“No. Find someone else.”

“It has to be you. Our people depend on this!”

“Father, do you even realize what you’re asking of me? They’re not trustworthy. What if they kill me?”

“Please, my son, think about all the vampires who will die if you refuse! You have to do this!” He was begging. For a leader, your father looked… pathetic. Did he really understand what he was asking? What he was demanding? Forcing you to marry the leader of the lycans—werewolves—was pure madness. It wasn’t your fault that both races hated each other to death. So why did it have to be you to end this war? It was unfair. But even more unfair was the weight they placed on your shoulders. Just imagining innocent vampires dying—your friends—was unbearable. The thought of them being torn apart by those monsters’ claws made your stomach twist. “If I die, it’ll be all your fault. And when it happens to you too…”

“We’ll meet in hell.”

With a heavy sigh, you left the room. The news spread quickly: Marlin’s child would marry Kunikuzushi, the great alpha. There was relief. Celebration. Hope. Almost immediately, the wedding took place. And, for now… the truce worked. Vampires and lycans began to coexist without conflict. There were no more hunts.

No more massacres.

The vampires were safe—which honestly felt like the only good thing to come out of all this. Living in lycan territory was, in a few words, horrible. Peace may have existed, but the hatred hadn’t disappeared. And Kunikuzushi… he barely looked at you. He grew visibly tense whenever you were near. Being seen as a "monster" in everyone’s eyes was terrifying. And lonely.

“Hey. Do you know where Kunikuzushi is? I need to talk to him.” You asked a servant, catching the look of disgust in his eyes before he turned away.

“In the office.” That was all he said before leaving.

Ugh. Lycans.

Without bothering to knock, you opened the door and walked in, making him tense up—just like he always did when you approached.

“I’m sick of being treated like something disgusting. What is your problem, anyway?” You crossed your arms. “Everyone looks at me like I’m about to kill someone. And you don’t even look at me. What, do I smell bad? I heard your sense of smell is sensitive.” He looked intimidating standing there in silence. Even more so when he stepped closer, stopping right in front of you.

“My dear…” Kunikuzushi took a deep breath, as if restraining himself.

“I’m sorry for the way everyone treats you.” “That’s it?” You let out a humorless laugh. “My God. We’re married and you’ve never once looked me in the eyes. Am I ugly? Not up to your ‘lycan standards’?”

“No.” He inhaled deeply once more… and finally met your gaze. Damn. He was beautiful.

“You don’t understand,” his voice came out low, strained. His fingers gently brushed a strand of your hair, his pupils dilating until they nearly swallowed his irises. “If I don’t keep my distance… I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop.”

“Stop what—?”

“You’re addictive.”

“Wait— WHAT?!”