"You... you like because I’m weak and reckless?" Lethia blurted, narrowing her eyes at Renar.
Renar frowned, catching a flicker of irritation across Lethia’s face. "Why’d you leave the bravery part out?"
"So it is true, then. You didn’t even deny it."
"Do you have to twist it like that?"
Lethia turned her gaze toward the window, her brows furrowed. She was speechless, because deep down, she knew she’d only snapped because she got flattered.
If the mont had been different, she might’ve giggled like so lovesick teenager.
But with the fox’s sultry mission weighing over her, with her goal to take Varrel down and reclaim her ranch, this was no ti for soft, swoon-worthy monts.
"Forget it. I just wanted to know your answer. Thanks for telling ." Her voice softened. She had no intention of starting a fight with Renar right now.
Right... before that damned revelation about needing two beads to be ignited, she was genuinely curious why Renar liked her. She’d even considered making a little room in her heart for him.
But now? What was the point?
Soon enough she might end up making out with another beast once she’s done with him, and that would definitely make Renar hate her. She needed to shut her feelings down now and focus on the mission.
There was no room for affection anymore. Not now.
***
"No." Callista’s tone was curt and cold, eyes fixed on the boiled chicken breast she was slicing and silently chewing.
"Whyyyy, sister? Please... I could help guide her through the test. You’re way too busy anyway, and I’ve got nothing else to do." Caelum, sitting across from her, whined with a pitiful expression that didn’t match his rugged body at all.
"You know exactly why. Renar specifically asked to help Lethia prepare for her test."
"But that’s the perfect chance for to get close to her."
Callista stopped eating and glared at him, her eyes sharp.
"Why are you so obsessed with her? I know how mad you get when you set your sights on sothing, but still, she’s not your usual type. She’s not like so girl you ss around with."
Caelum frowned. "Who said I’m gonna ss with her?"
Callista chuckled dryly. "Oh, are you serious, then? Because grandma would laugh her ass off in her grave if you said yes."
Her mocking laugh made Caelum scowl. He leaned his elbow against the table, resting his chin on his palm.
"I fell for her the mont I saw her. Why does everyone keep questioning that, like my feelings are so kind of damn joke?"
Callista stared at him closely. She knew that look, chin resting, fingers tapping the table—he was being serious. That realization made her pause. She let out a long sigh.
"You? Love at first sight? Just say you want her in your bed, that’d sound way more believable."
"Ouch! That’s exactly what pissed off even more. I could already imagine Renar going feral every night under the sa damn roof as her! So listen, I want to be the one to accompany her, make sure she passes the test and moves to the Aide dorm as fast as possible."
Callista let out a deep sigh.
"First of all, we all know Renar’s not like that. Second, even if he hadn’t asked to be her guide, I still wouldn’t let you be the one. It’d be a ss if you tarnish your reputation here and stirred up a scandal."
Caelum pouted and stood up with a harsh motion, his chair scraping loudly against the floor as it dragged backwards. Then he stord off, leaving Callista blinking in confusion at his reaction.
But as he walked down the dim corridor toward his room, Caelum wasn’t confused by his own behavior at all.
When he entered his room, the lights flicked on automatically. He made his way sluggishly to the cabinet, opened the bottom drawer, and pulled out a box wrapped in black velvet.
His eyes lit up, locked on what was inside.
A golden hair clip with delicate butterfly engravings shimred as it caught the glow of the bedroom light. Caelum ran his fingers gently over the clip before picking it up.
With the hairpin in his hand, he moved to the bed and dropped himself onto the soft ergonomic mattress, his eyes never leaving the glinting piece of gold.
He lifted it up until it lined with his gaze, dangling in the air like a mory suspended in ti.
He toyed with it between his fingers, like he was staring into a mory buried deep and far.
"It’s you... the only reason I have is because it’s you... Don’t you rember , my Queen?"
Flashback 15 years ago
"You’re just a countryside bumpkin, why even co here?"
"Look at her. She dresses weird."
"Does she even speak our language? She’s been silent all this ti."
"Maybe she’s mute."
The kids laughed as they continued to mock the little girl, simply because she wasn’t dressed as stylishly as they were. But the girl stayed quiet, frowning slightly.
Clack!
A small rock flew through the air and struck one of the mocking boys on the head.
"Aw... who did that?!"
All eyes turned to the source of the throw and spotted a boy, casually gripping a handful of pebbles and hurling them at the little bullies.
What followed was a chaotic scuffle, hair pulling, scratching, punches thrown. They were fighting all wildly unfair in numbers, one against four.
But while the boy was getting ganged up on, the little girl... walked away.
He thought she’d abandoned him.
But monts later, she returned, with a security guard trailing behind her, who imdiately broke up the fight.
Once the chaos settled and the little bullies had scattered, the boy sat down on a park bench, wincing as he nursed the scratch on the back of his neck.
The maroon-haired girl beside him slipped off her scarf and wrapped it gently around his neck, pinning it in place with her golden hair clip so it wouldn’t fall.
"Ugh, I don’t need it," the boy muttered.
"My father told we should cover our wounds... so no one sees we’re weak and hurt us."
The boy blinked, then smiled at her. "So you’re not mute, huh? Why had you stay quiet when they were bullying you?"
"There were four of them. I was alone. I couldn’t win, so I just let them be."
"What’s your na?"
"Lethia. And you?"
"Cael."
End Of Flashback
***
Lethia spent her days now studying the mock test materials Callista had prepared for her. Truth be told, she felt guilty. Callista always had to co to Renar’s penthouse just to tutor her.
"It would be too obvious and suspicious if you ca to Lykon Haven. I don’t want to spark any misunderstanding later," Callista explained.
"I can go to your house or place. So you don’t need to co here. I’ve already troubled you enough."
Callista paused. Of course, she couldn’t possibly let Lethia co to her house, not with Caelum there.
"With that said, just focus on your study and aim to pass the test then. It doesn’t matter whether I go to here or you go to , I already promise Renar to help you."
"I’m so grateful you want to help . But, you also made a deal with him. So I think that’s a win-win for both of us."
Lethia went back to reading the material in front of her, calm as ever, making Callista chuckle in disbelief at how antique the woman before her truly was.
Her words sounded so polite, yet they cut deep all the sa. She wondered how the hell two Tuffin n could be this crazy over a pregnant woman, besides that damn pheromone scent they kept rambling about.
Apparently, they could sll it. That was bizarre as fuck. Caelum even said Zeran acted weird too after discovering just how sweet Lethia’s scent was.
"Are you sure you can keep up with the physical test too?"
"Yes." Lethia twirled her pen, completely unbothered.
"You’re pregnant and wolfless. We also have Aide, who’s human. But we’ve never had a pregnant wolfless before."
"Is that forbidden? Is there a rule saying pregnant won can’t be an Aide?"
"Uhm, no..."
"Then that’s it. No need to ask about my strength. I can manage it myself."
Callista could only smile, sowhere between irritated and amused. ’She’s fresh, no wonder Renar got smitten by her,’ she thought.
Lethia squinted her eyes, frowning at the line she was reading. There was a drug with an intriguing na, but the explanation felt... ambiguous.
"Callista, what is Havenish Tube?"
Callista burst into laughter as soon as she heard the question. She never explained the Havenish Tube verbally or theoretically—how the drug actually worked.
So, she was curious to see how Lethia would react if she described it in her own words instead.
"Aah... that tube. You saw the first ti we t, right? That’s how the dicine tube is used. Havenish Tube. Like its na, it brings heaven to you through multiple orgasms."
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