Marine and Emma Spar!

[Weonna]

Veronika's fingers lingered around Alanna's hand for a heartbeat before she slowly slipped free. A quiet laugh escaped her lips, though there was little humor behind it.

"You always did have such a beautiful heart. Even now... you answer with kindness instead of anger."

She tilted her head, studying Alanna with the same calculating eyes that had unnerved opponents for years.

"So that is it."

A faint smirk crept across her face.

"You traded the wolf... for a golden retriever."

She chuckled under her breath.

"Sweet. Loyal. Always wagging her tail for everyone around her."

Veronika folded her arms.

"Emma is talented, yes. But she wears her heart on her sleeve. I can see every thought on her face before she even speaks."

Her smile sharpened.

"It almost makes me... disappointed."

Veronika took a slow step closer, never breaking eye contact.

"I spent years teaching you how to survive sharks. And now you have fallen for the gentlest creature in the room."

She shook her head.

"I wonder how long that innocence survives this business."

A sly grin spread across her lips.

"I would love to see whether that cheerful little golden retriever can be broken."

She let the words hang for a moment before clarifying with a casual shrug.

"Not her bones, Alanna. Her spirit. Her certainty that everyone deserves a smile."

Her eyes gleamed with competitive curiosity.

"Can she still beam at the world after enough defeats? After enough betrayals? After someone finally teaches her that kindness is not always rewarded?"

[ScylliasExoter]

”To be honest, I don’t know. I believe in her. I believe in her goodness and her strength of will. But I’d be lying if I said I thought you were full of shit. I don’t know how this business will change her, but she’s my partner and I’ll always fight for her. I regret that I didn’t have the courage to fight for you. It may in the end boil down to tragic timing and my lack of experience back then. But for what it’s worth, I enjoyed my time with the wolf and wouldn’t trade it for anything.”