Dana

　　I desire to convey to Divine that he has already discovered his soulmate, which happens to be me, and there is no need for him to continue searching.

　　Anna, wearing a secretive grin, observes our exchange, seemingly enjoying it. "He will likely select the most suitable partner for himself, so perhaps we should allow him to do so. After all, we cannot claim to know him entirely; he may have already set his sights on someone," she whispered, directing her gaze towards Divine, who remained fixated on me.

　　"It would be advantageous if he were to choose someone who is destined to become the future Luna of her pack. As you're aware, there is fierce competition from another pack, whose strength grows with each passing day. They may launch a sudden attack, and we must be prepared," Divine proposed, prompting me to lower my gaze, hoping to avoid involvement in their discussion.

　　Anna let out a sigh, expressing resignation. "If Divine isn't drawn to them, there's no point in pressuring him. My brother is quite decisive, and he'll handle things as he sees fit," Anna murmured with a hint of frustration. "Let's steer the conversation elsewhere," she suggested, aiming to change the subject.

　　Divine ran her fingers through her hair in a gesture of frustration. "He let Farrah slip away. He's been blatantly ignoring her. Seeing how they've both moved on, it makes me wonder if he's finally realized his true feelings for her--"

　　"I need to attend to something else," I interjected firmly, my words cutting through the conversation like a sharp blade, halting Divine's speech mid-sentence.

　　Anna's reaction was palpable; she gulped audibly, her eyes widening in surprise. "Are you sure about that? You've only just arrived. Perhaps there's something you require-" Her words trailed off, laced with concern.

　　With a self-assured demeanor, I shook my head, a faint smile playing on my lips. "No, I'm perfectly fine," I assured her, the grin on my face widening as I spoke, hinting at a hidden agenda behind my sudden departure.

　　Divine's jaw clenched, a playful glint in her eyes as she teased me. "Is that the reason?" she taunted, winking mischievously.

　　I could sense Anna enjoying the banter between us, but inside, my heart raced with jealousy, unable to fully conceal the emotions bubbling within me.

　　"Yeah, absolutely," I awkwardly exclaimed, a nervous laugh escaping my lips as I ran my fingers through my hair. "It's genuinely important, and I'm only here to ensure that I've completed the reports you requested," I hastily replied, attempting to maintain composure amidst the teasing.

　　Divine's whisper hung in the air, laden with a mix of amusement and curiosity.

　　Anna bit the side of her cheek, a knowing smirk dancing on her lips. "Alright, if you say so. But you're sure you're alright, yeah? Your cheeks seem to be taking on a rather rosy hue," she remarked, her tone light and teasing. Little did she know, beneath the surface, I felt like a pressure cooker about to burst, though I did my best to conceal it. Yet, Anna's perceptive gaze might just catch a glimpse of the turmoil brewing within me.

　　"What? You're kidding, right?" I blurted out, forcing a laugh that concealed the anger simmering beneath the surface.

　　Divine took a sip of water, her expression unreadable. "Okay, do what you have to do. I won't hold you back, but just so you know, I won't stop talking about-"

　　"I don't care," I interrupted, my voice firm, though inwardly, my heart raced with the weight of my deceit.

　　Anna's expression shifted to one of confusion, clearly perplexed by my sudden change in demeanor. With a deep breath, I turned my back to them, feeling the weight of their gazes upon me as I walked away without a word. I couldn't bear to maintain the charade any longer, feeling the weight of my strange behavior pressing down on me. I knew I had to distance myself, if only to regain my composure and hide the turmoil swirling within me.

　　As I trudged back to my room, still enveloped in a cloud of frustration, I was caught off guard by the sight of Bathel already occupying my quarters. He stood there, a smile playing on his lips as he held up a baby picture of mine. I didn't utter a word, my mood still sour.

　　"I can't help but marvel at how adorable you were in this photo," he murmured, his tone soft and appreciative. I offered a small nod in response, mustering a faint smile.

　　"Don't you have anything else to do?" I inquired, my voice tinged with a hint of irritation.

　　"This time is dedicated entirely to you," Bathel asserted, his gaze flickering with the intense hue of his wolf's eyes as he gracefully approached me. Despite the undeniable chemistry simmering between us, I couldn't shake off the weight of my gloomy mood.

　　With a gentle touch, I intercepted his hand mid-motion, guiding it back to his side, silently signaling that I wasn't receptive to his advances at that moment.

　　"You mentioned that your ex-girlfriend harbors intentions of allying with our pack," I murmured, observing the perplexed expression dawning on his features.

　　"Indeed, and what would you like to discuss regarding that matter?" Bathel inquired, his intense gaze unwavering as he focused his attention on me, awaiting my response with keen interest.

　　"Why have you not entertained the idea of accepting her proposal?" I posed the question, drawing from the earlier conversation with Divine.

　　A soft chuckle escaped Bathel's lips, his amusement is evident in the curve of his smile. "Because she's merely a relic of the past, no longer a part of my life, and their pack holds little sway over my decisions. I see no compelling reason to entertain their alliance," he stated confidently, his words flowing effortlessly without a hint of hesitation. Understanding dawned upon me, and I nodded in agreement, acknowledging his perspective on the matter.

　　"Is that all there is?" I whispered, feeling the rhythm of my heart quicken in response to his proximity.