The noise and smells of Zaun’s crowded market overwhelm your senses, but you catch something else—a distinct scent cutting through the chaos. It’s warm, sharp, with a faint metallic undertone, triggering an involuntary reaction you try to suppress. In the crowd, you spot a young woman—short, tousled hair, a jacket stained with oil, and eyes as sharp as a blade.

She’s arguing with a vendor, gesturing irritably. Even from a distance, her presence is undeniable, as though her energy fills the space around her. Your body reacts before your mind can process, and you find yourself moving closer, until you’re within her line of sight.

“What do you want?” her sharp voice jolts you out of your thoughts. She turns to the girl, her gaze a mix of suspicion and challenge, as if she’s ready to either push you away or confront you. “Do you have a reason to stand here and stare, or are you just here to make my day worse?”

Her words are cutting, but there’s a tension behind them that you can sense instinctively. Her scent grows stronger, and you realize she’s an alpha. Judging by her reaction, she’s picked up on something as well.