"You have powers?" Acheron asked, his voice low but thick with awe. "Forgive me for asking, but… since when?"

Moments ago, nearly everyone had scattered in alarm when a surge of blue fire erupted from Esme's outstretched palm, and it painted the sky with a flash of otherworldly light. It had vanished as quickly as it came, but the memory of it lingered in the minds of everyone.

Esme stood at the center of it all, breathing heavily from the shock of what she had just done. Her hands felt warm to the touch, but not enough to cause harm to her or anyone. She had forgotten what she learnt last night, and that was the fact that her powers would activate whenever she actively thought of something, but all she really wanted was to have some roasted fish and nothing else.

The crowd's silence was crushing.

Dozens of eyes were locked onto her, making her wonder if she had also grown wings and horns without realizing. To be sure, she felt her head with her hands, but paused when Donovan stepped forward to clear the confusion.

"Esme has powers," he announced, scanning the crowd with a pointed look, but that wasn't enough to hush the gasps that escaped most of their lips. He excused their shock and continued in a firm tone, "She always has, and I don't see a problem with that. Considering the bloodline she descends from, none of us should find this shocking. At one point, she had healing abilities too. What you witnessed is something far more significant."

He then folded his arms across his chest, his eyes scanning everyone with a hint of silent authority. "Give her some space, and don't overwhelm her."

A tense pause followed as though everyone was still struggling to come terms with the news, and then—

"This is incredible!" Cora gasped, already pulling out a small note she seemed to have produced out of thin air. She scribbled down who knew what on it with an interesting shine in her eyes. "Blue flames! I've read about every elemental manifestation, but never this. What does it do? Is it hot? Deadly? Aren't blue flames known to be the most dangerous? Can you—!"

Before she could rattle off another dozen questions, Leonardo stepped in silently from behind and gently clamped a hand over her mouth, silencing whatever was about to be asked next.

"You talk too much," he murmured, earning a disapproving look from Cora. Her brows furrowed in protest, but he didn't acknowledge her. His gaze was fixed on the matter before them, and the fact that Esme had unlocked a new mysterious power.

"But is this something you've only just realized?" Lothar asked, his tone edged with both curiosity and concern.

Everyone wanted to understand the source of her strength, but Esme hesitated. She didn't fully grasp the extent of power she had herself. What she did know was that it stemmed from the wolf inside her— the uninvited presence, and the no amount of denial or resistance could drive away.

"It's… complicated," Esme finally murmured, the uncertainty in her voice unhidden. "But, well– recently, I found out there's a wolf inside me. That's where the power comes from. From her."

Before Esme could explain further, Althea gasped, her eyes going wide in astonishment. "Wait wait wait, did you just say you got your wolf?!" she cried, practically bouncing on her feet. "That is so incredible! Show us! What does she look like? Your wolf! We want to see! I bet she's as amazing as Finn's wolf."

"Wait— are you serious?" Acheron chimed in, his voice rising with disbelief. "You've been hiding something that major from all of us?"

"I somewhat knew," Revana added quietly, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. The mood shifted instantly, and excitement blossomed on the deck. They all wanted to see their Luna in her wolf's final form, to witness the true embodiment of power and mystery before anyone else could.

Esme glanced over at Donovan, silently searching his expression for reassurance. She then turned to everyone else with a small, uncertain smile playing on her lips. If only they knew how much she wanted to get rid of it rather than control it, they wouldn't be so joyous about it.

Esme opened her mouth to say something, but Donovan's voice cut in.

"My mate can't shift right now," he said, sounding calm and authoritative about it. Everyone blinked at him in surprise, clearly caught off guard.

"Why not?" Althea asked.

"Her powers just awakened recently," he explained. "That makes it volatile for now. If she attempts to shift in this state, she could end up hurting herself, or worse, losing control entirely."

A tense silence followed, but he continued regardless. "She needs time to stabilize the connection and attune to the transformation. Rushing into it would be reckless and dangerous."

"That does make sense," Althea nodded slowly, absorbing the explanation. "Must be due to the fact she got her wolf late. Surges like that aren't unheard of."

"We can always see it some other time," Acheron added, his voice gentle. "No pressure, of course."

Esme exhaled quietly.

Their understanding was a kindness, but not the truth she had been about to reveal.

When the matter had died, Esme remained on the deck, sitting on one of the barrels near the railing. She rested her chin in her palm, her mind diverting to the fact she had to tame some wolf she never really wanted. Even if she did want one, it shouldn't be the one inside her right now.

Her brows furrowed slightly, completely deep in thoughts, until a sudden aroma- smoky and savory- broke through the fog in her mind. A plate of roasted fish appeared in her face, startling her slightly. She looked up to see Donovan holding out the dish, with a quiet sort of gentleness that contrasted everything she felt inside at the moment.

"You wanted this earlier, didn't you?" he said, keeping his voice low and careful, as though trying not to break whatever fragile state she was in.

Esme sat straight.

He sat down beside her on another barrel, and Esme offered a faint smile, small but strained. She then shook her head. "I'm not hungry anymore. Besides, who knows– I might actually burn it with a single touch this time. I ruined the entire night with this stupid power of mine. I'm not even surprised anymore."

"The night was never ruined," he assured her simply, as though it was the undeniable truth. "They were happy when you told them about your wolf. I don't think that counts as ruining in my book. If anything, they were genuinely excited to know that their Luna finally got her wolf. Hold on."

Rising to his feet, he placed the plate atop the barrel with care. Then he held out his hand for Esme to hold, fingers open.

"Maybe you're upset because we never got that dance you wanted. Your powers may have interrupted it, but the night isn't over yet. And if it's still your wish, we can change that right now."

For a moment, Esme felt all her worries and burdens dissolve beneath the warmth of his smile– so unguarded, so effortlessly disarming that it made the world fall quiet around her. Without hesitation,she slipped her hand through his, letting him draw her gently to her feet.

His grip was firm but tender, and when he brought her hand to his lips, brushing a kiss against the softness of her palm, her breath caught. He guided her hand to his shoulder, and the space between them vanished.

Esme wanted to scream.

Not out of fear or anything related to that, but her heart was pounding, and every nerve inside her felt alive with awareness. The proximity felt intoxicating, whilst his scent wrapped around her like a shawl.

The spell wavered when the soft strains of a melody drifted from nearby. The two of them turned their heads slightly, only to catch sight of four crew members lingering on the deck. The musicians paused, feeling sheepish at having intruded, but when Donovan gave them a simple, approving nod, at once, the music resumed again, slow and dreamy.

He pulled her in, one arm wrapping securely around her waist while the other laced through hers. The contact sent a ripple through her chest, but she matched his rhythm instinctively. He moved with a silent grace that couldn't be coincidental for someone who rarely danced, but then again, it was Donovan. Was there anything he really couldn't do at all?

Esme tried to hide her smile when his unblinking eyes watched her with pure fondness. She bit her lip as the corners of her mouth threatened to curl, but then the warmth in her cheeks betrayed her with no hesitation. It spread in a soft flush that refused to be masked, and he chuckled, leaning in further to kiss her cheek.

"I have the cutest mate in the entirety of the realm," he whispered near her ear. "Is this really what I've been missing all those times when I couldn't see?"

"How do you keep getting better at this?" She asked. "I like that you're seeing them now and not back then. You got your sight at the perfect time." And Esme believed so.

"Why didn't you let me tell them the reason I can't shift?" She asked, her voice barely rising above the gentle hum of music that lingered in the air.

"Because," he caught her hand and spun her gently, her skirt fluttering as she turned. When she settled, her back met the solid wall of his chest, his arms folding around her protectively. "... they wouldn't understand. Telling them the reason you can't shift is because you and your wolf are currently against one another would only make them drown you with more questions."

He turned her around to face him, holding her gaze. "They've never seen something like that. And you didn't need interrogation tonight. Overwhelming you with questions that are beyond your own understanding won't be healthy. Do you understand?"

Esme didn't respond.

Her wolf was nothing but an idiot, and it infuriated her. How could her wolf push away someone like Donovan? A mate who stood by her, protected her, understood her in ways no one else could?

At that moment, she didn't want to think about the stubborn creature inside her. She only wanted him.

Wordlessly, she wrapped her arms around him, pressing her cheek to his chest. She could feel the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear, strong and sure. It grounded her.

"I don't care if my wolf is broken or if everything turns against us," she whispered. "I need you beside me. Always. So stay. Promise me you'll stay– no matter what."

Before Donovan could say anything, a chorus of teasing "Awwwwwwwwww…" broke the moment. It prompted the couple to turn their heads sharply, only to spot their friends had gathered behind a stack of crates, their eyes sparkling with mischief as they peeked at the pair.

Esme felt her heart in her throat. She stiffened, instinctively trying to retreat from the embrace first, but Donovan didn't give her a chance. He wasn't going to let her escape what she had started.

"Where are you going?" He asked, raising a brow in mock accusation. "Didn't you just say you want me to stay with you?"

"Yes, but–"

"When I'm asked to kiss you at the altar, are you going to shove me away then too?" He whispered in a sultry voice, pressing a soft kiss to the edge of her ear.

"Oh, come on," Acheron complained, clutching his chest dramatically. "There are lonely hearts here, you know. Show some mercy."

Revana smacked his shoulder and dragged him away along with everyone else who had followed him here, demanding they give their Alpha and Luna some alone time together. Silence followed once more, and Esme let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding.

Donovan hadn't moved.

His face remained nestled in the curve of her neck, his arms still locked around her waist. She'd begun to notice this about him recently, how he always sought out that hidden place at her throat.

Something about it was also different.

His body radiated heat– not warmth, but heat, sharp and rising like a fever.

"Don?" She whispered, concern threading her voice.

"No," he didn't let her pull him away, resisting her gentle push. Esme felt his grip tighten, not out of force, but like he was battling something unseen inside himself.

"Let me stay like this for a while," he murmured against her skin. "Or I might do something out of my own control."