Wolf was once again riding a carriage with Wayde, heading for Anna’s birthday party. Based on last year’s events and on the arrangements the group had made for their next mission, Wolf made plans of his own for the after party.

He knew that tomorrow the gang would be too tired and wouldn’t want to socialize after staying up late. So, he planned to spend the day with South and the evening in a place called Red Rose he’d booked ahead of time. Then he’d rush back to the Mage Academy, and the next day, they’d leave for their mission with no one being the wiser.

Wolf really enjoyed balls and dancing. The only problem was he had to use magic to enhance his height, and even then, he barely reached up to Wayde’s shoulders.

Wolf was under the impression the freak was growing every day. He was like damn bamboo.

Wayde turned around to look at Wolf and smiled.

He probably sensed the way I was looking at him, Wolf thought. I really shouldn’t have any negative emotions towards him, let alone give him dark looks because his body grows normally.

“We’re here,” Wayde said and a moment later the carriage lurched, then stopped.

“Lord Wolf, Lord Northshield welcome…” a young servant dressed impeccably started, but Wolf paid no mind to his standardized greeting.

Instead he and Wayde continued onward and entered the reception room. Mister and Missus Didot greeted people, and as soon as Edwin spotted Wolf, he beamed a bright smile.

It seemed so sincere, Wolf didn’t catch any problems with it. Wayde, however, noticed it was the look of a man cashing in his win, not that of a man honestly happy to see a person they liked.

As for Margaret, Wolf’s gaze didn’t go higher than her breasts. They were more captivating than those of many, if not all, prostitutes he’d seen so far.

When’s Anna going to grow to be like that? he wondered for the gods know which time as Margaret disdainfully regarded her future son-in-law oggling her chest.

“Wolf, my boy,” Edwin said. “How have you been? Why don’t you visit us more often?”

“Good evening, Mister Didot,” Wolf said, looking at Anna’s father, thinking how Anna and propriety didn’t allow him to visit.

“Don’t be so distant, I told you to call me Edwin,” the man smiled affectionately, showing his perfect teeth.

“Um, yes, Sir,” Wolf nodded and after exchanging some more pleasantries he and Wayde went inside.

Oddly enough, Edwin formally greeted Wayde and that was it.

***

Anna stood before the door, waiting for the signal from the maidservant and for the door to open. She giggled happily, greatly enjoying how all other women close to her age envied her.

The only exception were the bitches from the houses which were hostile towards Wolf. Whenever Wolf went on a dangerous mission they spewed toxic words and made Anna worry. Even now, when Wolf’s fame was at its peak, they gazed at Anna with schadenfreude and derision, however they didn’t say a word, meaning their looks were simply hate and envy.

That’s what Anna told herself over and over again. Besides, she had bigger problems than those tramps. What was she supposed to do with her father’s unreasonable demand? Just running that thought made Anna frown and feel like crying.

“Miss,” the maid whispered, and a moment later the door opened.

Thoughts of tears disappeared instantly. Anna was all beaming smiles, looking at the crowd below. She walked down, immediately finding Wolf.

He looked at her with an eager expression and a stupid smile.

He changed his height again, but that’s for the better, Anna thought. The way he’s now he’s two fingers taller than I am, and an ideal dancing partner.

All you have to do is spread your legs and nature will take its course, Edwin’s words echoed in Anna’s mind and her excited facade almost broke down.

She was only three steps away from the bottom of the stairs when she defensively tightened her legs and tripped.

Luckily, Wolf was there to catch her. The youth moved like a ghost and caught her perfectly like a gentleman, not touching any of the sensitive areas.

“Apparently, I should give up my first dance in favor of another,” Edwin said loudly while laughing, and the crowd picked up the laugh, then the obligatory thunderous applause echoed in the hall.

Anna blushed, and surprisingly, Wolf didn’t.

Thank god I don’t have to dance with Father, Anna thought, surprising herself with the thought. Then she realized something else.

Why was that the first thought I had, and not how happy I am to dance with Wolf?

“Do you want to dance?” Wolf asked, not in a formal way. Rather it was obvious he was worried about Anna, and that made the girl feel a bit better.

“I want to dance with you,” she said, beaming a sincere smile.

And so they did. Dance after dance, quite differently compared to last time when Wolf couldn’t part from Anna. Tonight neither of them wanted to stop the wonderful movement.

“I know you refused last time,” Wolf said, abruptly breaking the magical silence. “But, what do you think about us getting married?”

All you have to do is spread your legs and nature will take its course.

Anna faltered, but Wolf held her tightly even as she lost the ground under her feet, not losing the rhythm in the slightest.

“I know it’s sudden, but I don’t really understand why we can’t do it,” he continued whispering in her ear. “I’m stupid, I’m sorry. I really don’t get it. I love you, I think you love me. I love dancing with you,” he said with a dumb smile.

“I guess, I want us to be something more,” Wolf whispered in Anna’s ear and her whole body went stiff.

He thought Anna was so excited she got paralyzed. However, something else paralyzed the woman he loved.

All you have to do is spread your legs and nature will take its course. Those words were like a curse upon Anna.

She was about to say no, but then she realized something else. If she left the Didot household she would be free from her father. But if she did that, if she became legally married, Wolf would have more rights than he has now. She couldn’t say anything about her future, because they would have their future. And that future had children in it. Noble households needed noble heirs.

“I—” Anna said, her voice shaking.

I what?

“I don’t know,” she said, immediately cursing herself for being stupid.

“I need some time to think about it,” she corrected herself, feeling less like an idiot after forming a proper sentence. “Can you give me some time please? I love you. I really do. I just don’t know what to do about school and my family and—”

Anna hesitated. “And our family.”

Wolf froze at those words. He then hurried not to lose his step, but stumbled and nearly collided with another pair dancing on the stage.

He swallowed and his face, which was calm up until now, showed clear signs of panic as his breathing turned ragged.

Anna thought he was nervous about being a father, or about risking his future as a Mage and relaxed a bit. However, Wolf’s thought had nothing to do with Anna’s guesses.

Shit! She wants children, Wolf cursed inwardly, aware he couldn’t sire any offspring. What should I do? What should I do?

***

In the afternoon of the following day Anna walked into her room at the Mage Academy. Matilda was patiently waiting, sitting at the living room table. She was boiling water for tea and as soon as Anna entered the room she brewed them a cup.

“So, what did you want to talk about now?” the young Marchioness asked, stifling a yawn. She disliked sleeping in carriages, and by the time she returned home it was well past three in the morning.

“Wolf proposed last night,” Anna said, trying to sound excited, but the look in her eyes revealed just how nervous the young woman was.

“And that’s bad, why?” Matilda asked, immediately seeing through her friend’s shabby mask.

“What do you mean why?” Anna blurted out. “It means me becoming a baby spawning trophy.”

She wanted to shout, to cry, to rage, but resisted the urge. She didn’t want everyone to know what was going on in her life.

“Annabelle, Wolf is a Mage with endless potential,” Matilda patiently explained. “He’s not an idle noble, who, in attempt to escape his own incompetence, tries to sire his seventh son, hoping this one would be the one to solve his problems.”

“I know that, but—” Anna started, but then didn’t know what else to say. Should she tell Matilda her father’s words echoed in her mind all the time and tormented her when she slept?

All you have to do is spread your legs and nature will take its course. What a vile thing to say even to a stranger, let alone your daughter.

“What’s wrong,” Matilda asked, immediately recognizing that look of panicked despair, which Anna reserved for thoughts about her father.

“No, you don’t even have to tell me,” Matilda continued, seeing her friend’s distress. “I think you should get married. Just explain to Wolf that things will stay as they are, and you’re just moving in to live with him. That is all. Annabelle, listen to me, you have to get away from that house as soon as possible.”

“But, mother—” Anna started, but Matilda didn’t let her finish.

“She’s a grown woman,” she said. “She could’ve run away whenever she wanted, but she stayed behind.”

“She did it because of us—” Anna stood up for Margaret, but Matilda didn’t want to hear a word.

“If she really cared about you, she would’ve taken you two by the hand and run away while your father was away from the city on business.” Matilda spoke firmly, in a way Wolf had never seen her.

As the young women discussed Anna’s predicament, they failed to see an envelope slide in under the door to their suite.

It was already dark by the time Matilda talked Anna into getting married, not letting Wolf do whatever he wanted and calming the young woman down a bit.

“What’s that?” Matilda asked when she noticed a rather thick envelope.

She approached it and saw that the letter was for Mrs Without-a-surname.

Matilda immediately had a bad feeling about the hefty envelope and wanted to destroy it. Unfortunately, Anna had already seen it.

“Come on let’s see the obituaries they sent this time,” she was already used to getting mocking letters and messages of Wolf’s impending doom.

Hesitantly, Matilda handed over the letter and Anna opened it.

Rosy Cheeks twenty-eight November seventh, Messy Hair thirty-nine November eighth, Birds and Bees thirty-five…

The first paper was full of random words and dates. The last one on the list was Red Rose. It had no number, but the date was December fifth, meaning today.

Anna looked at the second paper and it was a giant list of women’s names. Finally, on the third sheet was a proper message.

Dear Missus Without-a-surname,

Please find attached the list of women your beloved used as practice to learn how to please you on your wedding night. As you can see, he was quite industrious in his efforts and has had well over two thousand practice partners to date.

His training session at Red Rose still hasn't started, and if you feel inclined you may go and cheer him on, or join in, depending on your preference.

Sincerely yours,

Smiling Observer

P.S. In our humble attempt to help, we compiled a visual aid for your benefit.

Stunned, Anna flipped through a dozen sheets of paper showing pornographic sketches. She saw her own face on all of those women and finally screamed in rage.

“Anna quiet,” Matilda tried to shush her, but she was too late. She awakened her senses for a moment and heard that the hallway monitor was already approaching.

She took the damn papers and threw them into the fireplace. To hell with them and those filthy drawings. She then pushed sobbing Anna into her room just in time.

“What’s going on?” The hallway monitor demanded an explanation as she knocked on the door.

“My friend read something disturbing and screamed as a momentary lapse,” Matilda explained while opening the door to show to the woman that there was nothing out of order.

Damn it, Matilda thought. I spent hours to calm her down and to help her figure out what she wanted and now this happened? Wolf, I’ll skin you alive for this.

“Right, do you know who left a letter for us?” Matilda asked, but the hallway monitor just shook her head.

“Sorry, I don’t know,” the woman said. “We were very busy today.”