Alright... let’s make this fun for all of us. 😌

Here’s how I’m rewarding you, my special readers, and the ink to my pen.

1. Hit a top ranking for a week straight → mass release of 3 Chapters.

2. Send a super gift → mass release of 5 Chapters.

Now for the real mischief, these are the rewards. Also, this is where the real chaos lies.

1. Top interactive reader in a week → gets a shoutout

2. One-time super gift → gets a Chapter dedicated to you.

3. Repeated super gifts → you start getting little spoilers + future hints.

4. Highest Golden Ticket sender of the month (20–30 range) → you get a permanent role in the book

Yes, an actual role. 😅🥹 Immortality secured.

Let’s build this story together 🤍

....

The forest held its breath.

Aire didn’t rush. Her finger rested lightly on the trigger. Her breathing steadied as her gaze locked onto the stag in the distance.

It moved slowly, completely unaware of the people behind it.

Xanden stood just behind her, watching not the stag, but her. There was something unsettling about how calm she was.

She had no wolf, no enhanced instinct, and yet... She looked like she belonged here.

"Take the shot," he murmured.

Aire didn’t respond immediately.

She adjusted her stance slightly, with her shoulder relaxing under the weight of the gun.

Then, she took in a soft exhale, and then, she released the trigger.

The gunshot cracked through the forest. Birds scattered around, as the leaves trembled.

The stag jerked, then collapsed.

Silence followed. The forest around them went quiet again.

Aire blinked. Then slowly, she lowered the gun. "Did I get it?" she asked, almost like she didn’t believe herself.

Xanden didn’t answer. Rather, he moved forward. He reached the stag within seconds, crouching beside it. The animal twitched faintly, its life slipping away.

He tapped its head once. Then he looked back at her. A small smile tugged at his lips. "You did."

Aire’s face lit up. "Oh," she breathed, genuinely excited as she stepped closer. "I did."

There was pride in her voice. Real unflittered pride. She looked down at the stag, then back at him.

A smile spread across her face.

"If this makes you this happy," Xanden said, straightening, "we’ll do it more often."

Aire’s eyes widened slightly.

Then, she gave him a dramatic bow. Her bow was deep, and exaggerated, with her hat almost leaving her head.

"My lord is most generous." She said.

Xanden blinked, then he laughed an actual laugh. The sound surprised Aire, and surprised him more.

Aire laughed too, straightening as she brushed imaginary dust off her sleeve.

For a moment, they forgot everything else.

They forgot the curse, the rules, and the weight of expectations. They were just there, together.

Xanden shook his head slightly, still smiling.

"That outfit is abominable," he said.

Aire gasped lightly. "I beg your pardon?"

"But..." he added, his gaze roaming over her, slow, unhurried, and taking everything in.

He studied the fitted trousers, the boots, and the way the jacket framed her small frame. His eyes then moved higher to her soft and bright unnatural silver hair.

He met her blue eyes, and then, he added. "...you look good in it."

Aire blinked. Then looked away quickly.

"Flattery doesn’t suit you," she muttered.

Xanden’s lips curved. "I wasn’t flattering you."

If he should be honest, he has never seen a woman in an outfit other than gowns. Or as werewolves.

That made her glance back at him, suspicious. Then, she became amused.

He stepped a little closer. Not too close, but just enough to share the heat of his body with her.

"I’m still wondering," he murmured, his eyes drifting to her hair again, "how silver hair is a curse."

Aire paused.

Her fingers lifted instinctively, running through the strands.

She shrugged. "It’s my parents’ fault."

The answer was light.

Xanden noticed, but he didn’t press.

Instead, he tilted his head slightly. "You don’t talk about them."

Aire didn’t look at him. "I don’t need to. Everyone already know all there is to know about them."

A beat passed.

Then, she stiffened.

Xanden noticed that too.

"What is it?" he asked.

Aire didn’t answer immediately.

Her head tilted. Her nose flared faintly, like she was... sensing something.

Xanden’s eyes narrowed.

That.... That wasn’t normal.

"You smell something?" he asked slowly.

Aire blinked. Then immediately, she shook her head. "No." She replied quickly.

The reply was too fast. So fast that Xanden couldn’t help, but stare at her.

Suspicion flickered in his eyes.

Then, he let it go.

"Come," he said instead. "There’s more game deeper in."

Aire nodded quickly, grateful for the shift.

They walked for a while before Aire spoke again.

"Alaric doesn’t hunt, does he?"

Xanden glanced at her. "No."

Aire nodded, like she expected that. He doesn’t look like one who would love the rough edges of the forest.

"Where is he then?"

"In his study," Xanden replied, shrugging his shoulders. "Or somewhere quiet, pribably drawing."

Aire smiled softly. "I thought so." Aire smiled again... then quickly looked away like she wasn’t supposed to be that happy.

Xanden watched her. "You understand him?"

Aire shrugged lightly. "Not everything needs noise to exist. He makes that clear anytime I watch him."

That made him pause for a second. Once again, he shrugged his shoulders, and went with the flow.

’I don’t have to act so surprised.’ he thought. ’This is our first conversation and more so ever, this is the first time I’m realizing she has this in her.’

They walked a little further.

Then, Aire stopped again. This time, she didn’t hesitate. She raised the gun smoothly, aimed, and fired immediately.

Another animal dropped.

Xanden exhaled a quiet laugh. "Well," he said, moving toward it, "I might be out of a job."

Aire grinned. "That would be unfortunate."

He crouched again, tapping the animal lightly.

Then he looked back at her. "You’ve done this before. I mean, for years."

Aire lifted a brow. "Of course I have. It was the only thing that made me not feel entirely useless without a wolf."

Xanden parted his lips to speak but then, the air shifted. The shift was sudden and violent.

Xanden felt it first. Then, a presence appeared, heavy, familiar, and angry.

He straightened, and his first move was to stand before Aire, protecting her.

Aire frowned slightly. "What—"

"Xanden." Nate’s voice cut through the forest.

Aire turned, and there he was, standing between the trees.

His eyes glowed red. Fully red. His wolf was close to the outside. Too close. And this furious, he might need blood to calm down.

His gaze moved from Xanden, to Aire, and darkened further.

Disgust flickered across his face, raw, and unfiltered. Xanden glanced at Aire over his shoulder. "He’ll step out of his head. I promise."

Aire said nothing. She peaked, and met Nate’s eyes.

"Tempering with Alaric’s head is one thing," Nate spat.

Aire stilled.

"But tempering with Xanden’s..." he continued, stepping closer, his voice dropping dangerously, "...is crossing a line."

His eyes dragged over her. His eyes were cruel, and filled with judgement. He stared at her like she was something beneath him.

Something dirty, and to be discarded.

Aire didn’t move. Everything in her expression shifted, and her eyes became cold.

Xanden’s jaw tightened. "Nate_"

"Don’t," Nate snapped.

His gaze never left Aire. "You think I don’t see it?" he said. "The act?"

Aire’s fingers tightened slightly at her sides.

"That innocent face," Nate continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "It might work on Alaric."

He took a step closer, and though she was behind Xanden, his presence pressed against her, heavy, and aggressive.

"But not on me."

Aire swallowed. "You don’t have to be this shitty," she said to Nate inwardly.

Nate’s lip curled slightly, like something ugly had just surfaced in his mind.

"Or is this how it works for you?" His voice dropped, quieter now, but far more vicious. "You find the weakest among us, wrap yourself around him..." he scoffed mockingly, paused, eyed her, and then, he added.

"and slowly work your way up just like your Mother did with the poor noble man she entrapped?"