"You still look terrible," Douglas said, staring at the bruised face beside him. King only let out a grumble, pulled down on his newsboy hat, and looked through the stall items. People buzzed here and there, bringing life to the market. 

"Hurry," Pandora uttered.

King looked up; the sky was bright and clear. The three of them were currently in Sinaia, a local town, stacking some necessities. Hugh insisted they could have just asked someone to do it for them, considering the recent event, but the three youngsters figured that this would be more pleasant than being holed up in the house. Plus, King's wound was almost healed.

Actually, after that incident with the vampire, all the stuff they had brought to Rumania had disappeared. Not destroyed, just vanished. That includes their money. One, they left it in the carriage after the vampire chased them. Two, it was clear that it had been stolen. And three, it was probably those seven-foot pooches, King thought. His face went rigid when he remembered again. Well, not like the werewolves would gain much from his stuff either than a mound of torn undergarments.

King was looking through sorts of items in a stall when he noticed a white and black poster with bold letters on a rundown wall near where they were.

MISSING PERSON

Sabina Petri

Age 39 (Thirty-nine years old). Black eyes. Long brown hair. Freckled face. Wearing a cream white dress and bonnet, patent leather shoes.

The Sinaia Committee of Information will reward 1000L for the safe return of SABINA PETRI, who disappeared on the street of Prahova on the 6th of April 1898. Half of the reward will be awarded for information resulting in the recovery of her body.

This reward will expire on the 24th of December, 1898.

King skimmed his eyes through the poster, mumbling some of the letters he read. Then, he turned his head to the left, finding a cluster of similar notices. The only difference was that each poster was of a different name. King felt uneasy.

"Psst!" 

King turned. He and a few other people who heard the beckon stared at Douglas. King cocked a brow. "What?" 

"Don't you smell that?" Douglas uttered. The eavesdropping stall owner looked at him like he was crazy. They were at the market. Of course, there'd be sorts of smell. 

On the other hand, King and Pandora only looked at him in confusion. Douglas had the most potent nose out of the three, and after taking a careful whiff of the air, they understood. 

Their eyes widened, slowly recognizing the musky scent clawing through their nostrils. It was a bit distinct, but King was sure — it was those goddamn werewolves!

King immediately whipped his head away and tilted the bill of his hat down. On the other hand, Pandora looked around, reeling for the source. They seemed so suspicious that the stall owner was determining whether she should report them. 

Pandora didn't take long in her hunt. There, among the crowd in the street, stood a group of men in casual clothes. And she was sure — it was them.

Pandora didn't wait after she had noticed the men. When the shopkeeper gave her their change, she grabbed the straw bag and strode towards the exit, snatching Douglas's arm along the way. "Let's go. Hurry," she uttered. Douglas whined on her grip.

King looked at the group with a puckered forehead. They weren't sure if these men were the same ones they had encountered before. But of course, it was evident that they were in the same pack. Just when he was about to follow the two, he bumped shoulders with someone. His eyes widened when he caught the person's scent.

A werewolf.

King and the man traded looks. Despite the sharp gaze that the latter gave King, any indication of recognition didn't enter his expression. King felt calmed. Not wishing for trouble, he decided to leave it. He fixed his hat, about to leave, when—

"No apology?" the man said.

King stopped in his tracks again. He looked over his shoulder to look back at the ginger-haired man, who looked a bit older than he did. "Apology?"

"As I've said. Are you not going to utter an apology?"

King snorted. He wasn't even moving when they bumped into each other. "I seem to remember the scenario differently than you did, sir."

"You bumped into me. You can at least admit your fault, kid. It wouldn't cost you anything," the man continued, smiling at King.

Vein's slightly appeared on King's face. "I bumped into you? Hah!" He shook his head and waved a hand. "All right. Fine. I'll apologize since I'm not in the mood to mess with jesters like you. Have a good day."

"You pompous little—"

A clamor suddenly pulled their attention. King whipped his head to the street, heartbeat suddenly rising when he heard the familiar voice of the person shouting. There, he caught his cousins standing near a black-haired man who was holding his busted lips. 

"Ow," The man chuckled, pressing his lip.

"I'll bash your face next if you touch her again," Douglas threatened.

The men earlier arrived at them, angry and looking like they were about to lunge at Douglas if the man he had punched had not interfered. The crowd around them had started spectating.

"That won't be necessary. You can rest at ease," the man said, flashing a smile. That didn't help the two, however. "Anyways, may I ask if it is the only two of you? I bet not, isn't it?"

"Why would we—"

"Why would you want to know that?" Pandora cut in.

The strange man looked at her. He slightly shrugged. "There's just something I would like to confirm."

"And what might that something be?"

"A question maybe."

"What question?"

He emitted a soundless chuckle. "A question so important to me."

Pandora slightly scowled.

"Which pride are you on?"

"Getting acquainted doesn't sound bad, but I don't think we are obligated to do so," Pandora said while studying the stranger. The man's expression and face might be that of a saint, but if one was not perceptive enough, you wouldn't catch the devil that lingers in his gaze. "If you do not stand back, I'm afraid town authorities might be involved."

The man paused, reflecting the same gaze Pandora gave him. He puffed out a small chuckle again. "I appreciate your concern," he said. "But I am sure that a person like you is definitely aware that such forces you suggest... would not hold me back, miss."

Pandora's gaze didn't falter at his apparent threat. "Now, I'm deeply curious as to what your query is for you to risk such prohibited exposure willingly."

The man smiled back at Pandora. "Do you really want to know?" he asked.

Pandora readied herself to counterattack when the stranger leaned over to her side. The man didn't do anything, though. He just stood there, not moving an inch. "... You know, there's a scent on you," he muttered, "that is driving me insane."

A line appeared between Pandora's brows. She became aware of what he was hinting at, but something else twisted the threads of her logic inside her head. For a scent to stick strongly into a person, a long duration of time is needed. If not, an intimate interaction would also suffice. But there was only Douglas and King who were with her ever since. If it wasn't Douglas' scent, then it must be... King's. 

That doesn't make sense, Pandora thought. Her frown deepened.

"Do you understand?" the man asked. He straightened back, and his mouth softly curved into a smile again. Pandora didn't respond to him. "If you do, I'll ask again," he said, his jaded eyes now slowly glowing into a bright green-blue, "who else is it with you—"

"We got one more in here, Yusef!" 

King gasped when a pair of arms coiled around his neck. "You—" he gritted his teeth and thrashed, "You bloody gib face! Let go!"

The black-haired man — Yusef — turned his head towards them. His eyes widened.

King seethed red. "I said—" slightly bending his knees and collecting all his weight on his feet, he jumped and dropped both feet on the man's foot. The soles of his shoes added to the damage. "—let go!"

"Ack!"

After stepping on the guy, King elbowed him. The latter grunted and loosened his grip. King struck him again, this time with a dive kick on the stomach. "Run!" King shouted. The three werecats bolted in different directions.

"... Get them," Yusef said to his men.