9. I'll be there

Instead of confronting Rose directly, Jayden chose to observe her from a distance. It wasn’t invasive; he respected her privacy. Yet, he couldn’t simply ask, *“Are you a wolf?”*—such a question was absurd and would surely drive her away. So instead, he chose a cautious path: he cared for her, quietly, steadily, and with an attentiveness that didn’t demand explanation. Whenever Rose seemed down, Jayden found ways to brighten her mood. A small joke here, an encouraging word there—these little acts of kindness gradually developed feelings between them. The more he was around her, the harder it became to separate his mission from his growing feelings. He wasn’t sure when it happened, but somewhere along the line, caring for her stopped being a strategy and became something he simply wanted to do. Rose, on the other hand, didn’t know much about Jayden’s past, nor did she care. What mattered to her was that he was kind, thoughtful, and always seemed to be there when she needed someone. She f