<b>Leslie’s </b>POV


    +8 Pearls


    My body froze, then whipped around, eyes shing from shock to sheer annoyance. “You again?”


    His peppermint scent pressed heavier into the air, sharp and invasive, and it made my hackles


    rise.


    Kirby only smiled, calm as ever. “Happy to see me?”


    I scoffed. “Which of your eyes thinks I’m happy?”


    Asphodel snarled in my chest. <i>This </i><i>wolf </i><i>dares </i><i>provoke </i><i>again</i><i>! </i>


    His gaze drifted to the lobster tank, a slow smirk curving his lips. “You just called me baby.”


    Myugh was cold. “I named a lobster.”


    In our world, naming meant possession, dominance. Giving him that name was nothing but mockery.


    Before he could retort, Eren came bounding over, his fruity scent bubbling with joy.


    The moment he spotted Kirby, his little face wrinkled. “Why are you here?”


    Clinging <i>to </i>my hand, he whined sweetly, “Muse, I want to buy that thirty–meter blue whale from the other hall and bring it home. Please?”


    Kirby snorted. “No.”


    His Alpha pheromones slipped, heavy and oppressive, dimming the air around us.


    Eren bristled, folding his tiny arms. His blue eyes red like chips of ice. “And who are you to say no?”


    Kirby’s nce was cool, hisugh low. “Because this is my territory.”


    The peppermint aura spread sharper, an Alpha’s brand stamped over everything like a im.


    Eren’s little face flushed red. He yanked my hand. “Muse, let’s go!”


    “Say something sweet, and I might consider it,” Kirby drawled behind us, voice tinged with y, pheromones goading.


    9:16 Thu, Sep 18 <b>B</b>…


    Chapter 243 The Silver Bullet


    81


    +8 Pearls


    Eren froze mid–step, his small fists clenching. His eyes darted, torn, stubborn pride shing with fear.


    The longer he held out, the colder Kirby’s expression grew, peppermint filling every breath.


    Finally, Eren spat the words like broken ss, his childish voice fierce: “I. Will. <i>Never</i>!”


    His fruity scent burst wild, sharp with defiance, a pup’s howl of dignity.


    Astrid and I caught each other’s eyes,ughter spilling before we could stop it. The cub was small, but pride burned in him as strong as any Alpha’s.


    We hurried Eren out of the aquarium, the salt of seawater and lobster still clinging to the air.


    Kirby trailed uszily, mocking. “Hungry? Lobster?”


    In perfect chorus, I, Astrid, and Eren spun and snapped: “No!”


    I shot him a re, marching faster into the parking lot.


    The dimmps painted the asphalt in pools of yellow, the air heavy with fuel and damp.


    I bent to adjust my bag–when a sudden chill skated down my spine. Every hair rose at once.


    Leslie, <i>danger</i><i>! </i>Asphodel’s voice sliced through me.


    I jerked up-


    A sharp crack split the night. A silver–tipped bullet tore the air, streaking straight for me!


    “Leslie!” Astrid’s scream knifed the dark, raw with panic.


    And then-


    Peppermint exploded over me, cold and biting.


    Before I could move, a shadow mmed forward, a brutal force shoving me off my feet.


    The world tilted.


    The bullet found him instead.