Snow drifted silently over the Northern Frontier.

The endless white stretched across the mountains like a burial shroud, swallowing roads, forests, and battlefields alike.

At the highest watchtower of Black Wolf Fortress stood Jeon Jungkook.

The heir of the Jeon Clan.

The Crown Prince of the Wolf Empire.

The man whom the continent called the Iron Wolf.

His black cloak billowed violently in the winter wind as his dark eyes remained fixed on the distant horizon.

Beyond those mountains lay the territory of the Kim Clan.

Beyond those mountains lay the enemy.

For over a hundred years, the Jeon Clan and the Kim Clan had fought over the continent's richest lands.

Thousands had died.

Cities had burned.

Generations had been raised to hate one another.

And yet the war never ended.

"My prince."

A voice interrupted his thoughts.

Jungkook glanced over his shoulder.

General Min bowed respectfully.

"The scouts have returned."

"And?"

"The Kim Clan's army has withdrawn fifty li."

Jungkook's eyes narrowed.

"They retreated?"

"Yes."

The general hesitated.

"There are rumors that Kim Taehyung himself has arrived at the border."

Silence fell.

Several officers nearby exchanged uneasy glances.

Kim Taehyung.

The Kim Clan's crown prince.

The continent's most brilliant strategist.

A man who had never lost a political battle.

A man whose beauty was so famous that poets composed verses about him despite never seeing his face.

Jungkook had heard countless stories.

Some called him a saint.

Others called him a demon wrapped in silk.

Personally, Jungkook believed neither.

Legends were merely stories.

People bled all the same.

"Continue monitoring their movements."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The officers departed.

Soon Jungkook stood alone once more.

A cold wind swept through the fortress.

For some reason, he had a feeling.

A storm was coming.

And this time, it would change everything.

Hundreds of miles away.

Within the capital of the Kim Clan.

The Lantern Palace glowed beneath the evening sky.

Kim Taehyung sat before a low table covered in maps.

Golden candlelight danced across his features.

Elegant.

Refined.

Dangerously beautiful.

The entire court praised his gentle nature.

Only his closest advisors knew how terrifying his mind truly was.

A single move from him could determine the fate of nations.

"My prince."

A shadow guard appeared from the darkness.

Taehyung looked up.

"What is it?"

The guard lowered his head.

"We found another traitor."

The room grew quiet.

Taehyung's smile disappeared.

"Alive?"

"Yes."

"Bring him."

Minutes later a trembling nobleman was dragged into the chamber.

The man collapsed immediately.

"Your Highness! Mercy!"

Taehyung watched him calmly.

The noble's face turned pale.

Everyone knew the Crown Prince rarely became angry.

That was what made him frightening.

"Who sent you?"

The man remained silent.

Taehyung sighed softly.

"Then let me ask a different question."

His gaze sharpened.

"How many people are involved?"

The noble's body trembled.

Moments later he broke.

By midnight Taehyung possessed enough names to shake the entire kingdom.

Yet instead of relief, he felt unease.

Something was wrong.

The conspiracy was too large.

Too organized.

Too deliberate.

Someone was moving pieces from the shadows.

Someone powerful enough to influence both kingdoms.

A knock interrupted his thoughts.

His closest advisor entered.

"My prince."

"What happened?"

The advisor hesitated.

"We intercepted a message."

Taehyung accepted the letter.

As he read it, his expression froze.

The message contained only one sentence.

The wolves have already sharpened their fangs.

And the hunters are coming for the phoenix.

No signature.

No seal.

Nothing.

Yet a chill ran down Taehyung's spine.

Because he recognized the handwriting.

It belonged to a man who should have been dead.

That same night.

Far from both capitals.

Hidden among the border mountains.

A hooded figure stood beneath the falling snow.

Several masked assassins knelt before him.

"Everything is prepared?"

"Yes."

"And the targets?"

"The Jeon Crown Prince and the Kim Crown Prince will both travel through the border region within the next week."

The hooded man smiled.

"Excellent."

The assassins lowered their heads.

"Should we proceed?"

"Proceed."

A cold laugh echoed through the darkness.

"Once they are dead, neither clan will be able to stop what comes next."

Lightning flashed across the sky.

For an instant, the man's face became visible.

Then darkness swallowed him once more.

Unaware of the danger approaching them, the heirs of the Jeon and Kim Clans looked toward the same snow-covered mountains.

Neither knew that fate had already begun weaving their paths together.

Neither knew that before winter ended, they would become the most wanted men on the continent.

And neither knew that the greatest threat to their hearts would not be war.

But each other.

The snow began shortly after sunset.

By midnight, the mountains had disappeared beneath a sea of white.

Kim Taehyung pulled his cloak tighter around himself as his horse carefully navigated the narrow mountain path.

Only six trusted guards accompanied him.

Officially, he was traveling to inspect military positions near the border.

Unofficially, he was following a trail left by the mysterious letter.

The trail pointed toward the Northern Frontier.

Toward secrets someone desperately wanted buried.

The wind howled through the cliffs.

Taehyung's horse suddenly became restless.

Its ears flattened.

Its body tensed.

Immediately, Taehyung's eyes sharpened.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

"Stop."

The entire group halted.

The guards exchanged confused glances.

"My prince?"

Taehyung slowly looked around.

The forest was silent.

Too silent.

No birds.

No animals.

Nothing.

The realization struck him instantly.

Ambush.

"Draw your—"

TWANG!

An arrow exploded from the darkness.

One of the guards collapsed before he could even scream.

"ENEMY!"

More arrows followed.

Dozens.

No.

Hundreds.

The mountains erupted with movement.

Masked figures poured from every direction.

The assassins had been waiting.

The first wave targeted the horses.

The second targeted Taehyung.

Steel flashed beneath the moonlight.

The narrow mountain path became chaos.

Taehyung drew his sword.

The elegant crown prince disappeared.

In his place stood the man feared by every enemy strategist.

Blood sprayed across the snow.

One assassin.

Two.

Three.

His blade moved like silver lightning.

Yet more enemies continued appearing.

Far too many.

Someone had invested enormous resources into ensuring his death.

A familiar dread settled inside his chest.

This was not merely an assassination.

This was extermination.

A guard stumbled toward him.

"My prince!"

Blood poured from the man's mouth.

"There are traitors among us—"

An arrow pierced his throat.

The guard collapsed.

Dead.

Taehyung froze.

Traitors?

Before he could think further, a deafening explosion echoed through the mountain.

The ground trembled.

The cliffside above them cracked.

Rockslide.

The assassins had prepared everything.

Massive boulders crashed downward.

The mountain itself seemed to collapse.

"RETREAT!"

Taehyung shouted.

But it was already too late.

The world exploded around him.

Several miles away.

Jeon Jungkook's situation was no better.

His escort had already been reduced by half.

The assassins moved with military precision.

Every attack anticipated his reactions.

Every escape route blocked.

Someone knew his habits.

Someone had sold information.

Jungkook cut down another attacker.

His sword dripped crimson.

The snow beneath his boots had turned red.

A messenger attempted to reach him.

"Your Highness!"

A blade emerged from the man's chest.

The messenger fell.

Jungkook's expression darkened.

Even his personal attendants had been infiltrated.

The conspiracy reached further than he imagined.

Then he heard it.

A distant roar.

The sound of a collapsing mountain.

His instincts screamed.

Danger.

Without hesitation, Jungkook spurred his horse forward.

Moments later the path behind him disappeared beneath tons of stone.

The assassins scattered.

Even they hadn't expected such destruction.

Jungkook barely escaped.

His horse wasn't as fortunate.

The animal lost its footing.

The world tilted violently.

For one terrifying moment, Jungkook felt nothing beneath him.

Then gravity won.

The cliff vanished beneath his feet.

And he fell.

Pain.

Cold.

Darkness.

Taehyung slowly opened his eyes.

Snowflakes drifted down from somewhere above.

His entire body ached.

The fall had thrown him into a narrow ravine hidden beneath the mountain.

Miraculously, he was alive.

Unfortunately, he wasn't alone.

A sword rested against his throat.

Instantly, every instinct awakened.

Across from him sat a tall stranger dressed in black.

Dark eyes.

Sharp features.

Dangerous posture.

The sword remained perfectly steady.

Neither spoke.

The silence stretched.

Finally, the stranger broke it.

"Who are you?"

Taehyung's mind raced.

The man was injured.

Exhausted.

Likely another victim of the ambush.

Or perhaps one of the hunters.

Either possibility was dangerous.

"A traveler."

The stranger stared.

"A terrible liar."

Taehyung almost smiled.

Interesting.

"Then what are you?"

"A mercenary."

Now it was Taehyung's turn to doubt.

That answer was equally ridiculous.

The stranger's bearing screamed nobility.

Neither believed the other.

Neither cared.

At least not yet.

A distant horn echoed above.

Both men froze.

Search parties.

The assassins were still looking.

The stranger immediately extinguished the small fire nearby.

Darkness swallowed the ravine.

Voices drifted from above.

"Search below!"

"No survivors!"

"Check the ravines!"

Taehyung and the stranger exchanged a glance.

For the first time, they shared the same thought.

If discovered, they would both die.

The search continued for nearly an hour.

Neither moved.

Neither spoke.

The space between them felt impossibly small.

The ravine was narrow.

Barely large enough for two people.

When the voices finally disappeared, Taehyung released a slow breath.

Unfortunately, a new problem emerged.

The temperature was dropping rapidly.

A blizzard approached.

The stranger glanced upward.

"We're trapped."

Taehyung followed his gaze.

The collapse had sealed most exits.

Climbing out was impossible until daylight.

Perhaps longer.

The stranger cursed softly.

"We'll freeze before morning."

Taehyung looked around.

There was only one relatively sheltered alcove within the ravine.

Small.

Cramped.

Large enough for two people if they sat very close.

The realization seemed to strike them simultaneously.

An awkward silence followed.

Neither appeared pleased.

The wind howled louder.

Snow continued pouring into the ravine.

The temperature fell further.

Finally, the stranger sighed.

"Either we share the shelter..."

He paused.

"Or we die."

Taehyung stared at him.

Then at the tiny alcove.

Then back at him.

For the first time since the ambush began, he genuinely considered that fate might hate him.

The stranger looked equally unhappy.

Neither knew the other's name.

Neither knew the other's status.

Neither knew they were sworn enemies.

Yet before the night ended, they would be forced to spend it side by side.

Close enough to hear each other's heartbeat.

Close enough to notice things they should not.

And close enough for fate to begin its cruelest game.

The storm showed no signs of stopping.

Snow continued to pour into the ravine, covering the ground in a thick white blanket.

Jeon Jungkook stared at the narrow alcove.

Then at the stranger.

Then back at the alcove.

The situation was ridiculous.

The shelter was barely large enough for two people.

The stranger looked equally unimpressed.

For several moments neither moved.

Neither wanted to be the first to surrender.

Another icy gust swept through the ravine.

Jungkook felt the temperature drop even further.

Fine.

His pride was not worth freezing to death.

Without a word, he entered the alcove.

The stranger followed.

Immediately the cramped space became suffocating.

Their shoulders almost touched.

The ceiling hung low overhead.

Even sitting properly was difficult.

Outside, the wind screamed like a wounded beast.

Inside, silence settled.

An uncomfortable silence.

Jungkook leaned against the stone wall.

The stranger sat opposite him.

Close.

Far too close.

For the first time, Jungkook could properly study the man.

His features were striking.

Not merely handsome.

Beautiful.

Even exhausted and covered in dirt, there was an elegance about him that seemed impossible to hide.

His hands were smooth.

Not a laborer's hands.

Not a common physician's hands.

Noble.

Definitely noble.

The stranger caught him staring.

"See something you like?"

Jungkook blinked.

Then frowned.

The man actually looked amused.

Interesting.

Most people became nervous under his gaze.

This one seemed entertained.

"No."

The stranger hummed.

"A pity."

Jungkook almost rolled his eyes.

For someone running from assassins, the man appeared remarkably relaxed.

The silence returned.

Several minutes later, Jungkook noticed something.

The stranger was shivering.

Only slightly.

Most people would not have seen it.

Jungkook did.

His eyes narrowed.

The poison.

The man's complexion had become noticeably paler.

"Your wound."

The stranger glanced down.

"What about it?"

"The poison is spreading."

A brief pause.

Then a smile.

"You sound concerned."

"I'm not."

"Liar."

Jungkook's jaw tightened.

The stranger chuckled softly.

For some reason, the sound annoyed him.

And yet...

Not entirely.

Before Jungkook could respond, the stranger suddenly swayed.

His hand shot out against the wall for support.

The smile vanished.

Jungkook immediately sat upright.

"Hey."

No response.

The man's breathing had become uneven.

Damn it.

The poison was worse than he thought.

"Can you hear me?"

The stranger opened one eye.

"Barely."

Jungkook cursed under his breath.

Wonderful.

The suspicious physician was dying.

In a ravine.

During a blizzard.

With him.

The stranger attempted to sit straighter.

He failed.

His body leaned sideways.

Instinctively, Jungkook caught him.

The movement surprised them both.

For one strange moment, everything became still.

The stranger's body was warm despite the cold.

Warmer than it should have been.

Fever.

His head rested briefly against Jungkook's shoulder.

Dark lashes trembled.

Jungkook froze.

The distance between them disappeared.

Too close.

Way too close.

The stranger seemed to realize it at the same moment.

Slowly, he pulled away.

Neither spoke.

An unfamiliar tension settled inside the small shelter.

Jungkook cleared his throat.

"You have a fever."

The stranger looked exhausted.

"And your medical diagnosis?"

"You'll die if it gets worse."

"How reassuring."

Jungkook ignored him.

After a moment, he removed a small leather pouch from inside his cloak.

The stranger's eyes sharpened immediately.

Medicine.

Jungkook noticed.

Interesting.

A normal physician would have looked relieved.

This man looked suspicious.

As if analyzing every possibility.

Jungkook handed him a small pill.

"Take it."

The stranger did not move.

"What is it?"

"Poison suppressant."

"How generous."

"You can refuse."

The stranger studied him carefully.

For several seconds neither blinked.

Then he accepted the medicine.

Jungkook watched him swallow it.

Only then did he relax.

Slightly.

The fever should stabilize.

Hopefully.

Minutes passed.

The storm intensified.

The entrance to the ravine was almost completely buried.

They would not be leaving tonight.

The realization settled heavily between them.

The stranger sighed.

"This is your fault."

Jungkook stared.

"My fault?"

"You appeared."

"I appeared?"

"If I hadn't met you, I wouldn't be trapped in a hole."

Jungkook laughed.

Actually laughed.

The sound surprised both of them.

The stranger blinked.

Then stared.

Jungkook immediately stopped.

An awkward silence followed.

Something strange had just happened.

Neither knew what.

Neither mentioned it.

Outside, the snow continued falling.

Inside, exhaustion slowly won.

The stranger's head dipped forward.

Again.

Again.

Eventually he lost the battle entirely.

Before he could hit the stone wall, Jungkook caught him.

The movement happened automatically.

Without thought.

Without permission.

The stranger was already asleep.

Jungkook looked down.

The man's breathing had finally steadied.

His face seemed younger while sleeping.

Less guarded.

Less dangerous.

For the first time, Jungkook wondered who he really was.

Not a physician.

Definitely not.

The mystery irritated him.

And intrigued him.

An unfortunate combination.

After a moment, he carefully adjusted his cloak over the sleeping man.

Just enough to keep out the cold.

Nothing more.

Absolutely nothing more.

Then why am I doing this?

Jungkook frowned.

He had no answer.

Across from him, the stranger shifted slightly in his sleep.

A soft crease appeared between his brows.

Even unconscious, he looked troubled.

As though something was chasing him.

Or someone.

Jungkook looked away.

This was temporary.

One night.

One storm.

One stranger.

By tomorrow they would go their separate ways.

That should have been a comforting thought.

Instead, for reasons he couldn't explain, it left an unpleasant feeling in his chest.

Outside, hidden beneath the storm, dozens of assassins continued searching the mountains.

Far away, powerful men celebrated what they believed to be two successful assassinations.

And within the cramped shelter, neither crown prince realized the truth.

The enemy they had been taught to hate all their lives was sleeping only a few inches away.

Closer than any ally.

Closer than any friend.

And with every passing hour, fate tightened its grip around both their hearts.