"Here." Ashley pulled out a five-dollar bill and handed it to the boy. "Take this as a down payment. Once I get back, I’ll give you the rest."

The moment the bill touched his hand, the boy’s eyes widened.

Ashley deliberately gave him only half of the promised amount. It was enough for him to taste the reward and stay motivated to fulfill his end of the bargain, but not enough for him to lose interest once he got paid.

Besides, while they were watching over the car, the children could use the money to buy snacks and share them among themselves. Ashley had already spotted a small convenience stall nearby, and five dollars would be more than enough for a group of children their age to enjoy a few treats together.

"Alright, beautiful sister! Leave it to me!" the boy declared proudly, thumping his thin chest as though he had just accepted an important mission.

Clutching the bill tightly in his grimy hand, he grinned from ear to ear, already looking eager to show off his earnings to his friends.

As soon as Ashley finished speaking with the children, the doors of the vehicles behind her opened one after another. Gideon, Gage, and the assistant stepped out and made their way toward her.

By the time they reached her side, the young leader had already begun barking orders at the other children, organizing them with surprising efficiency as they scattered around the parked car to stand guard.

"Let’s go."

Ashley motioned for them to follow her and immediately started walking. None of them questioned her destination. Whether out of curiosity or trust, they simply followed behind as she led them deeper into the maze-like slums.

The narrow alleys twisted and intersected like a giant web, winding through rows of crowded homes and hidden passageways. At times, Ashley would lead them into gaps so narrow that only one person could pass through at a time. Other times, she would pause at an intersection, scanning her surroundings before choosing a direction as though navigating an invisible map only she could see.

The deeper they went, the more bewildered Gage became.

If he had entered this place alone, he was certain he would have gotten hopelessly lost within minutes.

For nearly twenty minutes, they weaved through the labyrinth of alleys until Ashley turned one final corner.

The cramped passage suddenly opened up before them.

What greeted them was an unexpectedly lively marketplace.

The area bustled with activity. Countless vendors lined the streets, operating small stalls, makeshift shops, and mobile carts packed with goods. Shoppers moved through the crowded pathways, haggling over prices, inspecting merchandise, and chatting loudly with one another. The air was filled with overlapping voices, the aroma of street food, and the constant energy of commerce.

"It’s a bit crowded here," Ashley said as she glanced back at the group. A teasing smile tugged at her lips. "Watch your step, don’t get lost, and most importantly, don’t let anyone steal your wallet."

The amusement in her voice made it obvious she was joking or at least partly joking.

After all, she and Gage looked relatively ordinary. Ashley was wearing a simple skirt paired with not-so-high heels, allowing her to move comfortably through the crowded streets without drawing too much attention. Gage wasn’t much different.

Gideon and his assistant, however, were another story entirely.

Both men stood out like beacons among the crowd.

Their tailored suits, polished shoes, and refined bearing practically announced that they didn’t belong here.

Understanding Ashley’s unspoken warning immediately, Gideon reached up and removed his suit jacket. He casually slung it over one shoulder before undoing the top two buttons of his dress shirt.

The movement relaxed his appearance considerably, exposing a glimpse of the firm muscles beneath the fabric and making him look less like an untouchable executive and more like an ordinary man exploring the marketplace.

Even so, his striking appearance remained impossible to ignore.

Then Gideon rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt, exposing his forearms.

Fine lines of muscle immediately came into view beneath his lightly tanned skin. There was nothing exaggerated about them, yet every contour spoke of restrained power. As he folded the sleeves higher, the muscles in his forearms flexed and shifted with each movement, drawing the eye almost effortlessly.

Ashley had only meant to give them time to make themselves less conspicuous.

At least, that had been her intention.

Instead, her attention became completely occupied by Gideon.

Her gaze drifted from his open collar to the strong line of his neck before falling to his exposed forearms. The crisp white shirt clung just enough to outline the broad frame hidden beneath it, emphasizing the width of his shoulders and the solid build of his torso.

Without realizing it, Ashley swallowed.

Every movement he made seemed to capture her attention. When he adjusted his sleeves, the muscles in his arms tightened subtly, causing his biceps to bulge beneath the fabric. It wasn’t the exaggerated physique of a bodybuilder obsessed with the gym. His build was lean, powerful, and balanced, every muscle appearing functional rather than decorative.

For the first time, Ashley truly noticed how impressive Gideon’s body was without the suit jacket concealing it.

It wasn’t the kind of physique forged by lifting weights in front of mirrors.

No.

It looked like the body of someone who had spent years fighting, training, and pushing himself to his limits. The hard lines of his muscles carried a certain sharpness that spoke of discipline and combat rather than aesthetics.

Having grown up around werewolves, Ashley was more familiar with warriors than most people. She could easily tell the difference between muscles built in a gym and muscles hardened through relentless battle training.

And Gideon’s physique undoubtedly belonged to the latter.

The realization sent an unfamiliar ripple through her chest, making it unexpectedly difficult to tear her eyes away from him. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

What Ashley didn’t realize was that while she was secretly observing Gideon’s every move, Gideon was doing exactly the same thing.

From the moment her gaze settled on him, he had noticed.

The subtle widening of her eyes, the curiosity that gradually turned into fascination, and the dreamy look that slowly crept onto her face, none of it escaped his attention.

Amusement flickered in Gideon’s smoky gray eyes.

Suppressing the grin threatening to appear on his lips, he deliberately slowed his movements as he rolled up his sleeves. Whether consciously or not, he even flexed his arm slightly during the process.

As expected, Ashley’s gaze followed.

Her eyes traveled from his forearm to his wrist before settling on his hands.

Long fingers.

Distinct knuckles.

Clean, well-trimmed nails.

Strong hands that somehow managed to appear both elegant and dangerous at the same time.

Ashley swallowed again.

She hadn’t known she had such an appreciation for beautiful hands before today.

Yet now, she found herself staring shamelessly.

Her gaze followed the movement of his fingers until, without warning, she met a pair of smoky gray eyes already fixed directly on her.

"...!" Ashley froze.

For a brief moment, their gazes locked.

The amusement dancing in Gideon’s eyes made it painfully obvious that he had caught her staring long ago.

It felt as though she had been abruptly awakened from a dream.