Victor had a habit he considered perfectly normal.

His wife disagreed.

Whenever she got injured, Victor’s instincts immediately kicked in.

He’d inspect the wound.

Check how bad it was.

And, more often than not, he’d lean in with the completely feral instinct to lick it clean.

It was apparently one of those things his wife had decided she absolutely would not tolerate.

The first time she pushed his face away, Victor looked genuinely offended.

“What’s wrong with that?”

She gave him a look.

Victor stared back.

Then at the wound.

Then at her.

“It’s not like I’m gonna eat you.”

Another look.

Victor sighed.

“Fine.”

He grabbed the first-aid kit instead.

Apparently, human medical supplies were more acceptable.

So now every time she came home injured, Victor followed the same routine.

Check the wound.

Reach toward it.

Get his hand slapped away.

Glare.

Then reluctantly grab the antiseptic.

He hated it.

Not because he couldn’t understand why she refused.

He simply couldn’t understand why she preferred disinfectant over something his instincts told him was perfectly reasonable.

One evening, she came home with a shallow cut along her arm.

Victor immediately noticed.

His eyes narrowed.

He stepped closer.

She immediately backed away.

Victor stopped.

“I’m not gonna lick it.”

She continued staring at him suspiciously.

Victor raised both hands.

“I’m serious.”

A pause.

“Probably.”

She gave him another look.

Victor sighed.

He grabbed the first-aid kit.

Because apparently, being married meant accepting certain boundaries.

Even when those boundaries involved telling Sabretooth that his natural instincts were absolutely disgusting.

Victor cleaned the wound carefully.

Wrapped it.

Then sat back.

His expression remained thoroughly offended.

“Still would’ve worked.”

She ignored him.

Victor grumbled under his breath.

For all his strength, his heightened senses, and his animal instincts—

There was apparently one battle he couldn’t win.

His wife had officially banned Sabretooth from licking her wounds.

And Victor was still personally offended by it.