I always dreamed of exploring the world and seeing what was beyond the mountains that enclosed my hometown. 

I had a grim encounter with reality, for the city was dirty and loud; my ears hurt, and I felt nauseated by the smell. I didn't want to see the wolves performing menial tasks with muzzles and thick collars on their necks. I couldn't differentiate one street from another. If it weren't for Radleigh's hand, slowly gripping my shoulder and stirring me in the right direction, I would have been lost. 

After all that rattle and noise, I was happy to find a corner in a park. It was quiet. A cold wind blew, messing with my hair and threatening to remove the hat I was wearing to conceal my wolf ears. I liked hats, but without the slits for my ears, the feeling was too itchy and uncomfortable. 

I tried to focus on the beauty of the city instead. I sat on a bench over the hill, beneath a great oak tree. That quietness almost reminded me of my hometown, yet when those memories came back, I could only curl in fear and cover my eyes. I was assaulted by the burnt flesh, the rising flames and distant screams. 

I clenched the medallion on my chest and tried to remember the elder's teachings. Find the north. Find the north. The brightest star. 

I looked up to the blue hues of the afternoon sky; blinded by the light, I slowly lowered my gaze towards the endless sea and the bay. A line of skyscrapers stretched before me. Far distance, there were beaches and more hotel buildings. 

I focused on my surroundings next. Few people strolled around - it was the middle of the day, so there were no vampires. From what I knew, standing in the sun was akin to being slowly baked alive for those creatures. 

Yet it was a vampire who guided him to that corner. Radleigh was a strange vampire; he cared little about the sunlight. He wore a hat, dark glasses, and a long coat and claimed that was enough to move around. It was only "very fuckin' hot," he had said. 

Vampires destroyed my life, and yet I was trusting in one. I was lost in that place. How could I know if Radleigh would come back for me? I looked at my trembling hands, still shaken by the terrible memories and the terrifying future.  

"Lior, are you ok?"

I felt Radleigh's hand on my shoulder, making me snap out of my grim thoughts. 

A weak smile adorned my face as I nodded, tucking myself inside the jacket. Even that attire was provided by that vampire. One oversize coat with fur. I felt uncomfortable; the hat didn't help. I stretched my hand to scratch under my ears, feeling like a dog full of fleas. 

Radleigh sat next to me. He looked concerned but said nothing and only placed a paper bag on my palm. Inside the bag, there was a sandwich with beef. I was so self-absorbed in my thoughts I didn't realize the smell of food. 

"Thank you," I said weakly, smelling the food a bit before taking a big bite. It was delicious. It seemed as if I also forgot how hungry I was.

"You eat beef, right?" Radleigh shrugged, reaching for a paper bag, inside I smelled chicken with various sauces. I stared at him curiously, realizing that he was eating the same food as me.

"Do you eat at all?" I asked. 

"Of course I do," He answered, wide-eyed in surprise. A chuckle escaped his lips, "how little do you know about vampires?"

"I know they feed on blood, have magic, and take werewolves as slaves," I hissed with bitterness. The following bite was less unpleasant than the rest. 

Radleigh stirred in his seat and exhaled, "Well, you are half-right." He shrugged and took another bite. "We really don't need blood unless you want to replenish your magic. Now! Who wouldn't have some power, right?!" He stopped his words abruptly and shook his head. I had the impression he was battling with himself on how to explain those terms. 

"Point is. I still need to eat..." He stared at his sandwich.

I couldn't think of vampires lightly, so I lost my appetite. I growled uncomfortably, but Radleigh only chuckled awkwardly. He lifted one of his gloved hands, pretending to take cover dramatically. "Fine, I will drop it."

I relaxed my shoulders and stared at my sandwich. My lips formed a straight line. "You wouldn't like to be called a pet. You wouldn't like being captured and used..." 

Radleigh remained silent with a thoughtful expression. His eyes stared at the gray sea; a ship passed by amid the waves. Perhaps, for a moment, both of us wondered about the destination of that ship. I preferred to think about others over myself. 

"There are many things you don't know," he finally answered.

The sun was finally setting, and the darkness began to surround us. The night was like a curtain falling on the grand stage of life. There were no stars over our heads, just the dim glow of the streetlights. Under the golden light, Radleigh's features seemed eerier.

I couldn't help but wonder about his power as a vampire. Was he powerful enough to forgo blood and sunlight? Or was he as weak and unambitious as me, and thus, blood not necessary?

"You are the first vampire I've talked to…." I answered with a soft nod, feeling my heartbeats rushing a bit; I didn't know why I was nervous.

I lowered my gaze feeling my eyes become teary. It was bittersweet. All memories were buried in pain. I didn't remember who was the last wolf I talked to before all was destroyed.

It was too sad to befriend a vampire after what happened. 

"Let's hope I am the only one too," he said, strangely comfortingly. His hands traced my cheeks and then brushed away some strands of white hair, reaching for my ears beneath the hat. He began to scratch them slowly, and I felt oddly relaxed.

"I'm not a dog; you know that, right?" I said with a weak smile, trying to wipe off the tears with the back of my hand.

"I always wanted to do this," He confessed with a playful smirk moving his face closer to mine; I could feel his cold breath against my nose. His forehead rested on mine as he continued to scratch my ears.

"To scratch the ear of a werewolf?"

"Ideally, I wanted to scratch the ear of a werewolf in full form, but this is close enough." He chuckled, and I couldn't help but chuckle too, bemused at his strange wish.

"Why would anyone want that?"

"Don't mess with my fantasy," he said simply, shrugging.

Finally, I smiled genuinely, Radleigh was a bizarre character, and somehow, I was a little glad he was beside me. Though I knew I had to search for a new pack, either in that city or another.

"I have to find my kin, others like me." I broke our closeness and sat straight in my spot. I stared at the city lights, feeling strangely smaller than before. 

There were thousands of buildings like fireflies aligned. It could take me months before I find the trace of a free werewolf.

"I know," Radleigh said calmly, tapping the bench's wood. "However, you won't be able to search on your own without being captured."

"That's true, but...I have a hat! Nobody will know." I didn't know much about human cities and thought that was enough.

"They are going to know." Radleigh chuckled. His smile was almost fatherly as he patted my cheek a couple of times, "You will need a mask." 

"Mask?"

He stood up and gently took my hand. "What else if you have to hide in a world full of vultures? Hide as one of the meek wolves."

I blinked, unsure of what he meant and even more wary of knowing if that was what I wanted.

"Don't you sometimes hide who you are, little wolf? Don't you pretend you don't know something to avoid trouble?" Radleigh shrugged, taking a few long strides.

Sometimes I have done that; I didn't like to fight. I bit my lips and nodded reluctantly.

"Luckily for you, I know someone who can give you the perfect mask!"