I always thought my shifter husband was sexually distant, which is why we hadn’t been intimate in three years. Only later did I discover he’d been betraying me all along. Three years ago, Liam got caught in an avalanche. I rushed into the mountains to save him, and he gained his life back, but I lost my womb. Liam proposed to me out of obligation, a way to compensate me, but I was never his true love. Liam and I were both members of our university’s ski club. Everyone in the club knew I joined just for Liam. After all, who wouldn’t be captivated by that fluffy wolf tail, flying freely on the ski slopes? Plus, Liam was the best-looking wolf shifter around. Tall, handsome, with an aloof and detached demeanor. So, when Liam was caught in an avalanche during an off-piste ski trip, I didn’t hesitate to lead the search and rescue team into the mountains. The snow-covered mountains were brutally cold. Our rescue mission lasted three days and three nights. To save Liam, I fell into the icy depths of a river, and that’s when I lost my ability to ever bear children. After Liam was rescued, he proposed to me at our graduation ceremony. I remember all the girls on campus looking at me with envy. That was the happiest moment of my life. It *used* to be. Until I stumbled upon Liam on a date with my cousin, Cassidy. Cassidy: “Liam, I’m really struggling. That night was a mistake, let’s just forget about it.” Liam: “These three years of marriage have been a cage for me. Only that night with you… did I feel alive again.” Cassidy: “But you’re Willow’s husband. This isn’t right…” Liam: “If I’d known the price of being saved was losing you, I would have rather died in that avalanche. You know, she can’t have children.” I suddenly remembered that bleak, endless expanse of snow three years ago, when all the other rescue teams had given up. It was *I* who emptied my entire savings, begging the rescue team to go back into the mountains. When I found out I could never have children, the cold in my heart was far more biting than the river water in the mountains. Liam stroked Cassidy’s belly: “I can support her my whole life, but only you, me, and *our* child can be a real family.” Cassidy shyly touched Liam’s fluffy ears. A sharp pain shot through me. Had Cassidy already gotten pregnant with Liam’s baby? For three years, I had always believed Liam was sexually distant. A shifter’s ears are a sensitive spot for wolves. On our wedding night, I’d shyly tried to get close, but Liam had instantly pulled away from my playful hand. He’d warned me not to touch his ears or tail. “You can’t have kids anyway, so there’s no need for us to do that.” I’d ignored that sentence back then. I’d just thought he was naturally asexual. I never imagined it was simply because someone like me, someone who couldn’t bear children, wasn’t *worthy* of touching him. 2. I dragged myself home, slumping onto the living room couch, where I sat numbly through the entire night. On the table lay a medical report confirming my infertility. For three years, I’d sought out countless doctors, swallowed endless medications, undergone countless tests. I even tried ridiculous remedies. Each time, I’d shared my hopeful expectations with Liam, believing he was just as eager as I was. I shredded the report. Now, I wasn’t even a normal, complete person anymore. Day broke, and I got up to wash my face. My reflection in the mirror was sallow, with prominent dark circles under my eyes. Today was Evelyn’s birthday. I’d told Liam weeks ago that we would go celebrate with her together. Of course, Cassidy would be there too. I skipped makeup and hailed a cab straight to the best makeup studio in town. I told the receptionist: “I want the most expensive stylist you have.” When I walked into the family dinner, the first person I saw was Evelyn. Then I saw Cassidy and Liam, chatting and laughing together, as if they were the real couple, the true family. The moment I entered, their laughter died. I placed my gift down. “Happy birthday, Mom.” My gaze swept over them, landing on Liam and Cassidy’s hands, seemingly casually clasped together. My eyes lingered for two seconds, and Cassidy instantly let go of Liam’s hand. Liam’s gaze lingered on Cassidy, so incredibly gentle. So, they had all these little secret gestures. When did it start? How long had they been holding hands? Had Evelyn, sitting right there with them, not noticed anything? Liam frowned. “You’re wearing makeup?” I simply said, “Do I look good?” Liam looked away, silent. Ever since the river water left me infertile, my complexion had been terrible. Even though I’d exhausted myself trying to recover some color, I could never compare to Cassidy’s youthful beauty. But today, the stylist had spent three hours on my look. Looking in the mirror, I truly did look beautiful, just like I did before I got married. I’d almost forgotten I used to be a pretty woman. I pressed on. “Do I look good? Who do you think is prettier, me or Cassidy?” I wanted to know what he would say, standing between his wife and his mistress. Would he consider me, or her? Liam looked displeased. “You’re already married. Why are you still comparing yourself to Cassidy?” I sneered internally. “So what if I’m married? Who says a married woman is automatically worse than an unmarried one?” Evelyn’s smiling face suddenly fell. “What’s wrong with you? Three years of marriage, and you haven’t given Liam a single cub. You’ve already let him down enough. Now you’re acting out like this, with no grace for a wife. Is this how a good wife behaves?” So that was it. A wave of profound sorrow washed over me. Evelyn always thought I owed Liam because I couldn’t have children. But the truth was completely different. I asked Liam, “Liam, you tell Evelyn. Why can’t I have children?” 3. Liam stiffened, his two wolf ears standing rigid. Liam: “That’s all in the past. I’ve never resented you for not being able to have children. Bringing up something like that on Evelyn’s birthday is completely inappropriate.” Cassidy quickly interjected: “Exactly, Willow. No matter the reason, we should be talking about happy things today. Your inability to have children is a fact that can’t be changed, so what’s the point of talking about it?” Cassidy’s pretty face held a chilling indifference that startled me. This was my cousin, Liam’s true love. I looked around the room, finally fixing my gaze on Evelyn. “Mom, the reason I can’t have children is because I fell into the river when I led the team to save Liam back then. If I hadn’t gone, Liam would be dead already.” Liam said coldly, “Are you trying to say I owe you, is that it?” I felt like I’d fallen into an ice cave. For three years, I had never resented him for that incident, only because he was the man I loved, and I’d done it willingly. Now, I just wanted to tell Evelyn the truth, and it was twisted into me blackmailing him? I pleaded, “Mom.” I thought at least Evelyn would take my side. But Evelyn angrily said, “You’re so thoughtless. If Liam had married Cassidy back then, we would have grandchildren by now.” I should have known. Evelyn didn’t love me. She’d known all along. She’d always known. Even though Cassidy wasn’t Evelyn’s biological daughter, Evelyn always seemed to prefer her. Ever since I became infertile, Evelyn treated Cassidy more like her own child. She looked at me like a flawed gem, filled with disdain, wanting only to lock me away and never see me again. I knew Evelyn resented me for being infertile. Years ago, when I applied to join the ski club, Evelyn strongly opposed it. She called me repeatedly, insisting I withdraw. I was too embarrassed to say I joined to chase Liam, so I just said I loved skiing. But eventually, Evelyn found out. I thought she would call me a loose woman. Instead, she was incredibly happy. She said a girl’s greatest value was to find a strong shifter and give birth to even more powerful offspring. So, when she learned the cold had seeped deep into my bones, leaving me infertile, she abandoned me at the hospital and never visited me again. Even when I lay in that hospital bed, pleading for her, she never looked back. Even my medical bills were paid for by my ski club friends. Perhaps, she wished I had died in that rescue mission. The dinner ended on a sour note. Liam and I went home together, in silence. Evelyn had already implicitly approved of Liam and Cassidy’s relationship. I suddenly felt incredibly foolish. If Liam and I broke up, no one would be on my side. Once we got home, Liam glanced at the shredded paper on the floor, completely unfazed. He changed clothes, ready to leave. I grabbed his tail. It was the first time I’d touched his tail since we got married—smooth and soft, delightful to touch. Liam’s voice was frigid. “What are you doing?” I caught the scent of Cassidy’s perfume on the shirt he’d just taken off. “Where were you last night?” Liam paused. “Work event.” I smiled. “Liam, I can have children now.” Liam visibly froze. “What did you say?” “I said, I’m cured. I can have a baby for you now. Don’t you want an heir for your wolf pack? A legitimate heir?” Liam didn’t seem to catch my insinuation; he was still reeling from the news. While he was stunned, I pushed him onto the bed and climbed on top of him. His eyes were deep and bright, his nose bridge high, his jawline sharp. His ears were fluffy, and his tail looked like an adorable feather duster. I was such a fool, letting such a gorgeous Liam go untouched for three years. Furious, I yanked open his restrictive buttons. “Come on.” Liam shoved me to the floor with one hand. “Are you out of your mind? The doctors said you can never have your own child. And all these medications… the house always smells of them. When will you face reality? A wolf pack heir? Don’t be ridiculous.” Liam slammed the door shut, leaving me alone on the floor, tears streaming down my face. 4. I thought back to all the moments Liam and I had shared over the years. When we first got married, Liam’s career was just taking off. He didn’t have an office, so he and his team worked day and night on proposals in our new apartment. I managed the home, cooking meals, cleaning – love was about giving, about wanting him to succeed, I understood that. So, I never felt anything was wrong, never asked for anything in return. Liam’s wolf shifter buddies often teased him, saying he was incredibly lucky to have such a good wife. I felt happy then, too. I never noticed how distant and cold his eyes were when he looked at me, how utterly different from the way he gazed at Cassidy. I remembered after we got married, I planned a honeymoon with Liam to the snowy mountains. I’d researched everything, booked tickets, but we never went. Because Liam didn’t want to. I packed my bags, sorted through my savings from the past three years, and suddenly realized that I’d barely saved anything, having spent so much on my treatments. But none of that mattered anymore. I left the home Liam and I shared. I never wanted to see him again in my life. But I refused to divorce him. Let him and Cassidy have their happily ever after? Dream on. 5. I booked a random “mystery” flight ticket, just flying wherever, stopping in various cities, until my savings ran out. I walked along the beach, the sea breeze salty, the waves rolling in and out. I remembered Liam’s tail, swishing back and forth just like that. Even after leaving, I still couldn’t forget him. He loved Cassidy, so why was I still clinging to him? I vowed to cut off my love for Liam. The last stop on my trip was the snowy mountains. It was my favorite city. The new city was full of tall, handsome shifters, and I loved it. I could see fluffy tails everywhere, every day. I blocked all of Liam’s contact information. That way, even if he wanted to reach me, he couldn’t. I thought this would stop me from thinking about him. I found a job as a temporary ski instructor at a ski resort. The owner, a lynx shifter named Mr. Kaelan, asked me, “You’ve been away from home so long, how come no one’s tried to reach you?” I fell silent for a moment. Family? Who would care where I went? My Evelyn, my cousin, or my husband? I said, “They’re all dead to me.” To me, they were as good as dead. Mr. Kaelan sighed, shaking his head. “Ah, shifter life, huh.” This ski resort was nestled at the foot of the mountains, with a breathtaking view. I spent my days watching the snow, warming by the fireplace, my heart feeling incredibly peaceful. Every day, I taught all sorts of little shifter cubs how to ski, each one with a big, fluffy tail. The cubs always gathered around me, rubbing their soft ears and big tails against me, sweetly calling me “Ms. Willow.” It was then I realized how much I truly adored fluffy creatures. I regretted it. I shouldn’t have sacrificed myself for Liam. I longed to raise a fluffy little one. But I couldn’t anymore. After each lesson, I would walk the little cubs to their parents, always reluctantly giving advice about their little ones’ progress. Gradually, parents in the area learned about the dedicated and responsible ski instructor at this resort, and they all loved bringing their shifter cubs to me. One day, little Pippa, a calico kitten-shifter, clung to me while skiing and asked, “Ms. Willow, are you married?” I paused, realizing it had been a long time since I’d thought of Liam. Just as I was lost in thought, another husky puppy-shifter, Finn, nudged Pippa aside. Finn: “Can’t you tell? Ms. Willow is so young and pretty, of course she isn’t! Ms. Willow, Ms. Willow, will you marry me when I grow up?” Milo, a raccoon-shifter, chimed in: “Are you silly? How long would Ms. Willow have to wait for you to grow up? Ms. Willow, can you be my mom instead?” The parent who came to pick up Milo quickly covered their cub’s mouth, apologizing profusely as they whisked their little one away. That day, I sat in the ski resort until late into the night. My mind was filled with Liam. Once mentioned, the memories were impossible to suppress. I remembered that whenever I brought up seeing a doctor for my condition, Liam would always say he didn’t care that I couldn’t have children, telling me not to waste my effort. Now, I realized he simply didn’t want to have children *with me*. Mr. Kaelan rushed towards me, looking frantic. “It’s over! An avalanche on the mountain, and there are still guests up there!” My heart leaped. “Quick, call the search and rescue team!” Mr. Kaelan: “We might not make it in time! It’s too late, and the team leader isn’t here today! What do we do? Where can we find a leader to take charge now?” I said, “I’ll go.” I knew the stranded guest; it was a fire fox-shifter. I remembered him so clearly because of his stunning, captivating face. Foxes were experts at charming. Of course, there was another reason: this guest prided himself on his pro-level skiing skills and loved off-piste skiing. 6. I led the search team up the mountain; navigating the snowy paths at night was incredibly difficult. Especially after an avalanche, and the forecast predicted more snow later that night. If we didn’t find him soon, it would be dangerous. I pulled out the satellite tracker. Ever since I learned this guest loved off-piste skiing, I’d forced him to carry one. Kai: “Are all ski instructors around here as nosy as you?” I genuinely wanted to hit him with a shovel back then. If a guest wasn’t in trouble and potentially causing problems for the resort, I wouldn’t bother with him. I said, “If you get lost up here, you’ll freeze to death.” Kai tossed the satellite tracker away. “Me? Get into trouble? Never! Just you wait, I’ll take pictures of all the unseen scenery and bring them back for you to see.” Thinking about it now, I shuddered. Thank goodness, before he left, I’d secretly slipped the satellite tracker back into his bag. Because of the tracker and the search team’s familiarity with the mountain, we quickly found Kai. The little fox-shifter was shivering violently, his fiery red ears adorned with snow beads, and his usually fluffy, beautiful tail was curled up in a tight ball, both adorable and pitiful. “Kai!” I called his name. The little fox-shifter’s face was streaked with tears. The moment he saw me, he lunged forward, crying and shouting, “I thought I was going to die!” I patted his back. “You almost did, indeed.” Kai clung to me tightly, refusing to let go. “How did you find me?” I scoffed and showed him the satellite tracker. “I put it in your bag when you weren’t looking.” I only noticed his stunned expression, not the bright, shimmering look he gave me. Kai: “You saved me.” 7. I brought Kai down the mountain and put him in the ambulance. The paramedics said a family member needed to accompany him. I told Kai to call his family to pick him up, but he gripped my hand tightly, his eyes shining as he stared at me, stubbornly refusing to make the call. Mr. Kaelan waved his hand, silently telling me not to push him. Since Kai wouldn’t let go, I reluctantly got into the ambulance with him, signing my name in the family section. Kai needed to be hospitalized for observation due to prolonged exposure to low temperatures. So, I had to handle his admission paperwork and pay his hospital fees. Watching my hard-earned savings dwindle again, I sighed internally. Kai looked at me and smiled. “I’ll pay you back someday.” I helplessly ruffled his hair. “Consider this interest.” I wiped the snow from his tail and then dried it with a hairdryer. It was my first time touching a fox’s tail. It was warm and soft, different from Liam’s tail. I wasn’t sure if it was my movements, but his fiery red tail twitched. I quickly grabbed it. I said, “Don’t move.” I suddenly froze. Kai’s eyes were fixed on me, and he smiled. It suddenly dawned on me that a shifter’s tail shouldn’t be touched casually. I gave an awkward smile and pulled my hand away. I said, “You do it yourself.” But Kai said, “Sister Willow, my hand hurts so much. Can you help me?” Fox shifters were incredibly beautiful. Especially fire foxes, which were a rare breed. Kai certainly lived up to his breed; he was exceptionally handsome. He pleaded with me so pitifully that I couldn’t resist. I’d been married for three years, and Kai was just a teenager, eighteen or nineteen. I just saw him as a kid; there was nothing wrong with that. Besides, this was a special situation. If I didn’t dry his tail, he’d get sick. I tried hard to convince myself. Kai’s tail unconsciously wrapped around my wrist. “Sister Willow, please.” Foxes were just too charming. This had to be innate; how else could a seemingly innocent kid like Kai be so effortlessly captivating? I stayed with Kai in the hospital for a week. The doctors repeatedly assured him he was fine before he reluctantly agreed to be discharged. Kai and I parted ways at the hospital entrance. The ski resort was temporarily closed due to the avalanche. Kai had to go home, and I returned to my resort. I said, “Goodbye. Next time, don’t go off-piste by yourself, little fox.” Kai: “Sister Willow is right, Sister Willow is so good, Sister Willow is the best.” I smiled helplessly and went our separate ways. Then, right at the ski resort entrance, I saw Kai drawing circles on the ground， looking dejected. “What are you doing here?!” Kai looked innocent and pitiful. “Sister Willow! Please listen, my phone got stolen. I can’t go home, what should I do? Sister Willow is so kind and brave, smart and generous, she wouldn’t abandon a poor fox out here in the snow, would she?” Kai grinned triumphantly, and I finally understood why foxes were often villains in fairy tales. I thought, in this day and age, how could he not be able to go home? But then Mr. Kaelan appeared. He said, since the mountain was closed anyway and the ski resort had no business, an extra person would make it livelier. Kai was allowed to stay. I didn’t know why Kai wouldn’t go home, but I figured he had his reasons for refusing to call anyone in the ambulance. Just like me, everyone has their secrets. If he didn’t say, I wouldn’t ask. Kai was both well-behaved and mischievous. He’d throw a snowball at me when I was quietly reading by the fireplace, inviting me and Mr. Kaelan to a snowball fight. Every morning, I’d be curled up in bed. When I opened my eyes, I’d see a stunningly beautiful face, very close to mine. “What time is it?” I broke out in a cold sweat. My biological clock always woke me at five AM. Because I needed to prepare breakfast before Liam went to work. I’d always been taught that if I couldn’t be a mother, I had to be a good wife. “Sister Willow. I’ve brought you some breakfast.” Kai called me Sister Willow. He pulled back the curtains, his beauty more radiant than the winter sun. I covered my eyes, not daring to look too long. Foxes were too charming, even unintentionally. Kai didn’t understand anything. I had to teach him. “First, shifters shouldn’t enter a girl’s room without knocking.” Kai pouted. “I knocked, Sister Willow didn’t hear.” “Impossible.” He definitely hadn’t knocked. 8. Later, one day I dreamed I fell into icy, bone-chilling river water. Then the doctor told me I could never have children again. I wanted so desperately to wake up, but the nightmare wouldn’t let me go. Then I dreamed I was pregnant. I happily told Liam, only to see him holding Cassidy. Cassidy scoffed, “How could you be pregnant? Look at that!” I looked down, and it wasn’t a baby, but a black tumor. I screamed, abruptly waking up. “Sister Willow, Sister Willow!” I was awake. Kai’s beautiful face was right in front of me. He jumped onto the bed, holding me tightly, comforting me. Kai: “It’s okay. It’s okay.” I couldn’t stop my tears. I was enveloped in Kai’s embrace; he was so warm, his fluffy tail wrapped around my waist. I cried silently in his arms. Damn it, how much longer was I going to keep running? I should have let go of the past and started fresh, shouldn’t I? Kai didn’t ask anything. After I’d calmed down, I realized Kai was in my bed. “Second, shifters shouldn’t climb into bed.” That’s what I *should* have said, but I couldn’t bring myself to. I gripped the tail wrapped around my waist; it was so soft, I couldn’t bear to let go. We stayed like that, curled up in bed together, not for long, but coincidentally. Someone suddenly burst into my room. “Willow! What are you doing!” I looked out from Kai’s embrace, my heart seizing. It was Liam. Kai glanced at him, then spoke coldly: “Mister, shifters shouldn’t enter a girl’s room without knocking, don’t you know that?”
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