Third Person's POV Magnus soaked on his back, tightened his gaze on her. "Were you hit?" Aysel blinked, caught off guard. "It's fine." It was only wine. A splash of liquid, nothing more. If anything, Magnus had borne most of the wetness. "Your coat's wet. Go change," he murmured, his claws brushing against her hand as he guided her. "Come with me." Aysel laughed lightly, surrendering her paw to his. "Fine, fine. Together." Unbothered by the eyes around them, Magnus bent, pressing a tender nuzzle to her cheek. "Thanks, little wolf." The younger cubs squeaked and jabbered, teasing about the pair as they had caught the scent of affection—the playful "feeding of dog-food" as they called it. Usually, all of them skirted Magnus, wary of the Shadowbane Alpha, but now they dared to speak freely. Magnus curved his lips at Alfie, who had shifted aside without a word, allowing the younger Alpha to lead Aysel away. In less than a heartbeat, Magnus had whisked her from the crowd, leaving onlookers envious of their bond. Only Jenny, tucked in the corner, rolled her eyes, watching Alfie—the first to notice Aysel in danger, now frozen in the echo of his delayed reach—his amber gaze fixed and distant. Magnus changed swiftly, though reluctant to leave Aysel behind. She perched atop his thigh, the silk of her cerulean dress clinging to damp fur, breath uneven, gaze dazed, lips glistening where he had kissed them. "No more," she murmured, tapping the strong ridge of his chest. "Others can't see this." "Hm," Magnus grunted, understanding the warning. Yet the thought of rival wolves circling his treasure stirred a low growl in his chest. He would not expose her heart to them. "Do you love me most?" he whispered, nuzzling the curve of her neck. "Of course," Aysel replied, unreserved, her claws lightly grazing his nape. Magnus pressed another soft kiss to her muzzle. "Then shall we bind our lives together?" Aysel's ears twitched. "Suddenly proposing marriage?" She had thought they would savor the stages of their bond, their courtship, the heat of their pack-mate passion."I fear others might covet you," he said, teeth grazing her paw lightly, marking her scent as his. "And I cannot bear the thought." Aysel's heart constricted at his tender assertion. She laughed, entwining her paws around his neck, lightly biting his throat. "Who could steal you from me?" Her declaration was fearless, the trust of the pack unshakable. "But… if you want to bind our lives, I agree." Magnus, the first to propose, fell silent, hands caressing her soft, pale fur, pinching gently in playful dominance. "You'll spoil me, little wolf." "And if I do?" she teased, eyes gleaming like moonlit water. "I'll confine you," he said, growling softly against her neck. "All of you, my scent upon you, every heartbeat bound to mine, until death consumes us both. Our ashes intertwined. The next cycle, the same entanglement, forever." Aysel's eyes shone, unafraid, even brighter. "Then we can mark our mourning cycles together," she said with a sly smile. Magnus chuckled, nose nudging her face with devotion. "Little wolf~" She was his gift from the stars, radiant and untouchable, yet his responsibility to protect. Every flick of her tail, every playful snarl, he cherished. By the time Magnus and Aysel returned to the inner hall, the engagement ceremony of the Sanchez and Bluemoon Packs was already approaching its final phase. Magnus' usually sharp, predatory features had softened slightly, while Aysel's crimson lips glimmered like the blood-red berries of winter under the torchlight. Jenny stole glances at them, then at Alfie, who smiled politely but whose amber eyes held a flicker of quiet longing. She couldn't help the pang of melancholy stirring in her chest—but meddling with this bond was forbidden.