Accidentally Entering the Wolf's Den and Becoming the Alpha's Lover

"The master is waiting for you inside."

Zoyne gestured with his hand, signaling Aurora to enter the room.

Aurora hesitantly stepped into the room while Zoyne remained outside.

As the door closed behind her, Aurora began observing the room. She quickly realized it was a rather spacious library.

Tall and large shelves were neatly arranged, filled with books placed meticulously on each rack.

With wide eyes filled with awe, Aurora walked deeper into the library. When she reached the far end of the room, she saw a man leaning against a window, reading a book. A pair of glasses rested gracefully on his sharp nose. His midnight-black hair swayed gently in the breeze from the window, while his piercing golden eyes were fixed on the book in his hand. He wore a black turtleneck and gray trousers.

"You've arrived?"

Aurora snapped out of her reverie at the sound of Caius's voice.

"Ah, yes," she replied instinctively.

"I've prepared painting tools for you."

Aurora noticed a canvas, palette, paints of various colors, and some brushes placed near the window.

She looked at Caius with confusion.

'Why would he suddenly prepare painting tools? How does he know I'm a painter?'

As if reading her thoughts, Caius said, "One of my pack members told me you're skilled at painting. Now, replicate the painting hanging on the wall in front of you."

Aurora turned to look at the painting Caius pointed at. Indeed, there was a painting hanging there. It depicted a woman dressed like a noble, with long, silky golden hair and emerald-green eyes.

'Beautiful.'

That was Aurora's first thought upon seeing the painting.

Without waiting for further instructions from Caius, she found herself standing before the canvas, holding a brush in her right hand, and began to paint.

Her eyes never left the woman in the painting.

As she recreated the painting, Aurora felt as though an invisible weight pressed on her shoulders. Her heart felt heavy, as if she had been carrying sadness for years. She felt alone—a suffocating loneliness. It was like a storm raged within her heart, never able to escape, slowly tearing her apart.

It was as if there was no reason for her to be happy.

Aurora made the final stroke on the canvas before her hand fell limply to her side.

Caius frowned as he looked at her painting. "I told you to replicate it, not alter it."

Aurora had indeed replicated the woman in the painting. However, in her version, the woman appeared to be crying and screaming.

Tak

The brush fell from Aurora's hand, rolling a few times before stopping at Caius's shoe.

Caius shifted his gaze to Aurora.

'She's ... crying?'

Aurora stood frozen like a statue, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were fixed on the painting on the wall.

Caius was stunned at the sight. Unconsciously, he asked, "What were you thinking about while painting that?"

Aurora whispered, "Pain."

The wind blew through the window, ruffling their hair and clothes.

Caius's expression stiffened, his brows slightly furrowed, and his lips trembling.

Aurora continued, "You know, a painter can feel emotions, meaning, and energy just by looking at a painting. They can capture the feelings of the artist behind the brushstrokes, even the emotions of the person modeled in the painting."

Caius didn't respond.

"The gaze of the woman in the painting is dim and empty. It's as if she wants to die, yet her heart still hopes that one day she'll find a reason to keep living. She's lonely, and it feels like a storm is raging in her heart, one she can never let out."

Thud

Caius closed the book in his hand harshly.

Aurora turned to Caius. "Who is the woman in that painting?"

Caius ignored Aurora's question and took a thick book from the shelf, handing it to her.

"Read and understand."

He then took both paintings—the one on the wall and the one Aurora painted—and walked away.

Once Caius's figure completely disappeared from Aurora's view, she turned her gaze to the thick book the man had handed her.

She wiped the tears from her face. 'It's been a long time since I've felt this deeply moved just by a painting. I wonder who painted it. But even if I ask, that crazy man won't tell me.'

Aurora opened the book and began to read.

The book was about werewolves.

She read it intently.

Spending nearly two hours immersed in the book, she finally began to understand the werewolf world—Alpha, Beta, how they transformed during a full moon, and the various abilities they possessed.

"The Cursed Blood."

As she turned to the next page, Aurora was immediately drawn to the phrase.

She recalled Caius mentioning this term before. He had repeatedly claimed that she possessed cursed blood. Her curiosity about it deepened.

Cursed blood ... refers to someone whose blood attracts dark forces. If they are injured, the blood they shed will draw the surrounding darkness. The bearer of cursed blood can use the dark power as their own strength. They can manipulate it to grow stronger. The more dark power they attract, the stronger they become. That's why cursed blood is considered taboo and must not be allowed to exist.

"What?"

Aurora reread the sentence to ensure she hadn't misunderstood. But no matter how many times she read it, it remained the same. This meant that the bearer of cursed blood wasn't supposed to live.

"If I truly have cursed blood, then why didn't Caius kill me that night? Why did he bring me to live with him instead?"