"Curiosity is never innocent."
"Sometimes… it is an invitation."
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The night had settled quietly over the lands of the Iron Claw Clan, wrapping the territory in a silence that felt older than time itself. The storm that had once shaken the skies a month and a half ago was now nothing but a memory, yet something of its presence still lingered—as though the world had not fully recovered from whatever had begun that night. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and iron-rich soil, and the distant sound of leaves brushing against one another created a low, continuous murmur that filled the darkness.
At the far edge of the territory, where the land dipped slightly and ancient trees stood like silent guardians of forgotten centuries, Leo sat beneath one such towering tree. Its roots spread wide across the ground, thick and uneven, as though they had clawed their way through the earth over generations, refusing to be buried.
Leo leaned back against the rough bark, his shoulders resting heavily as if even holding himself upright had begun to feel like effort. His gaze was fixed ahead, yet unfocused, drifting somewhere far beyond the physical world around him. A faint breeze brushed past him, lifting a few strands of his dark hair, but he did not react.
One and a half months.
The thought returned again, sharper this time.
One and a half months of searching.
One and a half months of hope rising… and breaking.
He had traveled through lands unfamiliar to him, stood before Alphas who ruled with power and pride, walked through territories where even stepping wrong could mean death. He had observed faces, listened to voices, watched movements—waiting, hoping for that one moment when something inside him would react.
But nothing had happened.
Not even once.
No pull.
No instinct.
No whisper of recognition.
His fingers pressed slowly into the soil beside him, feeling the dampness seep into his skin.
Maybe… there was never anyone meant for me.
The thought settled heavily in his chest, not dramatic, not loud—but quiet in a way that made it more dangerous.
Footsteps approached from behind, soft but steady, the faint crunch of dry leaves and shifting earth breaking through the silence. Leo didn't turn. He didn't need to.
"Still sitting here alone?" Tez's voice carried a familiar ease, though beneath it there was a layer of concern he didn't bother hiding completely.
Jimmy came to a stop just a step behind, his arms folding across his chest as his eyes settled on Leo's unmoving form. "You've been out here for hours," he said, his tone calm but firm. "At this point, it's not rest. It's avoidance."
Leo let out a slow breath, his chest rising and falling as though even breathing required thought. "I needed quiet," he replied, his voice low, steady, but distant.
Tez dropped down beside him without hesitation, stretching his legs out in front of him as he leaned back slightly on his hands. The ground beneath them was still slightly cool, holding onto the memory of the night air.
"You've had quiet for weeks," Tez said, turning his head slightly to look at Leo. "And honestly? It's not helping."
Leo didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained forward, but his jaw tightened slightly.
Jimmy stepped closer, leaning his shoulder lightly against the tree, his eyes sharper now, more focused. "You didn't find anything again today, did you?"
There was no pity in his voice.
Only understanding.
Leo swallowed once before answering. "No."
The word was simple.
But it carried everything.
Tez exhaled slowly, his usual playful energy fading as he leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. "Leo… listen," he began, his tone softer now, more careful. "Just because you haven't found her yet doesn't mean she doesn't exist."
Leo's fingers curled slightly into the soil, small particles pressing beneath his nails. "We've searched every place that would allow us in," he said quietly. "Every pack that doesn't consider us an enemy. Every territory that didn't require us to risk a war just by stepping into it."
His voice lowered further.
"And still… nothing."
The silence that followed wasn't empty—it was heavy, filled with everything none of them wanted to say out loud.
Jimmy shifted slightly, his posture straightening as his expression turned more serious. "Then maybe we're looking in the wrong places," he said.
Leo finally turned his head, his eyes meeting Jimmy's.
Jimmy continued, slower now, deliberate. "We've avoided the enemy territories. For obvious reasons. But think about it—those are the only places left."
Tez glanced between them, his brows lifting slightly. "You're suggesting we walk straight into danger?"
Jimmy gave a small shrug. "I'm suggesting that if his mate is there, then avoiding it won't help."
Leo looked away again, his thoughts moving rapidly now.
The idea wasn't just risky.
It was dangerous.
Enemy packs weren't just hostile—they were unpredictable. One wrong move, one wrong word, and they wouldn't leave alive.
But…
It was also true.
Those were the only places left.
After a long silence, Leo finally spoke. "We won't go as Alphas."
Both Tez and Jimmy straightened slightly.
Leo's voice became steadier, more focused now. "We enter as merchants. Traders. People no one looks at twice."
Tez let out a low whistle. "That's… actually not a bad plan."
Jimmy smirked faintly. "Risky. But smart."
Leo nodded once.
"It's the only way left."
The tension in the air shifted slightly after that, easing just enough for breath to return naturally.
Jimmy tilted his head, a small teasing glint returning to his eyes. "So… let's talk about something else before you go back into your tragic thoughts."
Leo gave him a tired look. "What now?"
Jimmy smiled faintly. "When you finally find your mate… what do you think she'll be like?"
Tez immediately leaned closer, interest lighting his face. "Yeah, I want to hear this too."
Leo was quiet for a moment.
The wind moved softly through the trees, brushing against them like a passing whisper.
"…Someone who loves me," he said finally.
Both of them blinked.
"That's it?" Tez laughed. "No beauty? No strength? Nothing?"
Leo shook his head slowly. "I don't need perfection."
His voice softened, almost unconsciously. "If she's broken… I'll stay."
"If she's weak… I'll protect her."
A small pause.
"Even if she's old…"
Tez burst into laughter. "Old?! Seriously?!"
Jimmy shook his head, amused. "The Moon Goddess isn't that cruel."
Leo rolled his eyes slightly, though a faint smile touched his lips. "…You never know."
But when the laughter faded, the silence returned.
And with it—
The emptiness.
————————————
Far away, in a quiet room lit only by dim light, Elina stepped inside after her bath, the faint warmth of water still lingering on her skin. Her damp hair rested against her back, small droplets sliding down slowly, leaving cold trails against her neck. She moved toward her bed absentmindedly, her thoughts still tangled around the same thing that had been haunting her for days.
The strange book & that words vampire
The feeling that something in her world had shifted without warning.
She took another step—
Then stopped.
Her entire body went still.
The book.
It was there.
On her bed.
Placed.
Waiting.
Her breath caught sharply. "No…" she whispered, her voice unsteady. "I didn't bring this…"
Her memory was clear. She had left it behind. She was sure of it.
Then how—
Slowly, she stepped closer. Her heart began to beat faster, louder, as if trying to warn her of something she didn't understand. Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached out.
The moment her skin touched the cover...
The air changed.
A subtle pressure moved through the room, like something unseen had just awakened. The temperature dropped slightly, the warmth from her bath fading instantly.
The book opened.
On its own.
Pages flipped rapidly, the sound sharp and unnatural in the silence.
Then—
Stopped.
Words appeared slowly.
Welcome, Elina.
Her breath shook. Her mind refused to accept it, yet her body reacted—fear, shock, disbelief, all at once.
Before she could move—
The book lifted into the air.
A faint glow surrounded it, thin threads of light circling its form like something alive. The torn edges smoothed before her eyes, the worn pages shifting, reforming.
In seconds—
It changed.
New.
Perfect.
Alive.
It lowered back into her hands.
Her fingers trembled as she opened it again.
Welcome again… Elina.
Her image appeared.
Beside it—
A shadow.
Watching.
Her heart pounded violently.
The page turned.
Find him.
Him ..who?
Then
Lucien's face appeared.
The book snapped shut.
Silence returned.
"…Magic…" she whispered.
Her hands tightened around the book. "Then… he was telling the truth…"
Her gaze moved to the card.
"…Lucien…"
A decision formed.
Tomorrow—
She would find him.
——————
From the darkness beyond her window, Lucien watched, a slow smirk forming on his lips as he observed the shift in her expression.
"So… you've accepted it.... soon we will meet my lady".
He leave with out any trace ... Where fate has something waiting for him.
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