Contract Marriage: The Replacement Groom - Chapter 85: Who did it?

Son of a bitch! I just finished this godawful fantasy novel, and now I'm knee-deep in it – as David, the disgraced son of the Solarian Empire's top general! Talk about some twisted cosmic joke. But hold on a damn minute... maybe this isn't all bad. Armed with the knowledge of that trashy plot, I can become the ultimate shadow player, an overlord perhaps. Screw the damsel-in-distress harem too – it's time to pull the strings and become the real power behind the throne. This isekai might be a steaming pile, but I'm rewriting the ending with a little more... Debauchery (wink wink).

In a world where the very fabric of reality is held together by fragile threads known as the Veil, humanity faces an ever-present threat from the void—a dark, consuming force that seeks to unravel everything. The ancient Guardians once stood as protectors, weaving powerful Knots to keep the void at bay, but their knowledge has faded, and the Knots are beginning to fray.Cole, an unlikely Weaver with the rare ability to sense and manipulate the threads of the Veil, embarks on a perilous journey alongside the skilled warrior Selene, the stoic guardian Marcus, and the enigmatic scholar Elara. Together, they must navigate a land ravaged by void-touched creatures and discover the forgotten secrets of the Guardians to repair the Knots and stop the void from consuming their world.But the deeper they delve into the mysteries of the Veil, the more they realize that the void is not their only enemy. Hidden forces work from the shadows, manipulating the fraying threads for their own gain, and ancient powers thought long buried are stirring beneath the surface. As the Knots unravel and reality itself begins to fracture, Cole and his companions must face not only the void, but the dark truths of their own world—and themselves.withHeart is a gripping, character-driven epic of survival, sacrifice, and the delicate balance between light and darkness. The series explores themes of destiny, power, and the fragile threads that bind us all together, weaving a story where every choice could mean the difference between salvation and oblivion.

Throughout this current life of mine, I will pay no attention to my past lives, nor will I seek future lives. I wish to live vigorously, to pay back debt of gratitude and fulfill duty to avenge, to defeat valiant heroes from all species, and to proudly laugh at all the Gods and Demons of the Six Path of Reincarnation!

As a human, I should be miles away from any large shifter event. Especially the annual Mate Hunt.A hunt for mates. Doesn't that sound barbaric? Yeah, it's as bad as it sounds.Several packs in the area gather as their newly minted adult wolves shift. Females are let into the woods first and are given an hour's head start, just before sundown. Then it's time for the males, ostensibly thrown out to hunt down the scent of their fated (or chosen) mates.It isn't an event for the faint of heart, and it's definitely no place for someone who can't shift. So why the fuck am I here, running my little human heart out, chased by what sounds like an entire pack of wolves? Great question. I don't know, either.But I'm here.Surrounded by howls fueled by the thrill of the hunt.Feet bleeding. Lungs freezing.I am so fucked.----R18. Dark themes, including but not limited to: Murder, attempted murder, a stack of dead bodies, betrayal, mild sociopathy, an ML who appears to bathe in red flags despite his favorite color being green, an unwarranted hatred of blueberry muffins, and pillow thievery.