Magnus’s peculiar words made me frown as I looked at him. I asked, “Are you trying to say… you’re a werewolf?”
I had already told Magnus before-I really didn’t like werewolves.
Even though my subconscious seemed to crave their power, as long as I had my sanity, I could never betray my identity.
It was terrifying. I couldn’t accept such a fundamental transformation of who I was.
Hearing my words, Magnus couldn’t help but chuckle softly before shaking his head. “No, I think you misunderstood me. This is part of my research. Only the more primitive werewolves lose control and go berserk.”
I thought of Kael. He had never lost his mind. Even when he transformed into a wolf, I couldn’t bring myself to fear him.
It felt as though his wolf form was filled with reason. He wouldn’t harm me.
Sometimes, I even felt a strange urge to hug him-yes, to hug Kael in his wolf form.
The thought flashed across my mind, and I startled myself.
I had to admit that Magnus had a point.
It seemed I wasn’t all that afraid of werewolves. In fact, just moments ago, the thought of Kael’s wolf form had stirred a desire in me to embrace him.
“Alright, I understand. But… could you let me go?” I asked, realizing that Magnus had backed me into a wall.
His hands rested on my shoulders, pinning me in place.
I couldn’t move an inch.
Magnus was so close, his body pressed against mine.
We had never been this physically close before.
To my surprise, a faint smile appeared on his face as he heard my words.
Instead of releasing me, Magnus leaned in even closer.
“Seraphina,” he said, his voice low, “Kael is incredible, I admit, but I’m not inferior to him. I’m serious about my studies. I plan to pursue graduate school, maybe even a Ph. D. I’m working hard to become someone better. Can’t you see me?”
As he spoke, his hand gently brushed my cheek.
His palm was warm-almost hot-and the heat seemed to seep into my skin, traveling through my body.
His face was so close now, his gentle yet handsome features magnified before my eyes.
My heart pounded wildly, as if it might leap right out of my chest at any moment.
Was he going to kiss me?
I didn’t know. But my body trembled uncontrollably.
The distance between us shrank further. I could see his long lashes, his high nose bridge…
Even his lips-full and undeniably alluring.
I had never looked at his face so attentively before. In the past, I only thought of him as a kind and polite gentleman.
But now, under closer scrutiny, I realized Magnus wasn’t just gentle.
At this moment, his expression bore a faint resemblance to Kael.
There was a possessive, domineering aura about him, one that felt overwhelming.
It made me nervous.
His demeanor was nothing like the Magnus I knew before.
His deep, ocean-like eyes seemed to draw me in, as though I could fall right into their depths.
But just as his lips were about to meet mine, I instinctively turned my face away.
Magnus’s kiss landed on my cheek instead.
It was warm, soft, and fleeting-like a feather brushing against my skin.
He hadn’t expected me to turn away.
His lips lingered for a moment before he pulled back.
Magnus rested his head on my shoulder, his face buried against my neck.
I couldn’t see his expression, but I could hear his soft laughter.
There was a hint of helplessness in his voice.
As he spoke, his breath brushed against the skin of my neck, sending a tingling sensation down my spine. Goosebumps prickled along my arms.
Frustrated by his weight pressing against me, I tried to push him away.
But his tall, solid frame pinned me in place, making it impossible to break free.
“Magnus, can you let me go?” I pleaded softly, my voice trembling.
I hoped he would release me.
What we were doing now-on a public street, no less-was crossing a line.
“Seraphina,” he murmured suddenly, “has anyone ever told you how adorable you are?”
He lifted his head, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine.
The close proximity made my body tense up even more.
“I don’t understand what you mean,” I said, staring back at him.
“I thought… I thought you might like me,” Magnus confessed. “After all this time we’ve spent together, your reaction hurts me, to be honest.”
As he spoke, a shift in his demeanor caught me off guard.
He no longer seemed like the kind and gentle Magnus I knew. Instead, he exuded an air of darkness.
Perhaps it was because night had fallen.
The dim streetlights cast weak illumination, and with Magnus standing against the light, his face was shrouded in shadows.
In that moment, he reminded me of a death knight-cold, unfeeling, and menacing.
An inexplicable fear gripped me, making my body tremble uncontrollably.
“What’s wrong, Seraphina? You look frightened,” Magnus said, his voice low and probing.
Mustering all my strength, I pushed him away.
This time, to my surprise, Magnus stumbled back a few steps, staring at me in disbelief.
“Magnus, we’re just friends,” I said firmly. “Please, can we stay that way?”
“But I like you, Seraphina,” Magnus replied. “I know you’ve been hurt before, but I want to help you heal-little by little. Why are you so afraid of me?”
I didn’t have an answer. I couldn’t explain why Magnus made me uneasy.
The distance between us widened, and gradually, I felt myself calming down.
“I… I need some time to think about our relationship,” I said quietly.
Magnus stepped closer again, taking my hand and placing it against his chest.
“Can you feel it, Seraphina?” he asked with a soft smile. “My heart races every time I see you-because I like you so much.”
His heartbeat was wild, pounding against my palm.
My mind felt hazy, overwhelmed by the situation.
I didn’t know how to respond.
If I rejected him, I knew Magnus would be hurt.
He had always seemed so composed and gentlemanly. But tonight, he revealed a side of himself I had never seen before.
Yet, I couldn’t accept him. My tangled connection with Kael would only complicate things further.