The rain kept tapping on the window, creating a faint rhythm that soothed the silence.
Vel was fast asleep on the eastern living room sofa, her small body still wrapped in a thick towel. The fire in the hearth crackled softly, spreading warmth through the quiet space.
Kael sat in the armchair across from her, eyes fixed on the tiny figure. Something tugged at his chest—a vague unease he couldn't quite name.
Moments passed in silence, until suddenly, a faint glow began to shimmer around Vel.
Kael squinted, body tensing. The air in the room shifted as the cat's body trembled, then began to expand and distort.
Kael instinctively took a step back, one hand flying to the hilt of his sword.
In a matter of seconds, lying before him was no longer a cat, but a young girl. Her skin was pale as milk, her body thin, covered in fading bruises and scars. Her long, silver hair was tangled, partially veiling her colorless face. She lay curled in sleep, utterly vulnerable, completely nude, and confusing as hell.
Kael froze. His breath hitched, heart thundering in his chest—not just from the shocking transformation, but from something far older and deeper. His Lunaris—bound to his blood and fate—was pulsing violently.
With swift movement, Kael grabbed the thin cloak draped over the chair and covered the girl quickly, preserving her modesty. He cursed under his breath and rushed to the door.
"Erianne," he called urgently through the gap, voice tight and low.
It didn't take long for Erianne to appear, curiosity written all over her face.
"What is it, bro—" Her words died the moment her eyes landed on the figure on the sofa.
She gaped, eyes wide.
"That ... that's—!" she hissed.
Kael took a deep breath, trying to steady the chaos in his mind.
"I know," he said flatly. "That's why I called you."
Erianne stepped in slowly, her gaze filled with disbelief and awe as she looked at Vel.
"She's ... really an Omega," she whispered, just as a faint scent filled the room—a mix of vanilla and rose, sweet and haunting, stirring primal instincts.
Kael nodded, face dark.
"Have you ever heard of an Omega who can shift into an animal?" Kael asked, voice heavy, like it was dragged from his throat.
Erianne slowly shook her head, her eyes still locked on Vel.
"Never ... never heard of anything like this," she murmured. "An Omega with shifting abilities? That's ... That's not normal."
Kael ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "So," he fixed his gaze on his sister, sharp and demanding, "she's a rare kind of Omega?"
Erianne swallowed hard, then gave a hesitant nod.
"Maybe even rarer than rare," she added, her voice trembling slightly. "She could be one in a million."
Kael dragged a hand down his face, his breath shaky. A creeping fear nestled in his chest—not of Vel, but of a world that might lose its mind if this secret ever got out.
"Don't tell anyone," he said sharply. "Not even Father."
Erianne's eyes widened, but she nodded quickly. "Of course."
Betraying Father meant defying the family's laws, but Kael knew—this secret ... was too dangerous to risk, even within their own house.
At that moment, Vel stirred slightly, murmuring incoherently in her sleep. The cloak slipped, revealing a fragile shoulder and the faint marks on her skin.
Her scent suddenly intensified.
The soft aroma of vanilla and rose slammed into Kael like a tidal wave. His breath caught in his throat, blood rushing hot in his veins. Each inhale dragged the scent deeper into his lungs, forcing his body to react.
His Lunaris pounded wildly, burning beneath his skin. A low growl escaped him as he shut his eyes, struggling for control.
The pulse in his wrist throbbed violently. He clenched his jaw tightly, as if it were the only thing holding him together.
Shit.
Even unconscious, Vel emitted a scent that could rattle an Alpha's instincts. It was purer than anything Kael had ever encountered. He usually didn't react to Omega scents—but now, he could barely think straight.
"This scent ..., "Kael groaned under his breath. "It's too strong."
Erianne, even as an Omega, looked visibly unsettled. Her cheeks and ears flushed a soft pink.
"I ... I'll get some clothes," she muttered and quickly left the room, abandoning Kael to weather the storm alone.
Kael remained rooted in place, eyes locked on the girl—Vel—with a dark, conflicted gaze.
"Just who are you?" he murmured, his voice low and rough.
Outside, the rain poured harder, shrouding the world in mist and thunder, as if nature itself had chosen to guard the secret that had been born that night.
***
Time passed slowly.
Outside, the rain still danced against the windows, creating a monotonous rhythm that wrapped the room in heavy silence.
Kael stood still near the fireplace, his eyes fixed on the small figure wrapped in a coat on the sofa. Vel lay there quietly, her breathing slow and steady, but her frail body trembled slightly.
Then, with a movement barely noticeable, Vel's tiny fingers twitched. Her eyelids, once tightly shut, fluttered—before slowly opening.
Kael held his breath.
A pair of lavender eyes stared back at him—bright and clear. Eyes that seemed to reflect all the light in the world in a single glance.
For a moment, Kael was stunned.
That color … like the winter sky at the first light of dawn. Soft, and mysterious. But the beauty shattered quickly as realization hit Vel.
The moment she became aware of her human form, her body tensed sharply. Both hands clutched the coat tighter, trying to cover herself as much as she could. Her breathing grew rapid, and her eyes widened—fear radiating from them.
Kael watched as her entire body trembled.
Her hands pulled the coat all the way up to her chin, as if hoping to vanish inside it.
Vel's breath broke into a silent panic.
"What's happening ...? "
"Why did I change?"
"Will they hurt me... send me back to those awful people?"
The thoughts flooded her mind, clearly written in the language of her body.
Without hesitation, Kael lowered himself until he was kneeling in front of her. His movements were gentle, careful not to scare her further.
He kept his distance, both hands open at his sides, showing he meant no harm.
"Sshh …, " he said softly. "It's okay."
Vel stared at him with disbelief, her chest rising and falling quickly with panic.
"You're safe," Kael continued, his voice even gentler now—rough and cautious. "I won't hurt you. I promise."
Vel was still trembling. Those lavender eyes darted between Kael and the corners of the room, as if searching for an escape. The air was thick with fear—so deep that even the smallest move Kael made could feel like a threat.
Taking a deep breath, Kael decided to inch closer. His left hand slowly reached out, hesitantly, toward her shoulder.
"You're safe here."
Vel stared at the hand with full tension. Her body jerked back slightly, startled and wary. When Kael gently touched her shoulder, her reaction was far quicker than he expected.
The girl bit into his palm. Hard. The pain struck immediately, sharp and real.
Kael let out a quiet groan, but didn't pull away.
Moments later, Vel looked shocked by her own action. Her eyes widened, lips parting awkwardly, as if she had just realized what she'd done. Slowly, she released her bite.
"I'm sorry .… " Vel whispered, her voice trembling, laced with shame. She knew her reaction was instinctive and impulsive.
Kael took a deep breath. He looked down at his bleeding hand but didn't show any anger. He knew Vel hadn't meant to hurt him—it had all come from fear.
"It's alright," Kael said softly, his eyes still warm, though a hint of surprise lingered in them. "I understand."
Vel inhaled deeply, then after a while, looked up at Kael again—trying to read his thoughts.
"What … what are you going to do to me?" she asked, her voice shaking. "Are you going to hand me over to those … bad people?"
The question struck Kael like a heavy blow. Each word from the fragile girl carried a weight of sorrow.
"Who hurt you?"
Kael looked down briefly, calming himself. "No," he said slowly, firmly. "We won't give you to anyone. Not while I'm here. I promise you're safe."
He knew his words might sound empty—they still didn't know who Vel really was, or where she came from. But he could feel it from her scarred body, from her deep-rooted fear: Vel had already been hurt too many times by this world.
Vel nodded slowly, though confusion still lingered. Then, her body suddenly slackened, tension easing slightly. She looked at Kael with a gaze full of silent gratitude—too deep for words.
And in Kael's mind, one truth stood out clearly. This girl had been hurt. Badly. By someone—or maybe even a group—who were truly cruel.
Whoever they were, Kael swore he would find them. No matter how far, no matter how hard. He would uncover the truth behind it all.