Amelia Rose, alpha of the Rose Thorn wolf pack and mayor of Ivory Tower, was only 17. Literally barely two years younger than me. And I was terrified. There was something about the way she held herself; her mysterious dark eyes, the way she let her long golden-brown hair flow down her back yet decorated it with beads and braids and leather cords, the way she dressed in a long black coat which was embroidered with roses and thorny vines at the hem, the huge cream and brown barn owl on her shoulder…. Or maybe I was just more afraid of wolves than I thought.

“I knew you would be an… interesting human, Mr. Swann,” she smiled, “but I didn’t realize how interesting you would be.” She looked at Nicolai. “Do you think your Anna could or would do something like that? Blackmail?”

“I’m not sure,” Nicolai shrugged. “She’s always been more offensive than defensive, but that’s a bit far, even for her. But… she does seem to despise Raine for some unknown reason, and I’m not so sure it’s just because he’s human. Yet again, angels are known for their hate and intolerance of other species. Even you, Abraham, were once a bully.”

“I was stupid,” Abraham gently smiled. “The curse of not actually being taught about other species. Anna genuinely thinks that Raine is here to cause us harm.”

“Perhaps, perhaps not,” Alpha Rose said. “His scent is… off.”

“Yes, I noticed that as well,” Nicolai glanced at me.

“Wh-what do you mean?” I hesitantly asked.

“Well, you’re obviously human,” Alpha Rose approached me, “and yet you barely smell like one. In fact, you smell more like a wolf. Have you been hanging around in the forest lately? Have a little run-in with one of my wolves?”

“N-no, ma’am,” I whispered. “I-I’ve never even seen a wolf outside of TV… and my… dreams. I could never face one head-on.” I inwardly shivered at the thought of facing a wild wolf, or even one in the zoo.

“Dreams?” The alpha echoed, perking up. “What sort of dreams?”

“Uh, wolf dreams, I guess,” I replied. “Well, I only see one wolf.”

“Describe them.”

“It’s, uh…. It’s really big,” I slowly said. “Mostly grey, but there’s some white on its stomach and neck, and some black on its head and paws. Bright blue eyes. Uh, and its left ear is almost completely shredded.”

They all stared at me, even the owl.

“Wh-what?” I took a small step back.

“You’ve seen him?” Abraham whispered. “The grey wolf?”

“Well, not in person, but yeah,” I nodded.

“I thought the legend wasn’t even true,” Nicolai breathed. “But, if he’s seen the God of Ivory Tower, then that means…. He’ll be coming for him.”

“Wait, now there’s a god of this place?” I questioned. “I just got used to the vampires, werewolves, and angels part. Now you’re throwing gods into the mix? And what legend are you talking about?”

After a moment, Alpha Rose said to Nicolai, “It’s best he comes with me.”

Nicolai nodded in agreement, “Grab your things, Raine.”

I didn’t move. “No. Not until you tell me what the hell is going on. I can handle werewolves and angels and vampires and all that stuff. But a god? A god is coming here… for me? Seriously? You expect me to believe that, especially with no further explanation?”

Alpha Rose sighed, “There is a very old legend about a mighty grey wolf with blue eyes and a shredded ear. It’s said that he created Ivory Tower as a sanctuary for any and all species. There is ancient art depicting him and how he rules over Ivory Tower from the shadows, but no one’s ever seen him. So, if you, a simple human, have seen him in your dreams… it’s a good bet to say that you’re important to him.”

“Oh, so you don’t even know for sure,” I replied. “What sort of god is he?”

“...No one really knows,” Alpha Rose admitted. “But there’s always snow here, always cold, always stormy, so many believe he controls the weather.” She stepped closer, “Raine, if you come with me, we can explain the creation of this town, and you can read the scriptures about the god. But I need you to come with me.”

I bit my lip, then sighed, “Fine.”

I went back upstairs, got properly dressed, and gathered my things. Within a half hour, I was saying goodbye to Abraham and Nicolai and joining Alpha Rose in the black car that was waiting. In the back, there were two young men about my age. One had orangish hair down to his shoulders and gentle brown eyes, while the other had short red-brown hair and bright green eyes.

“These are my mates, Amber and Cedar,” Alpha Rose told me. “Boys, this is Raine Swann. He’s seen the God of Ivory Tower, so we’re taking him home.”

“Woah, you’ve seen him?” The redhead asked, eyes going wide.

“Uh, just in dreams,” I whispered.

“Still, that’s amazing!” He gasped. “You must be really important to him!”

“Amber, that’s enough,” Alpha Rose said. “Superstition later.”

“But he has a point,” the other one, Cedar, said. “The grey wolf, the God of Ivory Tower, has never shown interest in the people, let alone a human. When I first arrived, I was--and still am, frankly--skeptical to his existence whatsoever.”

“So there’s no proof of this god?” I asked.

“Yes, but there’s no disproof, either,” Amber replied.

“That’s enough, boys,” Alpha Rose said. “Raine has had an interesting two weeks, and it’s time he’s had a little break.”

“Ah, yes, this is the best vacation of all,” I mumbled. “I just left a vampire’s house, I’m in a car with werewolves, and there might be some sort of powerful god that rules over this town after me. No stress. No stress at all.”

Alpha Rose’s house was three stories high. It was painted a soft forest green, and the roof, like everything else in this town, was covered in snow. I was led inside the warm, well-lit house, then Amber took me upstairs to where I would be sleeping.

It was a cozy room, with amber and green lights strung up on the ceiling and a few candles with a box of matches. The bed was neatly made with green and cream sheets. There was also a private bathroom.

“Get some sleep,” Amber said with a sweet, almost childish smile. “Tomorrow is chocolate waffle day, so be downstairs by eight!”

“O-okay,” I nodded. “Th-thanks.”

He smiled and nodded, then left me alone. He was also very right. I was exhausted, not only from staying awake half the night, but also from discovering that their god was probably after me for some reason.

“What do you want with me?” I whispered, laying on the bed. “What makes me so important? I’m nobody. If you are real, please… tell me…. Why the hell would you care? You’re a god. I’m just some stupid human.”