"I've not done trekking in a long time," Karmen said, glancing at Aisha as they finally reached the base of the hill where the tallest waterfall in the kingdom was located.

"Then you shall start today. It's so much fun," Aisha remarked. The air was filled with the melodic calls of various birds as they moved deeper into the foliage.

She slowed her pace, glancing around at the quiet surroundings. "Why does this place seem so empty, though? I heard from my friends that it's quite popular."

Karmen scanned the dense trees and the winding path as they both began walking toward the distant sound of falling water.

"Maybe because it's not the weekend," Karmen answered. His hand reached out and grasped hers, his fingers locking firmly with hers to ensure she stayed close to him as the terrain became steeper.

"True," Aisha agreed, stepping carefully as the terrain grew steeper and the air mistier. After another ten minutes of trekking, they finally rounded a final bend and came to a halt.

Above them, the water seemed to gush from somewhere deep within the clouds, plummeting from a height so great their eyes couldn't even find the source.

As the spray collided with the massive, ancient stones at the base, the sunlight fractured into dozens of tiny rainbows, creating a shimmering, mesmerizing sight. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"See! I told you the fall is majestic," Aisha said, jumping slightly with excitement, her face lit up by a wide smile.

"You were right," Karmen whispered, his eyes fixed on the cascading white water. "I've been living here for so long, but I never knew such a place existed."

"That's because you're always so buried in your work. I'm sure Gabriel knows about it," Aisha teased. She gently pulled her hand away to retrieve her phone, eager to capture the view.

She suddenly turned toward him, aiming the lens. "Cheers, Karmen!"

Aisha expected a dashing smile, but Karmen looked uncharacteristically nervous under the camera's gaze.

"Tsk! Just smile. I'm taking a picture of you," she urged with a laugh.

Karmen managed his usual, steady smile, and Aisha snapped the shot. She then flipped the camera to selfie mode, adjusting her angle to ensure the towering waterfall and the shimmering rainbows were perfectly framed behind her.

"I'll click some for you. Give me your phone," Karmen offered, reaching out.

She readily handed it over and struck a few poses, moving gracefully against the backdrop of the mist. Karmen snapped several pictures in quick succession.

"They've come out beautiful," he said, handing the phone back to her with a look of genuine admiration.

Aisha checked them, her smile deepening. "Let's click one of us together."

He nodded, stepping in closer as she switched the phone back to selfie mode. Karmen rested his hand steadily on her shoulder while Aisha tilted her head, making a small heart sign with her pointer finger and thumb tucked close to her cheek.

Just as she was about to press the shutter, the sharp rustle of dry leaves cut through the sound of the waterfall. Karmen's posture shifted instantly; his relaxed expression vanished, replaced by an attentive focus as he whipped his head toward the source of the noise. Aisha lowered her phone, her heart beginning to race.

"What do you think? Is it an—"

"Maybe a rabbit?" Karmen murmured, though his eyes continued to scan the thick brush.

Again, the bushes rustled more violently this time, and Karmen decided to investigate. Aisha followed close behind, having no intention of being left alone in the clearing.

The moment they pushed aside the thick foliage, they found a tiny wolf pup huddled in the dirt. It wasn't in human form, which took them both by surprise. Aisha was quick to kneel as she gently scooped the small creature into her arms. The pup let out a series of soft, high-pitched whimpers, shivering against her touch.

"Who would leave them here?" she murmured, her brow furrowed with concern as she tucked the pup close to her chest for warmth.

"Who knows? But why isn't the pup in its human form? Why this shape? Most don't shift until much later in life. This is truly exceptional," Karmen stated, his brows knit together in confusion as he observed the small, furry creature.

"Maybe the pup awakened the wolf side too early. We can figure that out later," Aisha suggested, her voice laced with urgency. "First, we need to get them to the hospital. Their fur feels far too cold, and the shivering isn't stopping."

"You're right. Let's go then," Karmen asserted. He placed a protective hand on Aisha's back, guiding her as they both turned to hurry back down the steep trekking route, leaving the majestic waterfall behind.

~~~~~

After reaching the hospital, the pup was immediately admitted for a checkup.

"You two will need to wait out here," the doctor explained. "I would also recommend informing the Sentinel Department so they can begin an investigation to locate the pup's parents."

"I've already taken care of that. Thanks, Doctor," Karmen said. "The pup needs to transform back, but since they are so small, they can't do it on their own. What do you suggest?"

"A higher Alpha can help us," the doctor replied. "If a high-ranking Alpha exerts their presence, the pup's instincts will submit, allowing them to regain their original form."

"I see. Thank you," Karmen said.

The doctor nodded and disappeared back into the examination room. Aisha walked toward the observation window, watching as the staff carefully examined the small creature.

"Gabriel is the only higher Alpha we have in the area," Karmen noted.

Aisha turned to him, her expression urgent. "You have to call Prince Gabriel. Please, request his presence here right away."

Karmen hummed as he tried to call Gabriel, but the phone went straight to voicemail. He realized that since it was already evening, Gabriel might have switched it off to spend time with his family.

He tried to reach out through a mindlink, but the distance was too great; as a Beta, his capability to maintain a long-range mental connection was limited.

Karmen quickly dialed Amelie instead and waited for the line to connect.

"Karmen, good evening!" Amelie greeted warmly.

"Amelie, I need to speak with Gabriel urgently," Karmen said, his voice laced with concern.

"Of course. One moment." She passed the phone to Gabriel, who had been busy playing with Noah on the floor. "It's Karmen."

"Yes? Is everything all right?" Gabriel asked, his tone shifting into his authoritative Alpha frequency.

"Umm... I need a favor, Gabriel. Aisha and I went to the tallest waterfall today and found a pup there, in wolf form. The doctor says they can only transform back with the touch of a higher Alpha. We're at the hospital now; if you could come, it would be vital for the pup's treatment."