Nina braced both hands against Idir’s chest, trying to push him away—but he was immovable, like a mountain.

Just then, the locator on her wrist vibrated again.

Earlier, whenever it had activated, Idir had been gripping her hand so tightly she hadn’t been able to respond.

She quickly lifted her hand and accepted the call. Odian’s anxious voice came through immediately. "Nina, where are you?"

She checked their position. "Southwest of you. A bit far."

She was about to say more when Idir suddenly grabbed the locator—and by sheer coincidence, pressed the shutdown button.

"Nina, you’re not allowed to talk to other males."

He took her wrist and began fiddling with the device. Whether by luck or instinct, he managed to remove it almost instantly.

With a flick of his hand, he tossed the locator aside, then pulled her tightly into his arms. "Nina, you belong to me."

Nina blinked in surprise. He had removed it that easily?

Before she could react further, Idir leaned in again, claiming her lips. "Nina, don’t even think about other males."

Only him.

His hand roamed freely, sending a tremor through her body.

"Idir... don’t..." Nina breathed softly.

But even as she spoke, warmth was already spreading through her.

He nipped lightly at her earlobe, his voice low and coaxing. "Nina... don’t refuse me, alright?"

"You’ll regret it once you’re fully conscious again," she said, still trying to resist. She didn’t want to face the aftermath of something he might not even remember clearly.

"I won’t." His gaze was steady, filled with a depth of feeling that made her hesitate. "Nina, I will never regret this."

How could he? As long as she didn’t regret it, that was all that mattered.

The certainty in his eyes sent heat rushing to her cheeks.

"Nina," he murmured, "you feel it too... don’t you?"

He could tell—she was not rejecting him.

She bit her lip. Of course she felt it. She wasn’t made of stone. And it had been a while since she’d been close to any of her mates.

Lately, with Idir constantly teasing and provoking her, she had been holding herself back to the point of frustration.

His touch grew bolder, stirring something restless within her.

"Nina, stop resisting," he urged softly. "Holding it in like this isn’t good. I’ll take care of you—I promise you won’t regret it."

His tone softened, almost pleading. "Nina... I feel awful. Help me, alright?"

He guided her hand, letting her feel just how much he wanted her.

Her resolve began to waver.

"Nina... please." His lips brushed against hers again, his voice threaded with quiet desperation. "I really can’t bear it anymore."

A restless heat coiled in her chest.

At last, she reached up and pinched his ear lightly, half-annoyed, half-flustered. "You’re absolutely sure you won’t regret this? When you come back to your senses, don’t you dare blame me."

She was struggling too. And it wasn’t as if this was unfamiliar territory.

Idir’s face lit up with unrestrained joy, a breathtaking smile spreading across his lips. "I’ll never regret it."

If anything, he would only be grateful—grateful that he belonged to her.

He lowered his head and kissed her deeply, his hands moving to undo the last barriers between them.

Dark pelts and pale furs lay layered together.

In the flickering firelight, two figures were entwined, bodies pressed close, inseparable...

The night stretched on—long, heated, and restless.

Outside the cave, several males were searching themselves half-mad.

When the locator signal abruptly cut off, Odian’s anxiety spiked.

The only thing that offered him a sliver of reassurance was that Nina seemed unharmed—for now.

That damned snake... he actually shut off Nina’s locator.

Without hesitation, he contacted Sal and the others, relaying her approximate direction. The group immediately broke into a sprint, racing toward her at full speed.

The next morning, Idir stirred from sleep.

His eyes opened slowly, still hazy—only to find a soft, warm body nestled in his arms.

He lowered his gaze.

There she was.

Nina’s delicate, flushed face rested against him, her features softened by sleep.

His heart lurched violently—then skipped.

And then, like a flood breaking through a dam, memories from the past few days rushed back all at once.

Idir’s eyes widened.

He... he and Nina... And last night... His face drained of color. A surge of regret and fear gripped him.

What had he done? How could he have treated her like that?

He looked down at her rosy, radiant face, his chest tightening with a bittersweet ache—equal parts tenderness and pain.

Slowly, he lifted a hand and traced the outline of her features.

Fragments of the previous night surfaced in his mind—intense, overwhelming, impossible to forget.

These past days... he had been happy.

Truly, deeply happy.

Being with Nina had brought him a kind of joy he had never known.

But he was cursed. A beastman like him... didn’t deserve her. He would only bring her misfortune.

And if one day he lost control completely—if he forgot even her—he might hurt her.

The thought pierced him like a blade.

No. He could never allow that. Even if it meant his own death, he would never harm her.

His hand lingered against her cheek, reluctant to let go.

Only now did he finally understand his own heart.

He had fallen for her long ago.

But when he was clear-headed, he had never dared to admit it. Only in madness had he found the courage to show what he truly felt.

And yet... He couldn’t stay by her side.

He would only destroy her.

Idir closed his eyes tightly, anguish cutting through him as he made his decision.

Nina... I’m sorry.

I’m not worthy of you.

He had just begun to withdraw his hand when Nina suddenly stirred.

Idir immediately shut his eyes again, pretending to still be asleep, though his heartbeat pounded wildly in his chest.

Nina slowly opened her eyes and saw the faint tremble of his lashes. Something deep inside her chest ached, though she did not know why.