Chapter 2

Cole

Looking at the person before me, I'm honestly confused.

I'm a wolf. More precisely, I'm the heir to the Alpha King of the wolf realm.

I detest humans from the depths of my being.

Because humans always carry a stench that disgusts me, that makes me want to flee.

But I have no means of escape, because of my father, the Alpha King.

For reasons I cannot fathom, he insists I live among human society, with Holden Beta as my companion.

They make me drink a potion to masquerade as human.

This severely suppresses my self-healing ability. Like a human, my body is so fragile it requires medical treatment.

I loathe this human world, loathe the doctors' treatments.

I must not only endure living surrounded by their stench, but also endure the pain of their medical procedures.

Those incompetent team physicians hurt me with alcohol every single time, when those wounds could heal themselves.

But the potion my father gave me prevents healing, forcing me to let doctors disinfect and dress my wounds.

What's worse, humans actually consider such treatment necessary.

I've tried to refuse medical treatment, because it causes me pain when I can heal myself.

But my teammates demand I receive treatment like madmen.

Just like now—they're clamoring for a team doctor like lunatics.

I tried negotiating once: the team doctor could treat them, but not me.

That proposal was unanimously rejected.

So now I'm trying a different approach to satisfy my own needs.

For instance, firing the team doctor and rejecting all applicants.

But now I've changed my mind.

This person before me gives me a very particular feeling.

I'm certain that offering her the position of team doctor is my only chance of having any connection with her.

My body urgently wants to draw near her.

Unlike the rotting smell of others, she carries a scent I like.

Or rather, a scent that can calm the turbulence within me.

It's a faint mint fragrance. I love it—I'm even somewhat entranced by it.

I can't help but move closer to confirm the scent, but she seems too nervous, her mint scent intensifying until I want to sneeze.

Fortunately, after I step back, her scent softens. At least she's not so tense anymore.

How remarkable—her scent clears my mind, helps me control my emotions.

"Cole?"

It's the scent of mint.

Being with her calms my emotions, gives me stability.

Though she doesn't seem to like me. She even seems afraid of me.

I withdraw more of my oppressive aura. She looks better now—the mint scent has become refreshing.

Apparently my aura did frighten her earlier.

I try to control my voice, hoping not to pressure her:

"Name?"

In this moment, backlit, she finally lifts her head.

She's beautiful, like a forest sprite.

I don't know how to express my astonishment.

I've seen plenty of women, but she's the first to give me this special sense of intimacy and wonder.

"Brianna Hill."

Watching her earnest demeanor, my blood boils.

I can clearly feel my body temperature rising.

I raise my hand and look toward Holden standing nearby.

"Take her to complete the paperwork. From now on, she's our team doctor."

But my teammates aren't pleased with my decision. This guy Jess actually rushes up and shouts in my face.

"Cole! You're hiring her?"

"I just checked her credentials—she's nothing but a freshman who hasn't even started school! She's a complete rookie!"

"Sure, you're strong, you don't need a team doctor, but the rest of us do!"

"You're the captain—you need to be responsible for your team! Do you even know how important a team doctor is to a squad? You freak!"

Facing Jess's outburst, if this were before, he wouldn't be standing before me right now.

I would have given him a solid punch to remind him who's captain.

But now, breathing in Brianna's mint scent, my heart has calmed considerably.

Or perhaps I simply don't want to appear volatile in front of Brianna.

I actually want to maintain my image before her.

I watch Jess, waiting for him to finish venting.

Damn it, I've never thought my teammates were such terrible creatures.

No gentlemanly grace whatsoever!

Why haven't I properly educated them before?

I can only hope Brianna won't mind that this idiot Jess said so many discourteous things.

Unexpectedly, Brianna looks at me, her tone remarkably calm:

"Your teammate is very direct."

"But I want to say that while I'm new to you all, I'm not a rookie."

"My abilities are sufficient."

I look at Brianna. Unlike her earlier timidity, now her eyes hold a resolve I've never seen before.

I clear my throat and turn to Holden, giving him a look.

Holden produces an offer letter printed with Brianna's name and walks up to her.

"Congratulations."

I can sense Brianna's happiness, because her mint fragrance has turned gentle.

Watching her leave in delight, the corners of my mouth lift unconsciously, until Holden reminds me.

"Cole, your smile is too obvious."

"Also, you should deliver her documents now."

Holden points to the documents on my desk.

Her application materials—student ID and résumé—are still on my office desk.

A student without her ID will have difficulty moving around campus.

Normally applicants whose materials are left behind should come retrieve them themselves.

But I've changed my mind. Now I'll personally deliver them to Brianna.

Yet when I search the entire campus, there's no trace of her.

Later, someone from finance calls to tell me that Brianna took an advance on part of her team doctor salary and disappeared.

According to finance, Brianna seemed urgently in need of paying some fee.

Hearing this news, my heart immediately sinks.

I begin to doubt my instincts, my body.

My instincts and body would never choose to approach greed and vanity, would never let me form a mate bond with such repulsive people.

Many greedy humans, once they have money, go purchase all manner of luxury goods to construct a persona of wealth.

After all, such people are hardly rare. For someone her age just entering the academy, it's common—for the sake of reputation and status.

They typically buy luxury items for the vanity of it.

This is one reason I detest humans. I prefer authenticity.

I decide to find Brianna. If she truly used the salary I paid to buy luxury goods and package her persona,

I'll dismiss her without hesitation and distance myself from her.

But if not—if she simply has some special circumstance requiring that money—I'll pay for everything she needs.

As long as she herself is genuine and pure.

I will take responsibility for everything about her, for my instincts' and body's choice.