“Adel?”

Startled, he tapped her plump cheek and Adel’s lips slowly rose, accompanied by a soft sound of her breath.

She had fallen into a deep sleep.

‘Sleeping so defenselessly in front of a wolf.’

Christine watched her, resting his head on one arm as she slept.

The bedroom where Adel’s faint breathing was heard was quiet and tranquil.

Now and then, the crackling of firewood resounded, and outside the window, snow was falling.

Yes, snow was falling heavily outside.

Seventeen.

Their first kiss.

It was snowing like this on that day too.

The day he first felt desire towards a woman, and realized that wolf’s blood flowed in him.

Was that why?

Even on past battlefields, on nights like this when snow fell, memories of her would arise. The sweet body fragrance from that day would arise, making it difficult to suppress desire.

And after such a long and long time, he finally possessed her.

Adel, like this.

Her innocent and lovely face, smiling in sleep as if unaware of his lewd desires.

The thin eyelids, neatly stretched eyelashes, and silver strands seemed just like a baby’s face.

But the keeneyed Christine saw clearly.

How passionate and seductive she was on the bed as they made love.

How that innocent and brightsmiling woman crumbled so hotly in his arms.

Just the thought made his gums twitch again and energy filled his body.

He slowly brushed her sleeping hair and whispered,

“Adel, will you continue to sleep?”

Perhaps tickled by his touch, Adel squirmed.

“Uhm, Chris…”

Murmuring, she buried her face in Christine’s chest and hugged his waist.

Then Adel’s long hair flowed onto the bed, exposing the tattoo on her back.

Christine’s heart throbbed for a moment.

“But it was a bit strange. The bedroom was intact. There was a little smell of alcohol, but that woman… She was too calm to have been assaulted, and too pale to have enjoyed adultery.”

Vanessa’s words came to mind.

Probably that day, Stone had tattooed this on Adel.

After branding the symbol of his possession, Adel must have looked so grim. That’s why Stone could live overturning his guilt of murdering Duke Oswald.

The proud Adel would rather be accused of being a wicked woman than let that incident be known.

Thinking about how terrible Adel must have felt all this time made Christine unbearable.

Stone, I will tear you apart with a hook!

(This is a time delimiter.)

“……!”

Adel jolted and opened her eyes. Realizing that she was completely exposing her back in Christine’s arms, she hurriedly tried to get up.

Then he swiftly climbed onto her back, resting his knees beside her waist.

“Don’t, Chris… Don’t look…”

Adel twisted her body trying to turn over.

“It’s not your fault, Adel.”

Christine gently laid his hand on Adel’s back.

“I know. But you seeing this… It’s too terrible.”

She didn’t want anyone, not even him, to see the mark of Stone’s possession. She didn’t want his sympathy or jealousy.

She wanted them to be completely alone in this bedroom.

Christine began to write something on Adel’s white back with his finger.

C R I S T I N E

“Chris… tine…?”

Concentrating on the movement of his finger, Adel murmured softly.

“Yes, this letter is in my name too. So, Adel, from now on, this is not Stone’s name but a part of mine. It’s not terrible anymore.”

“Ha… I see…”

She relaxed her body with a sigh of relief and smiled faintly.

Christine held and clenched her small and plump hand. Adel tensed at the sudden sense of crisis.

“Chris…”

“Shhh…”

Then his lips slowly brushed down her slender spine.

Ticklish, ticklish.

“It’s, it’s ticklish. Stop…”
Adel twisted her body, trying to escape, but he whispered languidly and seductively.

“It’s just the beginning.”

“What……?”

At that moment, he revealed his white teeth and gently bit her slender neck.

“……!”

As Adel jerked her head, Christine became strangely more excited.

“I plan to hold you properly this time.”

“That can’t be. Then what was earlier……?”

He whispered, gently licking Adel’s earlobe.

“Just a warmup?”

A chill ran down Adel’s spine.

“You’re insane! I thought I was going to die…….”

“I’m sorry, I really couldn’t help it today.”

His terrifying whisper was so sweet and tender that Adel felt her ears might melt. Her body relaxed involuntarily as his face, smiling behind her back, came to her mind.

“You’re not even a beast…….”

“I am a beast.”

Adel instinctively gripped the bedsheet tightly. At the same time, he turned back into a desirous beast and devoured her.

The night was too short to compensate for all the time they had missed.

(Time separator here)

Two days later.

“Adel?”

Christine asked Zimmer, who was entering the office.

Zimmer clicked his tongue and scolded.

“If you’re so worried, just go and see her.”

“It’s fine. The primary physician and Tanya will probably take good care of her.”

After spending their first night together, Adel had been unconscious for several days.