Bodies of the fallen hunters lay scattered across the battlefield, their silver weapons glinting under the moonlight.
The wolves stood tense, breathing heavily after the fight.
But no one moved.
Because something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Kael was staring at Lia.
And Lia was staring back.
Between them stood the last fairy hunter.
His armor was scratched and stained with blood, yet a confident smile remained on his lips.
He pointed his blade toward Lia again.
"There she is."
The wolves turned their heads immediately.
Toward her.
Confusion spread across their faces.
"What is he talking about?" Rowan muttered.
But the hunter continued.
"You wolves are truly pathetic."
He laughed quietly.
"Sheltering one of the most valuable creatures in the realm… and you didn't even realize it."
Lia felt cold.
Her hands trembled slightly.
This moment… she had feared it for years.
The hunter's voice became louder.
"She belongs to the Fairy Court."
The words echoed through the silent forest.
"A royal fairy who escaped judgment."
Gasps spread through the pack.
"Fairy?"
"That human girl?"
"Impossible."
But Kael didn't say anything.
His golden eyes remained locked on Lia.
Searching.
Demanding answers.
Lia lowered her gaze.
She could feel it.
The fragile lie she had built was breaking apart.
The hunter smirked.
"You should thank us, Alpha."
His blade gleamed under the moonlight.
"We came to retrieve her before she corrupted your pathetic wolves with fairy tricks."
The hunter stepped forward.
But he never reached her.
Because suddenly
CRACK.
Kael grabbed the hunter by the throat.
The movement was so fast most wolves didn't even see it.
The hunter's body lifted off the ground.
Kael's grip tightened slowly.
Dangerously.
"Say that again."
His voice was quiet.
But every wolf present felt the killing intent inside it.
The hunter choked slightly but still smiled.
"She's not human."
His gaze flicked toward Lia.
"She's a fairy."
Kael's grip tightened further.
Bones began to creak.
"You're lying."
The hunter laughed weakly.
"Then ask her."
Silence fell over the forest.
Every eye turned toward Lia.
The pressure felt suffocating.
Rowan looked confused.
"…Lia?"
She couldn't answer.
Because if she did
Everything would change.
Kael slowly turned his head.
Their eyes met again.
His voice was low.
Controlled.
"…Tell me he's wrong."
Her chest tightened painfully.
She wanted to lie.
She wanted to keep the fragile peace she had here.
But the hunters would never stop coming.
And if she kept hiding…
More wolves would die.
So finally
Very slowly
Lia raised her hand.
Golden light began to glow softly around her fingers.
The forest responded instantly.
Leaves rustled.
Wind whispered through the trees.
Tiny sparks of magic floated through the air like fireflies.
Gasps erupted from the pack.
"…What the hell…"
"Magic…"
Rowan stared in disbelief.
Lia's voice came out almost as a whisper.
"…I didn't want anyone to get hurt."
Kael's entire body went still.
Because the golden light surrounding her…
Was exactly the same light he remembered from years ago.
Snow.
A tiny body.
Broken wings.
A fragile fairy lying in his palm.
The memory crashed into him like a storm.
"You're…"
His voice faltered slightly.
"…Liora."
The name he hadn't spoken in years.
Lia closed her eyes briefly.
"Yes."
For a moment
The entire world felt silent.
Then the hunter laughed again.
"There it is."
His voice was hoarse from Kael's grip.
"The runaway fairy."
His smile turned cruel.
"The Fairy Court has been searching for you for years."
He looked at Kael.
"You think you can protect her?"
His voice became mocking.
"Fairies and wolves are forbidden to bond."
"If the Court learns you sheltered her…"
His smile widened.
"They will burn this entire pack to the ground."
Something inside Kael snapped.
The hunter never finished his sentence.
Because Kael crushed his throat.
The sound echoed brutally through the clearing.
The hunter's body fell lifelessly to the ground.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Dangerous.
The wolves slowly stepped back.
Not because of the hunters.
Because of Kael.
His breathing had changed.
Slow.
Deep.
Predatory.
He wasn't looking at the dead hunter.
He was looking at Lia.
And something dark burned inside his golden eyes.
Recognition.
Possession.
Obsession.
He began walking toward her.
One step.
Then another.
Every movement made the tension in the air worse.
Rowan whispered nervously.
"…Alpha?"
But Kael ignored him.
He stopped directly in front of Lia.
They stood close enough to feel each other's breath.
Years had passed since the last time they met.
Yet the moment felt strangely familiar.
Like fate had dragged them back together.
Kael spoke quietly.
"…You left."
The words weren't angry.
They were worse.
They sounded wounded.
Lia looked up slowly.
"I had to."
"Why?"
Her throat tightened.
"Because if the Fairy Court found me with you…"
Her voice cracked slightly.
"They would have killed you."
Kael stared at her for several seconds.
Then suddenly
He grabbed her wrist again.
The same way he had earlier.
But this time the reaction was stronger.
Much stronger.
A violent spark ran through both of them.
Kael's wolf roared inside his mind.
Mate.
The realization hit him like lightning.
His pupils expanded.
His grip tightened instinctively.
"…Mine."
The word escaped his lips before he could stop it.
Lia froze.
"No."
But Kael pulled her closer.
His voice dropped into something darker.
Something far more dangerous than before.
"You hid from me."
His eyes glowed brighter.
"You lied to me."
His fingers tightened around her wrist.
"But now I know."
The possessiveness in his voice made several wolves step back uneasily.
Kael leaned closer.
His breath warm against her skin.
"And this time…"
His voice became a quiet promise.
"You're not disappearing again."