"How are you feeling?"

"Pretty nervous, actually."

"You'll be fine, Ann. I know you will."

I carefully hugged him, so as not to wrinkle the fabric, and then kissed his cheek. "I love you, Bri. I hope I can make you proud."

He cupped the back of my head. "I am already very, very proud of you, Ann. You're my special little wolf."

I grinned, my tail wagging away. Briar kissed my forehead and helped me line up, then he stepped back as Kyler approached him with some news. They both nodded, then wished me luck. I had already gotten a good luck smooch from Kyler, so now I was feeling a little less jittery.

I could hear the announcer speak about the different designers and the inspiration behind the designs as average and tall people of a slim body size stepped out onto the catwalk. I felt nervous in my heeled boots but rubbed my palms together with a breathy sigh as my beloveds blew me kisses. I gave them two, then stood up straight as the person in front of me started to walk out. I could hear my heart pumping, but I knew I could do this. I want to make my men happy and proud of me.

As the slim man came back and disappeared from sight, I heard Briar's store name and stepped out. I blanked out for a second, only focusing on how to walk as Kyler had taught me. As I stopped at the and, I remembered to make my black wolf tail and ears visible just as I turned to show off the outfit. The announcer was stunned into silence. Gasps rang out as my tail swished behind my legs, then I smirked and walked back towards the main stage area. But I basically fell into Briar's and Kyler's arms as soon as I was allowed.

"That looked amazing, Ann!"

"You did so well, pup."

I snuggled into their arms and breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm so relieved to have lived up to your expectations."

After about ten minutes of snuggle time, all the models of the goth/punk style were called to do a walk in line with each other instead of individually making the rounds. I quickly moved in line and tried to be elegant, confident, and badass at the same time as I walked in step with the models at my back and front. My tail swished and my ears flicked at the sounds, but I managed to make it back to Kyler and Briar without stumbling once.

Briar hugged me tightly and pecked my lips, then Kyler did the same. I grinned, my tail whipping back and forth at high speed. I pressed kisses to their cheeks, then wedged myself between them for more affection. Kyler and Briar purred deeply, the rumbly vibrations making me shiver as their hands moved along my form.

"So cute," whispered Briar, nipping my right wolf ear. "I just want to gobble you up."

I gasped softly and clutched his sides. Kyler's fingers pressed into my pelvis as he pulled my backside closer. He ducked his head and sniffed my skin, his purring deepening even more afterwards. It was probably because he could only scent Briar and himself on me.

"Kyler is very primal in nature, isn't he?"

I blinked at Briar's question. "You're stating the obvious, Bri."

Briar laughed and lightly tousled my hair, then pushing his fingers into Kyler's ponytail. Our beloved lifted his head slightly, then tucked his nose down against my throat again. Briar kissed my forehead.

"Yes, I suppose I am. Any news?"

I shook my head. "Nothing yet, I believe."

Kyler's arms snaked around my chest and waist, his lips sliding up to my right human ear that was little hotter than the rest of my body. He chuckled and purred deep in his chest, then cupped my jaw and turned my head. Briar licked his lips, making my blush deepen.

"B-Bri, Ky?"

"It seems like Kyler is wanting to show off that beautiful neck of yours that smells absolutely amazing."

"Smell?"

Briar chuckled. "Didn't you know? You have naturally sweet scent that is quite fragrant."

My eyebrows shot up. "What exactly does it smell like to you?"

"Vanilla bean and cinnamon."

Kyler paused and lifted his head. "He doesn't smell like that to me."

Briar frowned. "Is that so?" he murmured, then fished out his phone and texted someone. "What about you?"

Kyler hugged me tighter as he took a deep inhale. "His scent is like sweet oranges and cream. I can't exactly smell much of the cream, but when I lick his skin..."

He demonstrated and I shivered with a soft mewl on my lips. Kyler and Briar growled, pressing my body even more firmly between themselves. I was now completely sandwiched between them. I would not be able to move even if I wanted to do that.

"Anyway, my guess is that Kyler can taste the naturally delicious orange creamsicle-like flavor when he licks your skin." stated Briar. I giggled and Kyler snickered while Briar grinned.

"Yeah, I can." replied Kyler. "What does Waltz thinks he tastes like?"

Briar checked his phone. "I sent a text to our family in the group chat. All of them have different flavors in regard o Anwyll's scent, but sometimes one of the flavors pops up multiple times."

"Interesting. So any of ours?"

"Yeah, Waltz tastes cinnamon and coffee. Matteo said that he can smell and taste chocolate with peppermint."

My eyebrows were close to my hairline. I had no idea that my scent was different to each person.

"You know, all of these scents must be our favorites. Anwyll must have some special kind of scent that registers as whomever's favorite scent and taste once they get close enough to sniff his skin."

Briar chuckled. "That would not surprise me at all. Anwyll already self-lubricates, he has healing and aphrodisiac properties with his saliva, he has an immeasurable amount of mana, and much more. Adding a 'favorite scent' recognition for basically biological software would be just one element to who he is as our beloved."

"Aww, you're so sweet, Bri." I whispered, which made Briar smirk at Kyler as he received another kiss from me.

Kyler pouted childishly until I gave him another smooch, too. Briar let Kyler pick me up with my taller size, so it felt great to be held again. I smiled and played with Kyler's long hair, then we heard the announcer start talking again. He was asking three models to come back to the catwalk. But one of them was me.

Kyler put me down, then I used magic to make my outfit and hair to look as it was when I first stepped out onto the catwalk. I returned to my position and heard someone's tongue click. I looked around and sensed someone's foot move, then made my body like steel. The person bit back a pained scream as an ankle crunched against my shin. I snickered and stepped out onto the catwalk again, now feeling much better and more alive after dealing with an envious asshole.

As told, us three models stopped at the end of the catwalk and did a slow spin, even posing to show off the outfit better, then walked back. This was for choosing the order of the designs for winning places of this specific style. Based off Kyler's and Briar's expressions beforehand, I think they weren't actually expecting to have made it so far. But they should be really proud and confident in the work they've produced. It's absolutely amazing!

One judge had me get down lower for a camera to zoom in on the fine details of the choker and chains that Kyler had done. Afterwards, I was allowed to stand and walk to the backstage area. Briar was nervously tapping his fingernails against his sides, hugging himself while Kyler hugged my shoulders.

"I-I can't believe this is happening!" quietly exclaimed Briar, clenching his fists.

"Well, it is happening. Come over here and calm down, Boss. Anwyll seems to want to give us a hug." Kyler chuckled, holding out his right arm to Briar.

Briar grinned and closed the distance, hugging us tightly. "We did it."

Kyler beamed. "We did it."

"You both did it!"

And that was actually very true as the announcer called out the winner for goth/punk style in the fashion show. Briar, Kyler, and I stood at the end of the catwalk as thunderous applause broke out in the huge auditorium. My tail was wagging like crazy as I grinned up at them. They deserved it!

But the lights powered off and I had this sense of dread. I quickly made sure that Briar and Kyler were safe next to me, but I heard a familiar chuckle and a cold chill filled my body. My form felt weightless for a second, then I fell to my knees on ice-cold cement. I bit back my whimper and sat back, rubbing my stinging knees.

It was entirely pitch black around me, just like how Aeglaeca had described. The little taps and soft thuds of legs on different surfaces made my skin crawl. There was a stench that had a stark mixture of both chemicals and iron. Bile rose to my stomach as the Evil Spider chuckled again.

"It will be amusing to watch how your beloveds react to your disappearance."

"What do you want with me?" I whispered, rubbing my arms.

In an instant, warmth surrounded me. I stiffened, but it was just a heated blanket. I pulled it closer around me and kept looking around.

"Are you going to torture and kill me, like the dragon and the vampire?"

The Evil Spider laughed. "Why would I do that?"

I frowned. "Why would you not do that? What was your purpose for kidnapping me twice?"

"Well, I do want you."

My face scrunched up. "Why?"

"Can I not be interested in what makes you so different from the rest?"

"The rest of what?"

"Those are enough questions for now."

I blinked, then shut my mouth and curled the blanket tighter around me. I feel like it's so cold in this place that I could probably see my breath if it wasn't lightless in here. The little tapping noises had stopped, but I sensed something that made my skin prickle. Two slap sounds in front of me and than the Evil Spider's breath washed over my face. At least he brushes his teeth and tongue.

"You seem awfully calm."

My eyebrows hopped up. "I am freaking out on the inside because I'm worried about my beloveds."

"Interesting, as expected."

I was really worried about Briar and Kyler, mainly because I can't contact them (or anyone) with telepathy and the source of my magic is blocked. I just can't access my mana, even though I can sense its existence. It is really scary because it's like I've gone back to being a powerless tiny person—when I lived in the basement's closet in my mother's house. The darkness reminds me of that, too. The only difference is that I have a thick, warm blanket and someone to talk to during this situation, even if it is my captor.

"You are surprisingly obedient."

I turned my head since his voice came from my right. "Why do you think that?"

"You are not causing any trouble, cursing me, or even trying to escape."

"Do you want me to? There's no point for me to make my treatment any worse. I'm quite content for now."

The Evil Spider snorted. "Content? Surely you are not trying to manipulate yourself into believing you are content with this current situation. Would you still feel content after I tell you your stay will be as long as I desire it?"

"Isn't that how it always is?"

He was silent.

"Hypocrite."

"Now you—!"

I growled, "Think about it for one damn second. You played around with people like Kyler, and you got rid of him when you didn't find him useful anymore. That will be no different from now unless you actually want to kill me instead of letting me live years in fear, mental and emotional anguish, and pain because of what you decided to do on a whim."

Briefly, I did wonder if I went too far. I didn't actually know the reason why he had hurt Kyler and then let him go. It was just speculation, but I could be totally wrong.

The silence was deafening as my heart pounded in my chest. I swallowed back my nervousness and sat up straight, then gasped as the blanket disappeared from my body. The bitterly cold air temperature pierced my body, making me shudder. But I clenched my jaw and glared into the darkness.

A snort off to my left made me jump. Deep, belly laughter echoed around the room. I heard more slaps and a lot more tapping noises move around me. My skin prickled again and I clenched my jaw to keep it from trembling.

After the laughter petered out, the Evil Spider murmured in my right ear, "It would be such a waste to make you a slave..."

My fingers twitched. "Then what?"

"What, indeed? You are my first perfect creation. What in the world should I do with such a specimen?"

I frowned. His creation?

"Oh, you poor little baby." purred the Evil Spider. "Don't worry, you have only just met the creator of all hybrids."

My heart sunk. It couldn't be...