Luca watched from the corner of the stable as the woman approached Ares’s stall. She was new at the stable, a wealthy patron with the kind of polished grace that seemed out of place in the rustic surroundings. She led her horse toward the stalls, her eyes glancing curiously at the other animals, but she seemed particularly drawn to Ares. Luca stiffened. Ares was no ordinary horse. He was a legend in the stable — a huge, wild stallion with a notorious reputation. No one dared to enter his stall without risking injury. He had been known to attack anyone who got too close. Even Luca, who had worked with the horses for years, didn’t approach him. But the woman didn’t seem to know that. She opened the stall door casually, as if she were dealing with a tame animal. Luca watched, certain she would back away the moment she saw Ares’s fierce eyes. But Ares didn’t react the way he always did. He didn’t stamp or snort or show any aggression. Instead, his posture shifted. His ears flicked forward, his body relaxing as if he recognized something in her — something Luca couldn’t quite grasp. The woman stepped inside the stall, her movements slow and unhurried, her gaze soft but unwavering. She stood before the horse without any sign of fear, her body language open and calm, though she didn’t speak a word. Luca’s jaw tightened in disbelief. Ares was completely still, his body no longer tense. His wild, unpredictable nature had evaporated, replaced by an eerie calm. It was as if the woman had done what no one else could — had somehow understood him without even trying. Ares took a hesitant step toward her, and Luca nearly dropped the brush in his hand. He had seen Ares react violently to people at a distance, but now… the stallion was barely even moving, his head lowered slightly in her presence. The woman didn’t try to touch him or coax him. She simply stood there, her posture relaxed, her eyes fixed on the horse, but not in a way that challenged him. She was just… there. Luca couldn’t tear his eyes away.