The air in Felaria that night was heavy, damp from the rain that had just passed. Beneath the shadows of Astradein city, cobbled streets glistened under the flickering lantern lights. The scent of wet earth mingled with faint traces of something else—fear, lingering like perfume.
Avelia Mireille ran, her bare feet splashing through cold puddles. Her breath came in gasps, her small chest rising and falling with the rhythm of panic. Her frail body was bruised and bloodied. Behind her, harsh footsteps echoed—men chasing her like a hunted animal.
"Catch her! Don't let that Omega escape!" a man's voice rang out, sharp as a blade through the terror that had already wrapped itself around Vel's heart.
Omega.
The word struck her mind like a slap. She didn't fully understand what it meant. All she knew was … they locked her up, stuck needles into her, and spoke of experiments and blood purity.
Vel stifled a sob. Her knees threatened to buckle. But as the footsteps closed in, fear propelled her body more powerfully than pain.
"Hide. Get away. Don't get caught."
The mantra repeated in her head as she slipped into a narrow alley between two crumbling buildings.
The footsteps were too close. In a moment of desperation, Vel focused what little strength she had left on another instinct—one she barely understood.
A shimmer of white light engulfed her, and in the blink of an eye, the small human figure vanished, replaced by a white Angora cat.
Vel, now in feline form, stumbled between trash bins and broken wooden crates. The faint scent of blood clung to her fur, drawing the attention of the night's predators … including humans.
The men chasing her paused, swearing in frustration as they lost her trail.
Vel shivered beneath a pile of old crates, her wide lavender eyes scanning the empty street.
For now, she was safe.
But for how long?
***
The rain began to fall again—soft, misty drizzle. Vel staggered forward, trying to ignore the cold, the pain, the open wounds. She knew she had to find shelter... before something or someone found her first.
A sudden kick struck her from the side.
Vel let out a faint cry as her small body was hurled into the muddy ground.
"Hah! Look at this filthy little cat!" a ragged man cackled, his laughter echoed by the jeers of his gang.
"Kind of cute ... but nasty as hell. Disgusting."
Vel mewled weakly, fear constricting her tiny heart. She tried to run, but her leg was injured. All she could do was cry out—soft, helpless, terrified.
"Whatever. I'll just toss it into the gutter. Looks like it's gonna die anyway."
Just as the man raised his foot again to kick, something stopped him.
Heavy footsteps echoed and suddenly, the air thickened. Dense. Suffocating. A presence so overwhelming that every living creature nearby froze in place.
From the shadows, a man emerged. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Clad in a dark uniform, his golden eyes burning like embers. He carried a distinct scent—old sandalwood, smoke, and blood. Not a comforting smell.
Kael Rhionhart, commander of the royal special forces.
Without saying a word, Kael raised a hand.
Black shadows coiled around him, an aura so heavy it sent the men scattering like rats fleeing from an eagle's shadow—leaving Vel trembling alone in the wet dirt.
"Captain," one of the soldiers called out as he caught up, breathless. "Is that ... a cat?"
"It's cute, yeah. But ... wow, so tiny. Like a baby," another added.
Kael crouched down in front of Vel, his cold gaze fixed on the trembling kitten.
"You …, " he murmured softly. In his eyes, something flickered—curiosity, and the faintest trace of warmth.
Vel, paralyzed with fear, somehow crawled closer—instinctively seeking protection. When her soft fur brushed against Kael's boot, something happened.
Briefly, at the back of Kael's neck, his lunaris—long dormant—flickered with a faint glow. Barely visible in the rain.
Kael frowned, confused. Yet for a reason he couldn't explain, he reached out and gently lifted the tiny cat into his arms.
A sweet scent drifted through the air—vanilla, with the softest hint of rose. It was fleeting, barely there. Then it vanished.
Kael froze.
That scent ... shouldn't have come from a cat.
He shook his head, brushing off the thought. Probably just exhaustion playing tricks on him.
One of his men glanced over. "Captain, should we take it to a clinic?"
Another, more quietly, offered, "We could bring it home for now. At least until it gets better … poor thing looks half-dead."
"I'll take it home. My sister can care for it," Kael said at last, voice flat once again.
His soldiers exchanged glances, struggling to hide their surprise.
Kael, who never even blinked at human injuries—was taking home a stray cat?
None of them dared ask why. They simply followed.
As the rain continued to fall over the city of Astradein, fate had begun to stir.
***
The Rhionhart estate stood proudly atop a hill, surrounded by blooming gardens and wrought-iron fences. In a world where scent dictated everything, the Rhionhart family was known as an old-blood Alpha clan—powerful, feared, and revered.
Kael walked across the damp courtyard, his dark coat dripping with remnants of rain. In his arms, Vel—still in the form of a cat—lay curled up, half asleep.
As soon as the main door opened, a middle-aged butler in a crisp grey uniform rushed toward him.
"Welcome back, Master Kael," the man said with a bow. Then his gaze shifted to what the young master was holding, and for a brief moment, his composed expression cracked. "Is that ... a cat, sir?"
Kael gave a curt nod, offering no explanation. The small cat in his arms trembled, her fur damp and body shivering.
"Prepare a warm towel," Kael ordered flatly, striding past the butler without pause.
"Right away, sir!" The butler bowed again, half-running deeper into the house.
"Kael!"
A cheerful voice echoed through the grand hall. A young girl came running toward him, her golden dress shimmering under the chandelier's light. Her blonde hair was neatly braided with a white ribbon, and her eyes—pale blue like a winter sky—sparkled with excitement.
Erianne Rhionhart.
Kael's younger sister, a gifted Omega, and the fiancée of the Emperor—who also happened to be Kael's best friend.
Without hesitation, Erianne flung herself into Kael's arms, making Vel hiss quietly from within his hold.
"Huh?" Erianne blinked wide-eyed when she spotted something fluffy and white.
"What's that? Did you bring home ... a cat?" Her voice lit up as if she'd just discovered a treasure.
Kael sighed and adjusted his hold so Vel wouldn't be squished. "I found her," he said briefly.
Erianne leaned in, studying Vel with bright curiosity. "Kyaa, she's adorable! Can I hold her? Just for a bit?"
Vel cracked one eye open, looking thoroughly unamused. Kael snorted softly and handed her over with one hand.
Erianne received the little cat like a sacred newborn, gently stroking her fur with an expression full of adoration. Vel let out a soft mewl, her tiny body limp as the butler returned with a warm towel.
"You poor thing …, " Erianne murmured, wrapping Vel with care. "She's injured, trembling. Brother, we have to take care of her. We must!"
Kael gave a lazy nod, removing his wet coat and handing it to the butler. "If you want to."
Erianne's smile widened, her blue eyes gleaming.
"Did you hear that, little one? You're safe now!" she cooed, brushing Vel's head affectionately.
Vel let out another weak meow, her body finally starting to relax in the warmth of the embrace. She didn't fully understand what was happening. But for the first time in ages, someone's touch was gentle—not cruel. A soothing voice, not a threat.
Erianne peppered Vel with kisses, giggling softly. But after a while, her expression shifted to one of confusion.
She sniffed, her Omega instincts kicking in.
" ... Brother." Her tone dropped into something more serious. "Is it just me, or do I smell lunaris omega on this cat?"
Kael was silent for a moment, staring at his sister still cradling Vel closely.
"Are you sure? I'm smelling it too," he murmured at last, his voice heavy. Folding his arms, he stared darkly at the little creature. "But that's impossible."
Erianne furrowed her brow. "It can't be, right?" She leaned in again, gently sniffing Vel's now half-dried fur.
"Lunaris only exists in humans. In Alphas and Omegas," Kael continued quietly.
Their eyes met, and a strange realization slowly passed between them.
Vel, hearing everything, gave a slight twitch in Erianne's arms. Her tiny body trembled as she tried to contain her fear. What if they found out she was human? Would they hurt her? Send her back to those horrible people?
Kael moved swiftly, reclaiming Vel into his embrace, wrapping the towel tighter around her.
"Maybe something's wrong with my senses," he said at last, though even his tone lacked conviction.
Erianne, sharp as always, stared at him.
"You're not wrong, Brother. And if you are, then so am I," she said gently. "I'm sure of it. This cat ... she's no ordinary cat."
Kael didn't respond. He merely stroked Vel's head, something he rarely did with any living being.
In his eyes, a storm began to swirl—a mixture of curiosity, caution, and for the first time in a long while, unease.
Vel opened her eyes, meeting Kael's gaze directly.
For a second, the world around them seemed to freeze.
The faint scent of Vel—soft vanilla and rose—slipped into Kael's senses, reaching deep into the lunaris behind his neck.
Kael shut his eyes, jaw tightening.
No.
This is impossible.
"Prepare the eastern drawing room," he ordered the nearby butler coldly. "I'll tend to her there."
"Right away, Master Kael."
Kael glanced at his sister before turning.
"Don't tell anyone about this," he said quietly.
Erianne nodded quickly, her eyes wide with unease and curiosity.
"Understood, Brother."
With that, Kael carried Vel toward the quietest wing of the Rhionhart estate. A seldom-used drawing room with tall windows and heavy drapes.
He shut the door behind him. Outside, the rain began again, washing over the castle roof in a distant whisper.