Marilyn's POV
After the plane landed and I stepped out of the airport, a wave of relief washed over me. My car was parked in the nearby garage, and as we drove home, I noticed Lynn continuously glancing out the window.
It had been the same on the plane. After finishing my in-flight meal and briefly closing my eyes, I woke to find Lynn turned toward the window, gazing at the sunset suspended in the sky.
The radiant colors of the horizon, like shimmering golden silk, created a captivating sight when viewed from below. Lynn's ears had a slight rosy tint, perhaps from the lingering warmth of the summer sun. He seemed mesmerized by the view, unaware that I had awoken.
At the moment, it was just past nine in the evening. As the car navigated through the towering skyscrapers, neon lights adorned the streets, casting a dazzling and intoxicating glow. Lynn's eyes reflected the spectacle, his deep black irises resembling a vast and infinite night sky.
When the car entered a tunnel, the scenery suddenly turned mundane. The window repeatedly displayed patches of weathered white tunnel walls and the occasional yellowish light embedded within them. Still, Lynn did not turn his head away.
I realized his gaze was fixed on a particular spot, uninterested in the vibrant scenery outside.
As the car wound deeper into the tunnel, the interior lighting dimmed slightly. I stole a glance to my right and, without the distraction of the colorful lights, I could more clearly discern Lynn's expression.
It was natural for him to feel uneasy or resistant, being so far from home and thrust into an entirely unfamiliar environment. Yet I had not detected any trace of such emotions from him—or rather, Lynn had skillfully concealed them from me.
If I had been more attentive, I might have noticed that his posture was far from relaxed, his back never fully resting against the seat. The car window cast a reflection on his gaunt cheek, highlighting the sharp contours of his bones and the faint droop of his lashes.
My eyes shifted and unexpectedly met his gaze through the reflection in the glass. Startled, he quickly turned his head forward and fixed his eyes straight ahead. His fingers tightened their grip on his knee, but after a moment, realizing I hadn't spoken, he released them.
Unaware of these subtle movements, I dismissed the brief eye contact as mere coincidence.
Inside the car, the hum of the air conditioning filled the narrow, enclosed space, where every movement or faint scent became magnified in the other's senses.
Suddenly, my nose twitched. I tapped the steering wheel with my index finger before addressing him.
"Lynn."
The young man turned his head, his eyes locking onto mine without a blink. Upon hearing my question, he shifted uneasily, nodding slightly before lowering his gaze.
"Yes."
It wasn't unheard of for an eighteen-year-old not to have awakened their wolf, though it was uncommon. Just a few days earlier, the news had reported a nineteen-year-old boy who had only recently started shifting.
On average, most werewolves experienced their first shift around eighteen. When I was that age, I had begun shifting intermittently for about six months before completing the transformation. It was during that time I discovered my status as an Omega.
Lynn's father, Fredy, being a Beta, suggested that Lynn would likely become a Beta as well. Lost in thought, I considered taking Lynn to the hospital for a check-up, but decided to hold my tongue.
I owned several houses within the Red Moon Pack, and we currently resided in a spacious downtown apartment. By the time Lynn and I arrived home, it was already late—around ten o'clock. Swiftly discarding my high heels, I stood barefoot on the floor and retrieved a pair of one-size-fits-all disposable slippers for him.
"We don't have men's slippers at the moment, so please wear these for now."
As Lynn changed into the slippers, I gestured for him to set down his bag and proceeded to give him a brief tour of the house. The residence was quite expansive, and I pointed toward a room with an open door.
"That's my bedroom."
Taking a few steps forward, I pushed open the door of the neighboring room.
"This room is already prepared with clean sheets and bedding. You can sleep here tonight. If you prefer the empty room we passed earlier, we can tidy it up tomorrow."
The room had been used by me unexpectedly on a few occasions in the past, so I had instructed the maid to keep it ready. Lynn voiced no objections, responding with a quiet "okay" to everything I said. He seemed easygoing, almost like a compliant robot—except for a slightly different reaction when I mentioned tidying up the other room.
"There's no need to trouble yourself," he replied.
Although I had promised to take good care of Lynn, he understood that he couldn't afford to be too demanding in his current situation. I noticed beads of sweat forming on his forehead and quickly turned on the air conditioning. Instead of politely dismissing the gesture, he turned to me with an understanding expression, clearly aware of the unequal nature of our relationship.
I addressed it directly.
"Lynn, our relationship isn't completely equal. Until you get used to things, you need to feel comfortable 'bothering' me, okay?"
I kicked off my high heels and stood barefoot on the cool floor, realizing that I was significantly shorter than him. He rarely refused my requests, and moments like this were always followed by his predictable reaction—averting his eyes and muttering a quiet, "okay."
I had almost anticipated it.
After taking a shower, I emerged from the bathroom and immediately sensed that something was off. A familiar scent reached my nose—the same faint aroma I had noticed earlier in the car. It was gentle yet fresh, reminiscent of sun-kissed, immature wheat.
During the drive, the scent had lingered faintly, leading me to think it was merely my imagination. But now, it grew so distinct that it felt as though an invisible morning mist had filled the entire living room.
Wolf.
The word flashed through my mind instantly. Gloria—my wolf—stirred within me, reacting to the presence.
It wasn't conscious reasoning; my body had simply recognized it on instinct.
There were only two people in the house—Lynn and me. And if it wasn't me... there was only one other possibility.
With bated breath, I suppressed the instinctive restlessness that rippled through me and stepped toward the living room. I lightly tapped on the half-open door of the adjacent room, calling out softly,
"Lynn?"
No response.
Suddenly, with a soft click, the bathroom door behind me swung open. I turned to see Lynn emerging, his movements stiff and unsteady. At once, a potent scent spilled out, flooding the air with an overwhelming presence. It was like being struck by the moist, warm sea breeze of a summer night—so thick and intoxicating it stole my breath.
Lynn's footsteps landed heavily, one after another, as he made his way toward me. His breathing was quick and uneven. His short golden hair clung damply to his forehead, and his exposed skin glowed with an unnatural, feverish flush. Deeply furrowed brows betrayed the pain coursing through him.
Seeing him in such a state confirmed my suspicion—he was in the midst of his first transformation.
When Lynn noticed me standing at the doorway, his long lashes trembled faintly, like damp black feathers quivering with vulnerability. Though his face remained composed, the tension in his brow spoke volumes.
Just as he had at home, Lynn kept a cautious distance, standing in the center of the living room—two steps away from me. I stood barefoot on the cool, light gray marble floor, wearing a knee-length, light lavender sundress with thin straps, as I usually did without a bra.
I had wiped away my makeup and let my long hair dry halfway, draping softly across my shoulders and down my back. The reflection in the dim light revealed a slightly altered image from before—one that glowed faintly, like a white water lily kissed with dew.
Lynn's gaze briefly flicked down to the pale skin of my bare feet before darting away. Then he lifted his eyes to meet mine, his lips trembling as he whispered,
"Sis…"