Lionel stood outside Arwen's apartment right next to his luxury car.

"I'll make sure you won't be able to refuse, and tonight will be unforgettable," Lionel muttered as he stepped into the simple apartment building.

Arriving on the seventh floor, where Arwen's room was, Lionel patiently knocked on the door. When the girl opened the door, the man grinned widely.

"You look beautiful even in just a sweater, Arwen. But you'll look even more charming at the party."

Arwen sighed heavily. "I don't want to go, Lionel. I'm not comfortable with this."

Lionel put on a disappointed look, but his tone turned sharp.

"Arwen, I already bought this party dress for you. You know it's not cheap. You have to wear it and come with me. Besides, if you don't come, I'm not sure my father will hire you again."

The threat silenced Arwen. She desperately needed her job at the cafe to pay for her college tuition. With a heavy heart, she nodded.

"Does that sound like a threat?" Arwen asked with a bit of courage.

"Tsk..." Lionel smiled crookedly as he clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"It's not a threat, but a fact and a warning." Lionel sneered, "That is, if you understand what I'm saying."

Arwen thought hard, her eyes seeming to assess the young man's expression in front of her. However, she thought again about her fate.

"Okay, I'll come," said Arwen, whom Lionel had been waiting for.

The young man finally smiled triumphantly. Spontaneously, Lionel touched Arwen's chin. However, the girl quickly backed away.

"Excellent decision. I'll pick you up later tonight."

Lionel handed Arwen a paper bag. He winked at the girl before turning around and leaving the apartment.

Arwen stood before her apartment door, clutching a small party dress bag. Her expression was troubled, her mind torn between anger and helplessness.

She had never liked parties. The crowds, loud music, and noise only made her feel more isolated.

However, Lionel's threat left her with no choice.

***

The party was held at a luxurious villa owned by their friend, the son of a wealthy family.

Sparkling lights decorated the spacious yard, which had a swimming pool in the middle. Loud music blared, and college students mingled with drinks in their hands.

Arwen stepped out of the car hesitantly. She was wearing Lionel's dress-a light blue dress that was too revealing for her taste.

Her body felt stiff, and she felt like a small fish thrown into the vast ocean.

Lionel put his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. "Relax, Arwen. Enjoy the night."

However, the opposite happened. Arwen felt like she was being watched. The glances from Astrid and her friends from the corner of the room made her even more uncomfortable. They spoke in whispers, but the small laughs that followed were directed at her.

Lionel left Arwen in the middle of the crowd, saying he wanted to talk to someone.

"I'll be right back, wait here," he said as he walked away.

Arwen stood awkwardly, not knowing what to do. A waiter came with a tray of drinks.

"Drinks, miss?"

Arwen shook her head, but the waiter smiled kindly. "Just juice, for those who don't drink alcohol." Hesitantly, Arwen took the glass.

From a distance, Astrid smiled slyly as she watched. "Good, she drank it," she muttered to her friends.

Arwen felt dizzy instantly. Her vision blurred, and her body felt light, as if floating.

She tried to find Lionel, but her steps faltered. The party was getting more confusing, and laughter and music echoed in the distance.

Suddenly, she felt a rough push on her back. "Oops, sorry, Arwen," said Astrid mockingly, greeted by laughter from her friends.

Arwen tried to keep her balance, but her weak body caused her to fall into the pool.

Cold water welcomed her, submerging her body. She struggled, but her strength was gone. Her vision grew dark.

Before she completely lost consciousness, she felt someone pulling her to the surface.

Lionel patted Arwen's pale cheeks. "Arwen, wake up," he said in a slightly panicked tone. The girl's body was soaking wet and trembling.

Astrid approached with a concerned look on her face. "What happened? I just saw her too close to the pool earlier."

Lionel lifted Arwen into his arms and carried her into the villa. "I'll take her to one of the rooms. She needs to rest."

Astrid smiled slightly behind him. "Make sure you help her, Lionel. Don't let anyone know."

***

Arwen woke up in a spacious room with thick curtains. Her body was still weak, and her head felt heavy.

The girl saw Lionel sitting on a chair near the window, staring at her with an ambiguous smile.

"Are you okay? You almost drowned earlier," asked Lionel.

Arwen tried to get up, but her body felt heavy. "What happened? I feel strange."

Lionel approached her and sat on the edge of the bed. "You just need to rest. I'm here to watch over you."

However, there was something in his tone that made Arwen feel uncomfortable.

"Lionel, stop," Arwen pleaded weakly. She was still affected by whatever had been mixed into her drink earlier.

"Arwen, don't be a hypocrite! You're going to enjoy my touch!" Lionel insisted, touching her more intensely.

Lionel's rough palms began to uncover Arwen's thighs, tracing every curve of her lower body.

Arwen fearfully tried to push the young man's hands away. "I said stop!"

Lionel touched her shoulders and tried to tear her clothes in that area. However, the young man pressed Arwen's weak body even harder until the girl was back in bed.

"You think you can escape my grip, hhm?" Lionel looked even more violent. The young man even lowered his face, trying to kiss her by force.

Arwen continued to fight even though she was almost out of strength. The drink was blurring her vision.

"Help! Anyone, help me!" Arwen's scream was stuck in her throat.

SMACK!

There was a loud slap. "Scream all you want, but no one will come to help you!"

Arwen let out a loud sob. Perhaps that night she began to accept her fate. It wasn't just her body that was in pain. Her heart hurt even more.

But before Lionel could do anything else to Arwen, the window suddenly opened violently.

A cold wind blew in, shaking the curtains. Then the sound of breaking glass was heard, and a large wolf jumped inside.

Its yellow eyes stared intently at Lionel. Its sharp teeth were visible, and its growls filled the room.

Suddenly, Lionel was thrown away from Arwen's body, and the young man was slammed roughly onto the floor of the room.

With a pale face and a body that ached, Lionel slowly got up. "What the hell is this?!"

"Damn wolf!" Lionel cursed, breathing heavily.

He tried to crawl, his legs dragging weakly across the cold marble floor. His hands trembled as he tried to reach the doorknob, but his fingers couldn't get a firm grip.

Heavy breathing and low growls could be heard right behind him. The creature's breath was hot, caressing Lionel's neck like a gust from hell.

He turned slowly, and his eyes widened as he stared into a pair of sharp, glowing golden eyes-eyes that did not belong to a human being.

"Don't... don't come near me..." Lionel muttered, cold sweat covering his face.

But the creature did not move. It just stared. Its gaze penetrated Lionel's mind, peeling him from the inside without touching his skin.

There was pressure, an invisible force that hit Lionel's body, rendering him immobile.

"What... is this..." he muttered softly.

His body was stiff. The next second, the young man's gaze darkened. Lionel fell. He was unconscious.

On the bed, Arwen was still lying limp. Her eyes were half open, her gaze blurry.

However, as the prominent figure approached, her lips moved slowly, as if rejecting the fear beginning to fill her heart.

"Don't hurt me..." she whispered.

The wolf approached slowly. His footsteps were silent, but his presence was very real.

His breathing was heavy but calm. He looked down at the girl. And for a moment, time seemed to stop.

Arwen stared at him, her weak gaze shrouded in confusion. But inside her heart, something stirred, not out of fear or threat. There was something else-an odd vibration that made her chest feel warm amidst all her weakness.

The wolf did not growl. It did not hurt her. It just stood there silently.

As the last of her consciousness slowly faded from Arwen's eyes, she whispered, "You... who are you?"

Her body went completely limp. She fainted.

The wolf raised its head. Then in an instant, its body changed-its skin curved, its fur disappeared, its muscles and bones moved like magical music. In a matter of seconds, a man stood there.

Tall, with broad shoulders and golden eyes that radiated an aura of authority. His body was solid like a stone sculpture, and every movement exuded strength and power. He wore a long black robe that appeared to cover his body.

"She... is too fragile," he muttered softly as he approached.

His hand gently lifted Arwen as if her body were nothing more than a light fabric. He held her close to his chest, as if carrying something irreplaceable.

The man turned toward the window he had broken. The night wind blew in, carrying the scent of earth and dust from outside.

His steps were light. He jumped out, silently traversing the night. In an instant, they disappeared into the darkness.

A few seconds later.

Astrid quickly opened the door. Her high heels clicked on the floor. Behind her, her two friends looked panicked, following with tense faces.

"Why... is it so quiet?" muttered Astrid, staring into the messy room. "I'm sure I heard something noisy coming from this room."

Her eyes immediately fell on Lionel lying motionless on the floor. The window was broken, and the curtains were fluttering in the wind. The bed was empty.

Astrid approached, staring at Lionel's unconscious body.

"Arwen..." she whispered.

"Where is that damn girl?" one of her friends asked, her voice trembling. "Why did Lionel faint?!"

Astrid clenched her jaw. She glanced toward the window.

"Did that damn girl escape?" she muttered. "But that's impossible..."

***

Alpha Zion Mansion, The Moonstrike Pack.

"You'll be okay..."

The voice slipped softly from Zion's lips as he sat on the side of the bed, his fingers tracing Arwen's pale cheek. His gentle demeanor contrasted with the stern figure he usually presented in the lecture hall.

The touch was not just a caress, but a silent statement from a man who had lost control of his heart.

But suddenly, Arwen's eyelids fluttered. The girl blinked softly, staring at the ceiling, which was covered in intricate carvings and decorated with crystal chandeliers.

The scent of fresh roses greeted her sense of smell, not the smell of alcohol and strong perfume from the party a few hours ago.

Reflexively, she raised her hand to her temples. "What... is this...?"

"Calm down." His baritone voice sounded steady. "Rest. You're safe now."

Arwen turned her head, and her eyes widened when she saw the figure sitting beside her.

"Professor Zion?!"

She immediately stood up, even though her body was still unsteady. The thick blanket slipped down to her stomach. "Where am I? Why are you here? Lionel, where is Lionel?!"

Zion just stared at her with dark, unreadable eyes. He didn't answer right away. Instead, he took a glass of water from the nightstand and handed it to Arwen.

"Drink this first. Your head is still heavy, isn't it?"

Arwen gently pushed the glass away, her eyes still fixed on him anxiously. "Please answer my question."

Zion took a slow breath, then leaned back in his chair. "You're in my mansion, Arwen."

"Mansion...?" Arwen muttered softly.

Zion nodded. "I brought you here because Lionel was about to do something unforgivable. He conspired with Astrid to trap you that night. They had it all planned out. "

Arwen bit her lower lip, her hands trembling as she hugged herself. Her gaze fell on the white linen sheets covering the large bed.

" I don't believe it... "she whispered.

" I know you don't want to believe it, "Zion interrupted." But I saw everything with my own eyes."

"And you saved me?"

Zion looked at her. Silence. Then, a faint smile spread across his face-a smile he had never shown anyone before.

"I won't let anyone touch you, Arwen."

Arwen stared at him in questioning silence. She took a slow breath, then tried to sit up straight.

"Why?" her voice trembled. "Why are you doing all this for me?"

Zion closed his eyes momentarily, as if weighing every word coming out of his mouth. Then he stood up. His steps were calm but authoritative.

"Because I have to protect you."

But he didn't say that.

Instead, he looked at Arwen intensely. "Because you are mine."

Arwen froze. "What do you mean?"

Zion approached her. His left hand reached out, stopping a few inches from her face. "I know it sounds crazy. It might even disturb you. But my body, my soul, react only to you. It's as if you were meant to be by my side. "

" No... "Arwen shook her head, her voice barely audible." I don't belong to anyone, Professor. "

" Zion, "he interrupted softly." Call me Zion."

Arwen held her breath. "I don't understand..."

"You don't have to understand," whispered Zion. He lifted Arwen's hand slowly, taking her small fingers in his. "But I can prove it."

"What are you-"

But before Arwen could finish her sentence, a soft golden light appeared from their clasped hands.

Thin but radiating incredible warmth, a strand of light bound their wrists together. Arwen was shocked. She gasped when she saw it.

"What is this...?" she whispered.

Zion stared at the strand calmly. "A bond. Something beyond human logic."

Arwen tried to pull her hand away, but the light did not waver. Instead, it felt comforting. However, she quickly dismissed the strange feeling.

"No," she whispered. "This isn't real."

"It is real, Arwen."

She managed to pull her hand away, and the light slowly faded. Arwen got up from the bed, though her legs were still unsteady.

"I don't believe it. This is wrong. This is very wrong!"

Zion remained silent, letting her stand there. He didn't chase after her. "You can deny it. I won't force you. But you can't run away from the truth."

"I don't belong to you," Arwen roared.

"I just want you to know I will always come when you need protection."

Arwen bit her lip, holding back the tears starting to well up in her chest. She didn't want to believe it. Not that man. Not the string of light. And not the strange feeling that was now pulsing inside her.

She looked down. "I want to go home..."

However, Zion's intense gaze made Arwen feel something strange. Her body felt hot, and the heat spread throughout her entire body. She also smelled a familiar scent. The sharp aroma of cedarwood, cloves, and amber wafted from Alpha Zion's body.

This made Arwen suddenly feel her passion rising.

"This scent..." she muttered to herself.

The girl approached Alpha Zion. She touched his chest and reflexively sniffed it. That sensation made Arwen want to get closer, so she pulled the collar of his coat.

Zion..." she whispered.

She touched her left chest, where her heart was beating fast. The passion in her body danced, ignited, and burned even stronger when their eyes met.

Arwen's gaze softened momentarily, but her eyes remained dark, filled with burning desire.

"I can't control this," she sighed, her soft palm touching Zion's jaw.

Zion looked at her with satisfaction. His gaze was so deep, it seemed to strip her soul bare.

"No!"

The scream escaped Arwen's lips, loud and full of uncertainty.

Her breath was ragged. Both hands clutched her head as if trying to drive something urgent from her mind.

Zion stared at her intensely, his eyebrows furrowed, his eyes narrowed sharply. "You shouldn't be awake yet," he muttered softly but clearly.

The look in his eyes showed that he was surprised. It was impossible for Arwen, a human girl, to escape the influence of his power. He knew that he had not completely withdrawn the influence of his suggestive magic.

"I want to go home," Arwen hissed, regulating her breathing. Her voice trembled, but her eyes showed determination. "I can't stay here."

"Arwen." Zion was still standing, his tall figure towering over her, his shadow lengthening under the dim light of the chandelier. "At least stay the night. You're not fully recovered yet."

"I don't care," Arwen cut him off quickly. She rose from the bed, slightly unsteady but promptly regaining her balance. "I can't trust anyone right now, including you."

Zion stared at her silently. His alpha aura emanated from him, dominating the room, but the girl remained tall. Despite the slight ripple in her pupils, Arwen did not flinch.

"Arwen, if you step outside this mansion tonight, you may-"

"Whatever happens out there, it can't be worse than being in a place that makes me doubt my mind," she said, her voice low but emphatic. "Please take me home."

For a moment, only silence answered. Zion took a deep breath. His gaze remained piercing, but he knew exactly when to hold back.

"All right," he said, his voice flat but deep. "I'll take you home."

A few moments later.

The night sky was shrouded in a thin fog. A shiny black car stopped in front of an old apartment building on the corner of the city. Zion got out first, then opened the right door for Arwen.

The girl got out without saying a word. The night wind blew her hair, and her face looked tired but enthusiastic in the dim light of the street lamp.

"I'll wait until you go inside," said Zion.

Arwen nodded softly, but before stepping away, she turned her head. "I know what you were trying to do earlier."

Zion didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on hers-deep, intense, hiding something he hadn't revealed.

"I'm not a puppet that can be controlled," Arwen continued. "And I don't belong to anyone."

Her words seemed to swirl between them.

Then she turned and stepped into her apartment building. The door closed with a soft click.

Zion stood frozen for a few seconds before finally returning to his car.

His gaze was fixed on the third-floor window, directly at the room holding the person who had shaken the very foundations of his control.

Inside Arwen's apartment.

"What was that feeling?"

Arwen muttered softly, her hands clutching her messy hair that fell onto her shoulders.

Her gaze was empty, staring at her faint reflection in the mirror on the wall of the narrow room.

Her face was pale, and her eyes seemed darker than usual, as if their light was fading.

She took a deep breath and held her temples again. A faint throbbing pulsed inside her head, disturbing the calm she had been trying to build since returning to the apartment.

"I was at a party... Lionel..." she thought softly. "Then, why did I wake up in Professor Zion's mansion?"

Small steps carried him back and forth across the wooden floor, which creaked with every step.

He pressed his lips together, trying to decipher the fragments of events that felt like a fog in his mind.

"Am I starting to like Professor Zion?" he said softly, almost not believing the words coming out of his mouth.

She stopped walking. The statement echoed in the room. Silence. Painful.

She looked down and hugged herself. "It doesn't make sense. But he is very handsome, and all the girls want him. Oh my God, am I falling for him?" she whispered, but her voice sounded shaky.

In her heart, she knew something had shaken her from the way Zion had looked at her earlier. It was as if invisible magic was running through her veins, demanding, guiding, and seducing.

"I'm going crazy trying to remember..." she hissed, frustrated.

She collapsed into a chair near the window and stared outside.

"Where is Lionel? And the others. Are they really-" She held her breath. "... out to get me?"

The question hung, settled, then fell like a stone into the lake of her consciousness. She had no answer, only suspicion, fear, and a sense of betrayal.

Arwen closed her eyes for a moment, trying to regulate her breathing. "Calm down..." she muttered.

Her feet moved slowly toward the bed. She sat on the edge, clutching the edge of the blanket, her head still throbbing softly.

She tilted her body, slowly lying on the thin, uncomfortable mattress, but it felt safe.

The clock ticking on the wall was the only sound accompanying her. In the silence, one thing continued to haunt her thoughts-Zion's gaze. A gaze that seemed to pierce through all layers of her logic.

And even though her body was lying down, her mind was still wandering, fixated on the man who should not be disturbing her nights.

***

The next morning.

Arwen's footsteps sounded steady as she walked down the campus corridor.

The morning breeze blew the ends of her jacket, but her heart felt chaotic, like a thick fog covering her mind since that night. Her head still felt heavy, even though her body forced her to move as usual.

"She looks quiet, but she's a bitch."

The voice hit her ears like a whip. Arwen turned slowly, only to find three female students standing not far from her, staring at her mockingly.

She took a deep breath, trying to ignore them, but her steps grew heavier as voices rose from various corners.

"I heard her go into Lionel's room that night."

"I think she deliberately sold herself to keep her job at Lionel's cafe."

"How shameful. A scholarship student, but look at her behavior..."

The closer she got to the main building, the more eyes stared at her, narrowing, sneering, accusing. Arwen bit her lower lip, her heart sinking.

What did they all mean?

Her eyes fell on the crowd in front of the notice board.

Astrid, Lionel, and several students stood there, handing out pieces of paper. Arwen approached, grabbed one of the flyers, and her body froze.

It was her photo.

She was lying on a bed, her dress slightly open, her eyes closed-taken from an angle that made her look as if...

"N-No..." Arwen whispered, her body trembling.

She stared at Astrid with wide eyes. "Where did you get this?!"

Astrid smiled slyly. "Oh, so you admit it's you?"

"Answer me!" Arwen shouted, breathing heavily.

"They all need to know who you are," Astrid replied loudly. "You've disgraced this university. Disgusting! A scholarship student acting like-"

"Enough!" Arwen replied, her voice trembling. "I was framed! This is all-"

"What? Slander? We have proof. You think the campus will believe a slut like-"

Laughter and murmurs spread quickly, like poison spreading through the blood.

Several students began to push, throwing flyers at Arwen's face. Some even threw water bottles, hitting her shoulder. Arwen backed away, staggering.

"Stop!" Her voice was hoarse. "I'm not guilty! I don't know what happened!"

Laughter, insults, jeers.

Until finally-

"Enough."

The voice boomed, echoing like thunder splitting the sky.

Everyone fell silent. It was as if time had frozen.

Heavy, authoritative footsteps approached from the main gate.

The students moved aside to make way, like a river parting at the appearance of a majestic figure in its midst.

Professor Zion.

His black suit enveloped his tall, authoritative figure. He was handsome with a strong jawline. His eyes were sharp, dark as a moonless night.

His face was unreadable, but his aura was so strong and dominant that it forced everyone to bow down.

Zion looked directly at Astrid, then at Arwen, cornered against the wall, her face full of emotional pain and tears.

"Whoever dares to touch her again must deal with me," Zion said calmly but firmly. His voice was low, but it was enough to silence everyone.

Astrid gritted her teeth. "Professor Zion, you don't know who Arwen is. She-"

Zion raised his hand, silencing Astrid. "I know far more than any of you."

Astrid laughed cynically. "Then you should know that she has tarnished the name of this campus. We have already submitted a petition. The rectorate is considering revoking her scholarship. In fact-"

" If she is expelled, "Zion interrupted softly," I will resign from this university."

The room fell silent.

All eyes widened. Astrid was transfixed. Lionel looked incredulous.

Arwen looked at Zion, her eyes brimming with tears.

Zion stepped forward and hugged Arwen in front of everyone. He hugged her with strong, comforting arms, protecting her small, trembling body.

"Arwen is mine," he said, his voice sounding like an ancestral oath.

Whispers immediately spread. Astrid's face paled. Lionel clenched his fists.

Zion lifted Arwen's face, looking deeply into her eyes.

"You are not alone. I am here."

Arwen sobbed, her body going limp in Zion's embrace. For the first time since the incident, she felt safe. Protected.

Zion looked at all the students who were still watching. "I'll repeat it. I will leave this institution if the campus council punishes Arwen without a fair investigation. Not just as a teacher, but as a man who protects his woman."

The atmosphere suddenly fell silent.