The night air over Tevlon Castle was heavy with tension, thick with the scent of rain and smoke. Princess Tevlon pressed her back against the cold stone wall, her heart hammering like a war drum. Outside, the clatter of armored boots echoed through the courtyard, punctuated by snarls that didn't belong to any ordinary soldier.
"Your Highness!" a guard yelled, trying to block the gates. "They're coming—"
Before he could finish, a shadow darted past him, faster than any human could move. It lunged at the attackers, teeth glinting in the torchlight. The men fell one by one, howls splitting the night. Tevlon froze, staring at the creature. A wolf. Not just any wolf—this one moved with the intelligence of a predator that could think like a man.
The wolf's eyes met hers, golden and piercing, and in that moment, she felt a strange pull. Protection, power… and something unspoken.
"Princess Tevlon, come with me," the wolf said—not in words, but in a voice that echoed in her mind. Startled, she instinctively obeyed.
They sprinted through the secret corridors beneath the castle. Fire cracked behind them, screams of guards and invaders mixing into a symphony of chaos. She could feel the wolf's muscles beneath her hands, hear the quiet intelligence guiding her steps.
"Who… what are you?" she whispered, barely able to keep up.
The wolf's ears twitched, and his eyes flickered. In a flash of light, his form shifted—limbs elongated, hands forming, chest rising to human height. Standing before her now was a man, wild hair like dark smoke, eyes still that golden wolf-gaze.
"Kane," he said simply, his voice low but steady. "And you're in danger, Princess. Posidus will not stop until he has your throne—and your life."
Tevlon's stomach dropped. She'd heard whispers of Posidus, the dark beast who craved power and blood. But she'd never imagined he'd come for her… not so soon, not with such ferocity.
"Why are you helping me?" she demanded, though her voice wavered.
Kane's eyes softened for a split second. "Because your kingdom is worth saving. And because… some debts are older than either of us can imagine."
Thunder rolled above as they emerged into the forest, the castle a burning shadow behind them. Every branch, every rustle, every distant howl made her pulse race. She realized in that instant—her life had changed forever.
And with Kane by her side, she wasn't just running. She was about to fight.