"Do you know why I like you?"
Bella's breath hitched. Her heart thudded hard inside her chest as she looked at Gray, her lips slightly parted, eyes wide with surprise and anticipation. She didn't move, couldn't even blink. Every part of her waited for his next words like they were a thread holding her world together.
Gray stood close, his golden-red eyes gazing deeply into hers, calm, warm, honest.
"I like you… not because I have a slight interest in you. Not because you're my subordinate. Not because you owe me anything," he said slowly, voice steady and full of conviction. "None of that matters to me."
"I like you because… I feel a connection between us. Something real. Something I can't explain. It's strange, even I don't fully understand it. But I know it's there."
His voice softened, a small grin tugging at his lips.
"When I first saw you in that old restaurant, yeah, I noticed your charm. And sure, your curves caught my eye too, of course they did," he said with a small chuckle, scratching the back of his neck.
Bella's cheeks turned bright red. Her tiny fist thumped gently against his chest, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to tell him she was flustered and embarrassed.
"Nugh… don't say that…" she whispered shyly.
Gray laughed, lifting his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. I was joking… mostly. But seriously, Bella, I do like you."
The laughter faded, and his face grew calm again, eyes locked on hers.
"I don't think it's love yet. Love… it's something deeper. Something that takes time. It grows with shared memories, with trust. But I can tell you this, I'm very, very interested in you. And in this whole city, there's no one else I see as worthy of standing beside me… except you."
Bella's breath trembled. Her eyes shimmered. She'd never felt so seen before, so important.
"You think you're not worthy of me?" he said, his voice low but firm. "You're wrong. You're more than worthy."
He paused. "And if I told you the truth about who I really am… you might actually think less of me."
Her brows knit together, puzzled, but her heart jumped again.
"I'll tell you now," he said. "You deserve that."
Something inside Bella melted. She didn't know why, but she believed him. She believed every word. Without thinking, she leaned in and kissed him.
It wasn't careful or slow, it was raw and desperate, like she was finally letting go of the fear inside her.
Her lips pressed firmly against his, her hands sliding around his neck and pulling him close. She kissed him like she'd been waiting for this moment all her life.
Gray stiffened for half a heartbeat, caught off guard, but then, he kissed her back.
His arms wrapped around her waist and held her tight. Their lips moved in sync, slowly at first, then with more hunger. Their tongues met, brushing and curling, tasting one another. Her lips were soft, her taste sweet, like honey and spring flowers. Her breath was hot and short, and the small moan that escaped her throat made something inside Gray burn.
It was the first real, passionate kiss he'd ever had in this world.
And it made his heart race.
His hand trailed gently up her back, fingertips brushing along her spine… then slowly moving downward. Just as he was about to reach the curve of her bottom, they finally broke apart.
A single strand of saliva still connected them, their breaths shallow, their faces red, eyes locked.
Gray chuckled breathlessly and smiled. "Before we go further… I need to tell you something."
Bella blinked, still dazed, cheeks glowing as she nodded silently.
"You don't really know me, Bella," Gray said, voice quieter now.
Her smile faded a little, replaced by confusion.
"I know you," he continued. "You were a girl from the slums. You lost your family. You suffered. You struggled just to survive. And now you've got power… a second chance."
He touched her hand gently.
"But me? What do you really know about me?"
She bit her lip, realizing the truth. She didn't know. Not really.
And so, she nodded again, silently asking him to go on.
Gray took a deep breath, steadying himself.
"I'm not a human, Bella."
She tilted her head slightly. "I know," she said softly. "You're a werewolf."
But Gray slowly shook his head. "No… that's just a form I take. You, you're a human who can become a werewolf with power. I'm something different."
He looked into her eyes.
"I'm not just a man who turns into a wolf," he said. "I was born a wolf."
Bella's eyes widened.
"A snow-white wolf, deep in the far north," he continued. "My parents were wolves. My siblings too. I was raised in the cold wilderness, just an animal… just a beast."
His voice was calm, but there was weight behind it. Truth.
"After surviving the Trial of Blood, I was chosen by the Wolf God. I was granted power… and turned into a human. Only then did I gain the form of a werewolf. But at my core, I'm still just a wolf. A beast wearing the skin of a man."
Bella's arms tightened around his neck. She wasn't letting go. It was like if she did, she might lose him forever.
Gray hesitated, then asked, "Now that you know… do you think I'm unworthy of you? Do you hate me for not telling you? For lying? For being… not a man, but a wolf?"
There was a long pause.
And then, Bella smiled softly.
She shook her head and whispered, "It doesn't matter what you are."
She placed a hand gently on his cheek, her thumb brushing along his skin.
"To me… you're the god of werewolves. You saved me. You gave me strength. A new life. You gave me hope when I had none. You are Gray, the one I chose to trust."
Her voice trembled, but her words were clear.
"I don't hate you. I never could. Not even in the future."
Tears shimmered in her blue eyes.
"I love you, Gray. D-Do you… love me?"
The words hung between them like lightning.
Gray's heart squeezed in his chest. His throat tightened. A smile, genuine and full of warmth, spread across his face.
He didn't say anything.
He just leaned in and kissed her again, deeper, slower this time.
And Bella kissed him back without hesitation. Harder. Closer.
Her arms wrapped tightly around him. His hand slid into her hair. Their breaths became one. Their hearts beat in sync.
The room was silent.
Only their kisses and quiet gasps filled the space.
In that moment… nothing else in the world mattered.