Third Person's POV
Camellia felt the large, firm hand around her waist through her thin clothing, and her face flushed red.
She quickly steadied herself, too shy to meet his gaze.
Lyra, in her mind, rubbed its claws excitedly.
The cedar cologne made her wolf happy.
"Alpha Lionel, thank you," she said.
Lionel casually withdrew his hand and said, "Watch your step while inspecting the pharmaceutical raw materials."
"Sure," she replied.
After that, Camellia focused on the path, afraid of tripping again.
"This is dried periwinkle," said the staff, handing Lionel a piece.
He examined it and passed it to Camellia.
"Take a look."
It looked no different from the samples at Ruiosent this morning. Testing was needed to determine the active ingredient content.
Camellia asked the staff, "What's the typical alkaloid content in periwinkle?"
"Usually around 0.1%, higher is rare."
That was a dece
Third Person's POV"It's normal for Esmond and me to dine together. We're mates," Camellia said, forcing calm, her wolf eyes blazing at Lionel."But you, as his uncle—" She was cut off as he suddenly loomed closer.Lionel's cedar aura flared hot, his wolf-tooth choker clinking coldly against his collarbone. "Pushy? Wasn't it you who first tempted me?"His finger traced her neck, where the cedar lingered from their hotel encounter. "The full moon night, your red dress, and your plea to 'mark me.'"Camellia's wolf ears burned crimson, her temporary mark searing with shame."The hotel was an accident!" she retorted. Suddenly, Lionel unleashed his full Starlight Pack Alpha aura. Glasses in the private box shattered."Accident or not," his voice grazed her earlobe, fangs nearly piercing her gland, "your wolf has claimed me."In the dark, she felt his claws lightly scrape her wrist's secondary gland—the wolf's ture mate m
Third Person's POVHalf an hour later, the car pulled up in front of a French restaurant.As the two got out, a snowstorm-like cedar aura swept toward them—Lionel.His brows furrowed. His emerald beast pupils locked onto Camellia. Didn't the doctor say she should be hospitalized?Why was she out with Esmond?The Alpha aura of the Starlight Pack spilled out, chilling the air.Esmond, sensing Lionel's gaze, flared his pine pheromones into a defensive stance. His wolf claws fully shifted, steel-like nails tearing his suit sleeves. "What a coincidence, you're also dining here?"He deliberately stepped in front of Camellia, radiating provocation.Lionel, expressionless, watched him. His wolf-tooth choker clicked against his collarbone, sending a chilling sound. "Yes, here for business."As he spoke, his peripheral vision caught the mark on Camellia's neck—a clash of his cedar and Esmond's pine.Esmond laughed, a forced growl in his voice. "We won't disturb you then. Cam, let's go in."His
Third Person's POVHe likely had someone tail her to know she was at the hospital and showed up just in time, probably fearing she'd tell her parents about this morning.Camellia took a deep breath, looked up at him, and smiled. "I didn't tell you because I thought you were busy."Seeing her smile, Esmond faltered.Since his affair was exposed, Camellia hadn't smiled at him once—only disdain or irritation.He'd forgotten how her eyes used to soften when she looked at him, how her smiles used to be warm.Unconsciously, his gaze gentled too."I can always make time to visit your dad with you."Camellia nodded. "I'll tell you next time, and we'll come together.""Sounds good."Esmond chatted with Ernest for a few minutes, but Ernest wasn't as warm as before.Once, he'd liked Esmond because he thought Esmond treated Camellia well. But after Esmond's last visit when he complained about Camellia moving out, Ernest's eyes were opened.If Esmond truly cared, why would Camellia leave?Thinking
Third Person's POV"Pity Alpha Ernest. Such a promising future cut short by illness. So tragic!" Claire sneered, her eyes feigning sympathy.Camellia stared at her coldly and asked deliberately, "The accident back then—your father was involved, wasn't he?"Claire nodded. "What else explains his sudden rise to executive at a Pioneer Tech branch?"Initially, Claire had held back to protect Fabian, hoping he'd save her.But two hours ago, when Fabian relayed through his lawyer that she was on her own after confessing, she realized he'd abandoned her.If he wouldn't stand by her, she saw no reason to shield him.Dazed, Camellia didn't know how she left the police station. It wasn't until she heard a sudden shout— "Look out!"—that she snapped back.Someone yanked her back just as a truck roared past.She hit the ground hard, pain shooting through her body, but she didn't feel a thing, just sat there in a daze."Are you okay?" her rescuer asked, waving a hand in front of her face, thinking
Third Person's POVWith a blank face, Esmond hung up the phone. As he walked to the bedside, his wolf's eyes narrowed into vertical gold-red lines.His fingers, gripping her chin, subtly shifted into claws, pricking her skin and drawing tiny beads of blood. A mix of pine pheromones and an oppressive, punishing aura washed over her. "Cam, this is just a lesson," he said, a low growl escaping his throat."Remember this pain. Should you anger me again, you'll relive it over and over."Camellia's eyes turned bloodshot, and the unhealed temporary mark on her nape glowed red—a sign of the Shadowfang Alpha lineage's fury.As she raised her hand to slap him, her wrist gland throbbed violently. Lychee rose pheromones surged, forming a defensive aura that was instantly overpowered by Esmond's bestial grip."Think carefully about the consequences of that slap," he said, his claws digging deeper into her skin, mingling the scents of blood and pine
Third Person's POV"Just call me Mr. Dalton," he said.Camellia pursed her lips. "At work, I'm your employee—it's proper to call you Mr. Dalton. But off the clock, I should use your name."Noticing her deliberate distancing, a flicker of annoyance crossed Lionel's eyes. "Suit yourself," he said."Right, you're busy. No need to go out of your way," she added.Lionel raised an eyebrow, eyeing her with scrutiny. "Is this how you treat your savior?"Camellia met his gaze, her tone deliberate. "Because you're my savior, I'm more grateful. I don't want to waste your precious time."Her constant reminders of their relationship grated on him. Suddenly, Lionel leaned in close.Startled by his proximity, Camellia shrank back as if from a plague.Just as Lionel was about to speak, the ward door burst open."Cam..."Esmond's voice trailed off as he spotted Lionel.The scene looked like Lionel was about to