Chapter 1

Aria’s POV

At dusk, my dad, Marcus, became really strange.

He gripped my shoulders tightly, with a fear in his eyes I'd never seen before: "Aria, listen to me! At tonight's ceremony, you absolutely cannot speak carelessly or get close to anyone!"

I blinked and nodded obediently: "I know, Daddy."

Actually, I didn't quite understand why Dad was so nervous, but he looked really scared, so I decided to listen.

"Especially—" Dad's voice became smaller and smaller, like he was talking about something terrifying, "you absolutely cannot approach the Alpha King. Do you hear me? Absolutely not!"

I tilted my head and asked: "Why? Is he scary?"

Dad took a deep breath and lowered his voice: "Aria, he's a... very dangerous person. Everyone fears him."

"So he's a bad person?" I widened my eyes.

Dad's face suddenly turned white as paper.

"Aria, this isn't a joke!" He shook my shoulders so hard I felt dizzy, "If you anger him, our entire Nightfall Pack will be doomed! Do you understand?"

I still didn't quite understand, but Dad looked really anxious, so I smiled and said: "Okay, okay, I won't make him angry."

While Dad wasn't paying attention, I secretly touched the honey candies in my pocket. Today I had packed lots and lots of them, sweet ones. If I met someone unhappy, I could give them some.

Yes, I've been able to smell people's scents since I was little—good people smell nice and comfortable, bad people smell stinky and make me want to throw up, and sad people have a sour, bitter scent. Every time I give candy to sad people, they become a little bit happier.

Dad turned around to talk to Mom, his voice very quiet: "If the Alpha King discovers her ability..."

Huh? Were they talking about my ability to smell scents? Why would they be afraid?

I wanted to ask Mom and Dad, but they looked very busy and nervous, constantly preparing clothes for tonight.

When night fell, we finally set off. Deep in the forest, I saw a very large circular plaza.

Wow! So many people!

But it was strange—everyone was looking down, no one was talking, and the air was filled with the scent of fear. Such a thick, heavy scent of fear that it made my nose uncomfortable.

"Daddy, why are they all trembling?" I asked quietly.

"Shh! Don't talk!" Dad's face turned white again.

I didn't understand why everyone was so nervous. This clearly looked like a fun gathering.

Suddenly, a person appeared on the platform ahead.

Wow, such a tall man!

Everyone immediately bowed their heads even lower, some even started trembling. Dad also gripped my hand tightly.

This must be the Alpha Dad mentioned!

He was really handsome, more handsome than anyone I'd ever seen. The moonlight shone on him like a prince from a fairy tale.

But... huh?

I quietly sniffed the air, wanting to smell whether he was a good person or bad person.

Strange, he didn't have that stinky smell that made people want to throw up. Instead, it was...

Such a bitter, bitter scent.

Like mixing the most bitter medicine with the sourest lemon, plus a lonely scent that made people want to cry.

"Huh?" I couldn't help saying, "Why are they so afraid? He doesn't smell like a bad person..."

"Aria! Shut up!" Dad was so scared he nearly jumped.

But I was really confused. Why was everyone so afraid of someone who smelled so sad?

I thought about this while watching person after person kneel and bow ahead of us. Everyone was trembling, everyone was afraid to look up at that man.

Soon it was our turn.

Dad and Mom both knelt down, but I didn't understand why we had to kneel, so I just stood there.

Then I saw that handsome Alpha look at me.

His eyes were golden, so beautiful! Bright and sparkling like sunlight.

I tilted my head and looked at him, trying hard to smell his scent.

"Really strange..." I said quietly, "He clearly smells very sad, so why does everyone say he's a bad person?"

When Dad heard my words, his face turned even whiter, like he was about to faint.

But I was really curious—why was this Alpha so sad? His bitter scent was heavier than anyone I'd ever met, like his heart was hiding lots and lots of tears.

I remembered the honey candies in my pocket. Those candies were very, very sweet—maybe they could make him a little bit happy?

So I walked toward him.

"Aria!" Dad called from behind, his voice changed.

"Come back! Come back quickly!" Mom was calling too.

But I didn't stop, because I felt this man really needed a candy.

I walked to the bottom of the platform and looked up at him. He was really, really tall—I had to crane my neck until it hurt.

"You..." I thought for a moment, then asked, "Why do you look unhappy?"

That person's eyes suddenly widened, like he'd heard something incredible.

I pulled out one of my favorite honey candies from my pocket and stood on my tiptoes, trying to hand it to him: "This is very, very sweet. I hope it can make you feel a little better."

I looked at him sincerely: "You look very sad, sadder than anyone else."

Suddenly everything became very, very quiet—even the insects stopped chirping.

Everyone was looking at us, but I didn't understand why everyone's expressions were so strange.

This Alpha kept staring at me, staring at the candy in my hand. His golden eyes held something I couldn't understand.

Then he spoke, his voice low and pleasant: "Interesting..."

He slowly bent down and took the candy from my hand!

He accepted it! He really accepted my candy!

I smiled happily, because no one had ever refused my candy before.

"This little one..." he looked at me, his eyes seeming to sparkle with stars, "how did she know I..."

I tilted my head and thought, not knowing how to answer. I couldn't tell him I smelled it, could I? Dad had said not to tell anyone this secret.

"I... I just felt you were very sad." I said quietly, "Your eyes look very lonely, like you have no friends."

I thought for a moment and said seriously: "But I think you're a good person, just unhappy."

That person looked at me with very gentle eyes, warm like spring sunlight.

Then he said something I didn't quite understand:

"Alpha Marcus, bring this little one to my territory in three days."

His eyes were bright in the moonlight, his voice very soft: "I want to... get to know this interesting little one."

Huh? He said I was interesting? And he wanted to invite me to visit his home?

Why? I only gave him candy.

Though I didn't quite understand, I felt this person was very gentle, and since he accepted my candy, he should be a good person.

Maybe we could become friends!