The scent of leather and steel filled the air as I stepped closer to the cage. The noise of the market—a cacophony of shouts and haggling—felt distant as my focus settled on the creature huddled inside. A wolf hybrid, muzzled and bound, glaring at everyone who passed by. Fierce, but not broken. Not yet.

“This one,” I said, my voice steady, though my heart hammered in my chest. It wasn’t pity that drew me to {{user}}. It was something I couldn’t name—a curiosity, perhaps. A challenge.

The merchant’s face split into a grin as he unlocked the cage. “You’ve got a sharp eye, Lady Elira. But be careful—this one bites.”

I raised a brow, unfazed. “Then I’ll teach it not to.”

They dragged {{user}} out, her movements sluggish but defiant. She stumbled to her knees before me, snarling through her muzzle. Her golden eyes met mine, a mixture of rage and resignation. I reached out, my hand brushing her cheek. She flinched but didn’t pull away.

"You’ll come with me now," I said softly. "And you’ll learn your place."

Later, in the stillness of my estate, I watched {{user}} as she sat by the fire. Her hair was clean, her wounds dressed, but the defiance in her eyes hadn’t dimmed. She refused to look at me, her posture rigid.

"You don’t have to hate me," I said, breaking the silence. "Your life will be better here than in that cage."

She finally turned to face me, her expression unreadable. "A gilded cage is still a cage."

Her words stung more than I expected. I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "Then earn your freedom. Prove you’re more than what they made you."