With a swift movement, the creature charged for Kael.
I screamed, my voice echoing through the hall as Kael tumbled backward, the brown wolf knocking him flat onto the floor.
My pulse thudded in my ears as I looked around wildly, my gaze darting from the couch to the shelves. There had to be something—anything—I could use to help him. My fingers wrapped around the neck of a flower vase on the table, heavy and cold, my only weapon.
But then I froze.
A low chuckle drifted through the air.
I blinked, confused. My eyes dropped back to Kael—he was still on the floor, pinned by the wolf… but he was laughing.
"What the—" I muttered under my breath, loosening my grip on the vase.
As I took a hesitant step closer, the sight before me became clearer. The wolf wasn't attacking him at all. It was licking his face, tail wagging like an oversized puppy.
I blinked again, uncertain whether to feel relieved or insane. "You know him?" I asked Kael, my voice trembling between confusion and disbelief.
The wolf's ears twitched at my voice. Slowly, its head turned toward me, revealing a pair of blue, crystal-like eyes that gleamed under the morning light. For a moment, everything stopped. The air felt heavier. Then, to my horror, the creature began to pad toward me.
I stumbled back a step. "Kael," I said in warning, "tell it to stop!"
"Don't run away from her," Kael said quickly, sitting up from the floor and brushing dirt off his shirt.
"I said don't walk away," he warned again when I took another step back.
The wolf's paws clicked softly against the marble floor as she came closer, nose lifted, sniffing the air around me. I froze completely, afraid that even breathing too loud might provoke her.
She stopped right in front of me, her snout brushing against my knee.
I glanced at Kael, my eyes pleading for help. He only smiled.
"She likes you," he said with a teasing grin.
I frowned at him, then slowly looked down at the animal again. She tilted her head to the side, tongue lolling out, tail swaying slightly. The look on her face was almost… playful.
"Are you serious?" I muttered, still cautious.
"She is," Kael said with an amused chuckle. "Go ahead. Pet her."
My hand shook as I stretched it out. The wolf didn't move. When my fingers finally brushed her fur, a soft grunt escaped her throat, surprisingly gentle.
"She seems more like a dog," I murmured, kneeling down slightly as I stroked the top of her head. Her fur was thick, soft, and—oddly enough—warm, like she carried her own heat. "She's friendly."
"She's a wolf-dog," Kael explained, standing up and dusting his trousers. "A hybrid. One of a kind, really."
I drew my hand back and stared at my palm. A streak of white dust clung to my fingers. I blinked and looked again at the patch I'd touched—underneath the brown grime was a coat of pure, shimmering white. "It's fur is White, white wolf dogs are really rare." I finished for him.
Kael nodded. "Exactly. She is one of a kind. I think she jumped out at us because she thought you were an intruder."
"But she didn't attack me," I said softly.
"She wanted to," Kael replied. "But didn't. That's rare. She doesn't take kindly to strangers." His eyes gleamed with amusement. "Guess you must be lovable."
I rolled my eyes. "What's her name?"
"Mia," he said, glancing at the wolf with something almost fond in his expression. "She belongs to Alex."
That caught me off guard. "Alexander?"
Kael nodded.
I frowned. "He doesn't strike me as the type to keep something this… cute."
Kael chuckled. "You've never seen her in action."
Before I could ask what he meant, a sound came from the stairs—a yawn.
I turned and saw Kathy, half-awake, descending the stairs with her hair all messy. "Good morning—"
She didn't finish.
Mia's head snapped up instantly. Her ears flattened, and a low growl rumbled from her throat.
"Kathy, wait!" I shouted, but it was too late.
The wolf-dog let out a piercing howl and bolted across the living room. Kathy shrieked, spinning on her heel and running as fast as she could, her slippers squeaking against the floor.
"I told you to wait and see her in action," Kael said casually, leaning back against the couch like he was watching a comedy show.
"Kael!" I yelled, chasing after the two of them. "Do something!"
He just shrugged. "She doesn't listen to anyone but Alex."
"Mia, stop!" I commanded, my voice desperate, but the wolf-dog didn't even flinch. She chased Kathy in circles around the living room, each of Kathy's terrified yells echoing off the walls.
"Run to your bedroom, Kathy!" I shouted.
Kathy didn't need to be told twice. She dashed up the stairs, slamming the door shut behind her. Mia stopped at the base of the stairs, barking furiously at the closed door, her teeth bared.
I whirled around to glare at Kael. "This isn't funny!"
He raised his hands in mock defense. "Hey, don't look at me like that. I told you I can't control her."
I groaned and ran a hand through my hair. "Then what are we supposed to do? Kathy can't stay trapped in her room!"
Kael sighed, finally standing up. "She might have to, at least until Alex gets back. Mia is… complicated. For her not to attack you is already a miracle."
"Great," I muttered sarcastically. "Just perfect."
Kael smirked. "Want his number? Maybe you can scold him for leaving us with his precious monster."
"Yes," I said quickly, reaching out my hand. "Give it to me. I'll call him."
He gave a short laugh. "You can try, but he probably won't answer."
Still, I didn't care. I turned away and climbed the stairs to check on Kathy. When I opened her door, she was sitting on the bed, panting heavily, her face pale.
"She almost bit me!" Kathy exclaimed, clutching her blanket like it was a shield.
"She didn't," I said softly, closing the door behind me. "She just… doesn't like wolves."
Kathy's eyes widened. "But you're a wolf too!"
"I know," I said quietly, "Kael said maybe cause I'm lovable lovable ." I said awkwardly and shrugged my shoulders.
Mia's distant howl echoed through the hall. I went over and drew the curtain aside just a bit.
I was about to turn away when movement caught my eye.
Mia was outside, pacing near the fence. Her fur was still brown, I couldn't help but wonder where she had been to that her fur had gotten so dirty.
I watched her closely, she let out a small growl and was wagging her tail like she had seen something interesting. Then she entered a dark corner where I wouldn't be able to see her clearly. Then I saw something...
There was someone standing beside her—a figure half-hidden in the shadows of the corner. Tall, broad shoulders, hands clasped behind their back. The moonlight only touched the edge of their jaw, but something about that stance, that stillness, felt… familiar.
My breath caught.
I leaned closer to the window, squinting to see through the darkness, but the figure didn't move. Mia lifted her head and looked directly at me, her blue eyes glowing like crystals in the dark.
The figure slowly turned too, though their face remained hidden in shadow.
And then-
"What are you looking at?" Kathy whispered behind me startling me.
I looked back at the alley and saw the figure beside Mia was no longer there. "Elena..." Kathy called me again.
I looked back at her and smiled, "Nothing." I lied and Kathy just shrugged her shoulders and went back to lie down on her bed.
I couldn't help but look back at where I had seen the figure. Mia was at the corner playing like it hadn't sent anything there.
Maybe I'd seen wrongly. I've started seeing things.
I tried to assure myself that it was nothing or it could be one of the servants or maybe Kael.
"I'm hungry, Elena." Kathy complained.
I turned away from the window, forgetting I'd seen something downstairs.