After finishing breakfast, Raymond got up to leave. Standing by the door, he adjusted his tie and said, "The driver will take you to school later, and he'll pick you up after school."
"I can just take the bus," I said, though it would take about two extra hours.
"It's normal for me to drive you to school since we're married," Raymond said with a smile, still as gentle as ever.
He was undeniably handsome——sharp features and a strong, defined jawline. Yet, the gentleness in his eyes and the mature calmness he carried made him feel reliable, someone you could lean on.
In his eyes, there was a quiet wisdom and a warmth that made you feel at ease. His manner was composed, humble, and effortlessly dignified.
A perfect man in every way.
But why would someone like him end up as a lone wolf?
Was it just because of his disability?
As I thought about it, a heavy sadness filled me. My chest tightened, and I couldn't help but feel the unfairness of it all, that life had been so harsh to Raymond.
"Would you like to see me off?" Raymond asked, breaking me from my thoughts.
I put down my sandwich and rushed over to help him with the wheelchair, pushing it to the door of the villa where the driver had been waiting for a while.
"Bend down," he said, smiling.
I did as he asked, and the next moment, Raymond pulled out a necklace. It was stunning—a silver chain with a pearl pendant, the soft grayish pearl glowing gently. Surrounding it, tiny diamonds glittered in the sunlight.
I couldn't take my eyes off the necklace. I looked at Raymond and asked quietly, "Is this for me?"
"Mm-hmm. You've been here for a while, and I haven't given you a gift yet. This is the first... let's say it's a gift to celebrate us getting to know each other," he said with a light nod.
I was so excited that I threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly.
Then I realized I had crossed the line and quickly pulled away, feeling embarrassed. "Thank you. After my parents passed away, I haven't received any gifts since."
Raymond's smile softened. "From now on, you'll get gifts better than this."
"Are you going to give me a farewell kiss?" His tone was playful, but there was an earnestness in his eyes.
"Are you going to give me a goodbye kiss?" His voice was playful, but his eyes said something deeper.
I paused for a moment, then, without thinking, leaned in and kissed him. His lips were soft, and the kiss was unexpectedly sweet. Was there honey or syrup in Raymond's coffee?
He smiled, and the warmth of it stayed with me as he turned to leave.
I stood there, still caught up in everything that had just happened. The necklace he'd given me sparkled in the sunlight, its colors shifting like a tiny rainbow.
I realized then that maybe I should try harder to get used to married life. After all, it was still so new to me.
When I arrived at school, Eileen was already waiting at the gate. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw me. "Thank God! I was getting worried something had happened to you!"
"Again?" I raised an eyebrow, confused.
Eileen looked around quickly, then lowered her voice. "Do you know about John? He's dead. And no one knows who killed him."
I froze for a second. "How did he die?!"
"I don't know... It's strange that his family hasn't caused trouble to anyone. But with what happened to you before, I'm worried they might come after you."
As Eileen spoke, the unsettling feeling that had been lingering all morning seemed to grow stronger.
Trouble was indeed on the way.
Except for the bite on my shoulder, nothing else had happened.
But why did it still feel like something wasn't quite right?
I couldn't shake this nagging feeling.
I thought of Raymond.
It didn't make sense. Raymond was kind, and gentle—there was no way he could have been involved in something like this.
Besides, he didn't have a pack of wolves. Could humans have helped him?
I quickly dismissed the thought. There was no way.
But I couldn't find a reasonable explanation for what happened while I was unconscious.
Unfortunately, there were no answers.
I pushed that thought aside and asked Eileen, "By the way, do you have any training suggestions?"
After all, her physical fitness test scores have always been the best.
"Hmm… I'm not too sure either. Maybe you should ask Professor Black."
Professor Black is one of the most popular young professors at our school. At 26, with blond hair and a sharp, handsome face, he has the kind of looks that catches everyone's attention. Known for his warm, gentle personality, he always wears a crisp white suit that gives him a polished, almost elegant look.
He seems to have a certain glow when he stands in the sunlight, which is probably why so many people in the school admire him.
I hesitated, then said, "I don't know, but I always feel the way Professor Black looked at me is a little... strange."
"Strange?" Eileen laughed, "I don't think so. You're probably overthinking it."
Maybe she was right. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling. "Would you come with me later?" I asked.
"Sure!" Eileen grinned.
There was a training session in the afternoon, and as soon as I stepped onto the training field, I saw Professor Black.
There was a soft, calm tenderness in his eyes. His blond curls gleamed in the sunlight. He was the alpha of the Moon Shadow Pack.
A group of students had gathered around him, clearly asking for advice on combat techniques, though their body language suggested they were hoping for something more.
"I think we came at a bad time," I whispered to Eileen.
I could already imagine how people would glare at me if I asked Professor Black for private tutoring now. I didn't want to become their next target.
I tugged on Eileen's arm. "Why don't we train on our own? Professor Hector taught us some techniques, right?"
Hector is our training instructor. An older man with a bald head, he doesn't focus much on building strength. Instead, he's great at teaching us agility.
In simple terms, he specializes in how to escape when you're being chased.
It wasn't much use to others, but it could be helpful to me.
"Here's your chance! Don't just stand there!" Eileen pulled me.
I looked over, and it seemed Professor Black had found an excuse to escape from the group. The students around him quickly scattered.
He was heading in our direction.
I felt unexpectedly nervous and forced a smile. "Hi, Professor Black."
"Are you two skipping training to hide here?" Professor Black asked.
"Um... Professor Black..." I couldn't help but lower my head as I met his deep blue eyes.
"Please help her with some training!" Eileen jumped in, speaking for me.
Before I could say anything, she gave me a little push, she gave me a little push, and I finally had the courage to speak. "Would that be too much trouble for you?"
"Not at all, I'd be happy to," Professor Black replied, smiling. "What kind of training do you want?"
I hesitated, then added, "I want Lily and me to become stronger. Oh, Lily is my wolf."
At the sound of her name, Lily responded with a soft howl.
"Hmm… alright, follow me," Black said after a moment of thought.
He led me to the school's private training ground.
It was a lawn with a forest behind it, this area was more private. There were separate training platforms, but typically used for challenges.
"Are you afraid of getting hit?" Professor Black asked.
I said with confidence. "Of course not!"
I had an agreement with Raymond—I was going to protect him!