was alive with its usual hum of distant cars and scattered voices, but tonight felt heavier. T

was a hunter, born and raised to protect humans from the monsters lurking in the dark. But the truth weighed on her: she wasn't human a

ept through the narrow street, carrying with it the faintest scent o

dy, her instincts sharp. But before she could react further, a

wing her eyes, her voice

her defiance amused him. "Emilia. I see y

thinking about it, actually. I don't appreciate being am

here was a dangerous glint in his eyes.

t I'm part of some ancient werewolf dynasty? That I'm supposed to claim some 'legacy'

trolled power. "You can fight it all you want, but you can't run

down. "I know one thing-if you're here to me

im. Her muscles coiled, ready to strike. She wasn't going to let him toy with her. Whatever this conne

'm not here to fight you, Emilia. But if that's what you want..."

ipated. In a blur of motion, Lycaon dodged, sidestepping her attack with the ease of someone who had fought battles for centuries. Be

ispered, his breath warm against her ear. "At

r pulse racing. She hated that he moved like a ghost, that she could feel his prese

napped, her chest heaving with anger. "But I

"But you should trust your instincts. They're already awakening. You've felt it, have

was right. Since their first encounter, her senses had been sharper, her reactions faster. She felt... ali

was just going to roll

ded, her voice hard but quieter now.

the verge of collapse. Hunters, werewolves, vampires... everyone is out of control. You were trained to eliminate threats, but you were never told the

s words. "So, what? You expect me to suddenly embrace being

u to survive. To fight, like you've always done. But this t

ill cold in her grip. "And what's yo

erable. "Because, Emilia, I'm not just some bystander in this war. I'm the leader of t

hing else he had said. She wasn't sure if it was the way he said it or the quiet i

back, trying to shake off the sensa

etend to fight this all you want, but eventually, you'll have to choose. You can either be the hunter you were tra

ia's pulse raced, but this time it wasn't just from the fight-it was from the proxim

ally said, her voice quieter now,

on replied softly. "But when

as quickly as he had come. Emilia stood there, her knife still clutched tightly in her