Akira took a walk in the Night Walker Pack's inner area, her boots softly touching the damp stone path. The chilly air stung her face, but it was nothing like the pain in her heart, caused by someone she thought she would spend her life with.
Alpha Kaden.
His name popped into her head even though she didn't want it to, and it wouldn't go away. She tried to forget, but the memory came back with the same hurt, the same betrayal that still bothered her deeply. She had given that man more than just time; she had given him her trust, and he had broken it like it was nothing.
However… as if her mind needed a distraction, another memory appeared, unclear and not complete. A night away from home, away from her responsibilities. A cold bed. A stranger she couldn't remember. A choice she still didn't fully understand but somehow felt… important at the time. Like a light in the dark.
"Akira!" someone shouted, bringing her back to reality.
A guard hurried past her, going towards the pack's gates. Interested, she followed, stopping near the entrance as one person walked in. The guards around him were on edge but not hostile. They had checked him for danger before letting him through.
The person who arrived looked tired, with frost on his clothes, dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep, and a posture like he had walked too far with too much to carry.
But even though he was tired, he had a presence, a quiet strength, and a focus she couldn't explain.
Blizzard.
He didn't say the name out loud, but it felt like it was hanging over him.
The guards took him straight to the Alpha's house for questioning. Akira, still curious, walked slowly in that direction. She didn't know why she was going there, only that something was pulling her forward.
Inside the hall, Alpha Fang stood tall behind his desk, arms crossed, looking closely at the stranger in front of him. Fang was scary because of his authority, but to Akira, he was just her father.
Blizzard lowered his head respectfully, his face showing no emotion, but his eyes showed something intense, an urgency he was trying to hide.
"Tell me your name," Fang ordered.
"Bliz, " He paused, then corrected himself. "Just… Blizzard. A traveler."
"A traveler walking right into my territory?" Fang's eyes became narrow.
"I'm looking for work. A place to stay until I move on."
Fang didn't believe him. Akira could tell right away; her father didn't trust many people and doubted almost everyone.
"And why are you here? Night Walker is not known as a safe place for wolves who wander."
Blizzard kept his face still, but his mind was racing. He couldn't share his real reason for being there, not yet, not until he knew if they would help him or get in his way.
So he spoke carefully, choosing the lie that felt closest to the truth.
"I want to find a safe place," he said. "There have been more attacks by bad wolves on the roads. I need a secure place to rest… and I can trade my abilities for it."
Fang looked at him, showing no warmth. "Abilities?"
Before Blizzard could speak, the sound of steps came from down the hall.
Akira walked in.
Her father turned to her, ready to tell her off for interrupting, until he saw how she looked. Calm, polite, ready to do whatever he asked of her today. She slightly lowered her head.
"Father."
Blizzard stopped moving.
The word hit him hard.
The girl from the cold bed. The girl he had only seen quick glimpses of before he fell asleep. The girl he didn't think he'd see again, was now standing in front of him as the daughter of the Night Walker Alpha.
He struggled to breathe. She seemed different now, more controlled, more careful. But it was definitely the same girl.
Was it fate… or just bad luck? He couldn't be sure.
Akira looked at Blizzard, with no expression, polite, not knowing who he was. She didn't know him. Not even a hint of recognition in her eyes.
Something inside him hurt. He told himself he couldn't get attached to anyone. Not now. Not when his people were dying every day.
Fang's voice broke the silence.
"Akira, this is Blizzard. A wolf who is traveling and needs a place to stay for a while." Fang quickly turned back to Blizzard. "And you will be respectful while you are on my land."
Blizzard bowed again, but his eyes quickly went to Akira, still surprised, still silently stunned.
He made his voice sound calm. "I don't mean to be disrespectful. I just want to be helpful."
Fang raised an eyebrow. "Helpful? How?"
"I know how to track, set up patrol routes, and handle bad wolves. I can work with your guards. Help keep the borders safe."
Akira blinked. It was a brave offer. Night Walker's guards didn't usually let outsiders join.
Fang thought about it for a few long moments, his eyes showing he was thinking hard. Blizzard looked back at him steadily, determined but not aggressive. He looked ready to help, not to cause trouble.
Finally, Fang breathed out.
"Alright. You can join the guards for a tryout period. If you mess up once, you will be kicked out."
Blizzard lowered his head slightly. "I understand."
Akira watched him closely now, feeling like she knew him from somewhere. A feeling she couldn't explain. But the more she tried to remember, the more it disappeared like snow melting.
Her father turned to her. "Akira, take him to the barracks. Introduce him to the leader."
She became a little tense. "Yes, Father."
Blizzard swallowed, getting ready. Walking next to her… this was not something he had expected when he started his journey.
As they walked out of the hall together, a quiet tension grew between them, not mean, not uncomfortable… just unfamiliar and strange.
Akira spoke in a formal way. "There are strict rules here. The guard leader is strict. Don't break any rules."
"I won't," Blizzard said. His voice was quiet, steady, but inside, he was very upset.
He looked at her quickly one more time, at the girl who didn't know she shared a night with him. At the Alpha's daughter. At someone now connected to what he was doing because of something strange he didn't get.
I have my mission, he told himself with certainty. My pack comes first. Their survival comes first.
Even if what was meant to happen was something different.
He tightened his jaw, feeling very determined in his chest.
He would save his people.
Even if it meant going right into a risky situation.
Even if it meant becoming close to Akira.
Even if it meant ruining anything destiny was trying to create between them.