After opening up to Raymond and confirming our feelings for each other, I had never felt so at peace.
I lay on the lawn of the villa, enjoying the fresh air and warmth of the sun.
I decided I wanted to go for a run!
Lily jumped up excitedly.
Behind the villa was a forest we called the Mayata Forest, a place rarely visited by humans.
Further west, there were territories occupied by wolf packs.
In the past, conflicts often occurred here, but after signing a peace treaty, there will be no war unless there are challenges or unforeseen events.
Because of this, they established the Moon Goddess Academy.
Here, we learned about werewolf knowledge and human society, helping us better adapt to the world.
I entered the forest, shedding my clothes and shoes, feeling the damp earth beneath my hands and feet. The ground was slippery with moss, and tiny insects crawled underfoot.
The air was thick with the smell of trees, rivers, and lakes.
Slowly, I let myself transform into my wolf form.
When Lily's paws touched the ground, I felt her energy. She was small but determined, always ready to show her strength in front of other wolves.
She had a stubborn streak and a sense of pride, which was probably why she preferred to stay hidden most of the time.
It had been a few months since I last shifted.
I wondered what Raymond's wolf looked like. I think his wolf would have dark fur—maybe black or a deep gray. Strong and imposing, just like him.
Lost in thought, I barely noticed when Lily started running. Her paws moved steadily over the mossy ground and through the tall grass, enjoying the freedom of nature.
She ran for an hour or two—time seemed to slip away—until she finally stopped at a stream. The water was clear, flowing over smooth rocks to the distant sea.
Lily lowered herself to drink. Both of us were thirsty, and the cold water felt refreshing as it rushed over us.
The sound of the stream was calming, and for a while, it felt like everything else faded away, leaving just me and Lily.
Until...
A rustling noise broke the silence from far in the woods. Don't doubt a werewolf's hearing—especially now, with Lily's heightened senses. She immediately became alert, standing up and scanning the surroundings.
Soon, she hid behind a strong tree trunk.
A pack of wolves suddenly emerged from the forest, running at incredible speed as if they were chasing something.
In the blink of an eye, they were gone.
As their scent faded, Lily cautiously stepped out from behind the tree.
"Come back," I called to her.
She hesitated but eventually complied.
"I'll let you stay longer next time," I promised, feeling bad for cutting her time short.
I shifted back into my human form, put on my clothes, and couldn't resist jumping into the water. Floating there, I looked out over the lake, the familiar feeling of calm washing over me. I'd always come here to clear my head when I was a kid.
As I floated in the cold water, a strange thought crossed my mind—I thought of Raymond.
Moon Goddess, here I was, swimming naked in a cold lake, and yet he was on my mind.
And worse, I felt... something.
Lily's laughter echoed in my mind, and I sank deeper into the water, letting it cover me up to my nose, trying to shake off the strange, unexpected feeling.
I looked around, making sure no one was nearby, and hesitated before reaching my fingers toward my wetness.
"Caitlyn!"
A man's voice startled me, and I quickly pulled my hand back. I curled up and turned to see Blake standing there.
He was drenched, barefoot, and wearing a loose t-shirt with rolled-up pants. He looked nothing like a professor—more like a carefree young man.
"Oh, sorry." Blake immediately turned around when he realized I wasn't fully dressed.
Flustered, I hurried out of the water, quickly put on my clothes, and felt my face burn. Had he seen it? Had he seen everything?
Had he seen me? Worse—had he seen me earlier when I—
No, don't think about that!
"All set," I pulled at my shirt, trying to calm myself.
Blake turned back, smiling. "Don't worry, I didn't see anything."
I let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Professor, what are you doing here?"
"I came out to clear my head. I love this place—especially running on the ground after it rains." He shrugged, then grinned.
"Want some fish?"
"No, I—" Before I could finish, my stomach growled loudly.
I froze, completely embarrassed.
Lily's laughter echoed in my mind, and I squeezed my eyes shut. Could I be more embarrassing today?
Blake chuckled but didn't make a big deal of it. Instead, he gathered some wood, pulled a small knife from his pocket, sharpened the end of a stick, then rolled up his pants and waded into the stream.
I watched as he stood still on the shallow water, focused. At first, I thought he was joking, but then, with a swift jab, he drove the stick into the water and pulled out a wriggling fish.
My jaw dropped.
Of course, Blake would be good at this. He wasn't just a professor but an alpha—and a respected one.
My growling stomach pulled me out of my thoughts. I decided to make myself useful and started a fire.
In no time, Blake had caught three more fish and tossed them onto the grass beside me. He skewered them on sticks and held them over the fire to roast.
The smell of grilled fish soon filled the air, and my stomach growled again, louder this time.
Blake didn't say anything but pulled out some salt and pepper—where did he even keep all this? —and sprinkled them over the fish as it crisped over the flames. He handed one to me. "Here, try this."
The fish was perfectly cooked. Its charred, crispy skin paired with the tender meat underneath was mouthwatering.
As I ate, Blake broke the silence. "You're not living with the Fang Pack anymore, are you?"
"No. I moved out. I got married." The words slipped out before I realized how strange they might sound.
I stuck out my tongue jokingly and added, "Keep that a secret, okay?"
Blake was stunned, then smiled. "Of course. I'm just surprised—you got married?"
"Yep."
"Was he… your mate?" he asked curiously.
I nodded. "Yeah."
I didn't go into details. Blake was someone I respected, but we weren't close enough for me to open up further.