E’s POV


    For a long moment, I could only stare at the pic in front of me in shock.


    Why here? Why did Alexander have to choose this spot, of all the ces in the entire territory he could have chosen from, for his solo date with the Luna Trial contestants?


    Briefly, my heart fluttered with something small and stupid.


    But it couldn’t mean anything. There was no way Alexander remembered that day the same way I did; he hadn’t chosen this spot because it held any significance to him. It was probably just convenient, or scenic, or some other practical reason.


    “Ste. Take a seat.” Alexander gestured to the pic nket, where a bottle of wine and various treats were spread out-meats and cheeses, fruits and sweets. It looked delicious. But I wasn’t hungry.


    “Fine, but I;m not going to pretend I want to be here,” I said curtly. “I’m only going to stay because apparently I don’t have a choice.”


    To my surprise, Alexander didn’t look bothered by my words. “Suit yourself,” was all he said before walking over to the nket, taking a seat, and pouring himself a ss of wine.


    I stayed rooted to my spot for a moment, stubbornly considering standing there the entire time. But my legs were tired from the hike and the cold was already seeping through my thin cardigan, so I sat on the very edge of the nket, as far from him as I could manage. <fn1b7a> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? fι?dnοvel</fn1b7a>


    Neither of us spoke for a long minute as Alexander sipped his wine. He gestured to me with the bottle, silently asking if I wanted any. I shook my head and wrapped my arms around myself as a particrly strong gust of wind cut through my cardigan.


    “You’re cold,” Alexander pointed out.


    “I’m alright.”


    Without a word, Alexander shrugged out of his nnel jacket and held it out to me.


    I ignored it at first, but another chilly gust of wind made me take it anyway and wrap it around myself. His scent and warmth immediately enveloped me, making my wolf stir. I almost let out a low moan of pleasure at the sensation, but I controlled myself.


    “Thank you,” I finally managed to mutter.


    “You’re wee.”


    There was another long silence after that. I tried to look anywhere but at him, but in the darkness, there wasn’t much to look at. The clouds overhead were blotting out the stars, so there wasn’t even that.


    Eventually, I got sick of sitting there doing absolutely nothing and resigned to pouring myself a small ss of wine and munching on a piece of cheese on top of a cracker.


    “Mm,” I blurted out as I sipped the wine. “This is good wine.”


    “I know.” Alexander swirled his drink in his ss. “Nice and dry, just the way I like it.”


    A small smile tugged at my lips. Alexander always liked a drier wine, as did I. It was one of the few things we shared inmon.


    “So,” Alexander said after another few moments of silence, “Anya seems like a nice girl.”


    I snapped my gaze over at him, surprised by his attempt at small talk, but nodded. “She is.


    “You’ve been helping her throughout the entire trial. From what I understand, you’re the reason she has made it this far.”


    “I hope that’s not a problem.”


    “No.” He shook his head. “If anything, I’m intrigued. And I know you don’t want to win this trial, and that you’re only doing it to help her, which is even more intriguing. She must trust you a lot.” Alexander shot me an arch nce. “And you must think her a proper candidate if you’re willing to do all of this for her.”


    “I… I do,” I admitted, gnawing on my lower lip. “She’s a little naive, but she’s got the spirit to be a Luna. She’s kind and charitable and has a good heart. I just hope she doesn’t lose those qualities from entering into a contract marriage.”