The Stars Never Favor Me

The conversation in the living room was still going.

They thought I was still asleep.

I lowered my gaze, letting the dim bedside lamp cast its glow over the red marks scattered across my wrists and legs—all of them intimate, all of them theirs.

"She's not going to give all three of us to her sister."

"Yeah. At least one of us is staying."

"Tch. Carol's dull and boring. If you want to stay, go ahead. I'm not."

"...Neither am I."

"Whatever. Let fate decide. Is she awake yet?"

"No way. She was crying so hard she nearly passed out. She's not waking up anytime soon."

"So weak."

"Let's just keep going for a few more days once she comes to. She'll give up eventually."

My vision went black. Pale and shaking, I fumbled for my phone and called Melissa.

She picked up right away. "What's up, sis?"

My voice was hollow with desperation. "You said you were unsatisfied before, right? I'll give you all three of mine. Just give me your snake beastman instead."

There was a pause on her end—not a refusal, just hesitation. "Are you sure? Are they okay with it?"

I went quiet for a moment. "They really like you."

She understood. And honestly? It was true.

Everyone liked Melissa more.

She thought for a second. "Fine. Your place is small anyway—it was never easy keeping all three of them there. But... my snake beastman is really cold, you know. Completely distant."

"Good. That's perfect. I don't even want to do that with him. I'm so drained lately I can barely function. As long as he helps around the house, I'm fine. I'm just scared he'll be like these three wolves..."

She laughed. "Don't worry about that. I haven't even fully tamed him yet. He won't be interested in you."

Before I could respond, she sealed the deal. "I'll come pick them up in three days."

---

I hung up and let my mind drift back to the day I first met the three wolves.

It had been a damp, rainy afternoon when I found them. Three little wolf cubs, collapsed on the concrete, their fur matted together with blood.

I almost walked away.

Then one of them wagged its tail—just a little—and slowly hooked it around my ankle.

I couldn't leave them after that. I dragged them home with everything I had.

Under my care, they recovered quickly. Before long, they'd all shifted into their beastman forms.

I should have sent them away. But the beastman shelter told me they'd already imprinted on me—they saw me as their owner. If I abandoned them now, it would cause them serious psychological damage.

Looking into those three pairs of beautiful eyes, my heart softened. I kept them.

They said they had no names, so I named them: Kevin. Brian. George.

Young, hot-blooded wolf beastmen with more energy than they knew what to do with.

Even in human form, they couldn't stop their ears and tails from twitching. They clung to me every day, needy and relentless.

Then one day, Melissa called while I was trying to push George off my chest.

"I picked up three injured wolf cubs a while back," I complained. "They shifted recently, and now they won't leave me alone. I can barely handle them."

There was a beat of silence on the other end. "Lucky you. My snake beastman won't even let me touch him."

I paused, then tried to comfort her. "He'll warm up to you eventually."

Melissa didn't argue. Just gave a soft hum.

The next day, she showed up at my door with bags full of gifts.

She was wearing a pretty little white dress, beaming as she called out, "Surprise, sis!"

I turned around instinctively.

All three beastmen's eyes were fixed on her.

I quietly turned back.

Honestly? I was used to it.

Everyone liked Melissa more.

She was bright, charming, effortlessly drawing every eye in the room. Compared to her, I was dull and plain.

I saw Kevin's usually indifferent gaze land on her.

Brian's signature dazzling smile—now directed at Melissa.

Even George, who was always in a bad mood, tilted his head to watch her, his wolf ears flicking frequently.

Melissa acted like she didn't notice a thing. She sipped her water, all innocence.

That was the moment I knew.

My things were about to go to Melissa again.

From that day on, the warmth and affection vanished from our bed. They grew rougher, crueler, like they wanted to break me.

Until I overheard that conversation in the living room.

I'd been right all along.

They'd fallen for Melissa—just from that one glance.