Chapter 77: When Did She Feel So Close?
Elias took Lynsandra to the city’s bustling night market, shoving her into stalls to try on some thrift clothes. It wasn’t easy to convince her, but with his insistence, she eventually agreed.
She tried on different outfits, and everything she wore made them look like they were from high-end boutiques. Because of it, they gathered quite an audience, and each time she stepped out of the small changing room, the number of people grew, and they all clapped along with him like it was some sort of a show.
Lynsandra was like a celebrity. Because of her, some of the ladies started looking for clothes in the shop. Others? They simply eyed the clothes she tried on in case she wouldn’t buy them.
"How about you try this on, eh?" Elias beamed, holding up a piece of lingerie. "I’m sure you’ll look good in it—"
And that was almost — very closely — the last thing he would have ever said.
In the end, they didn’t buy anything and happily let the other shoppers purchase the things she touched, tried on, and even considered.
They came out running, with the shop owner shouting after them, "Come back next time! And buy something!"
After all, their visit felt like a brief promotion, as more shoppers came in, thinking everything there would look just as amazing as how Lynsandra wore them.
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"Look at this!"
Lynsandra turned her head, only to be met with a headband with bunny ears attached to it. Her brows knit, and her lips curved downward, only to pause when he pulled the headband to reveal that he was already wearing one with weird googly eyes on springs.
"..." Her lips parted before a short laugh escaped her. "What are you wearing?"
"It’s a frog eye."
"It doesn’t look like one."
"Really?" He scrunched up his nose, then remembered the one he was holding. "It’s okay. You try this on."
Before she could refuse, he stretched his arm out and placed it on her head. His eyes shimmered as soon as she leaned back slightly, staring at her face with those bunny ears perched on top.
"I’m..." he dramatically clutched his chest, stumbling back. "... falling hard."
She shook her head and glanced at the ridiculous one on his head, only to catch something else from the corner of her eye. Shifting her gaze to the stall where they were checking out accessories, her eyes landed on a pair of eyeglasses with a fake nose and mustache attached.
The corners of her lips curled up as she took them and faced him.
"That headband doesn’t suit you," she said, stepping forward and making him pause mid-act.
Elias’s brows twitched as he turned to her, almost flinching when she stood just a step away. She rose on her toes, reaching up to remove the accessory from his head. As she did, he froze, his eyes falling to her exposed neck.
Even while distracted, he instinctively placed both hands on her small waist to steady her.
When his warm hands touched her hips, she stiffened for a moment. Then, she ignored it and continued what she was doing.
He just stared, hands resting on her hips, even after she lowered herself from her toes. He knew she was about to put something on his face, and he kept still, finding himself stuck watching her bright expression.
"There you go." She smiled widely, the corners of her eyes creasing. "That looks good on you."
Lynsandra raised her brows three times when she met his gaze, but he didn’t react. He just stared at her, his throat bobbing.
Perhaps it was the atmosphere. Or maybe it was because this date had been such a rollercoaster of emotions.
But...
I didn’t notice, he thought. When did she feel so close?
And like the devil he was, his wolf seized the moment to whisper in his mind.
[Now’s the time.] Draven growled. [Kiss her.]
All the noises in the night market — the vendors, the people passing by — blurred. In his eyes, it was just her and him.
How nice would it be if that were reality?
Just him and her.
"What?" came her voice, snapping him out of his trance. "You’re just staring."
The corners of his mouth lifted as his eyes narrowed slightly. "I just daydreamed for a moment."
"Daydreamed?"
"For a second, I thought about taking you far away from here." Finally, he released her waist and adjusted the fake glasses. "Just run away together."
Then he turned to check himself in the mirror at the stall while she stared at him, her lips pressing into a thin line.
Run away?
She almost laughed at the thought.
She already did that once. And not only did she hurt herself, but she also hurt the people who had genuinely treasured her — the Alpha King, her father. Virgo. Minnie. And the others who cared for her.
When she crawled back to the Royal Pack, she was already done running away.
Yet somehow, even when he said those words, it didn’t ruin her mood. If anything, for some very strange reason, it sounded rather tempting.
"You’re buying this?" This time, his voice pulled her back to the present moment.
She nodded. "Wear that, and I’ll wear this."
"Is this our first exchange gift?" he gasped. Before she could answer, he turned to the stall owner. "Uncle, we’ll get this — no, no. We’ll wear it now!"
He happily paid for the headband and the disguise without asking for them to be wrapped.
"You’re going to wear that?" she asked once he faced her. "Right now?"
He grinned. "It’s your first gift to me, so yeah. Hehe!"
"..." She bit her lip, resisting a chuckle. "Goodness. You’re like a child."
With that, she turned and walked off to check out the different stalls. The bunny ears perched on her head bounced adorably with every step. Elias grinned happily before following her.
"Wait!" he called lazily. "My feet hurt now!"
But she only waved, leaving him laughing.
He rested his hands on his hips, watching her browse the next stall selling charms. His expression softened.
"I hope... this night doesn’t end," he whispered to himself, letting out a helpless sigh. "Even for a moment, it feels like... she’s finally within reach."
