The council chambers were cold, the stone walls echoing with the quiet murmur of advisors and courtiers who shuffled about in preparation for the day’s meeting. Prince Eryk sat at the head of the long wooden table, his fingers drumming idly against the surface as he listened to the reports being given by his generals and diplomats. His mind, however, was elsewhere.

He couldn’t focus on the intricacies of trade routes, the alliance proposals, or the political wrangling happening around him. No matter how hard he tried to concentrate, his thoughts kept returning to one thing: the mysterious Kael.

He had never encountered someone like him—someone who carried the wildness of the forest in his eyes and yet was bound by the constraints of humanity. The way Kael’s gaze had locked with his, the way the air had crackled between them—Eryk knew there was something there, something deep and undeniable.

But he had dismissed it, of course. He was the prince, heir to the throne, and Kael was... something else. He wasn’t just a man; he was something different, something dangerous. The rumors of humans with wolf-like features had always been dismissed as fairy tales, mere stories to scare children. But Kael’s ears—his tail—those weren’t things born of imagination. They were real. And Eryk couldn’t help but wonder what kind of life a person like Kael led.

"Your Highness?" Lord Soran’s voice cut through his thoughts.

Eryk blinked, shaking himself out of his trance. He hadn’t realized how much time had passed until he saw the concerned expressions of the courtiers around him. His gaze shifted to Lord Soran, who had an eyebrow raised in question.

"Apologies, Soran," Eryk muttered, sitting up straighter. "What were you saying?"

"We were discussing the recent disturbances along the northern border," Soran replied, his voice low and cautious. "The reports from the scouts are... troubling."

Eryk’s brow furrowed. "More sightings of the wolves?"

Soran nodded. "Yes, but it’s not just the wolves this time. There have been rumors of a figure—a man, or something like a man—leading them. Some say he is unlike any human they’ve seen before, his eyes... unnatural."

Eryk’s heart skipped a beat. He’d heard the same whispers—rumors that seemed too strange to be true. A human leading the wolves? It sounded impossible. And yet...

"Do we have any confirmation on his identity?" Eryk asked, his voice betraying a trace of tension he couldn’t hide.

"Not yet," Soran replied, "but it’s becoming clearer that this figure is not just some wild animal or bandit. Whoever they are, they have power. And we don’t know if they’re an ally or an enemy."

Eryk leaned forward, his hands clasped tightly together. He had always known that his kingdom was on the edge of something dangerous, something he couldn’t fully grasp, but this... this was different. There was something personal in it, something he couldn’t explain. The pull he had felt, the strange connection to Kael—it couldn’t be a coincidence. Could it?

"You’ll have a report from the scouts by tomorrow," Soran continued, "and I’ve arranged for a few of our best men to investigate the area. But... Your Highness, there is something you should consider. The wolves—whatever they are—they have never been so bold. Something is driving them closer to our borders, and that could mean trouble for all of us."

Eryk took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "We will prepare as we always do. But we will not act rashly. Not unless we have more information."

The courtiers nodded, murmuring their agreement. The meeting continued, but Eryk’s mind was no longer with them. It was with Kael. The strange human-wolf hybrid who had appeared from the wilds, the man whose presence stirred something in him he couldn’t ignore.

Kael was not sure what had driven him to return to the palace grounds that day. His instincts had screamed at him to stay hidden, to remain in the shadows where he belonged. But the pull toward the prince had grown too strong, too urgent to ignore. He had been watching Eryk from afar, tracking his movements, ever vigilant, but today something felt different. Something had changed.

The wind picked up as he crouched behind a large, ornate column that lined the outer edges of the palace garden. His senses were heightened, his wolf instincts on alert, as his eyes scanned the courtyard. He had come to understand that the prince was not just another royal—there was something in him, a kindness that cut through the layers of his princely duties. Eryk’s compassion was his weakness, and Kael knew that it was a weakness that could be exploited.

But Kael wasn’t here to exploit the prince. He wasn’t here to make things difficult. He had no interest in politics or power—his only goal was to protect Eryk from whatever danger lurked on the horizon. The wolves had been growing restless, their movements more erratic as the moon waxed, and Kael had felt the shift in the air. A storm was coming, and it would either tear them apart or bring them together.

He didn’t know what he was supposed to do, didn’t know if Eryk would even accept his presence, but Kael could no longer stay in the shadows. He had to see him. He had to make sure the prince was safe.

As Kael shifted, preparing to move closer to the prince’s chambers, a voice rang out across the courtyard, cutting through the stillness of the morning.

"Who goes there?"

Kael froze, his heart racing in his chest. He was not supposed to be here—he knew that. The palace grounds were off-limits to anyone like him. His presence, his wolf-like features, were enough to send the royal guards into a frenzy. Yet, despite the warning in his gut, Kael remained still, the muscles in his legs coiled, ready to spring.

A guard approached, sword in hand, his eyes scanning the area. The tension in the air was palpable.

"Answer me, or I’ll take you in as an intruder," the guard commanded.

Kael’s hand instinctively went to the knife at his belt. He didn’t want to fight, but if he had no choice... well, he wasn’t afraid of the consequences. His gaze flicked toward the palace windows, hoping beyond reason that Eryk might be watching. Hoping that somehow, the prince would see him and understand.

But before he could make a move, a figure emerged from the palace door—a familiar face, one that sent a shock through Kael’s chest. Eryk.

The prince’s eyes locked with Kael’s across the courtyard, and for a brief moment, time seemed to slow. There was no mistaking it. Eryk had seen him. And somehow, Kael knew that their fates were about to collide.

Eryk stepped forward, his voice firm but calm. "Leave him."

The guard hesitated, looking between the prince and Kael. Eryk’s presence was enough to command obedience, and with one final glance, the guard lowered his sword and stepped back, bowing respectfully before retreating into the shadows.

Kael stood frozen in place, his heart pounding in his chest.

Eryk was close now, only a few paces away, his gaze soft but intense. “I knew you would come,” Eryk said, his voice low. “I don’t know why... but I knew you would.”

Kael swallowed hard, his words caught in his throat. He had never expected the prince to speak to him, let alone show such understanding.

“I didn’t know if I should,” Kael said softly, his voice barely a whisper. “But I couldn’t stay away.”

Eryk’s gaze deepened, as though he was seeing Kael for the first time, truly seeing him.

“You’re not just a man, are you?” Eryk asked, his voice steady but full of curiosity.

Kael shook his head. “No. I’m not.”

A silence passed between them, one heavy with unspoken words. And for the first time, Kael allowed himself to hope.

Maybe—just maybe—this was the beginning of something neither of them could understand. But they would face it together.