“Ah—!”

At her pained gasp, Cassion immediately loosened his grip.

“My apologies. Let me see.”

He gently drew her small hand closer and examined it. As they moved closer, her face flushed involuntarily. The tingling in her hand was almost an afterthought. In fact, he looked far more troubled as he inspected her fingers.

“…Did it hurt badly?”

“No! I was just startled, that’s all.”

“It was my fault. I am always careful, and yet…”

Upon hearing his words, Lunaria’s lips parted in quiet amazement. Although she was only half beastkin, she was stronger than the average human. This was why she had always been cautious when handling Emma.

Yet, just as she had been treating Emma with care, he had been treating her with the same restraint all along. It was the first time she had realized it.

“I’m truly fine, Cassion. You seem to forget that I’m a wolf beastkin.”

“…Would you move your fingers for me?”

Lunaria quickly spread her fingers wide. Instead of stopping there, she clasped his hand tightly and released it several times to show that she wasn’t in any pain.

“See? I’m perfectly fine.”

Only then did he seem reassured. But recalling her earlier words, he raised one brow slightly.

“You said you were hiding something. What did you mean?”

“…Well.”

She had decided to speak, but when she met his gaze, she found that the words wouldn’t come easily. Her lips moved faintly, but his steady gaze compelled her to confess.

“Actually… I think my heat was short.”

“Short?”

“…It ended much sooner than what I remember to be average.”

Cassion’s expression grew serious.

Lunaria continued cautiously, watching him.

“I don’t remember precisely… but I believe it usually lasts two to three weeks. Compared to that, mine…”

Anxiety tightened her chest. What if this confession made him question her true nature? With her free hand, she gripped the hem of her skirt.

“…was considerably short.”

“……”

Despite having researched wolf beastkin extensively, Cassion did not know everything about them. His expression grew increasingly rigid.

Lunaria glanced up at him cautiously, biting her lower lip.

“…Could it be because I was seriously injured when I was young?”

After a long moment of silent thought, he spoke abruptly.

Her eyes widened.

“Is that possible?”

“You were only ten when that accident happened. You fell from a very high cliff. It was careless of me to assume that there wouldn’t be any lasting effects.”

As she listened to his explanation, she found herself thinking that it might truly be possible.”

“…That might be it. I should have told you sooner instead of worrying alone.”

As she murmured in relief, Cassion’s eyes darkened.

He was still worried about her, but he was also upset.

It was difficult for him to accept that she had hidden something from him, of all people.

“Hmm.”

He let out a low sound and tilted his head slightly.

Only then did Lunaria sense the change in his mood. His presence had become heavy and subdued. She instinctively closed her mouth.

After staring down at her in silence, he exhaled.

“I cannot simply overlook this.”

“Cassion…”

“I have told you before—if there is something you know, you must tell me.”

“……”

As his voice softened, Lunaria stiffened immediately.

He had scolded her before, but never with such quiet restraint.

Her fingers shifted restlessly within his grasp. Her palm grew damp, and she felt an instinctive urge to pull away.

But she couldn’t.

Though not crushing, his grip tightened again — firm enough to prevent her from escaping.

Without warning, he began to walk.

She had no choice but to follow.

In those few steps, regret flooded her. Why had she created another secret between them? By concealing the most important truth, she had hidden something else as well. The weight of it pressed painfully against her chest.

Cassion led her to a bench further inside the greenhouse.

Normally, he would have seated her first. But this time, he sat down himself and pulled her towards him abruptly as she stood awkwardly in front of him.

The next instant, she was pulled onto his lap.

The sudden shift left her breathless and unprepared. She folded forward instinctively, twisting slightly in startled confusion.

A large hand settled firmly against the small of her back, holding her there.

“C-Cassion?”

Her voice trembled with surprise.

In a low, measured tone, he replied.

“You’ve never been disciplined like this before, have you?”

Though the position was undeniably humiliating, Lunaria could not see how it was connected to discipline. She answered and cautiously watched his expression.

He adjusted her position slightly, bringing her hips nearer to his hand, and murmured.

“You were never scolded like this as a child. Back then, you didn’t deceive me as you have now.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Even at her apology, Cassion’s voice remained cool.

“You claim to be an adult now. Is that why you no longer wish to listen to me?”

“No! That’s not it…”

Cold sweat prickled along her skin. He was angrier than she had imagined.

“I am deeply disappointed.”

The words fell like ice.

Lunaria froze, as if she had forgotten how to breathe. This was the last thing she ever wanted to hear from him.

While she stood there, stunned, Cassion lifted the hem of her dress. He was going to discipline her properly this time. This might have been her first offence, but one offence could lead to another.

The first time was always the most important.

He untied and removed the ribbon of her undergarment, exposing her pale hips beneath the dress.

“….”

Yet he did not strike her at once.

He had intended to spank her until her skin flushed red—until she would never dare hide anything from him again.

“Lunaria.”

“….”

His gaze fell upon the black tail tucked tightly between her legs. He let out a long breath.

“Ha…”

“…Cassion, I was wrong.”

She trembled faintly at the sound of his sigh and begged him not to. His disappointment frightened her more than his anger did. Terrified that he might stop caring about her altogether, she clung to his arm, unaware that her nails had grown longer.

“I just… didn’t want to seem strange… so…”

Her voice faltered; it was hoarse with tears she had never intended to shed. Memories she wished she could bury rose to the surface without warning.

She had never asked to be born this way.

Half-blooded. Belonging nowhere. Cast out by her pack. She had been left behind, carried along by fate until she arrived here.

If he were to cast her aside as well, she would not survive.

Guilt, sorrow, and a quiet sense of injustice surged through her all at once. Sniffling softly, Lunaria lowered her head and bowed deeply.

She could not bring herself to meet his gaze.

“…Haah, Luna.”

“Sniff…”

She still clung tightly to his arm, burying her face deeper into his shoulder. Her tail curled tighter between her legs.

He lifted her by the waist with his hand near her hips and settled her properly back onto his lap. Unable to face him, Lunaria clung even harder to his arm.

“Luna.”

He called her name, but she struggled, hiding her face between his arm and chest.

Flustered by her resistance — she had defied his intent twice now — Cassion instinctively applied more force, lifting her chin.

At the same time, she tightened her grip around his arm.

Her sharpened, extended nails raked across his skin.

“Mm.”

His jacket sleeve tore easily. A thin scratch marred his exposed arm.

Lunaria stared at her handiwork in disbelief, then burst into tears.

“Waaah…!”