Chapter 2

Caden's "home"? Total dump.

Right on the Neutral Zone border, tucked beside a rank heap of prey bones. Lawn looked like it hadn't seen a mower in years—vines crawling up the walls like they wanted inside.

"This is seriously your place?"

I picked my way around puddles in heels that were 100% not made for this.

"Staff dorm."

He unlocked the door. The metal shrieked like it hated being touched.

Inside? Weirdly spotless. One bed. One beat-up couch. Everything lined up like he lived with a drill sergeant.

"You take the bed. I'll crash on the couch."

He shrugged off his blazer, dropped it over a chair. That white shirt? Painted on. Every line of muscle just... there.

I swallowed hard. Okay, rude how good he looked.

"So, what do you even do?"

Hot face, hotter body—living in this place? Didn't track.

"Club server," he said, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge and tossing it my way.

I squinted, eyeing him head to toe.

Club? Server?

That whole "But for that price? You're barely getting a paw" line. The way he flirted like it was muscle memory.

I'd been to the northern Neutral Zone as a pup. Some of those brothels? Even the male wolves sold their bodies.

"Hey... no judgment," I said, stiff. "But if your back's wrecked, maybe slow it down a little."

Pfft—

Caden choked, spraying water everywhere.

"What?!"

He stared at me like I'd lost it.

"Nothing!" I blurted, pivoting fast. "I'm starving. Got food?"

"Just black bread." He nodded at a cabinet.

Ugh. Fine. Bread it is.

I yanked out a chunk that could've doubled as a rock. While figuring out how not to break a fang on it, I remembered the jar of black truffle stashed in my bag.

Soon as Caden hit the shower, I scooped out a huge spoonful and smeared it on. The second it hit the bread—boom—rich, savory perfection filled the room.

"What smells so good?"

I whipped around—and instantly regretted it.

Caden strolled out, towel slung low, water sliding down abs sculpted by the Moon Goddess herself.

I blinked, hard, then shoved bread in my mouth like it owed me money. "N-Nothing. Just some leftover jam."

He gave me a look but let it go. Pulled out a takeout box instead.

"Client didn't touch this. Thought we could split it."

Inside? Flame-seared venison and chilled salmon, plated like something off a five-star menu.

"This... is LEFTOVER?"

I grabbed a piece of venison. That flavor? Only came from three-year-old deer raised way deep in the eastern forests.

No way a club server-slash-pretty toy boy scored food like this on a legit paycheck.

"Yeah. They didn't touch it. Would've been a waste," Caden said, straight-faced.

I didn't push. Just ate.

After that night, we kinda... fell into this ridiculous shared life.

To sell my broke girl cover, I hustled nonstop—odd jobs, random gigs, anything. Not that I was faking it. I was flat-out broke.

But weird stuff kept showing up.

A dress I wanted but hadn't bought? Magically lying across the couch.

Luxury venison dinners at night.

Diamond-studded bracelets Caden swore were just "tips."

Once, he straight-up stole a limited edition supercar from a client just to take me on a joyride when I was spiraling.

Bit by bit, it hit me—

Caden wasn't half as poor as he pretended to be.

I even started catching a familiar scent on him.

One that smelled like mine.

But he never mentioned the Lunara Tear.

And I kept pretending not to see the cracks in his story.

Life just... kept moving. Quiet. Offbeat. Almost too chill.