As I watched the crowd disperse, a helpless whimper escaped me. I tried a few more times to get out from beneath the wolf, but I couldn't make him move even an inch.
In the end, I gave up and closed my eyes.
My breathing was still uneven.
When I opened them again… a cold shiver spread through me.
Kongar was kneeling. His head tilted slightly to the side, his darkened eyes locked onto mine.
The wolf must have sensed the unease rising inside me, because he turned his head toward Kongar and let out a low, restrained growl. The weight pressing down on my chest became even more pronounced for a brief moment.
But Kongar didn't move.
"My master…" he said, his voice cold. "What would you like me to do?"
He was smiling—but that smile didn't warm me. It sent a tight, pulling ripple of tension through me.
"I want to get out of here," I said without thinking, regret settling in the instant the words left my mouth.
At that, the yellow glint returned to Kongar's darkened eyes. As he began to rise, I grabbed his hand. My grip caused a slight but noticeable jolt in his body. I hesitated for a moment—was I not supposed to touch beings like him?
Kongar looked down at the hand holding him. Silently. When I pulled away, his gaze returned to me.
"I don't want you to fight," I said. Then, after a brief pause, I added, "Convince him… to get off me. Talk to him."
The wolf's body trembled faintly over me, as if he found what I said amusing—was he laughing?
Kongar held my gaze for a few seconds longer before straightening.
"Of course," he said calmly. He adjusted his suit and walked toward the wolf.
As Kongar approached, the wolf followed his every step with careful attention; within seconds, Kongar moved completely out of my line of sight.
"Get off my master," he said again, in that same calm tone.
A few seconds passed—but instead of bringing any relief, the silence only deepened the unease inside me. The wolf didn't respond; instead, he pressed his body down over me a little more. Beneath the weight of his fur, I was almost completely buried.
"If you keep this up, Kayra will end up hating you," Kongar said, this time raising his voice.
The wolf growled at first, but the sound didn't last long; it broke after a moment, shifting into a low, restrained whine. Then his gaze turned to me—that intense, piercing stare.
I didn't return it. I deliberately looked away, refusing to give him any acknowledgment, determined not to undermine Kongar's words.
He nudged me with his nose; there was no hesitation in the movement, yet it was careful. I didn't react. Fixing my eyes on a distant point, I continued to ignore his presence.
But then…
He started at my neck, licking his way up toward my face.
That should have disgusted me. That was the logical reaction. I still found it disgusting—at least, I knew I should. And yet, despite that, my heart began to race inside my chest, beating in a rapid, uneven rhythm.
I lifted my hand and pushed his head aside; the movement wasn't harsh, but it was firm enough to make him pull back. Still, I kept my gaze averted.
When he realized I wasn't going to respond, he let out a low whine, and then, with reluctant acceptance, slowly withdrew his body from over me.
The moment the weight lifted, my chest expanded; it felt as if I hadn't truly been breathing until then, as I drew in a deeper breath. I pushed myself up and brushed myself off, but my movement faltered midway.
I had noticed something—movement in the windows of the houses.
When I focused, I realized it wasn't just one window. Everywhere—behind curtains, through glass… they were watching. They had been watching this entire time.
"Kayra."
I flinched at Arkan's voice.
I had been so focused on the windows that I hadn't even noticed he had returned to his human form.
He walked up behind me and stopped in front of me, completely blocking my view, cutting me off from those eyes without even meaning to.
"I apologize on behalf of Bozok," he said.
His voice was far rougher than his words suggested, as if apologizing didn't come naturally to him. His eyes flickered for a brief moment.
"Bozok?" I asked.
Who was that? I didn't have the strength to deal with yet another being.
Arkan cleared his throat.
"My wolf," he said simply, looking at me as if I should have already known—as though he were speaking of someone entirely separate from himself.
"So… two beings living in one body?" I asked, suspicion clear in my voice.
"You could say that," Arkan replied, taking a step toward me.
"You're cold. And it's getting dark."
I hadn't even realized I was cold until he said it. Before I could become aware of it myself, he already knew—and while that thought lingered in my mind, I hadn't even noticed when Kongar stepped up beside me.
When he draped his jacket over my shoulders, a faint weight settled over me, followed by a spreading warmth. My body relaxed despite itself, even as I felt Arkan's attention sharpen on me.
Arkan moved as if to pull the jacket off me, but Kongar was faster—he caught his wrist.
"Are you going to let her stay cold?" Kongar said, gesturing toward me with his head.
Arkan's gaze shifted slowly to me. Then, with a low growl, he released the jacket and turned away without another word, heading toward the crescent-shaped structure.
"Kayra, come… let's go home," he said after a few steps, pausing to glance back at me. His voice was more controlled now, though that familiar edge hadn't completely disappeared.
At that moment, my eyes drifted over him without meaning to, and I realized he was still naked. This time, though, I didn't look away. Something inside me whispered that I would have to get used to this.
I pulled Kongar's jacket closer around myself and started toward the house. I didn't need to hear Kongar's footsteps to know he was following behind me; his presence wrapped around me like an invisible shield, making me feel strangely safer.
With the crowd's eyes still lingering on me, that presence slowly eased the tension inside me, steadying my breathing. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, I was beginning to accept that having him there made things easier.
As we approached the four-story villa at the center, the doors were opened by two large men. I hesitated at first, but with Arkan taking my hand and guiding me forward, I stepped inside.
The moment I entered, my eyes struggled to adjust. Everything glowed in a golden hue; the intricate patterns on the walls, the heavy chandeliers overhead, and the richly woven carpets beneath our feet made the place feel less like a home and more like a carefully curated exhibition.
As I took in my surroundings, the crowd gathered again.
"Welcome home," Soren said, stepping out from among them.
I was still angry with him—how could he have left me alone with them? More importantly… why had I trusted him in the first place?
"Thank you, Soren," Arkan said beside me. Then, glancing at me, he added, "Have food prepared. Kayra must be hungry."
"Of course, Alpha. We'll prepare it right away," a woman said, stepping forward before quickly bowing her head and retreating.
As she left, another stepped forward and handed Arkan a set of clothes. Without a word, he took them; his gaze lingered on me for a brief moment before he turned away and dressed with quick, practiced ease, as if it were nothing more than routine.
While the meal was being prepared, Arkan led us to the dining hall. The people—if I could still call them that, considering they were werewolves, a pack—seemed to have been waiting for us.
At the center of the vast room stood a round table, surrounded by large crescent-shaped tables. On either side of the central table were two chairs resembling thrones, with no tables behind them. In front of those seats, the crescent-shaped arrangement extended outward.
From those two chairs, you could see everyone in the room… and, of course, everyone could see you.
I paused where I stood, studying the layout, trying to figure out where I was supposed to sit. The crescent-shaped tables were already full, while only a few empty seats remained at the central table. I started moving, searching for a spot as far away from those throne-like chairs as possible.
"Kayra," Arkan called. He stood beside one of those throne-like seats.
"This is your place."
At his words, whispers spread through the hall. I hesitated for a moment, but still walked toward him. Even if I wanted to object, I was a guest here… and they were the hosts.
When Arkan pulled out my chair, I sat, and he took the throne-like seat beside me. The moment he settled in, I instinctively straightened, and when I lifted my head, I found myself facing every pair of eyes in the room. The silent pressure that followed settled heavily on my shoulders; it felt as though everyone was studying me, weighing me, questioning my place.
As if sensing it, Arkan leaned closer to my ear.
"Relax. They're just curious," he murmured, his breath brushing against my skin.
There was no way I could stay calm with him this close, but I forced myself not to show it, fixing my gaze on the table before me.
"Where is that thing supposed to sit?" a child asked, curiosity clear in his voice.
At first, I didn't understand what he meant, but when Soren's gaze shifted toward Kongar, it became clear. Kongar stood directly behind me, still and composed.
"I do not require food, my master," he said, his eyes moving across the hall.
The thought of him standing while we ate unsettled me more than I expected. Even realizing I was beginning to grow used to his presence felt… wrong.
"If this seat is empty, you can sit here," I said, gesturing to the chair beside me; not only because I didn't want him standing, but also because I didn't want to be trapped between two wolves—at least, that was the most reasonable solution I could come up with.
As Kongar took the seat, a low, restrained growl rose from beside me. When I turned to Arkan, I saw his hand had changed; it resembled a claw more than a human hand—and the others in the hall echoed that same sound, softer but in unison.
Despite it all, Kongar sat calmly beside me, unfastening the jacket he had given me earlier before settling into a straight posture, observing the room as if nothing had happened.
"I suppose I'm not wanted here—" he began, and in that instant, everything shifted.
Arkan, who had been sitting beside me just moments ago, moved in a blur—grabbing Kongar by the throat and lifting him into the air. His feet left the ground.
"You wouldn't want Kayra to hate you, would you?" Kongar said, that unsettling smile still on his lips.
That was a mistake.
Arkan's growl reverberated through the hall, and in the next moment, he hurled Kongar across the room. His body slammed into the wall before collapsing to the floor.
"What are you doing?!" I shouted, rushing toward Kongar—but Arkan caught my arm before I could reach him.
He pulled me back, step by step, until I was pinned between the table and his body; the space between us vanished in an instant.
My heart pounded as if it were about to burst from my chest, and I couldn't tell whether it was fear… or something else.
Arkan leaned in, lowering his head as a low growl brushed against my ear. The vibration spread across my skin, and before I realized it, I was leaning into him; my head tilted to the side, my neck exposed—and I didn't stop it.
He drew closer to my neck and took a deep breath, his lips brushing against my skin as they lingered over the same spot before he slowly licked it. The sensation clouded my mind, scattering my thoughts until I could no longer think clearly.
After a moment, his lips gave way to his teeth. At first, the pressure was light—then it deepened. The small bites he left along my neck, paired with that low, rumbling sound, threw my breathing off rhythm, and I struggled to control the way my body responded.
When I saw Kongar approaching, I shifted slightly.
"Kongar—"
I didn't get to finish.
Arkan's hand came up, gripping the back of my head and holding me firmly in place; the growl that rose from him this time was harsher—sharper—and in the next instant, I felt his teeth truly pierce my skin. He didn't pull back. He pressed deeper, and the sharp, burning pain spread from that point, shooting through my body like a shockwave.
He really bit me.