Episode 4

When Violet first saw Leanor, she assumed she was showing off a bag, but she was unaware that the item inside was a limited-edition Chanel scarf.

This one was even beyond her budget. According to the company, the remaining items were reserved for the celebrities and could not be sold out.

Violet's face took on an unattractive appearance.

While everyone else dispersed to take part in the get togather activities, Leanor and Rufus remained by the water fall.

Although Rufus's clothes were being blown by the river wind, she dared not look him in the eyes because they were even more captivating at night.

Leanor asked, "What are you doing here?"

Still a little embarrassed. Rufus extended his hand and Leanor's key was there on his fingertips. Unconsciously, Leanor extended her hand to accept it.

"I had no idea it fell. "Rufus held up his hand to keep it from going to her.

There were many things in his deep, complex eyes that she was unable to make sense of.

Leanor wanted her key first, even though she had no idea why Rufus had suddenly changed his mind. She leaped to her feet and reached for it. Rufus, however, lifted his hand higher to keep it from her. With a gloom in Leanor's eyes, he uttered a lifeless "Give it back to me.".

Rufus's thin lips parted slightly, his eyes averted from the harshness of the night, and he spoke three words slowly.

"Come take it."

Feeling angry and frustrated, Leanor leaped to his feet and grabbed the key, while Rufus looked expectantly at the girl, whose face flushed red.

While the waterway tide gathered and slapped on the dike, he surreptitiously took a peek at her, as the moment from two years came flooding back.

It was a moment from their last graduation. Every graduation, the students usually light their lantern light and let it flow in the river. It was a tradition in the Moonlight Pack.

On this day, the latern lights ascended slowly, and the surrounding sky suddenly became bright.

The lamps, which were filled with ink-written wishes flowed freely in the river.

Leanor jumped up and threw herself into Rufus' arms completely.

Rufus glanced down at her indiscreetly. For a moment, Leanor's thoughts cleared, and she instantly straightened up.

With nervousness, she lifted her head to examine Rufus. His sharp edges were constantly relaxed, but his outline was particularly low in the evening.

People were so taken in by him that their hearts were thumping.

His face flushed and his heart racing, he was in a daze.

After the lantern tradition, Leanor took a picture of herself and Rufus. Unexpectedly, Rufus wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he took the photo. The light gold daylight, delicate white mists, and dim green wall-creepers, folded over the railings and set off by the May wind, create green waves. Leanor wouldn't move an inch.

That year, Leanor's heart raced uncontrollably and she refused to budge an inch.

There were questionable cheers echoing all around, causing people to blush.

When the flash back ended, Rufus stood by the river, his eyes filled with emotions that Leanor couldn't decipher, fluctuating in the twilight.

Due to his pompous personality, he always felt distant while observing people, but now his cold and distant gaze stirred mixed feelings in Leanor.

The fireworks scattered in the river, the purple lanterns filled with dark dust, and the crane flares bloomed.

The lantern float approached them steadily as it reminded them of their last middle school graduation. The scene was magnificent and enchanting, and the crowds were overflowing.

Leanor and Rufus stood face to face, silently allowing the hem of their skirts to pass behind them.

Out of the blue, Leanor spoke up,

"Sorry. We are now family."

She turned around and quickly hailed a taxi.

The neon lights outside the window shimmered into the dark car, causing Rufus's mind to travel through two years in a daze and glimpse the past.

The scorching sun, the shouting, the advancing wave of students,

Rufus held a physics elective book over Leanor's head in the crowded crowd, shielding her from the blazing sun, while he himself was exposed to its scorching rays.

During the noisy class break, Rufus raised his face, with a playful smile in his eyes. Young love was in full swing, but she was the only one who caught his attention.

"Leanor, when I finally wolf out, I'll make you my mate."

Leanor suddenly blushed.

When she accidentally broke the glass during a student brawl, some teachers took advantage of the situation and scolded her, attempting to suppress the students and instill fear in them through unfair treatment.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she was singled out by several adults. No one stepped forward to defend her.

Nevertheless, Rufus pressed forward, pushing aside individuals in his path, until he stood directly in front of her, his face contorted with severity.

"Refrain from targeting young ladies, I will cover the cost of the broken glass," he declared.

He stood resolutely before her, in full view of everyone. His unspoken determination was evident to all.

Eventually, as the flash back ended, he stood by the flowing stream, he gazed into the thin air, colder and more distant than the night breeze, piercing his heart like a needle.

Leaning against the car window, Leanor observed the bustling crowds and traffic outside.

The neon lights danced swiftly across her face. Her countenance alternated between brightness and darkness, and strangely, the glimmers of light in her eyes, reflected by passing headlights, appeared as tears.

However, a mind link abruptly interrupted Leanor's thoughts, bringing her back to reality.

She promptly opened the mind link. It was her classmate from the same pack.

A conciliatory voice emanated from the other end, "Leanor, please accept my apologies. I have to take the military training. I have packed my belongings and will not be staying in the hostel starting tonight."

The roommate made this decision specifically because she knew Leanor dreaded the night.

Alone, Leanor would be so frightened that she would be drenched in cold sweat. One night of fear would lead to sickness the following day.

The sudden departure truly caught Leanor off guard.

Although the roommate was aware of this, she still left without notice. The inevitable guilt would surely weigh on her conscience.

For a moment, Leanor was frozen, but after a brief exchange with her roommate, she mind link Raina and asked if Raina could come and stay in her room for one night.

However, Raina had an important training session and had to work with her roommate throughout the night, leaving no possibility for her to come stay with Leanor.

Leanor could still reach out to her mother through the mind link.

Leanor hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Mother, are you home?"

"No! Is everything okay, dear?"

Leanor paused briefly before responding.

"My roommate won't be here...."

Suddenly, she was interrupted...

"Mr. Carter has a house near your academy. It's a villa. If you don't mind, Rufus can come pick you up right now. Both of you can stay there."

Mrs. Kate exclaimed enthusiastically,

"No, Mom..."

Before she could finish speaking, Rufus's car pulled up next to her. With the car window rolled down, Leanor caught a glimpse of his smoky white and incredibly cool face. She couldn't help but be taken aback and felt unsure of what to do.

How could he possibly be here so quickly? Did he fly?

Rufus silently held the car door open for Leanor to step inside, not uttering a single word. Throughout the entire journey, Leanor remained quiet, and Rufus refrained from speaking as well.

Upon their arrival at the big Villa, the guard noticed Rufus accompanying a young lady. A warm smile graced the guard's face as he addressed Rufus, saying, "Mr. Rufus, is this your mate? However, you haven't wolf out yet."