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Oops, Wrong Mate: The Commander's Obsession | New Movie 2026
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00:00Because of that perfect compatibility spore, the Werebeast commander had no choice but to marry me.
00:05But right after the wedding, he couldn't have cared less about me.
00:08I was desperate, so I tried to get him into bed every single day.
00:12I was dead set on it.
00:14If we had enough SX, he'd eventually fall for me.
00:17I just knew it.
00:18Today, I was trying to seduce him again when my phone lit up with an urgent alert from the Werebeast
00:23administration.
00:23We found an error in your compatibility score with General Tarrington.
00:27He's not your perfect match.
00:28I froze, totally shocked.
00:32No wonder he was always so cold to me.
00:36Beneath me, Benjamin had no clue about the alert.
00:39He rubbed his dick against my butt.
00:41You gonna wanna or not, I got stuff to take care of.
00:44I scrambled for my clothes, yanking them on as I backed away.
00:48No, go back to work.
00:50His frown got deeper.
00:52You sure about that?
00:54Yeah, I'm sure.
00:56I stammered out.
00:57He stared at me long and hard, but he didn't say what he was thinking.
01:01He just got dressed in his uniform, not a single word, then headed out the door.
01:05The second the door clicked shut, I called the administration.
01:08What the hell is going on here?
01:10I snapped.
01:11We're so sorry, Ms. Penrith.
01:13When we were updating historical data, we found a glitch in your compatibility score with General Tarrington.
01:18He's not your perfect match.
01:20We've been married for two years, and you're just now figuring this out?
01:23We sincerely apologize.
01:25According to the corrected data, you still have an 80% compatibility.
01:29In theory, your marriage shouldn't be affected.
01:31You said in theory.
01:33What about in real life?
01:35The rep hesitated.
01:36In real life, your actual perfect match is someone else.
01:41Who?
01:42We don't know yet.
01:43We lost some data during the system update, and we're doing everything we can to get it back.
01:51I ran a hand through my hair, pacing back and forth across the huge bedroom.
02:00Have you told Benjamin yet?
02:02No, ma'am.
02:03He blocked all our numbers.
02:09Right.
02:10I'd totally forgotten about that.
02:13When Benjamin first found out the administration had matched him with a human,
02:18Benjamin, he was so ticked off, he blocked them on everything.
02:22Don't tell him yet.
02:23Let me figure something out first.
02:25We really appreciate your cooperation, the rep said,
02:29sounding like a weight had been flippeded off their shoulders.
02:33In this world, Warebeats ran the show.
02:38Thanks to their insane physical strength,
02:40they had a total monopoly on all the political and military power.
02:45Benjamin was the top military commander.
02:49Pissing him off was basically digging your own grave.
02:53Humans, on the other hand, were stuck doing basic, crappy jobs.
02:58After I transmuted here,
03:00I'd been slaving away at those dead-end gigs,
03:03all while scrambling to find a way back to my Aminian bird to my original world.
03:08Then one day,
03:09the administration dropped a bombshell.
03:13I was the perfect match for their top general.
03:17I jumped at the chance.
03:21No one his rank had ever married a human before.
03:24He only did it because of that perfect compatibility score.
03:27After the wedding, he buried himself in work and barely ever came home.
03:30I'd wait in the living room until midnight.
03:32The study light stayed on.
03:34His footsteps would walk past the bedroom door and keep going.
03:37I made it my daily mission to hit on him whenever he was around.
03:40I'd sit on his desk while he worked.
03:41I'd leave the bedroom door open.
03:43I'd wear things that should have worked on any man.
03:45Nothing worked.
03:46He hated every single second of it.
03:48His jaw would tighten when I walked in.
03:50His eyes stayed fixed on the paperwork.
03:52Eventually, I resorted to blackmail.
03:54One more step and I'll tell everyone you're impotent.
03:57He stopped.
03:59Jaw tight.
04:01Fists clenched.
04:03Then he walked into the bedroom.
04:05After that, he let me do whatever I wanted.
04:07But he never once looked me in the eye.
04:09His hands stayed fisted at his sides,
04:11like holding himself back.
04:13It didn't matter.
04:14I wasn't after his heart.
04:15Then the administration called.
04:17For a werebeast who couldn't care less about romance,
04:19a compatibility score meant jacksot.
04:21Only a perfect score could make him feel any real affection.
04:24I thought about it for one night.
04:26The next morning, I stopped texting him.
04:28Stopped asking when he'd be home.
04:29A week passed.
04:31Then my phone buzzed.
04:32I had the private doctor swing by to check on you.
04:34I'm not sick.
04:35The butler said you've been zoning out a ton lately.
04:38You stopped buying clothes and bags.
04:40You sure you're feeling okay?
04:41I'm totally fine.
04:43All right.
04:43I put the phone down and went back to my book.
04:46His typing bubble appeared, flashed, disappeared, appeared again.
04:51I'm coming home tomorrow.
04:55I typed up a long reply real quick.
04:58Tomorrow?
04:59You don't gotta rush back.
05:01Seriously.
05:02Everything's good here.
05:04Stay focused on work.
05:06This country needs you right now.
05:07Don't worry about home.
05:09Benjamin didn't hit me back after that.
05:11He was probably touched by how understanding I was being.
05:14I hoped that when he finally found out the truth,
05:17he'd remember how nice I'd been.
05:18Half an hour later,
05:19Benjamin walked right through the front door.
05:21He looked beat,
05:22like he'd dropped everything at work and bolted straight home.
05:26He didn't even take off his unior before pressing the back of his hand to my forehead.
05:30Your temp, breathing, and scent are all normal.
05:33You're not sick.
05:35I already told you.
05:36I'm completely fine.
05:38Then why'd you stop shopping?
05:40Your favorite brand drops new stuff every Monday,
05:42and you usually load up.
05:44Uh, I just wanted to save you some cash.
05:49You don't gotta do that.
05:50Benjamin stared right at me.
05:52I'll make back whatever you spend.
05:55I didn't marry you so you could pinch pennies.
05:58I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth.
06:01We were gonna get a divorce soon.
06:03I stayed quiet.
06:05And then Benjamin suddenly picked me up in his arms
06:09and carried me to the bedroom.
06:13He murmured near my ears,
06:14his breath hot against my neck.
06:15You've been dying to sleep with me in my uniform.
06:18We can do it today.
06:19Just this once.
06:20I felt his hands slide down my waist,
06:22fingers hooking under the hem of my shirt.
06:25The rough fabric of his uniform brushed my bare skin.
06:28His lips trailed down to my colophon.
06:31His canine teeth scratched lightly,
06:33not quite breaking skin just enough to make me shiver.
06:36He pulled me closer,
06:37pressing me against the cold metal buttons of his chest.
06:40His hips pinned me against the bed frame.
06:42No, it's fine!
06:44I scrambled out of his grip.
06:45I pressed my back against the wall,
06:47putting distance between us.
06:48His eyes had started to narrow into those vertical slits,
06:52the ones that meant his instincts were waking up.
06:54You must be beat from work.
06:56I'd be a total jerk to wear you out
06:57the second you walk in the door.
06:59You need to rest.
07:00You hungry?
07:01I can cook for you today.
07:04I hightailed it out of there,
07:06booking it to the safety of the kitchen.
07:07Right before I shut the door,
07:08I glanced back and saw Benjamin still standing there.
07:11His arms were frozen in the exact same spot
07:13as when he was holding me,
07:14and he looked totally confused.
07:17A few minutes later,
07:19he wandered into the kitchen.
07:21Something came up last minute.
07:22I gotta head back and handle it.
07:24Okay, go on then.
07:26I'll be right back as soon as I'm done.
07:28No rush.
07:29Just focus on your work.
07:31You barely ever cook for us.
07:33I really want to eat this meal.
07:35I looked at him,
07:36and a thought popped into my head.
07:38I can just bring the food to you when it's ready.
07:41It's way too tiring for you to keep running back and forth.
07:43That works.
07:44His quick yes totally caught me off guard.
07:46Maybe it's because I'm human,
07:47but he never liked it when I went to military headquarters before.
07:51I'd only offered to bring the food as an excuse to avoid him.
07:53I never thought he'd actually say yes.
07:55He was acting super weird today.
07:58As soon as he left the house,
08:00I called our private chef to come take over the cooking.
08:02Once the food was ready,
08:03I took my sweet time walking over to headquarters.
08:05The building was huge and scary,
08:07just like Benjamin, the werewolf himself.
08:09The whole place felt totally overwhelming.
08:12I stood at the closest intersection and called him.
08:14I'm waiting at the usual spot.
08:16Have your lieutenant come pick up the food.
08:18Just come inside.
08:19His deep voice rumbered over the phone.
08:22I'll tell the guards to let you through.
08:25I don't think that's a good idea.
08:26This is a top secret military facility.
08:29Civilians aren't allowed in here.
08:30Doesn't matter.
08:31Nobody's going to stop you.
08:34But I've always waited at the intersection before.
08:38Benjamin paused on the other end of the line.
08:40Just come inside.
08:41Maybe I was imagining it.
08:44But his voice sounded a little softer than usual.
08:48I really didn't want to go in though.
08:50We were getting a divorce anyway,
08:52so there was no point in making myself known now.
08:55But Benjamin wasn't the type of guy who takes no for an answer.
08:59I forced myself to keep walking.
09:01I got a ton of weird looks on the way in.
09:05Because werebeasts have a huge physical advantage.
09:07They run the entire military.
09:09Seeing a regular human wandering around the base was pretty damn rare.
09:12One werebeast actually stopped me.
09:15Hey, how'd you get in here?
09:17Did the guards just quit their jobs?
09:19Someone nearby quickly pulled him aside and set him straight.
09:22When the guy realized I was Benjamin's wife,
09:24he checked me out from head to toe.
09:26Her?
09:27The hate in his voice was thick.
09:29You could practically taste it.
09:31To him, Benjamin marrying me was a total embarrassment.
09:34I finally made it to the Supreme Commander's office,
09:36only to hear a loud ruckus coming from inside.
09:39Benjamin!
09:40We agreed we were getting food today.
09:42How the hell did you forget again?
09:44It was at Sierra Martin.
09:46She was a total knockout of a werebeast.
09:47Her shifted form was a nightingale.
09:49She was also his old mentor's daughter.
09:51I didn't find out until after we got married
09:53that if his 100% perfect match never showed up,
09:55Benjamin would have probably ended up with her.
09:57Socially speaking, they were a perfect fit.
09:59Sierra stepped closer,
10:00her hand landing on Benjamin's chest.
10:02She leaned in,
10:03her fingers gripping the fabric of his uniform,
10:05her voice dropping low.
10:06You forgot my birthday dinner.
10:08You owe me, Benjamin.
10:10Big time.
10:11Benjamin caught her wrist.
10:12He was about to push her away when his nose twitched.
10:14His head snapped up.
10:16His eyes locked onto mine across the room.
10:18I was standing in the doorway,
10:20holding the lunchbox.
10:21You made it!
10:22He took a long stride toward me.
10:24I need to clear this up.
10:25It's not what it looks like.
10:28Sorry, I shouldn't have intervupted.
10:30He didn't owe me any explanation.
10:32If anyone was butting in here, it was me.
10:34Did I hear you guys had lunch plans?
10:35Perfect timing.
10:36The chef, uh, I mean,
10:37I made way too much food anyway.
10:39You two should split it so it doesn't go to waste.
10:41I'll let you get back to it,
10:42take all the time you need to catch up.
10:43Oh, and Benjamin,
10:45if you're swamped tonight,
10:46don't sweat coming home.
10:47I won't leave a light on for you.
10:49Benjamin's brow furrowed into a slow, tight prown.
10:52Avoiding his gaze entirely,
10:54I turned and height-tailed it out of there.
10:56Once I was outside,
10:57I shot a text to the Werebeast administration.
10:59Who's Benjamin's actual 100% match?
11:02We still don't know.
11:03The files are being fixed,
11:05but we can confirm he definitely has one.
11:06Came the reply.
11:08Well, I had a pretty good hunch who it was.
11:11Hurry up and fix him.
11:12You guys are painfully slow.
11:14Work around the clock if you have to.
11:15Do I need this done yesterday?
11:17Around the clock?
11:18Never mind.
11:19As a mere human,
11:20I have no right to demand anything of you.
11:22I was just shoving my phone back into my pocket
11:24when it buzzed again.
11:25By the way, Miss Penrith,
11:26if everything goes as planned,
11:28your part of the files will be restored real soon.
11:30Once they are,
11:30I'll shoot you the info on your own 100% match right away.
11:35KK.
11:36What's that supposed to mean?
11:38Don't ask.
11:40That evening,
11:41I was perfectly happy being by myself.
11:43But, surprise, surprise,
11:45Benjamin actually came home.
11:47I wasn't kidding about not leaving a light on.
11:49The living room was pitch black.
11:50He didn't even bother hitting the switch.
11:52His tall figure just loomed in the dark,
11:54right in front of me.
11:55I rubbed my eyes and awed.
11:58What are you doing home?
11:59This is my house.
12:01You're gonna tell me I can't come home?
12:03That's not what I meant.
12:07Tabatha.
12:09Yeah?
12:10There's absolutely nothing going on between Sierra and me.
12:14We never got together,
12:15not even in the past.
12:17I know people say we were supposed to get married,
12:19but that's total BS.
12:20I only see her as a fellow soldier.
12:22We planned to eat today because it's her birthday.
12:24She invited me to a dinner party a while back,
12:27and I said yes because I figured
12:28there'd be tons of other people there.
12:29But I totally forgot about it today.
12:31That's why she came looking for me.
12:32Benjamin was talking a mile a minute,
12:34spilting everything at once.
12:35A total 180 from his usual quiet self.
12:37Waved a hand dismissively in the dark.
12:39It really doesn't matter.
12:41You forgot her invite.
12:43Did you at least apologize properly?
12:45I don't know much about female werebeasts,
12:48but girls are pretty much all the same.
12:50Just comfort her a little,
12:52and she'll be good.
12:53Are you like that too?
12:54He asked out of the blue.
12:55In the dark,
12:56Benjaminian's eyes glowed a faint green.
12:58A dead giveaway his werewolf instincts
13:00were locked right onto me.
13:02Me?
13:02You don't need to coddle me.
13:04I'm totally fine.
13:06And I meant that for real.
13:09Without warning,
13:10Benjamin bent down and crashed his lips against mine.
13:12He was being weirdly forward,
13:14almost aggressive.
13:15He hadn't even taken off that dark uniform I loved so much,
13:18and its cold metal buttons scraped my skin,
13:20sending a shiver down my spine.
13:22In the quiet of the room,
13:23the sharp click of his belt buckle unfassing echoed.
13:26I forced myself to stay calm
13:27and stopped him before things got out of hand.
13:29Wait, put one on first.
13:31Put what on?
13:35A condom.
13:37Benjamin froze.
13:39When'd you get these?
13:42Today.
13:43I didn't dare tell him the truth.
13:45When he could come home at noon
13:46and suddenly wanted to sleep with me,
13:48I'd worried he might actually go through with it.
13:50So I'd rushed out that afternoon and bought a box.
13:53Why'd you buy these?
13:54I thought you always wanted a baby.
13:56Well, I realized I'm still young.
13:59Let's hold off on kids for a bit.
14:01I used to think I could lock down my spot by having his kid.
14:04I was willing to do whatever it took
14:05to find clues on how to get back home.
14:07But clearly, that plan was out the window now.
14:10My main goal was to keep my distance from Benjamin.
14:13So when he finally found out the truth,
14:15I wouldn't be the one taking the brunt of his anger.
14:20I pulled out a condom and reached over to put it on him.
14:23But Benjamin didn't move an inch.
14:26You've been acting really weird lately.
14:28He said.
14:30Nah, I haven't.
14:31You have.
14:32Benjamin's voice was firm.
14:34You used to be so into this.
14:35But today, no matter how much I kiss you,
14:38you're giving me nothing back.
14:40You used to call me honey or sweetie all the time.
14:43You'd even interrupt my work just to say
14:46you wanted to check out my chest.
14:47Now?
14:49You only call me by my first name.
14:52What the hell is going on with you?
14:54Since he was already asking,
14:56I figured it was better to just rip the band-aid off
14:58instead of dragging it out.
14:59I mustered up all my courage and said,
15:02Benjamin, I want a divorce.
15:05Benjamin stared at me, stunned.
15:07He sat completely still for a long time
15:09before finally asking.
15:10Why?
15:11Maybe we just aren't a good match.
15:13Our backgrounds, our social status,
15:15our identities, none of it aligns.
15:17The compatibility scores say we are.
15:20But compatibility scores aren't the whole story.
15:23They're just numbers.
15:25And we're real people.
15:27We can't just settle for a miserable marriage
15:29over a statistic.
15:30Settle?
15:32I nodded cautiously.
15:34Given everything Benjamin had put up with in this marriage,
15:36wasn't he just settling too?
15:38So that's what you think?
15:39The glow in his eyes died instantly.
15:41The wolf ears that had perked up earlier from his arousal
15:43now drooped flat against his head.
15:45I need a minute.
15:45Benjamin stood and pulled his clothes back on.
15:48He walked out of the bedroom and stepped onto the balcony.
15:51Outside, the moonlight was bright enough
15:53to wash out most of the stars.
15:54He'd forgotten to hide his tail,
15:56and it hung limply behind him.
15:58I had a puppy when I was a kid.
16:00When it was happy,
16:01its tail would stand straight up and wag.
16:03When it was upset,
16:04it would droop exactly like that.
16:06Benjamin was upset.
16:08Maybe I'd sprung the divorce on him too fast,
16:10and he just wasn't ready for it.
16:12As the supreme commander of the military,
16:14maintaining a flawless marriage on paper
16:15was crucial for his public image.
16:17A sudden divorce from a highly compatible wife
16:19meant he'd be facing immediate backlash from all sides.
16:23When Benjamin finally calmed down,
16:25he came back inside.
16:28Are you absolutely sure you want a divorce?
16:30Yes, but there's no rush.
16:32I can work around whatever schedule works best for you.
16:34We will need to wait.
16:36He slipped right back into his usual rational, serious self.
16:40My father's birthday is in a few days.
16:42I need you to come to the family dinner with me
16:44so he doesn't worry.
16:46We can hash out the divorce details after.
16:49That's not a problem.
16:50I can definitely do that.
16:51He didn't look angry at all.
16:53That was great.
16:54A massive wave of relief washed over me.
16:57Just as I was congratulating myself
16:58for handling the situation so smoothly,
17:01Benjamin spoke up,
17:02his voice barely above a whisper.
17:04So was everything you told me before just a lie?
17:08What?
17:09I hadn't quite caught it.
17:11Never mind.
17:12Go to sleep.
17:13Good night.
17:13Benjamin turned away
17:14and walked out of the bedroom.
17:17Shortly after,
17:18the Werebeast administration
17:19sent over the profile for my new match.
17:21Like me,
17:22he was human.
17:23His name was Emmanuel Lawton.
17:25He was a brilliant young scientist,
17:27built almost as big and tall as Benjamin.
17:30In a world run by Werebeasts,
17:32his sheer intelligence
17:33had bought him serious wealth
17:34and social standing.
17:36There was a phone number
17:37at the bottom of his file.
17:38That meant he already knew who I was.
17:41A match only handed out their contact effos
17:43if they actually wanted to connect.
17:45I didn't reach out to Emmanuel, though.
17:47I was still Benjamin's wife
17:49and I didn't want to stir up
17:50any unnecessary complications.
17:53Besides,
17:53I'd be leaving this world eventually anyway.
17:56There was no point
17:57in starting another doomed relationship.
17:59That weekend,
18:00Benjamin picked me up
18:01for the family banquet,
18:02just like he promised.
18:03I need a favor today.
18:04We need to pretend
18:05we're happily married.
18:06He said on the drive over.
18:08Don't worry.
18:09I told him.
18:11I'll act like I'm
18:11completely devoted to you.
18:13One more thing.
18:14He added,
18:16My older brother
18:16is coming home today.
18:19You have a brother?
18:21You never mentioned him.
18:22Half-brother.
18:23He's my mom's kid
18:24from her first marriage
18:25before she met my dad.
18:28He's human.
18:29I stared at him.
18:33Human?
18:36Yeah.
18:37My mom is human.
18:38Strictly speaking,
18:39I'm a half-werebeast.
18:40The werebeast world
18:41was obsessed with bloodlines.
18:43To them,
18:43being a half-werebeast
18:44was even worse
18:45than being human.
18:46I'd heard rumors
18:47about Benjamin's heritage before,
18:49but his blunted mission
18:50still threw me.
18:51I couldn't imagine
18:52the kind of pressure
18:52and pain a half-werebeast
18:54had to push through
18:54to reach his level of power.
18:56Yet he seemed
18:57totally unfazed by it.
18:58We pulled up
18:59to the Tarrington's mansion.
19:01Benjamin's father
19:01used to be a massive deal
19:02in the werebeast world,
19:03and his birthday banquet
19:05was crawling with the elite.
19:06I looped my arm
19:07through Benjamin's,
19:08ignoring the stares
19:09from the other guests.
19:12A guy who looked like
19:13an old friend
19:14walked up to us.
19:15Benjamin,
19:16is this your 100% match?
19:18What does a perfect match
19:19actually feel like?
19:20Come on, tell us.
19:21Yeah.
19:22A few other friends
19:23chemmed in,
19:24crowding around.
19:25A 100% match
19:26is insanely rare.
19:28My wife and I
19:28are at 70%,
19:29and that's already
19:30considered huge.
19:31No kidding.
19:32When I scored
19:32a 68% match,
19:34my mom was over the moon.
19:35Benjamin smiled.
19:36Then I'd better
19:37keep it to myself.
19:38Wouldn't want you guys
19:38getting jealous.
19:40Oh, come on.
19:41We're not like that.
19:43Still,
19:44I seriously envy you two.
19:46I've heard perfect matches
19:48get these distinct
19:49physical reactions
19:50when they first meet.
19:52Right.
19:53They say you feel
19:54this sudden jolt
19:55in your chest
19:56and your vision sharpens.
19:58Like you instantly
19:59recognize each other
20:00without even needing
20:01to see the test results.
20:03Was that true?
20:04That was the first time
20:05I was hearing about it.
20:07Looking back
20:08at when I first met Benjamin,
20:09neither of us went through
20:10those physical changes.
20:12If Benjamin hadn't
20:13felt them either,
20:14did that mean
20:15he already knew
20:15our data was wrong?
20:17I shot a quick glance
20:18up at him
20:18only to find his expression
20:19completely calm.
20:21He didn't look
20:22the least bit surprised.
20:25Actually,
20:26there's more to it
20:26than that.
20:27He said steadily.
20:29There's also
20:30an intense urge
20:31to possess
20:32the other person
20:34or to be possessed
20:35by them.
20:36The conversation
20:37slammed to a halt.
20:39Benjamin looked down,
20:40locking eyes with me.
20:42His friends
20:42started teasing him,
20:44shocked that he could
20:44say something so intense.
20:46They had no idea
20:47I was breaking out
20:48in a cold sweat
20:48from pure panic.
20:49Why was he looking
20:50at me like that?
20:51Had he realized
20:52the data was fake?
20:53What was going
20:54through his head
20:54right now?
20:55Was he planning
20:55to violently destroy
20:57the incompetent
20:57werebeast administration?
20:59I just hoped
21:00that if he did,
21:00he'd spare me.
21:03Before my anxiety
21:04could spiral any further,
21:06the banquet
21:07officially began.
21:11Benjamin's father,
21:12Matthias Tarrington,
21:13took the stage.
21:14I gathered everyone
21:16here today
21:16for a very important reason.
21:18Matthias said,
21:19his tone dead serious.
21:21My late wife
21:22died far too young.
21:24She had a son
21:25before we married,
21:26and when she passed,
21:28the boy was left orphaned.
21:30I brought him
21:30into our home
21:31to raise alongside
21:32Benjamin.
21:34Over the years,
21:35we've grown as close
21:37as father and son.
21:40Today,
21:41I'm officially
21:42welcoming him
21:42as a full member
21:43of the Taraston family.
21:45The room went
21:46completely silent.
21:47Matthias' bold choices
21:49in his youth
21:49were still legendary
21:50in the werebeast community.
21:52Born into a wealthy,
21:53powerful alpha wolf
21:55bloodline,
21:55he had chosen
21:56to marry a human widow
21:57who already had a kid.
21:59Ignoring everyone's
22:00pushback,
22:01Matthias had brought
22:02her into his home.
22:03Now,
22:04he was formally
22:05adopting the child
22:06she'd had
22:07with her previous husband.
22:08People genuinely wondered
22:09if he'd lost his mind.
22:11The question was written
22:12on every face
22:13in the crowd.
22:15Only Benjamin
22:16looked unfazed,
22:17like he'd known
22:18about the decision
22:19all along.
22:20Does this bother you?
22:22I leaned in
22:22and whispered,
22:23Why would it?
22:24He's human,
22:26and he's about
22:26to be your older brother.
22:28My mom was human,
22:30and so are you.
22:31His blunt,
22:32honest answer
22:33caught me off guard.
22:34Just like he had
22:35years ago,
22:36Matthias completely
22:37ignored the crowd's
22:39silent judgment.
22:40Come on up,
22:40Emanuel.
22:41He called out.
22:42Introduce yourself
22:43to everyone.
22:45Hearing that name
22:45hit me so hard,
22:46my mind just went
22:47blank for a second.
22:48The whole energy
22:50of the room
22:50suddenly shifted.
22:53I slowly looked up
22:55and saw him.
22:57At Emanuel Lawton.
22:59My actual,
23:01100% biological match.
23:05Emanuel looked
23:06right at me
23:06from across
23:07the crowded room.
23:08When our eyes met,
23:10a sharp,
23:11sudden tension
23:11gripped my chest.
23:12I felt an overwhelming
23:14biological urge
23:15to mate with him
23:15right then and there.
23:17But the feeling
23:18only lasted a second.
23:20Because I was human.
23:21I wasn't some
23:22werebeast
23:23driven entirely
23:24by reproductive instinct.
23:26The upside
23:27of being human
23:27was having the self-control
23:28to override
23:29those intense
23:30physical urges.
23:31Emanuel noticed
23:32my arm linked
23:32through Benjamin's,
23:33but his expression
23:34didn't so much
23:35as flicker.
23:35Just like me,
23:36he knew exactly
23:37how to mask
23:37his reactions.
23:38Matthias led
23:39Emanuel around the room,
23:40introducing him
23:41to the guests,
23:41and before long,
23:42they made their way
23:43over to us.
23:44Emanuel greeted
23:45Benjamin first.
23:46It's been three years.
23:48You look taller.
23:50Are you 190 centimeters now?
23:53Almost.
23:55189 centimeters.
23:56Benjamin replied,
23:58You spent the last
23:59three years
24:00totally buried
24:01in your academic research
24:02without coming home once.
24:07I'm here now,
24:08aren't I?
24:09Emanuel shifted
24:10his gaze right to me.
24:13And who is this?
24:16This is Tabitha,
24:17my wife.
24:18Benjamin said,
24:19I invited you
24:21to the wedding,
24:22but you were too busy
24:24to make it.
24:25That's on me.
24:27I'll have a few
24:28extra drinks tonight
24:29to make up for it.
24:32All right.
24:33Since you offered,
24:34I'll make sure
24:34we drink plenty.
24:36Benjamin agreed.
24:39Tabitha won't mind,
24:40will she?
24:41Emanuel watched me closely,
24:43the underlying implication
24:44heavy in his voice.
24:45I waved a hand,
24:46quickly brushing it off.
24:48Go ahead.
24:49You don't need
24:49to worry about me.
24:52As the night wore on
24:53and the drinks kept flowing,
24:55the alcohol seemed
24:55to amplify his natural scent,
24:57making me intensely,
24:58physically aware of him.
24:59I excused myself
25:00to the restroom
25:01so I could slip outside
25:02for some fresh air.
25:03Breathing in the
25:04cool night breathe
25:04finally helped clear my head.
25:06I sat quietly for a minute
25:07until I heard a voice
25:08behind me.
25:09Tabitha,
25:10can I call you that?
25:11It was Emanuel.
25:12He kept a polite distance
25:13standing about
25:14three meters away.
25:15I always wondered
25:15why my perfect match
25:16never reached out.
25:18Seeing you today,
25:19I finally get it.
25:20I offered an awkward smile.
25:21The Werebeast administration
25:23messed up my data.
25:24I honestly thought
25:24Benjamin was my
25:25hundred percent match.
25:26I get it.
25:27It wouldn't be the first time
25:28they've screwed up.
25:30Benjamin still doesn't know.
25:32Please don't tell him yet.
25:34He doesn't know?
25:36Emanuel raised his eyebrows
25:37in surprise.
25:38I had to admit,
25:40if I were still
25:40in my original world,
25:41Emanuel would be
25:42my exact type.
25:43Tall,
25:44lean,
25:44and handsome,
25:45with a sharp mind.
25:46He checked every single
25:47one of my boxes.
25:48The Werebeast administration
25:49is still struggling
25:50to figure out
25:51how to notify him.
25:52They're incredibly inefficient.
25:53You can totally tell
25:54they've never worked
25:55in a fast-paced
25:56corporate environment.
25:57I ran a tech startup
25:58back home.
25:59This kind of slack
26:00would have sunk us
26:01in a month.
26:03Seriously,
26:04if I were their boss,
26:05I'd put them
26:05on permanent crunch mode.
26:06They're so bad,
26:07they'd still miss
26:07every deadline,
26:08even pulling all nights.
26:10Wait a second.
26:11I shot to my feet.
26:13At the exact same moment,
26:15Emanuel realized
26:15what we were saying
26:16and looked at me,
26:17his eyes wide.
26:18You're from another world, too?
26:20We blurted out in Eunice,
26:21instantly confirming
26:22that we were both
26:23trans-huggers.
26:24What is happening?
26:25Is this real?
26:26Am I dreaming?
26:27When did you get here?
26:29Five years ago.
26:30You?
26:32A little before that.
26:34I was born into this world.
26:36Dude,
26:37that's not a little before.
26:37That's way before.
26:39Emanuel's shoulders dropped
26:40as he visibly
26:41let his guard down.
26:42You should have told me
26:43we were from the same place.
26:45How are you holding up here?
26:46Ugh,
26:47I hate this were-beast world.
26:49I just want to go home.
26:51You'll be able to soon.
26:53Wait,
26:54what?
26:55The whole reason
26:56I became a scientist
26:57was to find a way back home.
26:58I've made a ton of progress.
27:00If nothing goes wrong,
27:01we can go back really soon.
27:03Holy crap!
27:04Man,
27:05you're incredibly capable.
27:07Seriously,
27:07that's amazing!
27:08Amazing!
27:09The science part
27:10is easy enough for me.
27:12Emanuel flashed
27:13a popular internet hand gesture
27:15from back home,
27:16and a massive wave
27:17of familiarity
27:18washed over me.
27:19After all,
27:20before I ended up here,
27:22I was the youngest person
27:23to ever get published
27:24in a top-tealer academic journal.
27:26Wait!
27:27That was you?
27:29I think I read
27:30the articles about you!
27:32I remembered reading
27:33about a young,
27:34high-achieving prodigy.
27:36Whenever he was in the news,
27:38people mostly just focused
27:40on his ridiculously good looks.
27:42I'd even forwarded
27:44the article
27:44to my best friend,
27:46joking that he was
27:47exactly my type.
27:49Now,
27:50that same wildly successful guy
27:52from the news
27:53was sitting right in front of me,
27:55hashing out our plan
27:57to go home.
27:58The more we talked,
28:00the more hyped we got.
28:04Neither of us
28:05even noticed
28:06someone walking up
28:07behind us.
28:08Tabby,
28:10so this is where you are.
28:11Benjamin stepped out
28:13from the shadows
28:14of the room.
28:14His earlier gentleness
28:16was completely gone,
28:18replaced by a freezing glare
28:20locked on Emanuel.
28:22He stared him down
28:23with intense hostility,
28:25sizing him up
28:26like a threat.
28:27Emanuel didn't flinch.
28:29Tabitha and I
28:30are both human.
28:31We just got talking
28:32and lost track of time.
28:33Dad is still waiting
28:34for you out front.
28:35You should go find him.
28:36Benjamin said,
28:37Right.
28:38Emanuel smiled
28:39and walked past me,
28:40his shoulder brushing mine.
28:41By the way, Tabitha,
28:43you're welcome
28:44to drop by my lab anytime.
28:45The second he was gone,
28:47Benjamin threw an arm
28:47around my shoulder.
28:49His hand clamped down
28:50on the exact spot
28:50Emanuel had just brushed,
28:52asserting his physical presence
28:53to overwrite
28:54the other guy's touch.
28:55What were you two
28:55talking about just now?
28:57You seem pretty happy.
29:00We were just talking
29:01about his work.
29:02This was the first time
29:03I'd ever felt
29:04terrifying were-beast aura
29:05radiating off Benjamin.
29:07Are you going to visit
29:08his lab?
29:09We'll see.
29:11I clenched my jaw,
29:13doing my best
29:13to play it cool.
29:14This was the first time
29:15I'd ever felt
29:16that terrifying were-beast aura
29:18radiating off Benjamin.
29:19He was obviously
29:20still in his human form,
29:21but his intense stare
29:23made me feel
29:23completely exposed
29:25and physically threatened.
29:26Like he wanted to claim
29:27absolute ownership over me.
29:29The possessiveness
29:30was suffocating.
29:31I knew it wasn't
29:32out of love though.
29:33It was just the
29:34territorial instinct
29:35of a male beast.
29:37I had to go
29:37to Emanuel's lab.
29:39I wanted to see
29:40the machine
29:40that could take us
29:41back home.
29:42Today,
29:42I slipped out of the house
29:43the second Benjamin
29:44left for work.
29:46Emanuel showed me
29:47his research data
29:48and it gave me
29:49so much hope.
29:50The hours
29:51completely flew by
29:53in his lab.
29:54It wasn't until
29:55later that evening
29:56when I checked my phone
29:57that I realized
29:57I had dozens
29:58of missed calls
29:59and texts
30:00from Benjamin.
30:01Is Benjamin looking for you?
30:03Yeah.
30:03Didn't you say
30:04he wasn't really
30:04all that affectionate
30:05with you?
30:05Who knows
30:06what his deal is lately?
30:07I sighed.
30:08Maybe his possessive
30:09male instincts
30:09are just acting up.
30:10Emanuel hit the lab lights
30:12and we headed out together.
30:14Benjamin was waiting
30:15for us right
30:16at the bottom
30:16of the stairs.
30:17He must have been
30:18standing there a while.
30:19His eyes were
30:20noticeably red.
30:21The guards told me
30:22you were here.
30:23He said,
30:25I didn't believe them
30:27but here you are.
30:29Sorry,
30:30I said.
30:31Pray,
30:31I haven't been
30:31checking my phone.
30:33Benjamin's gaze
30:34shifted to Emanuel.
30:35He looked like
30:36he wanted to say
30:37something
30:38but bit his tongue.
30:40Instead,
30:40he held his hand
30:42out to me.
30:43Are you done?
30:46Can we go home now?
30:49I walked over to him
30:50without a word.
30:51My mind still stuck
30:52on the experiment
30:53I just watched.
30:55Emanuel chimed in.
30:57Too bad I can't
30:57take you home today,
30:58Tabitha.
31:00Come back tomorrow
31:02and I'll show you
31:03something else interesting.
31:04Benjamin tensed
31:05instantly,
31:06yanking me tight
31:07against his chest.
31:09She isn't coming
31:10back tomorrow.
31:11I wouldn't be so sure
31:13about that.
31:15Meeting Benjamin's
31:16death glare,
31:17Emanuel just smirked.
31:20You know,
31:21Benjamin,
31:22you sent me an invitation
31:24to your house
31:26a while back.
31:28Why don't I come over
31:30today?
31:31Now isn't a good time.
31:34That's a shame.
31:36I really wanted to see
31:37where Tabiantha
31:39and you live.
31:41Don't you have
31:42your own house?
31:43Benjamin snapped.
31:45Why do you need
31:45to see ours?
31:47Actually, I don't.
31:48Did you forget?
31:51My parents are dead.
31:52Emanuel shot me a wink,
31:54faking a hurt expression.
31:55I didn't expect him
31:56to bring up
31:56such a painful subject.
31:58Tabby,
31:59does he always
32:00treat you this poorly?
32:02Don't call her Tabby.
32:05The air between them
32:06grew incredibly tense.
32:08Benjamin's pupils
32:09narrowed into
32:10vertical slits
32:11and his fangs
32:13extended.
32:14Relax,
32:15I was just joking.
32:16Emanuel said,
32:19You're so protective
32:21of your wife,
32:22Benjamin.
32:25What would you do
32:26if someone
32:27took her away
32:28from you?
32:29That will never happen.
32:33I love Tabby
32:34very much.
32:35And she
32:37loves me.
32:39Benjamin hesitated.
32:40He couldn't quite
32:41bring himself
32:41to say she loved
32:42him very much.
32:43Emanuel smiled.
32:45I envy you guys.
32:47But, you know,
32:48the Werebeast
32:48administration
32:49reached out recently.
32:51Turns out,
32:52I've got a perfect
32:53match, too.
32:54He stared dead
32:55at me the whole
32:56time he spoke.
32:57It was a blatant
32:58provocation.
33:00Benjamin shifted
33:01his massive frame
33:02to physically block
33:03Emanuel's line
33:04of sight to me.
33:05I have no problem
33:07killing you right
33:08here, Emanuel.
33:10Things were
33:11spiraling fast.
33:13Snapping back
33:14to reality,
33:15I tugged
33:16on Benjamin's
33:17sleeve.
33:18Let's go home.
33:20I finally managed
33:22to drag him
33:22out of there.
33:23Once we were
33:24sealed inside
33:25the car,
33:26Benjamin broke
33:27the silence.
33:29Tabby,
33:30you shouldn't
33:31have been meeting
33:31him behind my back.
33:33Why not?
33:34You're my wife,
33:34and you just
33:35spent the whole
33:36day alone
33:36in a locked
33:37room with
33:37another male?
33:38His heavy
33:39breathing filled
33:39the quiet car.
33:41I could practically
33:42feel the heat
33:42of his anger.
33:43He was highly
33:44distressed,
33:44clearly fighting
33:45off whatever
33:46he was picturing
33:46had happened
33:47in the lab.
33:48But we're
33:48getting a divorce
33:49anyway,
33:50aren't we?
33:50I said,
33:51pointing out
33:51the obvious.
33:52We agreed
33:52to hash it
33:52out after
33:53the family
33:53dinner.
33:56Is that
33:56really what
33:57you want?
33:58A divorce?
33:59He demanded.
34:01Because of
34:02him?
34:02Not because
34:03of him.
34:03I have my
34:03own reasons.
34:05At first,
34:06I'd wanted
34:06a divorce
34:06because our
34:07matching scores
34:08were wrong.
34:08But now,
34:09I just wanted
34:10to go back
34:10to my own place.
34:11Since he didn't
34:11really care about
34:12me,
34:12I figured
34:13I'd give him
34:13his freedom
34:14back before
34:14I left.
34:15Benjamin didn't
34:15say another
34:16word.
34:16I assumed
34:17he was already
34:18mentally drafting
34:18how we were
34:19going to announce
34:19the split.
34:20But the second
34:21we walked
34:21through our
34:22front door,
34:22he grabbed
34:23me and hauled
34:24me straight
34:24into the bathroom.
34:25What are you
34:26doing?
34:26I asked.
34:27You're taking
34:28a shower.
34:29You smell
34:30like another
34:30male,
34:31and you need
34:31to scrub
34:32it off.
34:32We're throwing
34:33these clothes
34:34in the trash.
34:34I can wash
34:35myself.
34:36No.
34:38I don't
34:39trust you
34:39to do it
34:39right.
34:43Benjamin
34:43stubbornly
34:44scrubbed
34:45every part
34:45of my body,
34:46completely
34:47ignoring how
34:47the shower
34:48was soaking
34:49straight through
34:49his own
34:50shirt.
34:50His behavior
34:51was erratic,
34:52and his pupils
34:53had narrowed
34:54right back
34:54into those
34:55vertical slits.
34:56It seemed
34:57his jealousy
34:57had triggered
34:58his mating
34:58cycle prematurely.
35:00When we finally
35:01got out of the
35:01shower,
35:02he grabbed
35:02me a change
35:03of clothes.
35:04I recognized
35:05the outfit
35:05instantly.
35:06It was the
35:07exact one
35:08I'd planned
35:08to wear
35:08to seduce
35:09him.
35:09The day
35:10we found
35:10out about
35:10the error
35:11in our
35:11compatibility
35:12test,
35:13Benjamin
35:13didn't give
35:14me a chance
35:14to argue.
35:15He just
35:16dressed me
35:16in it
35:16himself.
35:17I hadn't
35:18realized how
35:19terrifyingly
35:19intense a
35:20wear beast
35:21could be
35:21when their
35:22heat hit
35:22early.
35:23The outfit
35:24barely had
35:24any fabric
35:25to begin
35:25with,
35:26and after
35:27he tore
35:27it off
35:27me during
35:28sex,
35:29it was
35:29nothing but
35:30scraps.
35:31Thinking we
35:32were finally
35:33done,
35:33I nudged
35:34him away.
35:36Go get
35:36changed.
35:37You're
35:37dripping wet
35:38and it's
35:38uncomfortable.
35:42Benjamin
35:43left to
35:43change,
35:44but came
35:45back in
35:45his fully
35:46buttoned
35:46military
35:46uniform,
35:47right down
35:48to the
35:48leather
35:49thigh straps
35:49for his
35:50holster.
35:51Completely
35:51dressed and
35:52totally
35:52expressionless,
35:53he pulled
35:54me back
35:54into bed
35:55and kept
35:56going until
35:56I was
35:56completely
35:57exhausted.
35:59You're
36:00hiding
36:00something
36:00from me.
36:01He murmured.
36:02He was
36:03crying.
36:03Tears
36:04dripped
36:04onto my
36:05skin,
36:05and for
36:05the first
36:06time,
36:06I realized
36:07a wolf's
36:08tears could
36:08be searingly
36:09hot.
36:10You looked
36:10so happy
36:11talking to
36:12him.
36:16Are you
36:16going to be
36:17with him
36:17after we
36:18divorce?
36:20And even
36:21if it
36:21isn't him,
36:22there'll be
36:22other guys,
36:23won't there?
36:24Let's just
36:24stay married.
36:29Please.
36:31The night
36:32only ended
36:32when I
36:33finally passed
36:34out from
36:34pure exhaustion.
36:35When I
36:36woke up
36:37the next
36:37morning,
36:38Benjamin
36:39was still
36:39there.
36:40He seemed
36:41a lot
36:41calmer
36:42than the
36:42night
36:42before.
36:43He dropped
36:44to one
36:44knee,
36:45helping me
36:45pull on
36:46my socks
36:47while I
36:47rubbed
36:47my
36:48aching
36:48lower
36:48back.
36:49The
36:50silence
36:50between
36:50us
36:51was
36:51awkward,
36:52especially
36:52since I
36:53genuinely
36:54enjoyed
36:54the sex
36:55too.
36:55I was
36:56just
36:56about
36:57to
36:57say
36:57something.
36:58When
36:59his
36:59phone
36:59rang,
37:00it was
37:01his
37:01adjutant.
37:02General
37:02Tarrington,
37:03we have
37:03a situation.
37:04Keep it
37:04under
37:04control,
37:05I'm
37:05on my
37:05way
37:05back.
37:06No,
37:07sir,
37:08it's
37:08not
37:08the
37:08military.
37:09It's
37:10your
37:11compelitability
37:12results.
37:15Benjamin
37:15left
37:16for the
37:16Werebeast
37:17administration.
37:18Hours
37:18passed.
37:19I waited
37:19at home
37:20my mind
37:20racing.
37:20When he
37:21finally walked
37:21back through
37:22the door,
37:22he was
37:23holding to
37:23pages.
37:24His grip
37:25was white
37:25knuckled on
37:26the paper.
37:27He sat
37:27down across
37:28from me
37:28and told
37:29me everything.
37:30The entire
37:31administration
37:31building had
37:32been cleared
37:33out.
37:33The staff
37:34stood in a
37:35neat row,
37:36dead silent
37:36and terrified.
37:38Twenty minutes
37:38before he
37:39arrived,
37:40they'd fully
37:40restored his
37:41data.
37:42Since they
37:42couldn't reach
37:43him directly,
37:43some new
37:44intern had
37:45forwarded the
37:45report straight
37:46to his
37:46adjutant.
37:47The massive
37:48screw-up was
37:49now completely
37:49exposed.
37:50I was still
37:51a 100%
37:52match for
37:53him, but
37:53he was only
37:54an 80%
37:54match for
37:55me.
37:55At the
37:56exact same
37:56time, he
37:57saw my
37:57file, which
37:58clearly listed
37:59my perfect
37:59match.
38:00Emmanuel
38:00Lawton,
38:01Adriel
38:01Gorney,
38:02the elderly
38:03bureau director,
38:04sat trembling
38:05in his
38:05wheelchair.
38:05General
38:06Tarrington,
38:07I take
38:08full responsibility
38:09for this
38:10mistake.
38:11I'll pull
38:12my oxygen
38:13tube right
38:13now to
38:13apologize.
38:15Benjamin
38:15just stared
38:16at him
38:17blankly.
38:17Leave your
38:18oxygen alone.
38:19I only have
38:20one question.
38:22Ask away,
38:23sir.
38:24Where exactly
38:25am I losing
38:26that 20%?
38:29Everyone
38:29expected him
38:30to start
38:30yelling.
38:31No one
38:32saw a
38:32question like
38:33that coming.
38:34Adriel
38:34hesitated,
38:35looking
38:35incredibly
38:36uncomfortable.
38:37Do I
38:38really have
38:38to say
38:38it?
38:39It
38:40involves
38:40highly
38:41personal
38:41details.
38:43Tell me.
38:44According
38:44to our
38:45comprehensive
38:46analysis,
38:50your
38:50physical
38:51conditioning
38:52is simply
38:52too extreme
38:53for Mrs.
38:54Penrith.
38:55Benjamin
38:55frowned.
38:56What does
38:57that mean?
38:58It means
38:59that if
39:00you completely
39:00let go
39:01during sex,
39:02she physically
39:03cannot handle
39:04your size
39:05or your
39:05stamina.
39:06You've been
39:07married for
39:08two years,
39:09haven't you
39:09noticed?
39:10Benjamin fell
39:11silent.
39:12Last night,
39:13completely consumed
39:15by jealousy,
39:16he'd lost his
39:16restraint in bed
39:17for the very
39:18first time.
39:19The night had
39:20ended with my
39:20eyes slipping
39:21shut.
39:22He assumed
39:22I'd just
39:23passed out
39:23from exhaustion,
39:24but the truth
39:25was,
39:25I'd completely
39:26blacked out.
39:27What else?
39:29He'd asked,
39:30that pretty
39:31much covers
39:32it.
39:32It falls
39:33short on
39:33just this
39:34one metric,
39:36which is
39:36why the
39:37system put
39:37the match
39:37at 80%.
39:38Benjamin
39:39had tossed
39:39Emmanuel's
39:40file back
39:40onto the
39:41desk.
39:41So how
39:41does he
39:41score a
39:42perfect
39:42100%
39:43aside from
39:44that one
39:44missing
39:44detail?
39:45Adriel
39:46stared at
39:46the paperwork
39:46for a
39:47long time,
39:48furrowing
39:48his brow.
39:49I've never
39:49seen a
39:50result like
39:50this.
39:51It looks
39:51like he
39:52and Miss
39:52Penrith share
39:53a remarkably
39:54similar
39:55genetic
39:55sequence.
39:56They come
39:57from the
39:57exact same
39:58biological
39:58group,
39:59which is
40:00why they
40:00trigger a
40:00complete
40:01match.
40:02Are they
40:02related?
40:03No,
40:03no,
40:03you're
40:03misreading
40:04the data.
40:05They just
40:05share the
40:06same
40:06geographic
40:07origin.
40:07Benjamin
40:08told me
40:08he'd
40:08turn to
40:09look at
40:09me then.
40:10My
40:10mind
40:10had
40:11raced,
40:11trying
40:12to
40:12come
40:12up
40:12with
40:12a
40:12lie,
40:13just
40:13in
40:13case
40:14he
40:14asked
40:14if
40:14Emmanuel
40:15and
40:15I
40:15shared
40:15a
40:15homeland.
40:16But
40:17he
40:17didn't
40:17ask.
40:18He
40:18just
40:19lowered
40:19his
40:19gaze,
40:20looking
40:21like
40:21he
40:21had
40:21already
40:22figured
40:22out
40:22the
40:22truth
40:23I
40:23was
40:23hiding.
40:25When
40:26we
40:26got
40:26home,
40:27Benjamin
40:27sat
40:27out
40:28on
40:28the
40:28balcony
40:28in
40:29gloomy
40:29silence.
40:30Is
40:30this
40:31why
40:31you
40:31brought
40:31up
40:31getting
40:31a
40:32divorce?
40:32He
40:32asked.
40:33Because
40:33you
40:33found
40:33a
40:33human
40:34with
40:34a
40:34higher
40:34compatibility
40:35score?
40:36I
40:36walked
40:36over,
40:37trying
40:37to
40:37cut
40:38the
40:38tension
40:38with
40:38a
40:38casual
40:39tone.
40:4080%
40:40is
40:40still
40:41incredibly
40:41high.
40:42Please
40:43don't
40:43be
40:43upset,
40:44okay?
40:44I'm
40:45sorry.
40:45What
40:46are
40:46you
40:46apologizing
40:46for
40:47now?
40:52were a
40:53little
40:53rough,
40:53but
40:53I
40:54was
40:54fine.
40:55I
40:55actually
40:56find
40:56it
40:56attractive
40:56when
40:57you
40:57get
40:57aggressive.
40:59I'll
41:00be
41:00much
41:00more
41:00careful
41:00next
41:01time.
41:02If
41:04you
41:04still
41:05want
41:05a
41:05future
41:05with
41:05me.
41:06He
41:06paused.
41:07Before
41:08I
41:08could
41:08say
41:08anything,
41:09he
41:09kept
41:09going.
41:10I
41:11couldn't
41:11resist
41:11leaning
41:11in.
41:12If
41:12you
41:12don't
41:12want
41:12to
41:12stay,
41:13I
41:13get
41:13it.
41:15You're
41:15free
41:15to
41:15leave.
41:18It'll
41:19be
41:19incredibly
41:19hard for
41:20me,
41:20but
41:20I'll
41:20rein
41:22back
41:23and
41:23forth.
41:24He
41:24pressed
41:24his
41:24face
41:25into
41:25my
41:25chest,
41:26his
41:26voice
41:27muffled.
41:27Those
41:28incompetent
41:28idiots
41:29at the
41:29Warbeast
41:30administration
41:30don't
41:31know the
41:31first
41:32thing
41:32about
41:32genetics.
41:33Our
41:34compatibility
41:34is
41:35exactly
41:36100%.
41:37I
41:37know
41:37it
41:38for
41:38a
41:38fact.
41:39The
41:40very
41:40first
41:40time
41:40I
41:41saw
41:41you,
41:41my
41:42heart
41:42rate
41:42spiked
41:43and
41:43my
41:43body
41:44temperature
41:44shot
41:44up.
41:45Long
41:46before
41:46any
41:46test
41:47data
41:47even
41:47existed,
41:48my
41:48body
41:49and
41:49mind
41:49recognized
41:50you.
41:52Many
41:53words
41:53hovered
41:54on the
41:54tip
41:54of
41:54my
41:54tongue
41:55but
41:55I
41:56could
41:56not
41:56bring
41:56myself
41:57to
41:57say
41:57them.
41:58I
41:58asked,
41:59since
41:59you
42:00have
42:00these
42:00reactions
42:00to
42:01me,
42:01why
42:01do
42:02you
42:02always
42:02act
42:02so
42:02indifferent?
42:05sorry
42:05tabby
42:06actually
42:07there
42:07is
42:08a
42:08reason
42:08for
42:08all
42:08this.
42:10Let
42:10me
42:10take
42:11you
42:11somewhere.
42:12Maybe
42:12then
42:13you'll
42:13understand.
42:16Benjamin
42:16brought
42:17me to
42:17a
42:17cemetery.
42:19His
42:19mother
42:19was
42:19buried
42:20here.
42:21The
42:21lady
42:21in
42:21the
42:21photograph
42:22wore
42:22a
42:22gentle
42:22smile
42:23and
42:24Benjamin's
42:24eyes
42:24resembled
42:25hers.
42:26After
42:27my
42:27mother's
42:27first
42:28husband
42:28passed
42:28away,
42:29she
42:30wandered
42:30the
42:30streets
42:30with
42:31my
42:31older
42:31brother
42:31until
42:32she
42:32met
42:33my
42:33father.
42:35At
42:35that
42:36time,
42:36my
42:37father
42:37had
42:37already
42:37been
42:38promoted
42:38to
42:38a
42:39senior
42:39position
42:39in
42:40the
42:40Wareby's
42:40Treasury
42:40Department.
42:42He
42:43was a
42:43hopeless
42:43romantic,
42:44and
42:45despite
42:45everyone's
42:46objections,
42:47he gave
42:48my
42:48mother
42:48the
42:48most
42:48lavish
42:49affection.
42:50I
42:50have
42:50never
42:51seen
42:51a
42:51couple
42:52so
42:52deeply
42:52in
42:53love.
42:54Even
42:54when
42:54the
42:54test
42:55results
42:55later
42:55showed
42:56they
42:56were
42:56only
42:5680%
42:57compatible,
42:58to
42:59me,
43:00it
43:00was
43:01100%.
43:02But
43:03my
43:03mother
43:03was
43:03a
43:03human,
43:04a
43:04fragile
43:05human.
43:06Six
43:06years
43:06after
43:06they
43:07married,
43:07my
43:07father
43:07was
43:08promoted
43:08to
43:08the
43:08top
43:08position,
43:09but
43:10his
43:10political
43:10enemies
43:10bore
43:11a
43:11grudge.
43:12Unable
43:12to
43:12kill
43:13my
43:13father,
43:13they
43:14killed
43:14his
43:15weakness,
43:15which
43:15was
43:15my
43:15mother.
43:16I
43:17opened
43:17my
43:17mouth,
43:18but
43:18not
43:18a
43:19single
43:19word
43:19came
43:20out.
43:20It
43:21was
43:21unimaginable.
43:22For
43:22someone
43:23as
43:23devoted
43:23as
43:23Benjamin's
43:24father,
43:25the
43:25despair
43:25and
43:26grief
43:26after
43:26losing
43:26his
43:27beloved
43:27must
43:27have
43:28been
43:28overwhelming.
43:29Benjamin
43:29bent
43:30down
43:30and
43:30placed
43:31the
43:31flowers
43:31he
43:31had
43:32brought
43:32in
43:32front
43:32of
43:32the
43:32tombstone.
43:33There
43:34were
43:34many,
43:34many
43:35flowers
43:35there,
43:35some
43:36fresh
43:36and
43:36vibrant,
43:37others
43:37already
43:38withered.
43:39It
43:39was
43:39clear that
43:40people
43:40often
43:40came to
43:41visit
43:41this
43:41lady.
43:43My
43:44father
43:44was
43:44ready
43:44to
43:45die
43:45for
43:45love
43:45at
43:45that
43:45time.
43:48But
43:48when
43:48he
43:48turned
43:49around
43:49and
43:49saw
43:49Emmanuel
43:50and
43:50me
43:50looking
43:50at
43:51him
43:51with
43:51pleating
43:51eyes,
43:52he
43:53couldn't
43:53bear
43:53it and
43:55chose
43:55to
43:55live
43:55on.
43:56Benjamin
43:56turned
43:56to
43:57gaze
43:57at
43:57me.
43:58After
43:58my
43:58compatibility
43:59results
43:59came
43:59out,
44:00I
44:01secretly
44:01vowed
44:02that I
44:03would
44:03never let
44:03my
44:04mother's
44:04tragedy
44:04happen
44:05to
44:05you.
44:05I
44:06pondered.
44:06So?
44:09You
44:09don't
44:10let me
44:10go to
44:10headquarters
44:11and
44:12you
44:12rarely
44:13travel
44:13with
44:14me?
44:15Yes.
44:16My
44:16work is
44:17even more
44:17dangerous
44:18than my
44:18father's.
44:20Only
44:20by doing
44:21this
44:21can I
44:22protect
44:22you.
44:24Then
44:25why did
44:25you block
44:26the
44:26Werebeast
44:26administration?
44:27I
44:27didn't
44:28block
44:28them,
44:28just
44:29deleted
44:29them.
44:30We've
44:30all
44:30found
44:30our
44:31matches,
44:31so
44:31there's
44:31no
44:31need
44:31to
44:32keep
44:32them.
44:34I
44:34never
44:34intended
44:35to
44:35remarry.
44:36But
44:37after
44:37you
44:37came
44:37home,
44:38you
44:38still
44:38seemed
44:39a bit
44:39distant
44:39with
44:39me.
44:40You
44:40forgot
44:40Werebeats
44:41have
44:41extremely
44:41sensitive
44:42senses
44:42of
44:42smell.
44:44Benjamin
44:45slowly
44:45rolled up
44:46his
44:46sleeve.
44:47If I
44:47completely
44:48let
44:48myself
44:48go
44:49and
44:49fully
44:49merge
44:49with
44:50you,
44:50then
44:51your
44:51scent
44:51would
44:51cover
44:52me
44:52inside
44:53and
44:53out.
44:56That
44:56would
44:56be like
44:57handing
44:58your
44:58information
44:58straight
44:59to my
44:59enemies.
44:59This
45:00is the
45:00only
45:00way
45:01I
45:01can
45:01restrain
45:01myself.
45:04His
45:05arm
45:05was
45:05covered
45:06with
45:06many
45:06wounds,
45:07shocking
45:08to
45:08behold.
45:09Without
45:10my
45:10knowledge,
45:11Benjamin
45:11had
45:12forced
45:12himself
45:12to
45:13stay
45:13away
45:13from
45:13me
45:14by
45:14self-harming.
45:15Seeing
45:16those
45:16wounds
45:17made
45:17my
45:17heart
45:17ache.
45:18Benjamin
45:19apologized
45:19to
45:20me.
45:20I'm
45:21sorry.
45:21Why
45:22are
45:22you
45:22apologizing?
45:24Because
45:24my
45:24actions
45:25made
45:25you
45:25misunderstand.
45:27I'm
45:28truly
45:28sorry.
45:30Don't
45:30be.
45:32Actually,
45:33I was
45:33at fault
45:34too.
45:34That
45:3480%
45:35was
45:35really
45:35hard
45:35to
45:36talk
45:36about.
45:36I
45:37thought
45:37about
45:37raising
45:37a
45:38dog.
45:38Actually,
45:39the
45:39puppy
45:40only
45:40had
45:40eyes
45:40for
45:41me,
45:41but
45:41I
45:41had
45:42other
45:42dogs
45:42outside.
45:43I
45:43couldn't
45:44help
45:44but
45:44hug
45:44him
45:45tightly.
45:46Benjamin
45:46lowered
45:47his
45:47head
45:47and kissed
45:48me.
45:48In
45:49that
45:49moment,
45:50I
45:50didn't
45:50want
45:50to
45:51think
45:51about
45:51anything.
45:52No
45:52compatibility
45:53scores.
45:54No
45:55choices
45:55between
45:56two.
45:56I
45:57only
45:57knew
45:58that
45:58we
45:58were
45:58husband
45:58and
45:59wife.
46:00He
46:00was
46:00both
46:00my
46:01morality
46:01and
46:02my
46:02instinct.
46:06Emmanuel's
46:06speed
46:06was even
46:07faster than
46:07I had
46:08expected.
46:09A
46:09week
46:09later,
46:10he
46:10told me
46:11I
46:11could
46:11go
46:11home.
46:12The
46:12news
46:12came
46:12so
46:13suddenly
46:13that
46:13I
46:14felt
46:14a
46:14bit
46:14lost.
46:15Looking
46:15at the
46:15wedding
46:16photo on
46:16the
46:16bedside
46:17table,
46:17I
46:18was
46:18surprised
46:18to
46:18feel
46:19a
46:19trace
46:19of
46:19reluctance.
46:20But
46:21when I
46:21thought
46:21of my
46:22parents
46:22and
46:22friends,
46:23I
46:23steeled
46:24myself
46:24and
46:25replied
46:25to
46:25Emmanuel.
46:27I'll
46:28pack up
46:28and meet
46:28you at
46:29the
46:29lab.
46:30In
46:30fact,
46:31there
46:31was
46:31not
46:31much
46:31for
46:32me
46:32to
46:32pack.
46:33But
46:33I
46:33needed
46:34to
46:34leave
46:34a
46:34letter
46:34for
46:35Benjamin,
46:36explaining
46:36everything
46:37clearly.
46:38It
46:39took me
46:39half an
46:39hour to
46:40write
46:40the
46:40letter.
46:41During
46:42that
46:42time,
46:42Emmanuel
46:43did
46:43not
46:43reply
46:44to
46:44my
46:44messages,
46:44but
46:45I
46:45did
46:45not
46:45pay
46:46much
46:46attention.
46:47Once
46:47the
46:47letter
46:48was
46:48finished,
46:48I
46:49put
46:49on
46:49the
46:49outfit
46:49I
46:50had
46:50worn
46:50when
46:50I
46:50first
46:51arrived
46:51and
46:52left
46:52the
46:52house
46:52feeling
46:53light.
46:56But
46:56halfway
46:57there,
46:57I
46:58received
46:58another
46:58phone
46:58call.
46:59It
46:59was
46:59Benjamin's
47:00adjutant.
47:01Madam,
47:01you can
47:01answer
47:01the
47:02phone.
47:02Where
47:02are
47:02you
47:02now?
47:03Me?
47:03I'm
47:03at
47:03the
47:04central
47:04mall.
47:04What's
47:04wrong?
47:05You're
47:05all
47:05right?
47:06What
47:06could
47:06possibly
47:07be
47:07wrong
47:07with
47:07me?
47:07Oh
47:08no,
47:08if
47:08you're
47:09fine,
47:09then
47:09General
47:09Tarleton
47:10is
47:10in
47:10danger.
47:11What
47:11happened?
47:11Just
47:12now,
47:12General
47:12Tarleton
47:13received
47:13a video
47:14and
47:14thought
47:14you
47:14had
47:14been
47:15kidnapped.
47:15He
47:16went
47:16to
47:16the
47:16agreed
47:16location.
47:17If
47:18you're
47:18not
47:18in
47:18trouble,
47:19then
47:19someone
47:19must
47:19have
47:19deliberately
47:20set
47:20him
47:20up.
47:21Damn,
47:22why
47:22didn't
47:22he
47:22call
47:23me
47:23first
47:23to
47:23confirm?
47:24I
47:24don't
47:24know.
47:24The
47:25communication
47:25at
47:25home
47:26was
47:26blocked
47:26just
47:26now.
47:27Calls
47:27couldn't
47:28get
47:28through
47:28and
47:28texts
47:29wouldn't
47:29send.
47:29There
47:30was
47:30no
47:30time
47:30to
47:30go
47:30home
47:31and
47:31check
47:31so
47:31General
47:32Tarleton
47:32had
47:32to
47:32go
47:32rescue
47:33you
47:33first.
47:34I
47:34called
47:34you
47:34countless
47:35times
47:35and
47:35only
47:35this
47:36one
47:36finally
47:36connected.
47:37I
47:37glanced
47:38at
47:38my
47:38phone.
47:38Sure
47:39enough,
47:39Emmanuel's
47:40replies
47:40were now
47:41coming in
47:41like
47:41snowflakes.
47:42Do you
47:43remember
47:43the lab
47:43address
47:44code?
47:44Here,
47:45I'm
47:45almost
47:45there.
47:46I'll
47:46come
47:46down
47:46to
47:46meet
47:47you.
47:47Why
47:47did
47:47you
47:47stop
47:48replying?
47:48The
47:49call
47:49won't
47:49go
47:49through.
47:50What's
47:50going
47:50on?
47:51You
47:51didn't
47:51run
47:51into
47:51any
47:52danger
47:52did
47:52you?
47:52I'll
48:02behind
48:03me
48:03was
48:03Benjamin
48:04whose
48:04safety
48:05was
48:05uncertain.
48:06It
48:06was
48:06just
48:06like
48:06when
48:06I
48:07first
48:07accepted
48:07this
48:07match.
48:08It
48:08took
48:08me
48:08only
48:09a
48:09second
48:09to
48:09make
48:10my
48:10decision.
48:11Give
48:11me
48:11Benjamin's
48:12address.
48:14When I
48:15rushed to
48:16the abandoned
48:16factory,
48:17memories of
48:18the little
48:18dog I had
48:19raised as
48:19a child
48:20resurfaced
48:20in my
48:21mind.
48:21People
48:22always
48:22favored
48:23their
48:23first
48:23dog,
48:24even
48:24though
48:24I
48:24knew
48:25that
48:25other
48:25breeds
48:25might
48:26be
48:26prettier
48:26and
48:26more
48:26pleasing
48:27to
48:27me.
48:27But
48:28I
48:28simply
48:28could
48:29not
48:29forget
48:29it.
48:30Because
48:30it
48:30had
48:30given
48:30me
48:31my
48:31first
48:31sense
48:32of
48:32companionship
48:33and
48:33warmth.
48:33Benjamin
48:34was
48:34the
48:34same.
48:35He
48:35was
48:36the
48:36first
48:36person
48:36who
48:37had
48:37looked
48:37at
48:37me
48:37with
48:37those
48:38wet,
48:38earnest
48:39eyes.
48:39How
48:40could
48:40I
48:40bear
48:40to
48:40let
48:41those
48:41eyes
48:41be
48:41clouded
48:42because
48:42of
48:42me?
48:42The
48:43factory
48:43had
48:44long
48:44since
48:44been
48:44abandoned.
48:45I
48:46had
48:46no
48:46idea
48:46where
48:46Benjamin
48:47was
48:47at
48:47that
48:47moment.
48:48I
48:48activated
48:49all
48:49my
48:49senses,
48:51silently
48:51praying
48:52in my
48:52heart.
48:53That
48:5380%
48:54compatibility
48:55please
48:55guide
48:56me.
48:57Suddenly,
48:57it felt
48:58as if
48:58all my
48:58cells
48:59opened
48:59up.
49:00I
49:00seemed
49:00to
49:00have
49:00acquired
49:01the
49:01same
49:01sense
49:02of
49:02smell
49:02as
49:02a
49:02were
49:03beast,
49:03swiftly
49:04catching
49:04every
49:05trace
49:05of
49:05scent
49:05in
49:06the
49:06air.
49:06I
49:06found
49:07it.
49:07My
49:08running
49:08speed
49:08increased,
49:09my
49:09movements
49:10became
49:10agile,
49:11and I
49:11evaded
49:12the
49:12patrols
49:12of
49:12the
49:12rebel
49:13forces,
49:14locating
49:14the
49:14already
49:15injured
49:15Benjamin
49:16in
49:16the
49:16warehouse
49:16with
49:17precision.
49:17He
49:18had
49:18managed
49:18to
49:18contend
49:19with
49:19the
49:19rebel
49:20forces
49:20single-handedly.
49:22Though
49:22he was
49:22wounded,
49:23he had
49:24fortunately
49:24escaped
49:25unharmed.
49:26Tabby?
49:27You're
49:28alright?
49:29Thank
49:29goodness.
49:30Benjamin
49:31immediately
49:31pulled me
49:32into his
49:32arms,
49:32letting out
49:33a sigh
49:33of relief.
49:37Since
49:37you're
49:37safe,
49:38you should
49:38have
49:38stayed
49:39home.
49:40You
49:41shouldn't
49:41have
49:41come.
49:42If
49:43I
49:43hadn't
49:43come,
49:44would
49:44you
49:44have
49:44kept
49:45risking
49:45everything
49:46to
49:46search
49:46for
49:46me?
49:47Benjamin
49:47pressed
49:48his
49:48lips
49:48together,
49:49not
49:49denying
49:49it.
49:50It
49:50seems
49:50I
49:51made
49:51the
49:51right
49:51choice
49:51coming
49:51here.
49:52The
49:52adjutant's
49:53messages
49:53could
49:53not be
49:54synchronized
49:54here.
49:55Since
49:55the rebel
49:56forces had
49:56the means
49:57to interfere
49:57with the
49:58signals at
49:58home,
49:59they
49:59naturally
50:00had the
50:00means
50:00to
50:00interfere
50:01here
50:01as
50:01well.
50:02People
50:02outside
50:03were
50:03searching
50:04for
50:04him.
50:04They
50:05checked
50:05each
50:06room
50:06one
50:06by
50:06one.
50:07And
50:08soon
50:08they
50:08would
50:08reach
50:09this
50:09room.
50:10Just
50:10then,
50:11an
50:11explosion
50:12sounded
50:13outside.
50:14One
50:15by one,
50:15old-fashioned
50:16robots
50:17marched
50:17out from
50:18the
50:18darkness,
50:19then
50:19detonated
50:20themselves
50:20in
50:21succession.
50:22The
50:23sudden
50:23chaos
50:23threw
50:24the
50:24rebel
50:24forces
50:25into
50:25disarray,
50:26forcing
50:27them
50:27to
50:27halt
50:28their
50:28search.
50:29I
50:29saw,
50:30in
50:30the
50:30darkness,
50:31the
50:31figure
50:32controlling
50:32the
50:33robots.
50:33It
50:34was
50:34Emmanuel.
50:35Benjamin
50:36said,
50:38reinforcements
50:38have
50:39arrived.
50:40Emmanuel
50:41is
50:41your
50:41reinforcement?
50:43This
50:43is
50:43the
50:44factory
50:44where
50:44our
50:44mother
50:45worked
50:45before
50:45she
50:46passed
50:46away,
50:47specializing
50:48in
50:48robot
50:48production.
50:50Emmanuel
50:50grew up
50:51here as
50:51a child,
50:52and he
50:53knows
50:53better than
50:53anyone
50:54how to
50:54operate
50:54these
50:55robots.
50:56He's
50:56responsible
50:57for
50:57detonating
50:57them,
50:58distracting
50:58the rebel
50:58forces.
50:59When
51:00did
51:00you
51:00plan
51:00all
51:01this?
51:01There
51:02was
51:02no
51:02plan.
51:03Benjamin
51:04shook
51:04his
51:05head.
51:05I
51:05only
51:06you
51:07and
51:07I
51:07were
51:07trapped
51:07here,
51:08and
51:08the
51:08signal
51:08had
51:09been
51:09cut
51:09off.
51:09Emmanuel
51:10is
51:10very
51:10smart.
51:11He
51:11knows
51:11what
51:11to
51:12do.
51:14As
51:15they
51:15spoke,
51:16Emmanuel
51:16had
51:17already
51:17run
51:17beneath
51:18the
51:18window
51:18and
51:19opened
51:19a
51:19portable
51:20cloud
51:20soft
51:20bed.
51:21Go.
51:22Suddenly,
51:22Benjamin
51:23released
51:23me.
51:24Go
51:24find
51:25Emmanuel.
51:26Let
51:27him
51:27take
51:27you
51:27home.
51:28Right
51:28now,
51:28immediately!
51:29I
51:29was
51:30stunned.
51:30How
51:30did
51:31you
51:31know?
51:32If
51:33I
51:33couldn't
51:33even
51:33guess
51:33this,
51:35how
51:36could
51:36I
51:36be
51:36Grand
51:36Commander
51:37of
51:37the
51:37Three
51:37Armies?
51:38Benjamin
51:39revealed
51:39his
51:40unique
51:40confidence.
51:41I
51:41hurriedly
51:42grabbed
51:42him.
51:43Then
51:43come
51:44with
51:44me!
51:45I
51:46still
51:46have
51:46duties
51:47to
51:47fulfill.
51:48This
51:48country,
51:49its
51:50people,
51:51still
51:51need
51:52me.
51:52Benjamin
51:53reached
51:53out and
51:53gently
51:54stroked
51:54my
51:54cheek,
51:55gazing
51:55at me
51:56with
51:56reluctance,
51:57as if
51:57he
51:57wanted
51:57to
51:58remember
51:58my
51:58face
51:58forever.
51:59I'm
52:00very
52:00happy
52:00you
52:00came
52:01to
52:01find
52:01me
52:01today.
52:02But
52:02be
52:03good.
52:04Your
52:05safety
52:05is
52:05more
52:05important
52:06than
52:06anything
52:06else.
52:07Benjamin
52:08extended
52:08his
52:08hand
52:09and
52:09pushed
52:09me
52:09toward
52:09Emmanuel.
52:11The
52:11flames
52:12blazed
52:12fiercely.
52:14That
52:14was the
52:14last
52:15time
52:15I
52:15saw
52:15Benjamin.
52:18It
52:19had been
52:19a month
52:19since I
52:20returned
52:20to my
52:20own
52:21world.
52:21I
52:22often
52:22sat
52:22on
52:22the
52:22balcony,
52:23lost
52:23in
52:24thought,
52:24just
52:24as
52:25Benjamin
52:25used
52:25to
52:25do.
52:26Emmanuel
52:27walked
52:27over
52:28and
52:28leaned
52:28against
52:28the
52:28door
52:29frame.
52:29Are
52:29you
52:29still
52:30worried
52:30about
52:30him?
52:33When
52:34we
52:34left,
52:35reinforcements
52:35arrived
52:35just in
52:36time.
52:37You
52:38should
52:38trust
52:38Benjamin.
52:39He
52:40didn't
52:40get that
52:40position
52:41because
52:41of
52:41family
52:41connections.
52:42He
52:43fought
52:43his
52:43way
52:43there
52:43with
52:43his
52:43own
52:44strength.
52:45I
52:45know,
52:46but
52:46how
52:47could
52:47I
52:47not
52:47worry?
52:48He
52:48went
52:48against
52:49his
52:49own
52:49instincts
52:49to
52:50send
52:50me
52:50to
52:50Emmanuel.
52:51So
52:51I
52:51would
52:51go
52:52against
52:52my
52:52own
52:52instincts
52:53as
52:53well.
52:53I
52:54favored
52:54him
52:54unconditionally.
52:55Emmanuel
52:55lowered
52:56his
52:56gaze
52:56and
52:56smiled
52:57helplessly.
52:57Tomorrow
52:58we're
52:58having
52:58dinner
52:58with
52:59your
52:59parents.
53:00Don't
53:01let
53:01them
53:01think
53:01I've
53:01starved
53:02their
53:02precious
53:02pregnant
53:03daughter.
53:03I
53:04turned
53:04to
53:04look
53:04at
53:04him.
53:05Emmanuel,
53:06are
53:06you
53:06angry
53:06with
53:07me?
53:07Why
53:08do
53:08you
53:08ask?
53:09I
53:09touched
53:09my
53:09belly.
53:10I
53:10married
53:11you
53:11so
53:11this
53:11child
53:12could
53:12be
53:12born
53:12legitimately.
53:14When
53:15I
53:15think
53:15about
53:15it,
53:17it's
53:17not
53:18fair
53:18to
53:18you.
53:18It
53:19really
53:19isn't
53:19fair.
53:20Someone
53:21as
53:21talented
53:22as
53:22me
53:22and
53:23you
53:23use
53:23me
53:23for
53:23this?
53:24Emmanuel
53:24spoke
53:24with
53:25a
53:25smile.
53:25But
53:25who
53:25told
53:26me
53:26to
53:26be
53:26100%
53:27for
53:28you?
53:28I'm
53:29willing.
53:30Besides,
53:31it saved
53:31both of
53:32you.
53:34Emmanuel's
53:35gaze shifted
53:35to my
53:35belly,
53:36becoming
53:36gentle.
53:37This
53:37was
53:37Benjamin's
53:38child.
53:39During
53:39our last
53:39time
53:39together,
53:40we
53:40hadn't
53:40taken
53:40precautions.
53:41On
53:42the day
53:42I found
53:42out I
53:42was
53:42pregnant,
53:43I
53:43finally
53:44understood
53:44why.
53:44On
53:45the day
53:45I
53:45rescued
53:45Benjamin,
53:46I
53:46suddenly
53:46gained
53:47the
53:47senses
53:47and
53:47abilities
53:48of
53:48a
53:48were
53:48beast.
53:48It
53:49was
53:49because
53:49of
53:49the
53:49child.
53:50It
53:50had
53:50been
53:50doing
53:51everything
53:51it
53:51could
53:51to
53:51help
53:52me.
53:52To
53:52ensure
53:53the
53:53child
53:53would
53:53be
53:53accepted
53:54by
53:54my
53:54family,
53:54I
53:55thought
53:55of
53:55many
53:55ways.
53:56In
53:56the
53:56end,
53:57it
53:57was
53:57Emmanuel
53:57who
53:58took
53:58the
53:58initiative
53:58to
53:58become
53:59the
53:59child's
53:59nominal
53:59father.
54:00Emmanuel
54:01was
54:01young
54:01and
54:01accomplished,
54:02and
54:02my
54:02parents
54:02liked
54:03him
54:03very
54:03much.
54:04He
54:04truly
54:04took
54:05good
54:05care
54:05of
54:05me.
54:05He
54:06divided
54:06his
54:06time
54:06between
54:07scientific
54:07research
54:08and
54:08learning
54:08about
54:08prenatal
54:09education.
54:10Life
54:10passed
54:10peacefully
54:11like
54:11this.
54:12The
54:12baby
54:12was
54:12well
54:13behaved,
54:13I
54:14had
54:14no
54:14pregnancy
54:14symptoms,
54:15and
54:15my
54:15body
54:16became
54:16even
54:16stronger.
54:17I
54:17suppose
54:17Benjamin's
54:18excellent
54:18physical
54:18condition
54:19had
54:19influenced
54:19both
54:20the
54:20child
54:20and
54:20me.
54:22When
54:23I
54:23was
54:23seven
54:24months
54:24pregnant,
54:25I
54:25even
54:25went
54:25hiking
54:26with
54:26my
54:26friends.
54:27But
54:27because
54:27I
54:28walked
54:28too
54:28fast,
54:29I
54:29accidentally
54:29got
54:30separated
54:30from
54:30everyone.
54:31The
54:31mountain
54:32was
54:32quiet,
54:33with
54:33only
54:33the
54:33rustling
54:34sounds
54:34in
54:34my
54:35ears.
54:35A
54:36huge
54:36python
54:37slithered
54:37out
54:38from
54:38the
54:38grass.
54:39I
54:39was
54:39startled,
54:40my
54:40mind
54:40almost
54:41blank.
54:41What
54:42should
54:42I
54:42do?
54:42Should
54:43I
54:43run
54:43now,
54:43or
54:44take
54:44a
54:44chance
54:44and
54:44fight
54:45it?
54:45Cold
54:46sweat
54:46trickled
54:46down
54:46my
54:47forehead.
54:47But
54:48at
54:48that
54:48very
54:48moment,
54:49the
54:49python
54:50seemed
54:50to
54:50see
54:50something.
54:51Its
54:51body
54:51shrank
54:52back,
54:52eyes
54:59uncontrollably,
55:00and my
55:01heartbeat
55:01thundered.
55:02I
55:02slowly
55:03turned
55:03around.
55:04Benjamin
55:05stood
55:05behind
55:05me,
55:06wearing
55:06his
55:06uniform,
55:07arms
55:08open
55:08wide.
55:09I'm
55:10sorry,
55:10I was
55:10late.
55:12I
55:13often
55:13felt
55:13sorry
55:14for
55:14my
55:14baby.
55:15Until
55:15he
55:15was
55:15one
55:16year
55:16old,
55:16he
55:17had
55:17hardly
55:17had
55:17a
55:17peaceful
55:18day.
55:18There
55:19were
55:19always
55:19quarrels
55:20at
55:20home.
55:21Emmanuel
55:21said,
55:22Listen
55:23to
55:23me,
55:23I'm
55:24the
55:24child's
55:24nominal
55:25father.
55:25Benjamin
55:26replied,
55:27Look
55:27at
55:27the
55:27child's
55:28ears,
55:28tail,
55:29and
55:29pupils,
55:30and
55:30say
55:31that
55:31again?
55:31If I
55:32hadn't
55:32left
55:32that
55:33equipment
55:33for
55:33you,
55:33you
55:33wouldn't
55:34have
55:34had
55:34a
55:34chance
55:34to
55:35see
55:35Tabby
55:35again.
55:37Who
55:37said
55:38you
55:38could
55:38call
55:38her
55:38Tabby
55:40homewrecker?
55:42I
55:42have
55:42a
55:42marriage
55:43certificate
55:43with
55:43her.
55:44You're
55:44the
55:44homewrecker.
55:46Who
55:47doesn't?
55:47My
55:47certificate
55:48is
55:48dated
55:48earlier
55:49than
55:49yours.
55:50Why
55:50haven't
55:50you
55:50left
55:50yet?
55:51Is
55:52it
55:52peaceful
55:52over
55:53there?
55:53Is
55:54the
55:54army
55:58No
55:58need
55:58for
55:59your
55:59concern.
56:00But
56:01Matthias
56:01misses
56:01you
56:02very
56:02much.
56:03When
56:03will
56:03you
56:03go
56:04back
56:04to
56:04see
56:04him?
56:06Next
56:06week,
56:07after I'm
56:07done
56:07with my
56:07experiments,
56:09I'll
56:10bring a
56:10bottle of
56:10Pappy
56:11Van
56:11Winten
56:11for him
56:12to try.
56:13The
56:14baby
56:14suddenly
56:15whimpered
56:15twice.
56:16Benjamin
56:17immediately
56:17reached out.
56:18Daddy's
56:19here!
56:19Emmanuel
56:19also
56:20turned
56:20his
56:20head.
56:21Daddy's
56:21here!
56:22The
56:22two
56:22glared
56:23at each
56:23other,
56:23seemingly
56:24ready to
56:24fight over
56:25the title
56:25again.
56:26I
56:26quietly held
56:27the child
56:27and
56:28stayed
56:28away
56:29from
56:29the
56:29battlefield.
56:30Ah,
56:31the
56:31sunlight
56:31was
56:32so
56:32lovely.
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