Chapter 3
Sylvia's gaze snapped down as if she'd touched a hot stove, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of her chest.
"I heard you minored in human psychology?" Kaelen asked, his eyes still glued to his phone screen as his thumb flew across the keyboard.
"Y-Yes, Alpha Lord," Sylvia replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I need you to help me figure something out." Kaelen finally looked up. There was a hint of restlessness in his eyes that she had never seen before.
He handed her his phone.
Sylvia took it with trembling hands.
The screen showed their chat history. [Darling, show me your abs.]
There was a leering face emoji.
[Honey, are you really ignoring me?]
There were also signs of completed payments on Venmo, with the amount representing "I love you forever".
[Honey, are you okay? Did something happen?]
[If you don't answer, I'm calling the cops right now.]
Sylvia was stunned and nearly fainted on the spot.
"I met my girlfriend online," Kaelen said from above her, sounding a little hurt. "She always turns me down whenever I ask to meet up. You know psychology, so tell me what's going on in her head."
Sylvia tried to speak, but her throat was so dry that nothing came out.
She was plain terrified. That was all.
Sylvia struggled to find the right words. "M-Maybe she's not ready yet. T-Things are always different online and in real life—"
"I've checked," Kaelen cut her off, his voice tinged with urgency. "She's in this city.
"I had someone check the background of all those living near the Crescent Pack's territory, but there's no match. She could be human, or—"
He paused, his eyes turning unreadable. "Or maybe she's trying to keep her real identity under wraps."
Sylvia's back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.
Kaelen suddenly stood up and walked around the desk straight to her. His tall frame towered over her. "No matter what she looks like, I'll still love her. She saved my life, you know?"
Sylvia's eyes went wide with shock.
Half a year ago, during a stormy night at an abandoned factory, she saved an injured black wolf.
The wolf had fallen into a vampire trap, its hind leg torn and bleeding. It collapsed next to a pile of garbage, barely hanging on.
She braved the rain to bandage its wounds, gave it water, and kept it company till sunrise.
When morning came, the black wolf was gone, leaving behind nothing but a pile of blood-stained bandages.
Later, she met a local guy on a human social app. They chatted for a month before she realized he was a werewolf.
She didn't dare reveal that she was from the Crescent Pack and claimed to be a normal human girl.
It turned out that the black wolf was Kaelen.
Sylvia's eyes suddenly stung with tears.
She thought back to that rainy night. She could still feel the black wolf's warm breath brushing against her hands, and the rough texture when it licked her fingers.
She also remembered standing there for a long time holding an empty first-aid kit after the wolf left at sunrise.
"I ran into her on that app later," Kaelen said with a soft smile that made him look gentler.
"The way she talks, the emojis she likes, and the times she bursts into laughter are the same as the girl who looked after me that rainy night," he continued.
Sylvia's heart slammed hard against her ribs.
He had no idea that the girl he was talking about was standing in front of him. She wore the plain gray servant's apron, kept her head low, and didn't have the guts to glance his way.
"Sorry, Alpha Lord, but I'm afraid there's nothing I can do," Sylvia said, doing her best to sound calm even though her voice was trembling. "If there's nothing else, I'll go now."
She turned and practically bolted for the door.
"Wait." Kaelen grabbed her wrist. His palm was burning hot, and his grip was so strong it felt like he might crush her bones.
"Where did you get this bracelet?" Kaelen asked.
Sylvia glanced down and saw the moonstone bracelet on her left wrist.
The milky white beads shimmered with a gentle silvery glow under the light, each one perfectly smooth and round. Strung in the middle was a tiny wolf fang, engraved with a crescent mark.
It was a token of love that her online boyfriend had sent her three months ago.
He claimed it had been blessed at the Crescent Shrine and would keep her safe.
She cursed herself inwardly that she shouldn't have forgotten to take it off today.
"It was given to me by a friend, Alpha Lord." Sylvia's voice shook badly.
"A girl?" Kaelen asked.
"Yes," Sylvia replied.
Kaelen brushed his thumb across the moonstone, his touch so gentle it was like he was handling something precious.
He stared at her face, eyes full of suspicion, along with a faint smile.
"This bracelet looks kind of familiar," he said, sounding casual. "Take it off. Let me see it up close."