Pascal fixed his gaze on Clifford, but the other didn't react. Instead of stopping or turning around, he picked up his pace, acting as if he hadn't heard a word. Pascal's lips curled into a sinister smile, his eyes narrowing evilly. Softly, he mused, "I see."
Without hesitation, he started walking toward Clifford. Crossing to the other side of the street, he hurried after him, then turned into the next alley where Clifford had disappeared. The alley was deserted, save for a few kids running around and muffled voices from a nearby room—he listened carefully, catching only the sound of moans.
His lips twitched in frustration as he looked around, unable to find Clifford. He sniffed the air, trying to catch his scent, but to no avail. Frustrated, he stepped back onto the street, muttering softly, hands in his jacket pockets, "Are you a man? Why are you hiding like a coward? Come out and face me. I'm your rival in love. Let's get to know each other. I promise I won't tear apart your bond with Kira—don't be scared, my dear. I'm not that unreasonable."
His gaze shifted upward to a nearby apartment rooftop. There, he saw Clifford standing on the balcony, glasses on, watching him. Clifford's voice drifted down: "Go home."
Pascal laughed darkly at the challenge. "Gotcha!"
With a sudden leap, he grabbed a balcony railing and flung himself into the air. Twisting midair, he landed on a balcony on the fourth floor. Without hesitation, he stepped off onto the wall of the opposite building, running upward along the facade. Then, with a powerful jump, he propelled himself onto the balcony where Clifford had been—but now it was empty.
Sniffing the air, Pascal furrowed his brow, trying to pinpoint Clifford's location. Just then, the door to the balcony creaked open. A girl froze, her eyes wide with shock and surprise—she wasn't wearing a bra.
Before Pascal could explain himself, she let out a blood-curdling scream and shouted, "Thief! Burglar!!"
Startled, Pascal jumped back and took off running, disappearing into the night.
Kira sat quietly on the chair, her gaze fixed blankly on the screen in front of her. They had been watching the movie for the past twenty minutes, yet Davies hadn't spoken a word to her. Neither did she make any attempt to break the silence; she simply raised her eyebrows in disdain, clearly unimpressed by the love story unfolding before her. To her, the romance was utterly disgusting.
Unbeknownst to her, Davies was observing her reactions—watching how other women responded to the emotional scenes. Many clung to their partners, tears streaming down their faces, lost in the sentimentality of it all.
Meanwhile, the female lead was about to say goodbye to a secret admirer—someone who had been silently doing everything for her, without her knowing. In the hospital bed, she believed a stranger was lavishing her with love, unaware that it was a close friend—someone who had even taken a bullet for her and was on the brink of death before finally confessing his feelings.
"You seem to be enjoying the movie," Davies finally broke the silence, realizing that waiting for Kira to start a conversation was like waiting for rain in a drought.
Kira glanced at him, then replied indifferently, "It's alright."
Davies pursed his lips, disappointed by her bluntness. He checked his wristwatch and said with a hint of impatience, "It's already 9 p.m. I need to take you home."
Without a word, Kira rose to her feet. Davies was taken aback—he had expected her to be reluctant to leave, especially since most women he knew loved watching movies and often enjoyed them thoroughly. He now mocked himself for assuming Kira was like every other woman he'd met.
Reluctantly, he stood up as well, and they exited the cinema hall. Outside, the night stretched before them, illuminated by the glow of streetlights bathing the quiet street in a soft, amber hue.
"Lets take a walk," Davies suggested softly.
Kira hesitated, glancing at him. She was worried her mother would scold her if she refused, so she nodded quietly. "Alright."
They fell into step side by side, the silence stretching between them. Kira kept her gaze fixed ahead, while Davies struggled to find the right words. After a moment, he finally spoke, his voice tinged with vulnerability.
"I never imagined I'd be mated to someone as beautiful as you. Growing up, I was told I have a weak wolf—that I'm useless. That I'm only good at taking a beating and healing. That I can't stand on my own. I always thought I'd end up with a weak wolf, just like me."
Kira remained expressionless, listening intently. Davies chuckled bitterly before continuing, his voice trembling slightly.
"My dad never loved me the way he loved my brother. He saw me as an eyesore. Always calling me a girl, saying I shouldn't have been born because I couldn't compete with anyone in the pack-house..."
Kira's eyelids drooped, her lips pressed tightly together as Davies poured out his frustration.
"I'm just an alpha son who's good at healing—a healer. That's a role that should be reserved for a servant omega, they say. I've never felt real love from my father. My mother is the only one who ever looked at me with kindness, who taught me what I needed to survive in this world."
Suddenly, Kira halted, turning to face him. Her expression was cool and unreadable, but her eyes shimmered with something deeper.
"People always think strength is everything," she said quietly. "But when they realize that intelligence truly matters, it's often too late. Don't let anyone belittle you. You're important to the pack. They'll see your worth when their brute strength fails against an overwhelming force. When they're suppressed—then they'll understand."
Davies stared at her, stunned. He blinked rapidly, as if unsure he'd heard correctly. If he didn't know her voice so well, he might have thought someone else was speaking.
Kira's gaze remained steady, her face cool and composed. The gentle breeze played with her hair, which floated around her like a silken curtain. She looked so strikingly beautiful that Davies found himself unable to hold back.
"You're so pretty, Kira," he said softly, impulsively. "Let me be your first kiss."
Her eyes narrowed sharply, a flash of killing intent flickering within them.