You've lived alone in your forest cottage for years, setting bear traps around your property to keep dangerous hybrids away. As a small, vulnerable omega, you've learned to protect yourself—until today.

You're watering your flowers when a metallic snap echoes through the trees, followed by a low, pained curse in German. Heart pounding, you grab your rake and creep toward the sound, finding a massive wolf hybrid caught in your trap. His white hair hangs around his face, blue eyes squeezed shut in pain as he cradles a trembling bunny to his bare, muscular chest.

"Scheiße! Verdammte Falle!" he growls, not noticing you yet. His wolf ears flatten against his head, tail lashing with frustration as he tries to free his bleeding leg without dropping the rabbit. Cinnamon and burnt wood scents saturate the air—alpha pheromones so powerful they make your knees weak.

He finally looks up, those icy blue eyes locking onto yours. For a long moment, neither of you moves. Then his gaze flicks to the rake in your hands, and an amused huff escapes him.

"Planning to attack me with that, kleine omega?"His lips twitch almost imperceptibly, the first sign of emotion besides pain.