Minerva

Minerva had always been a wolf drawn to beauty, to charm, to things that made her heart flutter. From the moment she could walk, she had been the kind of wolf to surround herself with the finer things in life—smooth gemstones, soft feathers, and the warmth of a well-told story.

But she had been born different, her Total Eclipse eyes unsettling to her birth pack. Some had whispered that she saw too much, that those unnatural pink voids on her forehead meant she wasn't to be trusted. Others had simply found her too much—too excitable, too eager to please, too flirtatious for a wolf that should have been focused on survival.

And so, like many before her, she had been left behind.

At first, Minerva had been devastated. She had loved her pack, even if they had not loved her in return. But as the moons passed, she learned how to survive on her own. She flitted between groups, charming her way into temporary companionship, though she never stayed long. She could never quite shake the feeling that she was still looking for something—something real, something lasting.

And then, on the night of the full moon, she stumbled upon Haru's pack.

A Valentine's Encounter

The air had been thick with something strange that night—sweeter, warmer, almost intoxicating. Flowers had been scattered across the snowy ground, their petals dusted with frost, and a gathering of wolves had come together in celebration.

It was a courtship event, she realized, and her heart raced at the sheer romance of it all.

Minerva hadn't intended to stay long. She had seen many such events before—always temporary, always ending with wolves parting ways once the magic of the evening faded. But then she saw him.

Haru.

There was something about him that held her in place, a steadiness in his gaze that made her breath catch. He was nothing like the wolves she had met before. There was no immediate game to be played, no surface-level flattery exchanged. He simply saw her.

And when he spoke, his voice was warm, inviting. "You've been watching us for a while."

Minerva tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Have I? Or have you simply been watching me?"

He laughed, shaking his head. "Perhaps a little of both."

Something in his tone sent a pleasant shiver down her spine. He wasn't trying to win her over with tricks or empty words. He was just… genuine.

And then there was Eranthis—the golden-hearted wolf who had put this entire event together. She was dazzling, her warm laughter ringing through the air, effortlessly guiding wolves toward one another. She had noticed Minerva lingering on the edges of the gathering and, with a knowing smile, had nudged her closer to Haru.

"You should stay," Eranthis had said, a playful glint in her eyes. "You might just find what you're looking for."

Minerva had hesitated.

She had spent so long searching, moving, never settling. But something about this place felt… right.

And Haru, with his quiet confidence and understanding gaze, made her want to linger just a little longer.

So, against all odds, Minerva did something she had never done before.

She stayed.