Chapter 326 - 288: I Will Catch Up to You
Chapter 326: Chapter 288: I Will Catch Up to You
The searing heat on Gu Ning’s lips didn’t linger. Alex’s kiss was light and fleeting.
The car fell silent.
Kissing Alex in front of everyone else made Gu Ning’s cheeks instantly flush crimson.
’Luckily, the car lights aren’t on.’ Gu Ning thought. ’Leighton and the others probably can’t see my expression clearly.’
Despite that thought, Gu Ning couldn’t help but turn her head to glance over.
Three pairs of eyes were locked on her.
"..."
"Heh." Leighton let out a cynical laugh.
Belial craned his neck, blinking as he asked, "Young female, is this wolf one of your mates?"
Mingxi watched Gu Ning without a word.
He had seen the young female with him before. Now, witnessing their seamless intimacy, coupled with the intensely aggressive scent on her, their relationship was self-evident.
Unless the young female denied it.
"Mm," Gu Ning responded softly.
But to the Beastmen present, it felt like a punch to the chest—including Barto, who was walking over.
A smile spread across Alex’s lips. His heart swelled with a sweet ache, filled with an emotion called happiness, and he couldn’t resist lowering his head to kiss her forehead again.
Barto stopped behind their car, standing there and quietly watching the inseparable pair.
Gu Ning’s cheeks grew hot. She cleared her throat and asked, "Alex, Cook, Barto..."
They had left in such a hurry that she hadn’t had time to find out how they were doing.
"Cook and Barto are in the car with Seth and the others, right behind us. They’ll look after Cook, so don’t worry."
Alex had barely finished speaking when a hand reached out from behind, landing on his shoulder and tugging him backward.
Alex glanced over his shoulder. Gu Ning looked too and saw a Beastman of a similar build standing behind him, his figure half-hidden. Even though the dim light obscured his face, Gu Ning recognized him by his imposing aura.
Meeting Vine’s gaze, Gu Ning instinctively flinched.
Although she and Vine had already cleared up their misunderstanding and their relationship had eased somewhat, his stern, unsmiling, drill-instructor-like demeanor was still just as intimidating.
"I need to speak with her," Vine said to Alex, his voice somewhat cold.
Alex ruffled Gu Ning’s hair, then stepped aside.
Vine stepped forward, leaning down to get closer to Gu Ning.
"Another wolf."
Belial muttered under his breath.
Mingxi silently observed the young female’s attitude toward Vine. She seemed to have tensed up the moment Vine approached, a stark contrast to the composed ease she displayed with Alex.
’Clearly, Vine is not among the young female’s mates. He’s not even a candidate for consideration.’
"Wolf Team."
As Vine drew near, Gu Ning hurriedly rummaged through her bag, searching for the team application.
She had carefully read through the team application from the Wolf Team last night and written a note on it, but now she wasn’t sure if she had packed it in her bag or left it in her room.
After spending half the night tangled up with Alex, she had only slept a few hours, and her brain was still a complete fog.
"In your right jacket pocket," Alex reminded her.
Gu Ning stopped rummaging through her bag and found the team application in her pocket.
She handed the application form to Vine.
Vine took the application form without a word.
"Wolf Team, team application, I agree," Gu Ning said.
Nearby, Alex’s gaze flickered.
Barto, who had been leaning against the car with his eyes closed, opened them.
Vine, however, appeared much calmer. He held the application form but showed no intention of opening it to read.
He had spent the night thinking in the hallway. While Leo and the others grew increasingly agitated, he had become calmer and formed another plan in his mind.
At this moment, he knew Little Gu Ning had more to say. He waited patiently for her to speak. As long as they were her true feelings, no matter what they were, he would be happy.
"I want Wolf Team, to travel with us. A powerful wolf, you are." Gu Ning paused, lifting her head slightly to look directly at Vine’s face, using the words she had prepared yesterday. "But, I hope more, that Wolf Team, puts the mission first."
"Very well said." Hearing how much more fluent her words were, Vine knew she must have practiced them many times.
’She’s a very good person.’
’Even though she won’t choose me, she still wants to explain things to me properly. She even cares about my feelings. By practicing these words, she’s telling me that she acknowledges my abilities and wants me to follow my principles, to not mix my duties with personal matters.’
’I’m not the kind of person to do something like that. The thought of using Kaper and Cook just to create a small connection with her was already the most selfish thing I’ve ever done.’
’Now, I have to do what I’m supposed to do, so I can go to her side as a better, stronger version of myself.’
Gu Ning asked, "Wolf Team, have you decided? To join the team."
Alex had told her that if Vine joined the team, he would have to abandon his mission in Zone 15 and use his status as a mate or relative as the justification for joining.
’A reason is just a reason,’ she thought. ’It won’t taint my original intention for approving Vine’s application. And given Vine’s personality, he would definitely put the mission first.’
’Vine must have submitted this application first and foremost because he believed in his ability to protect us. Everything else came second.’
’I can’t deny his abilities just to avoid that little bit of "selfish interest" he has.’
’I’ve approved the Wolf Team’s application and made my stance clear. The rest is up to Vine and Andrew to consider.’
After a moment of silence, Vine said:
"From the moment the convoy departed, from the moment I sat beside you, I never once thought of leaving."
His tone was calm and declarative, but Gu Ning’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. She lifted her gaze to meet his.
In the reflected light from inside the car, his eyes shone brightly, as if they were searing her.
Gu Ning realized for the first time that Vine’s eyes were light brown.
He was so tall and his brow was always habitually furrowed, so Gu Ning had rarely gotten such a close look at his eyes. She had always assumed they were dark brown.
"Then..." After only a moment, Gu Ning averted her gaze. "I’ll go tell, Admiral Andrew..."
"No need. I’ve already spoken with him." Vine reluctantly pulled his gaze from her face and slowly straightened up. "Once I’ve completed the mission in Zone 15, I’ll catch up to you."
He tucked the team application into his pocket, treasuring it, and planned to open and read it only when he caught up with Gu Ning.
Gu Ning watched as Vine led a few of his young wolves away, turning to melt into the darkness. In just two or three seconds, they had vanished from sight.
Thinking about what he had just said, Gu Ning was filled with mixed emotions.
Alex had warned her about the implications of Vine joining the team. She had thought it all through, and she was sure Vine had as well, yet he still chose to leave for the time being.
Alex and Barto watched Vine leave, neither seeming particularly surprised.
Barto was just about to step forward when a canine figure shot over to Gu Ning’s window with a WHOOSH.
"Little Ningning!" Leo threw his arms around Gu Ning and wailed, "This is outrageous! I can’t believe I didn’t draw the right lot! It was a fifty-fifty chance! How could I be so unlucky!"
Gu Ning: "...?" ’What drawing of lots?’