Aysel's POV The driver dropped us off by the riverside, then took the car to hunt down piles of grilled meat and assorted drinks. I could practically feel his confusion drifting behind us like fog-two high-ranking wolves choosing street food and a midnight riverbank? But if his principals wanted romance, he could only obey. Wolves lower in rank never questioned an Alpha's whims. At this hour, the riverside was nearly empty. I tugged Magnus toward a patch of grass right beside the water. We sat directly on the ground, the earth cool beneath us. Before leaving the car, he'd grabbed his suit jacket. Now he spread it carefully over the grass, settled down on the bare ground himself, then flattened the fabric so I-wearing a skirt-could sit without the dew seeping in. No doubt the ten-thousand-credit jacket would be ruined by morning. I glanced at the suit, then at him-dress shirt, tailored trousers, posture too noble for a feral riverbank. A laugh escaped me. "I thought someone with Alpha Magnus's legendary cleanliness would reject my idea." He arched a brow at my teasing, rare ease softening his gaze. "When I was rolling through jungles to survive, you were still playing with sand by the lake." Blood and dirt had been his earliest companions; scent, fear, and the raw bite of nature had shaped him long before he ever stepped into an Alpha's mantle. Cleanliness was simply a luxury he indulged in when the territory allowed. I nodded. Despite his aristocratic aura, Magnus wasn't pampered at all. His self-sufficiency was almost inhuman. Aside from a ridiculous obsession with sleeping environments, he was the perfect living partner. I scooted carefully, little by little, to the edge of the jacket until half of it was freed for him. Then I hooked his pinky with mine, smiling."But I don't want you sitting on the bare ground." The little wild rose within me-usually defensive thorns and instinct-felt soft tonight, fragrant, unguarded. I didn't want him going back sore from cooking for me. I wanted to take care of him, just a little. His fingers twitched. I felt the spark run up his arm and into mine. "Ah-!" Before I could even process it, my body lifted off the ground for a heartbeat, and the next thing I knew, he had shifted me-gods knew how-and settled on the jacket himself, with me in his lap. "Isn't this more efficient?" His warm breath brushed my neck, voice low, amused, Alpha-deep. I stared at him. "Don't say I didn't warn you-if the grease drips on you later, don't blame me." Sitting shoulder to shoulder was one thing. Sitting in his lap to eat grilled skewers? Was this even legal wolf conduct? Magnus paused, then laughed softly, pinching my cheek. "Realistic Aysel Vale. Of course I'd think about the logistics first." With his long arms, he held me in place while opening the boxes of grilled meat in front of us. I attempted several daring escape missions from his lap, each time glaring at him so he wouldn't smear oil onto my dress. Magnus: "...So who exactly has the cleanliness issue here?" And the more I tried to escape, the more determined he became to keep me trapped in his arms. The expensive jacket beneath us twisted into a scrunched, wrinkled mess from our silent wrestling. If the driver had seen us, he would've been moved to tears: Young Alpha and future Luna really know how to entertain themselves.Honestly, leave it to us to turn takeout into a battlefield of affection. Eventually, after a skewer almost poked someone's eye out, we compromised. Somewhat. I made Magnus sit properly on the jacket, legs stretched straight and tight together. Satisfied, I plopped myself down onto his strong thighs. Perfect. Close, but not in-his-lap close. Magnus braced his hands behind him, leaning back lazily as I adjusted him like he belonged to me. Once I settled, he wickedly lifted one of his legs, tipping me upward like a seesaw. I yelped and smacked his thigh, giving him a full wolf glare. "Magnus Sanchez, don't be childish." He let out a low hum of laughter-quiet, pleased, far too amused. ... Maybe it was the release of years of frustration finally seeing the sun, but my mood tonight soared. The driver had thoughtfully bought every brand and flavor of alcohol he found. I ate skewer after skewer, tearing open bottles with feral curiosity. If it tasted good, I drank it. If it didn't, I took one sip and handed it to Magnus. Magnus was a bottomless liquor barrel. Couldn't get drunk. Accepted everything. A perfect drinking partner. Empty bottles and cans eventually covered the grass around us like glittering trophies. Magnus tilted me gently-still perched on his lap-lifting my face with one hand."You're very happy tonight?" I nodded. Slowly. Then again, harder. "Mhm. Happy. They're bad! They didn't believe me! I brought proof and they... they tried to make me delete it! Bad wolves!" My mumbling, my childish complaints-only then did Magnus realize how drunk I actually was. He straightened, pulling me closer until I could feel the deep rumble of his chest. His voice wrapped around me like warm fur. "Alright. I'll destroy all the bad wolves for you, okay?" "No one will ever bully Aysel again." "Good girl. We're done drinking." My cheeks burned with heat, my vision a little blurry. My lips tingled, soft and warm like crushed petals. Then, suddenly, I turned my face toward him- -and gave him the brightest, most unguarded smile of my life.