Here you’ll find all of my Love and Deepspace fanfics in one place, making them easy to browse and enjoy. 🔎
Here you can enjoy one shots (smut), shorter and longer series, drabbles and original stories for the Love & Deepspace boys (only). 💚💙💜🧡❤️
My fanfics are set in alternative universes with "reader" (Y/N; non MC) acting as the main character (in-game MC may be mentioned, but my fics aren't about her).
Likes, reblogs & comments are always welcome & appreciated! ❤️➡️💬
You can also find my fanfics on AO3 (excluding drabbles).
Read more detailed info about my fanfics here 👈
Request are OPEN 🥳 - please check out how to submit a request here -> request rules
SYLUS & CALEB
REVENGE OF THE HEART
(short series, 6 parts) (Throne of Eros AU) (brief pairing Caleb x Reader, main couple Sylus x Reader)
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6
Revenge of the heart : THE PRICE OF PEACE
(short series, 3 parts) (Throne of Eros AU) (parallel spin-off from MC's POV)
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
RAFAYEL
TIDAL CLIMAX
(oneshot) (smut) (MDNI 🔞) (pairing Rafayel x Reader)
(original story, 11K+ word count ) (romantasy AU) (pairing dragon Sylus x Reader)
VALKO
THE ORCHID AND THE WOLF
(WIP) (short story) (hurt/comfort) (pairing Valko x reader) (follower's request)
Part 2 WIP. Please stand by.
ALL THE LIs
MATCHMAKER TRAIN
(drabble) (fluff) (all LIs separately x Reader)
BETWEEN THE SHELVES
(drabble) (fluff) (all LIs separately x Reader)
MEET ME AT THE GYM
(drabble) (fluff/suggestive) (all LIs separately x Reader)
THE WEIGHT OF BEING SEEN
(drabble) (body positivity) (all LIs separately x Reader)
HANDS OFF, SHE'S MINE
(drabble) (part 2 of the fanfic "The weight of being seen") (fluff) (all LIs separately x Reader) (follower's request)
THE TROUBLE WITH SKIRTS
(drabble) (fluff) (pairing all LIs separately, including Valko x Reader) (follower's request)
Mini drabble/short story series:
YOUR HEART WAS NEVER MINE (chapter 1)
YOUR HEART WAS ONCE MINE (chapter 2)
YOUR HEART WILL BE IMNE (chapter 3)
Part 1/2 & Part 2/2
(complete mini series) (3 parts) (hurt/no comfort) (part 1 & 2 pairing all LIs separately, including Valko x Reader) (part 3 = follower's request - pairing MC x Reader)
BEHIND THE HEADLINES
(complete series) (20 parts + 2 bonus parts) (modern boy band AU) (pairing all LIs together x Reader)
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Synopsis: After catching your boyfriend in bed with your stepsister, you think your life can't possibly get any worse.
You're wrong.
Blackmailed into a forced marriage with a complete stranger, you expect nothing more than a loveless relationship.
Instead, as resentment slowly gives way to trust and affection blossoms, you discover that fate may have chosen you long before you ever had a choice.
Pairing: Valko x (Female) reader/non-MC
Content: All "in-game" information about Valko is considered canon, with the exception of his evol ability and the existence of wanderers.
Trigger warnings: Hurt/Comfort, Forced Proximity (Forced Marriage), Fated Mates, Cheating (not Valko - don't worry), Mentions of Blackmail and Manipulation, Suggestive Content (Non-Graphic), and Mentions of Death (Non-Graphic)
Word count : 7,568
Link to part 1
Part 2 of 2
THE ORCHID AND THE WOLF
Valko sits at his office desk on the top floor of the EonCore Tech building.
A knock sounds at the door before his secretary, Kim, steps inside with a tablet in hand.
“Mr. Valko, I have news regarding your wife's background,” he says.
Valko gestures toward the chair opposite his desk.
Secretary Kim sits and opens the file on his tablet.
“At the age of four, your wife's mother passed away from cancer. Her father, Henry, raised her on his own until he married Madam Miranda. They remained married for only four years before Henry passed away two years ago.”
Valko nods silently. He can't help but feel sorry for you for losing both parents.
“Madam Miranda is... an interesting woman,” Secretary Kim continues.
Valko's attention sharpens.
“Your wife's father, Henry, was her fourth husband.”
“Is she collecting them?” Valko remarks, raising an eyebrow.
Secretary Kim ignores the comment and continues.
“Her first marriage was at the age of eighteen when she eloped with her childhood sweetheart. He died a year later from a drug overdose.”
“Two years later, she married the CEO of a successful company, the biological father of her only child, Miss Elizabeth. They remained married for twelve years before he was killed in a drunk driving accident.”
“Another two years passed before she married a wealthy businessman. That marriage lasted five years before ending in divorce.”
“Two years after that, she married your wife's father. At the time, Madam Miranda was more than a decade younger than Mr. Henry.”
Valko leans back in his chair.
“It would seem Miranda hasn't had much luck in love,” he murmurs. “She's buried three husbands.”
“What was the cause of Mr. Henry's death? Was there any indication of foul play?” he asks carefully.
“A heart attack,” Secretary Kim replies. “I understand your suspicion, but according to his medical records, he'd been suffering from heart disease for several years due to chronic stress and overwork. He had already experienced a heart attack the previous year.”
Valko nods slowly.
“As for the financial situation,” Secretary Kim continues, “Madam Miranda was already wealthy before marrying Mr. Henry. She inherited all of her second husband's assets after his death and later received half of her third husband's estate through their divorce settlement.”
Valko hums thoughtfully.
“After Mr. Henry's passing, she also inherited all of his assets - his bank accounts, properties, and even his company.”
“So my wife really doesn't receive a single penny,” Valko says in disbelief.
“Correct,” Secretary Kim confirms.
“It was carried out according to Mr. Henry's will.”
Secretary Kim pauses before looking up from his tablet.
“However... this is where things become interesting.”
“Although Mr. Henry had his own lawyer representing both himself and his daughter, the will wasn’t read by his attorney. Instead, it was presented by Madam Miranda's lawyer.”
Valko raises an eyebrow.
“Do we know why?”
“Not yet. I'm currently trying to arrange a meeting with Mr. Henry's lawyer.”
Secretary Kim scrolls further down the report.
“There's something else I find unusual.”
“Madam Y/N believes the apartment she lived in was a rental.”
“Yes,” Valko replies. “She told me Miranda had been paying her living expenses.”
“She was deceived.”
Secretary Kim's tone grows noticeably firmer.
“Mr. Henry purchased that apartment a few years before Madam Y/N began college. It was originally registered in his name, but around the time she turned eighteen, he legally transferred ownership to her.”
Kim looks up.
“After Mr. Henry died, ownership of the apartment was transferred to Miss Elizabeth.”
Valko frowns.
“It doesn't end there.”
Secretary Kim continues reading.
“Around the same time Mr. Henry transferred ownership of the apartment, he also transferred a bank account into Madam Y/N's name. However, following his death, every cent from that account was transferred into an unknown account.”
“There was also a vehicle that was registered in Madam Y/N's name before ownership was later transferred to Miss Elizabeth.”
Valko's eyes narrow.
“So let me get this straight.”
He counts each point on his fingers.
“Mr. Henry transferred an apartment, a bank account, and a car to my wife when she turned eighteen. Yet after his death, the apartment and car ended up in Elizabeth's name, while the money disappeared into an unknown account.”
“That's correct, sir.”
Valko falls silent for a long moment.
“Even a fool can tell something is wrong here. We need to see the contents of that will. Arrange a meeting with Miranda's lawyer.”
“I would advise against that, sir,” Secretary Kim says.
“We have no legal standing to request access to the will, and the lawyer would almost certainly inform Madam Miranda that someone is investigating her affairs. It would only make her suspicious.”
Valko sighs.
His secretary is right.
“Then arrange a meeting with Mr. Henry's lawyer instead. In the meantime, keep digging.”
“Understood.”
Secretary Kim hesitates before asking one final question.
“What about Madam Y/N? Should we tell her what we've discovered?”
Valko shakes his head.
“Not yet. Let's keep this between us. I don't want to burden her with bad news until we know all the facts.”
…
You stand in front of the towering EonCore Tech headquarters, the company Valko owns and runs.
Your classes ended unexpectedly early after one of your professors had a personal emergency. Instead of heading home, you stopped by a bakery to pick up two hot chocolates and a box of brownies before deciding to surprise Valko at work.
As you step into the grand lobby, two women behind the reception desk greet you with polite smiles.
“Good afternoon, Miss. How may we help you?” the younger receptionist with blonde hair asks.
“I'm here to see Valko,” you say, placing the box of brownies on the counter beside you.
She blinks.
“Are you referring to Chairman Valko?” she asks for confirmation.
You nod.
“May I have your name? And do you have an appointment?”
“I don't,” you admit.
You hadn't told Valko you were coming. It had simply been a spur-of-the-moment decision.
The receptionist offers an apologetic smile.
“I'm sorry, Miss, but all visitors must have a scheduled appointment.”
“My name is Y/N,” you say, feeling slightly embarrassed. “I'm his wife.”
The receptionist's polite smile fades.
“Chairman Valko is unmarried.”
“I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish by making such a claim, but I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave the premises.”
“Could you please just call him?” you ask politely. “Or, if he's unavailable, call Secretary Kim.”
“Miss,” the receptionist says coldly, “I'm going to ask you one last time to leave.”
“I really am his wife,” you insist, almost pouting. “I can prove it.”
Balancing the hot chocolates in one hand, you fumble through your bag with the other.
After marrying Valko, you took his surname. Every one of your identification documents reflects that.
“Excuse me, Miss.”
A deep voice speaks from behind you.
Turning around, you find a uniformed security guard standing only a few feet away.
“This is private property,” he says firmly. “I'm going to have to ask you to leave.”
“Please,” you reply. “This is clearly just a miscommunication. Give me one moment. If you won't call him, then I'll call him myself.”
You reach into your pocket for your phone.
Before you can retrieve it, the security guard grabs your wrist.
“If asking nicely isn't enough,” he says, “I'll escort you out.”
He begins pulling you toward the entrance.
“Let go of me!”
You struggle against his grip.
The cups slip from your hand.
Hot chocolate splashes across the front of your blouse.
You gasp sharply as the scalding liquid soaks through the fabric.
“What is going on here?”
The familiar voice cuts through the lobby like thunder.
Valko strides across the marble floor.
His darken gaze lands on the security guard's hand still wrapped around your wrist.
“Unhand my wife.”
The security guard immediately releases you as though he'd been burned.
“M-Mr. Valko…” he stammers. “Did... did you just call this woman your wife?”
Valko doesn't even spare him a glance.
He shrugs off his suit jacket and gently drapes it over your shoulders.
Without a word, he places a protective hand on your back and guides you toward the elevator.
As the two of you pass the reception desk, the blond haired receptionist is already standing with her head bowed.
“My deepest apologies, Chairman,” she says nervously. “We had no idea you were married.”
Valko doesn't acknowledge her apology.
Instead, he looks toward Secretary Kim.
“You know what to do.”
The elevator doors slide shut behind you, leaving the lobby in suffocating silence.
…
A long silence stretches between the two of you before you finally speak.
“I'm sorry,” you say quietly. “I shouldn't have come without telling you first.”
“It's my fault,” Valko replies immediately. “I should have informed the front desk about you. Better yet, I should have given you a clearance card with full access to the building.”
He offers you an apologetic smile as the elevator doors slide open.
He opens the door to his office, allowing you to enter first before quietly closing it behind you.
As you take in the spacious office, Valko walks over to a cupboard and opens it.
“Why are you here anyway?”, he asks. “Did something happen? Aren't you supposed to have classes?”
“They were cancelled,” you reply.
“So I thought I'd surprise you with some... treats.”
You glance down at the large brown stain covering the front of your blouse.
“I missed you.”
The words are barely above a whisper, but Valko hears them.
You missed him.
His mate missed him.
A smile spreads across his face.
“Here.”
He holds out a black button-up shirt.
“You can change in the bathroom.”
He gestures toward the frosted glass door in the corner of his office.
You thank him, take the shirt, and disappear inside.
A few minutes later, you step back into the office.
Valko is seated in one of the armchairs beside the coffee table.
The moment he looks up, he freezes.
His shirt hangs loosely on your frame, the sleeves rolled to your forearms while one side slips off one shoulder.
Without warning, his soft wolf ears appear atop his head.
A fluffy tail follows, swishing happily behind him.
“Seeing you wearing my clothes got me excited.” He mutters, cheeks turning pink.
A mischievous grin tugs at your lips.
“Were you imagining bending me over your desk?”
A low growl rumbles in his throat.
“Don't tempt me.”
Now it's your turn to blush.
He makes a mental note that this shirt is never going into the laundry again.
You quickly change the subject.
“What's all this?”
You point toward the collection of chocolate bars piled on the coffee table alongside two mugs of hot chocolate.
“My stash,” Valko says proudly. “Help yourself.”
“I'm honestly surprised your office doesn't have a chocolate fountain.”
“That's... actually a brilliant idea.”
You shake your head with an amused chuckle.
The laughter fades into a comfortable silence.
After a moment, Valko's expression turns serious.
“Flower…”
“May I ask you something... personal?”
Only yesterday, after returning from a wellness getaway with your friend Tara, you learned his secret - that he is a wolf hybrid.
He was so open and vulnerable, wearing his heart on his sleeve, that you want to do the same.
“Sure,” you say with a warm smile. “Ask me anything.”
“How did your father meet Miranda?” He asks. “He raised you on his own for so many years.”
“It surprised me,” you admit. “One evening, he told me we were having guests over for dinner. That's when he introduced Miranda and Elizabeth... then announced they were getting married.”
You shake your head at the memory.
“I didn't even know he was seeing anyone.”
“Did he ever tell you why he decided to suddenly remarry?” Valko asks.
“I don't think it was because of love,” you reply with a small shrug. “More... respect, maybe. Besides, it wasn’t my place to question his decision and he seemed happy.”
“Why did your father decide to leave everything to her?”
You think for a moment
“I assumed he wrote his will while I was still underage,” you say. “As his wife, and the only other adult in the household besides Elizabeth - it probably seemed easier to leave everything in her care.”
You pause before continuing.
“I remember him telling me he always felt guilty that I grew up without a mother. He hoped Miranda would become a mother figure to me.”
A grimace crosses your face.
“Besides, Miranda was very involved in the company from the beginning of the marriage. It makes sense that he'd want her to take over.”
Valko falls silent.
There are so many more questions he wants to ask.
But he can't risk making you suspicious. If he keeps pressing, you'll inevitably wonder why he's suddenly so interested in your family's affairs.
He isn't ready to tell you he's conducting his own investigation behind your back.
Clearing his throat, he changes the subject.
“By the way,” he says casually, “I noticed you used the card I gave you. You made quite a large purchase at an art supply store.”
Your face pales.
“I'm sorry,” you blurt out. “I promise I'll pay you back.”
Valko blinks.
“That's not what I meant.”
“I gave you that card so you'd use it. We're married. What's mine is yours.”
He smiles.
“I was just curious what you plan to do with all those art supplies."”
You let out a relieved sigh.
“I like painting,” you admit. “It's been my hobby for years. Now that I don't have a part-time job anymore, and I finally have some free time, I want to start painting again.”
“You paint?” Valko repeats, surprised.
“I don't remember seeing any paintings or art supplies at your apartment.”
“That's because I left everything at the family manor,” you explain. “My apartment was too small to store everything, and between university, studying, and work, I never have time to paint anyway.”
“I see.”
Valko nods thoughtfully.
“I'd love to see your paintings.”
You smile sheepishly.
“I'm not a professional. It's just a hobby.”
Valko's phone chimes.
He pulls it from his pocket, glances at the screen, and lets out a groan before silencing the notification.
“I'm sorry,” he says regretfully. “I need to prepare for a meeting.”
You nod in understanding and begin gathering your things.
“Before you go…”
Valko reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulls out a small velvet jewelry box.
“I was planning to give this to you at home,” he says, “but since you're already here…”
He places it in your hands.
Curious, you lift the lid.
Your breath catches.
Nestled inside is a delicate pair of earrings.
Not just any earrings.
The exact same earrings your father gave you for your birthday several years ago.
“How...?” you whisper.
You look up at Valko.
“I knew they weren't just jewelry,” Valko says.
“So I tracked down the exact pair.”
Your eyes widen.
“You mean…”
“They're the originals,” he confirms proudly. “I just had them professionally cleaned and polished. They'd accumulated a little wear over the years.”
A tear slips silently down your cheek.
You throw yourself into his arms.
Your arms wrap tightly around his neck.
“Thank you,” you whisper against his shoulder over and over.
Valko closes his arms around you, holding you close.
Feeling your emotions of happiness made every bit of effort worthwhile.
——————————————————————
Valko's car comes to a stop in front of the iron gates guarding your family manor.
He introduces himself through the intercom, and a few moments later, the heavy gates slowly swing open, granting him access to the long driveway.
Judging by the exterior alone, the manor is elegant without being ostentatious. It has an old-world charm that feels warm rather than extravagant.
Before Valko even reaches the front door, it opens.
“Welcome, Mr. Valko.”
The butler bows respectfully, stepping aside to allow Valko, Secretary Kim, and the three men accompanying them to enter.
“Mr. Valko, what a wonderful surprise.”
A woman around his age gracefully descends the staircase, her elegant dress swaying with each step.
She stops in front of him and offers a bright, practiced smile.
“Do you remember me? I'm Elizabeth, Miranda's daughter.”
“What brings you to our humble home?”
Her scent reaches him before her words do.
Sweet.
Far too sweet.
“I'm sorry for arriving unannounced,” Valko says politely, adopting the calm, professional demeanor he reserves for business clients. “I wasn't certain anyone would be home.”
“I've come to collect some of my wife's belongings.”
“Her paintings, to be precise.”
Elizabeth tilts her head.
“I'm afraid I don't know anything about that.”
“I believe Mr. Valko is referring to Miss Y/N's - pardon me, Mrs. Y/N's - art studio,” the butler interjects from the side. “It was closed shortly after she left for college.”
Elizabeth shoots him a sharp look.
“Oh…”
She lets out a soft laugh.
“Now I remember.”
She smiles innocently.
“The room has been closed for so many years that it completely slipped my mind.”
The butler leads the group through the manor's winding corridors, passing countless doors along the way.
Elizabeth walks beside Valko, making idle conversation.
He barely listens.
Eventually, the butler stops in front of a door and unlocks it.
As it swings open, a spacious art studio comes into view.
“The maids have kept the room clean,” the butler explains. “Otherwise, nothing has been touched.”
The room is spotless, without a trace of dust.
“Pack everything you can,” Valko instructs.
“The paintings are the priority. Handle them carefully.”
The men immediately get to work.
Elizabeth folds her arms.
“To think Y/N would send you all this way for a few worthless paintings,” she says with a dramatic sigh.
“Then again, that's just like her. She's always been such a nuisance.”
Valko's expression noticeably darkens, but before he can say anything, a quiet cough from Secretary Kim stops him.
“Miss Elizabeth,” Valko says pleasantly, “why don't you keep me company elsewhere while my men work?”
He gestures politely toward the hallway, inviting her to step out.
…
The moment Valko and Elizabeth disappear around the corner, Secretary Kim takes it as his cue to begin searching the manor.
After all, retrieving Madam Y/N's paintings isn't the only reason they're here.
The visit also gives him the opportunity to look around the home where Valko's wife grew up and, if possible, speak with the household staff.
As luck would have it, he soon finds the butler.
“May I ask how long you've worked here?” Secretary Kim asks.
“For thirty years,” the butler replies. “Most of the staff have served this family for decades. Even after the late master's passing, may he rest in peace, we chose to remain.”
“How would you describe the relationship between the late master and his daughter?”
“He adored her.”
There isn't a moment's hesitation.
“He and his wife were blessed with her later in life. After his wife passed away, Miss Y/N became his entire world.”
A fond look crosses his face.
“Despite being raised like a princess, she never became spoiled. She has always had a kind and gentle heart.”
“I understand she doesn’t have the best relationship with her stepmother and stepsister.”
The warmth disappears from the butler's expression.
“Madam Miranda and Miss Elizabeth are parasites.”
"Whenever the master wasn't around, they treated Miss Y/N with cold indifference.
He lowers his voice.
“No one in this house is particularly fond of either of them. We remain because this has been our home for many years.”
His shoulders sag slightly.
“Things only become worse after the master's death.”
He looks at Secretary Kim hopefully.
“How is she? None of us has seen her since the funeral. Madam Miranda forbade her from ever returning to the manor.”
“Mrs. Y/N is doing well,” Secretary Kim assures him. "Mr. Valko takes very good care of her.’
Relief washes over the butler's face.
He hesitates before continuing.
“When I first heard about the marriage, I was shocked.”
“Later, I overheard it was an arranged marriage... more of a business arrangement.”
Secretary Kim neither confirms nor denies the statement.
Instead, he steers the conversation back to the matter at hand.
“Have you ever witnessed or overheard anything else that struck you as unusual?”
The butler sighs.
“Madam Miranda is a calculating woman.”
“If she's plotting something, she makes certain it happens behind the closed doors of her office. She never discusses important matters where the staff might overhear.”
“Can you show me her office?”
The butler shakes his head.
“I'm afraid it wouldn't help.”
“The room is secured with both a passcode and Madam Miranda's fingerprint. No one else has access, not even Miss Elizabeth.”
Secretary Kim sighs inwardly.
He never expected this investigation to be straightforward.
“One last question.”
He glances toward the corridor, aware that Valko and Elizabeth could return at any moment.
"”In the days leading up to Mr. Henry's death - or shortly afterward - did either Mr. Henry's lawyer or Madam Miranda's lawyer visit the manor?”
The butler thinks for a moment.
“The late master's lawyer? No.”
“But if memory serves me correctly…. a few days after the master's passing, Madam Miranda met with her own lawyer at his office.”
——————————————————————
The moment Valko walks through the front door of your now-shared home, he is hit by a storm of emotions through the mate bond.
Anger.
Sadness.
Distress.
He follows the overwhelming emotions until he finds you in the living room.
You sit curled up in the corner of the sofa, your knees pulled tightly against your chest, your arms wrapped around them as you bury your face.
“Flower?”
He crosses the room in hurried strides and kneels in front of you.
“What's wrong? What happened?”
“They know.”
Your voice is barely audible, muffled against your knees.
“They found out.”
You slowly lift your head.
“Now everyone at university knows I'm married.”
“Is that really such a bad thing?” he asks, genuinely confused.
You slowly lift your head and meet his gaze.
“It's not the marriage that's the problem," you say quietly. "It's everything that comes after.”
You begin listing the questions one after another, your voice dripping with sarcasm.
“'I had no idea you were in a relationship.'”
“'Why did you get married so young?'”
“'What's your husband like?'”
“Oh... and my personal favorite.”
“'How did you two meet?'”
“Do you have any idea how humiliating it is knowing I can't answer a single one of those questions honestly?”
You shove past him, not hard enough to hurt him, but enough to force him to catch his balance as you spring to your feet.
“Oh, you know…” you say, your voice rising. “I am a twenty-year-old orphan and third-year university student who was forced into a marriage as part of a business deal. My husband just so happens to be a werewolf who only married me because I'm his fated mate.”
Valko can only stare.
The words sting because they're true.
You continue before he gets the chance to respond.
“Before you came into my life, I had just found out my boyfriend of two years was cheating on me.”
“With none other than my beloved stepsister, Elizabeth.”
You let out a hollow laugh.
“The worst part? He'd been cheating on me for almost our entire relationship. He just didn't have the gits to end things.”
“And the only reason he ever dated me…” Your voice cracks. “...was because of my father's money.”
You wipe your eyes.
“I barely have time to come to terms with everything,” you say, your voice fading into a whisper. “Before I could even begin to heal... I was married off.”
Valko wasn’t naive enough to had expected to be your first love.
But hearing how thoroughly you'd been betrayed...
How cruelly you'd been used...
It makes rage simmer beneath his skin.
He slowly rises to his feet and carefully takes a few steps towards you.
“I know our relationship doesn't have the kind of beginning either of us would have chosen,” Valko says quietly. “There isn't a romantic first meeting. No courtship. No fairy-tale wedding.”
He lowers his gaze.
“If I could change the way we met... I would.”
He looks back at you, his expression unwavering.
His tone is gentle but resolute.
“I don't want our past to define us. I want us to build something real together.”
You swallow hard before voicing the question that has been weighing on your mind.
“Be honest... if I weren't your mate - if there weren't some biological bond drawing you to me - would your words, your actions, your feelings toward me still be the same?”
“If we happened to pass each other on the street... would you even glance at me?”
Your vision blurs with unshed tears.
Valko's entire body goes rigid.
The question strikes him harder than any blow ever could.
Do you truly believe his feelings are nothing more than instinct?
Do you really think so little of his sincerity?
He opens his mouth to answer.
Nothing comes out.
Valko is left utterly speechless.
Looking away, you turn and walk out of the living room.
Your footsteps echo through the house as you slowly make your way upstairs, leaving Valko standing exactly where he is.
——————————————————————
A few days pass after the conversation in the living room.
Valko feels like a kicked puppy.
Lost.
Defeated.
You've reverted to avoiding him, just like you did when you first moved into the manor after the marriage.
Gone are the shared breakfasts.
Gone are the light conversations during the drive to your university.
Gone are the romantic dates.
Gone are the movie nights spent debating what to watch.
Whenever the two of you cross paths in the manor, neither of you knows how to bridge the distance or what to say.
Valko refuses to let this continue.
He's given you space.
Now it's time to make things right.
As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words.
His kind has always expressed themselves through actions more than words.
…
Valko knocks on your bedroom door, which you've left half open.
You're sitting at your desk with your back to him, hunched over your notes.
Your bachelor's graduation is just around the corner.
“Flower,” he says softly. “Sorry to interrupt your studying, but could you come with me for a moment?”
You don't meet his eyes, but you don't hesitate either.
Silently, you stand and follow him down the hallway.
He stops in front of a door and opens it.
Stepping aside, he lets you enter first.
The moment you step inside, your eyes widen.
The room has been transformed into an art studio.
One that reminds you of the studio you left behind at the family manor.
You slowly walk farther into the room, taking in every detail.
“I thought that if you're going to start painting again, you deserve a space where you can do it comfortably,” Valko says as he comes to stand beside you.
Your gaze drifts to the paintings lining the walls.
You recognize every single one.
“My paintings…”
“I stopped by your family manor to collect them,” Valko says with a smile.
“I've been putting this room together for a while now. Sorry it took so long. I don't know the first thing about art, but I wanted it to be perfect.”
He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.
“Listen, Flower…”
His voice turns serious.
“I'm sorry about the other day,”
“My kind processes emotions differently than humans do. I... needed time to understand your point of view.”
He raises a finger.
“But let me make one thing perfectly clear.”
“I'll spend the rest of my life proving to you that my love for you goes far beyond instinct.”
You turn to face him and hold his gaze.
“I'm the one at fault.”
“I let other people's opinions make me lose sight of everything you've done for me since the very beginning.”
“I won't let that happen again.”
“And from this day forward, I'll put just as much effort into this relationship as you have.”
You step forward and gently wrap your arms around his waist.
“Thank you.”
“I can't wait to create new paintings here.”
You look up at him with a bright smile.
Without warning, Valko's wolf ears pop out.
A fluffy tail appears behind him, wagging uncontrollably.
He really has no control over his transformations around you anymore.
A laugh escapes your lips.
“I want to do something in return,” you say as you let him go. “I need a way to thank you.”
Valko pretends to think.
“Hmm…”
“How about you teach me how to paint?"
A mischievous glint sparkles in your eyes.
“Sure.”
“Your tail will make an excellent paintbrush.”
——————————————————————
Valko and Secretary Kim enter a spacious office.
The man seated behind the desk immediately stands and greets them, shaking both their hands before introducing himself.
“Mr. Lind.”
He gestures toward the chairs opposite his desk.
“Please, have a seat.”
Finally, they have managed to meet with your late father's lawyer.
They can only hope this conversation provides the answers they need.
“Mr. Valko, Mr. Kim. A pleasure to meet you both. How can I assist you?” Mr. Lind asks, placing his hands neatly on his desk.
“I am here because you were my wife, Y/N's, and her father's lawyer,” Valko explains.
“So Y/N is married now,” Mr. Lind says with a smile. “How time flies.”
“Congratulations, by the way.”
A brief pause.
“Please tell me you aren't here on behalf of a divorce.”
Valko shakes his head.
“No. I'm here to ask a few questions regarding the will her father left behind.”
Mr. Lind leans back in his chair.
“I'm sorry, but even as her husband, I'm not permitted to discuss such matters with you.”
“We understand,” Secretary Kim says smoothly. “However, would you be willing to answer a few questions that don't compromise your professional obligations?”
Mr. Lind considers this before leaning forward again.
“What would you like to know?”
“It has been two years since Henry's passing. He was a good friend of mine. We had known each other since college.”
“Despite being his lawyer, you were not the one who read the will or handled the processing of it. Is that correct?” Valko asks.
Mr. Lind sighs.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
A hint of discomfort crosses the lawyer's face.
“At the time, I was under suspicion of accepting payments on the side to carry out unethical work. The firm placed me under suspension until the investigation was completed.”
He folds his hands together.
“During that period, all of my active cases were reassigned to other lawyers. Henry's will was ultimately handled by Madam Miranda's lawyer.”
“Why did the firm suspect you of being involved in such activities?” Secretary Kim asks curiously.
“False rumors and fabricated evidence,” Mr. Lind answers.
“The investigation cleared my name within a few weeks, and I was allowed to return to work. Unfortunately, they never discovered who was responsible or the reason behind such an attack.”
He shrugs slightly.
“The assumption was that it may have been the work of a rival.”
He pauses.
“If only it hadn't happened around the same time as Henry's death.”
His expression turns somber.
“I couldn't even attend his funeral. It was a private ceremony, and I wasn't invited. I paid my respects several days later.”
Valko and Secretary Kim exchange a glance.
The timing is far too convenient.
A respected lawyer suddenly suspended.
A will transferred into the hands of Miranda's lawyer.
And a funeral where Henry's closest legal representative isn't even invited.
Something about this doesn't add up.
“Were you the one who drafted Mr. Henry's will?” Valko asks.
“Yes,” Mr. Lind confirms. “I handled all of his legal affairs.”
“But you did not handle any of Madam Miranda's or Miss Elizabeth's legal matters?”
“Correct.” He nods. “They have their own lawyer. Thankfully, that meant I could leave the processing of the will in his hands when I was unavailable.”
“Did Mr. Henry make any changes to his will shortly before his passing?” Secretary Kim asks.
“No.”
The answer comes without hesitation.
“I cannot disclose the contents of the will, but I can tell you the last time Henry made any changes was one year after his marriage to Miranda.”
He pauses.
“At that time, he requested that I include his wife and his stepdaughter in the will. Before that, the only person named was Y/N, as she was his only living family member.”
Mr. Lind studies them carefully.
“I'm sorry, but may I ask why you're asking these questions? If Y/N has discovered an issue regarding the contents of the will, then you need to speak with the lawyer who processed it.”
Valko leans forward.
“I'm asking because I have been informed that, according to the will, Mr. Henry left everything to Miranda while my wife was left with nothing.”
His voice remains calm, but firm.
“Not only that, but several assets that were previously under my wife's name shortly either disappeared or were transferred to her stepsister, Elizabeth.”
He pauses.
“I never had the opportunity to meet Mr. Henry while he was alive, but from everything I have learned about him, I find it difficult to believe he would knowingly leave his daughter with nothing.”
The expression on Mr. Lind's face changes instantly into one of pure shock
“That can't be right.”
“See for yourself.”
Secretary Kim places the tablet on the desk and slides it toward him.
Mr. Lind picks it up and silently reads through the documents.
The longer he reads, the more his expression changes.
“This…”
“This is wrong.”
He places the tablet down.
“The assets you mentioned…”
His brows furrow.
“I'm the one who transferred them into Y/N's name. Henry instructed me to do so when she reached legal age.”
He shakes his head.
“They weren’t even included in the will because they already legally belonged to her.”
Mr. Lind looks back at the documents.
“The apartment, for example, should never have gone to Miss Elizabeth unless Y/N sold it to her or willingly transferred ownership.”
“According to these records, neither happened.”
“That's why we're here,” Valko says. “We need answers.”
Mr. Lind looks at him.
“Have you spoken to Y/N about this?”
“I did,” Valko replies. “But it appears her father never told her that he had transferred these assets into her name.”
“For example, she was led to believe that she was living at the apartment as a tenant.”
Mr. Lind's expression darkens.
He stands and walks toward a locked cabinet.
After entering the code, he opens one of the drawers and scans the neatly organized files arranged alphabetically.
A few moments later, he pulls out a folder.
“I shouldn't be doing this…”
His voice carries a hint of guilt.
“But this is a copy of Henry's will.”
He places it on the table.
Valko and Secretary Kim immediately open the file.
Their eyes widen as they read through the document.
“This is the copy you provided to Madam Miranda's lawyer?”
Secretary Kim looks up, needing confirmation.
Mr. Lind nods slowly.
——————————————————————
The moment you step onto the stage to receive your degree, Valko immediately jumps to his feet.
He claps and whistles as loudly as he can.
He doesn't care if he's embarrassing himself.
From the stage, you look over and can't help but smile at his enthusiasm.
Once the ceremony ends, Valko makes his way through the crowd and pulls you into his arms, lifting you off the ground and spinning you around.
“You did it! Congratulations!”
His voice is filled with pure pride.
You laugh, growing dizzy until he finally sets you back down.
“I made reservations for tonight,” he says. “Do you have any plans?”
“Tara and some classmates want to celebrate with karaoke and drinks.”
Valko grins.
“Want me to show off my singing skills?”
You laugh.
“Actually, I turned them down.”
“I had a feeling you'd make plans.”
You glance down at the degree in your hands.
“I wish my parents were here.”
Valko places a gentle kiss on the top of your head.
“They are.”
He places his large palm over your heart.
“I'm sure they're proud of you.”
“Your parents are buried, right?” he asks gently.
You nod.
“Then let's go visit them.”
He takes your hand and leads you toward his waiting car.
…
“So, now that you've graduated, what's next?” Valko asks as he pulls out of the parking lot.
“My offer still stands. You can come work at EonCore Tech.”
“Want me to be your secretary?” You tease.
“Only if you promise to wear a short skirt and a low neckline.”
You burst out laughing.
His face turns bright red.
You lightly smack his arm.
“Don't picture it, you pervert.”
“Poor Mr. Kim,” you add, shaking your head with a giggle.
“The reason I chose business as my major was because I wanted to help my father with the company one day.”
“He spent years building it from the ground up. He was so happy when I told him I was studying business.”
You look out the window.
“I was never really interested in his work, but he never forced me into it.”
“You can still work there,” Valko says. “It's your father's company.”
“Yeah, right.”
You scoff.
“Miranda banned me from the property. I can't even take two steps inside before security throws me out.”
Valko's hands tighten around the steering wheel.
But he says nothing.
…
“Mom. Dad.”
You stand in front of the two graves, your eyes fixed on their names.
“Sorry I haven't visited in a while.”
You hold up your degree.
“Look. I graduated today.”
A small smile forms.
“Now I just need to put it to good use.”
You glance at Valko before linking your arm with his.
“This is Valko.”
“My husband.”
“So you don't need to worry about me anymore. I'm in good hands.”
Valko steps forward.
“Ma'am. Sir.”
He bows respectfully.
“I promise to cherish your daughter and protect her for the rest of my life.”
——————————————————————
“Mr. Lind, what are you doing here?”
You stare at him in surprise as you enter the living room.
Valko called you downstairs, saying he needed to discuss something important.
“It's been a while, Y/N,” Mr. Lind says with a small smile. “It's good to see you.”
His expression turns slightly sad.
“I only wish it was under different circumstances.”
You look at him, then at Valko, then at Secretary Kim, confusion growing as you take a seat.
“Before you get angry or jump to conclusions, I need you to know that my intentions were good,” Valko says, sitting beside you.
Your concern only deepens.
“I need you to read this.”
He hands you a file.
You take it, open it, and begin reading in silence.
The longer you read, the more your expression changes.
“What is the meaning of this?”
You look up at Mr. Lind.
“Your father's will," he explains. “The original. The one I handed over to Miranda's lawyer. The one that should have been read and processed.”
Your fingers tighten around the document.
“What does this mean?”
Your voice comes out small.
“It means Miranda not only lied to you, but also falsified your father's will and illegally transferred his assets into her own name.”
Valko's voice is firm, anger barely restrained.
“She most likely had people assisting her,” Secretary Kim adds. “Including her lawyer.”
You look back down at the document.
This version is completely different from the one you were led to believe.
According to this will, the family manor, the vehicles, the holiday homes in WhiteSand Bay and SnowCrest, the money in multiple accounts, and even the company...
Everything was left to you.
Miranda and Elizabeth were only left two residences, individual accounts, and a percentage of the company's shares.
Your grip tightens until the file begins to crumple in your hands.
“I'm such an idiot.”
Your voice is filled with disbelief.
“I should have known my father would never leave me with nothing.”
How could you have been so naive?
So willing to believe the worst?
“Do not blame yourself.”
Mr. Lind's voice is gentle.
“You had no reason to question it. You trusted the people around you, as anyone would.”
You throw the file onto the floor, anger finally boiling over.
“I always knew Miranda and Elizabeth were cruel. I knew they were selfish and driven by money.”
Your voice shakes.
“But I never thought they would go this far.”
You laugh bitterly.
“It's not even like my father left them with nothing.”
Valko places a hand on your shoulder.
“We'll fix this.”
His voice is calm, but his promise is absolute.
“You will get back what belongs to you. And they will answer for what they did.”
“With Secretary Kim's help, we are already gathering evidence for a legal case,” Mr. Lind adds.
“If this goes to court and I win…”
You look down at the document.
“Miranda and Elizabeth could face prison.”
“I'll make sure they do.”
Valko's voice is cold.
A silence follows.
“But without Miranda, what happens to my father's company?”
Panic enters your voice.
“I can't run it. Not immediately.”
You look between them.
“What about the employees? The clients?”
“I'll help you.”
Valko answers without hesitation.
You shake your head.
“You already have enough responsibilities running EonCore Tech.”
You let out a defeated sigh.
“I know you're going to hate my proposal…”
“But I need you to hear me out.”
——————————————————————
Miranda and Elizabeth don't even try to hide their displeasure when you walk into Miranda's office at your father's company.
You asked Valko to contact them on your behalf, arranging a meeting with both of them present.
Their expressions darken even further when they notice Secretary Kim and Mr. Lind accompanying you.
Before Miranda has the chance to speak, you stop her.
“I'll be doing the talking.”
Your voice is firm.
Your gaze is cold.
“First of all, Elizabeth…”
You turn toward her.
“I must thank you for cheating with my boyfriend.”
Your tone is sweet.
“Because of your actions, I met my husband, Valko.”
You glance at him fondly.
Valko immediately straightens, almost proudly.
“You two are much more suited for each other.”
Your smile doesn't falter.
“Trash belongs with trash.”
Valko has to fight back a laugh.
“And as for you…”
You turn toward Miranda.
“Witch.”
Valko nearly chokes, trying not to laugh at the insult.
“Recognize this?”
You hold out the file.
She snatches it from your hand and quickly scans through the pages.
The color drains from her face.
“I'll take that as a yes.”
You take the file back.
“Out of respect for my father, I'm giving you two choices.”
You raise one finger.
“Option one.”
“You correct everything and follow my father's actual will.’
You tap the file.
“And I'm even willing to let you continue working here.”
“Because as much as I hate to admit it, you are good at managing the company.”
Your eyes narrow.
“Of course, you'll be doing so under my and Valko's supervision.”
You raise a second finger.
“Or option two.”
“We handle this in court.”
Secretary Kim steps forward.
“We are already preparing the necessary evidence for legal proceedings.”
You look between Miranda and Elizabeth.
“The choice is yours.”
…
You stand barefoot on the front porch, a warm mug in your hands as you stare up at the night sky.
Thousands of stars shine above you.
Valko brought you to his secluded cabin deep in the woods, wanting to give you a break from the chaos of Linkon City and everything that has happened.
You've been on countless dates together.
But this is your first trip away.
Here, Valko seems lighter.
Happier.
Relaxed.
As a wolf hybrid, this must truly feel like home.
And, he doesn't have to hide his true self.
You've resisted the urge to wave a stick in front of him and make him play fetch.
Barely.
Two strong arms wrap around your waist from behind, pulling you against his chest.
Valko rests his chin on your shoulder, nuzzling against you.
“Now that we're here…” he says thoughtfully. “I've been thinking.”
“Maybe we should redo our wedding.”
His voice softens.
“Have a proper one.”
“Couples renew their vows all the time.”
A pause.
“And we could have a honeymoon.”
“Anywhere you want.”
You turn around and gently scratch behind his wolf ears.
“That sounds lovely,” you admit.
“But you don't need to do that to convince me to stay by your side as your wife.”
Valko smiles warmly.
“However…”
Your voice turns sultry.
“I wouldn't mind finally having our wedding night.”
You wink.
For a moment, Valko just stares.
Then his smile slowly widens.
Before you can react, he lifts you into his arms, carrying you bridal style inside the cabin.
“I'm glad fate chose me to be your mate.”
You whisper against his chest.
Valko holds you closer.
Fate may have brought you together.
The bond may have recognized you as mates.
But your hearts recognized each other as partners.
And that is something neither fate, nor a contract, or person can ever take away.
Divider provided by @strangergraphics - all credit goes to her. Thank you, this is perfect for my fanfic! 🩷
Author’s Note: And that's a wrap. I'd like to once again thank @sailorstar9 for the request. 🫶 It was a nice challenge to write a fic about Valko. 🐺 I hope you don't mind that it turned into a two-part story. 😅
I saw that your requests were open and I was wondering if I could request something. So this is based on something that happened to me today where my skirt accidentally rode up and flashed a group of dudes. I wish i was lying and now I feel mortified I just need something to make me feel better about myself 😭😭😭. I was wondering how all 6 of out lovely lads men would help in that situation. Thank you again!!
Author’s Note: First of all, I'm so sorry this happened to you. 😬 If it makes you feel even a little better, I'm sure every single one of us has had an embarrassing moment at some point - myself included. 🫣
Since you sent this request anonymously, I can't tag you, but I hope this post finds you. 🔎 Thank you for your request, and I hope you enjoy it! ❤️
Pairing: all LIs (separately) x (Female) reader / non-MC
Xavier and you walk hand in hand along the winding paths of Linkon City's Botanical Park.
The gardens are bustling, filled mostly with couples who have come for the same reason you have - to admire the cherry blossoms in full bloom.
A gentle breeze stirs the branches overhead, sending delicate pink petals drifting through the air. They dance around you like falling snow, wrapping the park in an almost enchanted atmosphere.
You slip your hand from Xavier's and run a few steps ahead of him. Beneath one of the blooming trees, you come to a stop. Stretching your arms wide, you spin in place, laughing with carefree joy as petals whirl around you.
Xavier watches with quiet fondness.
Then another gust of wind catches your flowing skirt, lifting the hem higher.
His gaze drops. His eyes widen ever so slightly before he quickly looks away - though he can't quite help stealing glances from the corner of his eye. A faint blush warms the tips of his ears.
You remain blissfully unaware, caught up in the magic of the moment.
When Xavier notices a few passing visitors glance your way and quietly murmur among themselves, he steps forward. Gently taking your wrists, he guides you into his embrace, bringing your spinning to a stop.
One hand rests at your waist while the other smooths down your skirt.
After two grueling weeks spent overseeing his patients' care, buried beneath paperwork, reviewing case after case, and performing back-to-back surgeries that stretched into sixteen-hour shifts, Zayne finally has a day off.
And what better place to spend it than the library - a sanctuary of quiet and calm - with you by his side?
On one side of a towering bookcase, Zayne stands engrossed in the synopsis of a book he's picked up. A few shelves farther down on the opposite side, you browse through the collection.
Spotting a title on the highest shelf, you rise onto your tiptoes and stretch to reach it. The movement causes the hem of your short skirt to ride up a little too high.
Suddenly, a warmth settles around your waist.
Zayne's tailored coat.
With practiced movements, he wraps the sleeves around your hips and ties them into a knot.
“Your wardrobe choices,” he remarks, “lacks situational awareness.”
You glance back over your shoulder with a mischievous smile.
“And here I was thinking I could try a little librarian roleplay,” you reply with feigned innocence.
A crimson blush creeps across the tips of his ears as he adjusts his glasses with deliberate composure.
You stroll along the shoreline of Whitesand Bay, the warm sand slipping between your bare toes with every step.
A few paces ahead, Rafayel suddenly stops and lifts his camera toward you, clearly intending to capture another candid photo.
At that exact moment, a gust of sea breeze sweeps across the beach.
It billows his unbuttoned shirt open, exposing his toned chest, while at the same time catching the hem of your skirt and sending it flying upward in the breeze.
Rafayel lets out an exaggerated gasp before dramatically throwing both hands over his eyes.
“Ah! My eyes have been blessed,” he declares, shamelessly peeking through the gaps between his fingers with a mischievous grin.
“But the world doesn't deserve to witness such a masterpiece!”
Your face burns with embarrassment as you hurriedly scramble to hold it down, shooting him a look that only makes his grin widen.
Despite yourself, you can't help laughing along with him, your embarrassment slowly giving way to amusement as he continues tossing out one teasing remark after another.
You know this moment has just earned a permanent place in Rafayel's collection of stories he'll gleefully bring up whenever he wants to fluster you.
Sylus has invited you to yet another auction - one of the many you swear he only attends so he has an excuse to flaunt just how wealthy he is.
Feeling unusually daring, you decide to match the evening's extravagance with an outfit of your own: a fitted corset paired with a short skirt that leaves little to the imagination.
Your confidence, however, doesn't last long.
The skirt is too short for comfort, and every few steps you find yourself tugging at the hem as it insists on riding higher.
Sylus watches with quiet amusement.
His smirk widens as his gaze lingers deliberately on your exposed skin.
When you're seated together at a round table draped with a floor-length tablecloth, you instinctively press your knees together, despite knowing no one can possibly see beneath it.
One of Sylus’s large, warm hands comes to rest against the inside of your thigh.
His thumb traces slow, absent-minded circles, sending an involuntary shiver through you.
His hand travels higher and higher under your skirt.
After yesterday's shopping spree with Caleb, you realize your wardrobe has become so overstuffed that there's nowhere left to hang your new clothes.
So today, you decide it's finally time for a spring clean.
As you sort through your wardrobe, your hand pauses on a skirt tucked away at the very back.
When was the last time you wore this?
A distant memory resurfaces.
...
You'd been waiting outside the DAA for Caleb's plane to land.
The day had been unusually windy, and the powerful gust from the aircraft's engines caught the hem of your skirt before you had any chance to react, sending it flying upward.
A nearby group of DAA pilots happened to witness the unfortunate moment.
A few let out shameless whistles while others exchanged cheeky remarks.
Before you could even think to recover from the embarrassment, a broad figure stepped in front of you.
Caleb.
He shot the group a single pointed glare, instantly silencing them.
"Whoops. Watch it, pipsqueak," he chuckled, gently pinching your nose.
“Good thing I was here to look out for you…” His grin turned unmistakably smug.
“Otherwise, you would've given the entire DAA flight crew a free show.”
For context, please read part 1 first, then proceed with part 3 - 1/2
1/2 - Xavier, Zayne & Rafayel
2/2 - Sylus, Caleb & Valko
YOUR HEART WILL BE MINE
SYLUS (Word count : 1,550)
The first time MC met Sylus was a complete disaster.
She had reluctantly ventured into the lawless N109 Zone to investigate the Aether Core, only to be ambushed shortly after arriving.
She was, admittedly, grateful that Sylus had shown up in time to save her.
Beyond that, however, she wanted nothing to do with Onychinus - least of all its leader.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
She found herself returning to the N109 Zone again and again.
And one day...
...she met you.
…
She had come to the base looking for Sylus, needing his help with another matter.
You were standing by one of the towering bookshelves, lazily looking through his vinyl collection while Sylus lounged on the couch with a book in hand.
The moment her eyes landed on you, she froze.
You looked dangerous.
Every inch of your posture was guarded, predatory - as though you were ready to pounce the second she made one wrong move.
A shiver ran down MC's spine.
Not from fear.
From attraction.
One word echoed through her mind.
Hot.
You were so unbelievably attractive it ought to be illegal.
“It's okay,” Sylus said without even glancing up from his book. “She's one of us.”
Your gaze never left MC.
“She's a hunter.”
“Hi.” MC voice came out embarrassingly higher than intended. “I'm MC”
“What is it you need, kitten?” Sylus asked.
You raised an eyebrow.
Then your eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
MC resisted the urge to groan.
She had told Sylus countless times not to call her that.
“And you are?” she asked instead, pointedly ignoring him.
You stepped behind the couch, coming to stand directly behind Sylus.
“Y/N.”
MC repeated your name quietly, testing how it sounded.
“Y/N…”
You slipped your arms around Sylus's shoulders from behind.
“Sylus's woman.”
There was no mistaking the message in your eyes.
Back off. He's mine.
MC had absolutely no interest in Sylus.
You, however...
...were an entirely different story.
Sylus reached up, gently removing your hands before standing.
“Let's take this somewhere else.”
He gestured toward the exit.
MC reluctantly followed him, reminding herself why she'd come in the first place.
She expected you to follow.
Instead, you stayed exactly where you were.
…
MC has never considered herself an introvert.
If anyone asked, she'd confidently describe herself as outgoing.
Until she developed a crush.
Then she became hopeless.
And around you...
She somehow became even worse.
…
She began finding more and more excuses to visit the N109 Zone.
Sometimes she genuinely needed Sylus's help.
Other times...
...she simply hoped you'd be there.
Every so often, luck was on her side.
Whenever she saw you, she'd try to start a conversation.
Ask about your day.
Comment on whatever you were doing.
Anything to keep you talking for a little longer.
You made it abundantly clear you weren't interested.
Sometimes you'd answer with a single word.
Sometimes you'd ignore her completely.
Eventually, you started avoiding her altogether whenever she visited the base.
It should have discouraged her.
Instead...
...it only made her want to know you even more.
She had always been weak for women who were mysterious, intimidating, and unfairly attractive.
Women.
Not men.
MC had figured that much out about herself years ago.
While everyone around her developed crushes on boys, she had tried convincing herself she'd eventually feel the same.
She dated.
She gave it several honest attempts.
Nothing.
There was never a spark.
Never that flutter in her chest.
Never desire.
With you...
Her desire was through the roof.
What surprised her most was that Sylus seemed oblivious.
Like MC, Sylus possessed an Aether Core - his embedded within his right eye, hers within her heart.
His granted him the ability to perceive people's desires.
Surely...
...he had noticed.
Or perhaps he had noticed and simply chosen not to acknowledge it.
After all, Sylus's own intentions toward MC were hardly subtle.
He flirted shamelessly, teased her relentlessly, and seemed determined to get under her skin every chance he got.
That was what confused her.
You had introduced yourself as Sylus's woman.
So why is he pursuing her?
Is your relationship... casual?
If it is...
Judging by the possessive look you'd given her that first day…
You certainly haven't gotten the memo.
…
Despite the fact that they operate as equals and MC has come to trust Sylus deeply, that's as far as she wants their relationship to go.
Since you refuse to acknowledge her whenever she visits the N109 Zone, she has little choice but to ask Sylus - and occasionally the twins - about you.
To her surprise, you aren't actually part of Onychinus.
You never were.
Yes, you're dating Sylus.
Yes, you live in the N109 Zone.
But beyond that, you're simply an ordinary citizen. You commute to an office job in Linkon City every day and never involve yourself in Onychinus's affairs.
…
MC quickly comes to one conclusion.
As long as you're still with Sylus...
...you'll never spare another person a second glance.
The solution seems simple.
Your relationship has to end.
She barely has to lift a finger before Luke and Kieran casually let slip that "boss-lady," as they call you, dumped Sylus.
MC can hardly contain her excitement.
With Sylus - more or less - out of the picture, she finally has a chance to pursue you.
Now that you're living and working in Linkon City, getting close to you should be easy.
Or so she thinks.
…
On her next day off, MC parks her motorcycle across the street from your office building and waits.
And waits.
And waits.
Eventually, you emerge from the building, and drive away.
She follows at a careful distance.
She only knows where you work because Sylus told her.
She has no idea where you moved after the breakup, where you spend your free time, or what places you frequent.
She hasn't been lucky enough to run into you by chance.
Then again...
Linkon City is enormous.
She never expected she would.
…
You eventually pull over outside a narrow building tucked between several others.
You cross the street and disappear inside.
MC parks a few spaces away before following.
She tilts her head back to read the sign.
A… club?
The interior is dimly lit, dressed in dark wood and crimson accents.
It reminds her of Sylus's base.
Only a handful of people occupy the room.
She scans the lounge.
You're nowhere to be seen.
“Why are you following me?”
Your voice, low and smooth, comes from directly behind her.
A chill races down her spine.
She spins around—
Only to find you seated at the bar a few feet away, casually swirling the drink in your glass.
How had she missed you?
“You got what you wanted.”
Your gaze never leaves your drink.
“Sylus is yours now.”
Your tone is calm.
Almost detached.
“Or did you follow me all the way here just to gloat?”
MC's brows knit together as she quietly slides onto the stool beside you.
“I heard... you two broke up.”
Your head turns sharply.
The glare you level at her could cut steel.
MC's heart skips.
Be brave.
It's now or never.
“I don't know what happened between the two of you,” she says carefully.
“But I need you to believe me when I say that the only reason I've gotten involved with Sylus - or Onychinus at all - is because I need his help investigating the Aether Core... and EVER.”
“Is that so... kitten?” you drawl.
MC pouts.
“I kept telling him to stop calling me that.”
“I didn't want you getting the wrong idea.”
“Too late."
The words come without hesitation.
“You're the one I want!”
The confession bursts from MC before she can stop herself.
She immediately slaps both hands over her mouth.
You simply smile into your glass.
Calmly, you wave the bartender over.
“Another.”
You slide your empty glass forward.
“And one for the lady.”
The bartender nods and you turn fully toward MC.
One manicured finger hooks beneath her chin, lifting her gaze until she's forced to meet your eyes.
“Let's see if you can handle me.”
Heat rushes to MC's face.
She swallows hard.
She nods.
Inside, she could practically leap for joy.
It worked!
You hide a smile behind your glass.
You had known exactly what MC wanted from the very beginning.
Her desire practically radiated off her.
Let's see what Miss hunter is really made of.
Out of the corner of your eye, you catch sight of Sylus.
He sits alone in a shadowed booth, one leg crossed over the other, a drink resting lazily in his hand.
An amused smirk plays across his lips.
He had known what MC was planning all along.
Just as he had known exactly what you were planning.
He had walked into both your traps willingly.
Sylus raises his glass toward you in a silent toast.
If his kitten wants you, then she can have you.
He doesn't mind sharing.
His crimson eyes gleam with quiet amusement.
Across from you, MC remains blissfully unaware that she is being watched.
Or that the two people she is trying to outsmart saw through her from the very beginning.
When MC learnt that Caleb has a girlfriend, she felt a mixture of shock, surprise, and disbelief.
Caleb?
The boy who has been single his entire life?
The same boy who made her pretend to be his girlfriend throughout high school just to avoid being confessed to by other girls?
And the worst part?
He hadn't even told her.
No.
She had found out by pure chance when Gideon casually mentioned it in passing after bumping into her.
When MC confronted Caleb about it, he looked like a deer caught in headlights.
He stumbled over excuse after excuse, claiming that the relationship was still new, that he didn't want to overwhelm you by introducing everyone too soon, that it simply hadn't felt like the right time.
MC wasn't buying any of it.
She wanted to meet you immediately.
If someone had managed to capture Caleb's heart, then she had to be someone special.
…
MC pleads, bargains, and shamelessly pesters him until Caleb finally gives in and arranges for the two of you to meet.
She takes a day off work, and Caleb picks her up from the station before driving her back to his apartment.
The moment the front door swings open, she is greeted by a bundle of pure sunshine.
“You're MC, right? I'm Y/N!”
Before MC can even answer, you throw your arms around her in an enthusiastic hug.
“It's so nice to finally meet you!”
Caleb grabs the back of your collar and gently pulls you away.
“You're suffocating her.”
“Sorry! I've just been so excited to meet you.”
Without missing a beat, you continue.
“How was your trip? You must be exhausted. Are you hungry? Dinner's almost ready. Caleb's been cooking since this morning.”
The words tumble out so quickly that MC barely has time to process them.
Caleb simply rubs the back of his neck.
MC can't help but laugh.
She has never met someone with so much energy.
After leaving her luggage in the guest bedroom, MC wanders into the kitchen.
She pauses for a moment, quietly taking in the apartment.
It looks...
Warmer.
Brighter.
The gloomy bachelor apartment she remembers had been transformed into something that actually felt like a home.
Caleb had insisted the relationship was still relatively new.
Yet judging by the apartment...
You practically lived here.
Or at the very least, spent enough time here that your presence lingered in every room.
Dinner passes far quicker than MC expects.
She and you talk almost nonstop.
You eagerly listen as she shares stories from her life as a Deepspace Hunter, your eyes sparkling with admiration.
In return, you excitedly talk to her about your travels, showing her countless photos and videos from all the places you'd explored and all the people you'd met.
MC finds herself completely captivated.
You are easy going.
Adventurous.
Across the table, Caleb watches the two of you chatter away as though you've known each other for years.
He should be happy.
He is happy that the two of you had gotten along so well.
But...
A small, uncomfortable feeling settles in his chest.
All of MC’s attention is on you.
He doesn’t like that.
…
As time goes on, you and MC grow even closer.
Whenever MC has time off, she makes the trip to Skyhaven to visit - whether Caleb is available or not.
Likewise, Caleb knows you've started making trips to Linkon City just to see her.
Coffee after work.
Shopping trips.
Weekend outings.
Not to mention the constant stream of texts and late-night phone calls.
You genuinely enjoy each other's company.
Any normal boyfriend would be thrilled that his girlfriend and his "sister" get along so well.
Only...
MC isn't merely his so-called sister.
She isn't just the girl he grew up with.
She isn't simply his childhood friend.
Growing up, Caleb has always been the one by MC's side.
Her closest companion.
Her most important person.
It has always been the two of them against the world.
He isn't willing to share.
MC is his.
…
Eventually, Caleb finally gets a moment alone with MC.
Just the two of them.
Casually, he asks why she seems to like you so much.
If he knows what drew her to you...
Perhaps he can find a way to drive the two of you apart.
“How could I not?” MC says with an easy shrug. “She's just... so likeable.”
A fond smile spreads across her face.
“I love listening to her stories. She's so much fun to be around.”
“And she's such a good listener. Whenever something's bothering me, she always knows exactly what to say.”
Caleb's shoulders sink.
Everything she's saying is true.
“Pipsqueak…” he begins slowly. “It's just…”
He scratches the back of his neck.
“You've been spending so much time with her lately…”
He forces out a small laugh.
“I kind of feel left out.”
“But you come with us too,” MC replies innocently.
“It's not the same, Pips.”
He gives her his best puppy dog eyes.
“I miss when it was just the two of us. Like old times.”
“Am I not important anymore?”
“Of course you are.”
She reaches over and lightly nudges his shoulder.
“I'm sorry for making you feel that way.”
She smiles warmly.
“Nobody could ever replace you, Caleb.”
“The next time we're both free…”
“Let's spend the whole day together. Just us.”
…
True to her word, MC begins making more time for Caleb.
The problem is...
Now she only seems to spend time with Caleb.
You're nowhere to be seen.
Whenever she asks why you didn't come, Caleb always has an answer ready.
“She's working overtime.”
“She already had plans.”
“She's not feeling well.”
“She’s away on one of her trips.”
Each excuse sounds perfectly reasonable.
Yet...
Something doesn't feel right.
Your text messages gradually become shorter.
More polite than personal.
Your phone calls rarely last more than a few minutes.
Sometimes you answer only to apologize and say you're busy.
Other times...
You don't answer at all.
And whenever MC stays over in Skyhaven, she notices another change.
You're still kind.
But the bright, endlessly talkative woman she'd first met is gone.
You keep mostly to yourself, speaking only when necessary.
MC hasn't known you for very long.
But she's known you long enough to recognize...
Something has changed.
She just doesn't know what.
…
As Colonel of the Farspace Fleet, Caleb was no stranger to long deployments. This mission had taken him deep into the Deepspace tunnels for weeks.
The day he finally returns, he is surprised to find MC waiting outside HQ.
Unable to contact him while he is away, she's been worried sick.
The moment he sees her, his exhaustion melts away.
“I could really use a proper meal,” he says with a grin, unlocking his car. “Come on. Let's grab something to eat.”
MC smiles before hesitating.
“What about Y/N?” she asks. “She must've missed you too.”
He pulls out his phone.
MC assumes he is inviting you.
A few moments later, he slips his phone back into his pocket.
“Looks like she can't make it,” he says with an apologetic smile. “She's stuck at work.”
Caleb starts the engine and drives away.
...
Later, while the two of them wander through the shopping district after dinner, Caleb's phone rings.
He glances at the screen before stepping a few paces away.
He answers quietly, speaking only a few hushed words before the call ends almost immediately.
When he returns, MC tilts her head.
“Who was that?”
“Liam,” Caleb replies without missing a beat.
MC accepts the answer without another question.
...
It was a lie.
The moment Caleb sees MC waiting outside HQ, he sends you a quick message claiming he's been unexpectedly held up and won't be able to make it to your dinner reservation.
The phone call is from you.
He'd barely managed to finish his sentence before the line went dead.
You hung up on him.
That tiny action lingered in the back of his mind for the rest of the day.
...
“Babe, I'm home.”
His voice echoed through the apartment.
No reply.
Then he hears movement in the bedroom.
The wardrobe doors are wide open.
You are quietly folding clothes into a large suitcase.
“Going somewhere?” he asks, confused
When you look at him, your eyes are sad.
It is an expression he's never seen before.
“I'm moving out.”
You continue packing.
“In case it isn't obvious…”
“I'm breaking up with you.”
Caleb stares.
“You're... breaking up with me?”
The disbelief in his voice is genuine.
“No need to look so surprised.”
You fold another piece of clothing.
“You should be happy.”
“Now you can chase after MC as much as you want.”
His entire body stiffens.
“...What does MC have to do with this?”
You finally look up.
“Oh, Caleb.”
“You really think I wouldn't notice?”
“The way you look at her.”
“The longing.”
“The yearning.”
“The desperate want.”
“You love her.”
Caleb can’t deny it or even find the words to pretend otherwise.
If you’ve noticed...
Has MC noticed too?
You let out a quiet, humourless laugh.
“I really thought I'd found someone I could settle down with.”
Caleb opens his mouth.
Nothing comes out.
He should stop you.
He should apologise.
Promise to do better.
Any decent boyfriend would.
Instead...
Relief spreads quietly through his chest.
Once you are gone...
There will be no reason for you to spend time with MC anymore.
He's already noticed the distance growing between the two of you.
The shorter conversations.
The fewer visits.
This…
Will be the final severed thread.
You zip the suitcase shut and pull the handle upright.
“I don't have to tell you what an incredible person MC is.”
A small smile touches your lips.
“She's lucky to have someone who loves her as much as you do.”
“I hope... it works out between the two of you.”
“I'll be rooting for you.”
Caleb's chest tightens.
Every word you say is sincere.
You pick up your suitcase and step closer.
“Thank you for everything, Caleb.”
“For what it's worth…”
“Our time together was nice.”
You rise onto your toes and press a gentle kiss to his cheek.
Then you walk past him, quietly closing the apartment door behind you.
…
MC finally manages to get in contact with you and persuades you to meet up with her.
The two of you sit on a bench overlooking the lake in one of Skyhaven's parks, each holding a warm cup of tea.
“Caleb told me the two of you broke up,” MC says, breaking the silence.
“Mind telling me why?”
You don't like lying.
But telling her the truth would mean exposing Caleb's feelings before he's had the chance to confess them himself.
“We'd been having problems for a while,” you reply, offering only half the truth.
“There wasn't any way to fix them, so I decided to walk away.”
That part, at least, is true.
“Is that why you've been so distant?” she asks quietly. “Why you stopped spending time with us... with me?”
You simply nod.
Knowing Caleb was hopelessly in love with MC while he was dating you had become unbearable.
You were afraid that if you stayed close, one day the truth would slip out in a moment of anger or hurt.
“Caleb, you big dummy!” MC suddenly blurts, throwing her hands into the air.
You can't help but laugh.
“That boy finally gets himself a girlfriend…”
“An amazing one at that,” she winks at you.
“...And somehow still manages to ruin it.”
You laugh again, shaking your head.
“Relationships are complicated,” you say, taking a sip of your tea. “Some last. Others don't.’
You shrug lightly.
“That's just how life goes.”
Silence settles between the two of you.
After a while, MC speaks again.
“Even if you and Caleb aren't together anymore…” she says hesitantly, “...that doesn't mean we can't still be friends.”
She offers you a hopeful smile.
“I've really missed you.”
“I've missed you too.”
...
Caleb is walking through Skyhaven when something across the street makes him stop in his tracks.
You.
It's the first time he's seen you since the breakup several weeks ago.
You're smiling.
That same bright, effortless smile that always seems capable of lighting up an entire room.
Then his gaze shifts.
MC is standing beside you.
He didn't even know she'd come to Skyhaven.
The two of you laugh at something he can't hear.
Then, without warning, MC rises onto her tiptoes and presses a kiss against your cheek.
You turn away from your computer at the sound of the clinic door swinging open.
A woman stands in the doorway, completely drenched.
Water drips from her hair and clothes onto the tiled floor as she pants for breath.
“Goodness!” you exclaim, immediately getting to your feet.
You hurry into the back room before returning moments later with a large towel.
Stepping in front of her, you drape it over her shoulders.
“The kitty…” she pants. “It's hurt.”
Your gaze drops to the bundle in her arms.
Two frightened little eyes peek out from a ball of soaked fur.
You carefully take the cat from her arms and hurry into the treatment room, where the veterinarian immediately begins examining it.
A few minutes later, you return and guide the woman to one of the plastic waiting-room chairs.
Soon, you're placing a steaming mug of tea into her hands. She smiles gratefully.
“Is the cat yours?” you ask.
She shakes her head.
“I heard it crying in an alley while I was walking home. I saw it was injured, so I searched for the nearest clinic.”
“I just... didn't expect to get caught in the rain.”
She blows across the surface of the tea before taking a cautious sip.
“It has a collar,” you say.
“We'll be able to contact its owner.”
“It probably wandered too far from home.”
The woman studies your face for a moment.
“Do we know each other?” she asks. “You look... familiar.”
You find yourself studying her just as closely.
“I was about to ask you the same thing.”
“I feel like I've seen you somewhere before.”
“Maybe on the news?” you muse, nodding toward the Hunters uniform she wears.
“Or maybe you saved me from a Wanderer once.”
You stand and return behind the reception desk.
“I'm just going to need you to fill out a few forms for our records.”
Not long after she leaves, you spend several minutes trying to remember where you've seen her before.
Nothing comes to mind.
Eventually, you shrug it off.
It's not like you'll ever see her again.
...
You couldn't have been more wrong.
A few days later, you're riding the elevator up to Valko's office in the EonCore Tech building, holding two cups of hot chocolate.
Honestly...
That man is going to get diabetes one day. You knock once before letting yourself inside.
“I'm going to start charging you every time you send me on a snack run,” you grumble dramatically.
The words die on your lips.
Sitting across from Valko's desk is the very same woman from the veterinary clinic.
Her eyes widen.
So do yours.
“You?” The word leaves both of you at exactly the same time.
Valko looks between the pair of you.
“...Do you two know each other?”
You walk over and set his hot chocolate on the desk before moving to stand beside him.
“We met a few days ago,” you explain.
“She brought an injured cat into the clinic.”
Immediately, she perks up.
“How's the kitty doing?”
You smile.
“Much better. The injuries turned out to be minor.”
“The owner picked him up the following morning.”
Relief washes across MC's face.
Valko clears his throat.
“Y/N, this is MC.”
“MC, this is Y/N…”
He pauses briefly.
“...My friend.”
Recognition suddenly clicks into place. So this is MC.
The hunter you'd briefly crossed paths with the last time you visited Valko at work.
You lean closer and lower your voice.
“MC... as in…”
You don't even finish the question.
“Yes,” Valko whispers.
His fated mate.
You straighten with a polite smile.
“Well... I'll leave you two to it.”
You turn toward the door.
“Don't go!” MC's voice stops you in your tracks.
You glance back, surprised.
Even Valko looks caught off guard.
“I mean…” MC stammers, cheeks warming slightly.
“You're not interrupting anything.”
She offers you a slightly embarrassed smile.
“You don't have to leave just because I'm here.”
...
You and Valko had been friends for a long time before the two of you started dating.
When he confessed, you accepted without hesitation.
You have always loved Valko.
Then one day, MC walked into his office.
As it turned out, she was his fated mate.
And just like that, your relationship came to an end.
Neither of you wanted to erase the other from your life, so you agreed to remain friends.
You expected it to be awkward.
Painful.
You were certain it wouldn't work.
Instead...
It was surprisingly easy.
Other than no longer sleeping together, very little changed between you. ...
You threw yourself into your college studies and your part-time job at the Nonstop Veterinary Clinic.
Meanwhile, Valko devoted all of his energy to pursuing his fated mate.
By the sound of it...
Things weren't going nearly as smoothly as he'd imagined.
“I don't get what I'm doing wrong,” he groans, sprawled across your dorm room bed.
His wolf ears droop while his tail lazily swishes back and forth.
“Maybe you're coming on too strong,” you suggest without looking up from your notes.
“Give her some space. Let her get used to you. Let her get to know you first.”
Valko lets out a dramatic sigh. “Things are so easy between us.”
“I thought it'd be the same with MC.”
You finally look up from your textbook.
“And why would you think that?”
“Because she's my fated mate.”
He says it as though it's obvious.
“It should feel natural.”
“It should be easy.”
“Valko…” “She's human.”
“You can't expect her to see the world the way you do.”
You have to build a relationship from the ground up, just like everyone else.”
He throws an arm over his eyes.
“Human relationships are so complicated.”
“And whenever she sees me like this…”
He gestures to his wolf ears and tail. “I can tell she's uncomfortable.”
“Can you really blame her?” you ask with an amused raise of your eyebrow.
“It's probably not every day she meets a wolf hybrid.”
“She'll adjust eventually.”
Since that day in Valko's office, you've seen MC several times.
She seems friendly.
Easy to talk to.
And kind.
Anyone willing to rescue an injured cat in the pouring rain and dedicate their life to protecting others as a Deepspace Hunter can't be a bad person.
She'd even asked for your number.
Now hardly a day goes by without a message from her.
At first, you'd found it strange.
Then you assumed she simply wanted to get to know Valko through his closest friend.
Except...
The more you think about it...
MC rarely asks about Valko at all.
Most of your conversations revolve around you.
Maybe she's just shy when it comes to talking about him.
“Maybe she's just cautious,” you muse aloud. “She is a Hunter. Being cautious probably comes naturally to her."
” Valko suddenly sits upright.
“The thing is…” He scratches the back of his neck.
“I already told her about the whole... fated mate thing.”
Your palm meets your forehead with a loud smack.
This idiot.
He'd only known the woman for a few months and had somehow decided the best course of action was to dump the entire wolf hybrid culture onto her all at once.
“I'm guessing that didn't go well.”
“She rejected me.”
“She said she can't love someone just because an invisible bond tells her she should.”
“She said she needs to feel it here.”
He taps his chest.
You remain quiet for a moment.
“That doesn't sound like she rejected you.”
Valko's ears perk up.
“It sounds like she rejected the idea of fate deciding who she loves.”
“That's why I need your help.”
Before you can react, he grabs both of your hands.
You stare at him.
“...What exactly do you expect me to do?”
“Talk to her.”
“Explain everything.”
“Help her understand.”
“And…” He flashes you a grin.
“...Say nice things about me.”
You slip your hands free.
With a weary sigh, you stand and walk a few steps away, your back facing him.
“You're cruel, Valko.” Your voice is quiet.
“We both knew from the beginning that I wasn't your mate.”
“And yes…”
“Ending things was a mutual decision.”
“But that doesn't mean it didn't hurt.”
Your shoulders tense.
“Did you ever stop to think how it feels listening to you talk about MC all the time?”
“Or having you come to me for relationship advice about the woman you left me for?”
A tear slips silently down your cheek.
Behind you, strong arms wrap gently around your waist. Valko rests his chin against your shoulder.
“I still wish it had been you,” he whispers.
You know he means it.
But wishing doesn't change reality.
After a long silence, you let out a quiet sigh.
“I don't know if anything I say will make a difference…” “...but I suppose it's worth trying.”
Valko nuzzles his face against your shoulder, his tail wagging behind him.
...
You sit opposite MC in a booth at a retro-style American diner.
You picked this place on purpose because it is familiar and comfortable. You come here all the time with Valko.
Without thinking, you order two chocolate milkshakes. Force of habit. MC doesn't seem to mind.
“This is the first time it's just the two of us,” she says with a smile.
“I'm really glad you asked me to meet you.”
She looks down at her hands. “I've wanted to ask you out myself for a while... but I always get nervous.”
“How are things with Valko?” you ask, getting straight to the point.
After all, Valko is currently listening to your conversation through the tiny earpiece he insisted you wear.
“You know everything about Valko, don't you?”
You nod.
“Doesn't... all of it bother you?” she asks carefully.
“The wolf thing?”
“You're asking an animal lover whether fluffy ears and a tail bother her?”
You shake your head.
“Besides…” you continue.
“You're a hunter. You fight Wanderers for a living.”
“How can someone who battles monsters be intimidated by one oversized puppy?”
You smirk, fully aware Valko can hear every word.
“When you put it like that…” MC mutters. “It does sound a little silly.”
“It's just... it feels so unnatural.”
You wave the concern away.
“Give it time. You'll stop thinking about it eventually.”
Silence settles between you before you speak again.
“Valko also told me he confessed that you're his mate.”
MC bites her lower lip.
“Then... you also know I rejected him.”
“I don't really understand the whole mate bond either,” you admit, absentmindedly stirring your milkshake.
“I don't think humans can truly understand what it feels like.”
“I don't want fate deciding who I love,” MC says quietly. “I want that choice to be mine.”
You nod.
“And I choose you.”
The milkshake goes down the wrong way.
You nearly spit it across the table before breaking into a coughing fit.
Excuse me…!”
You grab a handful of napkins.
“I like you.”
Before you can recover— Valko suddenly appears beside the booth.
“So the reason you rejected me wasn't because of the wolf thing.” He points dramatically at MC.
“It's because you have a crush on Y/N.”
MC sighs.
“...Yes.”
She blinks.
“Wait…”
“Time out.” You hold both hands up.
“Confession time.” You take a deep breath.
“Valko and I used to date.”
“When we found out you were his mate, we ended things.”
“We stayed friends.”
“He's been asking me for advice ever since because he wants things to work out with you.”
Valko slides into the booth beside you.
“That sums it up.”
MC stares at the two of you.
Then slowly sinks into her seat.
The silence that follows is painfully awkward.
Then—
“I have an idea!” Valko's voice is far louder than necessary.
“What if all three of us dated?”
You snap your head towards him.
“...What?”
“Hear me out.”
He raises both hands.
“MC is my mate.”
“I still love you.”
Then points at you.
“And MC likes you.”
He gestures between the three of you.
He forms a triangle with his fingers.
“We become a love triangle.”
You stare at him.
“Do you have rabies?”
“Because you’ve officially lost your mind.”
You smack him across the arm.
“...I don't actually hate the idea.”
You blink at MC in disbelief.
“I wouldn't mind trying.”
Your jaw practically hits the table.
You fold your arms.
“Absolutely not.”
“I have never heard anything so ridiculous.”
“There is no way I am agreeing.”
…
Several hours later...
You lie in Valko's bed. Sandwiched between him and MC.
All three of you are completely naked.
Your limbs are hopelessly intertwined.
So much for "absolutely not."
Author’s note : And that's a wrap! 😵💫
Thank you all so much for the love and support throughout this unexpected mini drabble series. It honestly means a lot! 🥺🩷
I'm so sorry for not tagging everyone. The app has been lagging because of the word count, and I accidentally deleted the post where everyone asked to be tagged. 😬
I hope you understand, and thank you again for reading and supporting this little series! 🙂
Can I please request a part 2 to "Your heart was never mine"? (Because I need to see Zayne reacting to non-mc getting rid of their child). I just want to see them be regretful when they see non-mc move on with someone else. But for a twist, imagine they move on with MC. All this time MC has been in love with you but you were dating/in love with someone else. So she decides to manipulate the situation and plays along with the guys, never doing anything that crosses a line, though. When the breakup/heartbreak does happen, she's at your doorstep, looking apologetic and blaming herself. Non-mc is hesitant at first but slowly the two grow closer, as MC rants about the LI's. The next time the Li's see you, MC is winning you a plushy from the claw machine and positively doting on you. She looks over at the Li's and mouths "I won" over non-mc's shoulder.
Author’s Note: @bluerosejuliet thank you for the request! This was such an interesting idea. 🤩 I hope I did it justice. 🙏
Content : This is the final part which can be considered this an alternative ending.
In case it isn't clear, the pink speech belongs to the MC.
Please, read Part 1 before proceeding.
I completely went overboard, and because of the extensive word count, I had not choice but to split Part 3 into two parts:
1/2 - Xavier, Zayne & Rafayel
2/2 - Sylus, Caleb & Valko
YOUR HEART WILL BE MINE
XAVIER (Word count : 1,439)
A few days have passed since you broke up with your now ex-boyfriend, Xavier.
You handed in your resignation, much to Captain Jenna's displeasure, prompting her to force you to take some time off to reconsider.
You don't want to quit.
You love your job at the Hunters Association.
You just don't know if you can handle constantly worrying about running into Xavier...
Or worse.
Running into Xavier and MC together.
Since leaving the apartment, you've been staying at your mutual friend Jeremiah's place. He's been nothing but kind, insisting you stay for as long as you need.
...
Today, you've decided to return to Xavier's apartment to collect the rest of your belongings.
Somehow, the relationship won't truly feel over until you've erased every trace of yourself from that apartment.
As you step into the elevator, you silently pray Xavier isn't home.
If you're forced to face those pleading blue eyes and hear that gentle, calming voice...
Your resolve might crumble.
Just before the elevator doors slide shut, a hand slips between them.
The doors reopen.
Your heart sinks.
The second person you least wanted to see steps inside.
MC.
She smiles warmly the moment your eyes meet.
“Hey!” she beams. “I haven't seen you in ages.”
“Hello, MC,” you reply politely, doing your best to keep your voice steady.
“I haven't seen you around the Association,” she says. “Whenever I ask Xavier about you, he just looks...sad.”
You swallow.
“Captain Jenna made me take some time off. I've just been...dealing with a few things.”
You keep your answer vague.
Please hurry...
You silently beg the elevator.
Then a thought suddenly strikes you.
If MC is here...
Does that mean Xavier is home too?
“Is...is Xavier home?” you ask cautiously.
MC shakes her head.
“I think he's out on a mission.”
Relief quietly washes over you.
Then her gaze drops to the flattened cardboard boxes tucked beneath your arm.
“What's with the boxes?”
Before you can answer, the elevator dings.
The doors open on MC's floor.
But instead of stepping out...
She stays where she is.
The doors close again.
“I hope you don't mind me asking...” she says gently. “But did something happen between you and Xavier?”
“He hasn't seemed like himself these past few days.”
“We... broke up.”
The words come out barely above a whisper just as the elevator reaches your floor.
The doors open.
You step out.
To your surprise...
MC follows.
“You broke up?!” she exclaims, eyes widening. “What happened?”
You.
The word screams inside your head.
Before coming here, you'd asked Jeremiah whether MC knew about Xavier's past.
About the Backtrackers.
About Philo.
He'd told you she knew bits and pieces.
But she knew nothing about the queen.
She had no memories of that life.
She wasn't the same person.
After hearing that...
You decided it wouldn't be fair to blame her.
As far as MC knew, she was nothing more than an oblivious bystander.
Seeing that you don't answer, she smiles apologetically.
“I'm sorry,” she says softly. “That's really none of my business.”
“It's just... you're both my friends. And my coworkers.”
You unlock the apartment door.
As it closes behind you, you hear her call after you.
“You know where to find me if you ever want to talk!”
...
With every strip of tape sealing another box...
Your heart grows a little heavier.
You pack only the essentials.
Once you've loaded the last box into the back of Jeremiah's truck, you pause.
Against your better judgment...
You head back up to MC's apartment.
...
You had only intended to say goodbye at the door.
Now you sit awkwardly on her couch while she disappears into the kitchen.
“Tea?” she calls.
“I know you don't drink coffee.”
“You remember that?” you ask, genuinely surprised.
“Just something I noticed.”
“Every time in the break room, you always make yourself tea and politely decline whenever someone offers you coffee.”
She glances back over her shoulder with a sheepish smile.
“Being a hunter means being observant and paying attention to little details.”
She sets a steaming mug in front of you before taking a seat beside you - a little closer than you're like.
“I heard from Captain Jenna that you resigned,” she says, blowing gently across the surface of her tea.
“She asked if I knew why.”
“I guess she came to me because Xavier's my partner... and you are…were his girlfriend.”
She studies your face.
“It's because of the breakup... isn’t it?”
You quietly nod.
“I understand.”
MC’s voice is gentle.
“But, I hope you'll reconsider.”
“The Association won't be the same without you.”
Her smile and words are sincere.
…
The bell above Philo Flower Shop chimes.
Looking up from the counter to greet the customer, you're surprised to see MC entering.
“Oh!” she says with a smile.
Her eyes drift to the apron tied around your waist.
“Do you work here now?”
“Kind of,” you reply. “I haven't really found another job yet, so Jeremiah suggested I help him out for the time being.”
“He's in the greenhouse, by the way.”
“Actually…” MC smiles sheepishly. “I came to see you.”
“Me?” you repeat.
She nods.
“You mentioned you were staying with Jeremiah, so I thought I'd stop by and ask him how you were doing.”
“Would you like to grab lunch with me?”
You open your mouth to decline.
Instead...
Your stomach lets out a loud, unmistakable growl.
Your cheeks immediately flush crimson.
Wrapping your arms around your stomach, you glare down at it in betrayal.
MC bursts into laughter.
“I think your stomach just answered for you.”
...
First, she'd kept you at her apartment far longer than you'd intended, refusing to let you leave until, in her words, “you don't look like you're about to burst into tears.”
Now...
The two of you are sitting across from each other in a restaurant, chatting over lunch as though you've been friends for years.
The worst part?
You don't actually mind.
MC is warm.
Open.
Easy to talk to.
You hadn't realized that before.
Outside of work, you'd never really spent time with her.
You'd always preferred keeping your work life and personal life separate.
The only exception had been Xavier.
...
After that lunch, MC slowly begins weaving herself into your everyday life.
First come the messages.
You reply eventually, even if they're short.
Mostly because it feels rude not to.
Then she convinces you to add her on Moments.
She starts leaving comments beneath your rare posts.
Eventually...
The phone calls begin.
Somehow, brief conversations turn into hours of talking before either of you notices the time.
...
One afternoon, MC calls and invites you to Twinkle Toys arcade.
A new limited-edition plushie has just been released.
You decline.
You even tell her she should just go with Xavier like she usually does.
But she's relentless.
She keeps insisting she wants to go with you.
Eventually...
You give in.
...
MC watches from beside you as you stand in front of the claw machine, completely absorbed in trying to win the plushie.
Adorable.
Just like so many other little things about you.
From the moment MC joined the Hunters Association, you'd caught her attention.
You were exactly her type.
Then she'd found out you were Xavier's girlfriend.
The disappointment had lingered.
At first, she'd simply tried spending more time with Xavier outside of work.
She'd hoped that she'd get to see you through him.
Instead...
She just ended up spending even more time alone with Xavier.
That's when the idea came to her.
No girlfriend would be happy watching her boyfriend spend more time and attention on another woman.
And Xavier...
Never once told her no.
The day she'd interrupted your dinner date had been the final push.
The mission hadn't been urgent or difficult.
She could have completed it by herself.
Instead, she'd gone looking for Xavier just as he was leaving Headquarters.
Afterward, she'd casually suggested stopping by the arcade.
She'd noticed you almost immediately.
Watching them.
The devastation on your face had told her everything.
The crack she'd been creating had finally broken the foundation.
The claw machine suddenly erupts into flashing lights and cheerful music.
You bend down, retrieve the plushie, and hold it out to her.
Her face lights up and she throws her arms around your neck in a tight hug.
Over your shoulder, her eyes drift toward the floor to ceiling windows of the arcade.
Standing just outside...
Is Xavier.
He stares at the two of you, confusion written plainly across his face.
MC never expected that finally becoming a Hunter and joining the Hunters Association would also lead to her reuniting with her childhood friend, Zayne.
As part of the Association's onboarding process, every Hunter is required to undergo a medical examination with their primary care physician. Because of the Aether Core in her heart, MC is referred to the chief cardiothoracic surgeon at Asko Hospital.
Zayne.
They'd grown up together in Bloomshore District, but after his parents relocated for work - and because of his own dream of becoming a doctor - they eventually lost contact.
MC quickly realizes that, despite the years apart, adult Zayne is much the same as she remembers.
Calm.
Collected.
Mature.
Almost impossible to read behind his stoic expression.
...
After that reunion, she somehow keeps running into him around Linkon City.
Sometimes by coincidence.
Sometimes because one of them reaches out first.
One thing does disappoint her, though.
Not once during any of those meetings does Zayne mention that he's in a relationship.
She only finds out by chance.
One afternoon, MC stops by Zayne's office to say hello.
Then, there is a knock on the half-open door.
A woman walks in.
“Oh, I'm sorry, Zayne,” you apologize, stopping in the doorway. “I didn't realize you had a patient.”
“It's alright,” Zayne says before you can excuse yourself. “She's not here as a patient.”
“Y/N, this is MC, a childhood friend of mine. MC... this is my girlfriend.”
You and MC exchange equally surprised looks.
Then your face brightens into a welcoming smile.
You hurry over and shake her hand.
“It's so nice to finally meet you, MC.”
You turn to Zayne with a playful frown.
“And why didn't you tell me about her sooner?”
“We only recently found each other again after losing contact,” Zayne explains simply.
You glance back at MC.
“He also forgot to mention he has a girlfriend.”
MC looks at him with mock disappointment.
“You have to come over for dinner sometime,” you say enthusiastically. “Zayne doesn't have many friends, and I'd love to hear all about what he was like as a child.”
...
As promised, MC visits your shared apartment for dinner.
While reminiscing over dinner, MC asked how the two of you had met.
You laugh and admit that the two of you crossed paths at the dental clinic where you worked as a receptionist. Zayne had come in as a patient with a toothache.
You'd asked him out then and there.
You simply refused to take no for an answer.
Curious, MC asked how you managed to convince someone as reserved and stubborn as Zayne to give you a chance.
Both you and Zayne flush.
It isn't until Zayne steps away out of earshot that you lean closer with a conspiratorial smile.
“Before he left, he came back to reception to ask about booking a follow-up appointment.”
“I told him maybe he should satisfy his sweet tooth with something that wouldn't give him cavities.”
“I suggested... me.”
You wink.
MC could only stare at you in stunned admiration before bursting into laughter at your sheer boldness.
…
You make a wonderful first impression on MC.
You're intelligent.
Confident.
There is a quiet maturity about you that she can't help but admire.
She also notices how openly you love Zayne.
Not through grand gestures.
But through countless small acts of care.
Seeing the two of you together...
MC is genuinely happy that Zayne has found someone like you.
After three years together, she even finds herself wondering when the wedding invitation will arrive.
...
Naturally, reconnecting with a childhood friend means spending time together to make up for the years they'd lost.
Both she and Zayne lead busy lives, yet they always manage to find time for one another.
Trips to the library.
Trying new pastries at bakeries.
Browsing markets.
Sometimes it's just the two of them.
Other times, you come along.
When work keeps them apart, they exchange texts or phone calls instead.
Zayne never forgets to check on her health.
He reminds her to get enough sleep.
To eat properly.
To be careful during missions.
MC knows it's simply part of who he is.
Likewise, she often visits the apartment you share with Zayne.
You're an incredible cook and baker, and she always looks forward to your homemade meals.
Whether it's leftovers packed into containers or a bag of freshly baked pastries, you always insist she take something with her.
Before long, MC begins spending time with you separately as well.
…
However, over time, MC begins to notice a shift.
You stop inviting her over.
Whenever she does happen to visit, you're polite, but distant. Gone is the warm, chatty woman she had grown so fond of.
You also stop joining their outings.
Now, it's always just her and Zayne.
Not only that, but Zayne seems to be spending more and more time with her.
MC doesn't refuse.
Why would she? Zayne is her friend.
Still...
She can't shake the feeling that something is off.
She finds herself enjoying their days together less without you there. Your presence had brought a warmth that she hadn't appreciated until it was gone.
One day, she cautiously asks Zayne if you're truly okay with how much time the two of them spend together.
Zayne brushes the question aside, insisting everything is fine.
...
The next change is impossible to ignore.
MC discovers you've removed her from your Moments and blocked her altogether.
Around the same time, Zayne stops inviting her out as well. He still accepts whenever she asks, but he never initiates anything anymore.
When she asks about you, he gives the same response every time.
His relationship with you is not something she should concern herself with.
Weeks pass.
Finally, during her next mandatory appointment at Asko Hospital, MC decides she's had enough.
She's going to confront him.
...
When she arrives at Asko hospital , she's greeted by both Yvonne and Greyson.
They're quick to notice her troubled expression.
“Here to see doctor Zayne,” Greyson asks.
She nods.
Yvonne hesitates before speaking.
“Do you know whether anything has happened in Zayne's personal life recently?”
“Lately, he's been spending far longer at the hospital than usual, often staying late into the night instead of going home.”
Greyson adds that they also haven't seen you stop by in quite some time.
Whenever they've asked, Zayne has simply brushed the subject aside.
He's never been one to discuss his private life.
...
Zayne barely glances up from the paperwork covering his desk, simply gesturing for her to take a seat.
She doesn't.
Instead, she walks up to his desk and folds her arms across her chest.
Her displeasure is obvious.
Finally, Zayne looks up, adjusting his glasses.
“Mind telling me what's going on?” she asks. “I have a feeling this has something to do with your relationship.”
Silence hangs between them.
Then—
“Y/N ended our relationship.”
His voice is calm.
Far too calm.
MC slowly unfolds her arms.
“What did you do?” she asks.
She knows you well enough to believe you would never leave him without a reason.
Zayne blinks once.
“The reason is not your concern.”
She places both hands firmly on his desk.
“Oooh, yes it is.”
“I was expecting wedding bells, not a breakup.”
Surprise flickers across Zayne's face.
“Her reason for ending our relationship was valid.”
“Did you try to fix things?” MC presses.
“There was nothing to fix.”
His answer is immediate.
“She merely forced me to acknowledge something I had known for a long time but refused to accept.”
He lowers his gaze.
“She deserves better.”
Frustration flares in MC's chest.
How could he simply let you walk away?
How could he not even try?
“I don't understand,” she says. “What does that mean?”
Zayne rises from his chair and walks around the desk until he's standing beside her.
“She realized my heart belonged to someone else.”
“It always has.”
MC's eyes widen.
“You're the reason I became a doctor,” he says quietly. “I wanted to mend your heart.”
As his hand gently cups her cheek, understanding crashes over her.
Everything suddenly falls into place.
She gently removes his hand and takes two slow steps back.
“I'm sorry, Zayne.”
Her voice is soft.
“I can't return your feelings.”
“I care about you deeply. You're one of my closest friends.”
“But I've never loved you romantically.”
She hesitates before speaking again.
“And... I've recently come to realize…”
“...that I may already be in love with someone else.”
With that, she quietly leaves the office, leaving Zayne standing alone in the silence.
…
The moment your eyes meet MC's, your expression remains neutral.
Only your eyes betray you.
Cold.
MC had come looking for you the moment she left Zayne's office after learning the truth.
Now that she knew everything, she couldn't exactly blame you for the way you looked at her.
“Long time no see,” MC says carefully.
“I'm sorry for showing up out of the blue, but... I really need to talk to you.”
“With all due respect,” you reply, tapping your pen against a notepad without looking up, “I have nothing to say to you.”
“I know you and Zayne broke up,” MC continues anyway. “But there's been a huge misunderstanding.”
“Please... just hear me out.”
You finally lift your gaze to hers.
There are so many emotions swirling behind your eyes for her to name.
Just as she's convinced you're about to refuse—
“After work.”
Your voice is flat.
‘I'll text you an address.”
...
The atmosphere inside the restaurant is tense enough to suffocate.
You and MC sit across from one another by the window, untouched drinks between you.
“Speak,” you say curtly.
MC swallows.
“When you stopped inviting me over... and stopped coming to meetups... I was confused,” she begins quietly. “I asked Zayne what was wrong, but he kept insisting everything was fine.”
She lowers her eyes.
“Then you blocked me... and removed me from your Moments.”
“I knew something had happened.”
“So I went to Asko Hospital and confronted him.”
“He told me you ended the relationship.”
She fidgets with the edge of her sleeve.
“Of course I wanted to know why.”
“I had no idea Zayne was in love with me.”
The confession comes out louder than she'd intended.
“I swear.”
You stare at her silently.
“When we were younger…” she continues more quietly, “I did have a crush on him.”
“But that was years ago.”
“We were children.”
She shakes her head.
“When he confessed... I rejected him.”
You blink.
“...Zayne confessed?”
She nods.
“And you turned him down?”
Another nod.
“You don't love him?”
“Not romantically.” MC answers without hesitation. “I care about him deeply... but only as a friend.”
A hollow laugh escapes you.
“To think…”
You shake your head.
“His love is unrequited.”
You study her for a long moment.
There isn't a trace of deceit in her expression.
Only guilt.
You let out a slow sigh.
‘I always knew Zayne wasn't an easy person to love.”
Your gaze drifts toward the rain beyond the restaurant window.
“But because he chose me... because he let me into his life... I thought…”
“I thought maybe, eventually, I'd be able to melt his heart.”
“No matter how much time passed... no matter what I did…”
“It always felt like there was a line I was never allowed to cross.”
You finally look back at MC.
“Then you came along.”
“And without hesitation…”
“You were given the warmth I spent three years longing for.”
Your voice barely rises above a whisper.
"I couldn't bear the way he spoke to you."
“So gentle.”
“The way he'd look at you…”
“So I distanced myself.”
Silence settles between you.
“I'm sorry,” MC whispers.
“If I'd realized... I would've stopped spending so much time alone with him.”
You slowly shake your head.
“What's done is done.”
“Zayne made his own choices.”
“If anything…”
A bittersweet smile crosses your lips.
“I should probably thank you.”
MC stares at you in confusion.
“You helped me realize…”
“...I was clinging to a man who didn't love me enough to fight for me.”
A tear slips silently down your cheek.
“The day everything ended…”
“Zayne and I were supposed to have a date at a bakery.”
“He called at the last minute.”
“Said there'd been an emergency.”
“I was already there, so I bought some pastries and decided to surprise him at the hospital.”
You laugh bitterly.
“Imagine my surprise when the emergency turned out to be you.”
“You looked completely fine.”
“You were smiling.”
“Talking in his office.”
Realization crashes over MC.
She remembers that day perfectly.
The minor injuries.
Zayne dropping everything the moment he heard she was admitted.
Then lingering to chat after he patched her up.
She even remembered catching a fleeting shadow outside his office.
MC buries her face in her hands.
Your voice is calm now, stripped of the bitterness it once carried.
“I was angry at you.”
“I thought you had stolen him from me.”
“But the truth is…”
“His heart had already chosen someone long before I came into the picture.”
MC slowly lowers her hands, her eyes glistening.
You take her hands in yours and give her a weak smile.
“Thank you for coming to talk to me. It’s given me some sort of peace of mind.”
You push your shopping trolley slowly down the aisle, your attention fixed on the shelves rather than the path ahead.
Thunk.
Your trolley bumps into something.
Someone.
“Oh! I'm so sorry.” You immediately apologize. “I wasn't watching where I was going.”
Of all people...
It just had to be MC.
Rafayel's "Miss Bodyguard."
The woman you blame for your breakup several months ago.
Keeping your head down, you mutter another apology before attempting to push your trolley past her.
“Excuse me.”
MC jogs after you until she's walking beside your trolley.
“You're Rafayel's girlfriend, aren't you?”
“Ex-girlfriend,"” you correct before you can stop yourself.
She blinks.
“So Thomas was telling the truth.”
You look at her suspiciously.
“I thought it was strange that I never saw you at the studio anymore,” she explains quickly. “So... I casually asked Thomas.”
“Things just didn't work out between us,” you reply flatly as you drop an item into your trolley.
Because of you, you think bitterly.
MC continues walking beside you.
“What brings you to Linkon?” she asks. “Did Whitesand Bay run out of convenience stores?”
“I don't live in Whitesand Bay. I live here in Linkon.”
Hang on.
Why are you even entertaining this conversation?
You stop your trolley and finally turn toward her.
“Is there something you need from me?”
MC glances around the aisle as though checking nobody else is nearby.
Then she leans in.
“Are you... a Lemurian?”
You blink.
“...What?”
“It's just…”
She fidgets with the handle of her basket.
“Lemurians all have this... enchanting kind of beauty.”
“And I think you're beautiful.”
The last sentence is barely audible.
Did she just compliment you?
No.
That sounded suspiciously close to flirting.
You stare at her.
“Confusion time.”
“Is this some kind of prank?”
“Did Rafayel put you up to this?”
MC looks genuinely baffled.
“What does Rafayel have to do with it?”
You let out a dry laugh.
“You don't have to pretend.”
“I mean... you're the reason we broke up.”
“Every 'work trip' suddenly became code for spending the day with Miss Bodyguard.”
“Or do you prefer 'Cutie?'”
MC grimaces.
“I actually don't like either nickname.”
You roll your eyes and begin pushing your trolley away.
Before you can escape, she steps in front of the trolley, forcing you to stop.
“Those weren't dates,” she says earnestly.
“At least... not from my perspective.”
“I only went because Rafayel dragged me along.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
You give the trolley another push.
“At first...” she admits, “...I didn't really mind.”
“The places he took me were fun.”
“The things we did were exciting.”
“But it's exhausting.”
She sighs.
“I'm a hunter.”
“I barely get any free time as it is.”
“You could've said no.”
Her shoulders slump.
“I tried, but Rafayel is impossible.”
“He pouts.”
“He whines.”
“Until I give in.”
A smile tugs at her lips.
“Honestly…”
“Half the time I want to throw him on a grill.”
A laugh escapes.
You immediately clap both hands over your mouth.
MC smiles softly.
She rests her hands on the trolley handle.
“Knowing I played a part in your breakup…”
Her smile fades.
“It makes me feel awful.”
“I wasn't trying to take Rafayel away from you.”
Looking into her eyes, you know she's telling the truth.
Looking back...
You never gave Rafayel the chance to explain.
You never even told him why you were breaking up.
You packed your belongings.
Told him it was over.
And walked away.
As for MC...
You'd barely exchanged more than polite greetings over the months.
Maybe...
You'd been too quick to judge.
Though...
You can't help wondering what she'd think if she ever discovered the room in Rafayel's studio.
The locked one, filled with paintings of her.
“Fine.”
You sigh dramatically.
“I believe you.”
“Can I finish my shopping in peace?”
MC lets out a relieved laugh before stepping aside.
“I should probably finish mine too.”
She glances down at her basket.
...
By the time you've finished shopping, you're exhausted.
As you drive past the entrance, something catches your eye in the side mirror.
MC.
Struggling with her grocery bags.
With an exasperated sigh, you slow the car and lower the passenger window.
“Get in.”
She turns toward you but doesn't move.
"I'm only asking once.”
She hurries around the car and climbs into the passenger seat, setting her groceries at her feet.
You tap the GPS screen.
“Address.”
MC reaches over and types it in.
…
An awkward silence settles over the car.
“How's Rafayel doing, anyway?” you ask, finally breaking it.
‘The same as always, I'd say.” MC shrugs.
“So... he still puffs up like a pufferfish whenever he doesn't get his way? His studio's still a complete disaster? Thomas is still constantly nagging him?”
MC laughs.
“All of the above.”
The conversation falls quiet again.
MC pulls out her phone.
“Can I have your number?”
You spare her a brief glance before returning your attention to the road.
"Why?”
“So we can text... call…”
"That's not what I meant and you know it.”
You cut her off before she can finish.
She smiles sheepishly.
“So I have a way to contact you.”
“So we can hang out sometime.”
“Don't you already have friends for that?”
“I can always make another.”
“The answer's still no.”
She pouts.
“Meanie.”
A smirk tugs at the corner of your lips.
Another comfortable silence stretches between you.
“When you mentioned Lemurians…” you begin slowly.
“...does that mean you know…”
“...that Rafayel is a Lemurian?” MC finishes.
“I found out not too long ago.”
She rubs the back of her neck.
“It was definitely a shock.”
“I honestly thought Lemurians were just myths.”
‘Stories.”
She thinks for a moment.
“Rafayel called it... Ebb Day, I think.”
Your grip tightens around the steering wheel.
Ebb Day.
The period when a Lemurian is at their most vulnerable.
When they go into heat.
“So…”
“...doesn't that mean the two of you…”
Your jaw clenches.
“...help each other through it?”
MC's eyes go wide with horror.
She frantically shakes her head.
KNo!”
“No, no, no!”
She waves both hands wildly in front of herself.
“How many times do I have to tell you?”
“I don't see Rafayel like that.”
“Besides”
She laughs awkwardly.
“I wouldn't even know what to do.”
“I'm into women.”
The confession is so casual that you almost think you'd imagined it.
You glance sideways.
MC is looking out the passenger window but the blush on her ears confirm you heard correctly.
“...Is this it?”
You pull up outside an apartment building and shift the car into park.
MC nods before unbuckling her seatbelt.
“Would you... like to come upstairs?”
“For tea?”
“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” You tease.
You curse yourself internally.
How is it that this girl can get a reaction out of you without even trying?
You lean slightly closer.
“Even if I were interested…”
MC's breath catches.
“...you're too young for me.’
You reach across her to open the passenger door.
She lets out a disappointed sigh.
Well...
At least she'd tried.
Gathering her grocery bags, she offers you a small smile.
“Thanks for the ride.”
“Goodnight.”
You watch her disappear into the apartment building before finally driving away.
What the hell was that?
...
Later one evening, you find yourself opening a dating app.
One notorious for people looking for a hook up.
After Rafayel the last thing you want is a serious relationship.
But you still have needs.
A notification appears, signaling a new message in your inbox
The attached picture is dark.
A wooden table.
A single glass resting on top.
The message beneath it is simple.
Care to join me for a drink?
Straight to the point.
You like that.
You tap the profile.
Basic information.
No photos with the person’s face
Another message appears with the name of a nearby bar.
...
Feeling adventurous.
Or perhaps simply bored.
You freshen up, call a taxi, and head out.
Worst-case scenario?
The person isn't your type.
Or it's all some kind of prank.
Either way...
You still get a drink out of it.
And maybe you’ll even get lucky.
You step inside the bar and stop beside the counter before sending a message.
I'm here. Standing at the bar.
Seen.
No reply.
Instead—
A finger taps your shoulder.
You turn.
“...You've got to be kidding me.”
Standing there with an almost bright smile...
...is MC.
You stare at her.
“Are you even old enough to drink?”
“I'm twenty-three.” She replies sounding offended.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-seven.”
She blinks.
She'd assumed you were around the same age.
“Well…”
She lifts her half-finished drink.
“You're already here.”
“So let's have one together.”
You snort.
“If your plan is to get me drunk enough to lower my guard…”
“...you've already failed.”
“I'm a heavyweight.”
“I could drink you under the table.”
MC grins.
“Prove it.”
She nods toward an empty booth tucked away in the corner of the bar.
You hesitate for only a moment before walking toward it.
MC smiles to herself.
She glances across the room.
Hidden in the shadows of another booth sits Rafayel.
Watching.
Fortunately...
You never noticed him.
MC catches his eye.
She sticks her tongue out at him before hurrying after you.
The fish she'd been trying to reel in all along...
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Synopsis: A collection of angsty Love and Deepspace drabbles exploring the moment they realize the heart they'd been chasing cost them the heart that had always chosen them.
Pairing: all LI separately (including Valko) x reader/non-MC
Trigger Warning : hurt/no comfort, angst, heartbreak, no happy ending (for the LIs), mention of in-game MC, OOC
Author’s note : See what you guys made me do. I literally wrote this in a day. 😅 I hope you enjoy Part 2 from the LI's POV. 🙃 FYI, there will also be a Part 3 (as per a request from a follower 🤫).
Please read part 1 before proceeding
YOUR HEART WAS ONCE MINE
XAVIER (Word count : 553)
When Xavier arrives home, he expects to find you where you usually are - curled up on the couch with a book or out on the balcony with a cup of tea, chatting away to Puffball.
Instead, the apartment is empty.
Maybe you're still at the restaurant.
Or perhaps you stopped by the convenience store on the way home.
He checks his phone.
No missed calls.
No messages.
He tries calling you.
No answer.
A few moments later, a message appears on his screen.
Staying with a friend tonight.
His brows knit together.
It's unlike you to ignore his calls.
Even more unlike you to spend the night elsewhere without saying anything beforehand.
Maybe you'd run into someone while waiting for him and simply lost track of time.
That's the only explanation he can think of.
…
The next day at the Hunters Association, Xavier doesn't see you once.
Normally, that wouldn't mean much. The two of you work in different departments and rarely cross paths during the day.
Still...
He can't shake the feeling that you're avoiding him.
His suspicions are confirmed during a meeting with Captain Jenna.
You don't look at him even once.
When the meeting ends, everyone files out except you.
You stay behind to speak with Captain Jenna in private.
Xavier waits outside, hoping to catch you afterward.
He wants to ask what's wrong.
Before you emerge, he's called away on a mission.
The conversation will have to wait.
…
When he returns home that evening, he never expects to hear the words that leave your lips.
“I can’t do this anymore. It's over, Xavier.”
The words hit him like a blow.
“I can't be with someone who's still haunted by his past,” you say quietly. “Jeremiah told me about MC... a long time ago.”
“I can't compete with a past love you're still hoping to find again.”
Xavier opens his mouth to argue.
To tell you that it isn't like that.
But the words die in his throat.
Because somewhere deep down...
He knows there's truth in what you've said.
…
Two years pass.
At first, Xavier begs you to come back.
He promises he'll do better.
He tells you he misses you.
Each time, you turn him away.
Eventually...
He stops asking.
…
As always, Xavier spends most of his free time asleep.
But ever since you left, sleep has brought him no peace.
Each time he closes his eyes, he dreams of Philo.
Of the queen.
Of MC.
The memories intertwine, yet with every passing night, the differences become clearer.
The queen.
And the MC of this world.
They are not the same person.
They never were.
His thoughts find their way back to you.
His gaze falls to the cream-colored envelope resting on his bedside table.
Jeremiah had long since accepted that he would never return to Philo.
Instead, he'd built a new life on Earth.
Now, he is getting married.
Xavier should be happy for his friend.
He is.
If only the bride weren't you.
His fingers tighten around the wedding invitation.
Your names, written side by side in elegant gold lettering, blur as his vision stings.
Only now does he finally understand.
He spent so long chasing the person he'd lost...
That he failed to see the one who had chosen to stay.
ZAYNE (Word count : 995)
Just as Zayne is gathering his things to leave the hospital and meet you, Yvonne catches him to let him know that MC has arrived.
He immediately calls to cancel your date before hurrying to MC's side. Her injuries are only minor - nothing serious - but with her condition, he'd rather be safe than sorry.
After treating her, the two of them end up talking in his office until her hunter watch sounds with a mission alert.
Seeing how much time has already passed, Zayne decides not to go home after all and instead stays behind to finish some paperwork.
As a result, he returns home much later than expected.
He finds you curled up on the couch.
You must have waited for him until you fell asleep.
He carefully scoops you into his arms to carry you to bed. As he looks down at you, he notices your furrowed brows, the tear tracks staining your cheeks, and the faint shiver that runs through you.
He lays you down gently, pulls the blanket over you, and presses a hand to your forehead.
You don't have a fever.
Perhaps you're simply having a bad dream.
...
The next morning, Zayne wakes to find your side of the bed empty and cold.
He wanders into the kitchen, only to find a note waiting on the counter.
Gone out to run errands.
A small frown crosses his face.
Today is his day off.
You took the day off as well so the two of you could spend it together.
He doesn't dwell on it. Instead, he has breakfast, gets himself ready for the day, and decides he'll cook your favorite meal for lunch to make up for yesterday.
Whatever errands you had to run, surely you'd be home soon.
...
You don't return until evening.
“Where have you been? I was worried sick.”
He keeps his voice calm, careful not to sound accusatory.
You don't answer.
You don't even look at him.
Instead, you keep your gaze fixed on the floor.
He takes a step toward you.
You step back.
“My love... what's wrong?” he asks, concerned.
“Don't call me that,” you whisper.
Without a word, you walk into the kitchen.
Zayne follows, stopping on the opposite side of the island.
Taking a shaky breath, you finally speak.
“We've been together for three years, and I still feel like you've never truly let me in. You keep me at arm's length. You never let me see what you're really feeling.”
“I see,” Zayne replies, adjusting his glasses. “Is this about yesterday?”
“This goes beyond yesterday.”
“You feel neglected,” he observes. “Is this because of how much I've been working lately? We can discuss my schedule.”
“In that case…” Your voice sharpens as you finally meet his eyes. “Why don't we discuss yesterday's emergency?”
“MC looked and sounded perfectly fine to me.”
Zayne blinks.
When did you stop by the hospital?
Before he can respond, you continue.
“Tell me... why does she get to see the warm, gentle side of Zayne while I'm stuck loving an ice sculpture?”
“What are you trying to say?”he asks quietly, already fearing the answer.
“I'm done trying to melt your heart... only to have mine frozen instead in the process.”
“Judging by your words…” Zayne says after a long pause, “...it would seem you wish to end our relationship.”
He states it as a fact.
“Yes,” you whisper.
Another heavy silence settles between you.
“Is that it?” you ask, tears spilling over. “Aren't you going to ask me to stay? Aren't you going to fight for us?”
Zayne walks around the kitchen island, stopping only a few inches away.
His eyes are dark with emotions he refuses to show, yet his expression remains composed.
“If I ask you to stay,” he says, “it would serve only my selfishness... not your well-being.”
...
Several days pass.
As always, when Zayne doesn't know how to deal with his emotions, he buries himself in work.
One evening, he returns to an apartment that no longer feels like home.
Without you, it feels sterile.
Like another wing of the hospital.
Removing his glasses, he reaches to place them on the coffee table.
He misses.
They slip from his fingers and fall to the floor.
As he bends to retrieve them, something catches his eye beneath the couch.
...
Zayne doesn't know where you've gone after leaving him.
Still, he has a feeling you've returned to your parents' house.
Before long, he's standing outside their front door.
Only after knocking does he realize how late it is.
Perhaps everyone has already gone to bed.
The door opens.
Your eyes widen ever so slightly when you see him standing there.
Before you can close the door, he raises the sonogram he'd found beneath the couch.
“When were you planning to tell me?”
You take the sonogram from his hand.
Without hesitation, you tear it in half.
“This no longer concerns you,” you say firmly.
“You are carrying my child. Of course it concerns me.”
“There is no child.”
You shake your head.
“Not anymore.”
“I had an abortion.”
Your words strike him harder than any physical blow ever could.
He simply stares.
You wouldn't...
But the look in your eyes leaves no room for doubt.
“I wanted every last piece of you out of my life.”
You meet his gaze one final time.
“Goodbye, Zayne.”
The door slams in his face.
...
Years later, a familiar sound catches Zayne's attention as he walks down the street.
A laugh.
One he hasn't heard in years.
He turns.
There you are.
Your smile is bright.
Beside you walks another man, his hand intertwined with yours, looking at you with unmistakable adoration.
The way Zayne should have looked at you.
Your free hand rests protectively over the curve of your pregnant stomach.
A chill crawls up his spine as frost spreads across the back of his neck.
That could have been him.
That should have been him.
RAFAYEL (Word count : 719)
When Thomas stops by Linkon University to deliver Rafayel's forgotten ID badge, he barely says a word. His expression is a strange mix of disappointment and disbelief.
Rafayel doesn't think much of it.
Thomas is always on his case about something - deadlines, interviews, exhibitions, or unfinished paintings.
...
When you don't return to his studio at Whitesand Bay, he doesn't think much of that either.
The two of you don't live together.
You still have your apartment in Linkon City, and since you work there, it's far more convenient for your daily commute. You usually only stay at the studio on weekends.
However, when the weekend comes and goes without you showing up, he begins to find it odd.
What's even stranger is the silence.
Normally, you would call to remind him about his deadlines, text him to stop bullying Thomas, or nag him to take a break and eat something.
This time...
Nothing.
He checks your Moments first.
No new posts.
Then he calls you.
The call doesn't go through.
He sends several messages.
None of them are delivered.
Finally, he calls Thomas.
Thomas swears he hasn't seen or heard from you since the day he returned Rafayel's ID badge.
...
Rafayel punches the passcode into the keypad outside your apartment.
Incorrect password.
His brows knit together.
He tries again.
The same result.
He knocks.
No answer.
The apartment is silent.
Just then, your neighbor steps out of the apartment across the hall, a trash bag in hand.
“I don't think she's home,” he says casually. “Haven't seen her for a few days.”
He walks away toward the elevator, leaving Rafayel standing alone in the hallway.
...
"Breaking news from Linkon City. A massive surge of Metaflux has triggered a high-threat Protofield in the downtown shopping mall."
The reporter's voice crackles through the radio in Rafayel's car.
"We now go live to our Hunter correspondent at the scene."
Rafayel instinctively turns up the volume.
"A high-ranking Wanderer breached the downtown perimeter earlier today. The Hunter Association has secured the area. The Wanderers have been neutralized, and all civilians have been evacuated."
Before the report continues, his phone begins to ring.
Without taking his eyes off the road, he reaches for it on the passenger seat.
Unknown number.
He answers.
“Am I speaking with Mr. Rafayel?”
“Yes. Who—”
“This is Asko Hospital. Your number was listed as the emergency contact for one of our patients, Miss Y/N.”
The color drains from his face.
Without another word, he jerks the steering wheel and speeds toward the hospital.
...
Rafayel all but sprints to the reception desk.
“I'm Rafayel,” he says between breaths. “I received a call about my girlfriend.”
“Your girlfriend was among the civilians caught in today's Wanderer attack,” the nurse explains gently.
Before he can ask another question, he hears a familiar voice.
“Rafayel.”
MC approaches, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
“I was one of the Hunters at the scene. I recognized her and rode with her in the ambulance.”
“Is she okay?” he asks immediately.
MC lowers her eyes.
“I... don't know.”
“They took her straight into surgery.”
...
Rafayel and MC wait outside the operating room in complete silence.
Finally, the doors open.
The surgeon steps outside.
“Is my girlfriend okay?”
The doctor's expression says enough.
“Your girlfriend used her own body to shield a child from falling glass after the Wanderers shattered the skylight.” The doctor says.
“I'm sorry.”
“Her injuries were too severe. They caused damage to several vital organs.”
“We couldn't save her.”
Behind him, hurried footsteps echo down the hallway.
Thomas.
“I came as soon as you called,” he says, breathless. “What happened? Is she okay?”
MC silently shakes her head.
Thomas lowers his gaze.
After a long moment, he reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulls out a photograph.
“I found this in my office at Flux Arts.”
Rafayel accepts it with trembling hands.
It's a photograph of the two of you.
Turning it over, he immediately recognizes your handwriting.
I'm sorry I wasn't the one you chose to be your muse. I wish you all the best.
His fingers tighten around the photograph.
His knees give way beneath him.
A single tear slips down his cheek.
Halfway down, it transforms into a pearl before rolling across the hospital floor.
SYLUS (Word count : 711)
Sylus is greeted by the blaring sound of music - if it can even be called music - the moment he steps into the base. It pounds through the halls, loud enough to give him a headache.
“Luke. Kieran. Turn that noise off,” he calls.
“That isn't us, Boss,” the twins reply in unison as they walk up behind him.
“Boss-lady's home,” Kieran says.
“And she's in a really bad mood,” Luke adds.
“That's putting it lightly,” Kieran mutters. “She trashed her bedroom.”
Following the music, Sylus heads toward his room.
He finds you there, rock music blasting from your phone as you practically scream the lyrics while drinking wine straight from the bottle.
Leaning against the doorframe, he crosses his arms.
“Having fun?” he calls over the music, his tone laced with amusement.
You turn to face him.
“Well, well, well…” you slur with a crooked smile. “If it isn't Boss-man.”
His amusement fades at your mocking tone.
Pushing himself off the doorframe, he walks over and switches off your phone.
“How's MC?” you ask.
“Oh... or should I call her Kitten?”
You take another swig of wine.
“Or maybe Sweetie?”
“You're drunk,” Sylus says, reaching for the bottle. “What brought this on?”
You stumble backward before he can take it.
“Sooo…” you drawl, swaying slightly. “What did little Miss Hunter need the big, bad leader of Onychinus for this time?”
Your smirk is sharp.
“She needed help recovering a stolen Protocore,” Sylus replies evenly.
“Riiight…”
You nod exaggeratedly.
“And that was more important than picking your girlfriend up from work? Or at the very least sending someone else in your place?”
Your voice hardens.
Before he can answer, you hurl the wine bottle at him.
Sylus doesn't even bother using his evol.
He simply steps aside.
The bottle smashes against the wall behind him, glass scattering across the floor.
“No more explanations disguised as excuses.”
“No more expensive gifts to make up for your absence.”
“I'm not another deal you can close.”
Your finger jabs toward his chest.
“For your sake…”
“I hope MC is worth it.”
Without waiting for a response, you storm out.
...
EVER has always been a thorn in Sylus's side.
They interfere with Onychinus' operations whenever they can and have made hunting him something of a pastime.
Lately, however, things have changed.
For the past several months, EVER has become unusually aggressive, launching increasingly frequent ambushes against his operations throughout the N109 Zone.
Sylus built his authority by taking control of illegal evol weapon and Protocore trade.
Now, someone is systematically dismantling that control.
Every investigation ends the same way.
Nothing.
Whoever is orchestrating this leaves no trace behind.
So Sylus decides to become the bait.
He stages a fake operation, intending to lure the mastermind into the open.
...
“Aww... you went to all this trouble just for little old me?”
A familiar voice drifts across the rooftop.
“You shouldn't have.”
Sylus turns.
There you stand.
Or rather...
A blurred outline of you.
Black-and-crimson mist coils around your body - his evol - but it never makes contact.
You click your tongue.
“Hello, Mephie.”
You give the mechanical crow a cheerful wave.
“It's nice to see you again.”
“How are the twins?”
Sylus ignores the question.
“So…”
“You're the thorn in my side.”
“What exactly is the game here?”
He takes a slow step forward.
“Was I really such a terrible partner that you joined EVER just to get revenge?”
You shrug.
“You know what they say.”
“Revenge is sweet.”
Tilting your head, you smile.
“Don't you remember the last thing I said before I walked away?”
Sylus's eyes darken.
His evol lashes out toward you.
Once again...
It passes harmlessly through your figure.
From the day you met, Sylus knew you were an Evolver.
He even knew your Evol belonged to both the Simulation and Spatium classes.
But never once had he seen you use it.
Until now.
“You had no problem playing games with my heart.”
Your voice echoes around him.
He can no longer see you.
“It's my turn now.”
The voice comes from directly behind him.
He spins around.
Nothing.
Only silence greets him.
It would seem Sylus has made himself a new enemy.
One far more dangerous than he ever imagined.
S-Rank Evol: Spectrum.
CALEB (Word count : 794)
Caleb has spent several weeks on a mission deep within the Deepspace Tunnels.
The day he returns, the two of you have plans to meet for dinner.
What he doesn't expect is for MC to show up at HQ.
She knew when his mission would end, but he never imagined she'd come to surprise him in person.
He quickly sends you a message, making up an excuse for why he can't make it.
He knows you wouldn't be happy if you found out the real reason.
...
After spending the entire day with MC, Caleb drops her off at the train station before finally heading home.
Your abrupt hang-up from earlier keeps replaying in his mind.
It wasn't like you.
The memory has been nagging at him ever since.
“Baaabe, I'm home.”
Silence.
“Babe?”
Still nothing.
He walks into the bedroom.
The wardrobe door is wide open.
His fingers trail across the hangers.
Empty spaces stare back at him.
Several of your clothes are missing.
A knot forms in his stomach.
He rushes into the bathroom.
All your toiletries are gone.
He calls you.
Once.
Twice.
Again and again.
No answer.
He opens the tracking app on his phone.
Location unavailable.
You turned it off.
He immediately checks your car's GPS.
Disconnected.
He didn't even know you knew he had been tracking your location.
Trying to think clearly, he runs through every place you might have gone.
Then it hits him.
The bar.
The place where the two of you first met after Gideon dragged him out for drinks.
Without another thought, he grabs his keys and leaves.
...
Sure enough, your car is parked outside.
Caleb makes his way through the crowded bar until he finally spots you sitting alone.
He slides into the seat across from you.
You let out a tired sigh.
You should have known this would be the first place he'd look.
“Babe…”
He reaches across the table.
You pull your hands away before he can touch them.
“Don't call me that.”
“I tried to be understanding,” you say with a bitter laugh. “Growing up, the two of you only had each other. Of course you'd be close. Of course you'd want to be the perfect big brother.”
Caleb immediately knows who you're talking about.
“I'm done feeling like the third wheel.”
Your fist slams onto the table.
“I kept trying to convince myself I was imagining things.”
“But even a blind person could see how hopelessly in love with her you are.”
Caleb says nothing.
The words catch in his throat.
For years, he'd buried those feelings.
Longing.
Yearning.
Wanting MC to be more than just the girl who grew up beside him.
Believing those feelings were wrong, he'd convinced himself they would disappear if he moved on.
Then he met you.
He truly cared about you.
But no matter how hard he tried...
He could never love you as deeply as he loved her.
He just never imagined you'd realize it.
A tear slips down your cheek.
“I deserve someone who chooses me first.”
Your voice barely rises above a whisper.
“And that's something you'll never be able to do.”
You stand.
Caleb rises with you, gently catching your wrist.
His grip is loose.
Almost pleading.
“We tried,” you say softly.
“But it's time for me to let you go.”
Standing on your tiptoes, you press one last kiss to his cheek before walking away.
...
Years later, Caleb wanders aimlessly through one of Skyhaven's parks.
You used to come here together all the time.
As he passes a large tree, he notices a little boy staring up into its branches.
Following the child's gaze, Caleb spots a kite tangled high above.
With a flick of his evol, gravity shifts.
The kite drifts gently down into the boy's waiting hands.
“Thank you, mister!”
For a moment, Caleb is struck by how familiar the boy's eyes look.
“Caleb!”
Both he and the boy turn toward the voice.
“Mama's calling!” the boy exclaims, waving happily. “Bye-bye!”
He runs across the grass.
Straight into the waiting arms of a woman.
Caleb recognizes you instantly.
You kneel to hug the little boy, smiling as another man walks over carrying three ice cream cones.
The resemblance between the man and the child is unmistakable.
Caleb watches the three of you walk away together.
A bittersweet smile touches his lips.
Things with MC never worked out.
In the end, she chose Zayne.
And you...
You found the happiness he could never give you.
As the laughter of your family fades into the distance, Caleb is left standing alone.
Exactly where his choices had led him.
He had spent so many years yearning for someone …
… that he ended up losing the woman who truly loved him.
VALKO (Word count : 673)
Valko's ears perk at the sound of a rustle outside his office.
He ends the call and pulls the door open, only to stop when he steps on several chocolate bars scattered across the floor beside a fallen plastic bag.
His eyes widen.
He strides down the hallway, just in time to catch a glimpse of your devastated expression as the elevator doors slide shut.
By the time he reaches the lobby, you're already gone.
He stands there, trying to make sense of what just happened.
Then it clicks.
You must have overheard his phone call.
He drags a hand down his face.
This is bad.
…
Over the next few days, Valko calls and messages you repeatedly, desperate to explain.
You ignore every single one.
He gives you another day, hoping you simply need space and that you'll reach out when you're ready.
You never do.
So he decides to come to you.
You live in the student dormitories on Linkon University's campus.
Avoiding security, he slips onto the grounds and circles around to the side of your building until he reaches your window.
After glancing around, he picks up a few small pebbles and tosses them lightly against the glass.
Finally, the window slides open.
Your eyes widen.
“What are you doing here?” you hiss.
“I didn't have a choice,” he whispers back. “You wouldn't answer me.”
He gestures toward you.
“Move back.”
Taking several steps away from the building, he crouches before launching himself upward.
Using his claws, he catches the windowsill and effortlessly pulls himself inside.
Normally, you'd giggle whenever he did this.
Today...
You don't even smile.
Your arms remain folded across your chest.
The playfulness vanishes from Valko's face, leaving behind only quiet seriousness.
“We need to talk.”
You sit on the edge of your bed.
The dorm room suddenly feels much smaller with Valko standing inside it.
“There isn't anything to talk about,” you reply quietly, refusing to meet his eyes.
“You heard my conversation at the office, didn't you?”
You nod.
His wolf ears immediately droop.
Without another word, he kneels in front of you and rests his head in your lap.
You don't push him away.
Silence stretches between you before he finally speaks.
“I'm sorry.”
His voice barely rises above a whisper.
“I really wanted it to be you.”
He means it.
Your scent had always been uniquely comforting to him, carrying the fresh, earthy fragrance of a forest - the very place wolves instinctively consider home.
He had convinced himself that if he stayed by your side long enough, Perhaps the mating bond would eventually awaken.
But, fate had chosen someone else.
“This doesn't have to be the end,” he says hopefully. “ We can still be friends.”
A sad smile tugs at your lips.
You reach up and gently scratch behind his wolf ears.
…
The two of you tried to stay friends.
But as Valko devoted himself to pursuing his fated mate while you buried yourself in your studies, the gap between you widened until the two of you drifted apart.
Now, the only reminder that either of you still exists comes once a year in form of a simple birthday text.
…
Valko absentmindedly scrolls through your Moments.
After graduating from university, you achieved your dream of becoming a wildlife biologist.
Every new post shows you somewhere different in the world, surrounded by forests, mountains, oceans, and the animals you've always loved.
You look genuinely happy.
As for Valko...
He spent months trying to convince MC to accept the mating bond between them.
She refused.
She told him that, as a human, she would never accept someone simply because fate declared them soulmates.
If she ever loved someone...
It would be because she chose them with her own heart.
Now, staring at your smiling face on his screen, Valko can't help but wonder...
What if he had done the same?
What if he had rejected fate...
...and chosen the woman who never needed an invisible bond to stand by his side.
Synopsis: a collection of angsty Love and Deepspace drabbles exploring the moment love falls apart when you realize their heart has always belonged to someone else
Pairing: all LI separately (including Valko) x reader/non-MC
Trigger Warning : hurt/no comfort, angst, heartbreak, unrequited love, no happy ending, implied cheating (being in love with someone else), mention of in-game MC, OOC
Part 2 Part 3 - 1/2 & 2/2
YOUR HEART WAS NEVER MINE
XAVIER (Word count : 499)
You glance at the phone resting on the restaurant table once again.
No missed calls.
No new messages.
The text you sent still sits unread.
Earlier, while you were waiting outside the Hunters Association headquarters, your boyfriend, Xavier, had messaged to say he needed to finish some reports and told you to head to the restaurant without him. He'd meet you there as soon as he was done.
You hadn't thought much of it.
As neat and organized as Xavier was, paperwork had never been his favorite task, much to Captain Jenna's frustration. Besides, with his light evol, he could teleport to you in seconds.
But now, more than thirty-five minutes have passed since you arrived.
He is nowhere to be seen.
You have already finished both of your drinks and the appetizers.
At last, your phone vibrates.
A new message.
Sorry. A last-minute mission came up. Meet U at home later.
You let out a quiet sigh.
You aren't angry.
As a fellow Hunter x albeit one who works in data processing and analysis - you understand how unpredictable the job can be.
After paying the bill, you leave the restaurant and begin the walk back to the apartment you and Xavier share.
As you stop at a crosswalk, a familiar figure catches your eye.
Silver-blond hair.
A hunter's uniform.
Xavier.
But he isn't alone.
Walking beside him is his partner, MC.
Their pace is slow and unhurried. Though you can't hear their conversation, they're smiling.
They certainly don't look like they've on a mission.
Without hesitation, you follow them from a distance.
The two of them disappear into the Twinkle Toys arcade.
You trail after them, stopping just inside the entrance.
It's close enough to see them standing shoulder to shoulder at a claw machine, laughing as they take turns trying to win a plushie.
Completely carefree.
You turn around and quietly walk back outside.
Your feet carry you down the street on autopilot.
Xavier lied to you.
He wasn't on a mission.
Or if he had been, it had ended long ago. Instead of meeting you, he'd chosen to spend time with MC.
This isn't the first time you've seen them together.
Every other time, you'd convinced yourself it was nothing more than coincidence.
MC is his work partner.
She also happens to live in the apartment below yours.
There were plenty of reasonable explanations.
Or at least, that's what you'd kept telling yourself.
Before you know it, you've wandered to Philo, Jeremiah's flower shop.
He greets you with a warm smile.
The moment he sees your face, it disappears.
You don't have to say a single word.
He already knows Xavier is the reason.
Time and time again, Jeremiah has warned him that this MC wasn't his MC - the queen he'd loved back on Philos.
If Xavier kept chasing the past, he would lose the person standing beside him in the present.
Judging by the emptiness in your eyes...
It seems that day has finally come.
ZAYNE (Word count : 535)
You are almost at the bakery when your phone rings with an incoming call from your boyfriend, Zayne.
His voice is as calm and measured as ever.
“An emergency came up at the hospital, so I won't be able to join you. I'm not sure when I'll be done, so don't wait for me.”
The call ends before you have a chance to respond.
As the head cardiothoracic surgeon at Akso Hospital, emergencies are simply part of the job.
Since you're already nearby and the hospital isn't far away, you decide to stop by the bakery anyway. Even Zayne can't spare the time to enjoy something sweet with you, at least you can leave him a small treat to brighten his day and satisfy his sweet tooth.
When you step into Akso Hospital, you nearly bump into Dr. Greyson.
“If you're looking for Dr. Zayne, he's in his office,” he says as he hurries past.
You make your way there, only to pause outside the half-open door.
A woman's laughter drifts into the hallway.
Then comes Zayne's voice.
Soft.
Gentle.
The kind of tenderness you've only ever heard him use with one person.
MC.
You know she's Zayne's childhood friend, someone he'd recently reunited with after years apart. You also know she's a Hunter with an Aether Core embedded in her heart, making Zayne her primary physician.
By the sound of things, though, she seems perfectly fine.
When you'd first met MC, you'd been genuinely excited. You'd wanted to hear stories about what Zayne was like as a child.
But over time, you couldn't ignore the way he looked at her.
Or the way he spoke to her.
It wasn't the concern of a doctor for his patient.
Nor was it simply the affection of one friend for another.
It felt like something much deeper.
You quietly turn around and leave.
...
When you unlock the door to the apartment you and Zayne have shared for nearly two years, you're greeted by silence.
The apartment feels cold.
Sterile.
Empty.
You sink onto the couch, your gaze falling to the sonogram in your hands.
Today, at the bakery, you had planned to tell Zayne you were pregnant.
You are around ten weeks along.
Judging by the timing, you must have conceived that night when the two of you attended one of his senior colleagues' birthday parties. You'd both had a little too much to drink - Zayne especially, considering what an incredible lightweight he is - and neither of you had been as careful as usual.
The positive test caught you off guard, but it didn’t frighten you.
You and Zayne have been together for three years. You both have stable, well-paying jobs and a spacious apartment. You know he'll take responsibility.
More than that, you know he'll make a good father.
At least...
Those had been your first thoughts.
Your hand trembles, and your voice quivers ever so slightly as you speak into the phone.
“I'd like to make an appointment at your clinic, please.”
You have no intention of trapping Zayne with a child, let alone bringing a baby into a relationship that already feels forced, or raising that child as a single parent.
RAFAYEL (word count : 500)
You give yourself one last glance in the bathroom mirror before heading out for work.
Just as you're about to leave, your phone rings.
An incoming call from your boyfriend, Rafayel.
“Pleaseee tell me you're still at the studio.” His voice is a whine the moment you answer.
“I am. I was just about to head out,” you reply.
“I think I left my ID badge there. I can't find it anywhere,” he complains.
As a renowned artist, Rafayel occasionally teaches art classes at Linkon University. The badge isn't just an ID, it also grants him access to the campus and its studios.
“Can you look around for me? Thomas is already on his way,” he pleads.
Before you can answer, he hurriedly adds, “I've got to go. My students are here.”
The call ends.
You check the time.
You still have some time to spare, so you decide to look for the badge before Thomas arrives.
The problem is, Rafayel isn't exactly the tidiest person.
You search the studio from top to bottom, checking every place you can imagine he'd absentmindedly leave his badge.
Nothing.
Eventually, your attention settles on a door.
A door that's always closed.
Locked, in fact.
A room Rafayel has never let you enter, not even when he's with you.
For the first time, it's standing slightly ajar.
He must have forgotten to lock it in his rush to leave this morning.
You slowly push the door open.
The room beyond is filled with paintings.
Portraits.
Every single one depicts the same woman.
You recognize her face, yet you can't place where you've seen her before.
You wander farther inside, your eyes moving from one canvas to the next.
Then your foot bumps against something on the floor.
You look down.
Rafayel's ID badge.
You bend down to pick it up.
Just then, you hear Thomas calling your name.
You don't answer.
A few moments later, he finds you standing in the middle of the room.
His eyes widen.
“Rafayel…” he breathes. “Every time I ask how his paintings are coming along, he brushes me off. But... look at all of these.”
His gaze sweeps across the room before suddenly stopping.
“Wait a minute…”
His expression shifts to one of genuine confusion.
“Why are all of these paintings of MC?”
MC.
The name finally makes everything click.
She's the Hunter who'd come to Rafayel's studio not long ago while investigating a lead involving a painting. After a Wanderer attacked the studio, he'd insisted on hiring her as his personal bodyguard.
The same MC he'd been spending so much time with lately.
Always "for work."
Rafayel has only ever painted one portrait of the two of you together.
You'd always felt something was missing from it.
It lacked…
The passion.
The spark that seemed to exist in every other painting he'd created.
Now you know why.
Without a word, you place Rafayel's ID badge into Thomas's hand.
Then you turn around and walk out of the studio.
SYLUS (word count : 423)
You stand in the lobby of the office building, staring out through the floor-to-ceiling windows as you search the pouring rain for a familiar car.
Or a familiar face.
Your workday ended long ago.
You check your phone again.
No missed calls.
No messages.
You've already tried calling your boyfriend, Sylus - the man who was supposed to pick you up - but the call went straight to voicemail.
You tried the twins.
Luke.
Then Kieran.
Neither of them answered.
You can only assume something involving Onychinus has come up.
With a sigh, you hurry out into the rain and flag down a taxi.
He eyes you warily when you ask to be taken to the N109 Zone.
You promise him a generous tip.
A heavy sigh escapes your lips as the taxi pulls away.
You hardly ever ask Sylus for anything.
Yet the one time you do - something as simple as picking you up from work, especially when the forecast had warned of heavy rain - he lets you down.
You'd come to the office building for a meeting with a client alongside a colleague, and the two of you had shared a ride.
Unfortunately, she'd had to leave early.
That's why you'd called Sylus.
There wasn't exactly another way for you to get home.
No bus runs into the lawless N109 Zone, and no sane taxi driver would willingly drive into a place where danger, illicit trade, and powerful Wanderers coexist.
The taxi drops you at the edge of the district, refusing to go any farther.
Fortunately, you managed to reach Hank.
As one of Onychinus's members, he runs an auto repair shop and agreed to drive you the rest of the way to the base.
When you arrive, you're surprised to find Luke and Kieran there after all.
“Where is he?” you ask, your voice sharp.
The twins exchange a nervous glance.
One look at your expression is enough.
“Boss-man is helping Miss hunter with a mission,” they answer in unison before making a very quick escape.
Of course.
You should have known.
Whenever MC - a.k.a Miss hunter - calls, Sylus drops everything to go to her.
You make your way to your bedroom.
The two of you have always kept separate rooms.
The moment the door closes behind you, something inside you finally snaps.
One by one, you pull out every dress, every piece of jewelry, every gift Sylus has ever bought you, tossing them across the room.
You don't want any of it.
You're not something that can be bought.
CALEB (Word count : 419)
You smile to yourself as you park your car outside the restaurant where you're supposed to meet your boyfriend, Caleb.
He's finally returned from another long mission, and after weeks apart, the two of you are looking forward to sharing a hearty meal together.
Just as you lock your car, your phone vibrates.
Caleb: Something came up. Rain check? I'll make it up to you, I promise.
You can't help but sigh.
This isn't the first time.
As the colonel of the Farspace Fleet in Skyhaven, Caleb shoulders an enormous amount of responsibility.
You've always understood that.
Still, disappointment settles heavily in your chest.
Not in the mood to eat alone, you decide to head back home.
As you drive through the city, two familiar figures catch your eye.
Caleb.
And MC.
They're strolling leisurely down the sidewalk, Caleb wearing his signature boyish grin.
Your fingers tighten around the steering wheel.
You quickly dial Caleb's number before pulling over to the curb.
Through your side mirror, you watch him take a few steps away from MC as he answers the call.
“Hey,” you say, forcing your voice to remain light. “Where are you?”
“Didn't you get my message?” His voice is quiet. “I'm still at HQ.”
You don't let him finish.
The call ends.
Caleb and MC aren't biologically related. They were both adopted by Josephine and raised together.
You'd never questioned their relationship before.
You had accepted how close they were.
For the longest time, you'd always thought of them as siblings.
Until you started noticing the way Caleb looked at her.
The quiet longing in his eyes.
A yearning you never realized he was capable of.
A want that was never directed at you.
The kind of love that couldn't be mistaken for familial affection.
Like she was home.
You unlock the door to the apartment you and Caleb share in Skyhaven.
The first room you walk into is the guest bedroom.
The room is kept ready for MC whenever she stays over.
Every time she stayed over, you couldn’t shake the feeling that you were the outsider.
As though you were the one intruding.
Like the third wheel.
You move into your bedroom and pull a suitcase from the wardrobe.
Without hesitation, you begin packing.
Clothes.
Toiletries.
Everything you can't leave behind.
When the suitcase is finally full, you take one last look around the apartment.
Then, without looking back, you walk out the front door.
This time...
You have no intention of ever coming back.
VALKO (word count : 467)
You look up at the towering EonCore Tech building.
You've been here a few times already, yet you still can't get used to its sheer size.
The reason you're here is simple.
Your college classes ended early because one of your professors had to leave unexpectedly, so you decided to surprise your boyfriend, Valko, at work.
You greet the security guards and receptionist as you pass, flashing the access badge Valko had given you before making your way to the elevator.
His office occupies the top floor.
As the elevator ascends, you glance into the plastic shopping bag hanging from your wrist.
Earlier, you'd stopped by the convenience store to pick up a few of Valko's favorite snacks - chocolate bars and chocolate milk.
You still can't wrap your head around how he can even consume chocolate.
Considering he's a wolf hybrid - a fact you only discovered by accident during a camping trip - you'd assumed chocolate would be dangerous for him. Wolves are, after all, closely related to dogs, and chocolate is toxic to them.
Apparently, that rule doesn't apply to him.
The elevator dings.
As the doors slide open, you come face to face with a young woman dressed in a Hunter's uniform.
She offers you a polite smile before stepping into the elevator.
You watch the doors close behind her.
She must have come from Valko's office.
After all, it's the only room on the entire floor.
You wonder what business a Hunter had with him.
Making your way to his office, you notice the door is slightly ajar.
You raise your hand to knock—
Then stop.
“Grandma, I found her!”
Valko's cheerful voice carries into the hallway.
“The one I've been searching for. I found my mate!”
The word mate catches you off guard.
You know that a mate is, simply put, a destined soulmate chosen by fate.
You don't fully understand what that bond means to Valko's kind, but you've always thought of it as their version of true love.
You and Valko have been together for nearly a year now.
Is he finally going to introduce you to his family?
“She just left my office, so I guess it's more accurate to say she found me,” he says with a chuckle.
Your smile falters.
Something isn't right.
“Her name is MC.”
Your name isn't MC.
The plastic bag slips from your fingers, chocolates scattering across the floor as your knees threaten to give out,
He's talking about the woman.
The stranger you'd just passed in the hallway.
You turn and run.
You repeatedly stab at the elevator button until the doors finally slide open.
The moment you step inside, the doors begin to close.
Through your tear-blurred vision, you catch a glimpse of Valko standing in the doorway, his face etched with concern.
Part 2
Want to read more Love and Deepspace fanfics? Feel free to check out my -> masterlist
Hi I know that I recently made a request for you and that I must probably be reaching my quota of making requests for you to write. 😅
But I really wanted to see a continuation of that The Weight of Being Seen. Imagine that they had a relationship established after that first date and on a romantic day between only the two someone suddenly shows a certain interest in Non mc and Ops... the boys get jealous and decide to show her who belongs!?? 🤭😏 What do you think?
a/n: so sorry for the wait @chosen17, but here it is! 🫡 I hope it was worth it 🤞 and happy reading! 🤓
Summary: A fanfiction request potraying how the LIs react to you being hit on by another guy during your date. 🤭
Pairing: all LIs (separately) x reader (non MC)
Trigger warnings: none, just fluff
Content: For context, please read the fanfic The Weight of Being Seen before proceeding.
HANDS OFF, SHE'S WITH ME
XAVIER
Word count : 678
That evening, after your colleague Xavier unexpectedly ran into you at one of your favorite restaurants, dining together became something of a tradition. At least once a week, the two of you took turns picking a new restaurant, doing your best to sample everything on the menu.
Xavier never once commented on your weight. Never told you to watch what you ate or suggested you should eat less.
Meals shared with Xavier always seemed to taste a little better.
...
Then, one evening after work, over dinner, Xavier confessed that he'd wanted to ask you out for a long time but had never found the right moment. He admitted he'd also been afraid you'd reject him, not wanting to get involved in an office romance.
Now, months have passed since the two of you went from colleagues, to friends, to lovers.
To avoid office gossip, you've kept your relationship a secret. Fortunately, that's easy enough when you work in different departments on different floors.
...
You glance down at your intertwined hands, unable to stop the smile tugging at your lips.
Some days, you still can't believe how lucky you are.
Having just clocked out and still dressed in your office clothes, you make your way to the Twinkle Toys arcade.
The past few weeks have been consumed by overtime and looming deadlines, so it's been a while since your last date.
Recently, the arcade announced a limited-edition plushie: a white bunny with floppy ears, sleepy drooping eyes, and a cozy knitted sweater. It reminded you so much of Xavier that you knew you had to have it.
Today is the final day of the event, and you can only hope there are still a few left.
“We are terrible at this,” you sigh.
You and Xavier have taken turns trying to win the plushie, but neither of you has had any luck. You've long since lost count of how many attempts you've made.
“Shh,” Xavier whispers conspiratorially. “Don't let the plushie hear you. It'll think it's winning.”
You laugh despite yourself. Even with his attempt to lift your spirits, you can tell he's just as disappointed as you are.
Xavier reaches into the token bucket you're holding, only to realize it's empty.
Taking the bucket from your hands, he smiles.
“Wait here. I'm going to get more tokens.”
Before you can protest, he's already walking away.
“Excuse me?”
An unfamiliar male voice behind you draws your attention.
You turn to find a man wearing a warm, easy smile.
“Do you mind if I give this claw machine a try?”
“Of course. Be my guest.” You step aside with a sheepish smile.
Only then do you realize you and Xavier have been monopolizing the machine for quite a while. Someone had probably been waiting for a turn.
“Maybe you can lend me some of your luck,” the man says as he slides a token into the machine.
“I don't think Lady Luck is on my side today,” you reply with an awkward laugh.
From the corner of your eye, you watch as the claw descends.
It closes around the bunny plushie, lifts it cleanly, and carries it all the way to the prize chute without slipping.
Your jaw nearly drops as the plushie tumbles into the collection bin.
Victory.
On his very first try.
After retrieving the prize, the man turns back to you with a friendly smile and holds it out.
“For you.”
You blink in surprise.
Before you can respond, a familiar arm slips possessively around your waist.
“I'm perfectly capable of winning a plushie for my girlfriend myself.”
Xavier's voice is calm, but there's a subtle edge beneath it.
You glance up at him, and he meets your gaze with the faintest pout.
“Girlfriend?” the man repeats, looking surprised. “Sorry. Judging by your outfits, I assumed you were coworkers. Friends at most.”
“I appreciate the gesture,” you say.
Wrapping both arms around Xavier's waist, you lean into him.
“But I already have the cutest plush bunny right here.”
The lovesick look in Xavier's eyes mirrors your own.
ZAYNE
Word count : 612
There's a slight skip in your step as you make your way to the café where you're meeting Zayne, only to pause when your phone rings.
“My love, are you at the café yet?” Zayne's voice comes through the speaker, clear and familiar.
Every time he calls you my love, your heart skips a beat.
“Almost,” you reply.
“I'm sorry, but a last-minute issue came up at work, so I'll be running a little late. I promise I'll be there as soon as I can.”
...
After entering the café, you settle at a table by the window and order an iced tea.
As you gaze absentmindedly out the window, a dreamy smile finds its way onto your face.
Your thoughts drift back to the day Zayne came over to your table at the bakery after overhearing the server's unprofessional comments about your weight.
Despite the awkward way you'd met, your clumsy attempts at flirting, and the embarrassingly cheesy pickup lines - especially the one where you joked that he must have become a cardiologist out of guilt for breaking so many hearts with his handsome face - he'd still wanted to see you again.
...
Zayne may seem cold and stoic at first glance, but beneath that reserved exterior is someone incredibly warm. His actions always speak louder than words.
Those actions were what eventually brought the two of you together as a couple.
Knowing your shared weakness for sweets, he'd secretly asked the chef at the Chinese restaurant where you were having dinner to hide a note inside your fortune cookie.
Will you be my girlfriend?
Remembering that night, you can't help but laugh softly.
...
“Pardon me.”
You look up to find one of the baristas standing beside your table.
You blink in surprise as he pulls out the chair across from you and sits down.
With three empty chairs around your table, you'd assumed he needed to borrow one for another customer - not that he intended to join you.
He fidgets in his seat, his cheeks tinged pink, clearly nervous.
“I've been meaning to ask you something for a while,” he says, stumbling over his words. “You come here pretty often, but I've never worked up the courage.”
It's true. Since the café is on your route to work, you've become something of a regular. On busy mornings, you'll often stop by for coffee, and sometimes breakfast if you're running late.
“I think you're really sweet,” he continues.
“I agree.”
A familiar voice cuts through the conversation.
The barista freezes.
Zayne stands behind him, his expression as calm and unreadable as ever.
“My girlfriend is the sweetest,” he says.
The barista glances at Zayne, then back at you.
He scrambles to his feet so quickly he nearly knocks over his chair.
“I'm so sorry. I should've known you were taken.”
Rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment, he hurries back toward the counter.
...
“Sorry to keep you waiting, my love,” Zayne says as he slips into the now-vacant seat as though nothing had happened.
“Have you decided what you'd like to order?” he asks, studying the cakes in the display case.
“Not yet."” You narrow your eyes at him and point an accusing finger. “And as for you - the dentist told you to cut back on sugar.”
“Then I suppose I'll have to settle for something sweet that won't rot my teeth.”
A hint of mischief creeps into his voice as a small smirk tugs at the corner of his lips.
The implication hits you a second later.
Heat rushes to your face, turning your cheeks bright red.
You swear, one day this man is going to give you a heart attack.
RAFAYEL
Word count : 499
Having grown up along the coastline of Whitesand Bay in Linkon City, you've always felt at home on the sandy shore.
But ever since Rafayel came into your life, the beach has felt even more like home - as though he'd become the missing piece you never knew was absent.
...
Ever since the day you met him on the shore - when he quite literally called you a goddess - you've found yourself returning to the beach only in his company.
Together, you'd stroll along the sand to watch the sunrise, the sunset, or sometimes both. You'd collect seashells that Rafayel would later grind into pigments for his paintings. You'd take photographs or simply sit beside him while he painted.
It never ceased to amaze you how Rafayel saw the world in such vibrant colors.
...
One evening, while walking along the shoreline, Rafayel picked up a stick and suddenly took off running.
You chased after him, laughing, but before you could read what he'd written in the sand, the waves washed it away.
Taking your hand, he smiled.
“One day, I found a beauty washed ashore. I'm afraid the tides might carry her away, just like they did that message. But I won't let them. You're mine. Be my girlfriend, and I'll give you the entire ocean.”
...
That was the moment the two of you made it official.
Now, you're stretched out on a lounge chair beneath the shade of a towering palm tree.
You and Rafayel had traveled to a small coastal town for an exhibition, and with the event finally over, the two of you could enjoy a break.
Rafayel has wandered off to grab cocktails, leaving you with your book.
...
So absorbed in your reading, you fail to notice the two men lingering nearby, openly admiring you.
Not until they step in front of your lounge chair, blocking the sunlight.
Lowering your book, you slip off your sunglasses.
“Well, aren't you gorgeous?” one of them says.
“Talk about a breathtaking view,” the other adds with a grin.
You blink at them in surprise. Men don't usually compliment you.
“Mind if we keep you company?”
“Yes, she would.”
Rafayel appears beside you, holding two colorful cocktails complete with tiny umbrellas and straws.
You gladly take one from him.
“Sorry, boys,” you say with a polite smile. “I already have all the company I need.”
The two men exchange disappointed looks before walking away.
...
“I leave you alone for one minute, and you're already getting hit on.”
Rafayel crosses his arms, puffs out his cheeks, and dramatically turns his back to you.
“How could you let another fish swim into my territory?” he huffs.
Laughing softly, you move over and sit beside him on his lounge chair, gently patting his head.
He rests his head heavily on your shoulder with an exaggerated sigh.
“You're the only fishie for me,” you reassure him.
You catch the satisfied smug smirk on his lips as he shoots the two retreating men a triumphant glance.
SYLUS
Word count : 607
Despite how enjoyable Sylus's company had been that evening - when he stepped in after your blind date walked out the moment he saw you - you kept your guard up.
After being rejected one too many times because of your size, you'd built walls around your heart.
But Sylus never gave up. He pursued you relentlessly, though never in a forceful or overbearing way. Instead, he simply made his interest - and his presence - impossible to ignore.
Eventually, you stopped resisting and finally gave him a chance.
That was how the two of you became a couple.
...
Sylus carries himself with a mysterious, commanding presence that naturally puts people on edge. Yet beneath that intimidating exterior lies someone fiercely protective, deeply loyal, and unexpectedly gentle with you.
He also has a razor-sharp tongue and delights in teasing you just to see your reactions.
...
Although you consider yourself a strong, independent woman, there are times when you can't help but let Sylus spoil you.
Like tonight.
Ever since you were little, you'd dreamed of attending a fantasy ball, but you'd never had anyone to go with.
So when a notification for this year's event popped up on your phone, you immediately asked Sylus if he'd accompany you.
He was reluctant at first, claiming he didn't understand the appeal of dressing up just to dance in a room full of strangers.
As usual, though, his actions contradicted his words.
He bought the most expensive tickets available and spared no expense when it came to your costumes.
You're dressed in a flowing ballgown, complete with elegant shoes, sparkling accessories, perfectly styled hair, and flawless makeup.
Sylus, meanwhile, is dressed entirely in black leather. His shirt hangs half open, curled horns rest atop his head, and a pair of folded dragon wings adorn his back.
He looks as though he stepped straight out of one of the dragon shifter novels you love to read.
“I'll go get us another glass of wine,” Sylus says, taking your empty glass before disappearing into the crowd.
A few moments later, a man dressed as what appears to be a prince - perhaps even a king - approaches you.
“A beautiful evening, my lady,” he says with a courteous bow.
“Indeed it is, my lord,” you reply with a small smile.
“Forgive my bluntness, but I believe you to be the fairest maiden at this ball.”
“You flatter me,” you answer, happily playing along.
Role-playing is hardly unusual at events like these. If anything, it's encouraged.
The man steps in front of you and offers a deeper bow before extending his hand.
“Would this fair princess honor me with a dance?”
Completely oblivious to Sylus standing directly behind him, he waits expectantly.
Sylus catches your eye over the man's shoulder, a faint smirk playing on his lips as he silently waits to see how you'll respond.
“I must politely decline,” you say, walking past the man to stand beside Sylus.
“For my heart has already been claimed by this dragon.”
“Then I shall slay the dragon and win your heart, dear princess,” the man declares, resting a hand on the hilt of his sword.
Sylus lets out an amused laugh.
“You'd be reduced to ash before you ever had the chance to draw it,” he replies with effortless confidence.
You glance up at him with slightly widened eyes, knowing full well he isn't entirely joking.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
He slips a fresh glass of wine into your hand before wrapping an arm securely around your waist.
“This isn't some mere princess.”
His hold tightens ever so slightly as he draws you closer.
“She's a queen.”
“My queen.”
CALEB
Word count : 565
After that embarrassingly disastrous day when your own shoe betrayed you, you never expected Caleb to show up outside your office after work the very next day, just in case your shoes decided to betray you again.
...
Caleb is easygoing and carefree, making every conversation effortless. His playful nature has you laughing more than you ever had before, and his boyish energy turns every date into an adventure, melting away even the most stressful days.
...
After only a handful of dates, he asked you to be his girlfriend.
His straightforwardness caught you completely off guard.
He admitted that, years ago, he'd let fear keep him from saying what was in his heart, and as a result, he'd lost someone precious. Ever since then, he'd promised himself he'd never make the same mistake again.
...
The beginning of your relationship wasn't without its challenges.
You lived in Linkon City, where you worked as an office team leader, while Caleb was stationed in Skyhaven as a pilot. With your demanding schedules and the distance between you, seeing each other wasn't easy.
...
So, after a few months of dating, you surprised him by requesting a transfer to your company's Skyhaven branch.
At first, the two of you lived separately.
But only a few weeks later, you gave up your apartment and moved into Caleb's.
...
Most people would probably say your relationship was moving too fast.
But with Caleb, everything simply felt right.
...
Today, the two of you are spending the afternoon at Skyhaven’s amusement park.
Caleb had finally managed to clear his schedule after a mission and taken time off just so the two of you could enjoy a proper date.
As you weave through the bustling crowds, the warm scent of cinnamon and sugar catches your attention.
You turn to find a food stand selling fresh churros.
“Want some?” Caleb asks, following your gaze.
“Yes, please,” you answer, practically drooling.
“One order of churros coming right up.”
Without hesitation, he joins the queue.
...
Not wanting to block the walkway, you step off to the side near another stall and wait.
“Amusement parks are meant to be enjoyed with family... or with someone special.”
A man's voice pulls you from your attention.
He comes to stand beside you, smiling confidently.
“I'd be happy to fill that second role.”
“That position's already taken.”
Caleb returns just in time, handing you a warm bag of churros.
“And you are?” the man asks dismissively.
“Her boyfriend,” Caleb replies without missing a beat.
“Boyfriend?”The man smirks. "Doesn't count if there's no ring."
To your complete disbelief, Caleb suddenly turns and runs off.
Barely a minute later, he returns, slightly out of breath.
Without a word, he slips a candy ring onto your left ring finger.
Then he steps in front of you, squaring his shoulders.
“Satisfied?” he asks flatly. “Now get lost.”
The man mutters a curse under his breath before finally walking away.
Caleb turns back to you…
Only to realize you're staring silently at the candy ring wrapped around your finger.
“I... didn't exactly picture it happening like this.”
He rubs the back of his neck with an awkward laugh.
You slowly lift your eyes to meet his.
“I mean…”
A faint blush creeps across his cheeks.
“...I'd be more than happy to be your husband.”
He gazes at you with pleading puppy-dog eyes, as though waiting for your answer.
Request are OPEN! Is you are interested in submitting a request, please check ou how to do so here
If you enjoyed this fanfic story, feel free to check out my other work here -> masterlist
*Looks at your 'Will Not Write' list*
Wait, would Caleb/MC be considered incest or pseudo incest?
@sailorstar9
Uff, this is kind of a loaded question. 😵💫
Caleb and MC's relationship is kind of both.
In the main story timeline, their relationship is pseudo-incest because they are child experiment subjects who were adopted by the "mad" scientist Josephine out of guilt and raised as siblings, even though they are not biologically related.
Whereas in some limited banner stories, for example, Imperial Thronesong (Throne of Eros banner), Clearday Return (Mortality's Tenderness banner), and Caleb's third Myth (Netherlord) - it is heavily hinted or implied that they are blood-related. 😶
Anyhow, I don't support the incest (blood related) trope, either in reading or writing. It goes against my personal morals and is where I draw the line. 🙅♀️
The only exception for me is when it's used in a historical setting for the sake of authenticity, where such relationships are portrayed as a reflection of that period, rather than as something to romanticize. (House of the Dragon is a good example of this).
That being said, I'm not against the pseudo-incest trope. 🫢
However, if that's the case, I need the "couple" to be older - at the very least in their late teens - before their relationship is portrayed romantically.
In other words, I don't support romanticizing this kind of relationship when the characters are young children or don't fully understand the nature of romance.
*Jumps into your inbox*
May I request: Betrayed by her boyfriend and stepsister, Reader agrees to the marriage alliance to Valko.
Tone: hurt-comfort
Trigger warning: cheating
Author's note: I was proved right in my assumption that writing a fanfic about Valko with so limited information would be difficult. 😵💫 That being said, I hope my interpretation does him justice. 🫣🙏
@sailorstar9 Thank you for the request! I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed bringing it to life. Happy reading! 💖
Synopsis: After catching your boyfriend in bed with your stepsister, you think your life can't possibly get any worse.
You're wrong.
Blackmailed into a forced marriage with a complete stranger, you expect nothing more than a loveless relationship.
Instead, as resentment slowly gives way to trust and affection blossoms, you discover that fate may have chosen you long before you ever had a choice.
Pairing: Valko x (Female) reader/non-MC
Content: All "in-game" information about Valko is considered canon, with the exception of his evol ability and the existence of wanderers.
Trigger warnings: Hurt/Comfort, Forced Proximity (Forced Marriage), Fated Mates, Cheating (not Valko—don't worry), Mentions of Blackmail and Manipulation, Suggestive Content (Non-Graphic), and Mentions of Death (Non-Graphic).
Word count: 5,898
THE ORCHID AND THE WOLF
This wasn’t how the day was supposed to end.
Not with you sitting alone in the secluded corner of a booth, nursing a cocktail despite barely drinking, in a nightclub far too luxurious for your bank account, tears silently streaming down your face.
You were supposed to be in a cozy restaurant, celebrating your boyfriend's birthday over a nice dinner. You had planned everything weeks in advance.
You'd requested the day off work so you'd be free as soon as your classes ended. The moment your last lecture finished, you rushed home to get changed before stopping by a local bakery to collect the cake you'd ordered. Nothing extravagant - just a small cake, enough for a few slices. Your boyfriend had never been much of a fan of sweets anyway. It was more symbolic than anything.
His present had been wrapped neatly in a gift box, complete with a ribbon and birthday card. You'd bought him a tie from one of his favourite luxury designer brands.
A brand far beyond the budget of a broke college student.
You'd spent months saving for it, surviving on instant noodles.
But this was your boyfriend.
He deserved the best.
With cake in hand and the gift tucked safely inside your handbag, you'd made your way to the upscale apartment building where he lived. You greeted the receptionist on your way through the lobby before stepping into the elevator.
Once upstairs, you entered the code and let yourself into the apartment.
You knew he'd still be at work, which was exactly why you'd come early. You wanted to surprise him.
You placed the cake in the refrigerator to keep it chilled. You planned to give him his present later at the restaurant where you'd already reserved a table.
Needing to use the bathroom, you headed upstairs.
Halfway down the hallway, you stopped.
Muffled sounds drifted from the bedroom.
A breathless moan.
The bedroom door stood slightly ajar.
You stepped closer and slowly pushed it open.
Your breath caught in your throat.
Your chest tightened.
There, tangled together on the bed, lay your boyfriend...
...and your stepsister, Elizabeth.
Completely naked.
They both looked up at the same time.
Shock spread across their faces.
You didn't scream.
You didn't cry.
You simply closed the bedroom door and rushed out of the apartment.
…
You wandered the streets of Linkon City aimlessly.
Your vision was blurred by tears.
Your mind numb.
Your body was moving on autopilot.
You never noticed the afternoon fade into evening.
Eventually, a bright neon sign caught your attention.
Without thinking, you walked inside.
…
And that's how you ended up here...
You and your boyfriend hadn't even been together for very long.
Just under two years.
The two of you had met during one of the darkest periods of your life.
Not long after your father passed away.
The doctors had warned him that if he didn't change his lifestyle - if he didn't reduce the stress in his life - he wouldn't survive another heart attack.
Your father had been the only parent you had left.
Your mother had died from cancer when you were so young that you could barely remember her.
For most of your life, it had been just you and your father.
That changed when you were fourteen.
He remarried.
You never truly liked your stepmother, Miranda.
Nor did you get along with her daughter, Elizabeth, who was a few years older than you.
Still, for your father's sake, the three of you maintained the illusion of being one happy family whenever he was around.
The moment he wasn't...
...you simply stayed out of each other's way.
You always knew Elizabeth was spoiled, selfish, and accustomed to getting whatever she wanted.
You just never imagined...
...she'd decide she wanted your boyfriend too.
…
Valko senses something unusual the moment he steps inside the bar.
He makes his way to the counter and settles onto one of the stools.
“Welcome, sir,” the bartender greets, polishing the inside of a glass with a cloth. “The usual?”
Valko gives a distracted nod, his gaze sweeping across the nearly empty club.
“Quiet tonight,” the bartender remarks as he sets a glass in front of him. “To be expected on a weekday.”
Valko hummed absently.
His nostrils flare as he draws a slow breath.
A scent lingers in the air.
Soft.
Sweet.
Floral.
Orchids...perhaps.
A scent that stands out more vividly than anything else.
His pulse quickens.
Picking up his drink, he wanders through the club at an unhurried pace, though his sharp eyes scan every corner like a predator stalking unseen prey.
Then he stops.
His head turns slightly.
In the secluded corner of a booth sits a lone woman.
Her shoulders are slumped.
Her head hangs low.
A half-finished cocktail sits forgotten in front of her.
His feet carry him toward her until he comes to a stop beside the table.
Sensing the shadow that has fallen over you, you slowly lift your head.
Your eyes meet.
A shiver shoots through Valko's entire body, racing from the base of his spine to the tips of his toes.
He's found you.
The one his family has been telling him about since childhood.
The one destiny has chosen for him.
His mate.
You sniffle quietly before wiping at your tear-stained cheeks, only succeeding in smudging the remains of your mascara even further.
Something dark stirrs inside him and his jaw tightens.
Who had made his mate cry?
“Who hurt you, flower?”
The words - and the endearment - leave his lips before he has the chance to stop them.
You simply stare at him too numb to answer.
A storm of emotions rage inside Valko.
He wants to hunt down whoever has reduced you to tears and tear them apart with his bare hands.
He wants to take every ounce of your pain and carry it himself.
More than anything...
...he wants to pull you into his arms, hold you close, and promise you that no one will ever hurt you again.
Instead...
...he does the only sensible thing he can think of.
He takes out his phone.
“You look exhausted,” he says gently. “It's late.”
After a brief exchange, he slips his phone back into his pocket.
“I've arranged a ride home.”
You don't take his outstretched hand.
But you slowly raise to your feet.
Valko steps aside, allowing you to walk ahead while he stays close behind, his hand hovering just behind your back.
Moments later, a sleek black sedan pulls up outside the club.
He opens the rear passenger door for you.
Without a word, you climb inside.
“Where to, miss?” the driver asks politely through the rear-view mirror.
Valko waits patiently until you quietly give your address.
Only then does he close the door.
Leaning down to the open driver's window, he meets the driver's eyes.
“Make sure she gets home safely.”
Valko remains where he stands, watching until the taillights disappear around the corner.
Only then does he retrieve his phone once more.
“There's something I need you to investigate.”
“I want everything there is to know about her.”
——————————————————————
It's been a few days since you caught your boyfriend cheating.
And the bastard hasn't contacted you even once.
No calls.
No texts.
No explanation.
No apology.
No desperate plea for forgiveness.
Nothing.
As you approach the front gates of your college, your stomach sinks.
Of all the people you could have run into...
It had to be her.
You instinctively take a few steps back, hoping to slip away unnoticed.
No such luck.
You decide it's easier to walk straight past her than acknowledge her existence.
“Giving me the silent treatment?” Elizabeth calls after you. “How mature.”
“If you've come to gloat or rub salt in the wound, don't waste your time,” you reply without slowing your pace.
The sharp click of her high heels echoes across the pavement as she falls into step beside you.
“I kept telling him it was only a matter of time before we got caught.” Her voice drips with smug satisfaction. “I mean, he'd been sleeping with me for almost as long as the two of you were dating.”
Your footsteps falter for the briefest moment.
Then you keep walking.
“The only reason he asked you out in the first place was because of your daddy's money.” She lets out a mocking laugh. “But once he realized there wasn't any..." She shrugs dramatically. “He moved on.”
“He just didn't have the heart to dump you.”
You stop so abruptly that Elizabeth nearly walks into you.
You turn to face her.
“Did you really come all the way here just to tell me that?” you ask, your voice flat.
“Oh.” Elizabeth taps a finger against her lips as if she'd only just remembered. “I almost forgot.”
“My mother wants to see you.”
“It seems you've been ignoring all her calls.”
Your brows knit together.
“What could Miranda possibly want with me?”
Elizabeth merely shrugs, inspecting her manicured nails.
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
Then a smirk spreads across her face.
“I can give you a lift to the company.”
Without waiting for an answer, she spins on her heel and saunters away, her hips swaying exaggeratedly with every step.
Miranda would never summon you over something trivial.
And knowing the kind of woman she was...
Refusing wasn't an option.
…
A few days ago, Miranda had welcomed a most unexpected - yet no less welcome - guest into her office.
“Mr. Valko.” She greeted him with a polished smile as she stepped forward to shake his hand. “It's an honor to finally meet you. Please, have a seat.”
She gestured toward one of the armchairs.
Valko sat, though his broad frame was far too large for it to be remotely comfortable. Miranda settled into the chair opposite him, crossing one leg over the other with practiced elegance.
“May I offer you something to drink?”
“That won't be necessary.” His voice was businesslike. “I'd prefer to keep this brief.”
The moment he'd stepped into the office, a sharp scent had assaulted his senses.
Unpleasant.
It lingered so heavily in the air that every instinct urged him to leave as quickly as possible.
“I'll get straight to the point. I understand your company is seeking investment from EonCore Tech,” Valko said.
“I don't know how much you know about this company, Mr. Valko, but we devote our resources to improving the lives of society's less fortunate - the disabled, the unfortunate souls who must rely on others just to get through everyday life.”
Miranda smiled as though expecting praise.
“To continue our research, expand our facilities, and develop new technologies, we require funding.”
She gestured toward the thick proposal folder resting on the coffee table between them.
“I've prepared all the necessary documents.”
“If EonCore Tech is to invest…” Valko said at last, “...I have one condition.”
He raised a single finger.
Miranda smiled confidently.
“I'm sure we can reach an agreement.”
“I intend to marry your daughter.”
Miranda clasped her hands together, delighted.
“How wonderful!” she exclaimed.
“Elizabeth will make an excellent wife.”
Valko frowned.
“Elizabeth?”
A flicker of confusion crossed his face.
“I'm referring to Y/N.”
Miranda's smile vanished instantly.
Her gaze turned considerably colder.
“...Y/N?” she repeated.
“I'm afraid you've been misinformed. She's merely my stepdaughter.”
She gave a dismissive little laugh.
“Mr. Valko, believe me when I say that girl is nothing but a constant disappointment... and, quite frankly, an embarrassment.”
Valko's hands curled into fists.
Oblivious, Miranda continued.
“If you're looking for a wife worthy of your status, Elizabeth would be a far more suitable choice.”
Valko calmly reached for the proposal folder.
He picked it up and rose to his feet.
“My condition is final.”
He held up the file.
“I will marry Y/N before EonCore Tech signs these documents.”
“If that condition isn't met…”
“...there will be no deal.”
…
——————————————————————
“Enter!” Miranda's voice comes, muffled through the thick wooden door.
You push it open and quietly close it behind you.
Miranda glances up from the paperwork spread across her desk, peering at you over the rim of her glasses.
“About time,” she says sharply. “Must I send someone to hunt you down every time I need you?”
“Nice to see you too, Miranda,” you mumble.
She removes her glasses and places them neatly on the desk.
“I'll get straight to the point.” She folds her hands together. “A chairman has finally agreed to invest in the company.”
You blink.
“...Congratulations?”
“What does that have to do with me?”
You had nothing to do with your father's company.
After his death, ownership had passed to Miranda, just as he'd stipulated in his will.
“The chairman has one condition,” Miranda continues.
“And he has made it abundantly clear that he will not negotiate.”
“He wants to marry you.”
You stare at her, convinced you'd misheard.
Judging by the look on Miranda's face...
...you hadn't.
“No.”
The answer leaves your mouth immediately.
“Absolutely not.”
“I refuse to become a pawn in one of your business deals.”
“And why me?”
“If he's a wealthy, successful chairman, surely Elizabeth would be a much more suitable match.”
Miranda's jaw visibly tightens.
“He rejected Elizabeth.”
For the first time since entering the office, you smile.
Elizabeth had spent her entire life believing every man would fall at her feet.
Knowing someone had rejected her...
...was satisfying.
“My answer is still no.”
Miranda lets out a soft laugh.
“How adorable.”
She rises from her chair and slowly walks around the desk until she's standing directly in front of you.
“You seem to think this is a request.”
She leans one hand against the desk.
Her smile is cold.
“You will marry him…”
“...or you can say goodbye to your apartment.”
Your eyes widen.
“You can't do that!”
“My scholarship and my part-time job are barely enough to cover my living expenses. I'm graduating with my bachelor's degree this year.”
Your father had rented an apartment close to campus before your first semester began.
After his death, Miranda had agreed to continue paying for it...
...on the one condition that you stay out of her way.
“What a shame,” she muses.
“It would be unfortunate if the last two years of your education went to waste.”
She already knew she'd won.
Reaching into a drawer, she slid an envelope across the desk.
“Everything has already been arranged.”
You slowly pick it up.
Miranda smiles sweetly.
“Try not to be late for your own wedding.”
——————————————————————
You'd always imagined getting married one day.
At least...
...you'd hoped you would.
Just not at twenty years old.
Not to a man you'd never met.
And certainly not without your father there to walk you down the aisle.
You smooth the front of the off-white dress.
You'd even attempted to style your hair into a bridal updo.
Part of you had hoped you'd wake up before any of this became real.
You didn't.
Step by step, you walk down the aisle toward the man waiting at the front.
Valko.
The only thing you know about him...
...is his name.
The wedding is small.
Held inside the town hall with barely anyone in attendance.
There's the officiant.
Miranda, wearing her usual polished business smile.
Elizabeth, glaring at you with poorly concealed resentment.
An unfamiliar man standing beside Valko, presumably someone close to him.
And Valko himself.
The moment you stop beside him, he turns to look at you.
Then he smiles.
A genuine one.
Overflowing with happiness.
If he were a dog...
...you swear his tail would be wagging.
The officiant begins reading.
You barely hear a word.
Instead, you steal curious glances at the stranger you've agreed to marry.
He's young.
Probably somewhere in his twenties.
Incredibly tall.
Standing beside him, the top of your head barely reaches his chest.
Broad shoulders.
A solid build.
Striking amber eyes unlike any you've ever seen.
Crimson hair with a violet sheen beneath the light, brushed back from his forehead.
“...I do.”
Your voice is scarcely louder than a whisper.
Moments later...
...it's over.
You're married.
——————————————————————
The drive passes in complete silence.
At least on your end.
Valko tries to make conversation, but his words barely register.
You simply stare out the window.
Eventually, the car rolls into the driveway of a mansion.
It reminds you of the house you once called home before your father died.
So, this was your new home.
Valko eagerly offers to show you around.
You barely pay attention.
Finally, he opens a door.
“This will be your bedroom.”
Relief washes over you.
Your own bedroom.
Not a shared one.
Without a word, you step inside.
You slam the door shut in Valko's face.
A second later, you turn the lock.
——————————————————————
Days had passed since the wedding.
And you'd avoided Valko completely.
He could hear you moving around the mansion.
He could smell your scent lingering in the hallways.
Yet you refused to see him let alone speak to him.
So tonight, Valko stands by the front door, arms folded across his chest, his foot tapping impatiently against the marble floor.
He glances down at his watch.
Where are you?
Are you even coming home tonight?
His ears perk up as he hears footsteps crunch across the gravel outside.
A moment later, fingers tap in the security code.
The front door swings open and you step inside, looking exhausted.
The moment you close the door behind you, Valko speaks.
“Where were you? I was worried.”
You nearly jump out of your skin.
“Good grief!” You clutch your chest. “Why are you standing by the front door in the dark like some kind of serial killer?”
“I asked first.”
You sigh.
“I was at work.”
He uncrosses his arms.
“What happened at the company that kept you there this late?”
“...Company?”
You frown.
“I work at the cinema.”
“The cinema?”
His confusion is genuine.
You stare at him.
“For the same reason everyone works.”
“Money.”
Valko reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket.
“Speaking of money…”
“…I've been meaning to give you this.”
He holds out a sleek black bank card.
“The account is in your name,” he explains. “You're free to use it whenever you need. If the balance ever gets low, just let me know. I'll transfer more.”
“Are you serious?”
Your voice echoes through the entrance hall.
You throw the card straight at his chest.
It bounces off him before clattering onto the marble floor.
Oh no.
His mate is angry.
At him.
“It's bad enough I was forced into this marriage because of some business deal,L you snap.
“And now you're treating me like I'm some kind of gold digger?”
You shove past him.
Valko hurries after you and steps in front of the staircase, blocking your path.
“I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention.”
He runs a frustrated hand through his hair.
“…Please.”
His shoulders sag.
“Just... don't shut me out.”
There is something almost puppy-like in the way he looks at you.
“Please... give me a chance.”
“Have dinner with me.”
“We can talk.”
“Get to know each other.”
The desperation in his voice catches you off guard.
Perhaps...
...you’ve been taking your frustration out on the wrong person.
If anyone deserves your resentment...
It is Miranda.
——————————————————————
“Please tell me this isn't the restaurant we're eating at.”
You stare out the window as Valko pulls up to an elegant, high-end restaurant.
In the end...
...you'd agreed to dinner.
“Is something wrong?”
“Places like this have a dress code.”
You glance down at your outfit - a simple oversized sweater, jeans and worn boots.
Valko looks you over before smiling.
“I think you look lovely.”
“Don't blame me when they turn us away at the door.”
You reach for the handle.
“Don't.”
Before you can open the door yourself, Valko is already out of the car.
He hurries around to your side and opens the door for you before offering his hand.
You hesitate before taking it.
His hand is warm.
He helps you out before gently offering you his arm.
Together, you make your way toward the entrance.
To your surprise, the hostess doesn't so much as glance at your outfit.
She greets you and leads the two of you onto an outdoor terrace.
Your table sits beneath strings of fairy lights overlooking the city.
Valko pulls out your chair before sliding it in once you've sat down.
At the very least...
...he's undeniably gentlemanly.
A waiter approaches with two menus.
“What would you like to drink?”
After taking your order, he leaves you to look over the menu.
“...I don't know what half of these dishes even are,” you mutter.
The menu may as well have been written in another language.
Valko chuckles.
“I’ll handle the ordering.”
You lean forward.
“...Everyone's staring at me.”
“I stick out like a sore thumb.”
Valko glances around the terrace.
Then, in a much louder than necessary, he says,
“Excuse me.”
Several nearby guests and servers look over.
“I know my wife is absolutely stunning…”
Your eyes widen.
You hurriedly try to shush him.
“...but could everyone please stop staring at her?”
“You're making her uncomfortable.”
When he finally sits back down, you can't help giggling.
“You're ridiculous.”
Valko's face lights up.
He'd made you laugh.
“I'm glad you agreed to have dinner with me,” he says softly.
“...I'm sorry…For yelling at you yesterday.”
Valko smiles.
“It wasn't all bad.”
“In fact…”
A mischievous glint appears in his amber eyes.
“You being angry with me was strangely attractive.”
He gives you an unapologetic wink.
Before you can respond, the waiter returns carrying several beautifully presented dishes.
As soon as the waiter leaves, Valko speaks again.
“I meant what I said earlier.”
“I'd like to get to know you.”
You look down at your plate.
“I'm not very good at talking about myself.”
You shrug.
“...Why don't you just ask me whatever you want to know?”
“The problem is…”
He smiles sheepishly.
“I want to know everything.”
Seeing your uncertainty, he quickly adds,
“How about you ask me something first.”
“I'm an open book.”
Setting your fork down you meet his eyes.
“Why would someone like you…”
“...handsome…”
“...successful…”
“...wealthy…”
“...choose to marry me?”
A smug grin spreads across his face.
“Soooo…”
“…You think I'm handsome."
“...Of course that's the part you focused on.”
“I would never lie to you.”
The teasing disappears from his expression.
“But the real reason…”
“...is complicated.”
He pauses.
“And…”
“...you're not ready to hear it yet.”
You narrow your eyes suspiciously.
“Let me guess.”
“Your parents left you a trust fund that you can only inherit if you're married by a certain age.”
Valko lets out an amused laugh.
“A classic.”
“But no.”
He shakes his head.
“I promise I'll tell you someday.”
He holds your gaze.
“Until then…”
“...just trust me.”
Strangely...
...you do.
You just aren't sure why.
…
To your surprise, the evening turns out to be far more pleasant than expected. The conversation flows with surprising ease. Valko is cheeky and playful, constantly teasing you, but you find yourself strangely drawn to that side of him.
“I had a really nice time. Thank you,” you say genuinely as he drives.
“In that case, you won’t have any objections to me taking you shopping tomorrow,” Valko says, keeping his eyes on the road.
“I can’t tomorrow. I have work.”
“Not anymore.”
“I don’t remember my shift being cancelled.”
“It wasn’t. I resigned on your behalf.”
You stare at him.
“You did what?”
Before you can properly react, Valko quickly continues.
“Before you get angry, I’m not trying to control you. You’re free to work if that’s what you want.” He glances at you. “But I refuse to sit back and watch my wife spend her days scrubbing toilets and cleaning up popcorn spills when she’s capable of so much more.”
You open your mouth to argue, but he continues.
“You’re studying business. Come work at EonCore Tech if you’re interested.”
You want to be angry at him. You probably should be.
Yet, deep down, you know his intentions aren’t cruel.
“I’ll think about it,” you finally say.
——————————————————————
“Welcome. How may I assist you today?” a saleswoman greets cheerfully the moment you enter the department store.
“My wife needs a new wardrobe,” Valko says confidently. “I’ll leave her in your hands.”
She leads you towards a fitting room that is practically the size of your old apartment.
Valko takes a seat on the couch outside.
You quickly lose count of how many outfits you try on.
And every single time, Valko insists on seeing them.
Every single time, he compliments you.
It becomes less like shopping and more like a personal fashion show where Valko is your most enthusiastic audience member.
“I’ll take everything my wife has tried on,” Valko says, handing his card to the saleswoman.
“Valko, please don’t. What am I supposed to do with this many clothes?”
“Wear them?”
You give him a look.
“Then again...” His lips curl into a mischievous smile. “They might look even better on my bedroom floor.”
Before you can respond, the saleswoman speaks.
“Would you like to see our lingerie collection as well?”
“Please,” Valko agrees before you can even open your mouth.
You stare at him.
“If you think I’m putting on a show in lingerie, you are very much mistaken,” you say deadpan.
“But I’m your husband,” he says, giving you an exaggeratedly innocent look.
“You haven’t earned that privilege.”
Not yet.
But he will. One day, he will.
…
“What a lovely couple. Welcome.”
The jeweler greets you both as you enter.
“What brings you here today? A hunt for wedding rings perhaps?”
“Already taken care of.”
Valko proudly holds up his hand, showing his ring.
“Speaking of wedding rings...” Valko glances at your hand. “Why do I notice you rarely wear yours?”
“I don’t wear it at school or work,” you explain. “I can’t risk people noticing and asking questions.”
“Are you ashamed of me?”
“No.”
You sigh.
“If people notice, they’ll ask questions. What am I supposed to say? That my evil stepmother financially blackmailed me into marrying a chairman who insisted on marrying me as part of a business deal for reasons he refuses to explain?”
Silence.
The jeweler awkwardly clears his throat.
“Perhaps I could show you some of our newest arrivals.”
You both follow him towards the display cases.
“Does anything catch your eye?” Valko asks.
You hum thoughtfully.
You’ve never really been someone who wears jewelry.
Then suddenly, a thought comes to mind.
You take out your phone and scroll through your gallery until you find the picture you’re looking for.
“Is there any chance of getting these earrings? The exact ones?”
The jeweler takes your phone carefully.
He puts on his glasses and studies the image.
“Give me a moment, please.”
He disappears into the back.
“What’s so special about those earrings?” Valko asks.
“My father gave them to me for my sixteenth birthday.”
“I don’t have them anymore.”
“Did you lose them?”
“If only.”
Your voice lowers.
“I was in a difficult situation and had to sell them. Along with a lot of other things that had value.”
Valko’s hands tighten into fists.
Something about this doesn’t sit right with him.
The financial situation.
The small apartment.
The job at the cinema despite your father’s company.
And now this.
None of it makes sense.
“I need to make a call,” he says, stepping outside.
The moment he is out of earshot, he pulls out his phone.
“I need you to investigate my wife’s finances. Her father’s death. The company. Her stepfamily.”
“Everything.”
…
When Valko returns, the jeweler comes back from the room behind the counter.
“I’ve identified the earrings, Madam. Unfortunately, we no longer carry them. They were part of an older collection.”
Your expression falls.
“But don’t lose hope. I’ll make some calls. There may still be a chance of finding another pair. If you leave your contact information, I’ll notify you immediately.”
“Thank you.”
You write down your number.
“For now, I’ll take these.”
You point towards another pair.
“Excellent choice.”
As the jeweler prepares them, you stare at Valko.
He notices.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“The reason I chose these earrings is because they reminded me of your eyes.”
If he wasn’t standing in the middle of a store, he was fairly certain he would howl with happiness.
——————————————————————
“Valko?”
You rise from your seat at the kitchen table, surprised to see him home so early.
His eyes move from you to the unfamiliar woman sitting across from you.
About an hour ago, you invited your best friend Tara over to finally explain everything that had happened.
Up until now, you had been avoiding her.
Tara had gone through every possible emotion upon hearing your story.
“This is my best friend, Tara,” you introduce. “Tara, this is Valko. My husband...the one I told you about.”
You glance at him hesitantly.,
“I hope you don’t mind that I invited her over.”
Tara suddenly stands.
“You mean to tell me this is your husband?”
You barely have time to react before she smacks the back of your head.
“Ow!”
“When you told me you were forced into a marriage of convenience, I pictured some old, frail, ninety-year-old man who was halfway into the grave.”
Her eyes travel over Valko.
“Not a literal godlike hunk.”
She turns back to you, looking genuinely offended.
“You have absolutely no right to complain about being married to this.”
She gestures dramatically towards Valko.
“If you don’t want him, I’ll happily take him off your hands.”
Valko lets out a deep laugh.
“Tara, was it?”
“I like you already.”
Then he looks at you, his expression softening.
“But I’m afraid my flower here is the only one for me.”
——————————————————————
“What do you think?”
Valko had asked you to join him in his home office, presenting you with a page showing a luxury wellness retreat.
You narrow your eyes suspiciously.
“Let me guess. Since I refused to put on lingerie, you’re trying a different approach?”
“Are you trying for what? A bikini? A towel?”
“As much as I would enjoy seeing either of those things...”
He pauses.
“I wouldn't be going with you.”
You raise an eyebrow.
“I thought you and Tara could go together.”
Your suspicion grows.
“Why all of a sudden?”
He leans back.
“I just thought you might enjoy having a girls’ weekend. Or whatever it is you call them.”
Something about this feels suspicious.
Valko is hiding something.
But instead of pushing, you accept the offer.
Besides...
Tara would probably kill you if you turned down a free luxury wellness retreat.
——————————————————————
The weekend wellness retreat with Tara is relaxing and fun.
Yet, despite having a wonderful time, your thoughts keep drifting back to Valko.
The day you left, he had seemed... different.
Almost as if he was forcing himself to keep his distance.
Throughout the entire weekend, he never called. His replies to your messages were brief.
…
“Valko?”
Your voice echoes through the manor as you close the front door behind you.
“I’m home.”
Since he knew what time you were returning, you expected him to be here.
Actually, you expected him to pick you up from the hotel himself.
Instead, his secretary had been waiting.
When you asked about Valko, all you received was a vague response.
“Valko?”
You call again, stepping further inside.
The next thing you know, the world flips.
At impossible speed, you’re lifted off the ground.
A startled yelp escapes you as you’re carried across the room and dropped onto the mattress.
A large figure looms above you.
Amber eyes glow in the dim light.
And on top of his head...
Are those wolf ears?
“You scared me,” you huff.
“Also... what’s with the cosplay?”
You reach up, fingers moving towards one of his ears.
Valko's expression shifts from surprise to pure panic.
“Flower?”
He moves away, retreating to the edge of the bed as if he’s afraid of himself.
You sit up, concern replacing your amusement.
“Are you alright?”
“Why... why are you here?”
His voice is deeper than usual.
“What day is it?”
You frown.
“Monday. The weekend is over.”
Valko covers his face with both hands.
That’s when you notice the sharp claws extending from his fingertips.
The room is nearly dark, the curtains drawn shut, so you reach over and turn on the bedside lamp.
And finally, you see him properly.
The wolf ears.
The claws.
The sharper teeth.
The large, fluffy tail behind him.
“You weren’t supposed to see me like this.”
He slowly lowers his hands.
“I guess... it’s time I tell you the truth.”
…
“So let me get this straight.”
You stare at him.
“You’re telling me you’re a werewolf.”
“And I’m your mate, which basically means I’m your "destined partner".”
“And the reason you look like this is because I triggered your... heat.”
“Which, if I understand correctly, is basically your version of being extremely horny?”
Your eyes briefly flick down before quickly returning to his face.
Valko clears his throat.
“...Pretty much.”
You stare at him.
“I sensed something was wrong with you, but I have to admit... this was not what I expected.”
Your brow furrows.
“You’re uncomfortable, aren’t you?”
“It’s not exactly pleasant.”
“But how can you tell?”
“I don’t know.”
“For the past few days I’ve been feeling things. Emotions that don’t feel like mine.”
Valko’s expression softens.
“That’s the mating bond.”
“The bond lets mates sense each other’s emotions.”
You tilt your head.
“How does that work exactly?”
You pat the top of your head jokingly, as if checking whether a pair of ears have somehow appeared without your knowledge.
Because last time I checked, I wasn’t growing fur.”
“The stronger the connection between mates, the stronger the bond becomes.”
“I think, in your own way, you accepted me before you even knew the truth.”
You’re quiet for a moment.
“What can I do to help?”
“Let me hold you.”
The request is almost vulnerable.
You open your arms.
That’s all the permission he needs.
Valko buries his face against your shoulder and takes a deep breath.
“You smell like orchids.”
“So thattt’s why you call me flower.”
“I’m late to ask this, but... can I mark you?”
“Please tell me that doesn’t mean you want to pee on me.”
“That’s a weird kink.”
“I don’t have any kinks.”
You scratch behind one of his ears.
His tail immediately starts wagging.
You grin.
“Although... I may be developing a thing for werewolves.”
A low growl rumbles from his chest.
“Please don’t tease me.”
“It is taking all my willpower not to jump you right now.”
Most people would probably be terrified in this situation.
Panic
Run.
You’re confused, yes.
You have a thousand questions.
But those can wait.
…
Valko wakes to sunlight slipping through a gap in the curtains.
His wolf-like features are gone.
He feels like himself again.
Slowly, he looks down.
You’re still there.
Sleeping peacefully beside him.
You didn’t run.
You stayed.
He gently pulls you closer, careful not to wake you.
His beautiful mate.
He silently vows that he will spend every day making sure you never regret choosing him.
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No because what the actual fuck was that decision?
You mean to tell me months—if not YEARS—of development.
…and your solution was to throw the ENTIRE SIXTH LOVE INTEREST into the trash?
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
I'm not saying people shouldn't have been angry about the 731 reference. They absolutely had every right to be. Unit 731 is one of the darkest chapters in history and if that reference was made carelessly, then yes, people deserved an apology and an explanation.
But explain to me how Valko became the sacrificial lamb here.
Who exactly does this help?
The people who were hurt by the reference? They still deserve accountability.
The people who were excited for Valko? Congratulations, you just told them to go fuck themselves.
The developers who spent who knows how long creating an entirely new LI? Their work gets deleted overnight.
So what was the goal here?
Because this doesn't feel like taking responsibility. It feels like corporate damage control.
Fix the story.
Rewrite the chapter.
Delete the offending reference.
Delay the release.
Fire whoever thought using 731 and 611 was acceptable if you have to.
But deleting an ENTIRE CHARACTER because of a mistake in ONE PART OF THE GAME is such an absurd overreaction that I genuinely can't wrap my head around it.
I'm just so unbelievably disappointed. because Infold's response was somehow even worse than the original mistake.
We lost a character.
The developers lost their work.
The fandom lost something people had been excited about.
What an absolute fucking waste.
