Ryan opened his eyes, grinning as he pressed a finger to his lips.

“Shh, we’re playing hide-and-seek. No distractions.”

The sharp edge of his claws pressed lightly against my side, a silent reminder of his unpredictability.

I called out to the warrior outside the door, forcing a laugh. “Haha, haven’t seen him. What’s going on?”

“The Blue Pack just sent an urgent message. Alpha Ryan has an allergy to wolfsbane—he accidentally ingested some earlier.

“If you see him, be careful!

“When he’s under the influence, he loses his memory and becomes uncontrollably aggressive.”

As the footsteps faded down the hall, I turned back to Ryan. His ears were flushed red, and he’d already stripped off his shirt, crawling on all fours toward the bed.

“Alpha, let’s get you back to your room, okay? This isn’t your bed.”

He frowned, his eyes and nose tinged with a faint redness. Tears suddenly welled up, spilling over like a dam had broken.

“You don’t want to sleep with me?”

I kept my voice soft, coaxing. “What do I need to do to get you back, huh? Our good boy? Hmm?”

His lips twitched into a pleased smile. “One kiss for every step.”

By the time I got him back to his room, my lips were sore from all the pecks. Ryan swayed unsteadily, glancing back at me every few steps.

“Like you. Kiss.”

As he stumbled into the room, I raised my hand, aiming to knock him out before he could cause more trouble. But Ryan caught my wrist in a flash, pinning me against the wall. His eyes darkened, his chest pressed close, and his gaze bore into me.

“What are you doing?”

He’s already awake?!

My knees buckled, and I scrambled for an excuse. But Ryan’s expression softened almost immediately. He dropped to his knees on the floor, his head resting against my stomach as he nuzzled mindlessly.

“Sorry, I got scared.

“You have to hug me before I’ll get up.”

I coaxed and prodded, finally getting him onto the bed and convincing him to lie down. As a precaution, I tied his hands with a length of rope. He stayed obedient, stretching out his arms and legs, even asking if I was tired.

I chuckled, brushing my hand over his face and letting my scent calm him into a deep sleep.

The next morning, I worked on the medicinal patches with dark circles under my eyes.

Rocky walked in and headed straight for me.

“Lennox, where were you last night?”

I immediately raised my hands in surrender. “I went back to my room and slept till morning! I definitely didn’t do anything wrong!”

He scoffed. “Why so defensive? It’s like you’ve got a guilty conscience. Last night… did you get my message?”

Thinking of the protective scent Gemma had received, I swallowed the bitterness and forced a bright smile. “I did. Congratulations to you both—”

Before I could finish, Nelson burst in, his face pale with panic.

“Oh, Moon Goddess above! Last night! Last night someone attacked Alpha Ryan! We’re all in danger now!

“He’s coming for us.”

It turned out that Ryan had woken up early this morning to find himself in his undershirt.

His hands were bound, his body aching all over.

His knees were especially sore.

When he looked in the mirror, his face was smeared with lipstick and rouge, his lips swollen.

Without a word, he’d destroyed the room he’d been in.

Now, Ryan was on the hunt for the culprit.

Rocky frowned in confusion. “We’ve been minding our own business here, waking up every day just to make medicine. Who would dare do something like this?”

He glanced at me with a teasing grin.

“Though, you sleep like a log. Even if the world was ending, you wouldn’t wake up.”

But my world *had* ended.

I suddenly remembered that the rope I’d used to tie him up last night was my own belt.

But it had Rocky’s scent all over it.

“Who’s Rocky?”

Ryan’s voice was cold as he vaulted over the wall, landing firmly in the courtyard.

His face was red and irritated from scrubbing, his eyes bloodshot.

I pointed at Rocky. “Him!”

Rocky: “What?”

Rocky Brown was a rising star in the Blue Pack, admired by many, regardless of rank or age.

It wasn’t unusual for someone to carry something with his scent on it—it could’ve been anyone. The embroidered belt didn’t narrow down the suspect.

The situation quickly spiraled into chaos.

Rocky’s face darkened as he snatched the belt, his fingers curling tightly around the fabric. His name was stitched neatly across it, undeniable proof of someone’s misplaced affection.

No one in the pack dared to claim it.

Alpha Ryan’s voice was icy, cutting through the tension. "Your pack never ceases to amaze me. Cowardly and spineless, yet bold enough to act but not to own up to it."

I couldn’t resist adding fuel to the fire, whispering, "Rocky, be honest for once. Own up to it."

Rocky crushed the belt in his fist, his jaw tight. "Alpha, you were attacked in the Cursed Woods, weren’t you? There’s bound to be evidence there."

Ryan nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yes. Then go and find it."

Elder Nelson, ever the one for a spectacle, chimed in with a chuckle, "Why not make it a group effort? Many hands make light work!"

I agreed, seizing the opportunity to slip away unnoticed.

This was the perfect chance to escape unnoticed.

Before we set off, I packed enough cash and quietly left a note explaining my departure.

…

The moment Alpha Ryan stepped into the Cursed Woods, the entire area fell silent.

Not a chirp from the crickets, not a single birdcall.

I kept my mouth shut too.

We followed Ryan’s lead, his boots leaving deep imprints in the soft earth until we reached a patch of trampled grass.

He pointed to the broken shrubs and crushed foliage with unsettling calm.

"Here."

Rocky crouched down, picking up a torn piece of a herb pouch from the chaos.

"This belongs to a healer. It should carry the scent of its owner… I’ll find out who it is soon enough."

Before he could finish his sentence, the forest erupted into chaos. Birds and small creatures scattered in every direction.

Then, the ground beneath us gave way with a deafening roar.

Elder Nelson shouted, "Damn it! I completely forgot about the sinkhole beneath the Cursed Woods!"

This was it—the pack was doomed.

As the ground shook violently, we all tumbled into the abyss.

I instinctively wanted to call out to Rocky, but in the thick haze of dust and debris, I saw him lunging toward Gemma.

I froze, letting myself fall into the darkness.