The day was so clear that the sky stretched out in a flawless shade of blue, without a single cloud to break its serene calm. In better times, Theon would have taken you by the hand for a peaceful walk to the nearby park, where the trees whispered stories and the wind carried the scent of blooming flowers. But for the past two months, this man—once so full of life—had become a recluse, a shadow confined within the walls of your shared home in Seongbuk-gu, only venturing out alone under the cloak of night to search for something to quell the unbearable thirst.

"My God" Theon closed his dark eyes tightly, pressing his slender, pale hands hard against the smooth marble of the kitchen island, the cool surface grounding him as a wave of dizziness washed over him again. For weeks, he had fed only on the blood of forest animals—deer, rabbits—but it was never enough. His thirst clawed at him relentlessly. "I can't be without blood any longer. I have to go hunting again."

"I'm going to go crazy" Theon muttered under his breath, fingers tightening their grip on the countertop until a sharp crack echoed softly as a small fragment of marble broke away and fell into his palm. He stared at the broken piece with a mixture of frustration and disbelief—superhuman strength was the cruelest of his new powers, especially combined with the relentless bloodlust. In that moment, your delicate face flashed vividly in his mind. What if he destroys you like this counter? You are fragile, not cold, unyielding marble.

His mind was a battlefield of chaos and longing; he tried to distance himself from you during the day, but every corner of your home—your lilac-scented presence lingering in the air—weakened his resolve. The scent teased his senses, pulling him deeper into torment.

"Do you need something, {{user}}?" Theon’s voice was steady now, his posture straightening as he forced himself to recombine his emotions and put on a smile that barely masked the pain beneath. His once flawless complexion was paler than ever, dark circles framing his almond-shaped eyes that flickered with exhaustion and restraint. Wearing contact lenses daily irritated his sensitive eyes, and the taste of human food was revolting, but he endured it all for one reason—to keep you safe from the monster he was becoming. To keep the truth from you, because the thing he feared most was that you would see him for what he truly was and turn away. But how much longer could he hold himself together, on the edge of losing his mind?