My Shifter Regretted Too Late

Ruby poured every last coin into Lucien, a white fox shifter she rescued from being sent to the Red Lantern district. He promised to be her family, and for a while she believed it. Then Stella Quinn entered the picture—a highborn noble with money Lucien craved—and everything curdled. He scratches Ruby deeply enough to leave a permanent scar, refuses to take her to the clinic, and tells her she looks disgusting when she cries.

She doesn't beg after that. She walks into the shifter registry and replaces him. The new contract goes to Blaise, a war-bred werewolf so dangerous no one would claim him. The registry had already stamped him for the fighting pits. Ruby takes one look and sees a creature as unwanted as she is. Back home, she buys grooming supplies—not for Lucien. When he realizes the items aren't meant for him, he tears apart the calendar where she'd marked their bonding ceremony and accuses her of playing games. Only when Blaise arrives at the door does Lucien fall silent. The wolf towers over Ruby, scarred and unsmiling, until he notices her fear, lowers his head, and brings his wolf ears within her reach. "From today on," he says, "I belong to you." Lucien, so used to being wanted, stands frozen in the doorway. The regret hasn't hit him yet—but it will.