I am shivering.

The snow outside the pet shop is the reason why. It's winter again. But who cares if we freeze to death?

No clothes, hands and feet tied while sitting on the cold floor. The rope has left marks on my wrists and legs. As I tremble and watch the white snow falling from the sky.

If the owner of the pet shop couldn't sell me today, I might just die from the cold.

I feel the large wound on my back, caused by repeated strikes of a whip.

My only fault is that I couldn't eat because I couldn't reach the food towards my mouth.

My palm has a big wound, making it difficult for me to even put any food on my mouth.

"What are you looking for? We have affordable nymphs here. What gender are you interested in? Male? Female? The most beautiful nymph?" asked the owner of the pet shop.

An elderly man entered. He appears to be around50 years old. His face looks stern.

He is wearing simple clothes and a woven hat. At first glance, you can immediately tell that he is just a servant or a farmer.

Pet owners raise and breed nymphs to sell to werewolves in search of fresh meat. Selling nymphs is one of the main livelihoods of the people in Gentes.

"I am looking for something for the palace," the man said.

The pet owner's eyes widened. "It is my honor to sell a nymph for our beloved alpha!"

"What nymph with high quality do you recommend?"

"Right away! I will prepare them," said the pet owner, promptly obeying the customer's request.

I glanced at the man's water container. It surely had water in it. His wooden container for water was tied to his side, which was a common practice among the locals here.

I swallowed.

The man glanced briefly at the imprisoned nymphs.

He observed them as if examining them. When he approached me, I had the opportunity to reach for his water container.

Even just a little. I haven't eaten for two days, so if possible, water would be enough to fill my stomach.

I tried to reach the water container, but I accidentally bumped it hard, causing it to fall.

I was scared and backed away, squeezing myself into the corner of the metal cage.

I saw him pick up the water container from the floor. I felt nervous, my fingers trembling.

My wounds haven't healed yet, but I knew I would soon have new ones. I gasped as the man squatted down to peek into my cage.

His face remained serious as he observed me. I swallowed hard several times out of fear. I didn't know how to hide.

Suddenly, he moved and I was startled, pressed against the corner. I wondered if he would hit me or punch me.

But a few seconds passed and the expected beating did not come from him, instead something else happened.

"Are you thirsty?" he said in a low voice. I opened my eyes and the fear was still in my eyes when he looked at me.

And I looked at the container of water he was holding.

He approached me with it. I blinked and hesitated while observing the container of water he was holding.

I am thirsty, but I don't know if I can accept it.

Maybe there will be consequences if I accept it.

"I won't do anything else. I'll just give you something to drink," he said again.

I was very thirsty, so I immediately grabbed the water he offered. I bit the cap because I couldn't open it with my injured hand.

My hand was wounded, and the only way I could see to open it and drink was with my mouth.

But the man suddenly took it back. And he himself opened the water bottle for me.

"Here, have a drink," he said and leave to look around the pet shop.

I was surprised. Not because I am about to drink now, but because... in my entire life, this is the first time someone has done this for me.

Most of the werewolves we encounter mistreat us. If they're not hurting us, they're starving us.

I grew up in that system. So, this is unfamiliar to me. I didn't realize tears were streaming down my face as I swallowed the water in his water container.

"This is everything-"

The owner of the pet shop was startled when he caught me drinking water.

The owner of the water container was observing the other nymphs in their cage.

"You son of a bitch!" the pet shop owner approached me angrily.

He opened my cage to get the water container and hurt me. He quickly grabbed a stick to hit me.

I winced as the stick landed on my back. He gave me a sharp glare before snatching the water container from my hand.

"I apologize. This one stole your water container," the pet owner reported.

The man furrowed his brow. "I gave that to her. He didn't steal it," the man defended seriously to me.

The pet owner's eyes widened and turned towards me. I immediately cowered in fear.

"Is that so?" the pet owner laughed and gave me a sharp look.

It was a warning.

Later, I would surely be in trouble. When the male customer leaves, I will definitely be hurt again. My fingers trembled.

This might be where my life ends. I've been expecting it.

If I don't become food for the customers who will buy me, then surely my life will end in the hands of my pet owner.

“By the way, I want to take that one," the man said, pointing at me suddenly.

My eyes widened. "Are you serious?" the pet owner laughed. "That one is nothing but skin and bones, and it would be embarrassing to serve that nymph to the alpha."

"Not for the Alpha. I'm taking her for myself," he replied.

The pet owner winced. "Are you sure? I have plenty of stock here that will surely satisfy your taste. That one is just a reject to be slaughtered and fed to the rogues in the forest."

I am dumbfounded.

So that's where I supposed to be sent?

I swallowed some bitterness in my throat and quietly looked at the man.

If I were to die, I would want it to be at the hands of this kind man. I want to convince him, but I don't know how to communicate with them.

I haven't learned a language to speak to them. I can understand, but I can't speak. No one thought us, and that's forbidden for us to learn as a nymph.

"She is the one I want," the man said.

I inhaled deeply and felt a warm joy in my chest. It seems that the pet owner is not yet convinced about the man's decision about purchasing me.

He continues to convince the man to buy someone else instead of me.

But I am grateful for the man's decision to buy me wholeheartedly.

.....

I wore the thick jacket and the peculiar footwear that the man gave me. He placed me on his carriage.

It was my first time going out. It was amazing and different.

The carriage started with a sudden jerk. I was surprised and held onto the wooden support. He noticed and shook his head.

"I don't eat nymphs. I eat wild animals in the forest and cook them," he started.

I turned to him with curiosity.

"When you become healthy and regain your strength, don't expect to stay with me. Because I don't take care of lowly creatures like you. I didn't buy you to save you if that's what you're thinking," he said to me.

I swallowed hard and bowed my head. I felt a sense of sadness.

If that's the case, my life won't end in his hands. Which I prefer from the start.

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 treat 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.

Because of what happened, it seems like Uncle Fidel is tying me inside the house. The deer I saved, Uncle Fidel agreed to stay with me until it can return to the forest.

Summer arrived. The snow around is slowly melting. Another four months passed.

There are many things I want to learn, from cooking to simple household tasks.

I follow Uncle's lead, and he gradually teaches me. I can say that within the four months, I learned a lot. And...

My time was not wasted.

......

I looked up. The gentle warmth from the sun touched my face.

I paused in gathering firewood. I assist in collecting firewood.

So that in winter, we have something to use. Somehow, we can heat the small stove.

I felt the movement of the rope tied to my foot. Uncle placed it there to know if I'm straying too far or staying close.

He would pull that signal, indicating I should come back and not go too far.

Quietly, I followed the red rope.

But instead of Uncle Fidel, it was a young man, not much older than me, holding the rope.

Wonder filled my eyes.

"Uncle Fidel was summoned to the mansion. He has something to attend to, so he asked me to wait for you here," the young man said with a slight smile.

He quickly moved towards me and extended his hand.

I was surprised and took a step back. He noticed and hesitated.

Embarrassed, he withdrew his hand. "Sorry about that. I'm Timothy Clinton. And you?"

He tried to make the interaction less awkward between us.

I remained silent. I didn't know what he was asking. Besides, me? Nymphs don't have names.

Timothy nodded. He realized that nymphs indeed don't have names, aside from being called nymphs.

"Oh, right," Timothy awkwardly chuckled.

He glanced at me before remembering he had the small chain to attach to my foot.

Uncle wasn't around, so Timothy would be left alone in the house.

He looked at the chain meant for me but decided not to put it on.

"Shall we?" Timothy said.

Curious, I followed Timothy.

I had a deep wound on my leg back then, so I walked with a slight limp. I noticed Timothy glancing at my foot.

"I don't know what happened there, but can I take a look? Maybe I can help heal it," he hesitantly asked.

I stopped and looked at my leg. It happened so long ago, but I still endure the pain from that wound.

Uncle had already examined it, but maybe it wouldn't hurt to let Timothy take a look. Perhaps he could do something.

I slowly lifted my skirt. I saw that he was surprised. But later on, he earnestly helped me sit on the piece of lifeless trunk lying on the ground.

His forehead creased upon seeing the other bruises marked on my leg.

Some of my wounds had turned into scars. Especially the deep wound that was struck by the arrow back then.

He gave me a small smile before rummaging through what he had in his side bag.

He took out a bottle. It contained a thick sticky substance that he applied to my wound carefully.

"To prevent infection, let's put this on. I bought it from the drugstore. I'm a regular customer from there and this one is the most recommended," Timothy stated, giving me a light smile.

His movements were soft and light as if he was afraid he might hurt me.

He accompanied me to the cabin after that. Those pieces of snow were shining brightly every time they were struck by a light from the sun. The snow around us was slowly melting with the emergence of the morning sun.

I quickly took the thermos with a hot chocolate and placed it on the stove.

"Do you go to town?" He followed me. "Oh, by the way. You can't speak, right? I'm sorry. But you understand me, don't you?"

I turned to him, smiled, and nodded. He stared in amazement before slowly smiling back at me.

"That's good then." His grin widened.

I poured hot chocolate into his cup. We sat by the window, and there, he continued talking things with me.

All I could do was nod and listen.

Since then, Timothy became a frequent visitor to the house. During the summer, we explored the woods.

"Do you want to go to the falls?" He suddenly invited.

I furrowed my brow as I watched him remove his upper clothes.

"Uh, sorry. Is it okay? I don't want to ruin this outfit when I change forms." He seemed to notice my confusion about what he was doing.

He's going to change forms? Why?

I hesitated to nod.

"Can you hold this?" he asked, handing me the bag containing his clothes.

If he was undressing, it meant I had to undress too. So, I started unbuttoning. I didn't know why we had to do it.

But I wanted to go to the falls he mentioned. And if this was the only way to...

"What are you doing?" he exclaimed, quickly stopping my hands from unbuttoning my dress.

I was stunned. Why? Did I do something wrong?

Then he seemed to blush. He looked at me, and my hand, against his sun-kissed skin, appeared even paler.

He swiftly closed the buttons of my dress.

I just looked at his veined hands on my clothes. Nymphs usually have smooth and vein-free hands, so I never imagined their hands could be this firm and veined. It's unfamiliar.

"Ride on my back. Y-You don't have to undress." He hesitantly turned to me, seeming more embarrassed than I was.

I was surprised when I suddenly heard his groans. Next, I heard the cracking of his bones. After that, I noticed his transformation. My eyes widened as I observed his majestic standing figure in front of me. His feathers were gray and enormous.

He bent down in front of me, indicating that I needed to hop on his back. I had to pause my admiration for his current form.

I quickly moved and mounted him from behind. His fur were incredibly soft. It was truly astonishing!

I held onto the fur around his neck, and he began to rise. It was dizzying due to his size. This was the first time I would ride on a predator's back. A prey, riding on the back of a predator. It felt unbelievable.

I was startled when he suddenly ran. I held onto his hair tightly. He moves even faster, and the images around we passed seemed like a blur due to his swift movements.

In just a few seconds, we reached the falls he mentioned again. The view was unbelievably breathtaking.

I stood on a large rock, looking down where the water cascaded from the falls. The foliage surrounded us.

"Let's go down!" he cheerfully invited.

He extended his hand. Hesitantly, I accepted his hand in the end. The rocks we stepped on were slippery, but he was careful, ensuring I wouldn't get harmed, and I appreciated him for that.

We reached the bottom and started wading. I marveled at the cold and clear water. It felt like I was still trying to convince myself that this was just a dream.

"I'll just get something," he said.

I nodded and smiled lightly. He moved swiftly, assuring me he would return soon.

I continued swimming, enjoying the water. It felt refreshing. I thought I'd like to come back here.

I removed all my clothes and went to the deeper side. There, I swam with a wider grin, admiring my glistening skin under the sunlight hitting the dark rocks.

My skin seemed to glow amid the black stones. I ran my fingers through my long, white hair, closing my eyes and savoring the lightness of the place. I didn't know when Timothy would bring me back here, so I had to make the most of this opportunity.

After feeling the chill, I slowly swam towards the edge. However, upon reaching the shore, I was shocked to find my clothes gone.

"T-Timothy..." Confused, I scanned the surroundings, hoping to spot my friend.

But Timothy was nowhere to be found. Who took my clothes?

As I was about to walk to search for my friend, I bumped into a solid figure. His strong arm quickly wrapped around my bare body. Our eyes met as his firm gaze locked onto mine.

Who is this man? This isn't my friend Timothy!

“Nymph, huh?” The darkness accompanies his playful smile. He's not wearing any. His physique is considerably larger than Timothy's. Broad chest and muscular arms. He has a tattoo on the neck, extending down the entire left arm.

His eyes are golden. Judging by his appearance, it seems I won't be able to escape from him. Where is Timothy?!