"Get Dr. Ravens," Killian commanded, releasing my chin. His tone left no room for argument. "Now."

My heart sank.

Dr. Ravens. I'd heard the name.

Killian’s private physician. A man who never worked in a public hospital, who served only the Blackwood family.

Rumor was, he treated… unusual ailments.

"You don't have to," I said quickly. "I'm fine, really."

"Shut up."

Fifteen minutes later, a tall, thin, middle-aged man walked in.

He had unnaturally pale skin and unsettling amber eyes.

"Killian," he nodded, his voice carrying a strange accent. "Another failed one?" he asked, his tone bored.

"Examine her," Killian ordered, pointing at me. "Thoroughly."

I closed my eyes in despair.

It was over.

If he was a real doctor, he’d know instantly that I’d just given birth.

The blood, the hormones, my physical state—it would all expose my lie.

Dr. Ravens approached the bed and pulled on a pair of medical gloves.

"Relax, dear," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "This won't hurt."

When his hand touched my stomach, I felt a strange warmth spread through me.

It wasn't normal body heat. It was more like... energy?

The examination lasted a few minutes.

The entire time, I could hear faint rustling from the medical waste bag.

Please, don't make a sound now.

"Well?" Killian asked impatiently.

Dr. Ravens straightened up, giving me a thoughtful look.

"She definitely did not give birth," he said slowly. "Her uterus is contracting normally, and there's no sign of a retained placenta. However..."

"However what?"

"Her recovery is... astonishing. Her blood work is nearly perfect. It's as if... as if she's being protected by some kind of special power."

Killian frowned. "What does that mean?"

"Perhaps just superior genetics," Dr. Ravens said, pulling off his gloves. "In any case, she is physically fine. It was just a medical misdiagnosis."

He was helping me.

Why?

Killian was silent for a long time.

The air in the room was thick enough to choke on.

Finally, he spoke, his voice cold.

"Since you failed to complete your contract, your time as an honored guest is over."

My heart dropped.

"From now on, you're a maid here," he said, his voice without a trace of warmth. "You will live in the servants' quarters out back. Your pay is two thousand dollars a month, until you've paid the debt for your failure."

Two thousand dollars.

It meant I'd be working here for decades before I could leave.

"I understand," I whispered.

"Martha, get her moved," Killian said, turning to leave. "And clean this place up."

The second the door closed, I finally dared to breathe.

Martha quickly helped me move the medical waste bag into a laundry cart.

"Go, quickly," she whispered. "Before they change their minds."

The room in the servants' quarters was small, damp, and dark. But at least it was safe.

My hands shook as I opened the bag.

The three little pups were curled together peacefully, seemingly unharmed.

"Are you guys okay?" I whispered.

To my shock, one of them lifted its head and looked at me with its barely-open eyes… and nodded.

It understood me.

That wasn't normal.

Even the smartest puppy couldn't have that level of comprehension just hours after birth.

I tentatively asked another question. "Are you hungry?"

All three of them started whimpering at once.

"Okay, hold on. I'll find you something to eat."

I searched the room and only found a few crackers and a bottle of water.

It was nowhere near enough for wolf pups.

Night fell.

I sat on the edge of the bed, watching the three little guys sleeping in a cardboard box.

They were so small, so fragile.

If they were discovered...

I couldn't even imagine what would happen.

Suddenly, a tiny voice broke the silence.

"Mommy?"

I whipped my head around.

What I saw nearly made me scream.

The three furry wolf pups were gone.

In their place were three naked human babies, staring up at me with bright, intelligent eyes.

"Mommy, we're hungry."

Three babies looked up at me with clear eyes, their voices as soft and sweet as candy.

But the scene was just too bizarre.

Three minutes ago, they were wolf pups.

"How... how did you turn human?"

"It's easy," one of the little ones said, tilting his head. "We just think it, and it happens."

As he spoke, he flickered back into a furry little wolf, then back into a human baby.

"See!"

My entire worldview shattered.

Over the next few days, I discovered that not only could these three change shape at will, but they also grew at an alarming rate.

On day one, they looked like newborns. By day three, they could speak clearly. By day five, they could run and jump.

And they ate a terrifying amount of food.

"Mommy, is there more meat?" The oldest—I named him Leo—looked at me with hopeful eyes.

I stared at the empty plate. It was his fifth serving of beef.

"That's all there is," I said helplessly. "This is the ration the kitchen gives the servants."

Leo's little brow furrowed. He exchanged a look with his two brothers.

"Mommy always goes hungry to feed us," said the middle one, Max.

"Not fair," the youngest, Felix, nodded. "Mommy needs to eat meat too."

"I'm not hungry," I lied. The truth was, I hadn't had a proper meal in three days.

That night, I went to bed early.

In the middle of the night, a soft noise woke me up.

The cardboard box beside my bed was empty.

"Leo? Max? Felix?" I called out softly. No answer.

Panic seized me. Where did they go?

What I didn't know was that they were in the main house's kitchen.

Three little wolf pups were carrying out the perfect food heist.

Leo used his small claws to hook the refrigerator door open. Max stood watch. Felix slipped inside to find the best cuts.

"This one!" Felix dragged out a huge slab of wagyu steak. "For Mommy!"

Leo nodded and grabbed the steak in his teeth.

But just then, he saw an ornate box on the kitchen island.

The box was ajar. Inside lay an ancient ring.

It was unique—a platinum band holding a blood-red gem with fire burning deep inside.

Most importantly, it gave off a scent. A scent that was deeply comforting. It smelled like Dad.

Leo dropped the steak and gently picked up the ring.

"Brother, we can't take that," Max warned.

"But it smells good," Leo said. "And... it's calling to me."

Felix trotted over. "It does smell good. Like home."

The three pups looked at each other, and decided to take the ring back with them.

...

"Where have you been?!"

I was both panicked and furious when the three pups returned, dragging food.

"We got food for Mommy," Leo said proudly, dropping the steak.

"And this!" Felix presented the ring like a trophy.

My blood ran cold.

I’d seen that ring before. Killian was wearing it when I signed the contract.

He never took it off. It was said to have a special meaning.

"Where did you steal this from?!"

"The kitchen," Max said, blinking innocently. "It smelled nice. We thought Mommy would like it."

Just then, a piercing alarm blared to life.

The entire estate was flooded with flashing red lights.

"Intruder alert!" a bodyguard's voice boomed over the speakers. "Lock down all exits!"

I snatched the ring, my fingers trembling so hard I could barely hold it.

Footsteps.

Dozens of them. All heading straight for my room.

"Quick!" I shoved the three kids into the closet. "Turn human! And don't make a sound!"

The footsteps got closer.

Someone was sniffing.

"The scent trail ends here," a guard said.

"Impossible," another voice replied. "Keep searching."

And then I heard the voice that made the air freeze.

"The thief is near. I can smell my ring."

Killian.

He was here.

BOOM!

The door didn't open. It exploded inward. Splinters of wood rained down like shrapnel.

Killian’s towering frame filled the doorway, six heavily armed bodyguards behind him.

His gray eyes glinted dangerously in the dark. His gaze swept the room and landed on me.

"The thief is in here."