Midnight sat quietly in the garden, her thoughts circling endlessly around the girl she had collided with at the park. Ever since the mate mark appeared on her chest, the image of that stranger refused to leave her mind. It was as if something inside her was constantly pulling her toward the girl—calling her, urging her to look for her.
She pressed a hand against her chest, feeling the strange heaviness there. It wasn't pain, but it weighed on her all the same, making it hard to breathe.
Why am I acting like this? she wondered.
She didn't understand why her heart reacted so strongly, why she longed to see someone she barely knew.
Is she really my mate? Midnight thought, remembering Aunt Lyra's words. I don't even know what a mate truly is. I don't even know what she looks like—she left so quickly.
Her thoughts drifted back to the park. Maybe… just maybe, she could find her again. Midnight believed she might recognize the girl by her scent alone—the faint, unmistakable fragrance of hyacinths that still lingered in her memory.
Soon, she felt it—the unmistakable sensation of being watched. Midnight didn't need to turn around to know it was Iris and Eris. Her senses had grown sharper lately, stronger than before. Even from a distance, she could clearly hear their voices.
"Why is Midnight like that?" Iris whispered. "She's staring blankly, like she's lost in deep thought."
They walked over and sat beside her.
"Midnight, are you okay?" Eris asked gently. "Do you want to go for a walk?"
Midnight lifted her head and nodded. "Okay. Let's go to the park again. I want some ice cream there."
Iris and Eris exchanged a glance, silently noting how unusual Midnight was acting. As vampires, they could read the thoughts of almost anyone around them—except Midnight. That alone unsettled them. Why couldn't they hear her thoughts?
"Alright," Iris said carefully. "Let's go."
As they walked toward the park, Iris noticed Midnight scanning every passerby, her gaze lingering a little too long on each face.
"Midnight," Iris said, slowing her steps, "I've noticed something. Is there someone you're looking for? You keep staring at everyone we pass—even strangers."
"It's nothing," Midnight replied quickly. "I'm just looking."
But Iris wasn't convinced.
As they neared the park, Midnight suddenly froze. She spotted an old woman stepping into the street—just as a car rushed toward her.
Without thinking, Midnight ran.
In the blink of an eye, she reached the woman and pulled her back just in time. The car sped past, missing them by mere seconds. Iris and Eris stared in shock, stunned by how fast Midnight had moved.
The old woman clutched Midnight's hands, her eyes sharp and knowing.
"Thank you," she said softly. Then her voice dropped to a warning. "You must protect her. She will become your weakness."
Midnight's breath caught.
Before she could ask what the woman meant, the old woman pulled away and walked off, disappearing into the crowd.
Midnight stood there, shaken, watching her leave. Why would she say that?
Iris and Eris looked just as confused, but neither spoke.
They continued on to the park together. And once they arrived, Midnight closed her eyes and breathed deeply, letting her senses guide her.
She began to search for the girl who had collided with her—following the lingering scent of hyacinths.
Night was approaching, yet Midnight still hadn't found the girl she had collided with. The park slowly emptied, and the scent she was searching for faded into the cool evening air. With quiet reluctance, she asked Iris and Eris if they could go home.
As they walked back, Iris noticed something was wrong. Midnight moved as if she were carrying an invisible weight, her expression distant and unreadable. Iris wanted to ask—but chose to remain silent.
When they arrived at the house, they found Kael standing in the garden.
"How was your trip to the park?" Kael asked warmly.
"It was okay, Uncle Kael," Midnight replied. Without another word, she walked past them and went straight inside.
Kael frowned, watching her retreating figure. Something about her felt… different.
Once Midnight was out of sight, Kael turned to the twins. "What happened to her? Why does she look like that?"
"We don't know either, Dad," Eris answered. "We didn't push her. She probably wouldn't tell us even if we asked."
Iris hesitated before speaking. "Dad… on the way to the park, an old woman almost got hit by a car. Midnight saved her."
Kael's eyes widened.
"She reached the woman incredibly fast," Iris continued. "Midnight is changing, Dad. What if that's not all she can do? What if she can hear us—or read our minds? If that happens, she might find out the truth."
Kael grew silent. Midnight couldn't know yet. Not now.
"We have to be careful," he said finally. "The truth must come slowly. If we rush it, she may be hurt—or angry."
The three of them went inside, each carrying unspoken worries.
Meanwhile, Midnight sat in the living room, absently playing with her dogs. Suddenly, she pulled Champ into her arms and hugged him tightly, as if she had been gone for far too long.
Davon, who had just entered the room, stopped when he saw her.
"You seem different lately," he said gently. He had overheard Kael's conversation in the garden—and it unsettled him.
"It's nothing," Midnight replied softly. "I'm just not feeling well."
She stood. "I want to rest. I'm going up to my room."
Davon watched her go, puzzled, but decided not to press her. Maybe she truly was unwell.
In her room, Midnight lay down on her bed, her thoughts drifting back to the moment she was struck by the girl at the park. The memory remained vivid—the shock, the warmth, the scent.
She would never forget the scent of hyacinths.
Without realizing it, Midnight fell asleep.
In her dream, she stood in an amusement park, lights glowing softly around her. She was holding someone's hand—a girl walking beside her. Though the girl's face was blurred, her presence felt unmistakably real.
They wandered through the park together, laughter filling the air.
"I love you, Midnight," the girl whispered before leaning in and kissing her.
Midnight kissed her back.
Even in her sleep, a smile curved on her lips.
Though it was only a dream, the feeling lingered. The girl felt familiar. Inevitable.
And somewhere deep inside, Midnight knew—
this was not something she could escape.
It was her destiny.
Midnight woke early that morning. She had school, and she was also going to accompany the twins to the airport to see Kael off on his business trip to America.
She rose from her bed with an unfamiliar lightness in her chest.
The dream from the night before still clung to her, filling her with a quiet, unexplainable happiness. She didn't know why she felt so joyful—especially when she couldn't even remember the girl's face. And yet, the warmth lingered, steady and comforting, as if something precious had settled inside her.
In the bathroom, steam filled the air as Midnight prepared to shower. As she undressed, her gaze drifted to the mirror—and stopped.
There, on her chest, was a red mark shaped like a full moon.
Her breath caught.
Slowly, she lifted her hand and touched it, her fingers trembling against her skin. Without thinking, words slipped from her lips, soft but certain.
"I will find you… and protect you."
The moment the words left her mouth, her reflection changed.
Her eyes glowed red.
Midnight froze, staring at herself in shock. Her heart began to race—not only because of what she saw, but because of what she had said. Those words hadn't been planned. They hadn't even been understood. They had simply… emerged, as if spoken by something deeper than her thoughts.
Confusion swirled inside her. So much about her was changing. Things she had never been able to do before. Things she didn't understand. And now this—something called a mate, a word she didn't even know the meaning of, and eyes that no longer reflected who she thought she was.
For the first time, one thought became clear.
She needed the truth.
After bathing and getting dressed, Midnight went downstairs. Davon was already there.
"Good morning, my dear brother," she greeted him.
Davon paused, surprised. Midnight looked brighter than she had in days.
"You seem to be in a good mood today," he said gently. "Are you feeling better? Eat your breakfast now."
"Oh yes," Midnight replied with a small smile. "I'm feeling better."
While she was eating, Iris suddenly appeared. "Midnight, are you ready? We're taking Dad to the airport before school."
"Okay. I'm ready. Bye, Davon," Midnight said, standing up before she could finish her breakfast. Iris was already in a hurry.
They soon got into the car and headed toward the airport. Traffic slowed them down, and as the car idled, Midnight felt it again—a strange sensation blooming in her chest.
It wasn't pain. It was a pull.
Something urged her to look to her right.
She turned her head toward the window—and just as she did, the car began to move again.
At the airport, they walked inside to see Kael off. As soon as they entered, that same sensation returned, stronger this time. It wrapped around her chest and tugged at her feet, drawing her toward a different path.
Before she could stop herself, Midnight turned and walked away.
With each step, a familiar scent reached her senses.
Hyacinths.
Her heart skipped. She searched the crowd, but the scent faded as quickly as it had come, dissolving into the noise and movement of the terminal.
Realizing she was alone, Midnight turned back.
When she returned, Iris looked at her anxiously. "Where did you go? Dad already left—you disappeared suddenly. He'll be back before your birthday, so we can all be together then."
"I thought I recognized someone," Midnight replied quietly. "But I was wrong."
"We were worried," Eris said. "Come on, let's go. We'll be late for school."
They headed to the parking lot, where their driver, Theo, was waiting. As the car pulled away, Midnight fell silent, her thoughts drifting far beyond the road ahead.
I smelled her scent at the airport, she thought. That means she's left Thailand.
Her fingers curled slowly in her lap.
If she has gone, then I will wait for her return.
A calm certainty settled in her heart.
And when we meet again… I will make sure we do.