You're Real; 🔥

Eva waited, holding her breath. Only minutes remained until the clock struck twelve. Her eyes were locked on the door; she gripped the dagger in her hand until her knuckles turned white. That voice echoing inside her mind was so close... but she was certain it wasn't inside the house.

Then, she heard a sound from outside.

"Don't come closer!" Eva shouted, unable to keep her voice from trembling. "I'll scream! I have a weapon!"

After a moment, she heard that voice again inside her mind, this time deeper.

"It seems you don't want me in your house. I can wait, Rose's daughter."

Eva was both startled and bewildered. Her heart was racing wildly, but she also wanted to see the source of that outside presence. With hesitant steps, she slowly walked toward the window.

And she saw him.

Right in front of the porch, facing the window directly, stood a massive wolf. It had thick fur that shimmered between brown and reddish tones. This was the wolf she'd seen on her first day at the mountain house. But this time was different.

Its amber eyes glowed. There was consciousness in them, meaning. It stood there not like a wild creature, but like an obedient dog. And it was looking directly at her.

Eva swallowed. Her breath caught. It was both mesmerizing and terrifying.

She gathered her courage.

"Are you... the one speaking?" she asked from behind the glass.

The wolf didn't look away. Then she heard that voice from deep within,

"Yes, my love. I am Kael."

Eva's knees went weak. A massive wolf was sitting at her door and talking to her.

"God... I'm losing my mind," she muttered.

But her curiosity was overtaking her fear. If she could just go outside and touch him once, she would know if all of this was real. But her logic tried to stop her.

"Eva, get a grip," she whispered to herself. "That thing outside is a massive wolf. It could swallow you in one bite. How can you even think about this?"

She immediately stepped back from the window in fear. She waited in the corner of the room with the dagger in her hand.

At that moment, she heard that raspy, deep voice again. He was laughing.

"I would never hurt you, my beloved mate."

Eva slowly approached the window again. The wolf was still there. Motionless, patiently watching her.

In a moment of courage, she made her decision.

She grabbed her coat and opened the door, stepping out onto the porch. The cold air hit her face, but Eva's body was about to burst into flames. The wolf stood before her with its massive body. Eva slowly descended the steps. She took a few steps toward him.

The wolf bowed its head and laid it on the ground, as if showing respect.

Eva approached.

Her heart was racing. Gathering all her courage, she reached out her hand and touched his head.

At that instant, the seal on her chest began to beat frantically. It was as if there was another heart on top of her own; uncontrolled, wild...

"God, you're real!" she murmured, her lips trembling.

And at that exact moment, she heard the high-pitched sound from inside the house the clock striking midnight.

In that instant, the wolf's eyes began to glow with an amber light. Eva pulled her hand back in fear. At the same time, her body was gradually heating up, as if becoming heavier from within.

Before her eyes, in just a few seconds, the wolf transformed into human form, as if simply changing clothes.

He was, quite literally, perfect. A broad build, taut muscles, and a sharpness, a power radiating from his every movement. Bronze skin covered in intricate, dark tattoos that ran from his back to his shoulders, down his arms. Reddish-brown hair gleaming in the moonlight. And his face... He was the man she'd been seeing in her dreams for years. He was real. Standing before her in tangible form. He possessed an almost godlike handsomeness. And that self-assured, cocky smile of his...

Eva was mesmerized.

She just stared. Her breath caught, her heart began to beat uncontrollably.

Looking a bit more carefully... on his chest, right over his heart, was the same seal that was on Eva's.

Then her body, as if all its strength had been depleted, suddenly gave way and she collapsed to the ground.

She fought not to lose consciousness. Her eyelids fluttered open. But all her energy seemed drained.

The last thing she saw through her barely open eyes was this man approaching her.

Soon after, she had gathered some strength, and when her consciousness returned, she saw him before her again.

He had carried her inside and was watching her.

He was completely naked. When he noticed Eva's gaze, his lips curved in a wild smile. With unconcerned ease, he took the large woolen shawl draped over the edge of the couch, wrapped it around his hips, and covered what appeared to be marble-carved hips.

"I'm borrowing this for a bit," he murmured, his voice more real, deeper than the one in her mind before, but equally seductive.

Eva just stared, not even knowing what to think. A mystical, overwhelming aura emanating from every part of the man had made the air in the room heavy. And the seal on her chest... was gradually calming down.

Kael began walking toward her. Slow, predatory steps.

Grabbing the dagger from the side table, Eva shouted, "Stop! Don't come closer!"

Kael, with an indifferent manner, approached while fixing his eyes on Eva's, until their breaths mingled. At that proximity, Eva looked into his eyes. It was a warm and familiar feeling; she was drawn to him in a way she couldn't understand.

But she resisted, gripping the dagger tightly.

With a sudden movement, Kael grabbed her by the waist. As if she were a toy doll, he lifted her effortlessly and threw her over his shoulder. Carried head-down like a sack, Eva made one last effort, gathering all her strength and plunging the dagger into Kael's muscular shoulder.

She swallowed, waiting with a shocked gaze for his reaction.

But... Kael didn't make the slightest sound of pain. He only flinched slightly. Dark, gleaming blood began to flow down from his shoulder to his arms. With an indifferent manner, he pulled the dagger out with one hand and tossed it to the floor.

"Insistent little kitten," he murmured, his voice carrying a mocking affection.

He continued carrying Eva on his back. The more Eva struggled, the tighter Kael's muscular arm held her. Finally, unable to bear her squirming, he delivered a light but authoritative slap to her bottom.

"Stop squirming, you'll fall," he said, that cocky grin reflected in his voice. "You wouldn't want to end up on the floor with a naked man."

Eva, shocked by the strange embarrassment from that slap, froze for a moment. She couldn't even make a sound.

Kael carried her to the bedroom and laid her on the bed gently, as if she were a fragile object. He covered her with the blanket, then stroked her disheveled hair. His gentle manner, especially seeing the blood seeping from Kael's shoulder, made Eva feel guilty.

"You're bleeding," she whispered.

Kael sat on the edge of the bed. While passionately running his finger across Eva's trembling lips, he looked at her with a roguish smile. "I heal quickly, little one. You should worry about your own body. That dagger must have hurt you more than it hurt me—you're trembling."

Eva's mind was foggy. But she wondered what was suddenly draining her. "What... what did you do to me?" she barely murmured.

Through her half-closed eyes, she could see Kael's approaching lips. They were beautiful, curved lips. They curled slightly.

"I didn't do it, little one," he whispered, his lips touching Eva's. "The seal did. Your body can't handle the ancient power yet..."

His wet lips were a soft touch at first, but quickly turned to passion. He was drawing her in like a breath. Hot, dizzying... Eva's body instantly became ember. The tingling that started from her lips spread through her entire body, setting it on fire. A great passion was awakening inside her.

How could this be possible, feeling this way toward a man she'd never met, a man she'd only seen in her dreams?

Kael slowly pulled his wet lips away; Eva was breathless. In the man's eyes were longing and an irresistible pull. It was as if her soul was being drawn toward him, tied by an invisible thread.

"I don't have much time, Rose's daughter," Kael said in a gentle tone. "The seal is very uncertain. I can't stay in this body for long. Not until you fully awaken the seal..."

Eva, struggling to gather her consciousness, asked with difficulty: "But what if... I don't want to complete the seal?"

The amber ring in Kael's eyes flared for a moment. As Eva's eyes were about to close, she heard that voice echoing in the deepest part of her ears, like both a promise and a threat:

"You always have a choice, little one. But know this... until you want it, I'll be just a breath away."

Then Eva lost consciousness, sinking into the pillow...

Now she understood the seal and what it brought. But was she ready to accept it?