"Etienne?"Enne could faintly hear someone's voice calling his name."Are you okay?" the voice asked again.No, Enne knew that voice well, his head felt dizzy, especially when his sense of smell picked up the strong odor of cigarette smoke and alcohol."What hurts?" the person asked again when he saw Enne wincing while holding his head.That's right, there was no mistaking it, it was Altair."I'm fine," Enne finally said in a hoarse voice. The girl tried to remember what happened. Yes, she was still at Altair's club.Enne began to recall the time when she sneaked into Altair's carriage and then when she was about to go to her mother's residence but the unexpected happened. Enne also remembered when Altair came to save her, then they began to open up to each other and forgive each other, oh Enne remembered she had blamed Altair about the possibility of her turning into a werewolf was because of that man, Enne remembered everything, she even remembered when she met Melody and the others
The horse-drawn carriage they were in moved slowly down the path in the forest. Inside, the atmosphere was colder and heavier than their previous journey. Enne sat on one side, his hands clasped tightly together in his lap. His mind kept drifting back to the moment last night, when his mother had curiously asked about their relationship."Nothing, Etienne and I are just friends, nothing more than that." That was what Altair said when asked by Lady Ingrid about their relationship. Those words struck his heart, floating in his mind until there was no room to think about anything else.That statement kept echoing in Enne's head. Although he did not want to admit it, his heart flinched when he heard Altair's words. They were already officially mates-Altair had marked it in the cave back then, a bond that Lynx said should be stronger than just friendship. But now, Enne could not ignore the strange feeling that welled up inside her. A disappointment that he found hard to understand, even ha
That morning, the cold wind pierced the skin, embracing every inch of the village with the scent of frozen snow. Altair's house was located to the south of Enne's previous residence aka Lyra's house, standing firmly among the pine trees that were now wrapped in a white layer of snow. Inside the house, the warmth of the fireplace and the scent of burning wood enveloped the room, but Enne felt she couldn't stay there any longer.She put on the thick cream-colored coat lent to her by Altair, and without thinking, went out to the frozen river at the edge of the village. The sound of snow crunching under her boots accompanied her small steps. The snow this season was heavier than usual, forming a thick layer on the ground and making every gust of wind carry fine crystal flakes that glistened in the morning light.Reaching the riverbank, Enne stopped. The surface of the river was completely frozen, like a large, shimmering mirror. His breath formed a thin mist in the air, his eyes staring f
Altair looked at Enne with an enigmatic gaze. His face showed a hesitation that was rarely seen. "Enne," he called softly, in a softer voice than before. "I wonder... how you feel about me?" he repeated.Enne fell silent. The words seemed to stop in mid-air, enveloping them in a strange silence. For a moment he felt his heart flutter, but he didn't know if that was the answer Altair wanted. How could he give an answer if he did not understand the feeling himself?"I...," Enne tried to speak, but the words hung on the edge of his lips. She averted her eyes, trying to find meaning behind the emptiness of her thoughts.However, their silence did not last long as the door to the room opened firmly. Devota entered, with her usual steady stride. The man who was Altair's Beta and his confidant immediately reported the situation with a serious expression."Sorry to interrupt, Alpha," the man said matter-of-factly. "We've detected rogue movement at the western end of the village. It appears th
Winter sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the window curtains, illuminating the room that felt cold despite the room heater being turned on. The air in the room was mixed with the scent of snow that entered through the slightly open window slits, bringing a fresh yet piercing air. Enne sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a thick blanket, but the chill he felt was much deeper than just the winter frost.That afternoon, his mind had been racing since lunch with Altair. Only a few hours had passed since the capture of a rogue who infiltrated the village, then the words about the possibility of Andara being part of the Rogues still echoed in her mind, as if flowing with every breath she exhaled.Andhara? The person she had known as a sincere man who had helped her? How could someone like Andhara be involved with a group of rogues who spread cruelty?Enne took a deep breath, trying to calm down while looking at the snow piling up outside the window. The thick blanket was unable
The snow continued to fall, piling up on the window frames until the room felt quieter, more silent. The silence almost made time stand still, only the faint sound of the fire in the fireplace occasionally crackling in the corner of the room, creating a little warmth in the midst of the cold night. Altair sat across the table, his gaze dreamy. His face was serious, focused, but occasionally his gaze softened when his eyes glanced briefly at Enne.In his mind, Altair tried to piece together the facts about the rogue arrests that happened this morning. The six who were caught were a stubborn group-more persistent than originally thought. Despite being caught, they still refused to give any further information. And one thing that kept ringing in his mind was the reason behind their actions. Those rogues weren't just rioting to cause trouble; they were attacking the village, as far as Altair could tell, he found a loophole, they were doing it for revenge. But revenge against whom? The que
That morning, the corridor was quiet, as if waiting for something unexpected. Altair walked with firm steps, his intention was only one-a quick breakfast before starting the day. He imagined the warmth of coffee chasing away the cold in his throat. Occasionally, he rubbed his hands that were reddened by the cold air, although the freezing he felt was not only because of the freezing season but also the atmosphere that somehow felt more tense than usual.When she almost reached the dining room, her steps faltered. At the end of the hallway, she saw Devota, a Beta she could always count on. However, there was something odd about the man's face. His face was pale, as if he carried bad news that was too heavy to say."Devota?" called Altair, quickening his pace.Devota looked nervous, but the man managed to control his emotions. "Alpha... there's a big problem."Altair stopped the pace, his forehead furrowed deeply. "What's going on?"Devota looked directly at the Alpha. "The captives...
Enne let out a long breath, staring at Altair's retreating back. He knew very well that something was making the man uneasy. The way Altair spoke, the look in his eyes, all implied that he had something on his mind, but he chose to keep it to himself.Trying to divert his mind, Enne obeyed Altair's suggestion to continue with breakfast. With various thoughts in her head, Enne arrived and sat down at the dining table. The aroma of warm bread and winter potato soup was appetizing, but a bit of anxiety still filled her heart. Jessica greeted her with a gentle smile."Good morning, Miss Enne. Please enjoy. I've prepared a winter dish that might warm your heart," Jessica said, pouring Enne a cup of hot tea."Thank you, Jessica," Enne replied with a small smile, trying to hide the feelings of anxiety that surrounded her.The morning passed quietly. Enne enjoyed her breakfast in silence, accompanied by the sound of the winter wind blowing softly from outside the window. However, as the after
The night air was cold when Enne opened his eyes slowly. He found himself in a room with simple wooden walls. Unlike the previous places that were dark and gloomy, this house looked ordinary, like a normal human home. A small wooden table, a simple sofa, and a fireplace in the corner of the room gave the impression of warmth, but Enne knew better than to let her guard down.The last thing Enne remembered was Andhara who was about to tackle her too, but Enne struggled until they almost fell, but at that moment, Andhara suddenly knocked her out until Enne didn't remember anything anymore.Enne reflexively held her neck, afraid that Andhara had really marked her, but she didn't feel anything like when Altair marked her first. Enne could only hope that Andhara didn't do anything to her while she was unconscious.In the end, Enne carefully observed her surroundings. There was no sign of the rogues or the person in the black hood that she had seen earlier. But Andhara-the man who had brough
Night crept in slowly, bringing with it a chill that pierced the skin. Under the full moonlight that bathed the forest in a silvery glow, two wolf figures galloped through the night mist. In front, Altair, a large white wolf with fur that glistened like snow, was traveling at full speed. Behind him, a slightly smaller gray wolf followed with regular breathing-that was Devota.Altair had not said a word since they left his territory. His heavy breathing sounded rhythmic with the long steps that broke the silence of the night. Devota, who usually didn't say much, knew very well that Altair was lost in his own thoughts. He could feel the worry and tension surrounding his leader."Alpha," Devota's voice sounded in his mind through their mental bond. "Are you sure you're leaving the search for Miss Etienne entirely to the warriors? What if they need you?""I have to do this, Devota," Altair replied in a firm tone, despite the slight uncertainty implied. "Etienne is in greater danger than w
Enne blinked her eyes, trying to adjust her vision to the dimly lit room. The pain in her wrists stung, and she soon realized her hands were tied to a cold wooden chair. Her breath caught as her eyes began to focus on who was in front of her.In front of her, stood Andhara with a cold yet meaningful gaze. The man who had always seemed mysterious now stood with a serious expression. However, that was not the thing that made Enne more uneasy. At the side of the room, six people with sharp eyes were watching her. Enne recognized them-they were the rogues who were previously captured and held in the Altair village prison.Enne felt her heart racing. They were the escaped rogues... and they were all here with Andhara, her guess was not off, this was clear evidence that Andhara was one of them.Suddenly, from the shadows in the corner of the room, a person appeared with a dark coat and a hood that covered most of his face. The mysterious figure walked up to Andhara, signaling the other rogu
Enne was still rooted to the spot. The word "Alpha" that came out from Lynx echoed in his mind. Alpha? Andhara was an Alpha? His mind instantly spun, remembering Devota who often called Altair with the same title. Isn't an Alpha the leader of a pack, the strongest and most respected? If so, was Andhara as strong as Altair?However, before Enne sank further into her confusion, Lynx's voice rang out again, softer this time, like a mentor about to explain something."Every wolf pack has an Alpha," Lynx said in her mind, his voice soothing, though Enne could sense a hint of worry behind it. "The Alpha is the leader of the pack, the most dominant and the most powerful. An Alpha can be male or female. Altair is the Alpha of your village, but he's not the only one in that position. His cousin, Stella, is the Alpha of another pack. However, since they have separate packs, there is no conflict between them."Enne tried to understand the explanation, although her mind was still shrouded in conf
"Andhara... do you have any connection to the rogues who attacked the village?"Enne stared at Andhara with sharp eyes, waiting for the man's answer to her question just now. Seconds passed in silence, but Andhara didn't give any reaction. His face remained calm, showing no signs of shock or anger. His silence felt like confirmation to Enne-a wordless answer that confirmed all his suspicions.Andhara stared back, his eyes deep and enigmatic, yet not a word escaped his lips. Enne felt shaky, but not from the cold. From the look in those eyes, a glimpse of a shadow appeared in her mind, and she felt it-a faint hint of a hidden memory or intention behind Andhara's eyes. Something dark and devious. She tried to make sense of the sudden memory, and the conclusion that came to her was horrifying.He is indeed one of them... Enne thought with mixed feelings of fear and anger. Andhara was part of the rogues who attacked her village.The thought disturbed her. It had been a long time since she
In the middle of a shivering snow-covered forest, Altair stood upright, looking towards the northwest. The thickening snow mist covered the tracks on the ground, making every step elusive. Several warriors stood behind him, awaiting orders. Next to him, Devota looked at him attentively, her eyes trying to read their leader's now troubled face."Alpha," Devota said, her tone formal yet full of concern. "Maybe we should stop the search for a while. This blizzard is getting crazy, and we're losing our way."Altair didn't answer immediately, just squinted, trying to see more clearly even though his vision was obscured by the fog. The cold bit into his bones, and he felt the foreboding growing stronger. But his mind wasn't just on the rogues they were hunting-there was another image nagging at his heart. Enne.She had left the village early in the morning to hunt for the trail of the rogues who had escaped the night before, but ever since the storm had started, she had been feeling restles
"You've come to your senses," he said calmly, as if this encounter was just an ordinary occurrence.A sense of surprise and alarm immediately crept into Enne's mind. Although she had been rescued by Andhara before, there were many things she did not yet understand about the man, something that made her not entirely comfortable around him.Enne tried to keep her distance and stay alert. Slowly, she got up and leaned against the cave wall, her body still weak but enough to give her some space."You... saved me?" she asked softly, trying to subdue her nervousness.Andhara nodded casually. "I saw you almost freeze to death in the middle of a storm. There's nothing wrong with helping someone who is dying, right?" she said in a light tone.Enne stared at her silently, feeling confused whether to be grateful or even more wary. Andhara's relaxed demeanor didn't seem to imply any bad intentions, but there was something that made it difficult for Enne to feel comfortable.Andhara seemed to sens
Enne let out a long breath, staring at Altair's retreating back. He knew very well that something was making the man uneasy. The way Altair spoke, the look in his eyes, all implied that he had something on his mind, but he chose to keep it to himself.Trying to divert his mind, Enne obeyed Altair's suggestion to continue with breakfast. With various thoughts in her head, Enne arrived and sat down at the dining table. The aroma of warm bread and winter potato soup was appetizing, but a bit of anxiety still filled her heart. Jessica greeted her with a gentle smile."Good morning, Miss Enne. Please enjoy. I've prepared a winter dish that might warm your heart," Jessica said, pouring Enne a cup of hot tea."Thank you, Jessica," Enne replied with a small smile, trying to hide the feelings of anxiety that surrounded her.The morning passed quietly. Enne enjoyed her breakfast in silence, accompanied by the sound of the winter wind blowing softly from outside the window. However, as the after
That morning, the corridor was quiet, as if waiting for something unexpected. Altair walked with firm steps, his intention was only one-a quick breakfast before starting the day. He imagined the warmth of coffee chasing away the cold in his throat. Occasionally, he rubbed his hands that were reddened by the cold air, although the freezing he felt was not only because of the freezing season but also the atmosphere that somehow felt more tense than usual.When she almost reached the dining room, her steps faltered. At the end of the hallway, she saw Devota, a Beta she could always count on. However, there was something odd about the man's face. His face was pale, as if he carried bad news that was too heavy to say."Devota?" called Altair, quickening his pace.Devota looked nervous, but the man managed to control his emotions. "Alpha... there's a big problem."Altair stopped the pace, his forehead furrowed deeply. "What's going on?"Devota looked directly at the Alpha. "The captives...