Prologue

I raised an eyebrow when I saw Rouge's things nearly all packed. The sound of my heels clicking on the floor was too loud to miss, so I knew he could hear me enter his room.

I crossed my arms and tried to get his attention. "So you and Dad really won't be stopped? Are you seriously going to worry me to death?"

He glanced at me in dismay, setting his tent bag down on the bed. The mattress sank slightly under the weight. He frowned as he folded his arms.

"Hon, we've been planning this hike for a long time. This was set since New Year's Eve. Please, don't do that. I don't want to see you looking like that before we leave."

He returned to packing, avoiding my gaze. I let out a deep sigh, walked over to his bed, and sat down, rubbing my temples.

"You don't understand, Rouge. Dad is the only family I have left. This hike is too much for him. He's old and shouldn't exert himself like this," I explained.

Rouge's shoulders slumped. I saw sympathy in his eyes as he looked at me. He lay down on the bed and wrapped his arms around my waist. A shiver ran down my spine when he gently kissed my cheek.

"I'm sorry, okay? I shouldn't have brought it up to him in the first place. But please try to understand Uncle Santi. It's been less than a year since your mom passed away. If he stays home, he'll only miss Auntie even more. He needs this hike, Tracy. He needs something to keep his mind busy." Sincerity was written all over his face.

I couldn't speak for a moment. I just stared into his eyes, then let out another deep sigh.

"What else can I do? You two are already ganging up on me over this. Ever since you and Dad got so close, I always lose every argument. Why don't the two of you just get married instead?"

A soft laugh escaped his lips. He kissed my shoulder and brushed away a few strands of hair from my face.

"My fiancée is jealous," he chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll take care of him. It's hard enough to find a future father-in-law who adores you, especially when his daughter is as beautiful, smart, and kind as you." He kissed my shoulder again.

I couldn't help but smile. Rouge's effect on me hadn’t faded one bit. He was still the sweet, adventurous guy I admired back in high school.

"You’ve already gotten permission, and yet you're still sweet-talking me." I raised an eyebrow at him.

He laughed again. "Who said that was sweet-talking?"

I shook my head, stood up, grabbed a pillow, and tossed it at him. "Whatever, hon."

Early in the morning, Rouge’s car honked in front of the house. I glanced at my father, who was already alert, grabbing his backpack. I stepped closer and hugged him tightly.

"Do you really have to go? That mountain is too steep. I've heard there are wild animals roaming around there too, Pa. It's not safe."

He gently kissed my head.

"Let me do this. Besides, before I married your mom, danger was already a part of my life. None of this is new to me."

I couldn’t do anything but nod. I knew my father wouldn’t back down from this.

I walked with him to the front of the house. Rouge stepped out of the car and immediately approached me. He softly kissed my lips.

"For the last time, boys. Aren’t you going to change your minds?" I said as they got into the car, but instead of answering, they just laughed.

"Goodbye, princess," my father said.

"Don’t worry, we’ll be fine, hon. I love you," Rouge added, brushing my cheek and then kissing my lips once more.

I shut my eyes at his kiss, feeling something I couldn’t quite explain. I slowly leaned my head out of the window as their car disappeared into the distance.

As Rouge’s car faded farther and farther away, that strange feeling grew stronger.

Fear... Why did I feel fear all of a sudden?

I wrapped my arms around myself as the wind blew fiercely. I adjusted my robe and went inside the house, but before I could fully shut the door, I felt it again.

Someone’s watching me…

I swallowed hard, glancing outside. The only light came from the street lamps because it was only three in the morning.

When I didn’t see anyone outside, I closed the door and made my way upstairs. I tried to sleep, but the unease I felt earlier wouldn’t leave me.

I glanced at the picture frame on the side table. Rouge smiled sweetly in the photo, holding me. It was a candid shot taken by my mom during a trip two years ago. It was the same day he proposed to me. We were supposed to marry the following year, but a tragedy struck—my mom died of a heart attack, and that became the darkest day of my life.

I’m thankful Rouge never left my side during those times when I didn’t know how to continue living. He was there, offering warmth in his embrace, letting my tears soak his clothes, loving me even when I was shutting myself off from everyone.

It was early morning when I received a video call from them. They were halfway through the first peak. Rouge said they might reach the top by afternoon and would likely set up camp there to spend the night.

Three hours later, he called again. They had reached the peak of the first mountain. He even showed me the breathtaking scenery through the video call.

"I’ll try to call later when we get there. I just hope there’s a signal so I can show you the summit." Rouge’s smile was unmistakable, his voice filled with excitement.

I took a sip of my coffee before answering. "What time did the guides say you'd arrive?"

He glanced at his wristwatch. "They said it’ll take about four to five hours, so probably around five o’clock."

A knock from the open door caught my attention. Tina was peeking in, holding a stack of folders.

"Tracy, the operations manager is here. He wants to discuss something with you," she said.

I nodded and motioned for her to wait before turning back to my laptop. "Hon, I have a meeting. I’ll wait for your call later. Take care, okay? And don’t forget to look after Dad."

He smiled sweetly. "Yup. You too."

"Okay, I have to go. I’ll see you soon." I started to hang up, but his voice stopped me.

"Wait, hon," he said softly.

"Hmm?" There was a pause as he seemed to study my face before smiling again.

"Nothing. I just want to remind you how much I love you."

I couldn’t respond, feeling something strange in the way he said those words.

Over the five years we were together, not a single day had gone by without him reminding me how much he loved me. He had always been sweet and thoughtful, but something felt off this time. My gut was telling me something was wrong.

The meeting with Mr. Pio dragged on, but my thoughts were elsewhere. I couldn’t shake the ominous feeling, even though I tried to push it out of my mind.

By five o’clock, I had left work and was in the parking lot when I remembered Rouge’s words. It was past five. He should’ve called by now, but there was no call, no message—nothing, even after I got home.

As dawn broke, I became increasingly restless. I sat staring at my phone, waiting for his call or a text, but the night passed with no sign of him.

I couldn’t sleep. I kept dialing their number, but it just rang and rang until the line went dead.

At the office, I kept glancing at my phone, unable to concentrate. The unease only grew stronger. I kept trying to calm myself, but the feeling wouldn’t go away. Something wasn’t right.

Just past three in the afternoon, two police officers arrived at the office and asked for me. My heart sank before I even faced them. I hoped I was wrong.

"Are you Miss Tracy Florendale?" one of the officers asked.

I glanced between them, my mind spinning, before I nodded. "Y-Yes. Why?"

"Your father and your boyfriend had an accident on Mt. Vermin. Your father has some minor injuries and is being treated at the hospital. He requested that you be contacted. Mr. Ember was critically injured and unconscious when they were brought to the hospital."

The news hit me like a ton of bricks. I barely had the strength to stand. Tina rushed to my side, helping me as my knees buckled.

"Take me to them," I managed to whisper.

Tina insisted on accompanying me, afraid that I might get into an accident if I drove alone.

At the hospital, I rushed toward the ICU, my heart pounding. Outside Rouge’s room, I found my father. His head was bandaged, and his right arm was in a cast.

I broke down when I reached him. Even he fought back tears. I approached the glass window of Rouge’s room. His body was wrapped in bandages, hoses in his mouth, and wires connected to his body.

"D-Dad, what happened?" I whispered, trying to hold back my tears.

"We were attacked. He tried to save me, but... he was the one who got hurt. Bitten, Tracy," my father said, barely able to hold back his emotion.

"B-Bitten? By what?" I asked, my heart racing.

He hesitated, struggling to find the right words. His eyes averted mine, and he took a deep breath before answering.

"Lycanthropes..."