A Werewolf's Unexpected Mate-Chapter 120: Diverging Paths

[Gale’s POV]

I stopped walking, my boots scuffing against the cobblestones as I stared at the sealed elemental mana stone resting in my palm.

Here we go, I thought, gathering a focused thread of my mana into my palm, preparing to brush it against the stone’s seals and unravel them. But just as the energy began to coalesce, a cold, sharp warning shot through my mind. If I unsealed it here, the sudden, violent release of raw elemental mana would be like lighting a beacon in the dark. It would attract every werewolf with a hint of magical sensitivity and every witch within a half-mile radius. We were surrounded by potential enemies.

This is frustrating! I clenched my fist around the stone, the temptation warring with prudence.

Suddenly, the fine hairs on the back of my neck stood up. My instincts, honed by a century of survival, screamed that someone was following me. Their focus was a cold spot on my back.

I turned my head casually, as if admiring a nearby stall of painted ceramics. My eyes swept the crowd and landed on a woman. She was dressed in simple, dark traveler’s clothes, but her aura was wrong. It was muted, artificially still. A witch. I couldn’t sense her mana at all, which meant she was using a mana-nullifier device to conceal her presence. A sophisticated and suspicious tool for a simple festival-goer.

"Ovelia, walk ahead of me," I said, my voice low and calm, pretending to be completely absorbed in examining the stone in my hand. I didn’t look at her. "You too, Ann."

I felt Ovelia’s curious gaze on me, but she trusted me enough to simply nod and comply.

"What are you planning to do?" Ann asked, her voice a bare whisper, her body already shifting into a more alert stance.

"Let’s just say I’m keeping both of you in my sight by putting myself between you and whatever’s behind us," I murmured. That was all the explanation they would get. Ann, understanding the unspoken threat, immediately took Ovelia’s hand and gently pulled her a few paces ahead, positioning herself as a physical shield.

I turned back around, continuing to walk slowly so the witch wouldn’t know I was aware of her. She could hide her mana from werewolves and other witches, but her ruse was useless against me. My fairy sight could perceive the living light of her aura, and right now, it was trailing me like a patient shadow. She must have seen me buy the mana stone, or she had somehow caught a whiff of my own unique mana signature. I didn’t mind her following me, but if she was working with the masked individuals Ace, Ray, and Ann had chased earlier, this was a problem. Ovelia was human, vulnerable, and an easy target if a conflict started.

"Everyone!" I called out, a little louder, making them all stop and look back at me.

"What? Do you want to go back and buy another worthless stone?" Ace asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he adjusted his glasses.

"Maybe?" I shot back with a deliberate, infuriating smirk, watching with satisfaction as his jaw tightened. "On second thought, I’m going to look around on my own for a bit. Make sure you protect Ovelia." I put a heavy emphasis on the last part, my eyes locking with his.

Ace’s expression shifted instantly. The sarcasm vanished, replaced by a sharp, predatory focus. His silver eyes narrowed, looking past me, scanning the crowd. I saw his nostrils flare slightly. He might not be able to sense the witch’s mana, but he could smell her intent, or perhaps it was just a warrior’s instinct sensing a predator in the tall grass.

"Enjoy finding more river rocks," Ace said, his voice deceptively light, but his body was now coiled and ready.

"Here." Ray’s voice was calm. He tossed a small, clinking leather coin purse toward me. I caught it effortlessly. "I’m sure you’ll need that," he added with a knowing look. He understood that a distraction might be necessary.

"Thanks," I said, tucking the purse into my pocket. I turned to leave.

"Gale." Ovelia’s voice was soft but clear. I didn’t turn around, but I stopped walking, my back to her. "Take care," she said.

No need to say that, I thought, a strange warmth battling with my irritation. I just raised my left hand in a casual, dismissive wave and walked forward, deliberately moving away from them. In my peripheral vision, I saw the witch in the dark clothes change her course, seamlessly merging with the crowd to follow me. The hunt was on, but now, I was the one leading it.

[Ovelia’s POV]

I watched Gale’s retreating back until he was swallowed by the crowd, a knot of worry tightening in my stomach. I couldn’t understand why he would separate from us so suddenly, but through our bond, I couldn’t feel any fear or anger from him, just a sharp, focused determination. I had to trust that he knew what he was doing.

Suddenly, Ray stopped walking. "Sorry," he said, his voice taking on a distracted tone. He was looking off into the middle distance, toward a cluster of taverns where the music was loudest. "I just remembered something I need to check on." He turned back to us, offering a quick, reassuring smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "See you all later."

Before I could even form a question, he was gone, his large frame moving with surprising speed as he cut through the crowd in a different direction from Gale.

Ann let out a soft sigh and slapped her forehead with her palm. "Oh, right. Me too. I need to look for something as well." She turned to face me, her expression softening. She reached out and took both of my hands in hers, giving them a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "Enjoy your date with Sir Ace, my lady," she said, a genuine, if slightly mischievous, smile gracing her lips.

A date?! My heart gave a frantic leap.

Then she released my hands. "Sir Ace," she said, her tone formal and respectful but leaving no room for argument, "Lady Ovelia is in your hands."

"Wait, Ann!" I called out, but she was already stepping back. She just smiled, waving at me while walking backwards, before turning gracefully and disappearing into the stream of people.

The moment both Ray and Ann had turned away, their casual demeanors had evaporated, replaced by a serious, mission-focused intensity. Right, I remembered with a jolt. We’re still on a mission. They weren’t just abandoning us; they were investigating something. They were hunting.

My thoughts returned to Gale. I still felt no negative emotions from him. I hope he’s alright.

The noise of the festival seemed to swell in the sudden quiet between Ace and me.

"I guess this makes it our second date," Ace said, his voice pulling me from my thoughts.

"You mean a—" I started, my face growing warm.

"Friendly date," he finished, his tone gentle but firm, his silver eyes watching me carefully from behind his spectacles.

"Right!" I said, forcing a bright smile onto my face, pushing down the fluttering disappointment. "A friendly date."

We began to walk again, side-by-side through the vibrant, laughing crowd. But with every step, I felt a sharp, persistent pang in my chest, an ache that had nothing to do with fear or danger. How long can we keep pretending to see each other as just friends? The question echoed in my mind, a silent, lonely counterpoint to the festival’s joyful music.