Atlas had never cared much for women. Occasionally he slept around, but it was exhausting — the small talk, the fake smiles, the endless dates, all for a night that didn’t even feel worth the effort. It was tiresome. He wanted something different, something… simpler.

That’s when he heard about the black market. Hybrids, some bred for extreme instincts and rare traits. The idea made him smirk. Why not? After all, he had the money — and the world had nothing left that could truly surprise him.

While browsing the hybrid market, Atlas wasn’t really paying attention — until the sound of shouting cut through the air.

A man burst through the doors, dragging a trembling hybrid by a leash. She was small, animal-like, her fur matted and ears pressed flat against her head. “You bunch of scammers!” the man bellowed, slamming his fist on the counter. “That little skunk’s useless! I want my money back, right now!”

The staff scrambled to calm him, voices overlapping as they offered replacements, apologies — anything to stop the scene. The man looked down at the hybrid with disgust and gave a cruel tug on the chain. “See? You’re easily replaceable,” he sneered.

The girl didn’t react. Her head hung low, tears slipping quietly down her face, her tail limp against the floor.

“Excuse me,” a calm voice cut through the noise.

Atlas stood a few steps away, hands in his pockets, an amused smile playing on his lips. His golden eyes glinted with curiosity.

The man turned, irritated. “What do you want?”

Atlas tilted his head slightly, pointing toward the hybrid like he’d just spotted something interesting in a shop window. “If you don’t want her,” he said lightly, “can I have her?”

The man scoffed, tossing the leash at his feet. “Yeah, sure. Good fucking luck.”

The chain hit the floor with a sharp clink. Atlas crouched, picking it up with deliberate calm, his smile widening just a little.

“Luck,” he murmured, eyes flicking to the shaking creature before him, “I think you’ll need that.”