“Ah?” Glenn blinked after tending to his last customer. “I was only guessing.”

  But Leila had already begun to speak. “That day truly frightened her—may God bless poor Bonnie. Ever since then, she’s become withdrawn and silent, always lost in thought. We’ve all tried to cheer her up, but nothing works. Her mother worries so much that she’s come to school more than once to see her… sometimes hiding in a corner, weeping quietly—I saw it with my own eyes.

  “If I hadn’t dragged her along that day, none of this would’ve happened. It’s all my fault…”

  As she spoke, the kind-hearted girl’s eyes reddened, and tears trembled on her lashes. Glenn gave a rueful smile and comforted her,

  “How could it be your fault? You’re a good girl—everyone can see that, right?”

  He shot a look toward the three boys behind her. After a few awkward seconds, they all nodded in agreement.

  Satisfied, Glenn continued, “So don’t blame yourself. If you must blame someone, blame—”

  Me?! The realization struck him like lightning. This whole mess started because of me! Coughing twice, he abruptly changed course. “Anyway… it’ll be fine. Time heals all things. Believe me.”

  He made a mental note: I should check on that little girl soon. This one’s on me.

  “Yes, Leila, don’t worry too much,” said Brock, the red-haired boy, chiming in at the perfect moment.

  The others joined in their reassurances. Even Perlnas seemed to want to speak, though after hesitating, she merely reached out a hand and then withdrew it.

  When Leila’s mood finally steadied, Glenn glanced toward the distance and teased, “Alright now, that fine young lady over there seems to be running out of patience—you’d better go.”

  His voice was loud enough for the golden-haired girl to hear. It was quite deliberate.

  Hearing it, Perlnas lifted her chin proudly and gave a faint huff, like a swan too dignified to descend to the mud.

  Leila flushed even deeper with embarrassment, but since Glenn had spoken so plainly, she couldn’t linger any longer and disrupt his business.

  “I’m sorry, I’ll speak to her properly. Please don’t hold it against her,” Leila said with a polite curtsy before leading her friends away.

  Glenn chuckled and waved them off, then bent his head back to work.

  Some distance away, Brock couldn’t help asking, “Leila, how did you meet that man? And what exactly happened with you and Bonnie? You never tell us anything…”

  Leila pressed her lips together. She hadn’t wanted to go out at all—her father’s threat still hung over her, and even with all the extra patrols around town, she couldn’t shake the unease. But her friends’ concern had finally persuaded her.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Now that Brock had asked directly, she knew she couldn’t avoid it any longer. In a quiet voice, she told them everything that had happened when she’d encountered her father.

  Gasps escaped her companions. Perlnas even rushed forward and clasped her hand, her eyes wide with sympathy. “That’s terrible! How could you not tell us you went through something like that? You must feel so unsafe! Come stay at my house for a few days—bring Bonnie too. My family’s guards will protect you.”

  Touched by her sincerity, Leila’s anger toward her melted somewhat. She shook her head. “I can’t—my mother needs me. Take Bonnie instead; she needs it more.”

  “It’s alright, your mother can—” Perlnas started, but seeing Leila’s firm refusal, she let the matter drop.

  ——

  After sending off the group of teenagers, Glenn’s stall soon drew new customers.

  Through idle chatter, he learned the reason for the heavy police patrols earlier.

  Several children had gone missing in town, throwing every family into panic. The victims’ parents often stormed the police office demanding answers, and under such pressure, the patrols had been intensified.

  So it’s true, Glenn mused, frowning. This reeks of Leila’s father’s work. And if they’re that desperate, they won’t spare even teenagers… Human traffickers—vile, but common in this era.

  Stretching lazily, he muttered under his breath, “I’ll have to keep an eye on this.”

  In his previous life, he’d despised traffickers—if he ever crossed paths with one again, he’d show no mercy.

  “Excuse me, how much for this cut of meat?”

  A lilting, melodic voice drew him back to the present.

  “One beller and four—” Glenn began automatically, but froze when he looked up.

  Standing before his stall was a woman of striking beauty. A wide-brimmed hat shaded her face, her gown was elegant yet understated, and black lace gloves adorned her slender hands.

  Her skin was pale—unnaturally so—and her lips gleamed a vivid crimson. She stood out against the dusty marketplace like a blood-red rose blooming in snow.

  She gazed at him with an enigmatic, almost playful smile.

  “You, miss,” Glenn drawled, brow arching, “are not quite… normal.”

  The smile faltered. Of all the reactions she’d imagined, that certainly wasn’t one of them.

  “Oh?” she murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, her amusement returning. “And what makes you say that?”

  It wasn’t just her appearance—there was something off about her scent, her presence. Glenn could feel his blood stirring restlessly in his veins. If she’d carried the faint aura of Bayek Town, he might not have been surprised. But she didn’t.

  “Everything about you,” he replied flatly.

  “You—” The “not-normal” lady narrowed her beautiful eyes, as though trying to see straight through him. Then, leaning forward on the counter, her crimson lips brushed dangerously close to his ear as she whispered, fragrant breath warm against his skin, “You’re not normal either… are you, Mr. Werewolf?”

  “Oh, you noticed. How shocking.” Glenn’s tone was deadpan.

  Her expression froze again, and this time irritation flickered beneath her poise. A mere werewolf dares speak so casually to me?

  Yet she quickly reined in her temper. Losing composure before an opponent was the mark of the uncultured. One must always remain elegant.

  “A werewolf peddling pork in a human town—has your pack’s alpha stopped feeding you?” she mocked lightly, trailing a gloved finger over a slab of meat.

  She’s what, exactly? Glenn wondered. A vampire? She certainly looks the part—but it’s broad daylight. Aren’t vampires supposed to burn in sunlight? Maybe a strong one, then.

  Feigning indifference, he asked, “Alpha? What alpha?”

  Her eyes widened. “You’re… a stray?”

  “Say that again,” Glenn growled, eyes narrowing.

  But she ignored his warning and burst into laughter, shoulders shaking as her laughter rippled through the air—bright, mocking, musical.

  Glenn stared at her as if at a lunatic.

  When her laughter finally subsided, she looked at him once more and said, in an oddly nostalgic tone, “If the old Wolf King knew what you’re doing now, he’d be furious.”