C2 The alpha

Uncle Fidel was one of those in charge of the food storage. He was the man who bought me. That's why he bought everything needed for that day.

While the workers were unloading the groceries and other things Uncle Fidel bought, I stayed in the carriage.

I saw my fellow creatures in one cage. Two people were carrying them to put them in the storage room.

They were looking at me. It was clear from their eyes that they were confused. They wondered why I wasn't with them and why I was just in the carriage.

We were on different paths now, but even if we separated, we shared the same fate.

We would also meet our end at the hands of the werewolves.

......

"When I'm not here and I'm at work, you'll stay at home."

"Eat and do as you please inside the house. But never, ever go outside."

Uncle Fidel taught me what to do, unlike in the pet shop. Here, I dressed properly.

I ate at the right times and could sleep well.

I don't know how long my life will remain this way. I am a nymph.

And no matter what, I won't stay in this world forever.

Among all of us, nymphs have the shortest lives in this world.

......

Four months ago...

I heard a rustling outside.

Uncle Fidel also didn't allow me to open the window when I was alone at home.

So, all I could do was peek through the crack in the wall.

The snow continued to fall on that month. The white snow covered the surroundings.

I saw a young deer through the hole. My eyes widened.

I felt my heart fill with pity for the deer's situation. I could see that the poor little thing was very cold.

I clenched my fist when I remembered Uncle Fidel's warnings. But I couldn't bear to leave the deer outside.

I saw my own situation in that deer. That's how I used to be before I met Uncle Fidel.

So, I was compelled to go to the door. I hesitated as I turned the doorknob.

And upon opening it, the white world immediately greeted me. The cold wind, accompanied by snowflakes, brushed against my cheek.

I hugged my body.

I was only wearing a white jacket and a long skirt. My white hair cascaded down. Hair color that only nymphs have.

I endured the cold to approach the poor young deer.

It was crying when I got closer.

It seemed to be asking for help from me. I smiled and bent down to pick it up.

I held its small body and cradled it in my arms. I hugged it.

"Y-You're okay, you're okay. I'm here, you're okay," I stammered to the poor deer.

Whenever Uncle Fidel was around, I didn't attempt to speak. But I learned their words.

Whenever Uncle Fidel wasn't there, I used to make a sentence and tried to pronounce them. I didn't know why I wanted to do it, even though I had so few days left in this world.

I shouldn't be wasting my time on such things.

But that's what I kept doing.

I was close to Uncle Fidel's small house when I heard the neighing of a horse.

I turned around in surprise. A man with a strong physique was on top of the horse. I guessed he wasn't much younger than Uncle Fidel.

Paraphrase: The man had a spear at his back, and a lifeless deer was mounted on the back of his horse.

My eyes widened. I slowly looked at the deer I was carrying.

I suspected that the mother of the young deer I was carrying was the one being carried by this man.

I gasped when he drew a knife. There was a coldness in his eyes as he stared at me.

He had long hair tied back, and an earring in one ear. His eyes were a yellowish color, like gold.

I blinked. The eyes turn yellow when a werewolf holds a high rank in society.

This man was undoubtedly a close relative of the Alpha.

"Come here," the man said firmly.

I stepped back, clutching the young deer in fear.

"Nymph..." His voice carried a tone of threat.

I swallowed hard. I began to back away slowly, ready to run if he approached.

My role in this world was merely sustenance. I used to accept that.

But ever since I learned to live like them and sleep in more comfortable places, I realized I wanted to live longer.

Only now did it occur to me that the reason I wanted to learn their language and behave like them was that I desired a longer life, just like theirs.

I felt like I was committing sacrilege, but I wanted to. I wanted to defy our laws.

My eyes widened as he began to draw an arrow from the quiver strapped to his back.

He held his bow, clearly about to harm me. So, before he could do that, I ran.

However, I had only taken a few steps when his arrow struck my left leg.

I fell into the soft and cold snow. I wanted to move, to run.

But he caught my arm, quickly hoisting me onto his shoulder as if I were weightless.

"L-Let go! Let go!" I shouted.

He paused. "The nymph can speak now?"

He set me down and pinched my cheeks, forcing me to look into his eyes.

The golden color in his eyes faded, replaced by a brownish hue.

"Is Fidel really taking care of a nymph now?" His unusual smirk appeared, but his eyes remained cold.

I winced as he touched the arrow that remained lodged in my leg.

A gust of wind seemed to pass between the two of us. In the blink of an eye, I was on Uncle Fidel's shoulder.

We stood at a distance from the man who had ill intentions towards me.

I had no idea how Uncle had taken me from the man's grasp so quickly.

I sat in the snow because one of my legs, struck by an arrow, was losing strength.

The man grinned as if he had been anticipating Uncle Fidel's sudden appearance.

"I apologize for the nymph's intrusion. I'll make sure it won't happen again," he said.

"How long have you been taking care of her here?" he interrupted in a stern voice.

"F-Four months, sir," Uncle Fidel replied, bowing his head.

"I know you don't eat nymphs. But what's the reason for taking care of her? Is it because... this girl is beautiful?"

Uncle looked at the man in surprise."That's not the reason, dear Alpha Zeus.

"My eyes widened. Did this mean the Alpha himself was standing before me?

"Is it because of your child again? Do you see your child in her? And in a nymph?" the Alpha chuckled.

I glanced at Uncle Fidel.I couldn't understand which child the Alpha was referring to.Child? Did nymphs have families too? Maybe not. Because we were of different kinds.

The Alpha strapped his bow and arrows to his back and mounted his horse again.

"If you order me to drive the nymph out of your territory, I will not disobey. I will remove her, but let me be the one to escort her myself."

"No it's okay, Fidel," the Alpha intervened. "Don't worry. I don't care if you treating that nymph as your own child. Don't be afraid of me, but be more careful of my son."

The Alpha held the horse's reins.

"No matter what happens, keep the nymph hidden from my son's eyes," the Alpha advised, turning to her with a meaningful smile. "Because I can't promise I can control him."

"Understood!" Uncle Fidel responded.

And from where we stood, we both watched the Alpha ride away.