Three days had passed since the temple incident, yet the name still clung to me like a leech.

Elixane.

That name kept echoing in my mind, and every time I would daze, whenever I heard that whisper, it always snapped me back to reality, and I would try to look for it. I even tried to bury myself by focusing on reports I knew that during my past lives, my name was always remained Euphyllia, but Elixane was also part of me.

I was living on the same name, but I was more familiar Euphyllia more.

This morning, I thought perhaps routine would enough to break my thoughts from it. Good thing, Lucretius had asked for tea. A simple task that was enough to keep my thoughts grounded. 

The warmth of the porcelain pot and the faint fragrance of peach blossom herbs steeping in the water had granted me the motivation to be keep myself in the present. The smell wafted in the air as it brought a calming feeling as I put it on a tray and stepped out into the corridor.

But as soon as I turned to the corner, I was greeted by two familiar figures.

"Well, well... If it isn't the new 'assistant' of my uncle." Redmund leaned against the wall, arms folded, eyes sharp with mockery.

From the corner, Lilith appeared, having a small smile plastered on her lips. Being her best friend for years, I could immediately tell from that smile how she disliked me.

"So, tell us, Euphie." Lilith circled around me as if I were a prey to them. "What exactly did you do to win Commander Lucretius' favor?" Her eyes narrowed. "Redmund is supposed to have the role you stole from him," she said sharply.

I stared at them, already expecting that there would come a time that one or both of them was going to confront me. But I didn't expect it would be sooner than I thought.

"I didn't steal anything," I replied in a conviction tone. "Commander Lucretius was looking for the best tactical keeper to be his assistant. And I was personally recommended by Marlin."

The mention of my senior keeper's name made Redmund's jaw tighten. Even Lilith's eyes flickered with surprise.

I knew that I didn't have to go to such details the moment I mentioned Marlin. My case wasn't new to them. There were some commanders, especially those strategic commanders preferred tactical keepers as their assistants while others were stuck to their second-in-command lieutenants.

To get the best tactical keeper as their assistant from the records hall, it should be personally recommended by Marlin. There was no other way around where a strategic commander picked someone unless they had asked Marlin himself.

Their expressions were gone in an instant, replaced by their mocking grins.

"Marlin?" Redmund scoffed, pushing off the wall. "He personally recommended you? Do not make me laugh. I do not see you fit as the best tactical keeper in the records hall."

Lilith's voice was soft, but it was laced with venom beneath its sweetness. "I suppose pity recommendations do exist, my love." She clung to him and pressed her cheek on his shoulder.

Her actions caused me to slightly squint my eyebrows. If I was the same Euphyllia days ago who was left discarded and heartbroken, my wolf and I would have been trembling for intimidating me. I would even begin to question myself if I was worthy in my position.

But now was different. 

I knew Lucretius picked me as his assistant because he wanted me all for himself. I was certain that the moment he had sent the letter of recommendation to Marlin, he knew that Marlin would pick me.

Because all in all, amongst the tactical keepers in that records hall, I was the most outstanding.

I must say Lucretius was lived up to his rank position as a strategic commander. Given the history we both had, this could have been according to his plans.

My grip on the tray tightened upon my resolved, and I lifted my chin, forcing my voice to remain steady. 

"Believe what you will," I said. "But I have no intention of justifying myself further. If you think you're more deserving, Commander Lucretius should have accepted your petition." I stood in front of him, staring into his hazel eyes that resembled Lucretius's. I used to love them, but right now, I was more fascinated to his uncle's eye color. More rich and highlight, more striking than Redmund.

"Don't question my worth, Captain Redmund. I suppose I should thank you for the fact that I somehow played a part in your current rank... and that your uncle eventually discovered who helped you achieve that position."

I watched as how his eyes widened in surprise. His composure had collapsed before me, which I had been wanting to see.

Lilith, however, didn't falter. Her arm tightened around his, and her mocking was glued to her lips. 

"How clever," she purred, tilting her head in my direction. "The discarded little wolf finally found a way to bare her fangs, huh?"

My lips parted, and a sweet, calculating smile blessed my lips. "Thank you for your compliment, Lilith. I must thank you and Redmund. You have let me grow on my own. It seems like the Moon Goddess has blessed me as soon as I was discarded by the people I loved."

Wait until you learned that I was formally engaged to Lucretius. I wonder if Redmund could still compose himself once he knew that he would never become an Alpha.

Lilith hissed, looking at me in disbelief. "You are delusional." Then, she arched her eyebrow. "But let me remind you, Euphie..." Her sweet voice gradually contained by poison. "Wolves that bite too loudly often end up muzzled."

She brushed her fingers up and down on Redmund's sleeve, making me turn to the attention on her hand. That was when I caught a ring on her ring finger, and I froze to my ground. Then, she leaned close to him, whispering something only he could hear.

I watched Redmund's clenched jaw eased, though his glare never left me.

Redmund straightened his back, his arm snaking around Lilith's waist. "Enjoy your borrowed place beside my uncle while you can, Euphyllia," he spoke menacingly. "Because places like that... don't last forever."

With that, he tugged Lilith with her down the corridor, their footsteps fading into the hall. When they were out of my sight, I was finally able to breath properly, leaning myself to the wall.

My knees were already wobbly. I was so upfront towards them that I failed to notice it.

I took a deep breath before rushing back to Lucretius' study room before he could notice that I was gone for too long.

"F-Forgive my tardiness," I uttered as I poured his teacup while he was browsing some documents on the files cabinet. I turned at him and caught him nodded.

I thought that I would be scolded by him right there, but it was a good thing it wasn't.

I returned to my desk and halted upon seeing an orange chrysanthemum on top of it. 

My lips slightly parted as I glanced at the adjacent room next to me where he was, not expecting that he would leave a flower again after I was gone for a while. Reaching for it, the flower wasn't what surprised me.

It was because of the folded slip of parchment nestled beneath its stem.

My heart plummeted because of that. 

Last time, he had only left the flower, and I remembered that Lucretius forced me to be honest with my feelings and relayed my bitter disappointment when there was no note in it. He teased me, which one of the things I disliked about him.

I thought that he wouldn't hold on to his promise. Yet this time... he had remembered.

I carefully plucked the note free, unfolding it slowly. Anticipation was eating me as I was trying to decipher what message he would leave at this time around.

'You were braver than I expected, Lady Euphyllia. You did not falter.'

The paper nearly slipped from my grasp upon reading it. I almost jumped out of my seat as my head turned at the room next to me. 

Was he watching the corridor? Did he hear everything with Redmund and Lilith? 

Did this mean that he didn't get mad from my tardiness because he followed me?

I lowered my gaze back to the note, feeling more at ease that he had seen my bravery earlier. I must say that if it weren't with him, I wouldn't be able to stand up on my own.

Lucretius was my salvation. He must be proud that I was growing.

Heaving out a sigh, I set aside the flower and kept the note before returning to his study room again. I thought that he was working, but he was relaxing on the couch, having some tea.

Lucretius' eyes darted in my direction, his gloved hand tapping on his lap. My heart skipped a beat at what that meant. 

He was taking a break right now, and we were both alone together. It meant that I must do what it meant to please him.

Hesitant, I walked towards his direction.

His gaze never wavered. Every step I made looked like he was measuring me. When I stopped in front of him, his fingers drummed lightly on his knee.

A wordless command was already enough for me to understand what he needed.

I swallowed, setting aside the last of my restraint, and lowered myself on his lap. His arm wrapped around my waist as he leaned back to adjust himself before removing his gloves so he could caress my hair.

Gulping, I mustered up the courage to ask him, feeling chills down my spine from touching my hair. "Do you think I did well there?" I knew that I didn't have to elaborate the details.

He was smart. He would know my words behind them.

"Indeed," he murmured. He pushed back a few strands of my hair on the back of my ear. "I am impressed with your development, my little soldier."

My breath caught at his compliment. My body slowly relaxed and rested on his chest. 

"I have been thinking to interrupt, but patience is a virtue." His face drew closer to the crook of my neck before I felt his tongue tracing the slenderness of it, making me shiver. "Your sharp mouth excites me, do you know that?" he whispered huskily.

"Lucretius..."

"Imagine you do the same thing to me. And I will ravish you right away."

My hand involuntarily reached for his lapel as I accepted his sensual kisses on my neck. I didn't fight back and just accepted everything.

I had no more words left to say. My wolf had submitted to him as well.

And I wanted to be praised by him.

Lucretius might always desire my body, but during those days I had been with him, he knew how to be gentle on me.

That made me recall on the temple incident. I thought that he would bombard me some questions to know what happened to me, but he just scooped me in his arms and held me tighter as if he was reluctant to let me go.

Yet even though I was melting in his embrace, my thoughts still rung back to that name.

Elixane.

It gnawed my whole being. I knew my past lives had all been Euphyllia, but there was Elixane existing. If I wanted answers, I could not rely on memories alone.

I got distracted, and a moan escaped from my lips when Lucretius sucked the weak spot on my neck.

At the same time, his actions had made me remember that I signed a contract with him. He had his archives, his network, his power to reach into forbidden places that no ordinary werewolves could be granted to.

Only he could grant me the means to uncover the truth. 

"Lucretius...?" I moaned softly and held onto his shoulders. "I want to ask a favor from you..." I thanked myself that I could still be able to form thoughts even though it was hard.

But one more sensual touch and kiss from him would be enough to lose my self-control and be succumbed to him.

Oh, dear Moon Goddess... Why did my body want to surrender to him?

"Hmm?" He halted, but before he left my neck, he licked it one more time. "Are you going to use me now?" he asked, his deep voice laced with curiosity and amusement.

The moment I looked into his eyes, it was hard not to avert from them. "Yes." I nodded.

"Oh?" His brow arched. "As long as it's within my reach," he paused.

"I am certain you can do it." I calmed my heart first while my body was feeling hot from what he did earlier. Until now, I could still feel him sucking the sensitive part in my neck. It was hard to ignore it.

But to make myself focus, I gathered my strength and lifted up myself to straddle him so I could face-to-face him, looking at him earnestly.

He grinned at my action, making me shiver. "Tell me. What is it that you need me to do, my little soldier? I shall make it happen." His hands on my hips guided me to his bulging groin.

All of a sudden, I wanted to feel him inside me.

No! Euphyllia, this wasn't the right time!

My heart thudded. I met his eyes, unflinching this time. "I need you to conduct an investigation."