't leave her alone. He found her a shark of a lawyer. She was depressed, so they extended their business trips. After meetings, he'd walk her around whatever city they were in. When we shopped together, Ethan would blurt out, "Zoe would love this." When Zoe got drunk, he'd pick her up. Go to her place. Take care of her. I heard her slurring one night, asking why other men couldn't be more like Ethan. He made her det9x tea and fed it to her spoonful by spoonful. "Then next time, find me sooner." I dragged myself out in the middle of the night for that. I frowned. "Ethan. Don't you think you and Zoe are crossing a line?" He stared at me for a few seconds. Then he laughed. "You're jealous over that?" "She's been with me since the firm was nothing. Never complained once." "The divorce hit her hard. Of course I have to look out for her." Every time I brought it up, he fed me the same lines. When I pushed too hard, he'd tell me to calm down, to stop seeing something dirty every time a man and woman were in the same room. The worst fight we ever had—the one that almost ended us—was at his company holiday party. First prize was an all-inclusive resort voucher for two. I hooked my finger around his. "If you win, or if I win, we'll go when you take time off." I was number six. Zoe was number nine. When they announced the raffle, Zoe was hyping it up. "Pick me! Pick me! I want it!" Ethan was drawing the ticket. The room was loud, chaotic. He and Zoe locked eyes across the crowd. Then he smiled and read the number. "Congratulations, number nine!" I looked down at my ticket. Disappointed, sure. But fine. Until I saw the discarded raffle tickets they were clearing away. The number on mine was six. Ethan admitted it. He'd done it on purpose. "It's a small thing. If you really want to go, I'll take you myself." "Zoe's in a dark place right now. She wanted something, and your number came up. I figured we could do something nice for her. What's wrong with that?" "You've thrown fits over little things like this so many times. Grow up, will you?" "Stop being so petty!" "No! No!" I cu/t him off, my voice sharp. "That was mine! You're my boyfriend. Why do you get to give away what belongs to me without even asking?" Ethan didn't want to go there. He turned and started walking away. Like I was some hysterical, nagging girlfriend. I watched his back. Then I hurled my raffle ticket at him. "Go ahead. Give everything away." "I'm giving you away too." "Ethan. We're done." I walked. And kept walking. It didn't register until I was halfway down the block. Then he ran after me, grabbing my arm. He was breathing hard. He started to lay into me, but when he saw my face—saw I wasn't bluffing—something in him cracked. He pulled me into a tight hug, mumbling apologies. "Okay. Okay." "I'm sorry, Ellie." "I'll tell her to give it back. It won't happen again." I stopped struggling. He nuzzled against me. "I knew it. You could never really leave me." He said he'd watch his boundaries. But then at Yara's wedding, when Zoe said she didn't believe love would ever find her again, Ethan decided I should hand over the bouquet. Give her that little piece of happiness. Only this time, I lost more than a free vacation voucher. I stopped thinking about all of it. I typed one message into the group chat that was blowing up. "It's fine. I'm breaking up with Ethan." Neither of our families knew about the m!sc3rriage. They'd been gently complaining, cornering me into afternoon tea with them. "Ellie, what have you and Ethan been so busy with? We've tried to visit, but you both keep saying you're tied up." Ethan's M0m put on a mock pout. "I called him late the other night, and I swear I heard his assistant's voice in the background." "You two need to take better care of yourselves. Don't work so late." I smiled. The words sat there, stuck in my throat. Ethan spotted us first. Neither of us expected to run into each other at the mall. He pulled me aside without a second thought. "Zoe and her parents are here. If we run into them, it's going to be a mess to explain." "Why don't you take my M0m and your M0m to another part of the mall?" His hand reached up, rubbing my earlobe. "Yeah?" Soft music played through the speakers. For no reason at all, it grated on me. I stepped back, putting distance between us. His hand dropped. He pulled it back like it was nothing. "I figured you were too busy to deal with us anyway. I was going to wait until Zoe's parents left." "But honestly? I can't wait another second." He had no idea what I meant. Probably annoyed that I'd dodged him, he leaned in to kiss me. I turned my head. His lips hit my cheek. "Wait for what? Okay, I get it. Once they're gone, I'll make it up to you." "Come on. Be good." I rubbed my cheek hard, twice. Like I could scrub off the feeling. My voice was quiet. My eyes weren't. "Ethan. Don't make this feel like some cheap affair." "We're break—" Before I could finish, both our M0ms stepped out of the store. They'd already seen us. Their faces lit up. "Ethan! What are you doing here? I thought you were busy?" Ethan didn't miss a beat. "Just meeting a client nearby, M0m." My fingers curled, almost imperceptibly. I remembered how, after he promised to set boundaries with Zoe, we'd actually spent less time together. He always said work kept him busy. Zoe had posted a photo once. Just a corner of the frame, but you could see his hand—those sharp, clean knuckles. I asked him what that was about. He said he was in a client meeting. Same exact tone. He pulled out a credit card and handed it to me, casual as ever. "Whatever my three ladies want today—it's on me." "Call it my apology." Both M0ms laughed, delighted. They teased me about being the richest woman in the family. I watched them smile. The words I wanted to say got stuck again. I swallowed them back down. Ethan was eager to get me moving. He pushed the card into my hand. Then he turned. Heavy footsteps that sounded like they were about to bring the whole building down. Someone grabbed my hair from behind. A hand used to rough work. Manual lab0r. Iron work. A s1@p landed across my face. Hard. My cheek swelled instantly. Five red marks, clear as day. My ears rang like they'd burst. Chaos. Someone was holding Zoe's M0m back, but she kept lunging, like she wanted to tear me apart. "I knew you were trouble the last time I saw you at my daughter's place." "You're just a homewrecker trying to move in on my daughter's man, chasing him here for m0ney!" Her hair was a mess. She was ready to drop to the floor and make a scene. "Everyone, listen!" "This woman is a homewrecker! She claimed she was my daughter's boyfriend's assistant, but she followed him home!" "You think people can't see right through you?" "I saw you with my own eyes—grabbing at him, trying to take his credit card!" "My daughter told me everything. This homewrecker just had an a.b0rt^0n!" "So shameless. No self-respect. Still trying to cling to my daughter's man." "You're not getting away with this. Over my dead body!" She was loud. Word after word after word. People stopped to stare. Eyes full of disgust. My M0m couldn't even touch my swollen face. She just cried, her hands shaking. "What are you talking about?! My daughter is not that kind of person!" Zoe's M0m only got worse. "Look at the two of you, all dolled up." "Probably the older one was just as dirty, and the daughter learned from her. The whole family's nothing but—" She didn't finish. Zoe pushed through the crowd and ran to her mother's side. She dropped to her knees, trying to cover her M0m's mouth. Her face was completely white. Her hands were trembling. When she looked at me, there was nothing but panic in her eyes. "M0m, stop! Please stop!"

"With her condition, she won't last without us." That's what Silas said outside the tent. He thought I couldn't hear. Three years, I'd paid them, fed them, and kept them warm. I thought we had an arrangement. They thought I was desperate. I saw the floating comments. They told me everything. The underground arena. The lions. The female lead who would cure me and then throw me away. I termin@ted the contract. "You'll come crawling back," Jaxon said. I didn't. When my condition flared, every clinic in Sterling City turned me away. They were too afraid of the snow wolf brothers to help. So I went to the underground market. I bought a black panther shifter from the very last cage. He was chained. Wounded. Half his face in shadow. But his heat was unmistakable. "Can you just hold me now?" I asked. He pulled me into his arms. His warmth hit me like fire. This wasn't any ordinary black panther. I'd bought him to survive. But I had a feeling I'd just changed the course of my entire life. And the snow wolves had no idea what was coming. Bad news. I had a rare condition, and not the normal kind.Bad news. I had a condition, and not the normal kind. If no one kept me warm for twelve hours, my core temperature would plummet.If no one kept me warm for twelve hours, my whole body went cold. Good news. I had transmigrated into the Eldridge Continent. And if there was one thing this world had plenty of, it was beast shifters: warm-blooded, thick-furred walking furnaces in human form. So I splurged and bought myself a pair of snow wolf brothers. Silas Thorne was quiet and cold. Jaxon Thorne was wild, completely untamable. I put them on a rotation. Silas took the day shift. Jaxon took the night shift. If either of them stepped out of line, I made them sit by the door, tails out, and think about what they'd done.I put them on a rotation. Silas took days. Jaxon took nights. If either of them stepped out of line, I made them sit by the door, tails out, and think about what they'd done. Life was good. Then one night, I was tucked between the two of them under the covers, warm and half-asleep, and I mumbled, "Let's just share the bed tonight."Then one night, I was tucked between the two of them under the covers, warm and half-asleep, and I mumbled, "Let's just all sleep here tonight." A string of floating comments scrolled across my vision. [lmaooo the villainess is all over the male leads again] [every time she touches them, the wolf brothers go scrub themselves raw in the snow just to wash her scent off. I feel so bad for them][every time she touches them, the wolf brothers go wash in the snow three times just to scrub her off. I feel so bad for them] [Chloe's about to show up btw. she'll cure the villainess's condition and then ship her straight to the underground arena to get fed to the lions] My heart plummeted. I almost rolled right off the mattress.My heart nearly stopped. I almost rolled off the bed. The underground arena? They'd feed me to the lions? I yanked the blankets tight around myself and scrambled back flat against the wall.I yanked the blankets tight around myself and pressed my back flat against the wall. "No. Forget I said anything. You two need to sleep in your own rooms tonight.""No. Forget it. You two should sleep somewhere else tonight." Silas and Jaxon had just draped their tails across my arms. Now they were staring at me like I'd lost my mind.Silas and Jaxon had just draped their tails into my arms. Now they were staring at me like I'd lost my mind. *** I pressed into the corner of the bed, quilt pulled to my chin, watching them. Dread crawled up my spine. Silas broke the silence first. "Are you having a chill again?"Silas broke the silence first. "Is it the cold again?" He stood at the edge of the bed, the fleece blanket he'd warmed for me folded over one arm. A small crease sat between his brows. Jaxon was on one knee beside the mattress, his tail hovering where he'd been about to rest it against my leg. He'd gone still, his expression darkening by degrees.Jaxon was on one knee beside the mattress, his tail hovering where he'd been about to lay it against my leg. He'd gone still, his expression darkening by degrees. "What's your problem now?""What are you doing now?" My throat tightened. I gripped the fabric tighter. "I don't need either of you tonight.""I don't need you two tonight." "Just get out.""Just go." Jaxon let out a dry laugh.Jaxon almost laughed. "You were freezing just earlier. Now you're fine?""You were freezing half an hour ago. Now you're fine?" "I'm fine.""Yes." "Elara." His eyes locked on mine. "You think playing games with us is funny?""Elara." His eyes locked on mine. "You think messing with us is funny?" I forced my voice steady. "I just want to sleep alone tonight.""I want to sleep alone tonight." Jaxon pushed to his feet with a sneer. "Fine." "Don't come banging on my door in the middle of the night when the cold hits.""Don't come banging on my door in the middle of the night when it hits." Silas hadn't moved. He was still watching me. He'd never been much of a talker. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet.He'd never been much of a talker. When he finally spoke, his voice barely carried. "Are you sure you don't need us?""You're sure you don't need us?" I nodded. A beat passed. Then he turned and followed Jaxon out. The door clicked shut, and the silence crashed down over the room.The door clicked shut, and the silence dropped like a weight. I sat there for a long time, clutching the bedding to my chest, before I finally looked up. The floating comments were still there. Of course they were. [lol she's playing hard to get again][lol she's doing the push-pull thing again] [she does this every time. pushes them away and then waits for them to come crawling back to comfort her] [too bad it won't work this time lol. Chloe's almost here] [just wait till the FL shows up. she'll cure her first, and then toss her into the arena to die] I threw off the covers and rummaged through the cabinet. At the very bottom, shoved behind everything else, was the contract.I threw off the covers and went for the cabinet. At the very bottom, shoved behind everything else, was the contract. The pages had yellowed and gone soft at the edges. I held it in both hands and stared until the words blurred. Then, slowly, my fingers curled, crumpling the edges.I held it in both hands and stared until the words blurred. Then, slowly, my fingers curled around the paper. I couldn't keep Silas and Jaxon tied to me. Not anymore.I couldn't keep Silas and Jaxon. Not anymore. The next day, I went to Frostpeak Camp. I almost turned back at the door, but three years was a long time. They deserved to hear it from me in person.I almost turned back at the door, but three years was a long time. They deserved to hear it from me. The camp guards knew my face. They waved me through without a second look. I made it all the way to the strategy tent before I stopped. A voice drifted out from inside, soft and a little hesitant.I made it all the way to the strategy tent before I stopped. A voice drifted out from inside, soft and a little shaky. "This is my first time going to Glacier Valley. I'm worried I'll slow you two down... Would you be willing to guide me?""This is my first time going to Glacier Valley. I'm worried I'll slow you two down... Would you be willing to show me the way?" I leaned in and peered through the gap in the tent canvas.I leaned in and peered through the gap in the tent flap. A fox shifter stood inside. She was small and delicate, with round eyes and the faint glow of a healing aura still clinging to her skin.A fox shifter stood inside. She was small and pale, with round eyes and the faint glow of a healing aura still clinging to her skin. I recognized her instantly. Chloe Bennett, the girl from the floating comments. The female lead.I recognized her instantly. Chloe, the girl from the floating comments. The story's original heroine. Silas had the Glacier Valley route map spread in front of her, his voice low and even, carrying a gentle patience I'd almost never heard from him.Silas had the Glacier Valley route map spread in front of her, his voice low and even, carrying a patience I'd almost never heard from him. "There are a lot of dangerous drafts in Glacier Valley. Don't go off on your own.""There are a lot of wind gaps in Glacier Valley. Don't go off on your own." Jaxon lounged against the edge of the table, spinning a bone pen between his fingers. His usual edge was completely gone.Jaxon lounged against the edge of the table, spinning a bone pen between his fingers. His usual sharpness was nowhere to be found. "If you lose us, shoot up a flare. Don't wander off by yourself.""If you fall behind, send a signal. Don't wander off by yourself." I stood outside, and the air caught in my throat.I stood outside, and the air thinned in my lungs. So they were capable of being gentle.So they did know how to be gentle. Just never with me. That's when Jaxon's gaze snapped to the entrance and caught mine.That's when Jaxon's gaze flicked up and caught mine. The ease vanished from his face. He crossed the space in three strides and yanked the tent flap open.The ease vanished from his face. He crossed the space in three strides and yanked the canvas aside. "What are you doing here?" He didn't raise his voice, but every head in the room turned. Silas looked up too. For a split second, all I wanted was to run. And right on cue, the floating comments started scrolling again. [ugh, the villainess is here] [she's keeping tabs on them again. so clingy it's embarrassing][she's checking up on them again. so clingy it's embarrassing] [watch her throw a fit in three, two, one...] My skin prickled, and the words left my mouth before I could think. "I was just passing by.""Just passing through." "Don't let me interrupt.""Keep going." I turned and walked. Two steps later, Jaxon caught my arm from behind and shoved a wooden pass into my palm.I turned and walked. Two steps later, Jaxon caught my arm from behind and pressed a wooden pass into my hand. "Go to my tent. Wait for me there.""Go to my tent. Wait there." "We'll be done soon." He let go and turned back before I could refuse.He was gone before I could say no. For a long time, I just stood there, pass in hand. I went anyway. Jaxon's tent was as messy as he was, and just as unapologetic about it. His jacket hung off the back of a chair and his wrist guards lay tossed across the table, but the whole space was thick with his scent.Jaxon's tent was as messy as he was, and just as unapologetic about it. His jacket hung off the back of a chair and his wrist guards lay tossed across the table, but the whole space was thick with snow wolf scent. I'd only come to wait for them and say what I needed to say. But I'd been white-knuckling it since last night. Too many hours without their warmth, and my body was done pretending it could handle it. Minutes after I sat down, the cold crept in. It started in my fingers, spread to my feet, then seeped into my bones.Minutes after I sat down, the cold crept in. It started in my fingers, spread to my feet, then everywhere. I grabbed the fleece blanket off the bed and tucked it around my shoulders, then leaned against the headboard, trying to ride it out. My eyelids grew heavy.My eyelids dragged shut. When I forced them open, Jaxon was looming over me.When I opened them, Jaxon was right there. He had one arm braced against the headboard, hand gripping my waist, tail coiled around my leg.He had one arm braced above me, hand pressed flat against my waist, tail coiled around my leg. I jolted awake. "What are you doing?" I shoved at his chest, but he caught my wrist and pinned it to the mattress.I shoved at his chest, but he caught my wrist and pinned it back down. His head dropped lower, eyes dark with irritation.His head dropped lower, eyes dark. "You climbed into my bed on your own, and you're asking me?""You crawled into my bed on your own, and you're asking me?" "I didn't." "You kicked us out last night." He leaned in closer, breath hot against my skin. "And now you show up here. What game are you playing, Elara?""You kicked us out last night." He leaned in closer, breath hot against my skin. "And now you show up here. What are you doing, Elara?" My mind went blank. Normally, I would've given in.Before all this, I would've given in. But the floating comments were blazing across my vision. [oh please, she's so desperate for their attention][oh please, like she doesn't love this. she's always all over the male leads] [she plays the sick card in front of Silas and Jaxon every single time][she fakes being sick in front of Silas and Jaxon every single time] [she's only throwing a tantrum because Chloe showed up lol][she's only acting up because Chloe showed up lol] I clenched my jaw and pushed hard against his shoulders.I clenched my jaw and shoved him off. "That's not why I'm here." His jaw tightened, but he stayed silent.Jaxon held my stare. He didn't say a word. I sat up while I had the chance, smoothed down my clothes, and reached for the contract folder I'd brought.I sat up while I had the chance, pulled my collar straight, and reached for the contract folder I'd brought. "I came to terminate our contract.""I'm here to end our contract." Jaxon went still. Then his expression went hard as stone. "What did you say?" "End the contract." I met his eyes. "What part of that wasn't clear?" He looked at me like he was trying to figure out what kind of crazy I was pulling this time.He looked at me like he was trying to figure out what kind of crazy I was trying this time. "Is this about the fox shifter outside?""This is because of the fox shifter outside?" "It's got nothing to do with her." "Nothing to do with her, and you're pulling this stunt?" He scoffed. "I already told you. She was just helping someone out. Elara, how long are you going to keep this up?""Nothing to do with her, and you're doing this?" He scoffed. "I already told you. She was helping someone out. Elara, how long are you going to keep this up?" Keep this up. That phrase sank under my skin like a hook. It all came back at once. The night my condition flared at 2 a.m. and I knocked on his door, he'd opened it with a scowl. Stop using your condition to mess with us.The night my condition flared at 2 a.m. and I knocked on his door, he'd opened it with a scowl. Stop using your condition to mess with people. The time Silas came back hurt and I waited outside the med tent for hours. He'd told me I was being dramatic. The healers have it handled.The time Silas came back hurt and I waited outside the med tent for hours. He'd told me I was being dramatic. The healers had it handled. Even when the cold got so bad I couldn't get words out, they always gave me the same answer. Stop making a scene. Stop being difficult. My grip tightened on the contract folder, and my voice went flat. "I'm not making a scene." "I came here to tell you. Not to ask." The tent flap lifted behind me. Silas walked in. His eyes went to me first, then to Jaxon, then down to the contract folder in my hand. "What's going on?" Jaxon didn't move. His voice came out cold and mocking.Jaxon didn't move. His voice came out cold and hard. "She says she wants to end the contract.""She wants to end the contract." Silas stopped mid-step and looked at me. The tent went silent. He was the one who spoke first. He always was. "Why?" I couldn't exactly bring up the floating comments. I couldn't tell him I already knew I'd end up in the underground arena. I looked at him for a long time, and what came out was the only thing I could say. "I'm done." The air went still. Jaxon erupted first. "The he11 did you just say?""Say that again." I lifted my chin and gave him the thinnest smile I had. "I said I'm done. Three years of settling was plenty." Jaxon shot to his feet, his expression twisting into something dangerous. "Settling?" "Half the women in this camp would kill for a contract with us. We never turned you away, and you're the one who's done?""Half the women in the tribe would kill for a contract with us. We never turned you away, and you're the one who's done?" I met his eyes, and something between a laugh and a sigh almost escaped. "You never turned me away. Am I supposed to drop to my knees and thank you for that?" I let that land. Then I kept going. "And who says I can't be the one to walk away?""And who says I can't be the one who's done first?" That one cut deeper. I could see it. Jaxon's jaw locked so tight it looked like something was about to snap. For a second, I thought he was going to pin me down again. But Silas caught his arm. He was watching me, still and quiet, like he was deciding whether I meant it. A long silence passed. Then he nodded. "Fine.""Okay." Jaxon's head snapped toward him. "Silas!" "If she's thought it through, then that's that." Silas's voice was light, like he was approving a supply request. "We're heading to Glacier Valley soon, and we won't be back for a while. We'll handle the paperwork once the mission's done. You can stay at the house until then.""We're heading to Glacier Valley soon, and we won't be back for a while. We'll handle the paperwork once the mission's done. Use the house and everything in it until then." I hadn't expected him to agree that easily. For a second, I didn't know what to do with it. But then the relief came. He was letting me go. That was enough. I picked up the contract folder and turned to leave. Jaxon's voice followed me out, low and hard. "Elara. Don't come crawling back to us when you regret this.""Elara. Don't come crying to us when you regret this." I didn't look back. I made it all the way to the camp gates before I realized I'd left one of the forms behind in Jaxon's tent.I made it all the way to the camp gates before I realized I'd left a document behind in Jaxon's tent. I turned back. But the moment I reached the entrance, I heard his voice. "Why would you agree to that?" My feet locked to the ground. Then Silas's voice drifted through the canvas, as calm as ever. "Relax." "With her condition, she won't last without us." Every musc1e in my body went rigid. They kept talking. "Twelve hours without physical contact and she'll be shaking. All of this today? She saw Chloe and got jealous. She's using the contract to force our hand.""Twelve hours without physical contact and she'll be shaking. All of this today? She saw Chloe and got jealous. She's using the contract to make us grovel." "Let her cool off." "Once the symptoms get bad enough, she'll come crawling back on her own." Jaxon was quiet for a moment. Then he swore under his breath. "And if she goes looking for another shifter?""And if she goes looking for another beast shifter?" Silas didn't miss a beat. "Everyone in Sterling City knows she's ours." "With our rank, no beast shifter in this city would touch her." "She has nowhere to go but back to us." I stood outside that tent, and the cold spreading through my hands and feet had nothing to do with my condition. The floating comments tore across my vision. [did you hear that. that's what they really think] [it was never about caring. her condition is just leverage to them] [they're not worried about her suffering. they're just mad she's acting out][they're not worried about her suffering. they're worried about her disobeying] I stared at those words, and a laugh almost clawed its way out of my throat. So that's what it looked like when someone didn't care about you. It was this obvious. They didn't just overlook my pain. They saw it, and weaponized it.They didn't fail to notice I was hurting. They noticed, and decided it didn't matter. I didn't go back inside. I turned and walked. That afternoon, I went straight to Sterling City's registry office and filed the termination myself. The second my name hit the paper, something in my chest hollowed out. But only for a second. Because Silas was right. Two days after the snow wolf brothers left, my condition flared.

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