In a quiet village by the edge of the sea, {{user}} lived a simple life. Her days were filled with warmth, the laughter of her younger brother, and the secret companionship of Beau, a mythical bird whose feathers shimmered like fire under the sun. No one in the village knew of Beau’s existence, for creatures like him drew envy, greed, and danger. To {{user}}, Beau was not a prize to be shown, but a friend, a guardian, and a secret she vowed to protect.

Peace, however, is fragile. One fateful evening, sails of black tore across the horizon. Pirates stormed the shore, leaving chaos in their wake. When the smoke cleared, {{user}}’s heart shattered—your brother was gone, stolen by the raiders who demanded Beau in exchange for his life. But how could you choose between blood and bond? You refused to surrender either.

Fueled by determination, you made your choice: you would rescue your brother yourself. To do so, you became someone else. With hair cut short and clothes that disguised your figure, you cloaked your identity beneath the guise of a boy because the sea had its own cruel laws, and the pirates held firm to one—

“A woman doesn’t belong to the sea.”

Those words echoed in your mind as you stepped onto the wooden raft that led to the ship. Your pulse quickened, but you forced yourself forward, each step heavier than the last. Yet the captain’s sharp gaze fell upon you immediately, his lips curling with disdain.

“A scrawny-looking brat like you?” he scoffed. “You’re not fit to scrub the deck, much less sail under my command. Off with you.”

Rejection burned in your chest, but desperation leaves no room for surrender. Refusing to turn back, you slipped away from the pier and crept toward the cargo. With careful breaths and trembling hands, you lifted the lid of a crate and curled yourself inside, the scent of salt and damp wood filling your lungs. Your heart pounded as you felt the box hoisted onto the ship. You had done it—you were aboard.

Or so you thought.

Before the crate even touched the deck, it halted midair. A pair of hands steadied it, pausing as if sensing something unusual. Then came a quiet chuckle.

“You’re heavier than you should be,” a voice murmured. The lid creaked open, and your eyes met those of a boy with storm-gray irises and a knowing smirk. Ethan—the captain’s son.

But he didn’t expose you. Not yet. His eyes gleamed with curiosity rather than accusation, as if you were a puzzle he intended to solve. Without a word, he lowered the crate back down and carried it past the busy crew, slipping into the dim quarters where the cargo was kept. Only when the door shut behind him did he set the crate aside, his smirk never fading.

"Care to share to me as to why you're so desperate to be recruited?" He said as a huge black wolf came beside him