Under the radiance of the high-rising full moon, that forest glowed with an exquisite beauty... Shivering slightly in the cool, fragrant breeze blowing from the west, Aami pulled her hands closer to her body. She was dressed in a blue frock. Her long tresses of hair danced rhythmically in the wind.
With a slight sense of anxiety, Aami covered her mouth with her hand and huddled behind a massive tree... In fear, her heart was beating rapidly and loudly. Even though she knew that stepping forward would be dangerous, the sight unfolding before her was so clear that she continued to move forward soundlessly...
At the end of that walk, Aami's eyes landed on five towering, muscular figures standing with majestic poise... They were strange beings—half-human and half-wolf—clad in armor adorned with shimmering stones. As she stood there, forgetting even to breathe, she realized that they were not alone; there were many more like them... and a multitude of wolves. They were far larger and more terrifying than any she had ever seen in her hometown.
In the blue-lit atmosphere, amidst the low growls, she could hear someone speaking... yet, her eyes moved forward with intense curiosity.
What she saw next was a place where the moonlight gathered entirely in that wind... within two sources of light that seemed to outshine even the sun's brilliance.
Two crowns, adorned with most beautiful Moonstones... and he, who was walking around them.
"The victory of every werewolf lies in who becomes the Alpha... the leader of even the Alphas. It lies in wearing these crowns, a blessing from the Moon Goddess, and ruling the kingdom alongside one's own powerful Luna..."
She heard those words with absolute clarity. Although Aami felt fear, her curiosity outweighed it, and she continued to move forward...
Among the five massive figures standing there, her eyes eventually locked onto one in particular—a man with eyes that were a blend of blue and green. He possessed a unique beauty that seemed impossible for anyone else to have, a quality that only her eyes could truly capture... In that moment, she realized her heart was beating with an overwhelming tenderness.
Holding her breath as she watched him, Aami clearly saw a sense of unease manifest in him, setting him apart from the others. She watched as his gaze began to search in her direction, and he started scanning the surroundings with a sense of panic.
Suddenly, everything around them fell silent, as if everyone was sensing something unfamiliar. She saw him wrinkle his nose and slowly turn toward the direction where she stood. Since they possessed such heightened senses, it didn't seem difficult for them to find her at all.
Her mind flashed a warning of danger, and she didn't need a second thought to turn and flee. In just a minute or two, a powerful vibration shook the forest; the collective howl that followed was laced with a terrifying ferocity. With her heart racing, Aami ran forward at the maximum speed she could muster. As she did, the blue light that had been there earlier completely vanished, leaving only the moonlight to illuminate the depths of the forest.
Trudging through paths she could barely see and trampling over dry leaves, she could clearly hear the sound of massive footsteps pursuing her. In that instant, Aami realized another reason why those who entered this mysterious forest never returned.
With dread, she understood that the approaching sound of those heavy, crushing footsteps was merely shortening the distance to her death. She cursed the moment her curiosity had driven her to come here. Realizing she could go no further, she moved behind a massive tree, gasping for breath.
She tried to stifle her heavy breathing with her hands. Slowly, she realized the sound of pursuit had stopped. A terrifying silence took its place. Aami fearfully opened her eyes and peeked around the side of the tree. Relieved to see nothing, she let out a long breath.
But as she looked forward again, she froze. Just a step away stood a figure... not quite animal, and not fully human.
Its eyes—a mix of blue and green—glowed with a strange brilliance, filled with both sharpness and mystery.
"You cannot deceive anyone here... especially me. Even if you stood kilometers away, this scent flowing from your body would be enough for me to know you are here... and even who you are."
Along with these words, spoken like a growl, the figure was suddenly right next to Aami, its breath reaching her.
"How dare you come here...!".
The figure asked again with gravity and anger. Aami tried to look up, but before she could, his hands were already tangled in her hair. He held her face, which was filled with terror, directly toward his own. Aami writhed in pain... her eyes filled with tears as she struggled to free herself from his grip.
"Please... don't do anything to me... it hurts..." she cried,her voice trembling. "I'll leave right now... just let me go. I will never come back here again... Please, let me go...".
She struggled to break free, and in response, his powerful hands wrapped around Aami's waist and pulled her body close to his. It happened in a mere second. A strange vibration spread through her entire body. Emotions she couldn't explain—warm and intense—surged from her stomach upward, leaving her stunned and replacing her fear.
His fingers, which had been tangled in her hair, tightened even more as he lifted her face toward his.
"My mind has been holding back, refusing to let me come looking for you all these days... and yet, here you are, standing right in front of me. Now... do you really think you can escape from my hands...?".
As Aami pondered the meaning of his words in bewilderment, his face lowered toward hers. Even as her heart hammered against her ribs, she realized with wonder that along with the heat on her cheek, a soft dampness was seeking its direction....