Deborah's POV
"Trust me. Leave it to me."
Matthew's calm voice echoed in my ears, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond.
He looked at me with such unwavering confidence that I almost believed he could really pull this off. But then the reality sank in — how could a werewolf from the underground possibly get me intel on the FDB?
The FDB is the most tightly-knit and highly guarded organization in all of Murias. Even the ground-level activities are heavily guarded.
And yet, here was a werewolf, bound by a seal, claiming he could do what I'd never dreamed possible.
"Really? How exactly do you plan to pull that off?" I asked skeptically.
Matthew just smiled, brushing off my question.
He fiddled with his Mobi casually, changing the topic as if it wasn't a big deal. "So, why were you at the Quarry today?"
I shrugged, averting my gaze. "Work. Nothing more."
"Uh-huh," he murmured, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Then why did you grab my hand and run like that?"
I froze, caught off-guard by his straightforwardness.
I glanced up, seeing a hint of triumph in his eyes.
He was genuinely pleased, like he'd discovered some secret part of me I hadn't meant to reveal.
I hesitated, wondering if I should tell him about my dream.
What would he think?
Would he even believe me?
His eyes twinkled with amusement as he watched me struggle to find the words. He seemed to be enjoying this far too much.
"Do you believe in werewolves?" I blurted out abruptly, trying to shift the focus away.
"Werewolves?" His brows arched in surprise before his lips curved into a playful smile. "Not really. I've only heard about them from Mark. You know how he is — he loves weird books."
"Okay, but what about witches?" I pressed.
He shook his head. "Nope. Though I've heard that werewolves and witches are supposedly enemies. Witches can curse and bind them… or so Mark claims."
"And… what if someone had the ability to see the future?"
Matthew's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Are you saying you can? So, what are you — a werewolf or a witch?"
"I'm not a werewolf," I said firmly. "But I think you are."
He chuckled, shaking his head again. "I don't turn into a wolf. So no, sorry, I'm not."
"That's only because there's no moonlight underground," I countered.
He blinked, clearly taken aback by my response, then laughed. "True. But does that make you a witch? Can you actually see the future?"
I hesitated, weighing my words. "I might… be able to, sometimes."
Matthew tilted his head thoughtfully. "And do you know any spells?"
My lips tightened, embarrassed. "I… no, not really."
How could I? I was a priest in my past life. I hadn't been trained in any of this.
His face fell in exaggerated disappointment. "Then I guess you're not a real witch. Mark said real witches are crazy powerful. So, can you actually see the future or not?"
Taking a deep breath, I looked him square in the eye. "I had a dream last night. Everything that happened today in the Quarry — it all played out exactly like it did in my dream."
Matthew's playful expression shifted, his gaze sharpening. "In your dream… what happened to me? Was I hurt?"
"You were… crushed by a falling Falshi," I whispered.
He stared at me for a long moment, then broke into a smile — a bright, almost disbelieving smile, as if he'd just stumbled upon something precious. "So you came to save me?"
I flushed under his scrutiny, feeling absurdly foolish. Did I really run across the entire Quarry just to save him?
"You came for me," he murmured softly, a laugh bubbling in his chest. "My own knight in shining armor."
"I—" I stammered, utterly flustered.
But his grin only grew wider, the gleam in his eyes pure, undiluted joy.
Before I could even think of a response, a tall, broad-shouldered man strode over, shattering the charged atmosphere between us.
"Hey, Matt!"
Matthew jumped to his feet, his expression transforming instantly. Gone was the teasing boy; in his place stood someone completely at ease, smiling warmly at the newcomer.
"David, you made it." Matthew greeted him with a familiarity that told me they were much more than just acquaintances.
I glanced up at the man standing before me. Taller, more muscular than Matthew, he radiated authority. His eyes, sharp and observant, swept over me briefly before settling on Matthew with an easy grin.
"Deborah, meet my friend, David Miller," Matthew introduced.
"Nice to meet you," I said politely, extending my hand. "Deborah Wellspring. I'm with the Falshi Research Department at Erius Institute."
David's eyebrows lifted slightly, but he quickly composed himself. "Ah, interesting. I'm David Miller, FDB's Lieutenant Colonel."
Lieutenant Colonel?
My heart skipped a beat. A Lieutenant Colonel in the FDB was far above Ryan's rank of Major. This man must have access to far more sensitive information.
Could I really get FDB intel through him?
Matthew seemed unbothered by my visible surprise. He merely smiled as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"David and I go way back," Matthew explained nonchalantly. "I met him when I was investigating Falshi. Back then, he was just a Major."
David laughed, shaking his head. "Back then, you were just an overzealous werewolf trying to get clearance to transport Falshi to the surface."
My ears perked up, every nerve on alert. "Transporting Falshi? Why was your request denied?"
David shrugged casually, but his eyes darkened. "It's the rules."
"Rules?" I pressed. "Or is it because… werewolves don't die on the surface?"
David tensed, glancing around quickly. His gaze swept over the scattered tables and curious glances, his face suddenly guarded.
"We should continue this conversation somewhere safer."