My Shifter

After being scratched by the fox-shifter for the umpteenth time, I went to the hospital alone.

The nurse grumbled, That gash is deep, its definitely going to scar. Has your shifter ever received proper socialization training?

I gave a wry smile, He has. He was an honor student.

My phone suddenly buzzed.

Leo, uncharacteristically, sent a flurry of messages: Just a scratch, do you really need to go to the hospital?

Im hungry, come back and make me dinner.

Im starving with you.

You really dont take good care of me.

Was that truly what he thought?

I turned and walked to the Shifter Registry: Id like to exchange my shifter.

The staff at the Shifter Registry were very polite.

She asked, as per procedure, You and your shifter have been registered for over a year; youll be eligible for bonding soon.

Why are you choosing to exchange your shifter now?

A bitter taste filled my mouth.

It had been a year already, huh?

I had once looked forward to the bonding ritual, excitedly discussing ring styles with Leo.

Leo would sneer, his lips curling mockingly: Do you think youre worthy of me?

Crying wont help. I will absolutely not bond with you.

Let me tell you something, inferior human, crying is truly disgusting.

I was indeed a lower-tier human, only capable of basic work.

Despite my best efforts, I couldn't meet the living standards Leo desired.

In fact, being able to acquire a pure-blood fox-shifter like Leo was an accident.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, He doesn't like me.

One could even say he despises me.

The receptionist looked surprised, Trained shifters are always devoted to their owners.

Normally, a problem like this would never occur.

Yes, a problem that shouldn't occur, happened to me.

I tried to smile lightly, Maybe I just have bad luck.

The staff member showed an apologetic expression, It seems our training was flawed.

Please dont blame yourself.

Please follow me.

Purchasing Leo had cost me fifty thousand credits.

I could choose a replacement from shifters in the same price range.

My gaze swept over faces that were slightly less striking than Leos, but still beautiful.

Their profiles read:

Fox, Leopard.

I hesitated, Are there any others?

I wanted a canine shifter.

A Golden Retriever, preferably.

I heard that Golden Retriever shifters are very fond of humans.

Even an inferior human like me should be well-liked by them, right?

The staff member maintained a polite smile, None at the moment.

However, shifter breeding is quick; the next batch will be available in about two months.

As compensation, youll have priority selection then.

I nodded.

As the staff member saw me out, an unstuck photo fell from her binder.

The man in the photo had cold, vertical gray pupils, a high nose bridge, broad shoulders, and a narrow waista strikingly sharp beauty.

He was a Werewolf.

The staff member sighed, Hes actually our most obedient shifter here.

Management wants to try opening a new market.

But everyone is afraid of werewolves going wild.

The boss fears losses, so theyre selling him to the fighting pits today.

But hes been trained to be very gentle since he was little; going to the fighting pits means certain death.

No one wants him, its really pitiful.

No one wanted him?

No one wanted me either.

But

The staff members sigh grew heavier, I heard that in the fighting pits, hell be torn to pieces.

You wont even be able to pick him up.

That would be very painful.

Werewolves are also a type of dog, right?

I stopped, Is he really obedient?

The staff members eyes lit up, Yes, really.

Then Ill take this one.

The staff member said the werewolf would be delivered in three days.

I carefully put the exchange agreement into my bag.

On the way home, from a distance, I saw Leo and Clara.

The white-haired shifter was bathed in the twilight, his features deep and exquisite, like a work of art.

Clara was a higher-tier human from the neighboring district.

Smart and elegant.

Completely unlike me.

After meeting Leo, she often came by to deliver high-grade nutrient solutions.

The two of them were also unusually close.

My steps slowed.

Clara saw me, Elara, off to work again?

She gave a subtle smile, Elara, Im not saying anything, but even if youre about to bond with Leo, you should still dress up.

Look at what youre wearing really

Walking on the street, who would believe you two are a couple?

I looked at my simple t-shirt and jeans, then at her beautiful dress:

I think this is fine.

Leo didnt look at me, his voice low, She doesnt look good dressed up either.

Might as well pretend she doesnt know how to dress up.

Saves people from saying shes genuinely ugly.

Clara playfully hit his arm, Leo, how can you talk about a girl like that!

Leo curled his lips.

It was a perfect smile, yet full of mockery, Youre trying to be nice to her, and she still thinks youre meddling.

Inferior humans cant understand the thoughts of higher-tier humans.

Being bought by her was truly the worst luck of my life.

Actually, Leo wasnt always like this.

Even if I couldn't provide him with the high-grade nutrient solution a top-tier shifter needed, even if the clothes I bought would chafe his delicate skin.

Leo always firmly maintained that meeting me was a stroke of luck.

The turning point came when we encountered Leos former competitor, a Red Fox-shifter, on the street.

My bag dropped to the ground, and Leo helped me pick up the scattered items.

The Red Fox-shifter got out of his car and stepped right on Leos hand.

He exclaimed, Oh, isnt this the most popular Leo?

How did you end up with such an ugly, inferior human?

Well, I suppose a defective product with an inferior human, it just fits.

Leo locked himself in the house for a night, and I stood guard by the door all night.

I told him it was wrong to categorize people into different tiers, so Leo being classified as defective by the Shifter Registry shouldn't matter.

We were living perfectly well, weren't we?

Leo opened his door, his eyes red and swollen:

Youve never lived in the heavens, so of course, you think being trash isnt bad.

Later, he met Clara.

Clara came from a noble background and could offer Leo many things.

They grew increasingly familiar; sometimes, while chatting, Clara would lean against him.

I cautiously brought it up once, Youre my shifter, can you keep your distance from Clara?

Leo gave me a condescending glance.

Both cold and hateful.

He said, Elara, if I hadnt had that defect, how could you possibly have acquired me?

You merely took advantage of my misfortune.

By what right do you put on airs as my owner?

But, it was Leo who begged me to save him then.

In this new era, male shifters bear the function of reproduction for humans.

As the most exceptional shifter, Leo had fetched an exorbitant price at the trading house before his infertility was discovered.

A non-reproductive shifter was unwanted.

Even at a discounted price of fifty thousand credits, he was considered useless among humans with reproductive needs.

The higher-ups intended to send him to the red-light district to recoup their investment.

That day, I happened to be going to purchase a shifter of my own.

Leo broke through his restraints, kneeling before me, Please, save me.

He looked up, crying, tears like pearls streaming from his beautiful eyes.

Ill be very good to you; Ill become your family.

I dont want to die, please.

I had no family since childhood, growing up in an orphanage.

Leos words touched me.

Although I loved children, having one family member seemed just right.

I spent all my savings and took out a loan to buy Leo.

Fearing to hurt Leos pride, I never brought up the past.

I never expected to hear it from him again, twisted into me taking advantage of his misfortune.

I argued with Leo.

During the dispute, I touched his hand.

He instinctively pushed me away with a fierce shove.

A sharp table corner cut my arm, leaving a gash deep enough to show bone.

Leo froze for a moment, but still didnt move, If you hadnt tried to touch me, how would you have gotten hurt?

Its all your own doing.

He didnt even want to accompany me to the hospital, Im going shopping with Clara today.

Besides, my presence wont lessen your pain.

You have hands and feet; dont blame everything on me.

As the nurse dressed my wound, she sighed, Such a deep gash will definitely scar.

Itll ache on rainy days.

You and your shifter are so incompatible; maybe its time to give up.

I suddenly understood.

Right, I could give up.

Leo and I didnt need to be bound together for life.

My thoughts returned.

I spoke, interrupting Leos movement to close the door, Leo, do you truly feel that being with me is a torment?

Leos body stiffened, but when he turned, he still wore that mocking expression, Yes.

But an inferior human like you, who got such a bargain with me, would you really be willing to let go?

Ill be stuck with a persistent pest for life.

I exhaled.

It seemed my decision was correct.

Leo, not getting a reply from me, impatiently flicked his drooping tail against the floor, What exactly do you want to say?

I looked down, picking at my fingertips, Ive prepared a gift for you. Youll find out in a few days.

A fleeting, unidentifiable emotion flickered across Leos face.

It seemed to be anticipation.

But quickly, he resumed his mocking tone, Not another batch of low-purity nutrient solution that even dogs wouldnt drink, is it?

Ill just have to waste my energy pouring it down the toilet.

I answered very seriously, No, its the thing you want most.

Freedom.

Leo tossed out a better be, and shut the door tight.