Akira didn't stop running.
The forest blurred past him, shadows
stretching and snapping as he moved.
But no matter how far he went—
He couldn't escape it.
The song.
It lingered in his head.
Soft.
Broken.
Endless.
He growled under his breath, dragging a hand through his hair.
"Forget it."
But his body refused.
His steps slowed.
Then stopped.
The forest fell silent around him.
Even the wind seemed to wait.
Akira clenched his fists.
His claws pressed into his palms.
Not my problem.
That's what he told himself.
That's what he needed to believe.
She was nothing to him.
A stranger.
A distraction.
A risk.
A trap.
But then—
He heard it again.
Faint.
Barely there.
A whisper of a melody drifting through the night.
His head snapped up.
Eyes narrowing.
"That's not possible…"
The warehouse was miles away.
And yet—
The sound found him.
Not through the air.
Through him.
Akira's chest tightened.
His heartbeat shifted.
Slower.
Heavier.
Like something inside him was… responding
.
His breath caught.
For a brief moment—
The curse went quiet.
Akira froze.
That had never happened before.
Not once.
Not in years.
Silence.
Real silence.
His wolf—
Still.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…What are you?"
The question wasn't fear.
It was realization.
Without another thought—
He turned.
And ran back.
The warehouse loomed ahead once more.
Dead.
Rotting.
Watching.
Akira slowed as he approached.
Careful now.
Silent.
The guards were still there.
Less alert.
Laughing.
Unaware.
Good.
He moved along the shadows, slipping past broken walls and rusted metal.
Climbing.
Watching.
Waiting.
Inside—
She hadn't moved.
Chains still wrapped around her.
Silver biting into her skin.
But something was different.
The air around her shimmered faintly.
Like heat.
Like water bending light.
Akira's gaze sharpened.
There it is…
The song wasn't just sound.
It was power.
Hidden.
Controlled.
And she was holding it back.
Why?
One of the hunters stepped closer.
Impatient.
"Still not talking?" he muttered.
He grabbed her arm roughly.
Akira's body tensed.
Something dangerous flickered in his chest.
The hunter raised his hand—
And stopped.
His expression shifted.
Confused.
"…What the—"
The chains trembled.
A low hum filled the air.
Not loud.
But heavy.
Like pressure building beneath the surface of the ocean.
Akira's eyes widened slightly.
The ground beneath them vibrated.
Dust falling from the ceiling.
The mermaid's eyes opened.
This time—
They weren't empty.
They glowed.
Soft blue.
Deep.
Endless.
And for the first time—
There was emotion.
Not fear.
Anger.
The hunter staggered back.
"What is she doing—"
The chain snapped.
Not all of them.
Just one.
But that was enough.
The room shifted instantly.
Panic.
Shouting.
Weapons raised.
"STOP HER!"
Too late.
The air twisted.
Water—impossible, unreal—began to gather from nowhere.
From the air.
From the ground.
From something unseen.
Akira stepped forward without thinking.
This wasn't just power.
This was control.
Dangerous control.
And she was losing it.
The water surged—
Then stopped.
Everything froze.
The mermaid's body trembled.
Her breathing uneven.
She was holding it back.
Again.
Why?
Their eyes met.
This time—
There was no distance.
No indifference.
Just one silent question passing between them.
Help me.
Akira's jaw tightened.
This was the moment.
The line he couldn't cross.
If he stepped in—
Everything would change.
Hunters.
War.
Exposure.
His pack.
His life.
Everything.
The hunter raised a silver blade behind her.
A killing strike.
Akira moved.
Too fast to see.
Too late to stop himself.
The blade never landed.
Because it hit him instead.
Silver burned instantly.
But he didn't flinch.
Didn't stop.
The room went silent.
All eyes on him.
Akira stood between her and the hunters.
Breathing slow.
Controlled.
His eyes glowed faintly in the dark.
And for the first time—
He didn't hide it.
"…You picked the wrong prey.
"Akira didn't stop moving.
The moment the silver blade touched his skin, pain exploded through his arm—
Sharp.
Burning.
Unforgiving.
But he didn't flinch.
The hunter froze, eyes wide in shock.
"…What are you—"
Akira moved.
Too fast.
His hand shot forward, gripping the man's wrist.
A twist—
A crack—
The blade dropped.
The hunter screamed.
Akira shoved him back, sending him crashing into the others.
Bodies collided.
Weapons clattered.
Chaos erupted.
"IT'S A WOLF!"
"ATTACK!"
Too slow.
Akira was already in motion.
He lunged forward, his claws tearing through the nearest hunter's weapon before raking across his chest.
Blood sprayed.
The man dropped.
Another came from the side—
Gun raised—
Akira ducked.
The shot fired.
Too loud.
Too close.
The bullet grazed past him, slamming into the wall behind.
Akira surged upward—
His fist slammed into the man's jaw.
A sickening crack echoed.
The hunter crumpled instantly.
More rushed in.
Too many.
Akira's eyes flickered briefly—
Glowing.
The wolf inside him stirred.
Dangerously.
He spun, dodging another strike, then drove his elbow into a hunter's throat.
The man collapsed, choking.
A blade slashed toward his side—
This time—
It hit.
Silver.
Akira's body jolted.
A sharp hiss escaped his lips.
Pain tore through him—
Worse than before.
But instead of retreating—
He stepped forward.
Into the attack.
The hunter hesitated—
That was his mistake.
Akira grabbed him.
Lifted him.
Slammed him into the ground hard enough to crack the floor beneath.
Silence fell for half a second.
Then—
Panic.
"FALL BACK!
"CALL FOR BACKUP!"
One of them bolted for the door.
Akira saw him.
Their eyes met.
The hunter didn't stop.
Good.
Akira let him go.
Let them come.
It didn't matter.
He was already done here.
Behind him—
The chains rattled.
The mermaid.
Akira turned.
She was watching him.
Not with fear.
Not with surprise.
With something deeper.
Something searching.
The broken chain lay at her side.
The rest still bound her.
Akira stepped closer.
"Can you move?"
Her lips parted slightly.
But no sound came out.
Her strength was fading.
The water that had gathered earlier—
Gone.
She had used too much.
Akira clicked his tongue softly.
"Of course."
He reached for the chains.
The silver burned instantly.
But he didn't stop.
His grip tightened.
Muscles tensed.
Then—
He pulled.
The chain snapped.
One.
Then another.
By the time the third broke—
Footsteps echoed from outside.
More hunters.
Too many.
Akira didn't wait.
He scooped her into his arms.
She was lighter than he expected.
Cold.
Weak.
But alive.
"Hold on."
And then—
He ran.
Gunshots rang out behind them.
Shouts.
Chaos.
But none of it mattered.
Akira moved through the shadows like a ghost.
Leaping over debris.
Crashing through broken walls.
Vanishing into the forest before the hunters could surround them.
Branches whipped past.
The wind howled.
Still—
He didn't slow down.
Not until the warehouse was nothing but a distant shadow behind them.
Only then—
Did he stop.
The forest was quiet again.
Too quiet.
Akira lowered her carefully.
For a moment—
Neither of them spoke.
He studied her.
Up close—
She looked even more fragile.
Bruised.
Cut.
Exhausted.
And yet—
There was something about her.
Something… familiar.
She shifted slightly.
Her eyes lifting to meet his.
"Why…"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"…did you help me?"
Akira frowned.
"I don't know."
It was the truth.
A silence stretched between them.
Then—
She took a slow breath.
"My name…"
Akira's body stilled.
"…is Lia."
The moment the name left her lips—
Something inside him snapped.
Not pain.
Not the curse.
Something older.
A memory—
Or the echo of one.
His vision flickered.
Water.
Moonlight.
A voice calling from far away.
Lia…
Akira staggered slightly.
His hand pressed against his head.
"…That name…"
His voice dropped.
Uncertain.
"…Why does it feel like I've heard it before?"
Lia's eyes widened slightly.
Not in surprise—
But in recognition.
The wind shifted around them.
And for a brief moment—
It felt like the world itself was holding its breath.
As if something long forgotten…
Had just begun to awaken.
To be continued…