Ares POV

　　Blaire arched an eyebrow, her gaze piercing. "Are you more concerned about her well-being than the fact that I was harassed in this very place, and you did nothing to intervene?" Her tone shifted, growing cold and distant- a sharp contrast to the warmth of her touch moments ago. I braced myself for her reproach; I knew it was coming.

　　"No, that's not it," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "What I meant to say is that the girl you're supposed to train seems fragile. Is she even capable of handling this? She's nothing like you. You're powerful- "

　　"Correction," she interjected, her smile unwavering. "I am the most powerful woman. I'm more unforgettable than any other woman you've encountered." Her words hung in the air, a stark reminder of her unwavering confidence and self-assuredness.

　　I nodded in response, silently acquiescing to her words. "I understand," I murmured, though a part of me remained unsettled by the underlying tension in our exchange.

　　"You're beautiful," Blaire complimented me before turning her attention back to the girl.

　　"There's no need for concern about her," she chuckled dismissively. "I'm simply testing whether your ex-girlfriend stands a chance against me in combat, given that this girl possesses a similar level of skill." Her words sent a chill down my spine, my heart quickening inexplicably at the mention of Dana's name.

　　"Dana might be dead," I whispered, the thought weighing heavily on my mind.

　　"Her name still lingers vividly in your memory," Blaire remarked, her observation hitting uncomfortably close to home. I quickly shook my head, attempting to dispel the lingering traces of Dana's presence from my thoughts.

　　"You keep bringing her up. I don't even want to entertain thoughts of my past relationship with her," I retorted, frustration bubbling to the surface.

　　Blaire let out a weary sigh. "I'm sorry, but I'm not trying to remind you of her. I'm trying to locate her," she explained, her tone softening slightly. I met her gaze, feeling a pang of apprehension gnawing at me.

　　"What do you want from her?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

　　"Is that even a question?" Blaire responded incredulously. "I've noticed that there are certain aspects of you that haven't let go of her," she added, prompting me to furrow my brow in confusion.

　　"What aspects?" I challenged. "For half of my life, she hasn't even crossed my mind."

　　"Why didn't you get rid of all the crafts you made for her? I saw those letters you wrote for her in your drawer when you left the pack, but you never sent them," Blaire yelled, her anger palpable as she gestured wildly, her eyes blazing with fury.

　　I swallowed hard, my jaw tensing as I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling the weight of her accusations. "Why are we discussing this here, of all places?" I countered, my gaze flickering to the girl still struggling on the ground.

　　"Then leave," Blaire commanded, her tone firm and unwavering.

　　"I never expected you to have this side to you," she continued, a bitter chuckle escaping her lips. "If you feel guilty, it's simple- just leave! I know how to handle this girl; I've been trained well by my parents!" she declared, attempting to push me away. But instead of retreating, I acted on instinct, using my speed to dart forward and pin her against a nearby tree, my howl echoing through the forest.

　　As she groaned, a surge of rage coursed through me, my patience wearing thin with her stubbornness.

　　"Don't you have the ability to listen to me- " I began, but my words were abruptly cut off by her sudden outburst. With a forceful cry, she knocked me to the ground with a powerful blow, causing me to instinctively close my eyes against the impact.

　　"What's happening?" Blaze's alarmed voice pierced through the haze of confusion that enveloped me.

　　"Damn," I muttered, quickly rising to my feet and turning to face Blaire, who stood before me with a small smile playing on her lips.

　　"You should know me better, Ares," she whispered, her words laden with a meaning that sent a chill down my spine.

　　"What makes you think that I don't know you?" I gasped, taken aback by her words. "You have no idea that I'm here because I want to have some fun with you!" I exclaimed, hoping to convey my intentions to her.

　　"That's good," she replied, her smile widening. "I was waiting for you to say that," she added, advancing towards me with purpose.

　　It was then that I noticed the telltale signs of intoxication in her demeanor. "You're drunk," I murmured, concern tingeing my voice.

　　"I don't need to be drunk to be who I am," she asserted firmly. "It's you who's preventing me from being true to myself! I love you, and I'm willing to do anything and everything to please you, but you don't seem to care!" Her words hung heavily in the air, laden with a mix of vulnerability and frustration.

　　"You know, I intentionally brought Justin to this pack to try to make you jealous? But it didn't work, so I sent him back to the Black River Pack!" Blaire's confession fell from her lips with a mix of defiance and vulnerability. Despite the revelation, her words failed to shock me. I understood her tactics all too well.

　　I knew she loved me. I knew she cared about me deeply. Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was the one pushing her away, trying to sabotage our relationship even as I sought to impress her and maintain our status as the most powerful couple in the world.

　　"Are you even listening, or are you just thinking about that bitch?" Blaire's voice cut through my reverie, snapping me back to the present.

　　"Why would I think about her? Your words hold no truth. I don't and never will think about my ex puppy love because you're all I want," I replied firmly. As I spoke, I noticed a subtle shift in her eyes, the color morphing into that of her wolf's, a sure sign that I had touched a nerve.

　　"Even as you deny it, I can see that you truly loved her. It's hard for me to convince myself otherwise when I know how much you cherished the time you spent with her..." Blaire's voice cracked with emotion as tears streamed down her cheeks. Despite her distress, I found myself strangely unmoved, my wolf remaining silent within me.

　　Her tears seemed almost theatrical to me, but despite my skepticism, I couldn't bring myself to ignore her pain. With a heavy heart, I approached her, reaching out to touch her trembling form and pulling her into a comforting embrace. Tenderly, I pressed a kiss to her forehead, my voice barely above a whisper.

　　"No, no, no," I murmured. "No matter how many times you insist on it, my answer will always be the same- I don't think about that girl, and I don't want to hear her name anymore. It only serves to remind me of the mistakes I've made."