Tabitha's POV
I felt a bit disheartened after missing my first throw.
"It's alright. We still have plenty of chances."
"Okay." I threw a few times in a row. I considered myself pretty strong, so my height shouldn't be a problem.
However, each time, the small ball either grazed the branch and slid off or missed entirely. I missed five times in a row.
Maybe the Moon Goddess thought I wasn't sincere and decided not to grant my wish.
Anyway, Derek still had five of them. I figured he'd have an easier time with it.
I shrugged and said, "Your turn."
Derek took his turn, aiming high to hang the ribbon at the top.
His strength and angle were spot on, but oddly enough, the ball slipped down the branch despite his accuracy.
I noticed his expression growing more serious and quickly reassured him, "It's just a fluke. You'll definitely get it next time."
Derek threw four times in a row, similar to the first time: the ball couldn't stay on the branch.
Even the nearby shop owner was dumbfounded. He didn't believe this tree had any magic at all, but someone made it with just one throw, while Derek had failed nine times.
With only one chance left and a stern look on his face, Derek took his final shot.
I chuckled twice and wanted to make up for it.
But Derek leaped over the railing and walked directly to the tree, placing his palm on the cold bark.
He had his back turned to everyone, so no one could see what he was doing.
A few seconds later, he made another throw.
It was a toss that captured everyone's hearts. I felt just as excited as scoring a goal in a soccer match when the ball hung on the tree branch.
"You made it!"
Derek finally showed a hint of a smile. "Yes." He walked out from the railing. "Let's go."
Derek took my hand and we left. When a gust of wind blew toward us, I shivered and pulled my neck in.
The bells hanging on the love knots on the tree jingled. The next second, a red ribbon was blown up.
We heard a crisp sound and something smashed at our feet.
Looking down, I saw it was the love knot that had just been hung.
There were several love knots on the tree. Although they were swaying left and right in the wind, they still hung firmly, except for our knot.
The shop owner scratched his head and muttered, "It's really a strange day today."
Derek stayed silent, his expression darkening as tension filled the air.
I couldn't shake the sense of impending doom. "Well... it must be a coincidence. Don't let it bother you," I said, trying to ease the moment.
At that moment, I thought to myself, 'If there are no humans here, I can shift a portion of my arms and utilize the werewolf's athletic abilities.'
But that wasn't an option now, so I pushed the thought aside.
He reached out and ruffled my hair, with a faint smile on his lips. "It's just a child's game. Why would I mind? Let's go home."
I saw him smile and then I relaxed. I picked up the love knot on the ground and said, "Let's keep this as a memento."
"Okay," Derek replied without looking back, and I didn't dwell on it.
Derek's POV
It was until three o'clock in the morning.
Rolf, carrying a shovel, asked me with a bewildered look on his face, "Alpha Derek, what's the issue with this tree? I heard that during the square's renovation, they planned to remove it. But when ten excavators were brought in, each one broke down before even starting. People thought it was a sacred tree, so it was left alone. It's been fine ever since. Why do you want to uproot it now?"
I exhaled a smoke ring lazily and rested my arm on the car window, a red light flickering between my fingers.
"It's an eyesore," I replied simply.