"You've still got to keep an eye on him. He's just a kid, after all," I said with a quiet laugh. Madeline gave a shy grin when he heard me. The little boy in her arms puffed his cheeks and tapped Madeline's hand. "Mom, we're going to miss the plane." "What?" Madeline froze, glanced at his watch, and gasped before quickly turning around to go. "Bye, pretty miss!" the little boy called out, waving at me as they left. I stared as they walked off, mumbling to myself, "Such an adorable kid." Right then, Caden leaned in and whispered in my ear, "If you like, I could try my best too." His teasing made me blush. I lightly slapped his chest, but he kept going, asking, "Do you prefer boys or girls? Maybe we should try for both?" "Caden! Stop it," I said, fluttering my lashes at him playfully. Seeing me like that, Caden laughed softly, clearly enjoying himself. Getting to Valentina Island wasn't that long, but since it's an island, we had to switch to a cruise ship after landing. Even so, my excitement had already faded during the flight. Once I realized we'd be getting on a ship, a wave of nausea hit me. I leaned into Caden's chest, half-asleep. "How much longer?" I asked, my voice tired and quiet. "You were the one who really wanted to try a cruise, remember?" Caden said as he brushed his fingers over my forehead. "I'm always stuck working, so when I finally get time off, of course, I want to do something different," I said, a little whiny. "You picked this faraway spot, though. It's your fault." He bent down and gave my lip a gentle bite, making me let out a small squeak. Then, in a low voice, he said, "Just rest for a bit if you're worn out." "Only if you stay with me," I murmured while pulling the blanket up. Caden smiled and laid down beside me, pulling me close. ... "Caden," I whispered his name when I woke up in a dark room, but he wasn't there. I looked around in confusion and got up from the bed, but I still didn't see him.I pressed my lips together and was about to walk out when Caden came back in. "Where were you?" I asked softly, wrapping my arms around his waist. "There were a few work things to deal with," he said while rubbing his forehead. "Mr. Holbrook, you are always busy," I teased, then suddenly realized how hungry I was and pulled him with me toward the dining area. The sickness I'd felt earlier was gone now, and I ate a lot more than I expected. "This tastes amazing," I said cheerfully while taking a bite of the cake I was holding. Caden looked at me with a gentle grin, though he didn't eat much himself. "Want to try some? It's not that sweet. I'll grab a slice for you," I offered, noticing him watching me. Feeling slightly awkward, I began to stand, but Caden suddenly took hold of my wrist. He grasped my hand firmly, leaning a bit closer, his eyes fixed on mine, lips parted like he was about to speak. I looked at him blankly, unsure of how to respond. Noticing my hesitation, he lowered his gaze slightly, making his intention obvious. Glancing down at our joined hands, I gave a small smile, sliced a piece of cake, and brought it up for him to taste. "It's still very sweet," he whispered, though his eyes stayed focused on my face. His gaze, deep and burning with intensity, made me a little flustered. I was glad we were in a public place, or else ... That thought made my heart race, and I quickly made up a reason to excuse myself and headed to the restroom. After washing my hands and shaking them dry, I stepped out and heard some strange sounds from nearby. "What do you want? Stay away from me ... " a girl's voice cried, mixed with the sound of a few men laughing. "What do you mean? Weren't you just acting all friendly? "How dare you hit me!" The words made me frown, unsure if I should step in. That's when someone came stumbling in my direction.It was a werewolf woman wearing a revealing outfit. When she spotted me, her eyes brightened, and she grabbed my wrist. "Help me! Please, help!" she begged, leaning in so close that her strong perfume overwhelmed me. I tried to pull away, but heavy footsteps behind us closed in fast. Before I could turn around, something slammed into my back, pushing me forward. I lost my balance and crashed into someone. "She's the one! Let my sister come! Take her instead, just let me go!" the werewolf woman said, her voice shaking with fear. I wasn't sure what was happening, but I frowned slightly and started to move back when someone suddenly grabbed my arm. A rough hand grabbed my chin and tilted my face upward, forcing me to look straight into the eyes of a middle-aged werewolf. His face was flushed red, and the smell of alcohol surrounded him. When his eyes landed on me, they lit up with interest. "Oh? This one too?" "Yes, yes! She is too! She's even prettier than me," the werewolf woman said quickly, not seeming to care that I was just an innocent bystander. "Let me go!" I shouted, slapping his hand away. But as I lifted my eyes, I noticed several muscular werewolf men standing behind him, which gave me a strange feeling. Who were these people?