Aysel's POV Bastien's nerve-racking birthday banquet on the Shadowbane side finally came to an end. The cello that had once been strapped to my back was now resting across Magnus's broad shoulders instead. We stood side by side beneath the lights, two figures that had drawn far too much attention all evening-an Alpha of the Shadowbane and a Moonvale she-wolf with too much audacity. Smiling sweetly, I tugged Magnus forward as we waved at Bastien. "Grandfather, we'll come see you again soon~" Bastien's lips twitched in a stiff, forced smile. "No need. If nothing's wrong, don't come back. You not returning is the best thing for my heart." I could feel Magnus's chest vibrate faintly with silent laughter behind me. Even he didn't often see the old Alpha recoil so thoroughly from someone. He lifted a hand and patted my head, soothing my deliberately wounded performance. "It's fine. Grandfather welcomes you in his heart." Then he looked back at Bastien. Bastien nodded stiffly. I barely held back my grin. "All right then, we'll head off. Grandfather-remember to miss us~" The old Alpha visibly shuddered, goosebumps rising along his arms. The moment we turned away, his expression collapsed like a failing ward. He turned to Serena's grandfather, Zane, and complained without restraint: "What crime did I commit in a past life to be dominated by a brat in my final years?" Zane patted his shoulder with sympathy. "Be nicer to the two kids." By now, Zane, that loud-mouthed menace, had already live-broadcast the entire Moonvale birthday chaos in their family group chat. Even an old beast who had lived half a lifetime like him had been left wide-eyed. At least no one had died on the Shadowbane side. Spirits were still intact. If Bastien knew the full madness across Moonvale territory, he'd probably feel downright fortunate. "Miss Vale," Magnus said lightly into the night wind, "am I your personal mount now?" The evening breeze brushed past us as he carried me effortlessly, his steps steady and unhurried. I swung my legs lazily, enjoying the moonlit road that led back toward our territory. Hearing him speak, I leaned forward mischievously and nipped lightly at the tip of his ear. "No. You're my kissing boyfriend. My favorite treasure. Mr. Sanchez, keep it up-men can't say they can't~" We were both a little drunk on moon-wine. When we neared home, I insisted on getting down to "walk it off." The driver took the cello back to the villa first, and the two of us wandered hand in hand beneath the streetlamps. Naturally, less than five minutes later, I wanted to be carried again. What else could the legendary Shadowbane Alpha do? He could only lower himself obediently in the middle of the road. Listening to the way I coaxed him with practiced ease, the corner of Magnus's sharp lips lifted slightly. "That's it? One ‘baby' and you think you're done paying?" I blinked innocently. "Then how many kisses would it take to satisfy Mr. Baby Magnus Sanchez?" "Hmm-" He pretended to think, then answered without even a trace of shame, "However many steps tonight... that many fucks. Deal?" My hand shot up to cover his mouth. "Shut up, Magnus! Have you no shame at all?!" The Alpha who had just been scolded showed not a hint of remorse. His sharp features carried a faint, reckless heat from the wine. "Love between man and woman is natural law. Why be ashamed? Don't tell me, my mate, that you're not pleased?" I bit down on the back of his neck like a small, furious cub, my face burning red. Every time I fought this shameless man, I ended up carrying twice the embarrassment. "Just you wait," I muttered darkly. "One day I'll expose you. Let the Shadowbane employees see what kind of beast their Alpha really is." Cold and untouchable in public. Wild beyond control in private. Wasn't that split ridiculous? "Let them know how obsessed I am with my mate. I don't mind," he replied lazily. "But someone better not start getting shy and skipping my office after that." "I surrender!" I grabbed his lips again and collapsed against his shoulder. "You win." In matters of shamelessness, I was never his opponent. He bounced me higher on his back. After a while, I asked quietly, "Are you tired?" Truth be told, I weighed nothing to him. Carrying me was like carrying moonlight. But he didn't answer directly. He only said warmly, "I require a reward." I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Recharge." His satisfaction was immediate, bright in the corners of his eyes. The magnolia-shaped streetlights cast a warm glow over the tall man in a suit and the woman in a green dress on his back. The villa district lay in deep silence. The moon hung high and alone. The road was empty except for us. For a moment, it felt like the world belonged to only two wolves. "Magnus," I asked suddenly, "when do you think it hurt the most?" Such a vast Shadowbane bloodline-so cold. Surely even he had known loneliness.He thought for a moment. "When my mother was still alive." Not when he lost her. Not when he lived among wolves. Not when he walked through bloodshed abroad. Only love had ever made him weak. Only love had made him ache over his own helpless childhood. Had made him suffer with another's pain. Had made him feel powerless beneath fate's blade. After Raya died-before he met me-his life had contained no weaknesses. Only survival. Only revenge. Often, he said, life felt utterly hollow. Only after holding me did he feel real again. I had become his new weakness. And also his strongest armor. "Put me down," I said softly. He set me beside the flowerbed. I stepped down lightly and spread my arms wide with a grin. "Magnus. Hug." He smiled-and embraced me. Our bodies pressed together, warmth flowing between us. After a long while, he abruptly bent down and captured my lips fiercely. Like a drowning wolf fighting for breath, drawing everything from me with overwhelming love and hunger. I didn't retreat. I met him openly, entangling with him in the moonlit silence.So long passed that even the moon seemed to drift. Only then did he finally pull back, breathing hard, his lips still brushing mine. "Aysel," he murmured, "what about you? When was the hardest time?" I leaned back into his chest. "Adolescence," I said quietly. "When I was little, I only knew sadness. When I grew older... I understood what it meant to carry a death on my back." In the Moonvale Pack, I had a secret place. There were times I stood there and thought- Maybe I should just jump. One clean end. One complete release.