I was amazed by Kael’s healing abilities. He had managed to heal my wounds almost instantly. It was far more impressive than anything a doctor could do. Just how many more incredible abilities did werewolves possess? He also made me realize just how insignificant humans were in the face of beings like him.
After a while, the boy approached. He had several injuries on his body, but as soon as he saw Kael, he said, “I protected her.” Kael nodded at him. “Well done, Marek.”
They knew each other, which made me tense up again. Had that monster treated me the way he did because Kael ordered it? Kael turned to me, noticing my unease. A smile appeared on his handsome face, softening his features. But it only made me angrier.
“Seraphina, Marek is the red-eyed werewolf you have been talking about. But now, he’s your bodyguard.” I immediately recalled what he had said at the farm. “I don’t need him!” I snapped, feeling furious. Kael wasn’t respecting my wishes at all.
“Seraphina, you’re surrounded by danger. I have to do this.” Kael grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. I slapped his hands away and stepped back. “But all this danger-it’s because of you, isn’t it?”
“No, Seraphina. You’re not an ordinary human. Even without me, you’d face these dangers.” Not an ordinary human? I almost couldn’t help but laugh. What a ridiculous lie. “I *am* ordinary, Kael. Before I met you, I never met any of these things. You’re the one who dragged me into this dangerous world!”
I glanced at the boy standing behind Kael. His eyes glowed red, like some kind of monster. Even though he had just protected me, I still didn’t trust him. I was just an ordinary human girl who wanted an ordinary life. That was all. But now, werewolves, bear monsters-what the hell was all this? My worldview had been completely shattered. I knew animals were far more intelligent than humans gave them credit for, but when they developed supernatural abilities and could shift between animal and human forms, I couldn’t accept it.
I thought about my field of study. Zoology had no place for such things. Even if I scoured every textbook, werewolves only existed in legends and myths. My words seemed to give Kael pause. He frowned and fell silent. “But Seraphina, you’re in real danger. Let Marek stay with you.”
“Stay away from me!” I shouted, then turned and walked away. I hated all of this-werewolves, monsters-it was all too much. I just wanted my normal life back. I left the woods and took a cab back to my apartment.
As I got out of the car, I felt an intense gaze on me. I turned and saw Marek’s young, handsome face. When he noticed me looking, he shrank back into the shadows, as if afraid I’d be angry. I had to admit, he was a good-looking boy, with an air of innocence and simplicity. But the thought of him being a shapeshifting monster made me turn away coldly.
Back in my apartment, I took a shower, washing away the grime and letting the water calm my nerves. I noticed that all my injuries had been healed by Kael-not just my foot, but also the scrapes on my arms and knees from when I’d fallen. They were completely gone. Werewolves truly possessed incredible power. Their speed was astonishing too. Just moments ago, I’d taken a cab back to my apartment, and Marek was already there, watching me. I had no idea how they moved so quickly. It was like last night, when Kael appeared before me one moment and vanished the next. They seemed to move like the wind, untethered by physical space.
Humans had been so arrogant to believe themselves to be at the top of the food chain. But now, facing werewolves, I felt how small and insignificant we truly were. Thankfully, the werewolf world had its own rules, or else humans might have become their playthings.
After my shower, I sat at my computer and started researching werewolves. The information online was unsurprisingly limited, but it gave me some insight. Some sources claimed that werewolves were cursed beings, abandoned by God, much like vampires. They were divided into different kinds, with their own tribes, much like wolf packs. They were social creatures, each tribe led by an Alpha.
As I read, I thought of Magnus. He had encountered werewolves before. Should I tell him about the bizarre things happening around me? Thinking of his gentle demeanor and his knowledge about werewolves, I figured he might understand better than anyone. With that in mind, I sent him a message.
“Magnus, can I ask you something about werewolves?”
He replied quickly. “Of course. What’s on your mind?”
“I think the red-eyed monster following me is a werewolf,” I typed hesitantly. For some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to tell him everything. Did that mean I didn’t fully trust Magnus? Or was it just that I didn’t want him to see me as a freak too?
“You’ve seen him?” he asked. “Yes, but he hasn’t hurt me.”
“Oh, Seraphina, so you’ve managed to coexist with him?” he inquired.
“No, actually, I’m terrified of him. What should I do to keep my distance?” I admitted, feeling genuinely afraid of Kael and Marek, even though they hadn’t harmed me yet.
“That’s a tough question. Your scent attracts him… Maybe you could let me meet him?” I was stunned by his request. Was this a normal response from a normal person? Shouldn’t he be scared upon hearing about a werewolf? Why did Magnus want to meet Marek? Considering his fascination with werewolves, was he hoping to gain some kind of inspiration from him?