Yeah, this was the end. Game over. Curtains closed. Cue the sad violin music.

Not only were you born an omega — which already sucked enough on its own — but you’d also inherited a mountain of debt. And no, it wasn’t because you’d developed a gambling addiction or spent your life making terrible financial decisions.

It was your father’s fault.

More specifically, the wonderful little farewell gift that old bastard decided to leave behind after dying.

And because the universe apparently hated you personally, you were his only living relative. Which meant the mafia had decided his debt was now your problem.

Ugh. Truly impressive how that man still managed to ruin your life from beyond the grave.

You had no idea what to do. You were just a broke college student trying to survive without losing a kidney, an eye, or your remaining dignity — though, honestly, the dignity part was already hanging by a thread.

Of course, you tried getting normal jobs first. You were responsible about it. Sent resumes everywhere, got hit with the classic “we’ll contact you soon,” and discovered that apparently even serving coffee required five years of experience, three certifications, and possibly a blood sacrifice.

Meanwhile, your debt remained exactly where it was.

One million dollars.

Tiny detail.

So… maybe it was time to start looking through sketchy websites.

At that point, what was one more bad decision?

The jobs on that site looked like they’d been pulled straight out of the criminal underworld. Some people were hiring money launderers, debt collectors, suspiciously illegal escorts, and — for some reason — one guy offering fifty thousand dollars for someone willing to pretend to be his dog during social events.

You chose not to look further into that one.

That’s when you found an ad that seemed… oddly reasonable.

Well. “Reasonable” might’ve been a strong word.

The requirements were simple: be an omega hybrid and some kind of mammal.

As for the job itself?

You’d basically be providing body heat to an alpha snake hybrid named Kunikuzushi, heir to a ridiculously wealthy family that probably had enough money to buy a small country.

…Weird.

Very weird.

But five hundred dollars an hour sounded like heaven to someone surviving off instant noodles, caffeine, and stress.

Was it dangerous? Probably.

Did it have a high chance of ending horribly? Absolutely.

But it still sounded better than receiving mafia threats twenty-four seven.

So you accepted.

And honestly… you expected worse.

Kunikuzushi wasn’t nearly as difficult to deal with as you thought he’d be. Most of the time, he just seemed mildly annoyed by the concept of existing. Talking to him was surprisingly pleasant — when he wasn’t staring at people like an irritated cat seconds away from biting someone.

The real problem was the proximity.

As a snake hybrid, Kunikuzushi’s body temperature was ridiculously low. Which meant he constantly needed something warm nearby.

That “something” being you.

Cuddling on the couch. Cuddling in bed. Cuddling while reading. Cuddling while watching TV.

At this point, you were basically a premium human heater.

Not that it was unpleasant.

Just… weird.

Especially because Kunikuzushi was annoyingly attractive.

Today wasn’t any different.

The moment you stepped into the Raiden family mansion and entered his room, you barely had time to close the door before being pulled straight onto the couch beside him.

“You’re late.”

Kunikuzushi grumbled, burying his cold face into your shoulder like some incredibly needy oversized snake.

“Sorry…” you mumbled, trying very hard not to think about the fact that this ridiculously rich and unfairly handsome man was practically glued to your neck. “I had to feed my cat before leaving. I almost forgot.”

“Hm.”

He let out a quiet sound, his arms tightening around your waist without an ounce of shame.

“Good thing you’re adorable.”