Even though I wanted to tell Alijah everything, my voice felt heavier than ever.

Why is it so hard to tell you? I don’t… No, it isn’t my choice! You deserve…

“Yes... Edna can bring the Lilith you knew back. I don’t know how, but her wickedness will find a way.” I answered Alijah, triggering him to growl loudly.

Instinctively, I removed the pot from the fire to prevent accidents.

“Wait… Are you saying you took me away from that chance?!” He snapped as I stood up to face him head-on.

I can’t run away. Perhaps this is when my heart will be as locked to you as yours is to me.

Even though this was far from what I wished, I would be selfless just this once.

This entire journey started because of my selfishness. Now... At this moment, all of that will change.

“No, I took you away from my family. I plan to find Edna and kill her, and when I do, your love will be back with you somehow. I don’t know how I’ll do that, but I will. That’s another promise I make to you, Alijah.” I bowed my head to him.

That’s a vow I intend to keep, even if it destroys me.

“Rem... why?” He mumbled as I shifted my gaze to meet with his.

His eyes were wide open as I closed mine.

A person like me... I’m selfish... that’s all I am. Please don’t look at me like I’m anything more than that.

“I don’t want you to destroy the world or be anyone’s puppet. So, trust me when I say I want what’s best for you.” I shifted my gaze onto him before simpering.

Your happiness is all I wish for at the end of this journey: that and my freedom.

He glanced down at the ground before going back to me. His eyes sparkled as his expression softened.

“I trust you, Rem.” Alijah smiled, leaving me with my eyes wide open.

Maybe… Can I be your friend?

I reached my hand towards him like I did the night of the lake.

“Good to be your partner, then.” I beamed, unable to help the joy of becoming something to him seeping out.

He shook his head, grabbing my hand as my tail wagged uncontrollably.

“You really are something, Rem. Okay... we’re partners.” Alijah nodded.

With this, it would be over. All I would ever be to this wolf was the annoying girl who took him to his love. An ache in my chest arose as I tightly gripped his hand.

This is the only warmth I’ll ever feel from you. It hurts, but—

Before I knew it, he yanked me towards him, and the sudden motion caused me to fall against his chest.

What are you—

“That was dangerous!” I growled.

Even though it annoyed me, I froze when I saw his tender expression.

Huh? Why are you looking at me like that?

“Ali—” I went to say his name only to be swiftly silenced when he took hold of my chin.

“I guess so,” Alijah whispered, tugging me to meet my lips with his.

The warmth radiated within me was astonishing as my eyes flew open when he closed his.

What’s happening?!

My mind couldn’t keep up when his tongue licked my bottom lip, freezing me in place. A soft hum left his lips as his hand trailed down my back before grabbing the base of my tail, triggering me to yelp.

When my mouth gave him access, his tongue invaded mine, and I felt my mind break. The way he tangoed with mine stole my breath away. I could’ve stopped him or bitten his tongue off, yet I couldn’t give this moment of warmth away.

This… has to be a dream.

Unable to help it, I shyly pushed on the wolf’s tongue as he grasped the back of my head. In an instant, he had stolen my heart once again. I slowly melted in his hands with every second as I couldn’t help but kiss him back.

Upon feeling me respond to him, lips curved into a sly smile. I didn’t know how long we locked lips before he separated. However, when he did, a trail of saliva connected us before he licked his lips to cut it off.

His cheeks were pink when he stepped back from me and walked over to the riverbank. All the while, I stood there with my face and lips burning.

“W-Why?” I mumbled, barely able to think straight.

Why won’t you let me give up? Why did you do that to me? I… I want…

This wolf had learned that we could bring his lover back, yet he went and did that instead.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Why aren’t you colder towards me? Why do you tease me? Is this a test? It has to be!

“Y-You did that last time to start a pact with me. So, this is the start of a new bond between you and me.” Alijah cleared his throat.

I felt a sting in my chest, triggering me to gaze at the floor before sitting down.

So that’s what it is. There’s no special meaning behind it.

Yet I...

Why make it so intimate, Alijah? A little peck like I did that night would’ve been enough!

My poor heart was in disarray, and I couldn’t help but want to jump on him and kiss him again feverishly.

No, Rem, you can’t! This isn’t… You… can’t.

My heart ached as stinging sensations arose within my eyes.

If I do that, I won’t be any different from all the other females who attacked you. I… I need to…

“I see.” I acknowledge, trying to hold my emotions intact.

It was becoming a chore, but all that mattered was his happiness.

Mine’s nothing in comparison. All I need is my freedom.

Perhaps if I said it enough, it would be true.

Ah... my chest hurts more than ever.

While his gaze was stuck to the river, I traced my fingertips on my lip.

Damn it, why do I want more?! I can’t have it again! If I do… I won’t… I don’t know if I can… No, you have to!

“Hey, Rem, your mom told me something before she sent me to this time. I thought she was bullshitting me, but funny enough, I think I found it.” Alijah chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief.

“W-What was t-that?” I asked, trying to steady my heart, only to get overly curious.

Is it because of the news that you’ll see your Lilith again?

“Nah, little Luma, that’s for me to know and for you to find out.” Alijah simpered, turning back towards me.

His cheeks were light pink, triggering my heart to race. Licking my lips, I shook off my insecurities as that expression was everything I wanted to see on him.

Hey, can I have a small piece of your heart? Alijah... is that possible for me? Is that what this kiss meant?

“Ah... Challenge accepted!” I smirked, pointing at him decisively.

I gave in to the emotion swelling within me while he chuckled.

Smiling and happy... If the thought of being with Lilith does that to you… Hey, she’ll do a good job at that, right? She’ll make sure you never feel pain again. Only love. If she does that to you, then I can…

“Okay, Rem,” Alijah cackled as I shifted my eyes downward to the ground.

I love you, grumps.

Fighting the urge to jump him, I took out the map again. Dad had taught me all I knew about survival, even how to track myself on the map, even in the digital version I had. It took me a bit, but I tracked down where we were as Alijah took the cooked bunnies off the fire and handed me one on a stick, preventing me from burning myself.

“Thank you.” I smiled, prompting him to sit beside me.

“You’re welcome. Don’t eat it too quickly, or you’ll injure yourself.” He warned, taking a munch out of it.

Although the meal was dull compared to what I had previously had in the manor, it was still the best because the man of my dreams was next to me. After we finished, I filled our containers with more fresh water for the trip ahead.

There was a cave nearby the border that would let us go from Celestelia and into Azear, the ocean elf nation. The cavern was a popular tourist attraction hub from the elven side, but it was closed because of many deaths.

There were many caving, declaring the entire place unstable, but that wasn’t the only danger that lurked in its depths. The cave was full of fluorite crystals that were used to block my mother’s emotions once long ago. Though the ones she had were changed and refined with magic.

Thanks to their raw energy, the ones there would be devoid of emotions.

Luckily, they only react to strong ones. So, if we control ourselves while in there, we should be fine if we don’t touch them by mistake.

The bad thing about pure luxorite was that exposure to the unrefined crystal would end in death—a type of radiation poisoning that was curable if treated within a short time frame. Even though it was dangerous, we had little choice.

Any other exit point of Celestelia had checkpoints that required passports to cross. This cave, though, was usually unguarded because of its danger. Ocean Elves were known to be laid back, which meant their guards wouldn’t have cared if anyone smuggled through.

However, with Dad in charge, that could’ve changed.

I can only hope it’s unguarded.

Before going there, I warned Alijah about the danger. Surprisingly, he knew about the ores, which led to...

“Rem, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He sighed, shaking his head.

“There is no other way. Celestelia isn’t safe for you and…” I trailed off, biting my lip.

Is that too much to say?

“And?” He breathed, shifting his eyes towards me.

“I want you… No, I want us to see the world together.” I simpered before turning my gaze quickly away from him.

His eyes opened wide as he cocked his head. “I… see.” He mumbled, “Hey, help me with my braid before we go.”

“Eh?” I squeaked, “Okay.”

A soft chuckle left his lips as he sat before me, allowing me to grab his hair.

It was so long, soft, and silky that I struggled not to snuggle myself into it. I had done braids before on Vera, but this time it felt different. Working on this wolf made me jittery while trying to do his braid, as he liked it, loose.

So, I tried to please him while not losing myself in a fantasy. After all, I didn’t have to imagine how Alijah’s kisses felt anymore.

No, I know how they feel, and I can’t help… but…

Without really much control of it, my mind wandered towards a naughtier side. Luckily, I continued to make the unsuspecting wolf’s braid, even though I was practically drooling myself.

No… Rem! Chill out!

Closing my eyes momentarily, I tried not to waver too much.

“Rem?” Alijah called out, snapping me out of the naughty daydream. “You’re too quiet.”

His eyes shifted towards me slightly, leaving me like a deer in headlights.

“Just concentrate on making you look good!” I squeaked, eyes twitching.

“Hah, if you say so.” He shook his head, handing me the ribbon he used to hold his hair together.

It was red and made from moon elf silk, which came from a worm within their domain. It was one of the softest materials in our world.

Ah... Did Lilith give you this? No… It hurts! Alijah, you shouldn’t have kissed me.

Every thought was making me jealous of everything I could never have. Once done with his braid, I tied my hair into a ponytail while he shifted into his beast form. There, he allowed me to climb onto him once again.

This time, I was less bare than the previous day, yet I still needed the shoes we would have to buy in the next village we passed. Knowing where to go, he bolted without a second thought toward our destination.

Unlike the previous day, I could hold on to him better, allowing him to run at his usual speed. Thanks to that, it only took us a few hours to get to the abandoned luxorite cave. As I had suspected, no scents were around, marking it abandoned, just like the information I found about it.

Before getting there, I was worried Cerberus was patrolling since my data was downloaded before leaving Silverant. Then again, we were on the hybrid side of the map.

Everything could be different on the other side of the map. Not that it matters. We have to leave Celestelia. Alijah can’t be here.

Not only because of how hostile hybrids were to purebloods but also because of what happened with the raiders.

Without a doubt, they must have already found our tracks.

The most likely culprits were my amazing brothers, Caden and Aiden.

Those two can’t find me yet. Not until…

However, the fact that I had no shoes would pose a problem for me in this cave. If I touched the crystals while barefooted, they would poison me.

Not that it matters. Nothing scares me more than getting captured before I can prove Alijah isn’t a threat.

Thus, there was no turning back. Even if…