15

Caelum Valtaris offered a gentle defense. "Your Highness, is it possible that it was a wolf's howl?"

A dog's bark was one thing, but to call it unpleasant?

Being criticized by his mate was like pouring ice water on a peacock mid-display—his heart shattered into pieces.

Caelum was deeply wounded.

Aurelia Delensar glanced at him. "It sounded exactly like the little dog I had as a child. How could it have been a wolf?"

"Besides," she added, cupping her face with a self-assured smile, "if there were wolves in the forest, they wouldn't have resisted coming to devour me at night!"

Caelum: "…"

If it weren't for his reluctance to frighten the delicate princess to tears, he would have dragged her into a cave and devoured her countless times already.

He would have licked every inch of her, marking her with his scent, branding her as his mate.

Caelum ran his tongue over his back teeth, halting the tantalizing fantasy.

He resumed his slow, deliberate tone, feigning nonchalance. "Do you remember the sound of that little dog?"

"Of course! Little Shadow was such a cute teacup dog. Holding him in the winter was so cozy."

Aurelia, animated by the memory of her childhood pet, gestured enthusiastically before her expression turned somber. "But one day, he fell ill and became terribly aggressive, howling at the sky. My brother was afraid he'd bite me, so he sent him away."

"Later, I passed by my brother's study and saw a huge, majestic dog. Its fur was black and glossy, and its fluffy tail was beautiful—it was like a larger version of Little Shadow. But I only saw it once…"

The princess shook her head regretfully. She was too frail to care for such a large dog.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Oh, that's right! It was around that time that my brother sent you to me."

Caelum's expression faltered slightly, a hint of regret flickering across his face.

But he still had a chance to make amends.

The black wolf's tail twitched eagerly as he ventured, "If you saw him again, would you want to keep him?"

His golden eyes held a glimmer of hope.

He waited for her nod, ready to present his fluffy tail for her to pet.

Aurelia shook her head decisively. "Of course not!"

Caelum froze. "?"

Hadn't she just praised his tail?

His tail drooped, retreating once more.

That evening, they passed a hot spring deep in the mountains.

Having spent days camping in the wild, Aurelia, too delicate to bathe in the cold streams, had only been able to wipe herself with a damp towel. She hadn't had a proper bath in ages.

Now, the sight of the hot spring stopped her in her tracks.

The princess gazed longingly at the bubbling waters, then glanced at the tall, silent Caelum, torn.

She couldn't possibly undress in front of her knight, could she?

But it was the wilderness, and night was falling. Aurelia didn't dare send him too far.

Biting her lip, she hesitated.

Finally, she steeled herself and commanded, "Nini, stand by that rock while I bathe. Face away, don't turn around, and don't speak!"

Caelum nodded silently.

He moved to the rock ten meters away, his back to her.

Aurelia slowly removed her clothes, hanging them on a low branch. She steadied herself on the rocks and stepped into the pool, sighing in contentment as the warm water enveloped her. Her gaze drifted to the distant figure of her knight.

And she froze.

Usually, Caelum followed behind her, and Aurelia rarely paid him much attention.

To her, he was a sword to be wielded, a symbol of his title, a clumsy, silent giant.

But now, with distance between them, her perceptions began to shift.

The man's broad shoulders tapered into a narrow waist, cinched tightly by his belt, emphasizing his athletic build. His black hair was tied back, and his legs were slightly apart, his posture exuding an almost suffocating intensity.

It was as if he might turn at any moment, his sharp golden eyes locking onto his prey.

And his shadow on the ground—it resembled a massive, menacing wolf, its wildness barely contained.

A wolf?

Aurelia startled at the thought.

Her breath hitched.

She quickly dismissed it.

Why would she think of a wolf?

Perhaps it was because they'd mentioned it earlier, she reasoned uncertainly.

Her brother had once said she had the gift of prophecy.

But Aurelia, unwilling to leave her brother's side, had refused to study at the chapel of the Holy Light.

So, she occasionally had vague premonitions, though she couldn't make sense of them.

Aurelia submerged her head in the water, bubbles rising to the surface.

She pushed the thought aside and focused on enjoying the bath.

Behind her, the water rippled softly.

Occasionally, droplets fell from above.

"Plop."

Landing on her pale skin.

Caelum's gaze was fixed on the endless forest ahead.

Aurelia thought he couldn't see her, so she was carefree, almost brazen, in her nakedness just ten meters away.

But the innocent princess didn't know.

A Lycan's acute hearing painted a vivid picture of the scene behind him.

Cunning Caelum hadn't shared this with her.

He wore the guise of a loyal knight.

Exemplary in every way.

Yet his mind was filled with unspeakable desires.

The black wolf's ears twitched.

He heard her body sink into the water, step by step, slowly. The spring embraced her eagerly.

Her golden hair cascaded down, clinging to her slender back.

"Ah…"

A soft, contented sigh, impossibly delicate.

The princess, mindful of her knight, kept her voice low.

But it was no match for the Lycan's hearing.

He closed his eyes, imagining her graceful limbs, soft and pliant. She raised her arm, her nails turning a delicate pink in the water, droplets falling from her fingertips. She cupped water in her hands, splashing it on her face, the droplets tracing her cheeks and pooling in the hollow of her collarbone.

Then, they continued their descent.

Her ruby-like eyes blinked, a droplet clinging to her lashes.

Swaying.

Reflecting the moon above.

Then, it merged with the water.

"Hah…" The night breeze rustled the leaves, masking the beast's low growl.

His fangs peeked from beneath his lips.

Sharp and eager, craving to tear and devour.

His nostrils flared, savoring the scent of his prey.

To claim.

If he turned, he could take what he desired.

His golden eyes glowed in the dark, depths of hunger swirling within.

But in the next moment, he shut them tightly.

—Not yet.

The beast's instinct was to conquer.

But he wanted more.