When Lillian set the dishes on the table, Samuel stepped out of the bathroom after his shower.

The black shirt Lillian had ordered for him clung to his frame the moment he put it on. Even though she had picked the largest size available, it was still a bit small for him. The fabric stretched across his chest and arms, tracing the shape of his muscles.

Lillian's eyes paused on him for a brief second before she pulled her attention away. She motioned toward the table and spoke. "I made a steak salad. Do you want to try it, or would you rather have nutri-fluid?"

"Steak salad?" Curiosity showed on Samuel's face as he walked closer and looked at the meal in front of him. His gaze fixed on the delicious food. He swallowed before continuing, "I don't usually see anyone around me eating something like this."

Most people he knew relied on simple substitutes like nutri-fluid or tablets. Cooking felt unnecessary when food could be replaced so easily.

A faint smile appeared on Lillian's lips. "It's just something I'm used to. Go ahead and try it if you want."

Taking a seat, Samuel picked up the utensils with a bit of hesitation. He cut a small piece of steak and brought it to his mouth. The moment he tasted it, his expression shifted, and a low sound came from his stomach without warning.

He didn't stop after that. Within moments, the entire plate was gone, and he clearly wanted more.

"I've never had anything so delicious before," he remarked, turning toward Lillian with admiration in his eyes.

Under the soft light, his sapphire-blue eyes caught a faint glow. They no longer carried the wild, blood-stained intensity she had seen back in the underground arena.

No one had ever looked at her like that before. In his gaze, Lillian saw something she wasn't used to, like he truly saw her as someone worth noticing.

A quiet warmth colored her voice as she spoke. "If it suits your taste, I can prepare it for you again next time."

"You're being too good to me. Tell me what you need from me," Samuel said, his tone low and steady, as gratitude showed in his eyes while he reached for her hand and held it carefully. "Whatever it is, I'll do it."

Lillian understood her own intentions clearly, yet putting them into words would ruin the moment and break the fragile connection they had.

After taking a moment, she finally answered, "I feel lonely in this world. If you stay by my side, I'd be content. Still, if you ever decide to leave me, I won't stop you."

"That won't happen. I'm not going anywhere. I promise with my life that I will not leave you, my lady," Samuel replied without hesitation, his eyes fixed on hers as he stepped closer and put her hand on his chest.

"My name is Lillian Clark." A faint smile touched Lillian's lips as she spoke. "You can call me Lily. From now on, we'll rely on each other."

For someone in his position, being allowed to call a female her nickname was unthinkable. It was something only a bonded male would be granted. The weight of it left Samuel frozen, unsure how to respond for a moment. Part of him couldn't help but wonder if everything he had endured before led to this. Had fate finally pitied him, placing someone like Lillian in his path?

Yet that thought didn't fully ease his mind. Maybe Lillian was just putting on an act.

Something about this felt too perfect, and he couldn't decide whether to accept it or keep his guard up.

After the meal, Lillian applied the ointment she had prepared to the wounds on Samuel's body that hadn't been treated yet. When it came to his broken bones, he reassured her without hesitation, explaining that his werewolf recovery far exceeded that of others. After he took the medicine from her, the healing wouldn't take long, so there was no need for concern.

Hearing that allowed Lillian to relax a little. She gathered the herbs she had collected from the Aberrant Thicket and put them away. Her plan was simple. She would trade them at a nearby apothecary for more medical supplies.

When everything was in order, she headed out with Samuel toward the shop.

The moment they stepped out, she picked up on his discomfort.

Every movement around him seemed to set him on edge. His body stayed tense, and his expression remained hostile as people passed by. The way he carried himself gave off a sharp, unwelcoming presence, and it didn't go unnoticed. A child who happened to look his way broke into tears, frightened by the sight of him.

With no other option, Lillian crouched down and handed the child a piece of candy to comfort him. After that, she reached for Samuel's hand and held it firmly, trying to steady him as she spoke. "Have you ever been to a place like this before?"

Samuel shook his head. "Slaves weren't allowed to go anywhere. I've only known life underground."

Everything around him felt unfamiliar, and the conditions he had endured before made it difficult for him to loosen up.

Lillian unwrapped another piece of candy and brought it close to his lips. "Samuel, this area is safe. No one's going to hurt you here. If it starts to feel like too much, just let me know. I'll soothe you."

Back in the underground arena, Samuel had seen more than enough of arrogant females.

They would sit high above the fights in private boxes, holding glasses of wine, dressed in fine clothes with perfect makeup.

Whenever they looked at him, their eyes held the same cold indifference. To them, he was no different from an aberrant beast being torn apart for entertainment.

But none of that ever appeared in Lillian's gaze. When she looked at him, her eyes were gentle. It seemed like she didn't look down on him at all.

He couldn't tell if she was playing some kind of game or if she truly meant it when she treated him like this.

Lowering himself slightly, Samuel let his eyes meet hers, steady and searching. "How about soothing me right now?" he asked without warning.

Lillian's breath hitched as his presence drew closer. There was something about him that pulled at her, but she snapped back from her daze quickly. They were still in public.

"I'm sorry," Samuel said when he noticed her reaction. "I didn't mean to—"

Before he could finish speaking, Lillian reached up and looped her arms around his neck. A quick kiss landed on his cheek.

A faint flush spread across her face as she spoke in a low voice. "I don't want to lose my composure out here. Can you wait until we're home?"

She knew if she went any further, she might not be able to hold herself together.

Samuel's heartbeat sped up. His gaze stayed on Lillian's face, and his breathing grew uneven.

He caught her finger gently between his teeth and took the candy from her with his mouth. "Alright."

At that same moment, Waylon and Jaycob passed by and caught sight of them. The scene stopped them where they stood. Anger crept in, followed closely by jealousy.

Only then did they realize how striking Lillian was. And neither of them had ever seen her act like that before. She had never shown them that kind of closeness. So why did she give it so easily to this male? Was it because he was taller and stronger than them?

Inside the shop, Declan Carter, the owner, examined the herbs Lillian had brought. After checking their quality, he handed her the correct amount of medical supplies based on the current value of the herbs.

He and Lillian were already quite familiar with each other, so when he saw a new male standing beside her, he asked with curiosity, "So, is he your new fated mate?"

"No, he's my friend." Lillian gave a faint smile. "Why are there so many people outside today?"

"Vornia Academy is hosting the Bloom Festival," Declan said. "Have you ever thought about enrolling there? Their lead medical professor is a vampire who has been studying medicine since he was human. He's got over a thousand years of experience. You might even discover ways to enhance your spiritual power there."

Samuel caught a brief flicker of something dark in Lillian's eyes before she replied, "I don't have the time for school, and the tuition is too high."

Vornia Academy was known as the best school on Azure Planet, offering top-tier resources reserved exclusively for females. But getting in wasn't just about meeting academic requirements; it also demanded extensive knowledge and significant financial backing.

Justine was currently studying there, already in her second year, receiving a premium level of education.

Lillian, on the other hand, had always been labeled a failure by her family. She was barely managing to survive on her own, let alone pursue her studies. Even though she had four million stellar coins along with some savings, they still weren't enough to pay the tuition.

"Didn't you see the announcement? They revised their policy this year. If you're outstanding enough, you can qualify for a grant and attend without paying," Declan said, passing Lillian a registration form. "Today's the deadline. Do you want to give it a try? I can help you submit your application."

Lillian paused for a moment, a spark of excitement flashing across her eyes. "Yes, I've been so caught up hunting aberrant beasts that I completely missed this!"

Just as she started filling out the form, a familiar, mocking voice came from behind her.

It was Waylon. Having overheard her intention to apply to Vornia Academy, he couldn't resist mocking her, saying, "Lillian, you should be more realistic about your goals."

Samuel noticed Lillian's expression darken slightly and immediately turned toward the two men nearby, his guard up.

Standing next to Waylon, Jaycob, who was holding a bouquet meant for Justine, looked at Samuel and said, "Man, don't you know your female only has an F-level spiritual power? She's basically useless! She can't even soothe a sparrow, yet she thinks she can get into Vornia Academy. She must be dreaming."

By now, Lillian had learned to let their scornful words pass over her like wind. She stayed focused on filling out the form, ignoring them completely and missing the growing coldness in Samuel's eyes.

Waylon looked Samuel up and down, his eyes settling on the gray wolf ears that refused to retract. He smirked at Lillian.

"So this is the werewolf you ended up with? He can't even hide his ears. Must be some low-grade stray from Rogue Planet. Just look at him. Pathetic. I bet he can't even afford basic nutri-fluid. With such a useless female by his side, I'm sure he'll starve to death soon."

Samuel's ears flattened abruptly, not because of the insults thrown at him but because he saw Lillian's hand pause mid-writing.

It lasted only a second, but it told him everything about the kind of hurt this seemingly gentle, angel-like female had gone through in the past.

"Let's leave," Lillian said to Samuel. She set the pen down, folded the registration form, and slipped it into her bag, her voice steady as though none of it had affected her. "I have the form now. I'll complete it later."

She turned and started to walk away.

Samuel reached out and lightly took her hand, his voice low as he said, "I won't stand by and let anyone treat you like that."

Waylon moved quickly, stepping in front of them to block their path. "Lillian, I'm telling you, a failure like you should stay at home instead of coming out here to embarrass Justine—"

He didn't get the chance to finish his words.

Samuel's fist slammed into his face with a heavy thud.

It happened so quickly that even Lillian didn't have time to react before Waylon was sent flying, his body crashing hard into two trash cans by the roadside.

"Samuel!" Lillian cried out, stunned.

Jaycob froze for a brief second, then immediately assumed a fighting stance and charged at Samuel.

Samuel didn't even bother to look at him.

He simply flicked his hand, and Jaycob was pushed away, his body tracing a clean arc through the air before landing hard in the middle of the street.

Jaycob and Waylon were both A-level males, yet they couldn't withstand even a single move from Samuel!

Lillian stood there in shock.

There was no doubt about it; Samuel had to be an S-level male.

Not far away, Justine stood with a composed smile, speaking gracefully with Darren. Suddenly, Jaycob dropped from above and hit the ground right in front of her, sending dust flying into the air.

Dirt splashed onto Justine's dress. Jaycob looked up at her, his face twisted in pain, and called her name weakly.

The smile on Justine's face froze.

People passing by began to slow down, turning their attention to the scene and whispering among themselves.

Justine drew a steady breath, forcing down her irritation, and asked in a soft tone, "What happened?"

Jaycob struggled to his feet, wincing. "Lillian's male attacked Waylon and me."

Justine's expression changed at once.

She had always taken pride in standing above Lillian, gaining admiration by keeping her suppressed. Yet now, the two males she had deliberately taken from Lillian, both A-level, had been injured by Lillian's new male?

Could it be that Lillian had somehow bonded with an S-level male?

As Justine looked up, searching for Lillian, she found that Lillian had already left with Samuel.

Waylon, still burning with humiliation, walked over and said, "Lillian was talking about enrolling in Vornia Academy earlier. I just told her to be realistic, and her male immediately attacked us."

Justine instinctively glanced at Darren and noticed that his attention was fixed in the direction Lillian had gone.

Her chest tightened. Quickly, she dismissed Waylon and Jaycob, then turned back to Darren. "I'm sorry you had to see that. I didn't handle my family matters well."

"Lillian is your sister?" Darren asked.

Justine gave a small nod, putting on a helpless expression. "She only has an F-level spiritual power, is quite lazy, and has never made any effort to improve. On top of that, she has a terrible temper and often mistreats the males bonded to her. Waylon and Jaycob are ones I took in after rescuing them from Lillian's side."

Some nearby students overheard her words and quickly said, "We've heard about Justine's sister, Mr. Lloyd. Her reputation is awful; she's always bullying Justine. If someone like her were admitted, it would bring shame to Vornia Academy."

Beneath his hood, Darren's deep crimson eyes flashed coldly. Yggdrasil had bound him to a domina, yet she turned out to be nothing more than a foul-tempered, lazy female?

Had Yggdrasil overlooked the fact that he, being the original vampire, held nothing but contempt for those who depended on status to act freely without possessing any real ability to justify it?

Justine spoke at that moment. "Vornia Academy recently revised its admission rules. Now, any candidate who clears the evaluation can enroll in the school. It's an advantage granted exclusively to females."

Darren glanced at her, his face unreadable. "If Lillian is truly F-level like you said, there's no way she'll make it through the evaluation."

He had no desire to let it be known that he had been assigned to a female who was so incompetent. A matter like that would damage his reputation and give those royal werewolves reasons to ridicule him.

Justine gave a slight smile, thinking there was little cause for concern. From what she could tell, most people already shared her dislike for Lillian. Even so, to avoid any risk, she decided she would thwart Lillian's plans before they had a chance to take shape.

After leaving Darren, she reached out to Eisen Gomez, the president of the student council at Vornia Academy, and laid out the situation for him.

Eisen, who had long been fond of Justine and also served as one of the admissions evaluators, readily agreed that if Lillian's application came before him, he would make sure it was rejected.

Meanwhile, Lillian had pulled Samuel along as they rushed past two streets before finally stopping, both out of breath. "You really shouldn't have done that," she said.

Samuel muttered in a low voice, "I'm sorry."

Lillian looked at him, his head slightly lowered, clearly upset yet still convinced he had done nothing wrong. The sight made her laugh.

She gave his firm shoulder a light punch and said, "Why are you apologizing? I never said hitting them was wrong."

Samuel blinked in confusion.

Taking his hand, Lillian continued, "They had it coming. But you can't attack them so openly. You're still a slave, and laying hands on a citizen could get you arrested and punished. I don't want to lose you."

So she had wanted to stop him only because she didn't want to lose him?

A faint smile tugged at Samuel's lips. "I get it. I won't be so reckless next time."

Lillian's eyes were bright with playful warmth. "To thank you for sticking up for me, I'll make a delicious meal for you tonight. Come on, let's head home."

As they neared the residential block, Lillian noticed several well-dressed men standing outside her door. Even from a distance, their sharp suits made them stand out.

"Who are you, and why are you at my door?" she asked as she approached them.

Lucas turned at the sound of her voice. He checked the details on his communicator, then looked back at her with clear uncertainty. "Are you... Miss Lillian Clark?"

Lillian gave a small nod. "I am."

Lucas couldn't hide his surprise. She was a lot more beautiful in person.

He quickly composed himself and offered a courteous smile. "I work for Prince Nikolas Dixon. Please wait here for a moment; he would like to see you."

Before Lillian could reply, a sleek, high-end aircraft descended from above. A man stepped out, appearing to be in his early twenties. His long, deep blue hair caught the fading sunlight, reflecting hints of silver, and his overall presence exuded refinement and authority.

With a polite gesture, Lucas introduced, "This is Mr. Nikolas Dixon, son of Leviathan from Planet B32, your fated mate."

As Nikolas walked closer, Samuel instinctively moved forward, placing himself between Lillian and the approaching figure.

Their eyes locked. In that brief moment, Samuel caught the indifference and unmistakable contempt in Nikolas's eyes. Despite their bond, there was no trace of warmth or respect in his look toward Lillian.

"A slave?" Nikolas scoffed, scowling in distaste. "Step aside."

Samuel didn't move, standing his ground despite the pressure that came with Nikolas' elevated status.

Lillian peered out from behind Samuel. Though Nikolas intimidated her, she was displeased. "Show some respect. He's my friend."

Nikolas' expression hardened further. This female was treating a slave as an equal?

Sensing the tension, Lucas stepped in smoothly, saying, "Miss Clark, His Highness means no offense. He simply hopes to speak with you. Perhaps we can continue this conversation inside?"

Looking into Nikolas' distant, unwelcoming eyes, Lillian already understood why he had come here.

After all, how could a prince like him possibly accept being bonded to a female labeled as "worthless" like her?

Lillian unlocked the door and stepped inside, tugging Samuel along. Passing him the groceries in her hands, she said, "Samuel, can you take care of these ingredients? I'll deal with this myself."

Samuel's lips tightened slightly. "If anything goes wrong, call my name. I'll protect you."

Lillian smiled at him reassuringly, then went to prepare a pot of coffee, setting it down on the table. Taking a seat across from Nikolas, she didn't bother with pleasantries. "You're here to end the bond, right?"