Kira stepped into the shower, letting the warm water wash over her as she prepared herself. As she dressed, a sudden knock at the door made her pause. Her heart quickened—not from surprise, but from instinctive guesswork. She knew who it was.
"Come in, Mom," she called softly, still gazing at her reflection in the dressing mirror.
The door creaked open, and her mother stepped inside. Mrs. Samuels's eyes softened as she took in her daughter, who was meticulously fixing her hair. A gentle smile touched her lips.
"Are you going out on a date?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
Kira turned to face her mother, her expression calm. "No, I'm not."
Mrs. Samuels raised an eyebrow, a flicker of suspicion crossing her face. Davies had just driven over, and after chatting with him, he'd mentioned he was here to pick Kira up. Yet, Kira's words seemed... different.
Before her mother could press further, Kira softly added, "I won't be coming home for the next three days."
Panic flashed in Mrs. Samuels's eyes. She fidgeted anxiously, clutching at the fabric of her dress. "Why? Did we make you uncomfortable? Did you hear us discussing something?"
Her voice wavered, her hands trembling slightly.
Kira stepped closer, taking her mother's hands gently. "It's not about us—me, you, Dad. It's about Davies."
Without another word, she picked up her bag, headed toward the door, and reached for the doorknob. She paused, glancing back at her mother. "Dad doesn't have to travel," she said softly before slipping out.
Mrs. Samuels gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes as she watched her daughter leave, realizing how much her little girl had grown—how much she cared for others' feelings now.
Emotion overwhelmed her, and she hurried out of Kira's room, closing the door behind her. She rushed into the sitting room, but Kira was nowhere to be seen. Her heart hammered in her chest.
At that moment, Kira hesitated outside the car, which was stopped nearby. She retracted her foot, causing Davies to look at her with confusion. He asked softly, "Changed your mind?"
Kira responded casually but curtly, "My mother."
Just then, the car entrance swung open, and Mrs. Samuels stepped out. Mr. Samuels emerged from the backyard, where he had been busy all day, stacking logs of wood in the yard.
Mrs. Samuels approached Kira, wrapping her arms around her in a tight embrace. Her voice trembled with emotion. "I'm going to miss you, Kira. Take good care of yourself."
Kira's lips curled into a gentle smile. "I'm going to miss you more, Mom."
Mrs. Samuels pressed a tender kiss to Kira's forehead, but Kira grumbled in irritation as Mrs. Samuels finally released her. Mrs. Samuels then turned toward Mr. Samuels.
With a warm smile, Mr. Samuels raised his arm and waved goodbye to Kira. She returned the gesture, and Davies, observing the exchange, narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, nodding in silent understanding.
Kira opened the car door and slid inside, followed by Davies. He started the engine, and soon they were driving away.
As the car pulled off, Mr. Samuels approached his wife, wrapping an arm around her waist. She leaned into him, a worried look shadowing her face.
"Are we doing the right thing?" Mrs. Samuels asked softly. "We shouldn't have let her go. What if she thinks we're tired of making sacrifices for her? What if she feels we don't want her anymore?"
Mr. Samuels pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, reassuring her. "Kira isn't a kid anymore. She knows what's right for her. She loves us — I can see it. And she's seen through our sacrifices all these years. She's a good girl."
Mrs. Samuels looked into his eyes, concern still lingering. "Do you think she'll be safe?"
He kissed her again, holding her close. "Let's trust Davies."
But her worry didn't fade entirely. She whispered, "I've never been away from our child before."
Kira, overhearing her parents' conversation, smiled softly. Just then, she heard Davies speak.
"They seem to love you a lot," Davies said quietly.
Kira turned to him with cold eyes, annoyed that he'd been listening in. The car was already several kilometers down the road.
"I'm jealous of you," Davies admitted regretfully. "You have a mother who loves you, and a father who cares. Many kids never get to feel that warmth — never experience real love from their parents."
Hearing this, Kira's expression softened. A smug smile crept onto her face, and she replied happily, "My parents are the best."
Davies's lips twitched at her words, surprised but understanding. He stepped on the accelerator and sped up, the car rushing forward into the distance.
Pascal emerged from the woods, lifting his chin as he gazed toward the direction where the car had driven off. His hands rested casually in his pockets, his face impassive, yet his eyes burned with cold intensity.
A man stepped out of the shadows as well, approaching him in the middle of the road. "You didn't want her to be with another man," the man said, voice low. "You would've stopped her from leaving with him if you could. That kid doesn't look like he's strong enough."
Pascal turned to face him, his expression unreadable. "His healing is extraordinary. He recovers faster than any wolf I've ever encountered. He's not easily killed."
Hearing this, the man's lips curled into a sneer, a mocking smile spreading across his face. "A wolf that can take a beating? Not bad. But he'll spend a few days with your girl. Do you think they'll just lie there, lost in some sweet pleasure?"
Pascal's eyes hardened, flickering with fierce anger. Yet, he understood the teasing for what it was—an attempt to provoke him. He sneered back. "You wish."
The man chuckled at Pascal's retort, then asked, "You don't used to trust women? What changed?"
Pascal paused, then faced him fully before replying, "She gave me a reason to. That kid doesn't stand a chance—unless he's stupid enough to try. He'd be better off not crossing me."
The man laughed again, but Pascal kept walking into the woods, his voice steady as he added, "You've had a taste of it. How does it feel to have your balls kicked?"
Pascal shamelessly answered "Your butt crack tightened and your brains freeze, and your whole life recognised one thing"