- 26 minutes ago
One Night, Alpha's Baby
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00I was an alpha wolf and a hitman.
00:03After a one-night stand with the Lycan king, I wound up pregnant.
00:08Given my line of work, I had no other option but to leave the pup on his doorstep and run.
00:15Three years later, our paths crossed again, and he stopped me before I could bolt.
00:21Come home with me and meet our baby boy.
00:24I was an alpha wolf, a killer, a lone wolf with blood on my hands.
00:30Three years ago, I spent one wild night with Marcus Livingston after he had been drugged.
00:34He was the Lycan king.
00:36Tall, broad-shouldered, with eyes like molten silver, and a jaw sharp enough to cut glass.
00:43That night, even drugged and half-conscious, his wolf-radiated power that made my own alpha instincts want to submit.
00:50His fangs grazed my throat more than once, to claim.
00:54I told myself it was just the drugs.
00:57Half a month later, I found out I was pregnant.
01:00My wolf howled inside my chest not with joy, but with sheer, primal panic.
01:06A lone wolf didn't raise pups.
01:08A hitman didn't bring a child into this world.
01:11I muttered under my breath,
01:15Fuck.
01:16My wolf ears pinned flat against my skull.
01:19My tail bristled between my legs.
01:22How the hell was a drifter like me supposed to raise a child?
01:26After giving birth, I hardened my heart and left the newborn on Marcus' doorstep.
01:31I ignored his heartbreaking cries and fled without a glance back.
01:36Three years later, the organization I worked for got taken down, and I ended up scraping by as a beast
01:42fighter in the arena.
01:44One day, I spotted Marcus sitting in the VIP section.
01:49He didn't recognize me.
01:51He was just there to watch the fights.
01:54The little boy in his arms was glued to the arena.
01:57My face darkened.
01:59Is this Lycan king totally clueless about being a father?
02:06Who brings a two-year-old to a place like this?
02:09Has he lost his mind?
02:11My heart sank with regret.
02:13I should have known better than to leave the kid with him.
02:16A man that brutal in bed was hardly father material.
02:19I cursed him in my head while dodging the centaur's charge.
02:23The beast thundered past,
02:25hoof sparking against the blood-soaked sand.
02:28I spun low,
02:29swept my leg under his forelegs.
02:31He crashed onto his side.
02:33Before he could rise,
02:35I vaulted onto his human back,
02:37wrapped my arm around his throat,
02:39and squeezed until his eyes rolled white.
02:41The crowd roared.
02:43Sand and sweat stung my eyes.
02:46I won that fight without even shifting.
02:49I won that fight effortlessly.
02:53As I headed toward the private locker room with a towel slung over my shoulder,
02:57I suddenly felt a pair of eyes lock onto me.
03:00It was Marcus.
03:01He stared down at me,
03:03his gaze dark and unreadable.
03:05For a second,
03:06I almost thought he might have come looking for me.
03:09But soon,
03:10his icy gaze shifted back to the sand.
03:13That night three years ago,
03:15Marcus had been drugged.
03:16The lights were off.
03:18Halfway through,
03:19I had slipped him extra sleeping pills.
03:22He should have woken up after me.
03:25I told myself there was nothing to worry about
03:28and strolled casually into the bathroom.
03:30Stripping off my sweat-soaked clothes,
03:33I turned on the shower.
03:35The water was running full blast,
03:38but I still heard heavy footsteps outside slow,
03:41steady,
03:42heading straight for the bathroom.
03:45The guy stopped right outside the door.
03:49Not knocking or doing a thing.
03:51From the sound of it,
03:53he was half a head taller than me,
03:55not bad on his feet.
03:57Those measured,
03:58deliberate footsteps were clearly meant for me to hear.
04:02I blinked.
04:03Could it be?
04:05I rinsed off fast and stepped out.
04:09Marcus was leaning against the door frame,
04:11bored out of his mind.
04:14Hearing me,
04:15he slowly looked up.
04:17His eyes were calm and deep,
04:19his voice flat.
04:21Have we met before?
04:22My blood ran cold,
04:24but I played it cool.
04:26Stop kidding,
04:27your majesty.
04:28How would someone like me
04:30ever meet
04:31a big shot like you?
04:33He didn't reply.
04:37After a long silence,
04:39he suddenly leaned in close to my neck.
04:41I instinctively stepped back,
04:44clutching my gland,
04:45every nerve on high alert.
04:48What's wrong?
04:50I asked.
04:51Marcus straightened up,
04:52a cryptic laugh escaping him.
04:55Your pheromone
04:56smells familiar.
04:59At times like this,
05:00I'm truly grateful.
05:02The pheromone my hitman parents left me
05:04is bland enough.
05:07Shamomil,
05:08you can smell that anywhere,
05:10nothing special.
05:12Really?
05:13He gave a meaningful smile.
05:15My mistake then.
05:17See you tomorrow.
05:19Then he turned and walked away
05:21without hesitation.
05:23I wiped the cold sweat off my forehead,
05:26slumped against the wall.
05:28Like hell I was seeing him tomorrow.
05:31I quit that very day and moved out,
05:33getting as far away as I could.
05:38But two days later,
05:39I ran into that pain in the ass again.
05:44I was covering a shift
05:46for my sick friend at the bar.
05:50Then an Omega went into heat.
05:53I had to escort the Omega out
05:55and help him inject suppressants.
05:59That chaos finally ended.
06:02I slipped into the bathroom,
06:04took care of my own problem.
06:06I was too broke to afford suppressants,
06:09so I had to handle it myself.
06:11The out of order sign was already up.
06:14So I stopped hiding my pheromone
06:16and let it unfurl,
06:17filling the bathroom with my chamomile scent.
06:21I was sitting on the toilet,
06:23mind starting to drift,
06:25when someone knocked on the door.
06:30A guy's deep voice came through.
06:33Get out!
06:36I frowned.
06:37I hadn't killed anyone
06:38since I quit the hitman life,
06:40and my temper had gotten way better.
06:43But right then,
06:44I was this close.
06:46I cursed under my breath.
06:48That bastard out there
06:49better have a damn good reason,
06:51or he'll get one.
06:52The second my hand hit the doorknob,
06:54I caught a whiff of something
06:56way too familiar.
06:57The rich,
06:58heady scent of blackrant
06:59took over the whole room,
07:01shoving my own pheromone
07:02into some little corner.
07:05That glass,
07:06that scent.
07:07I had only ever smelled it
07:08on one guy before.
07:10My hand froze mid-move.
07:12My throat tightening.
07:16Fuck.
07:17Just my luck.
07:20I scratched my head,
07:22annoyed,
07:23pulled a scar from my pocket,
07:24and tied it around my face.
07:27I checked my reflection on my phone
07:29to make sure no one
07:30could tell it was me.
07:33Then I slowly opened the door.
07:36Outside,
07:37Marcus stood there
07:38with his arms crossed,
07:39looking relaxed.
07:41Seeing me sneaking out
07:43like some guilty thief,
07:44he got straight to it.
07:46Why did you quit the arena?
07:49My fingers curled slightly.
07:51I lowered my voice
07:53and played dumb.
07:54Sir,
07:56what are you talking about?
07:58His eyes narrowed,
07:59a mocking grin on his face
08:01as he reached for my face.
08:02I blocked it swiftly,
08:04still spinning lies.
08:06Sir,
08:08I'm having an allergic reaction.
08:11My face is all swollen.
08:14Too embarrassing to show anyone.
08:16He pulled his hand back,
08:18smiling.
08:20Nice block.
08:22Very professional.
08:24Of course it was.
08:25Basically automatic.
08:27But I wouldn't admit it.
08:29I laughed it off.
08:30I picked up a few basics.
08:35Marcus switched it up.
08:38Someone used that same block
08:39on me three years back.
08:42He didn't win though.
08:44A jolt shot through me,
08:45and I froze,
08:47holding my breath.
08:49Did he recognize me?
08:50Before I knew it,
08:52the scarf was ripped off my face.
08:54Marcus twirled it lazily
08:56in his fingers,
08:57smirking.
08:59Jeffrey,
09:00you forgot?
09:02I tied this scarf
09:03around your neck
09:04to stop the bleeding back then.
09:05My eyes widened,
09:07and I tried to run.
09:08But Marcus was quicker.
09:10His hand locked around
09:11the back of my neck,
09:13slamming me back
09:14against the door.
09:15I fought like crazy,
09:16but he didn't move an inch.
09:18How embarrassing.
09:19I couldn't beat him
09:20three years ago.
09:21And I still couldn't now.
09:23It pissed me off.
09:25He never even liked me.
09:27Otherwise,
09:28why hadn't he come
09:29looking for me
09:30once in three years?
09:31With his resources,
09:33he should have tracked me
09:34down in three days.
09:36So what was this now?
09:38Chasing me down,
09:39cornering me,
09:40what was he playing at?
09:43I dropped the act
09:44and snarled.
09:45What do you want?
09:48Marcus let go.
09:51Fred has been whining for you.
09:54Come back to calm him down.
09:55I frowned,
09:56keeping my voice low.
09:58Just get someone else.
10:00He's too young
10:01to remember anyway.
10:03Marcus' face darkened.
10:05You don't feel
10:06a thing for him?
10:07He's your own son.
10:09Honestly,
10:10I didn't.
10:12Blood ties
10:13never meant a thing to me.
10:14When I was 13,
10:16my hitman parents
10:17sold me out of the pack
10:18to pay their blood debt.
10:21So when they were
10:22waiting for me
10:22to save them,
10:24I scented the wind,
10:26read the hunt,
10:27sniffed what little
10:28they were worth to me.
10:31And turned tail,
10:32not worth the blood price.
10:35That was why
10:36when the organization
10:37got taken down
10:38three years ago,
10:39I was the only
10:40lone wolf still standing.
10:43Being cold-blooded
10:44kept me alive.
10:46That was what
10:46my parents taught me.
10:50Marcus couldn't tell
10:51what I was thinking.
10:52He saw me go quiet,
10:54and his eyes went hard
10:55for a split second.
10:56He didn't bother talking.
10:59He undid his tie,
11:01tied my hands with it,
11:02and hoisted me
11:03over his shoulder.
11:05I snapped.
11:07You fucking crazy!
11:08Just pay someone else
11:09to play mom!
11:10The boy is two,
11:11and he doesn't know anything!
11:13What?
11:13You think he's
11:13some kind of genius?
11:16He got fed up
11:17with my noise,
11:17so he yanked out
11:19the scarf
11:19and shoved it in
11:20to shut me up.
11:25All that rage
11:26sat heavy in my chest.
11:28Back home,
11:29Marcus tossed me
11:30onto the couch.
11:31I heard the pitter-patter
11:32of slippers
11:33from upstairs.
11:34A minute later,
11:35a chubby little boy
11:37came running over,
11:38a little bow
11:39and arrow
11:39in his hands.
11:40He pulled the scarf
11:41out of my mouth,
11:43stared at me
11:43for a while,
11:44then said,
11:46It's him.
11:47I was baffled.
11:49How did you know
11:50it was me?
11:52He pressed his lips
11:53into a thin line,
11:55utterly serious.
11:59You look like the type
12:01to dump your kid
12:02on someone.
12:03I heard Marcus
12:04snickering over there.
12:05My face burned
12:07with embarrassment,
12:07and I quickly
12:08looked away.
12:11Then something
12:11occurred to me,
12:12and I turned back,
12:14puzzled.
12:16Why aren't you
12:17asking why
12:18I left you back then?
12:19Alfred Livingston
12:20thought about it.
12:21You couldn't
12:22feed me,
12:23I guess.
12:24You look pretty broke.
12:26I laughed
12:27in exasperation.
12:28He really knew
12:29how to hit
12:30where it hurt.
12:31He definitely
12:32got that sharp tongue
12:33from that bastard.
12:34Marcus.
12:39Put down
12:40your little bow
12:40and arrow.
12:41All you do
12:42is talk in memes.
12:43I rolled over,
12:44annoyed.
12:45This little brat
12:46didn't even seem
12:47like he missed me.
12:48If Marcus
12:49was telling the truth,
12:50he should be happy
12:51to see me,
12:52at least reaching up
12:53for a hug or something.
12:57I poked his chubby cheek.
13:00Hey,
13:01your dad said you were
13:02whining for your mom.
13:04Is that true?
13:08He looked at me
13:09and shook his head.
13:10No.
13:12I knew it.
13:14I glared at Marcus,
13:16pissed,
13:17but he didn't look
13:18embarrassed at all.
13:20Instead,
13:21he turned it around
13:22and made me the bad guy.
13:23I never thought you'd be
13:25this reluctant
13:25to see your own son.
13:29How cold
13:30and unfeeling.
13:31I looked back
13:32at Alfred.
13:33He looked pretty sad.
13:35Feeling bad,
13:37I rubbed his head
13:37to make him feel better,
13:38but I was rusty
13:40at this parenting thing,
13:41and I ended up
13:42messing up his hair.
13:43He forgot about
13:44being sad.
13:45He clutched his head,
13:46face all scrunched up,
13:48and ran upstairs.
13:52I felt a twinge
13:53of guilt.
13:54Hey, buddy,
13:55are you mad?
13:58Marcus slowly
13:59poured me some water.
14:00He styled his hair
14:02when he heard
14:02you were coming,
14:03and then you went
14:04and messed it up.
14:05Yeah, he's mad.
14:07My lashes fluttered.
14:08For once,
14:09I didn't snap back.
14:11I said calmly,
14:14All right,
14:15spill it.
14:16What's going on?
14:17That whole act
14:18was clearly
14:19to get Alfred
14:19out of the room.
14:21Marcus wanted
14:22to talk to me alone,
14:24and I really wanted
14:25to know why
14:25he went through
14:26all this trouble
14:27to drag me back here.
14:30He grabbed some files
14:31from the bookshelf
14:32and tossed them my way.
14:36Fred is sick.
14:39The doctor said
14:40it was from
14:40prolonged nutrient
14:42deficiency in the wound.
14:46his glands are underdeveloped.
14:50He needs cord blood
14:53from a full sibling
14:55to make some
14:56pheromone induction drugs.
15:02My face dropped.
15:03I was pissed.
15:04Why didn't you say
15:05so from the start?
15:06He sat on something
15:07this critical.
15:09Marcus shot me
15:10a pointed look.
15:16I didn't know
15:17if you'd go for it,
15:17so I wanted to see
15:19how you felt
15:19about Fred.
15:20Good thing
15:21you don't hate him.
15:22Otherwise,
15:22even if I had to force it,
15:24I'd make sure
15:25you carried the baby
15:25to term.
15:27I sighed.
15:28I wasn't exactly
15:29the sentimental type,
15:30but I put Alfred
15:31in this mess.
15:34The least I could do
15:35was get him fixed up.
15:37I jerked my chin
15:39at Marcus.
15:41What do you need
15:42from me?
15:43He looked me
15:43dead in the eye.
15:45You know,
15:46Alpha's gestational
15:47spegs sit deep
15:48and are mostly
15:49atrifriated,
15:51right?
15:53Yeah.
15:56Current IVF tech
15:57can't get them pregnant,
15:59so...
15:59Why beat around
16:00the bush?
16:04I cut straight to it.
16:06So we gotta fuck
16:07till I'm pregnant.
16:08That's it?
16:09Marcus pressed
16:10his lips together.
16:11Something playful
16:12creeping into his eyes.
16:14Yes.
16:15I raised an eyebrow
16:16without hesitation.
16:18Alright.
16:19Then something clicked,
16:21and I wavered.
16:24If I get pregnant,
16:25I can't work.
16:26Will you cover
16:27my lost wages?
16:28Marcus nodded
16:29like it was obvious.
16:32Fair enough.
16:34Give your bank info
16:35to my beta.
16:36He'll transfer you
16:37money every month.
16:39Anything else?
16:40I shook my head.
16:42No.
16:44He gestured,
16:45and the beta
16:46came over.
16:47Marcus pointed at me,
16:48his voice flat.
16:50Take him to bathe.
16:53I cleared my throat.
16:55Cheeks burning.
16:56Already?
16:57Don't we need
16:58to get lunch first?
16:59And...
17:00Don't we need prep?
17:01I'm an alpha,
17:02so I'm tough.
17:04But it still hurts.
17:06Memories of the first time
17:07flooded back.
17:08It was an absolute nightmare.
17:10Marcus was drugged
17:11out of his mind.
17:12Running on pure instinct fast.
17:14Brutal.
17:15Like I was his enemy.
17:18I nearly died
17:19right there in his bed.
17:21Even as a hitman,
17:23I had never gotten hurt
17:24down there.
17:26The pain was one thing,
17:28but the humiliation lingered.
17:31And it messed with my daily life.
17:36This time,
17:37I was hoping he'd go easy on me.
17:40Yeah,
17:41I had a son,
17:42but I had only been fucked once.
17:44He couldn't start with anything
17:45too intense.
17:46I wasn't built for it,
17:48and I wasn't that flexible.
17:50I was kind of nervous inside,
17:52secretly hoping he had gotten
17:54better in bed over the years.
17:56Marcus stepped closer,
17:57backing me against the wall.
18:01One hand braced beside my head.
18:03The other found my waist.
18:05His thumb traced slow circles
18:07over my hip bone,
18:08pressing just hard enough
18:09to hold me there.
18:12He leaned in,
18:13close enough that I could feel
18:15the heat coming off his chest.
18:17But he didn't touch me
18:18anywhere else.
18:19His lips hovered an inch
18:20from my neck,
18:21not quite there.
18:22My breath hitched.
18:24He murmured against my skin,
18:26close enough to ghost over it.
18:28No rush.
18:33I'll get everything ready.
18:35His fingers tightened
18:36on my waist slightly,
18:38then loosened,
18:38like he was stopping himself.
18:41Relax.
18:42I won't stop caring for you
18:44just because you're an alpha.
18:45He pulled back just enough
18:46to look me in the eyes,
18:48his gaze dark,
18:49unhurried,
18:50amused.
18:52It sounded like flirting,
18:54and it gave me a weird,
18:56tingly feeling.
18:57I opened my mouth,
18:58then closed it.
19:00Nothing came out.
19:01Yeah,
19:02he had that rich CEO vibe.
19:04But why was he playing
19:05on the charm with me?
19:06What the hell was this?
19:08Some cheesy romance drama?
19:12Marcus said the best time
19:14to get pregnant was
19:15during his rut.
19:16That was when alphas
19:17were super fertile.
19:18The doctor said his rut
19:19hit next week.
19:21And here I am,
19:22still kind of nervous.
19:26I watched his box
19:27after box of lube
19:28was hauled into the bedroom,
19:29and my smile died.
19:32Seriously?
19:33Did we really need that much?
19:34What did he think I was?
19:36I wasn't made of steel
19:37down there, okay?
19:39Then I caught sight of Alfred
19:41in the doorway
19:42with those round eyes of his,
19:43and I swallowed my panic.
19:45Whatever.
19:46For his health,
19:47I'd suck it up.
19:49Over the past few days,
19:51Marcus Pheromones
19:52had begun to stir.
19:54When he looked up
19:55at me that morning,
19:56his eyes darted briefly
19:58to my lips.
19:59I would have totally missed it
20:00without all that
20:01organization training.
20:03I knew the day
20:04had finally come.
20:07That night,
20:08I jumped in the shower
20:09as soon as I hit the bedroom.
20:12I just got back
20:13from the arena,
20:14reeking of sweat.
20:16If I didn't wash up,
20:18Marcus would break my ribs.
20:21Before I even made it to bed.
20:23No way I was going
20:24head to head with him.
20:27I had no idea
20:28when he got back.
20:30But when I stepped
20:31out of the shower,
20:33he was already sitting
20:34at the edge of the bed
20:35in silence.
20:38Hands braced loosely
20:39at his sides,
20:40his sharp gaze
20:41raking over me.
20:44I froze mid-step,
20:46my throat bobbing.
20:47He crooked his finger
20:48at me.
20:49I relaxed and walked over.
20:52As soon as I got close,
20:53he grabbed my wrist,
20:55yanked me into his arms.
20:58He dipped his head
20:59and sniffed my gland,
21:00voice gravelly.
21:04Scared?
21:07I tensed up,
21:09clutching the sheets
21:10beneath me
21:10as I blinked hard.
21:16No.
21:17Just another job.
21:19If you're gonna do this,
21:20hurry up.
21:21Miss this heat window,
21:22and who knows
21:23when I'll get pregnant again.
21:25Marcus's fertility,
21:27no way it's that strong.
21:29Get alpha pregnant twice,
21:31outside a rut.
21:32That'd be seriously humiliating.
21:35He pinned me down
21:36on the bed.
21:38His hips ground into mine,
21:40slow and hard
21:41at the same time.
21:43I gasped,
21:44then shoved at his chest.
21:50Wait!
21:51He caught my face
21:52in one hand,
21:53thumb pressing
21:54against my lower lip.
21:59Stop fighting me,
22:00he murmured,
22:01and bit my jaw.
22:04He licked the spot
22:05he'd just bitten
22:06and gripped my hip
22:07hard enough to bruise.
22:08I squirmed
22:09against his chest,
22:10my whole body on fire,
22:12struggling to catch my breath.
22:16Hold up!
22:17I panted.
22:18He answered
22:18by dragging his teeth
22:19down my throat.
22:22Wait!
22:23Stop!
22:24Hold up!
22:26Don't!
22:27Marcus paused.
22:28He leaned in,
22:29ear to my lips,
22:31voice rough.
22:35What's up?
22:36My breath came
22:37in ragged bursts.
22:40Halftime.
22:42I begged.
22:43I need a break.
22:49Sure.
22:50He wrapped one arm
22:51around my waist
22:52and shifted us around
22:53so I was sitting
22:53fully in his lap,
22:55giving me something
22:55to hold on to.
22:58I went limp
22:59against him,
22:59squeezing my eyes
23:01shut like my life
23:02was over.
23:03It was just as
23:04overwhelming as it
23:05had been the first time.
23:07I had already
23:07pushed out one baby,
23:09so why the hell
23:10was I still so tight?
23:11It was just like
23:12our first time.
23:14Exhausting and brutal.
23:15Back then,
23:16at least I could
23:17pop some painkillers
23:18halfway through
23:19and let them kick in.
23:22This time,
23:23I had to feel
23:24everything clearly.
23:26I wasn't even done
23:27feeling sorry for myself.
23:29Then the pheromones
23:30in the air
23:31came rushing back.
23:33Marcus'
23:34temperature shot up,
23:35his lips back
23:36on my nape,
23:37rubbing softly.
23:38His dry mouth
23:39rasped against my gland.
23:42The rush so intense
23:43that everything
23:44went blurry.
23:46Don't.
23:47I let out a low moan
23:48before I could
23:49stop myself,
23:50my warning
23:50carrying no weight.
23:52He patted my waist.
23:54Break is over.
23:56I glanced at the
23:57alarm clock
23:58on the knit stand
23:59and snapped.
24:00It's just been
24:01five minutes.
24:02His deep voice
24:03vibrated against
24:04my skin.
24:05He rubbed up
24:06on my gland
24:06and I couldn't tell
24:07what was real anymore.
24:10Time is money.
24:12Can't waste it.
24:13I felt my eye twitch.
24:16Regular alphas
24:17had ruts lasting
24:18three or four days.
24:20S-class ones?
24:21Lycan king?
24:22A solid seven days?
24:25Those seven days,
24:26Marcus worked me over,
24:28cycling through
24:29every impossible
24:29position imaginable.
24:31I was ready
24:32to curse him out
24:33halfway through,
24:34but he had an answer
24:35for everything.
24:39The doctor said
24:40this helps with conception.
24:42Did I buy it?
24:43But I had no choice.
24:48If I didn't get pregnant,
24:50we'd be right back
24:51here next cycle,
24:52and somehow it'd be
24:53my fault for not
24:54trying hard enough.
24:56I finally made it
24:57through Marcus' rut.
24:58I crashed onto the bed,
25:00totally wiped out,
25:01my head pounding
25:02non-stop.
25:05I dragged myself
25:07back to reality
25:07and elbowed him.
25:10Test results
25:11take at least a week.
25:12I gotta work
25:13during that.
25:14He frowned,
25:16genuinely confused.
25:21Work?
25:22You mean the arena fighting?
25:24Didn't my beta pay you?
25:27Why do you still
25:28have to work?
25:28I forced patience
25:29into my voice.
25:31A different job.
25:33I've got nothing
25:33going on anyway,
25:34so I might as well
25:35make some extra money.
25:37Marcus' eyes cut into me,
25:39sharp and unreadable.
25:44Jeffrey,
25:45you always seem broke.
25:47From what I hear,
25:49a fighter of your caliber
25:51earns $2,000 a fight.
25:54You do three or four fights a week,
25:55that's at least $24,000 a month.
25:58So how come you couldn't even
25:59afford the cheapest suppressor?
26:03when I saw you that day?
26:08Just burn through money fast,
26:10I guess.
26:12I looked away
26:13like it was nothing.
26:15Marcus narrowed his eyes.
26:17He didn't buy it for a second,
26:18but he let it drop.
26:21He pulled a black card
26:22from his wallet
26:23and held it out.
26:27Use it when you need money.
26:29I took it,
26:30stunned,
26:31and asked on a strange impulse.
26:34We barely know each other.
26:37And you're handing me your card?
26:39You really don't think
26:40I'll take your money
26:41and do something dirty with it?
26:44When they trace it back,
26:45you can't prove it wasn't you.
26:49Don't forget,
26:50I'm a hitman.
26:51Marcus leaned back
26:52against the headboard,
26:53checking me out
26:54like he had all the time
26:55in the world.
26:57Instead,
26:58he said with absolute certainty,
27:01you won't.
27:02I felt exposed,
27:04hot with embarrassment,
27:05and snarled.
27:07What makes you so sure?
27:09He chuckled softly,
27:11twining his fingers
27:12through my sweaty hair.
27:17When I brought Fred home,
27:19I looked into you.
27:21You've done 31 missions
27:22over the years.
27:24All your targets
27:25were dead weight in office,
27:27corrupt officials,
27:28and moral degenerates.
27:30You might not be a saint,
27:31but you're no villain either.
27:36That's beneath you.
27:37His words got my blood pumping.
27:39For a second there,
27:40I almost believed
27:41I was some kind of hero.
27:43I pursed my lips and shut up,
27:45no longer bugging him
27:46about going back to work.
27:50What he meant was obvious.
27:52If he wanted to dig,
27:54he'd find everything.
27:55There was no point
27:56hiding stuff from him.
27:59So I used his card
28:01for everything.
28:02A week went by.
28:05To my surprise,
28:06I wasn't pregnant.
28:08That made absolutely no sense.
28:10Last time,
28:11I got pregnant
28:12even when Marcus
28:13wasn't in rut.
28:14This time,
28:15we did everything right.
28:16So why nothing?
28:20I looked at him.
28:21His face was blank,
28:23giving nothing away.
28:24He had to be upset,
28:26probably questioning himself.
28:28But then again,
28:29he was almost 30 age
28:31caught up with everyone.
28:32Great sex didn't mean anything
28:33if we couldn't make a baby.
28:38I gave Marcus a knowing pat
28:40on the shoulder.
28:40As a guy myself,
28:42I got it.
28:43Now that I thought about it,
28:45he should be thanking me.
28:46If I hadn't given him a son
28:48three years ago,
28:49he'd still be praying for one.
28:51My mind was racing
28:53with all kinds of wild thoughts.
28:55Then I turned.
28:57And saw Marcus' face
28:59go serious.
29:00He slid the report
29:02across to me.
29:03I looked down.
29:05My report read.
29:06Chronic administration
29:07of aphrodisiac drugs.
29:09Alpha gland atrophy observed.
29:12Reproductive cavity
29:13demonstrates diminished viability.
29:16He jabbed at the report,
29:18his words coming out
29:19hard and slow.
29:21Jeffrey,
29:22you'd better start
29:23explaining yourself.
29:25Yeah,
29:26he deserved to know.
29:28After all,
29:29we were in this together.
29:30I felt his eyes
29:31burning a hole in my head.
29:33I tried to find
29:35the right words.
29:38Remember when you asked
29:39why I'm so broke?
29:42Three years ago,
29:44everyone in the organization
29:45was being hunted down.
29:48I was on the run
29:49when some young guy
29:50saved me.
29:52He took seven bullets
29:53and was barely
29:54clinging to life.
29:55My face was on
29:57every wanted poster,
29:58so I couldn't take him
29:59to a proper hospital.
30:01I carried him
30:03to some back alley clinic
30:04instead.
30:05The doctor saw his chance
30:07and gouged me on the price.
30:08I couldn't pay,
30:10so he offered a deal.
30:12I could work it off
30:14with my pheromones
30:15after I gave birth.
30:17$5,000 per vial.
30:19I gave 10 vials in total.
30:25You know the rest.
30:28Six months ago,
30:30I found that arena
30:30and started fighting for money.
30:32I spilled everything,
30:34but Marcus went quiet,
30:36thinking hard.
30:38Finally,
30:39he asked,
30:39You said you were being hunted
30:41three years ago?
30:42Where?
30:42November 1345
30:44Industrial Road,
30:46Las Vegas.
30:47He narrowed his eyes.
30:49Is that young guy
30:50still alive?
30:51Somehow,
30:52his question dripped
30:53with barely contained fury.
30:57He's a vegetable,
30:59still receiving treatment
31:01at that same clinic.
31:02What's wrong?
31:05Marcus sneered,
31:07his voice turning menacing.
31:11Perfect.
31:12Now I were to find him.
31:14He got up,
31:15his long fingers
31:16grazing the gland
31:17at the back of my neck,
31:18pressing down twice,
31:20firm but not rough.
31:23Now,
31:23it's time for some people to pay.
31:26I got in the car with Marcus.
31:28While waiting at a red light,
31:30he made a quick call.
31:34Yeah, I'll send you the address.
31:36Bring more guys over
31:37and raid that place in one go.
31:40He sounded seriously pissed.
31:43I sat there with my hands folded,
31:45quietly on edge.
31:47What the hell did Ethan Morse do
31:48to get on Marcus's bad side?
31:50Was that sketchy Dr. Cedric Bowen
31:52behind this?
31:56Completely baffled,
31:57I stared at Marcus,
31:59wanting to ask
31:59but not daring to.
32:01He kept his eyes
32:03on the road ahead,
32:04then suddenly said
32:05out of nowhere,
32:06go ahead.
32:07What do you want to ask?
32:12Who are we going after?
32:14I asked.
32:15He gave me a long look,
32:17then dodged my question.
32:20You dumped Fred on me
32:21because of that guy,
32:22didn't you?
32:23I looked away.
32:24Not exactly.
32:26He let out a cold laugh.
32:29Trying to cover for him?
32:31He was being weirdly snarky,
32:33but I knew better than
32:34to take it personally.
32:36He was probably mad
32:37for Alfred's sake,
32:39thinking it wasn't fair to him.
32:42But I had to set the record straight.
32:44I wasn't about to let
32:46innocent people take the fall.
32:49I didn't dump Fred
32:51to save money
32:52for Ethan's treatment.
32:53It was the whole
32:54registration thing.
32:57I was a hitman
32:58with people after me.
32:59Having him on my record
33:00would be way too risky.
33:03I might be cold,
33:04but I wasn't evil.
33:05I didn't want to drag
33:06some innocent kid
33:07in my mess.
33:08After I said my piece,
33:09Marcus' face relaxed a bit,
33:11his body no longer
33:13as tense as before.
33:15But he still wouldn't tell me
33:17what he was actually up to.
33:18He kept it a secret,
33:20and it was driving me nuts.
33:21It was a four-hour drive
33:23from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
33:25I sat in the passenger seat,
33:27uneasy and restless.
33:31If Marcus was going after Cedric,
33:33I'd be all for it.
33:35But obviously he wasn't
33:36letting anyone off easy.
33:39I fiddled with the dagger
33:40in my hand,
33:41distracted.
33:44By the time I came back
33:45to my senses,
33:46the car had stopped.
33:50Marcus got out
33:51and walked straight
33:52into that creepy-looking clinic.
33:54I followed right behind him.
33:58The door flew open
34:00as he picked it in.
34:01Cedric came stomping over
34:02at the commotion.
34:04What's going on?
34:05No consultations today.
34:07Go on home.
34:08He froze mid-sentence
34:09when he saw who it was.
34:12Well, Mr. Livingston,
34:14to what do I owe the pleasure?
34:16Then his eyes landed on me,
34:17and he furrowed his brow.
34:25Mr. Livingston,
34:26don't listen to his nonsense.
34:27I'm running a clean business here.
34:29No price gouging,
34:30I promise.
34:31That's bullshit.
34:32With me,
34:33he acted like a ruthless
34:34lone shark,
34:35but in front of Marcus,
34:37he was all bows and scrapes.
34:39I hadn't even finished
34:40thinking what a piece of work
34:41he was when Marcus
34:42booted him out of the way
34:45and strode straight
34:46into the back room.
34:49In the room,
34:51Ethan was lying there
34:52on the bed,
34:53not moving.
34:55Marcus leaned against the wall,
34:56his eyes narrowing.
34:59Name your price.
35:00How much to finish him off?
35:03Before I could get a word out,
35:05Cedric stepped in front of the bed
35:07with a shaky grin.
35:12Come on, Mr. Livingston.
35:14I'm a doctor,
35:15and I save lives.
35:16I don't do that kind of stuff.
35:19I subtly rolled my eyes.
35:21Then it all clicked.
35:24Cedric never gave a damn
35:26who lived or died.
35:27Back when I couldn't pay,
35:29he said.
35:30No money,
35:31no care for Ethan.
35:33Let him rot.
35:34But now,
35:35he was willing to piss off Marcus
35:37just to keep Ethan breathing.
35:39The truth was,
35:41they had been working together
35:42all along.
35:44My rage flared up.
35:45I balled up my fists
35:47and was about to storm in
35:48when Marcus grabbed my arm.
35:50He patted the back of my hand,
35:52telling me to cool it.
35:55I gritted my teeth,
35:57swallowing my anger
35:58as I stepped back.
36:00Marcus stepped up to the bed.
36:02He stared down at Ethan,
36:04whose breathing was getting ragged.
36:08Get the hell up!
36:09He barked.
36:11You think I'm stupid or what?
36:16Ethan bolted upright
36:18and dropped to his knees.
36:21Cedric also flinched in terror,
36:23his legs giving out
36:24as he collapsed to the floor.
36:26Both of them went white as sheets,
36:28trembling as they begged for mercy.
36:31Mr. Livingston,
36:32we're sorry.
36:34We were just trying
36:35to scam some money together.
36:37We meant no harm.
36:38Marcus scoffed.
36:40No harm?
36:44Taking ten vials of Jeffrey's pheromones,
36:46is that what you call no harm?
36:52Cedric,
36:53I've always turned a blind eye
36:55to your antics
36:55out of respect for your dad.
36:57But you went after
36:58the wrong person this time.
37:01You're done.
37:02Right on cue,
37:03several bodyguards in sharp black suits
37:05showed up out of nowhere.
37:07They grabbed the two
37:08and hauled them out.
37:10Marcus wasn't rushing off,
37:12though.
37:13He took his sweet time
37:14going through the ledger,
37:15bossing his people around
37:16to load everything up.
37:20I was stunned.
37:21So he brought the whole crew
37:23to grab the money.
37:25I was wondering why we needed
37:27so many hands
37:27for just two guys.
37:30I could have handled them myself,
37:32quick and easy.
37:33It turned out that he needed
37:35muscle to move the goods.
37:40Get over here.
37:41Marcus waved me over.
37:42I sauntered up,
37:44playing it cool.
37:46Yeah?
37:46He pointed at where
37:48I had been standing.
37:49Pry that open.
37:51I glanced down
37:52at the ledger in his hands,
37:53puzzled.
37:54Why had they bought
37:55so much rubber?
37:57Curiosity burned in me,
37:59but I didn't dare
38:00open my mouth.
38:01Marcus' face darkened,
38:02and he looked seriously pissed,
38:04like he had walked in
38:06on his wife with another guy.
38:08The wooden planks gave way
38:09and cracked open,
38:10revealing a hidden tunnel
38:12stretching down into nothing.
38:14Marcus took my hand
38:16and pulled me in.
38:17It was cramped
38:18and dark at first,
38:19but pretty soon,
38:20it got brighter,
38:21and row after row
38:22of medical beds showed up,
38:24each with a body on it.
38:27I stepped up
38:28for a closer look.
38:31I mumbled,
38:33rubber products.
38:36Sex dolls,
38:38in other words.
38:40They pumped real pheromones
38:41into fake glands,
38:43so they looked exactly
38:44like living,
38:45breathing people.
38:47Rich people really have
38:48no limits when it comes
38:49to this stuff.
38:51I thought.
38:52I was about to tease Marcus,
38:54asking if he wanted
38:55to pick one out
38:56to practice on,
38:57when he started checking
38:58the numbers one by one.
39:00He went through the whole lot,
39:01then scowled and cursed
39:03under his breath.
39:04Shit,
39:05shit,
39:05I knew it.
39:06Not here.
39:11What's not here?
39:12I asked.
39:13He shot me an irritated glance.
39:15Your pheromone batch.
39:18Oh.
39:19I froze for a split second,
39:21then stared back blankly.
39:22I laughed it off.
39:24Looks like I'm quite
39:24the valuable commodity.
39:26No wonder they said
39:27one vial
39:27and kept coming back
39:28for ten.
39:29I was really
39:30their cash cow.
39:31I flipped through
39:32the ledger,
39:33doing the math
39:34on how much Cedric
39:35had made off me.
39:36One vial of pheromones
39:38made two sex dolls,
39:39and each sold
39:40for $30,000.
39:42That put him
39:42$550,000
39:44in my debt.
39:45I nudged Marcus,
39:47looking like
39:48a total cheapskate.
39:50Don't forget
39:51to wire the rest
39:52to my account later.
39:53But when I looked up,
39:55his face had gone
39:56even stormier.
39:59You know what
40:00those things are for,
40:01right?
40:01He snarled
40:02through his teeth.
40:05Yeah,
40:05obviously.
40:06I nodded.
40:07He threw his head back,
40:09took a deep breath,
40:10and laughed
40:11out of sheer frustration.
40:14Then get moving.
40:16You seriously
40:17want your sex doll
40:18ending up
40:18in some other guy's bed?
40:20I shrugged,
40:21not giving a damn.
40:24So what?
40:26Out of sight,
40:27out of mind.
40:27And honestly,
40:29I'm the last person
40:30who should feel
40:30embarrassed here.
40:32Marcus was left
40:32speechless.
40:33He seemed to think
40:34I had a point,
40:35but his face
40:36stayed stormy.
40:38I didn't know
40:39what got into me,
40:40but I snapped back
40:42uncharacteristically.
40:42And it meant
40:43it's my face on them.
40:45What's got you
40:46so worked up?
40:47I turned back
40:48to the pile of dolls,
40:49poking around
40:50like some kind
40:51of expert
40:51critiquing them.
40:53Pretty decent
40:54quality, though.
40:57Hey,
40:58maybe I'll open
40:59my own sex toy shop
41:00after the baby comes.
41:03I'm curious
41:04how they even
41:04make these.
41:07You should go
41:08squeeze Cedric
41:09for the details.
41:11But no real faces,
41:12or we're asking
41:13for lawsuits.
41:15I rattled on and on,
41:16but the guy next to me
41:17had gone dead silent.
41:19I glanced back,
41:20confused.
41:22Marcus was staring
41:23at me,
41:23his face blank.
41:24He sized me up
41:25from head to toe,
41:26his eyes dark
41:27and piercing.
41:29A good while
41:30passed before
41:31he snapped out
41:31of it,
41:32nodding like
41:33he had finally
41:33wised up.
41:35You're right.
41:36No point
41:37getting worked up.
41:38His voice
41:38was totally flat,
41:40no fight
41:40left in it at all.
41:42Something weird
41:43and twisty
41:44flared in my gut.
41:45I shook it off hard.
41:46I had no time
41:48for whatever
41:48that was.
41:49I had to deal
41:50with this whole mess
41:51and do my baby
41:51making duty.
41:54The doctor said
41:55my reproductive cavity
41:56was running low
41:57on juice.
41:58So Marcus
41:59bites my nape
42:00every single day,
42:02flooding me
42:03with pheromones.
42:05Now I get it.
42:07Why women
42:08would pray
42:09their hearts out,
42:11blow fortunes,
42:12just to get pregnant.
42:14If this kept up,
42:16I was going to
42:16lose my mind too.
42:18Luckily,
42:19all that effort
42:20paid off.
42:23I finally got
42:24pregnant with
42:25our second baby.
42:26He grew fast
42:27and my belly
42:28was starting to
42:28show in no time.
42:32Alfred kept
42:32circling around me
42:33every day,
42:34wanting to say
42:35something but
42:35holding back.
42:38I had my legs
42:39crossed,
42:40munching on an
42:41apple like I
42:41didn't have a care
42:42in the world.
42:46Hey, what's up?
42:47Got something to
42:48say?
42:48Just say it
42:49or go practice
42:50your archery.
42:51He walked up
42:52to me,
42:53looking downcast.
42:57Are you gonna
42:58be like those
42:58parents only
42:59caring about
43:00the baby brother
43:00and treating
43:01me like nothing?
43:02I found it
43:03kind of funny.
43:04No one would
43:05ever dare
43:06treat you like
43:06that.
43:11Marcus didn't
43:11seem like the
43:12type to play
43:13favorites.
43:15Me, once
43:16I popped
43:16this baby
43:17out, I'd
43:18leave.
43:23Marcus named
43:24our second
43:24baby Felix,
43:25saying he
43:26hoped the
43:26family would
43:27always be
43:27lively and
43:28bustling.
43:29He turned
43:30to ask what
43:30I thought,
43:31but I was
43:32fully focused
43:32on playing
43:33chess with
43:33Alfred.
43:35I waved
43:36my hand,
43:36and indicated
43:37that he could
43:37decide for
43:38himself.
43:39Even after
43:40I had been
43:40disobedient,
43:41Marcus was
43:42still dissatisfied
43:43and left
43:43with a cold
43:44face.
43:45So ungrateful.
43:47I clicked
43:48my tongue
43:49lightly.
43:51When he
43:52came back
43:52later, I
43:53would definitely
43:54curse him
43:54behind his
43:55back.
43:58Before I
43:59even had
43:59time to have
44:00a minor
44:00outburst,
44:01something
44:01happened to
44:02Marcus.
44:06Marcus.
44:06He got
44:07into a
44:07fight with
44:08someone at
44:08a banquet.
44:11When I
44:11went to
44:12pick him
44:12up,
44:14Marcus's
44:15pheromones
44:15were wildly
44:16leaking out
44:17of control.
44:20I was
44:20nearly
44:21overwhelmed
44:21by the
44:22sheer force
44:22of them.
44:23I covered
44:24my mouth
44:25and nose,
44:25took two
44:26steps forward
44:27into his
44:27line of
44:28sight.
44:28Marcus
44:29suddenly raised
44:30his eyes,
44:30reacting with
44:31the speed
44:32of a wild
44:32beast.
44:34Fortunately,
44:34he still
44:35recognized me.
44:37Those dark,
44:38heavy eyes
44:39quietly relaxed
44:40the moment
44:40they saw me
44:41clearly,
44:41shedding their
44:42guard.
44:43I also
44:44relaxed my
44:45tense back
44:45and walked
44:46over with
44:46the suppressant.
44:51Marcus
44:51sat on the
44:52sofa with
44:52his hands
44:53clasped and
44:53resting on
44:54his knees,
44:55his deep
44:55eyes unblinking
44:56as they fixed
44:57on my
44:57movements.
44:59His gaze
45:00was obscure,
45:01like a
45:01bottomless,
45:02dried up
45:03well that
45:03could not
45:03be seen
45:04through.
45:05I asked
45:06him while
45:06unpacking
45:07the suppressant,
45:08why are
45:09you staring
45:09at me
45:09like that?
45:11Marcus
45:12said nothing
45:12and did
45:13not move
45:13his gaze
45:14away from
45:14me.
45:15Suddenly,
45:15he covered
45:16his face
45:16and laughed
45:17for no
45:17apparent
45:18reason.
45:19What was
45:19he thinking
45:20about?
45:20It was
45:21downright
45:21unsettling.
45:24Forget it
45:25if I was
45:25helping
45:26someone,
45:26I might
45:27as well
45:27see it
45:28through.
45:30I grabbed
45:31Marcus's
45:32arm,
45:32accurately
45:33inserted
45:33the needle
45:34into the
45:34vein.
45:36Just as I
45:37tossed the
45:37waste into
45:38the trash,
45:39prepared to
45:39leave,
45:40Marcus
45:41finally spoke.
45:43I can't.
45:45Marcus
45:46wrapped an
45:46arm around
45:46my waist.
45:48I can't
45:49calm down
45:49and I'm
45:50furious.
45:51When that
45:51Omega talked
45:52about your
45:52pheromone
45:52products today,
45:53I wanted
45:53nothing more
45:54than to
45:54tear him
45:54to pieces.
45:57I was
45:57startled by
45:58the ferocity
45:59in his
45:59eyes.
46:00My body
46:01instinctively
46:01retreated after
46:02sensing danger
46:03and I
46:03subconsciously
46:04assumed a
46:05stance ready
46:05to attack.
46:07Marcus
46:07closed his
46:08eyes briefly
46:09and forced
46:09that killing
46:10intent down.
46:11Don't be
46:12afraid,
46:12I won't
46:13hurt you.
46:15I was
46:16just a bit
46:16out of
46:17control.
46:17I'll be
46:18fine in a
46:18while.
46:19I nodded,
46:21unsure of
46:21what to
46:21say.
46:23I could
46:24only let
46:24Marcus press
46:25me down
46:25to sit
46:26on his
46:26lap.
46:27He lowered
46:28his head
46:28to greedily
46:29inhale the
46:30scent of
46:30my glands.
46:33He raised
46:34a hand to
46:34touch my
46:35round belly
46:36and discussed
46:36it with
46:36me.
46:38After the
46:38child is
46:39born,
46:39stay.
46:41Shall we
46:42live together?
46:45I looked
46:46down at
46:46his hand,
46:47those fingers
46:48that had
46:48broken bones,
46:49pulled
46:50triggers,
46:50now resting
46:51so gently
46:52on the
46:52swell of
46:53my
46:53pregnancy.
46:54I covered
46:55his hand
46:55with mine.
46:58Okay.
46:59I was
46:59lying.
47:00After the
47:01second baby's
47:02full moon
47:02ceremony,
47:03I was
47:04ready to
47:04run.
47:07The
47:08moment I
47:08stepped out
47:09the front
47:09door,
47:10more than
47:10a dozen
47:10bodyguards
47:11followed
47:12behind me.
47:14I was
47:15furious and
47:16called
47:16Marcus.
47:17You
47:18bastard!
47:19What do
47:19you mean
47:19by this?
47:20You're
47:20spying on
47:21me!
47:21On the
47:22other
47:22end of
47:22the
47:22line
47:22came
47:23Marcus's
47:23extremely
47:24delighted
47:24laughter.
47:27Jeffrey,
47:28from the
47:28moment you
47:29agreed to
47:29stay with
47:30me,
47:30there was
47:31no way
47:31out.
47:32Come
47:33back
47:33now.
47:36Tonight,
47:37we'll try
47:37something new.
47:39Fuck,
47:39now it was
47:40done.
47:41I had
47:41fallen into
47:42Marcus's
47:42hand.
47:45For the
47:45rest of
47:46my life,
47:46I could
47:47only let
47:47him do
47:48whatever
47:48he wanted.
47:49he wanted
47:53I