~ Two ~

Lyall ran non-stop in the forest. Every day, he would train alone in the forest or in a room provided by his uncle. Several times, Zaiden tried to train together, but Lyall always avoided him. After the incident that night, Lyall chose to avoid and did not want to talk to anyone. All he did was train.

Lyall stopped running to rest for a moment and caught his breath. Although he was new to the area, he had begun to get to know the ins and outs of it. He always walked through every forest that surrounded the town of Fortress Hill. Other werewolves? Of course, he met them. But some already knew who Lyall was.

Lyall prepared to run again until he heard a scream. It was a woman's scream. Only once but it was clear and loud. Lyall looked around. There was no one. Lyall tried to listen with his werewolf ears. It was quiet but he heard movement not far from where he was standing. He also smelled the woman's scent. An ordinary human. Lyall followed the scent. Not long after he saw a girl who looked the same age as him sitting down and looking at the wound on her hand. The girl stood back up, picking up some food that had fallen on the ground while not far from the girl there was a pack of wild wolves walking closer. Lyall was confused about what to do. He would be caught by the wolves if he moved, but the girl was in danger. Lyall looked at the girl and the wolves alternately. His brain was thinking hard about how he could save the girl without becoming a meal for the wolves.

Lyall suddenly moved closer to the girl, making the girl surprised and sit down. Lyall picked up a piece of meat that had still fallen on the ground and threw it at the pack of wolves. Lyall immediately pulled the girl's hand and ran away from the pack of wolves. The girl was very surprised by Lyall's sudden movement.

"W-what's going on?" asked the girl while still running.

"Just run if you don't want to die."

"D-die?" the girl was even more surprised and confused.

Lyall ran through the forest, and of course, the wolves followed them. But the girl was not as fast as Lyall. The girl fell to the ground because her feet were caught on a tree root. The girl winced in pain.

“Come on, stand up!” Lyall Yelled. The girl tried to stand up but her leg wouldn’t work. It seemed like she had a sprained ankle. Lyall panicked and tried to carry the girl until he heard the wolves growl. The pack of wolves was right beside the girl. The girl smiled.

“You—“

Suddenly one wolf jumped high. Not at the girl but at Lyall. The wolves attacked Lyall in a group. At first, Lyall was overwhelmed by the attacks of several wolves at once, but of course, he could deal with it. He defeated the wolves.

“No! Stop!” the girl started screaming. But Lyall was still fighting the wolves. Several wolves fell and lay limp.

“Stop!!” the girl shouted again. Lyall ignored her. The girl tried to stand up as hard as she could and grabbed a long and large tree branch nearby. The girl limped closer and suddenly hit Lyall. Lyall was shocked.

“Hey! Stop!”

The girl kept hitting Lyall with her eyes closed.

“Stop!!” The girl ignored Lyall's request and continued to hit him blindly. Lyall caught the wood with his left hand then caught the girl's hand with his right hand while staring intently at the girl's hazel eyes.

“I said, Stop!!” Lyall said firmly in a low and firm voice. The girl was silent, staring into Lyall’s eyes. She was quite surprised. She was sure she saw Lyall’s eyes were red. But only for a second. Lyall’s eyes immediately turned normal. Lyall realized that. He quickly released his hand from the girl and stepped back. Not long after, several injured wolves stood with their backs to the girl and growled at Lyall.

“Wait, they...”

All this time, the wild wolves had been protecting the girl. Not intending to attack her!

“Wh-who are you?!” the girl screamed. The girl was still holding the wood and looking at Lyall. Lyall didn’t answer. He just stood there, warily staring at the wolves and the girl alternately.

“She’s clearly a human. Not a werewolf, witch, vampire, or anything like that. But why are these wild wolves protecting her so much?” Lyall kept wondering.

“Hey!! Are you deaf?? Who are you and what do you want?!”

“I want to save you!” Lyall finally said.

The girl frowned. “From?”

Lyall didn’t answer. He just stared at the wolves.

“They won’t hurt me.” The girl answered quickly after knowing who Lyall meant.

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I know. And do I look like I’m asking for help?!” the girl screamed.

“Of course!” Lyall’s voice was no less loud. “You fuckin screamed! And when I found you the wolves approached you. Ready to attack you!!” Lyall tried to explain.

“Of course, they approached me, you fucking idiot! I was feeding them, and the food fell from my hand because I tripped a—wait, why am I explaining all this? What’s clear is. You weird and suspicious idiots!”

“I—what? I tried to save you and what did you call me?!”

“Weird and suspicious idiots!” the girl repeated. “Now go away or I’ll report you to the police!” the girl threatened.

“Wait, what are you going to do?!” Lyall couldn’t believe what the girl was saying. The girl was crazy!

“Go away!”

Lyall took a deep breath. “Fine!” Lyall turned around and walked away. “If something happens to her, don’t expect me to help her,” Lyall muttered in annoyance. He stopped and turned around, looking at the girl and was about to scold that girl but Lyall was shocked. The girl was gone. He found her lying on the floor surrounded by a pack of wolves. Lyall wanted to help her, but in the next second, he changed his mind. “No! I won’t help that weird girl!” Lyall turned around again and walked away. But after only a few steps he stopped again and sighed. He was annoyed with himself for still caring about the weird girl who beat him. Lyall turned around and walked quickly to the unconscious girl. Several wolves began to approach and touch the girl.

“Stop.” Lyall’s order was greeted by the growls of the wolves. Lyall closed his eyes and then opened them again. His eyeballs had turned deep red. The wolves slowly retreated, moving away from Lyall. Lyall crouched down and stared at the unconscious girl in front of him.

“Arrgghh, i'm so damn stupid!” Lyall ruffled his hair. “Why didn’t I just use my wolf eyes so I wouldn’t have to get involved with this weird girl.”

Lyall snorted in annoyance and immediately carried the girl while lamenting his stupidity.

***

“She’s fine. Aside from the bruises and sprained ankle, she’s fine. She probably fainted from exhaustion. She just needs some rest.”

Lyall breathed a sigh of relief. He immediately took the girl to a hospital there. He knew a doctor there. Doctor Erness. Doctor Erness had helped him heal all his wounds when he first came to the city. Doctor Erness was also a werewolf. A member of his uncle’s pack. Doctor Erness immediately checked the condition of the girl that Lyall had brought. Luckily, Doctor Erness was the doctor on duty at the time.

“What’s going on, Ly? Why did you bring this girl and she’s unconscious?” asked Doctor Erness.

“I met her in the forest.”

“Is that all?” Doctor Erness frowned.

"Yeah.”

“Are you guys friends?”

“Friends? Of course not! Eww! Never!”

Doctor Erness laughed. “Seeing your overreaction, something must have happened.”

“I don’t—ughh!!” Lyall snorted in annoyance. He didn't want to explain anything. Doctor Erness chuckled again and patted Lyall's arm.

"Alright, alright... I won't ask anymore." Doctor Erness laughed amusedly.

"I don't know why I feel like I'm being teased," Lyall muttered softly.

"I'm not teasing you, don't worry. I can hear your words clearly, you know (pointing to his ear). I'm just like you, only I'm not an alpha (laughing again). It's just that, you.... Very cute."

Lyall snorted in annoyance. "It's the same. No, it's even worse!"

Doctor Erness laughed again. Lyall couldn't get close or talk much to anyone. It's just that Doctor Erness was different to him. His demeanor, appearance, and even the way he spoke were similar to his late brother. Even if his brother was still alive, he would be the same age as Doctor Erness.

"Just don't get too close to her." Doctor Erness reminded.

"Why? Is she a crazy girl?" Lyall asked curiously making Doctor Erness laugh again.

"No, not that. She is Eira, the daughter of Lurvin Family.” Doctor Erness lowered his voice. Although others could not hear, Lyall heard it.

“Who is Lurvin family?” Lyall asked in a low voice as well.

“I can’t explain now. It’s just that, you shouldn’t get involved with her in any way. But she’s a good girl. Her heart is very kind.” Doctor Erness looked at Eira who was still unconscious. “But because of her family, we, werewolves, can’t get too close to her.”

Doctor Erness patted Lyall’s arm gently. Lyall was still staring at Eira.

Who is that weird girl actually?