I jumped back, startled, my face burning with embarrassment. Aiden rolled down the window and glanced coldly at the werewolf security guard outside. His eyes were sharp enough to cut. The guard visibly trembled under Aiden’s lethal stare and stammered, “Uh… y-you can’t park here…” I quickly nodded, eyes full of apology. “Sorry about that. We’re leaving right now.” Aiden turned his eyes forward again and stepped on the gas. I glanced over at his side profile and couldn’t help but laugh. “What are you laughing at?” “Your face… pfft hahahaha, no wonder the guy looked so stunned. He probably thought he interrupted something special between us.” Aiden checked the rearview mirror. There, right on his cheek, was a bold red lipstick print—bright and obvious. “Something special, huh? Do you want to pick up where we left off?” I froze, staring at Aiden, completely thrown off. “Alright, I’m just teasing. So, where are you headed? Going home?” I shook my head. “No. I’m going to the black market.” Right after I said it, I realized I’d messed up. Aiden would definitely have something to say about that. Sure enough, his gaze sharpened immediately. “What are you going to the black market for?” “Wesley’s treatment requires some herbs, and I can only get them through the underground auctions.” I could tell from his expression that I wasn’t going to get out of this, so I told him the truth. “I’m going with you.” I refused without hesitation. “Didn’t you say you weren’t feeling well? You should be resting.” Aiden gave me a gentle smile. “Don’t worry. It’s just a cold. I’ll be fine without medicine.”But with his flushed face, I wasn’t convinced it was just a cold. “If I really start feeling bad, I’ll let you know,” he said. Then he stepped on the gas again and headed for the outskirts of Capital City, where the black market was hidden. The place was secluded, impossible for regular people to find. But I wasn’t a regular person. I knew the ins and outs of every underground market in every major city. Inside, everyone had unfamiliar faces, which actually put me at ease. I held Aiden’s hand as we searched for the herbs I needed. Eventually, we stopped at an old werewolf’s stall. Oddly, the man was wrapped tightly in long sleeves, despite the warmth of the underground market. He looked suspicious. “I’m interested in this herb,” I said. “Name your price.” The old werewolf didn’t answer right away. He looked at me and asked plainly, “What are you treating?” I didn’t lie. “Burn wounds.” He narrowed his eyes. “This herb isn’t really suited for that. Why do you think it would work for burns?” “My master taught me. He used this herb effectively on burn patients.” “You’re Raven’s student?” I flinched. I hadn’t expected him to figure that out just from one herb. Did he know Raven? Was there history there? “Sir… do you know Raven?” His expression suddenly darkened, and he spat out through clenched teeth, “Know him? I’d strangle him if I could.” The sheer hostility in his voice shocked me. “What do you mean?” He didn’t answer. Instead, he slowly pulled the herb back off the counter. “It’s not for sale.” Startled, I asked, “Why not all of a sudden?”“Not for sale means not for sale. Go on, get out of here. Don’t block my business,” he snapped impatiently. “Sir, I’ve searched the whole market. You’re the only one who has this herb. Please, could you tell me what’s going on? I really need it.” I kept my tone sincere, trying my best to reason with him. The irritation on his face gradually gave way to pain. “That herb… it doesn’t actually heal burns.” That left me completely confused. I’d watched Raven treat multiple burn victims using this exact herb. “What do you mean?” “This herb… it can temporarily ease burn symptoms. But look at my hands.” He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his forearms. “These scars were treated by Raven twenty years ago. At first, it worked. But later, everything came back—and worse than before.” His arms were a patchwork of burn scars mixed with old, festering wounds. It was horrifying to look at. “These aren’t just burn wounds,” Aiden said, speaking for the first time. “What do you mean by that?” the old werewolf snapped. “You think I did this to myself?” “I’m not saying that,” Aiden replied calmly. “But these wounds… they look like the result of poisoning. The rot suggests something more than burns.”