At S.N.D.P Headquarters, Fenra and Cora stood in the commissioner’s office, the atmosphere tense as Commissioner Darrow stared at the screen of his tablet. The screen showed a still frame of Fenra embracing Kelson and kissing him passionately in the middle of the square, surrounded by onlookers. Below it, the caption read: "S.N.D.P officer loses focus during a mission to make out with a mysterious man!"

Darrow placed the tablet down with deliberate slowness, his sharp gaze locking onto Fenra. “Do you have any idea how this looks, Officer Fenra?”

Fenra shifted uncomfortably but kept her chin up. “Sir, I take full responsibility for my actions. It was... an unprofessional moment.”

“Unprofessional?” Darrow’s tone was cold. “Fenra, you forgot your target. You left Cora to deal with a potentially dangerous anomaly on her own. And now, the internet is plastered with this!” He jabbed a finger at the tablet. “You’re supposed to be one of the most disciplined officers on this force, and yet here you are acting like a teenager at a carnival.”

Cora cleared her throat, stepping in. “With all due respect, sir, I did manage to apprehend the target, well, what we thought was the target, on my own. And Fenra got back on task once she realized the situation.”

“That’s not the point, Cora,” Darrow snapped. “This isn’t just about completing the mission. This is about public trust. Fenra’s actions cast doubt on our professionalism and focus.”

Fenra’s ears flattened slightly, if she had a tail, it would've been flicking with agitation. “I understand the optics, sir. But if I may explain, I hadn’t seen Kelson, the man in the photo, for a long time. Seeing him again was... overwhelming. It won’t happen again.”

Darrow folded his arms, his expression skeptical. “And who is this Kelson? Is he a civilian? Someone relative to your family's business?”

“He’s a civilian,” Fenra admitted, her voice steady. “But he has no relativity with my father, but we know one another. His presence there was a coincidence.”

Darrow leaned back, exhaling sharply. “Coincidence or not, this kind of distraction is unacceptable. And if he’s just a civilian, why didn’t you remove him from the scene instead of... whatever this was?” He gestured vaguely at the tablet.

Cora stepped in again, a sly grin tugging at her lips. “Well, sir, I’d say he was removed, from her thoughts at least.”

Fenra shot her a glare. “Not. Helping.”

Darrow pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something under his breath before regaining his composure. “Enough. Fenra, while your record speaks for itself, this incident has put the department in a difficult position. You’ll need to issue a formal statement apologizing for your lapse in professionalism.”

Fenra nodded curtly. “Understood, sir.”

“And that’s not all.” Darrow’s tone grew more serious. “I’ve been reviewing your report on the Shadow Dweller. While your actions at the square were... regrettable, the presence of such an anomaly takes precedence. I need you and Cora to focus entirely on tracking and neutralizing this threat. No distractions, no slip-ups.”

Fenra straightened, her resolve firm. “I won’t let you down, sir. This Shadow Dweller is dangerous, and we can’t let it continue to harm civilians.”

“Good.” Darrow’s gaze softened slightly, but his voice remained stern. “But understand this: your personal life cannot interfere with your duties. If you can’t keep the two separate, you’ll be off this case and any other. Is that clear?”

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“Yes, sir.”

“Cora?” Darrow glanced at her.

She saluted lazily, smirking. “Crystal clear, sir. Don’t worry, I’ll keep her in line.”

“Good.” Darrow leaned back. “Now get to work!"

“Yes, sir!” The two ladies uttered in unison.

---

As they left the office, Cora grinned at Fenra. “Well, that went better than I expected. I thought he’d bench you for sure.”

Fenra sighed, rubbing her temples. “He almost did. And that joke you made wasn't making it any better.”

Cora laughed. “Hey, someone’s gotta lighten the mood. Besides, now we're still on the mission. Let’s deal with that Shadow Dweller before it causes more trouble.”

Fenra smirked faintly. “For once, your words rang with me. Let’s get to it.”

---

The streets of Burmone glistened under the soft light of street lamps as Kelson strolled toward the Skyrail Library, a towering building with its sleek glass panels reflecting the vibrant energy of the city. Despite the late hour, the library buzzed with a quiet yet constant hum of activity, the perfect haven for night owls and knowledge seekers alike.

Kelson glanced at his phone to double-check Eilla's message. She had invited him earlier, urging him to join her for a late-night hangout to "catch up in a quieter space," as she had put it. He smirked to himself, recalling the playful banter they’d exchanged on the plane.

Pushing open the large glass doors, Kelson immediately spotted her. Eilla sat at a table by a window, her dark hair with purplish tinge glinting under the warm lights of the library. She was flipping through a book but glanced up the moment she sensed him approaching. Her eyes lit up with a mix of excitement and something else, an emotion she tried to mask as she offered a casual wave.

“You’re here,” she said with a smile as he slid into the seat across from her.

“Of course,” Kelson replied, leaning back in his chair. “Wouldn’t miss a chance to hang out with you. Besides, A library isn't short of the many things on my bucket list.”

“Glad you could make time,” Eilla teased, setting her book aside. “Am really happy that you still have time for me.”

Kelson arched an eyebrow at her tone but let it slide for now. “You’ve got my full attention,"

They spent the next half hour in comfortable conversation, diving into topics ranging from the library’s extensive collection to the quirks of Skyrail City. Kelson’s natural charm kept Eilla smiling, though she seemed distracted at times, her fingers fidgeting with her phone.

Finally, after a moment of silence, she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Speaking of which…” she began, unlocking her phone and swiping to a photo.

Kelson didn’t need to ask, he recognized the image immediately. It was the now-infamous picture of him and Fenra, caught mid-kiss during the chaos at the square. The photo had been making the rounds on social media, drawing all sorts of attention.

Eilla placed the phone on the table, the screen facing him. “Care to explain this?” she asked, her tone light but laced with unmistakable jealousy.

Kelson chuckled, leaning forward to examine the photo as if seeing it for the first time. “Looks like someone caught me in the middle of a moment,” he said, his voice teasing.

“A moment?” Eilla repeated, her eyes narrowing. “You call that a moment? She practically tackled you.”

“She’s enthusiastic,” Kelson replied with a shrug, though the smirk on his face only seemed to rile her further.

Eilla sighing, with her tension receding. “So, what’s the deal with you two? Old flames? Long-lost lovers? Or just some random wolf-girl who couldn’t resist you?”

Kelson met her gaze, his smirk softening into a more thoughtful expression. “Fenra and I go way back. We hadn’t seen each other in years, and… well, things got emotional.”

“Emotional,” Eilla echoed, her tone flat. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”

Kelson leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand as he studied her. “You’re jealous.”

Eilla’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away. “I’m not jealous,” she said, her voice a little too defensive.

“Really?” Kelson pressed, a playful glint in his eyes. “Because it kind of sounds like you’re upset that someone else got to me first.”

Eilla glared at him, though her blush deepened. “That is not what I am trying to say,” she muttered.

Kelson laughed, his tone gentle. “Relax, Eilla. It’s not what you think. Fenra and I… we’ve got history, but it’s complicated. Besides, I wouldn’t be here with you if I wasn’t interested in getting to know you better.”

Eilla blinked, caught off guard by his sincerity. She glanced at him, her irritation softening. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“Yeah, but you like it,” Kelson replied smoothly, earning another eye roll from her.

They spent the rest of the evening talking, the tension from earlier gradually fading into the background. Eilla still had lingering doubts about the photo and what it meant, but for now, she decided to let it go. Whatever this was between her and Kelson, she’d figure it out in time.