Sometimes, I think the energy between people is truly fascinating.
Even now, as Magnus and I walked side by side in silence, without exchanging a single word, I didn’t feel awkward at all.
It felt as though we had known each other for a long time-like we didn’t need to force conversation to bridge the gap between us.
After a while, Magnus broke the silence. “I envy your two friends. They seem so happy.”
“I envy them too,” I replied.
Compared to Evelyn’s relationship, my own attempts at love had been fraught with difficulty.
“Are you and Kael… a couple?” Magnus suddenly asked.
I shook my head immediately. “No.”
From the beginning, Kael and I had never been in a proper relationship. I had suggested being friends with benefits at one point, but even that had dissolved. Now, there was nothing left between us.
I was afraid of getting closer to Kael.
Being around him always made me uneasy. Deep down, I feared that, under his influence, I might slowly lose myself-becoming something monstrous, like a werewolf.
He had even lied to me, claiming that I was adopted by my parents.
But it wasn’t true!
He had tried to use this lie to drive a wedge between me and my family.
The thought of it made me resent Kael even more.
“I thought…” Magnus began, then stopped, lowering his head with a soft chuckle.
“When I met him today, he didn’t seem to like me much.”
“That’s just his way,” I said, trying to comfort Magnus. “Don’t mind him. Anyway, it’s not like you two will cross paths often.”
I knew Magnus was sensitive and perceptive, someone who could easily pick up on the emotions of others.
“Alright,” he said. Then he looked at me directly. “Seraphina, may I pursue you?”
I had been thinking of ways to cheer Magnus up, but his words threw me off completely.
It took me a moment to find my voice. “You… what did you say?” I stammered.
He couldn’t be serious, could he? He wanted to pursue me?
For a moment, my mind went blank, and an unfamiliar emotion began to spread through me.
My heart pounded wildly, as though it wanted to burst out of my chest.
Damn it. The truth was, I had fantasized about being in a relationship with Magnus before.
But I had always believed that someone as exceptional as him would never be interested in me.
And yet, here he was, confessing his feelings.
“I know it might seem sudden,” Magnus continued, his tone calm but sincere. “But seeing Evelyn and Judy so in love today, I couldn’t help but feel envious. So, Seraphina, I decided to be honest with you about my feelings. Will you be my girlfriend?”
Would I?
Yes, yes, yes… No.
In the moment I wanted to say yes, hesitation gripped me.
I was afraid of love.
Lucian, though long gone, had left scars that hadn’t healed.
Every time I thought about love, memories of betrayal came rushing back.
While I trusted Magnus, I couldn’t deny that human nature was fragile and easily corrupted.
And then, for reasons I couldn’t explain, Kael’s face suddenly appeared in my mind.
I imagined how he would feel if he knew about this. Would he be hurt?
If I agreed to be with Magnus, where would that leave Kael?
After a long pause, I finally said to Magnus, “I’m sorry. I can’t say yes-not yet. My last relationship hurt me deeply, and I’m still struggling to move past it.”
Magnus listened, his smile unchanged, though I could sense a hint of sadness in his eyes. “It’s okay, Seraphina. I’ll wait for you.”
Just then, a car sped by dangerously close to the sidewalk. Startled, I froze, but Magnus reacted instantly, pulling me into his arms.
The wind whipped at my clothes, and I could feel my heart racing from the near-miss.
“Some drivers have no sense of responsibility,” Magnus muttered in frustration.
He released me but kept his gaze fixed on me. “Are you alright? Did you get hurt?”
I shook my head, but fear lingered in my chest.
If Magnus hadn’t pulled me aside, I might have been hit by that car.
I couldn’t help but wonder if the driver had been drinking, just as we had earlier, and was recklessly ignoring the rules of the road.
Because of the incident, Magnus refused to let me walk near the edge of the street. He guided me to a safer spot and didn’t leave until he had escorted me all the way to my apartment building.
As we parted ways, Magnus smiled at me and said, “Take your time to think about it. There’s no rush. Can we still be as we were before?”
His patience touched me deeply. “Of course. No matter what, we’ll always be friends.”
“By the way,” Magnus said suddenly, “have you been using the aromatherapy I gave you?”
I hesitated, feeling a pang of guilt.
After that strange dream I had, I’d stopped using it. The dream had been so unsettling, and the scent of the aromatherapy afterward had triggered an automatic aversion in me.
But I couldn’t bear to hurt Magnus’s feelings. “Yes,” I lied. “I’ve been using it.”
“Aromatherapy has a calming effect,” he explained. “I tested it several times and spent over a month perfecting it. It’s good for you, Seraphina. It can soothe your emotions, so don’t let it go to waste.”
Hearing how much effort he had put into making it, I felt even guiltier.
“I’ll make sure to use it all,” I promised.
Back in my apartment, I held the book Magnus had given me.
I thought about how much he had done for me-and how he had even confessed his feelings today.
I wasn’t ready for any of this.
I didn’t have the courage to start a new relationship.
Sometimes, I could be fearless-like when I had boldly flirted with Kael in a bar and ended up in bed with him.
But other times, I was a coward.
When Kael had confessed to me, I had been too afraid of being used to say yes.
Now, with Magnus, I was afraid he would hurt me like Lucian had, so I couldn’t accept him either.
I felt like such a mess.
Why couldn’t I handle relationships properly?
After taking a shower, I sat on the edge of my bed, towel drying my hair, when my phone buzzed.
[Hey, want to meet up for a meal? I’m leaving town in a few days.]
It was a message from the man who called himself a werewolf hunter.
I hesitated.
Then, he sent me several photos.
One showed a massive black wolf lying dead, its huge body towering over the ground.
Next to it was a woman’s lifeless corpse.
The scene was gruesome.
[It killed my wife, so I killed it. Miss, werewolves aren’t noble creatures. They are beings abandoned by God. If you’re curious about them, let’s talk.]