I fell for the werewolf my father kept locked up in his lab.

But he hated humans with every fiber of his being, wanting nothing more than to die.

To convince Caleb Shaw to keep living, I started giving him vouchers.

I promised him that if he collected fifty, I'd grant him any wish.

Caleb started to comply.

He started eating and sleeping on a regular schedule, and slowly, a spark of life returned to his eyes when he looked at me.

On the day I planned to tell him how I felt,

I caught Caleb gently kissing the tip of Vivian Brown's finger,

"I'll play along, then dump her on her birthday. That's the price for stealing your research."

I ripped up the love letter and walked off.

Sometime later, as I passed by the Containment Area with my newly adopted rabbit beastkin,

Caleb suddenly lost control, smashed through the glass, and desperately reached out his hands—

"I've got fifty vouchers… do you… still want me?"

The massive werewolf dropped to his knees in front of the small human girl.

As if tending to something priceless, he carefully kissed her slender fingertips.

Vivian Brown asked, her voice thick with tears,

"Why did it have to be her birthday you broke up? You couldn't go through with it, could you?"

"Don't be silly."

Caleb's tone turned icy. "Planting the worst memory on the day she looks forward to most—that's how she'll think ofr you every birthday from now on."

I quickly looked away.

My heart ached like it was being squeezed.

The love letter I hid behind my back was nearly crumpled in my hand.

Caleb, who never wanted to show his beast side to humans, suddenly let a pair of brown-gray wolf ears appear.

He gave them a deliberate shake, as if trying to cheer the girl up.

"Come on, Vivian, don't cry. You can touch them."

Vivian's face turned bright red, and she let out a soft, teasing whine,

"…Who knows how many times you let Luna Reed play with those ears? I'm not interested."

"That fool who thought handing me a bunch of slips would win me over?"

"She's not worth it."

Caleb scoffed lightly.

He bent his head, offering his wolf ears into her palm, rubbing gently against them,

"Once we wolves choose a partner, it's forever. We're the most faithful creatures."

"Vivian, I'm yours. Only yours."

His vow was gentle, each word clear and full of certainty.

I ducked my head down further.

But I didn't dare make a sound.

All that came were tears, falling at my feet and spreading into small, dark puddles.