002 Crossroads of Fate

Anna stared at the flyer in her hands, her heartbeat pounding like a war drum in her ears.

Havenwood.

A place she had never heard of. A job that sounded far from ideal—packing work. But right now, it might be her only way out.

Her life was already in ruins, nothing left but scattered debris. Staying here meant becoming nothing more than a lingering joke, a target for gossip and whispers.

Outside, the night stretched across the sky like spilled ink. The autumn wind slipped through the cracks of her old apartment, bringing a chill that settled deep into her bones. She curled up on the worn-out sofa, gripping the thin sheet of paper so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

"...Am I really going to leave?"

Her mind told her it was the right choice. But deep inside, a flicker of defiance still smoldered, refusing to be extinguished.

She had never been one to give up easily. Yet—what was left for her here?

Closing her eyes, she could still see Tom's sneering face, Lily's smug gaze, and the way people whispered when they thought she wasn't listening.

If she stayed, she would forever be nothing more than a cautionary tale in their eyes.

But if she left? What could Havenwood possibly offer her?

She took a deep breath and placed the flyer on the table, tilting her head back against the couch.

It was time to decide.

The Next Morning

Dawn barely touched the sky when Anna stepped out of her apartment. The paint on her front door was peeling, the hallway light flickering weakly—a reflection of her own uncertain future.

The scent of freshly baked bread filled the air, warm and inviting. Yet, she had no appetite.

She didn't go to the market. She didn't walk into the bakery where she had spent countless mornings.

Instead, she walked straight toward the station.

She needed to visit Havenwood's recruitment office and see if this opportunity was real.

As she turned down a quiet alley, a voice called out behind her—mocking, familiar.

"Well, if it isn't Anna."

Her steps faltered, dread curling in her stomach. She turned slowly, her expression carefully blank as she met the gaze of the one person she had no desire to see—Tom.

He stood there, a cup of coffee in his hand, looking as relaxed as ever.

As if he hadn't shattered her life just days ago.

"Leaving town?" he mused, taking a sip of his drink, his smirk widening.

Anna didn't respond. She just stared at him, her gaze cold.

He let out a chuckle. "I thought you'd stick around. After all, you've built a little life here, haven't you?"

"A life?" Anna let out a hollow laugh, her voice sharp as a blade. "The life you destroyed?"

Tom shrugged, utterly unconcerned. "Don't be so dramatic, Anna. Feelings change. You know that."

"Do they? Is that why you also took my job? Just for fun?" she asked, her hands clenching into fists.

Tom tilted his head, taking another leisurely sip. "Oh, come on, Anna. Who would want an employee marked as a failure?"

Her nails dug into her palms.

She could scream. She could slap him.

But he wasn't worth it.

Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away, her strides purposeful, unwavering.

Behind her, Tom's laughter followed like a shadow, his voice laced with venom.

"Hope Havenwood won't see through you as fast as we did, Anna."

She didn't look back. She wouldn't give him that satisfaction.

The Journey to Havenwood

As the train pulled away from the station, Anna leaned back into her seat, closing her eyes.

Her emotions churned—a mix of anxiety, uncertainty, and, strangely… relief.

She tightened her grip on the train ticket as if holding onto the last thread of hope she had left.

This time, she would take control of her own destiny. No one else would decide her future for her.

She didn't know what awaited her in Havenwood.

But at least—

She was moving forward.

Night had fallen by the time the train slowly pulled into Havenwood Station.

Anna stepped off the platform, dragging her suitcase behind her. A cold wind swept through the town, carrying an unusual scent that made her pause. It wasn't just the damp earth or the crisp autumn air—it was something else, something wild, something untamed.

The town was eerily quiet, even quieter than she had expected.

Following the address on the job flyer, she navigated the stone-paved streets, but after a few turns, a strange realization dawned upon her.

She was going in circles.

The same dimly lit streetlamp, the same small grocery store, the same pile of fallen leaves on the cobblestone path—even the same cat perched on a windowsill, staring at her with unblinking amber eyes.

Her heart began to beat faster.

This isn't possible.

She prided herself on having a good sense of direction. There was no way she was accidentally retracing her steps.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. But just as she was about to take another step, a whisper brushed against her ear.

——"Turn around."

Anna froze.

Her breath caught in her throat, and an icy chill crawled down her spine.

Slowly, stiffly, she turned her head—

There was nothing there.

The empty street stretched before her, silent and unmoving, as if the whole town had been abandoned.

Her stomach twisted with unease. She quickened her pace, but before she could even process what was happening—

A sudden force yanked her backward, and the world plunged into darkness.

Anna jolted awake.

The scent of damp moss filled her lungs as she lay sprawled on the soft forest floor. Towering trees loomed over her, their branches forming a near-impenetrable canopy. The air was thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the distant hoot of an owl.

Her pulse pounded in her ears.

Where… am I?

Just moments ago, she had been in Havenwood—how had she ended up in the middle of a dense, shadowed forest?

She pushed herself up, trying to steady her breathing. Her mind raced, searching for any logical explanation, but nothing made sense.

When she attempted to stand, a sharp pain shot through her ankle. She gasped, looking down to see a thin line of blood welling from a shallow cut on her skin.

The metallic scent of her blood lingered in the air.

And that's when she felt it—

The shift in the atmosphere.

The air grew heavier, as if something unseen had taken notice of her.

A low growl rumbled through the trees.

Anna's head snapped up, her breath catching in her throat.

Glowing eyes flickered in the darkness, surrounding her from all sides.

Wolves.

But these were no ordinary wolves.

They were massive—larger than any wolf she had ever seen, their powerful bodies rippling with lean muscle. Their fur shimmered under the dim moonlight, their sharp claws sinking effortlessly into the damp earth.

They did not lunge. They did not snarl wildly.

They were watching her. Studying her.

Then, one of them stepped forward—a jet-black wolf with piercing golden eyes. The others moved aside as if yielding to him, their heads lowering in silent acknowledgment.

Anna heard the murmurs among them.

"Kaci."

The name came from one of the wolves, spoken in a deep, guttural tone.

Kaci's gaze raked over her, his lips curling into something that wasn't quite a snarl—but wasn't friendly either.

"A lost human?"

Anna's stomach twisted.

She could understand them.

But what unsettled her more was that she wasn't surprised by it.

The realization sent a ripple of unease through her.

Why wasn't she questioning this?

Why wasn't her first reaction to panic at hearing wolves speak?

Something about this—about them—felt disturbingly familiar.

"I… I didn't mean to trespass," she forced out, her voice hoarse. "I got lost."

Kaci huffed a breath, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in amusement.

"That doesn't change the fact that you don't belong here."

Just as Kaci advanced, a new voice cut through the air—deep, commanding, and impossible to ignore.

"Enough, Kaci."

A sudden stillness swept through the wolves.

They parted.

Anna watched as a figure emerged from the shadows—a tall, broad-shouldered man with an aura so intense that the entire forest seemed to bow under his presence.

His raven-black hair fell in loose waves around his face, sharp features illuminated by the silver glow of the moon.

But it was his eyes that held her captive—an icy, piercing blue, cold enough to send a shiver down her spine.

Anna didn't know who he was.

But she saw it.

The way the other wolves instinctively lowered their heads.

The way Kaci, despite his arrogance, begrudgingly took a step back.

The way the very air around them seemed to shift with his presence.

He was their leader.

Her breath caught in her throat as he approached, each step slow and deliberate.

His gaze swept over her, assessing, calculating, as if he could see right through her.

When he finally spoke, his voice was smooth yet laced with unyielding authority.

"Who… are you?"

Anna's heart pounded wildly in her chest.

She had no answer.

She was just a lost human—wasn't she?

Then why did she feel like…

Like this wasn't the first time she had seen those eyes?