Chapter 3

After that night, I was carrying the heirs of three clans at once.

Rabbit.

Wolf.

Fox.

The news threw the entire shifter world into an uproar.

Once the clans learned I could carry heirs from different bloodlines at the same time, they began dreaming of an endless future of descendants.

Over the days that followed, Rowan, Fenrir, and Kael took turns caring for me.

Rowan had always been gentle and attentive. He handled my meals, my medicine, and every small detail of my daily life.

Fenrir was not good with words, but every day he brought back the best game he could find, determined to keep me strong.

Kael was the lightest presence of all. He stayed at my side, making jokes and trying to keep me smiling.

There were moments when I almost believed they cared for me.

Almost believed they saw me as something more than the means to continue their bloodlines.

But I knew better than to expect human morality from shifters.

Carrying three bloodlines weakened me badly.

The clan healer examined me and warned that the pregnancy was too dangerous.

“If you carry all three to term,” he said gravely, “you may not survive the birth.”

He advised them to choose one bloodline to let go.

None of them would.

Fenrir was the first to refuse.

“This was supposed to be the wolf clan’s turn. If anyone steps aside, it should be one of you.”

Kael paced the room, his expression strained.

“This is the fox clan’s first heir in generations. I can’t be the one to give that up.”

Rowan looked toward the little graves in the yard, his voice distant.

“The rabbit clan is weak. We can’t compete with the others.

“If we lose this chance, who knows how long we’ll have to wait for another?”

Then he turned back to me and softened his voice.

“Ayla, you’ll be fine. I’ll find the best healer in every territory.”

Just then, the system appeared again.

[Host, you may relinquish the rabbit heir. The rabbit-clan continuation task is already complete.]

Its voice was unusually urgent.

[As long as the wolf and fox heirs are born, you may still return to your original world. There is no need to take this risk.]

Ever since I became pregnant with Rowan’s child, the system had been pleading with me every day.

Again and again.

I had already given birth thirteen times in this world.

After every birth, the system would go dormant for a while, drained by the energy it had expended.

At first, I had not been completely sure.

But now, watching its panic, I knew my guess had been right.

I would go home.

But I would not let the system that had trapped me here walk away untouched.

I rested a hand over my swollen stomach and smiled faintly.

“No. I’m not giving up any of them.

“They’ll be here in a week. I’m looking forward to meeting them.”

Because the moment they arrived would be the moment I left.

All three men let out a breath of relief.

“The wolf clan is strong,” Fenrir said. “I’ll protect you from now on.”

“The fox clan will protect you too,” Kael added. “I don’t care about the black serpent clan, the bear clan, or anyone else.”

Rowan looked at me with hopeful eyes.

“When the rabbit baby is born, we can live happily together again. Just like before.”

I smiled and nodded.

Inside, I laughed.

Shifters' promises were worth nothing.

For the sake of bloodlines, they would say anything.

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

When the day finally came, the pain was worse than anything I had ever endured.

I clutched the sheets as wave after wave of agony tore through me.

Outside the room, Fenrir and Kael had no idea what to do.

“Is she going to be all right?” Fenrir asked, his voice tight.

“She sounds like she’s in so much pain,” Kael said. “What if something happens?”

“Stop saying that.”

Rowan stood at the door with his fists clenched, staring through the narrow opening.

“Ayla will be fine. She’s done this before.

“She’ll be safe this time too.”

But I could not hear them.

The pain swallowed everything.

At last, after hours that felt endless, three cries filled the room one after another.

[Ding. Congratulations, Host. Bloodline Continuation Mission complete. Preparing return to original world.]

At last.

I was free.

Then the healer suddenly cried out.

“She’s too weak. We can’t stop the bleeding!”

At the same time, the system’s voice rang out again.

[Ding. System energy depleted. Initiating self-destruction protocol.]

[Destruction countdown: three… two…]

As darkness closed over me, I heard the system laugh.

[Host, do you really think destroying me means you’re free?]

[I left you a parting gift.]

[Enjoy it.]