{Third Person}
Outside, the two won stepped into the carriage together.
Elowen settled in first with Ginger still in her arms. But the mont her attention shifted slightly, Ginger made a move.
With a quick, effortless motion, she leapt out of Elowen’s hold and landed beside Amara.
Elowen froze at that sudden escape. Her mouth was agape in shock. Then slowly turned.
"...Excuse ?"
Amara burst out laughing while Ginger simply curled closer to her, completely unapologetic.
Elowen placed a hand over her chest, feigning offense. "I carried you all this way..."
Ginger flicked her tail. That was her only response.
Amara shook her head, still smiling. "She must have woken up on the wrong side this morning."
Elowen laughed as well, leaning back into her seat. "Well, we will fix that," she said. "We will find her sothing nice today. Maybe toys, or a proper plate, or—"
She suddenly paused and glanced at Amara.
"...Actually," she added, her tone shifting slightly, "we don’t really have pet stores here."
Amara blinked. "Oh?"
Elowen scratched her cheek lightly. "But we can always find sothing at the children’s stores. They have small items that could work."
Amara didn’t seem bothered by that. She already knew where she was. The Werewolf Kingdom could never be like the Human Kingdom.
"That’s fine. I just want to look around," she said easily.
Elowen visibly relaxed. "Good," she said with a smile. "Then today will be fun."
The carriage began to move.
---
anwhile, Barron made his way into Alexander’s study without knocking.
The door opened quietly, revealing a familiar sight.
Stacks of papers sat neatly on one side of the desk, while Alexander sat behind it, focused with a pen in hand as he marked through a page with steady precision.
Barron paused at the doorway for a mont, watching him before finally stepping inside.
"You’re not having breakfast?" he asked casually.
Alexander didn’t look up. "Not yet."
Barron walked further in, glancing over the desk as he passed. "What are you working on?" He asked, and then he leaned slightly to take a closer look.
A few seconds passed, then he asked, clearly surprised, "...You’re still marking scripts for students you don’t even teach anymore?"
Alexander didn’t deny it. "This," he said calmly, his pen moving again across the page, "is the only thing keeping from hunting my enemies down."
Barron’s expression shifted slightly.
"If I lose this," Alexander continued, "then I truly beco the monster they already believe I am."
Barron exhaled quietly and moved away, taking a seat nearby. "The truth will always stand, You’ve left half of yourself in the city," he said after a mont.
Alexander didn’t respond, so he added, "Your students must miss you. And you—whether you admit it or not—you miss that life too."
Barron was t with another round of silence, so he watched him for a second, then waved the thought away with a small shrug.
"Anyway, the Princess ca by earlier," he said, already shifting topics. "She asked to inform you that she’s taking your bride out. They will be back later this afternoon."
Alexander paused briefly, then continued writing.
Barron noticed his barely obvious actions and smiled slightly to himself.
"Oh... I also happen to know where they are going," he added, as if it were an afterthought,
There was no response from Alexander yet. Barron wasn’t in the least bit bothered about that, so he continued, "They will be shopping first, then eting her friends."
The mont he said that, Alexander’s pen stopped, but just for a second.
Barron saw it and pressed further. "Elowen’s friends, by the way."
Right then, a mory from the hunt surfaced uninvited.
Alexander rembered a certain gaze that occasionally rested on Amara among Elowen’s friends. His expression darkened almost imperceptibly.
The pen in his hand stilled. Then, without another word, he set it down. "I’m ready for breakfast."
Barron leaned back, hiding his smirk. "Already?"
Alexander was already moving, so Barron stood as well and followed him out of the study at an unhurried pace, though the faint curve of his lips made it clear that he was far more entertained than he appeared.
"You suddenly developed an appetite," he remarked casually as they walked down the corridor.
Alexander did not respond. His steps were steady, but there was a subtle, deliberate shift in him now.
Barron glanced at him from the side, his amusent deepening. "Should I assu this has nothing to do with Elowen’s little outing?" he added lightly.
There was still no reply. That, in itself, was an answer.
Barron let out a quiet chuckle. "I see," he said. "So, we are having breakfast... outside?"
---
By the ti Elowen and Amara arrived at the shopping mall, the place was already alive with activity.
Elowen smiled and said, gently taking Amara’s wrist and guiding her forward. "We should get you a few more winter clothes."
Amara nodded in agreent. "I will really need them."
They entered a clothing store without delay. The space was elegant but comfortable, with neatly arranged pieces in thicker fabrics and deeper tones suited for the coming cold.
Amara reached out and ran her fingers lightly over one of the coats. "This feels warr than the ones I already have," she said.
Elowen nodded. "It is. The cold here is not sothing you should underestimate."
Amara gave a small smile and selected a few items to try. After a short while, she settled on a couple of pieces that felt both comfortable and practical.
Once they were done, they left the store and headed toward the children’s section.
The atmosphere shifted the mont they stepped inside.
The space was brighter, softer, and filled with small, charming items arranged in colourful displays.
Amara’s expression changed almost instantly. "This place is... adorable," she said, her voice soft with genuine delight.
Elowen laughed. "I knew you would like it."
They moved through the aisles together, picking out small items for Ginger—tiny bowls, soft cushions, and little toys that looked far too cute to ignore.
At one point, Amara picked up a small bell toy and held it up. "Do you think she will like this?" she asked.
Elowen leaned closer, clearly curious. "Let’s find out."
Amara brought the toy closer to Ginger. Ginger sniffed it briefly, then turned her head away with complete disinterest.
Elowen burst into laughter. "Well, that was decisive."
Amara laughed as well, shaking her head. "She really is particular."
As they continued browsing, however, the attention around them grew more noticeable.
Other Werewolves glanced in their direction, so trying to be discreet, others not bothering at all. Their gazes lingered, not just on Amara and Elowen, but on Ginger.
A cat carried in soone’s arms and treated with care.
To them, it was unusual and strange.
Amara could feel the weight of their stares, the quiet curiosity and the unspoken judgnt.
Her hold on Ginger tightened slightly. But then she exhaled softly and straightened her posture.
’If they found it strange, that is their problem.’
Her expression settled into calm indifference as she continued browsing, refusing to let their attention affect her.
User Comments
0 comments from readers