Chapter 5

Seraphina caused a ruckus in the manor all morning, finally proposing that everyone go to a nearby private club to relax.

Kaelen refused immediately, his tone clearly displeased. "No need. Haven't you caused enough trouble? Just go."

Pretending not to hear, Seraphina grabbed his hand and used her wolf strength to drag him out the door. His subordinates, worried he wouldn't fit in, grabbed Elara along the way.

The group squeezed into the SUVs and headed straight for the high-end hot spring resort known as "Moon Spring."

Elara didn't usually associate with this circle and had no interest in forcing herself to fit in. She sat alone in a corner of the lounge, watching them exchange toasts, immersed in the lively atmosphere.

Seeing her alone, Kaelen walked over, intending to hand her a specially made non-alcoholic cocktail. However, just as she reached out to take it, he suddenly stood up and vanished into the crowd.

Seraphina was about to take a sip of strong tequila when Kaelen snatched the glass from her hand.

His stern reprimand cut through the background noise. "Drinking when your internal injuries haven't fully healed? What? Do you want to die?"

Seraphina blinked, feigning innocence. "I thought it was juice. I must have grabbed the wrong one. Why are you being so fierce?"

Then, with a nonchalant air, she took the non-alcoholic drink from Kaelen's right hand and smiled sweetly at him. "Thanks."

In that instant, Kaelen's hand tightened, but he said nothing. He simply walked back to his seat distractedly and handed the glass he was holding to Elara.

Noticing the amber liquid and the unsettled look on his face, Elara didn't take it.

Instead, she stood up, picked up her bag, and said softly, "I don't drink alcohol. I'm going to the hot springs."

Only then did Kaelen realize. He had given her the wrong glass. Because his mind was consumed with Seraphina's injury, he hadn't even realized he had mixed up the alcohol and the juice.

He wanted to explain, but before he could speak, Elara had already left.

Immersed in the warm, soothing water, Elara felt her exhaustion slowly dissipate. She leaned against the wall of the pool, watching the steam rise and curl. Unknowingly, drowsiness overtook her.

She ignored the knocking on the door, likely because she had grown accustomed to the noise outside. Kaelen called her name a few times, but she didn't respond.

His heart tightened; his sharp wolf instincts sensed unease. Without a second thought, he pushed the door open and rushed in. Seeing her asleep in the hot spring, his heart skipped a beat. He jumped into the pool without hesitation and pulled her into his arms.

Elara's eyes slowly opened. She was still groggy. When he picked her up, her arms instinctively circled his shoulders. Amidst the rising steam and their pressed bodies, the air between them became charged.

Kaelen leaned in involuntarily, his intense Alpha scent enveloping her. Just as their breaths were about to mingle, the sound of rapid footsteps suddenly echoed through the space.

The next second, Seraphina walked in. Seeing the scene before her, the smile froze on her face. She bit her lip hard, shock and disappointment written all over her expression. Then, without a word, she turned and ran out.

Kaelen froze for a second. His first reaction was to put Elara down and chase after Seraphina.

Before leaving, he muttered, "She misunderstood. I'll go explain it to her."

Misunderstood? They were legally bonded mates. Even if they were caught in an intimate moment, what was there to explain?

But Kaelen was still living in the past. He habitually fell into the role of Seraphina's guardian, so he always felt the need to make things clear to her.

He was the kind of wolf who had once given everything for love. This habit of always needing to justify himself was too hard for him to break.

Watching his retreating figure, Elara chuckled lightly, though tears welled up immediately after. She wrapped herself in a towel and pushed the window open a crack for some air.

Just then, she saw Seraphina storming out. Seraphina yanked the car door open, but before she could get in, Kaelen grabbed her hand.

Their heated argument drifted clearly through the air; even through the curtain of rain, lupine hearing captured every word.

"Elara fell asleep. I just didn't want her to drown. Do you have to blow this out of proportion?"

"Oh, of course. She is your Luna; I have no right to be angry! Why don't you go back to her and stop explaining things to your ex-partner endlessly?"

"Seraphina, do you have to be so harsh?"

"What? I'm just stating facts!"

The argument reached a stalemate. Red-eyed, Seraphina forcefully threw off his hand, jumped into her car, slammed the accelerator, and sped off. Kaelen hesitated for a few seconds, then jumped into his own SUV and chased after her.

When the dust settled and the road returned to silence, Elara turned and walked toward the changing room.

By the time she had changed and walked out, several of Kaelen's subordinates pulled her aside. They looked panicked and desperate. "Elara, something happened! Kaelen and Seraphina's cars lost control on the mountain road and crashed!"