ZADE’S POV

The moment I stepped onto the kindergarten field grounds, my wolf became restless.

It wasn’t because of the noise around me. it wasn’t because of the excited children running everywhere.

It was because Sophia stood there. Under the morning sunlight looking so beautiful that my chest ached.

I couldn’t stop staring at her, not even for one second.

My wolf purred the instant she appeared in my sight. Every instinct inside me moved toward her presence.

“Mine”.

The word echoed inside my head.

But Sophia never looked at me properly. That hurt more than I expected.

She stood beside Klara, calmly speaking to her while avoiding my eyes completely. Even when our gazes accidentally met briefly earlier, she looked away first like I no longer mattered to her at all.

My wolf hated it. he absolutely hated it.

Beside me, Boris quietly tugged my sleeve.

“Uncle”

I looked down“What?”

Boris pointed toward the activity area excitedly.

“They’re setting up tents.”

I forced myself to focus on him instead of Sophia.

“Do you want help?”

Boris nodded quickly.

Unlike me, Boris actually looked genuinely happy today. His eyes stayed bright.

That mattered to me.

A loud whistle suddenly interrupted my thoughts.

“All parents and children gather here please!”

One of the teachers stood near the center field smiling brightly while holding a clipboard. Parents immediately started gathering around curiously.

Sophia slowly walked closer too.

The moment she approached, my wolf immediately became more alert again.

“Closer” he growled “We need her closer”.

I clenched my jaw tightly.

The teacher began speaking cheerfully.

“Today’s field trip activities will happen in teams! Each group will work together preparing lunch, gathering supplies, and participating in games.”

Several children cheered excitedly.

The teacher looked down at her clipboard “Let’s assign groups now.”

Parents and children listened attentively while names were called one after another.

Then suddenly,

“Tiffany Parker and Zade, same group.”

I froze in shock. Across from me, Tiffany’s expression brightened instantly.

Meanwhile, Sophia’s face remained unreadable. But my wolf noticed the small shift in her scent

Tiffany walked closer toward me with a soft smile.

“What a coincidence.” She said.

I barely looked at her.

“Mm.” I hummed.

But Tiffany clearly didn’t care about my coldness today. Actually, she seemed pleased by it all, especially after noticing Sophia nearby.

The teacher continued assigning more names afterward until eventually Sophia ended up grouped with Klara, Boris, and several other children nearby.

That calmed my wolf slightly. At least Boris would remain near Sophia.

For some reason, my nephew naturally liked her deeply.

Soon, the activities officially began.

Children moved excitedly around the camping grounds while teachers organized different stations nearby. Some parents prepared food while others supervised games.

Tiffany took advantage of the chaos.

“Kids,” she said sweetly, “why don’t you all go help collect flowers near the river with the teacher?”

Several children excitedly agreed instantly.

The moment the children left, there was silence between us.

I genuinely had zero interest speaking with her privately, but Tiffany clearly wanted the opposite.

She moved closer beside me while pretending to arrange supplies on the picnic table.

“You’ve been avoiding me lately,” she said softly.

I stayed expressionless “I’ve been busy.”

Tiffany studied me carefully.

Honestly, she looked beautiful today. Many men would probably lose focus around her easily. But unfortunately for her...she wasn’t Sophia.

And right now, my mind remained consumed entirely by another woman standing several feet away laughing softly at something little Klara said.

Even hearing Sophia laugh from a distance affected me.

Tiffany followed my eyes. The moment she realized I was staring at Sophia again, she looked irritated.

Then suddenly, a loud childish voice echoed nearby.

“You’re a motherless bastard!”

Everything instantly froze. My entire body went stiff.

Boris stood several feet away near the camping area looking completely shocked now. His small face was pale while several other children stared nervously nearby.

Ashley stood opposite him, looking angry. The moment I heard those words leave her mouth, something dark spread inside me instantly.

My wolf growled in my head.

I moved before thinking.

Several adults nearby looked startled when I reached the children.

Ashley immediately froze after seeing my face.

“What did you say?” I asked coldly.

Ashley’s tiny body shook.. Her eyes filled with frightened tears.

“I-I...” she whispered.

Boris lowered his head quietly now. The pain on his face hit me hard.

I knew exactly how much those words hurt him. Children repeated things they heard from adults.

And somewhere along the line, Ashley learned that cruel insult from someone.

My wolf snarled violently inside me.

For one terrifying second, I genuinely almost lost control. I wanted to punish her.

I took one step closer toward Ashley. The little girl flinched backward fearfully.

Sophia suddenly appeared beside Ashley then.

Her eyes widened slightly after sensing the dangerous pressure radiating from me now.

“Zade.” She said.

My name snapped me back a bit. I took in a deep breath while forcing my wolf down again.

Ashley was only a child.

Seeing Boris hurt nearly destroyed my restraint.

Ashley started crying softly now “I-I didn’t mean-”

“Yes, you did,” I interrupted coldly.

Sophia quietly pulled Ashley behind her protectively.

My wolf immediately reacted badly seeing another pup hidden protectively behind Sophia.

Meanwhile, Boris remained silent. That silence hurt me more than tears would have.

I crouched in front of him.

“Look at me.” I said.

Boris hesitated before lifting his eyes toward mine. His small expression looked heartbreakingly wounded.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered quietly.

My chest tightened painfully. Somehow, he sounded ashamed. He apologized like this was his fault.

I gently touched Boris’s shoulder

“You did nothing wrong. No need to apologize”

Boris looked down sadly “But she said-”

“I don’t care what she said. You hear me? Nothing about you is shameful.”

Boris’s watery eyes lifted toward me again.

I rarely comforted people emotionally. I wasn’t good at it but Boris was my nephew. I loved him.

And seeing him hurt made my wolf viciously protective.

Then suddenly, Sophia quietly stepped closer. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

“I’ll take Boris into my group.” She said.

I looked up at her. For a second, neither of us spoke.

My wolf softened seeing the concern in her eyes while looking at Boris.

She cared.

Boris looked toward Sophia hopefully “Really?”

Sophia smiled softly at him “Of course.”

Eventually, the teachers reorganized the groups after the incident to calm the children down. Ashley remained crying near Tiffany while Sophia gently guided Boris and Klara toward the forest trail nearby for firewood gathering.

Without thinking, I followed. Sophia noticed immediately.

The forest trail behind the camping grounds felt quieter than the noisy field area.

Klara and Boris ran ahead, collecting small branches together now.

Meanwhile... Sophia and I walked behind them in silence.

My wolf stayed hyperaware of her beside me now. Every small movement she made distracted me completely.

Then suddenly, Sophia stopped walking.

“What happened to your hand?” she asked.

I looked down at the cut across my palm. It was still there.

“Nothing,” I said.

Sophia frowned “Don’t lie.”

Before I could react, she suddenly grabbed my wrist gently. The contact nearly destroyed me

My wolf moved toward her touch.

Sophia carefully turned my palm upward. Her expression changed seeing the injury properly.

The cut looked deeper now than before.

“You didn’t disinfect this properly.” She said.

I barely listened. All I was focused on was the face that she was touching me.

My breathing unconsciously became heavier now.

Sophia pulled a small medical pouch from her bag.

Of course she carried one. She was Sophia.

She quietly cleaned the wound carefully while avoiding my eyes.

Finally, I spoke quietly.

“Why are you avoiding me?”