The sight before her, made her eyes widen. Crouched on the narrow pavement outside her window, was the same grey wolf from earlier.

It was just there, silent and still, its thick fur shifting slightly in the breeze. Its massive frame looked almost too big for the ledge it was on.

Kaliyah yelped, stumbling back in pure terror.

Her eyes couldn’t tear away from it as her heart was hammering again.

She staggered, bumping into the side of her desk, and the bat slipped right from her grip and clattered to the floor.

Her hands fumbled as she reached for the window, she had to shut it!

But just as she began to pull the window closed, the wolf moved.

It surged forward, pushing its weight through the opening.

Kaliyah almost screamed but for some reason she didn't.

She stumbled back, but she didn't fall as the wolf didn't use force. This massive creature slipped inside like it was nothing. And now, it was in her room!

Its paws silently landed on the wooden floor. Moonlight framed its body through the open window.

Kaliyah's eyes were wide with fear, locked on the massive creature now inside her tiny room.

Her back hit the wall as she kept moving away, inch by inch, but the wolf took a step forward… then another. Its heavy paws padded softly against the floor, its blue eyes never leaving hers.

It was huge, too huge for a room this small.

Without thinking, Kaliyah reached out and grabbed the nearest thing her hand could find, which was a ceramic vase sitting on top of her dresser. Her fingers wrapped around it tightly, and she held it above her head like a weapon.

“D..Don’t come any closer!” she said, her voice cracking with panic.

The wolf halted and then… it tilted its slightly like it was confused, or amused.

And then it sat!

Right there, on the wooden floor. Calm and composed, like a well-trained dog awaiting instruction.

Kaliyah froze, the vase still raised in her trembling hand.

“What the hell…” she whispered.

Her arm slowly lowered. The vase dipped halfway to her side.

The wolf just stared at her, watching her.

What was this?

Why wasn’t it attacking her?

Her heart thudded wildly in her chest, so loud, it felt like it echoed in her ears. Her hand remained close to the vase, her fingers twitching around it, just in case.

Just in case something went wrong.

Then, the wolf rose to its feet and she immediately grabbed the vase again, raising it slightly.

But what happened next made her jaws drop.

Its legs bent… then twisted in ways that weren’t natural. The sound of bones cracking and twisting filled her ears.

Right before her eyes, the massive creature transformed.

His fur retracted, his limbs elongated, reshaped… until in the place of the wolf now stood a man…a tall man.

With dark hair that shimmered under the faint light.

He wasn’t wearing anything.

Kaliyah gasped and immediately spun around, her cheeks burning. The room was dark, but still she could see enough. She kept her back turned to him, trying to slow the panic spiraling in her chest.

What… What did she just witness?

Behind her, the man let out a low chuckle, clearly amused by her reaction.

“Do you… have something I can wear?” he asked, voice deep and smooth. “So you can at least look at me?”

Kaliyah didn’t answer at first. Her mind was still racing.

The wolf just shifted into a man. Yes, she knew about werewolves and they could shift, but she never imagined that their human form could look so godly.

Still keeping her gaze to the side, she moved stiffly toward her wardrobe, pulled it open, and grabbed the biggest clothes she could find, which was an oversized grey shirt and a pair of joggers someone had once gifted her back in college.

The pants were way too big for her… but maybe they’d fit him.

She tossed them onto the bed without looking.

“There…” she murmured.

She stood facing the wall, hand still on the wardrobe handle, her heart still pounding.

Behind her, she heard the soft rustle of fabric.

Kaliyah didn't turn around to face him, her mind was a mess at the moment.

She heard him take slow..deliberate steps towards her.

Each step he took echoed inside her head, syncing perfectly with the erratic beat of her heart.

Then she felt his warm hands slipping around her waist from behind, pulling her gently but firmly back until her body met his.

Kaliyah gasped, her lips parting slightly, she still couldn’t breathe.

Her eyes widened, staring at nothing as her back pressed against his chest. Her whole body tensed and frozen in shock. Her heartbeat thudded even harder, like it was trying to escape her chest.

Like that wasn't enough, she felt his breath on her neck, it was hot yet her body shivered.

He leaned in close, his nose lightly grazing her skin. And then he slowly breathed in her scent. Like he needed it, like her scent was the only thing keeping him grounded.

“Your heartbeat” he murmured, his voice low and husky. “It’s so loud.”

Kaliyah’s lips slightly parted as he slowly turned her to face him.

The room was dark, but the dark light of the moon streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on him. That was when she saw him clearly.

His dark hair shimmered in the moonlight, almost glowing. His skin was so smooth and his eyes… they were locked onto her.

He looked godly and ethereal.

“You’re… so beautiful,” he whispered, his voice full of awe, like he couldn’t believe she was standing in front of him.

“What is your name?” He asked softly, his voice husky.

“...Kaliyah” her breath caught somewhere in her throat as he gently reached forward.

His fingers brushed against her hair, running through the strands slowly, letting each lock fall like silk between his fingers.

It felt like something she didn’t know she needed.

“Kaliyah..” he breathed, enjoying how her name sounded.

Her voice was barely more than a breath when she finally asked, “Who are you… and why are you here?”

He pulled her close again, one hand wrapping around her waist as he whispered near her ear, “I’m your mate. And I’ve come to get you.”

Her heart thudded again in her chest.

But just as his other hand moved to hold hers, he accidentally brushed against her injured wrist.

“Ah!” she winced sharply, pulling her hand back on instinct, her expression tightening in pain.

He immediately froze, concern flashing across his face. “Did I hurt you?”

She held her wrist, shaking her head even as she bit down her pain. “It’s nothing…”

But his eyes had already gone darker, his jaw clenching as he gently reached out to touch her hand again, this time more carefully, cradling it as if it might break.

His voice dropped, quiet but full of displeasure. “Who did this to you?”

She stayed silent and then he leaned in, his eyes locked on hers. “Tell me…”

Before she could say anything, a knock echoed sharply from the door.

The knock came again, a bit former this time, Kaliyah's head snapped toward the door, then she looked at Levi and then the door, then back at the man.

Her eyes widened with panic and her mouth moved silently before a whisper barely escaped: “Hide!”

He just looked at her, calm and still.

“Hide, please!” she whispered again, her hands flailing slightly now as she motioned toward the narrow corners of the room. But her room wasn’t that big. There was barely anywhere he could actually disappear into.

Her hands shook with urgency, pointing toward the wardrobe, under the bed but nothing would work.

Another knock.

Then came the voice: “Kaliyah!”

Her whole body tensed. It was Don!

The name made her blood run cold.

“C..Coming” she said, but her voice cracked halfway through. She turned back to Levi in desperation.

He nodded and moved swiftly toward the window.

She pushed it open just enough for him to slip out, and he stepped onto the narrow pavement outside her window.

She pulled the window almost closed, and then quickly turned to the door.

“What do you want?” she asked, her voice as firm as she could manage.

“Open the door,” Don replied.

“Why?” she questioned, already standing right in front of it.

“Mom gave me the grocery list,” he said, the sound of paper rustling faintly through the wood.

Kaliyah took a deep breath, stilling herself.

She hated dealing with him, hated the way he always lingered around her, the way he looked at her and spoke to her like he wasn’t her brother, but something else. And Kate never said a word, she always acted like she didn’t notice.

Kaliyah unlocked the door and cracked it open just enough.

“Give it to me,” she said quickly, holding out her hand.

Don leaned forward, smirking slightly. “That’s not how you greet your big brother…”

“Just give me the list,” she snapped, her patience gone.

He handed it to her, but let his fingers brush against hers, causing her to flinch.

Just as Kaliyah was about to shut the door, Don suddenly shoved it wide open, forcing his way inside.

She gasped, stumbling back. “What are you…”

But she couldn’t finish.

With a quiet thud, he slammed the door and shut it behind him and leaned against it, a sickly smirk curling on his face.

He began taking slow, deliberate steps toward her.

Kaliyah’s back instantly straightened. “You gave me the list, you should go.”

But he didn’t stop. “I just wanted to have a little chat,” he said casually, his eyes dark and unreadable. “You’ve been so… tense lately.”

He stepped closer, making her feel sick.

His hand reached out, his fingers grazing her cheek.

“So beautiful,” he murmured, his voice low and revoltingly soft. “You know that, right? My beautiful sister.”

Kaliyah yanked his hand away with all the force she could muster. “Don’t touch me, just leave me alone.” Her voice trembled with fury.

Don's smile didn’t fade. “Why do you act like this, huh? You think you’re too good for me?”

She backed up until her legs hit the side of the bed.

Don's fingers slipped into a lock of her hair.

He brought the strand to his nose and sniffed it slowly, like some kind of deranged beast trying to memorize her scent.

Then he chuckled.

“You have such pretty, thick, luscious hair,” he whispered, his voice raspy “It’s like silk…”

His fingers trailed lower, brushing against her shoulder.

“And your skin…” His voice dropped, heavy with something dark and vile. “I can only imagine how it’ll feel on mine.”

Kaliyah moved backward, her legs brushing against the dresser now. Her eyes darted around. There was no more room, no more space.

“Stay away from me,” she hissed, trying to steady her voice, but it shook anyway.

And Don just kept moving closer.

“Kaliyah…” He smiled widely. “We’re not blood, you know that.”

“I don’t care,” she snapped. “You’re disgusting and I want nothing to do with you.”

He chuckled again, then he reached for her arm.

Kaliyah’s eyes widened as Don froze mid-step.

The sound came from the window.

She turned her head and there, standing on the pavement outside the slightly open window, was the man.

Don's eyes narrowed, he looked back at Kaliyah, then at the men. And then he scoffed.

“Oh… really?” He chuckled. “This is why you like being in your room so much? Him?”

He shook his head slowly.

“So you have a boyfriend now? How sweet.”

Then, with a smug grin, he turned to Levi.

“Don’t worry. You could just come back later, we’re a little busy right now. Or...” He gave a wicked grin. “You could stay and watch, if you’d like.”

He reached for Kaliyah’s hand.

But a voice sliced through the room like a blade.

“You wouldn’t dare lay a finger on her,” Levi said from the window.

His tone was dangerously calm yet icy. The kind of calm that could silence a room… or kill.

Don let out a dry and arrogant laugh.

“And if I do?”

Levi’s gaze never wavered. “I could feed you to some dogs or gouge your eyes out and let you play golf with it.”

Don opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

“Kaliyah…come” Levi said softly.

She didn’t hesitate, she took a shaky step toward him.

But Don moved too.

And just as his fingers were about to close around her wrist, BAM!

Levi’s fist flew through the air like lightning, crashing straight into Don's jaw.

Don crumpled to the floor with a thud, groaning in pain.

Kaliyah froze, her chest heaving.

A knock came at the door.

“Kaliyah?” Kate’s voice called out from the hallway. “What was that noise?”

Kaliyah’s eyes darted from the door to Don writhing on the floor and then to Levi.

She couldn’t even speak. Levi’s hand reached for hers.

And without another word, he pulled her against him, carrying her securely .

And then leapt out the window like a ninja.

Levi held Kaliyah firmly as he leapt out the window in one smooth motion, his body moving like she weighed nothing at all.

The wind rushed past them as they soared down, and then he landed gracefully, like a shadow falling from the sky.

His feet touched the pavement with barely a sound, and he was still carrying her… princess style.

Kaliyah clung to his neck tightly, her arms locked around him in instinctual fear. Her heart was thudding in her chest from the sudden movement.

"What…what are you doing?" she gasped, looking up at him, still in his arms.

"I'm taking you with me," he said in a low, steady voice. “Somewhere safe.”

Kaliyahh’s eyes widened. “But… Don…And Kate is knocking at the door. She's going to realize I’m not there. I’ll get into trouble!” She was already panicking, her voice breaking slightly as she squirmed in his hold.

Levi tightened his grip and pressed her closer to his chest, as if shielding her from the chaos they’d left behind. “I’m not leaving you in there with those people my love.”

She opened her mouth to speak again, but the sound of Kate’s voice still shouting from the house sent a chill down her spine. The banging on the door hadn't stopped.

Then Levi looked down at her again, his eyes glowing slightly under the moonlight. “I’ll protect you.”

Her breath hitched. “But… where are we going?”

Levi didn’t answer right away. He just turned and started walking down the dark path between the trees, carrying her like she was the most fragile thing he’d ever touched.

“I found my precious mate after so long,” Levi murmured, voice low but full of fire, “and you think I’ll leave you here for one more minute? Especially after seeing how they treat you?”

Kaliyahh’s eyes widened. She opened her mouth, unsure if she should argue or ask a thousand questions but before she could get a single word out, Levi leaned in close and whispered, “Hang on tight.”

And then, he moved, with so much speed. The speed was unreal.

Air whipped past her face like a storm that she couldn’t keep her eyes open. Everything around them blurred, the trees, shadows, moonlight streaking through the woods. Her grip tightened around his neck,

It felt like they were flying.

It felt like being stolen away by something dangerous and safe all at once.

Meanwhile, back in the room, Don finally groaned and pulled himself up from the cold floor, his face swollen and sore. He stumbled to the door, twisting the lock with trembling fingers.

Kate burst in almost immediately.

Her eyes fell on his face, it was bruised, swollen and red, her brows furrowed in shock and growing anger. “What the hell happened to you?”

“It was… Kaliyah.” Don winced, holding the side of his face.

Kate blinked. “Kaliyah did this to you?”

“No,” he snapped, clearly offended by the suggestion. “Her boyfriend or something. Some guy. He… he came in, and…” Don held his head again, still in a daze. “He took her and jumped out the damn window with her like it was nothing.”

Kate froze.

“What?” She asked slowly, like her brain needed a moment to believe the words. “You mean… you were in here, and some random man came into this house, took Kaliyah, and jumped out the window?”

Don nodded, his face twisting with humiliation. “He was… he was immensely strong, he gave me one blow and I swear, it almost knocked me out. And I don’t even think he used his full strength.”

Kate stepped back, her face pale now, her thoughts racing. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

***

The wind stung Kaliyah’s cheeks as Levi moved with inhuman speed, the world around her was a blur of shadows and trees. Her arms tightened around his neck, holding on for dear life.

“Am I too fast for you?” he asked, his voice low and oddly calm despite the rush of motion.

Kaliyah could barely nod, her eyes squeezed shut from the wind. He slowed instantly, and she felt the sharp shift from a wild sprint to a graceful jog, and then finally, to a full stop.

“We’re already here,” he said softly.

She blinked her eyes open to see that they were at the edge of the forest, the same one that led into the Werewolf Territory. The same forest where they had met just hours ago.

Levi didn’t stop. He walked forward, still carrying her in his arms.

Her heart pounded faster, now out of confusion, not fear. She looked up at him, eyes wide. “Where… where are you taking me?”

He glanced down at her. “Home,” he said simply.

She stilled. “Home?” Then her voice sharpened. “Your home? You mean… werewolves? You’re taking me to where the werewolves live?”

Panic bloomed in her chest.

She wriggled against him, slipping from his arms. Levi didn’t resist, he gently let her down. But the moment her feet touched the forest floor, a cold wave rolled over her. Her body already missed the heat of his touch. How was that even possible?

She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering slightly. Levi stepped toward her, before his hands gently encircled her waist and pulled her against him again.

“You don’t have to be scared,” he murmured, his voice softer now, coaxing her. “I’m taking you somewhere safe. I’ll protect you. I’ll never hurt you, Kaliyah.”

She looked up into his eyes, those deep, intense eyes that somehow felt more like home than anything she’d ever known.

“You’re my mate,” he said. “I’ve waited so many years to find you. I’m not leaving you here, not for another minute.”

Something in his voice cracked through her walls. Kaliyah’s chest tightened. Her life with Kate hadn’t been a life. It had been survival, misery and isolation. She didn’t even live like a person, let alone a daughter. And yet this stranger, this wolf man, was looking at her like she was everything.

Her lips parted to speak but before she could say anything, the sharp rustle of leaves behind them stole the words from her mouth.

She spun around, only to find a figure standing at the edge of the trees, half-shrouded in shadow.

And then, the figure stepped forward.