Third Person's POV A circle of wolves returned to the study, their steps heavy with suspicion. Since the involved parties refused to speak, the matter could only be labeled as an ordinary domestic conflict. But between mated wolves, once claws were raised, the offending side-the Shadowbane bloodline-was bound to be considered at fault. James regarded Magnus Sanchez with a deep, somber gaze. "My daughter of Darkmoon was harmed under the Shadowbane roof. Magnus, your pack owes us an explanation." "An explanation?" Magnus let out a lazy, humorless huff, the corner of his mouth lifting in a cold arc. "Divorce? Sever the bond? Strip Ulric Sanchez of all his holdings-how does that sound?" James bristled in anger. "Are you mocking us?" Ivy would never divorce Ulric. They all knew that. Magnus's wolf, Rafe, stirred beneath his skin as he stared right through James. "Then what do you want?" James shifted, suddenly unable to hold Magnus's piercing alpha gaze. "Last time, Olivia brought you a joint research proposal-development in artificial intelligence. The Shadowbane Pack has the continent's top R&D division. Darkmoon can shoulder most of the funding. An investment partnership." Magnus's smile turned knife-sharp. "You think Shadowbane lacks a few coins from you?" Beside him, Aysel sighed softly-shake, shrug, open-palmed gesture in one graceful sequence. "Some wolves," she murmured, "clearly want to take advantage... yet insist on pretending they're giving a little in return." Magnus chuckled. "Nonsense, Aysel. Lord James is known for his integrity. How could he possibly be so greedy?" James flushed crimson, the tips of his ears burning. But Magnus cut off every excuse before it could form. "Ulric's mate. Ulric's claws. If you want compensation, dig it out of Ulric yourself. Trying to pry off a chunk of Shadowbane to patch his reputation? Impossible." He and Ulric-despite sharing blood-were not wolves who cleaned up each other's disasters. Magnus turned his head toward Ulva. "You can bring it up with the Old Wolf as well." Ulva had been calmly observing both sides tear at each other. She now inclined her head with quiet grace. "The Shadowbane Pack will give Darkmoon an answer." But it would be answered strictly as a family matter-nothing more. The Darkmoon trio left the manor thoroughly defeated. In the end, James resolved to visit Bastien Sanchez directly another day. Bastien valued his image; even with his sharp mind, he would show some courtesy to an allied pack. But Magnus and Aysel were impenetrable. Not a single scrap of advantage could be squeezed from them. Olivia, unwilling to accept defeat, stared bitterly at Magnus-who had stood beside Aysel the entire time, releasing her hand only to take it back moments later, as if the Moonvale she-wolf were the axis of his world. Is this woman truly so extraordinary? And... seeing her aunt and uncle's real mated life only left her more confused. ...... When the unwelcome wolves finally dispersed, the young pair-hands entwined, ready to return to the banquet hall-disappeared instead into the garden. Among the dark blossoms and cool mist, shadows swallowed the narrow path. Magnus pressed Aysel back against the stone wall, sealing her in with his larger alpha body. His forehead dipped to hers, breaths mingling, scent mingling-shadow-smoke and moon-white frost. "Little moon," he murmured, voice rough with the rumble of Rafe beneath, "were you venting for me today?" Aysel's slender pale arms wound around his neck as she raised her lips in a gentle curve. "Did it soothe you?"Remembering the scene he had found earlier-the chaos, the blood-hot rage-Magnus let out a low, feral laugh. "It soothed me." More than soothed- He felt the fierce, intoxicating joy of being protected by the one his wolf loved. Being cared for, defended, understood... having someone who shared every battle line with him. To be loved- A strange, devastatingly beautiful thing. He lowered his head, claiming her lips-hungry, curling, licking, drawing her deeper into his breath, his heat, his wolf. "Little moon," he rasped against her mouth, "hurt me a little more~" He wanted to consume her whole. To fold her into bone and shadow. To keep her tethered to him through every second, every heartbeat, every shifting of the moons. His fervor grew-his hands wandering, his dominance intensifying as the night air outside spurred him on. Aysel trembled under him, overwhelmed. "All right, all right-" she pressed a burning cheek to his chest, stopping him with both palms. "We still have to return to the banquet." "Little moon," he breathed against her ear, hot and unsteady, "let's go home early tonight... hm?" In the dim glow, their foreheads touched again. Their breaths tangled. Magnus dipped once more-unable to resist-and kissed her. And kissed her again. As if even a moment apart was unbearable to his wolf.