The girl woke to the sound of wolves.
Not ordinary wolves.
Low growls. Deep voices. Heavy footsteps.
Pain shot through her body as she tried to move.
Her eyelids fluttered open.
Dark wooden ceiling.
Firelight.
The scent of smoke and blood filled the air.
She immediately realized something dangerous.
She was surrounded by werewolves.
Her heart pounded.
But she forced herself to stay calm.
Years of hiding had taught her one thing.
Fear makes humans smell.
And smell is the one thing wolves notice first.
She slowly sat up.
The movement caught someone's attention.
A deep voice spoke.
"So… the human is awake."
Several wolves stood around the room. Large men with dangerous eyes and scars that spoke of countless battles.
But none of them frightened her as much as the one sitting in the corner.
He hadn't spoken yet.
He hadn't moved.
But his golden eyes were locked onto her like a predator studying prey.
Kael.
The Alpha of the pack.
The man she had been avoiding for years.
Her chest tightened.
He grew up…
The boy who once held her gently in his palm had become something terrifying.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Silver scars crossing his arms.
His presence alone filled the room like a storm about to break.
He looked even more dangerous than the legends about werewolf alphas.
But what terrified her most…
Was the way he was staring at her.
Not with curiosity.
Not with suspicion.
With something much darker.
Recognition.
But that was impossible.
She had hidden her scent perfectly.
Fairy magic flowed quietly beneath her skin, masking everything she was.
To them she should smell like nothing more than a normal human girl.
Yet Kael's gaze didn't leave her.
Not even once.
"Name."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
The girl swallowed.
"…Lia."
It was the false name she had used for years.
One of the wolves snorted.
"Where did the hunters find you?"
Lia lowered her gaze, pretending to tremble.
"I… I don't know… I was traveling and they captured me."
Another wolf muttered.
"Humans shouldn't be near this territory."
But Kael finally stood.
The entire room went silent.
Even the fire seemed to grow quieter.
He walked toward her slowly.
Each step heavy.
Predatory.
Her heart beat faster with every movement.
He can't recognize me…
He can't.
When he finally stopped in front of her, she forced herself to keep breathing normally.
But Kael leaned closer.
Closer.
His nose brushed lightly near her hair.
He was smelling her.
Testing her scent.
The entire room watched in silence.
After a few seconds he straightened.
His expression unreadable.
"…She's human."
The wolves relaxed slightly.
But inside Lia's chest, panic exploded.
Why did he need to check personally?
One of the pack members spoke.
"What do we do with her, Alpha?"
Kael answered without hesitation.
"She stays."
Several wolves looked surprised.
"Alpha… she's human."
"I know."
"Humans bring trouble."
Kael's golden eyes flickered toward Lia again.
His voice dropped lower.
"…She stays."
The tone ended the discussion.
When an Alpha made a decision like that, no one argued.
But when the other wolves left the room, Kael didn't move.
He remained standing there.
Watching her.
The silence stretched uncomfortably long.
Finally Lia forced a nervous smile.
"Thank you… for saving me."
Kael said nothing.
He simply stared.
His gaze slowly traveled across her face.
Her hair.
Her eyes.
Her hands.
Like he was searching for something buried beneath her skin.
Then he finally spoke.
"…Have we met before?"
Her breath almost stopped.
But she forced herself to laugh lightly.
"I think I would remember meeting someone like you."
Still silence.
Kael tilted his head slightly.
His wolf inside him was restless.
The scent was wrong.
The girl smelled human.
But something deep inside his instincts screamed that she wasn't a stranger.
His wolf kept repeating the same word.
Mine.
It made no sense.
Mate bonds couldn't exist without scent.
Yet the pull in his chest was undeniable.
He stepped closer again.
Too close.
Lia could feel his warmth.
Feel the terrifying strength in his body.
"Alpha?"
Her voice sounded smaller than she intended.
Kael lowered his voice.
"…You're lying."
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs.
"What?"
"You're hiding something."
Lia forced herself not to panic.
"I don't know what you mean."
Kael studied her face for several long seconds.
Then suddenly
He grabbed her wrist.
Not hard.
But firm enough that she couldn't pull away.
The contact sent a strange spark through both of them.
Kael froze.
His pupils dilated.
For a brief moment something flashed across his mind.
Snow.
A tiny glowing figure.
Silver wings.
Soft laughter.
But the memory vanished before he could fully grasp it.
He released her wrist slowly.
"…Strange."
Lia looked at him carefully.
"What is?"
Kael turned away from her.
His voice became quiet again.
"You feel… familiar."
Her chest tightened painfully.
Of course I do.
You held me for months…
You protected me when I was dying…
But she couldn't say any of that.
If the werewolves knew she was a fairy…
They would hand her over to the Fairy Court.
And the Fairy Court would kill Kael for breaking the ancient laws.
So she simply smiled softly.
"You probably saved many people before."
Kael didn't answer.
But as he walked toward the door, he spoke one final sentence.
"…Stay away from the forest at night."
"Why?"
He glanced over his shoulder.
His golden eyes glowed faintly.
"Because if you run away…"
His voice dropped into something darker.
"I will find you."
Then he left.
The door closed behind him.
Only when she was alone did Lia finally allow herself to breathe.
Her hands trembled.
He almost recognized me.
After all these years…
The boy she once trusted more than anyone had become a man she feared the most.
Because Kael was not gentle anymore.
He was a predator.
An Alpha.
And if he ever discovered the truth
That the fragile fairy he once protected…
Was now the human girl standing in his territory
His obsession might never let her leave again.