William's eyes widened. "I understand now. I won't do it again..."
"Hmm." Magnus glanced at his leg. "Rest well. I hope I'm the last one to ever smell your scent on Sapphire."
William shuddered and nodded. He watched as the imposing figure left, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
On the other side.
For the first time, Sapphire firmly rejected Magnus, and she felt a little lightheaded. In the past, it was always her who wanted to see him, but now the situation was different. She... she was improving!
After having a meal and playing with Catriona's cub for a while, she went to her room to take care of her own business. By the time she finished washing up, it was already dark.
"Sapphire! Magnus is looking for you!" Ruby's voice came from the door.
Sapphire was stunned.
Could it be... that he really has something important to say? He came all the way here?
Better not delay important matters. With a nervous heart, she slowly made her way downstairs.
Magnus's gaze fell on her. "Let's talk outside."
He walked out first.
The werewolves at Luna Palace watched them curiously, and Sapphire, feeling uneasy, hurriedly followed.
Magnus walked all the way to the edge of the quiet lawn before stopping.
Sapphire stopped about ten meters away. "Do you... have something important to say? Hurry up, I need to go back and rest."
Magnus turned back and frowned. "Why are you standing so far away? Come closer."
Sapphire clenched her hands, took a deep breath, and gathered her courage. "You're the one who wanted to talk to me. Why should I come closer..." Her voice trailed off, becoming nearly inaudible.
Magnus paused. "Fine."
He walked toward her.
Sapphire lowered her gaze, not looking at him.
Magnus stopped in front of her, staring at her. "I've been so busy lately, I haven't told you. Before I saved you in the forest, I thought something had happened to you."
He paused for a second. "Sapphire, for the first time, I felt fear."
Sapphire froze for a moment but still kept her head lowered.
"I've spent these years dealing with fallen werewolves. Even when they tried to tear out my throat, I never felt fear. I always thought life and death were ordinary things. I never feared death."
"But I fear that you might die."
"When I see that they're all alive, but I don't see you... that pain is like death itself."
Magnus stared at her. "Do you know what this means? I searched for you like a madman."
For some reason, Sapphire's ears turned red, and she stammered, "I... I don't know."
She took a step back, her voice quickening. "I don't know what you're trying to say. Stop beating around the bush, I want to go back."
Magnus's tone grew slightly displeased. "You really want to leave my side now?"
Sapphire clenched her fists, lifting her chin as she met his gaze. "Is that not allowed? I don't... I don't like you anymore."
The atmosphere grew colder in an instant.
Magnus pressed his lips together, asking softly, "Is that so?"
He stepped forward. "If you don't like me, who do you like? William? That idiot?"
Sapphire took a step back but held her neck high, refusing to concede. "Yes! I like him! So what if he's an idiot? At least he'll always be there!"
She had lost her mind, not even knowing where she found the courage to speak to Magnus like this.
She didn't like William, and besides, William already had a mate!
But for some reason, she just wanted to say it.
Magnus's expression darkened, darker than the night itself. "Sapphire, don't say such things."
Sapphire didn't know why, but she felt a strange satisfaction. It seemed the more Magnus got angry and cared, the more comfortable she felt seeing the change in his expression.
"I... I wasn't talking nonsense, or do you think I'd allow him to leave his scent on me? I..." Sapphire gave in. "I like his scent! It smells good! I... mm!" She widened her eyes in disbelief.
Magnus kissed her.
He kissed her forcefully...
Sapphire was so nervous, so unbelieving, that she forgot to breathe. When she regained her senses, breathless, her body softened, and his large hands firmly held her waist, pulling her into his embrace.
She breathed heavily and, to her surprise, saw Magnus's wolf ears.
"Sorry, but you shouldn't have said those things to provoke me." Magnus's voice was deep and heavy. "If you're throwing a tantrum or unhappy, you can tell me what to do, hit me, bite me—anything."
"You shouldn't have said what you said. That wasn't right."
"You like him?" Magnus scoffed as he spoke. "What do you mean by liking him? Your eyes clearly show you only see me."
The female in his arms had a flushed face, her eyes shining, lips rosy, and the shy affection in her gaze fixed on her was something she could never conceal.
Sapphire turned her eyes away from him. "Then why did you kiss me?"
"What do you think?" Magnus asked her.
"Never mind, I'm going back to my room." Sapphire's face turned bright red as she struggled to get down, but the hand on her waist tightened.
Magnus said, "I am fond of you."
"I'll think about it." Sapphire murmured, lowering her gaze.
"Mm, whatever you want me to do, I will."
Sapphire felt like all of this wasn't real. Was this a dream?
"Tomorrow... we'll talk about it tomorrow."
Tomorrow, she would know whether this was a dream.
The next day.
Sapphire stared at the call from Magnus and covered her face. It wasn't fake!
Magnus's attitude and actions were very direct.
"If you're unwilling, I can chase you for years. Whenever you want the bonding ceremony, it's up to you."
"Perhaps you want to move in with me? Oh, just our house."
"These are some of my cards, you can use them. Spend as you like, I'll earn more."
"These are some properties and businesses I own in the human world. You can take a look."
"Mm, I'm usually a bit busy, but if you ask, I can change my schedule."
"Oh, and in two months, I'll be on my heat. If you want, I won't return to the Snow Mountain."
"I'm not very interesting. If I've done anything wrong, just tell me, I'll listen."
—
After the wedding.
Sapphire hummed a tune as she carefully simmered a delicious bone broth in the kitchen.
The human housekeeper had taken a day off, and on a whim, Sapphire decided to cook for herself, since she had the time.
Suddenly, there was a noise at the door. She turned her head, her eyes lighting up, and ran over with a light step: "You're back!"
The tall man in the black uniform gave a soft grunt, his expression indifferent. After changing his shoes, he took her hand and led her inside. From his pocket, he pulled out an exquisite velvet box, inside of which lay a sparkling necklace.
Sapphire smiled: "What made you suddenly buy this?"
"I thought you'd like it."
"I love it!"
Magnus gently placed it around her neck. Her fair, slender neck bore several bite marks, one of them especially deep.
Magnus coughed lightly, realizing he may have gone too far.
Indeed, the moment he touched Sapphire's neck, she turned her head, her tone teasing yet slightly annoyed as she glared at him: "You were too much last night."
"I'm sorry." Magnus apologized seriously.
Sapphire, being a werewolf herself, was aware of the peculiarities werewolves had when it came to intimacy.
She could complain a little, but that was all.
Her mind wandered to Catriona, a pure human—she couldn't help but wonder how things might be different with her...
Magnus's voice interrupted her train of thought: "You're too weak. Come with me to the mountains every day."
That night.
In the deep mountains, two wolves ran through the wilderness. The larger one, a pure gray, was male, while the smaller one beside it was a bluish-black wolf.
Under the moonlight.
They ran side by side, crossing rivers and climbing to the mountain top, howling softly at the moon.
It was hard to tell how much time had passed.
A solid gray giant wolf carried a blue-haired beauty on its back, descending the mountain against the wind.
After a while.
On the rooftops of the city, the same two wolves moved swiftly. The smaller werewolf was running faster and jumping higher, growing more agile. She would surely be an excellent hunter if she went to the wild.
The sky above was a river of stars, and beneath her, the same river of stars stretched out.
The bluish-black werewolf, exhausted and limp as though her bones had melted away, collapsed onto the pure gray, muscular giant wolf. His large tongue swiped gently over her fur, her eyes, and lips, each movement slow and tender.
Their tails intertwined, and beneath the starry night sky, amidst the bustling city sounds, the two wolves nestled on the rooftop, carefree and warm, comforting and accompanying each other.
