The uncertainty of my execution date was the most torturous part.

Alexis’s words—"awaiting sentencing"—had become my shackles.

This prison seemed tailor-made for me.

It neutralized my strength, my aura, suppressed and drained me.

I couldn’t escape, nor could I heal myself.

To make matters worse, the constant exposure to the harsh fluorescent lights had left my vision increasingly blurred.

Just as I was on the brink of despair, a new prisoner arrived.

The clanking of chains echoed with every step he took.

I gripped my claws, my only weapon, and glared in his direction. "New guy, what are you? A rogue or a traitor?"

"Neither. I’m a disgraced Lycan."

I’d expected anyone chained and thrown in here to be a rogue of significant power, or at least someone with a formidable reputation.

Instead, he turned out to be a Lycan, once respected, now fallen.

"My hands and feet are bound. I’m no threat to you," he said, his voice calm and cool, like a mountain stream.

It was oddly soothing in this oppressive heat.

Seeing me relax and retract my claws, he remarked, "That necklace is quite distinctive. It looks like the one the Lycan Queen wears."

I scoffed. "Same man gave it to both of us. How special."

If it weren’t for the fact that this necklace was made of a rare metal that helped regulate my body temperature in this stifling cell, I’d have destroyed it long ago.

I sat down cross-legged. "You’re quite the conversationalist for a Lycan. Locked up and still so curious."

He replied, "You’ve been here for over a century. Aren’t you bored?"

"Bored, yes. But now you’re here to keep me company."

"True," he said with a faint smile. "And to ensure neither of us is bored, I’ll share my story."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."

…

Hours later, we were deep in conversation, both of us parched from talking.

If we’d been in a bar, the table would’ve been littered with empty glasses and peanut shells.

Honestly, it was the most relaxed I’d felt since being locked up.

I laughed, slapping my thigh. "Rishi, you’re great to talk to!"

He remained calm and polite. "...Thank you."

Though a disgraced Lycan, his past was impressive.

He said he’d once been a high-ranking Lycan from the Azure Pack, respected and revered.

I didn’t know much about the Lycan hierarchy, but I knew the Azure Pack was one of the most powerful.

Rishi must’ve been someone important.

"Rishi."

"...Yes?"

I’d slipped into calling him by name without thinking, caught up in the conversation.

He responded naturally, not bothered by the familiarity.

"Ah, right. My name’s Josephine. You can call me Jo if you like."

"Alright, Jo."

Huh. He wasn’t as stiff as the other Lycans I’d met.

"Rishi, if we ever get out of here, I’d love to share a drink with you."

The smile faded from my lips.

But I’ll never get out.

My mood darkened again. "Rishi, as a high-ranking Lycan, you must’ve been among the elite. What did you do to end up here?"

"Curious?" he asked softly. "Come closer."

Eager for the answer, I moved toward him without hesitation.

He leaned in, his warm breath brushing my ear. "I challenged Alexis’s authority. He couldn’t strip me of my aura, so he locked me up."

"What…" I froze.

It was like stepping into a warm spring day only to plunge into an icy abyss.

How could someone say something so chilling in such a calm voice?

"Harsh!"

He chuckled. "Fair enough."

My curiosity was piqued. "Why did you challenge him?"

Rishi hesitated before answering, his voice colder now. "Alexis betrayed me. He promised to leave my pack alone in exchange for my help, then turned on me and took something—someone—I cared about."

"Ah."

The only person Alexis had recently taken was Madelyn, the Lycan Queen.

So Rishi had loved her too.

It seemed the Lycan elite all had similar tastes.

The first time I’d seen Madelyn, she wasn’t yet the Lycan Queen.

She’d come to retrieve Alexis, her necklace matching mine, her presence serene and untouchable.

My companion, Fluffy, once said I was like a blazing fire, while Madelyn was like moonlight on a still lake.

The necklace Alexis gave me never suited me.

Standing next to Madelyn, the difference between us was stark.

But as for beauty, I had longer legs and a fuller figure.

I grimaced. "It’s not about looks. You don’t understand the allure of a ‘perfect’ mate."

Madelyn’s allure was undeniable.

She’d not only stolen Alexis’s heart but had also driven a high-ranking Lycan like Rishi to ruin.

Rishi clicked his tongue. "That’s all you have to say?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and clapped. "Rishi, you’re truly a man among men, a leader among leaders. The epitome of a Lycan with a broken heart!"

"..."

Rishi sighed softly. "I heard you were imprisoned because you loved Alexis too much, that you came to the Lycan court just to see him one last time?"

I buried my face in my hands. "Honestly, I regret it now."

He asked coolly, "Regret loving him?"

"No, regret not making a move sooner."

I felt Rishi shift slightly away from me and quickly explained, "Not like that. I mean, forming a mate bond with him."

He replied flatly, "What’s the difference?"

"A big difference. One involves emotional ties, the other doesn’t." I sighed. "Rishi, you wouldn’t understand. When Alexis first came to my territory, he was injured. I healed him, restored his strength, made him whole again. I poured everything into him, only for someone else to reap the benefits."

I paused, then asked bitterly, "If it were you, wouldn’t you hate him?"

Rishi didn’t hesitate. "I would. But hate stems from love. You loved him."

"Who loves him? I just wanted his power, his strength. I wanted to be stronger, to protect my people, to give them stability…"

I rambled on, half-truths and half-lies.

I *had* cared for Alexis, and I *had* wanted his power.

But after a century in this prison, I felt nothing for him—no love, no hate.

All I wanted was an end to this torment.

But now, with Rishi here, a powerful Lycan, I felt a glimmer of hope.

"Rishi, as a high-ranking Lycan, your aura must be incredibly strong, right?"

My hand brushed against the cold chains around his ankle, and I moved closer to him, deliberately stumbling into his lap.

"Sorry. The heat in this cell is unbearable. It’s sapping my strength…"

"It’s fine. I can’t help you up, though." He raised his shackled hands, giving me space to move.

I braced one hand on his thigh and the other on his shoulder, slowly sitting up.

"Logically, as a high-ranking Lycan, Alexis shouldn’t be able to suppress your aura completely, right?"

"He can’t, but he has ways to contain it." He shook the chains. "He couldn’t strip me of it, so he locked it away."

"Locked it away?" My hands found his shoulders, and I accidentally brushed my forehead against his jaw.

He smelled faintly of herbs, like a cold, refreshing drink I’d once had.

I couldn’t resist probing his aura.

He wasn’t lying.

His aura was still there, and it was immense.

My heart raced, my hands trembling as they rested on his chest.

"Rishi, are you really content to stay here forever?"

"What choice do I have?"

Hearing his resignation, I felt a surge of excitement.

This was my chance.

"If I told you I had a way for us to escape, would you help me?"

I smoothed the wrinkles in his shirt and looked up at him.

Though my vision was blurred, I could feel his presence, his warmth.

His voice was low, almost hypnotic. "How do you want me to help you?"

I smiled. "Form a mate bond with me. What do you say?"

"A mate bond? That could work."

I’d expected him to refuse, forcing me to come up with another plan.

Instead, he agreed without hesitation.

I was the one left stunned. "You’re… really okay with this?"

He chuckled softly. "Would you prefer I said no?"

I shook my head honestly.

It’s unbearably hot here.

The heat is suffocating, pressing down on me like a heavy weight. Now that there’s a chance to escape, I don’t want to waste a single second. I can’t help but lean closer into Rishi’s chest, my fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt. The shadow in front of me shifts—his hair moving slightly. The cool strands brush against the back of my hand, sending a shiver through me, like tiny fingers teasing my heart. I lick my dry lips, craving relief.

It’s strange. Before Rishi arrived, the Lycan prison felt like a furnace, stifling and unbearable. But now, there’s a faint breeze, something I hadn’t noticed before. The closer I get to him, the cooler it feels, as if he’s somehow shielding me from the heat. It only makes me more desperate to leave this place.

I’m afraid Rishi might change his mind, so I start trying to ease his hesitation. “Rishi,” I say softly, “we’re both creatures of the Moon Goddess. Our bodies are just vessels. Sharing our strength is just another way to connect, to survive. It’s nothing more than that.”

He hesitates for a moment, then replies quietly, “Yes.”

“These chains binding you—they’re meant to hold you back, but they mean nothing to me. If I’m going to draw from your strength, this is the only way. Rishi, if it’s too much, I can take on Madelyn’s scent for you. I can—”

Before I can finish, something cool brushes against my lips. It’s fleeting at first, but then it deepens, and suddenly our scents mingle—his crisp, icy scent entwining with my wild, cinnamon-like essence. My wolf stirs within me, restless and eager, responding to the purity of his presence.

Rishi pulls back slightly, his breathing uneven. “You don’t need to become someone else. The past is gone. I want to move forward.”

He’s right. The past is over. His so-called mate, Madelyn, is now the Lycan Queen by Alexis’s side. He’s here, trapped in this prison, just like me. We’re both at the end of our ropes, and that’s why I’m not holding back anymore.

I tear off my red jacket, the fabric sliding to the ground, and I push Rishi’s chained hands above his head, pinning him to the floor. He doesn’t resist, letting me take control. My eyes are still useless in this darkness, so I rely on touch, my lips finding his skin, cool and smooth like polished stone. It soothes the burning ache inside me, and I press closer, craving more of his calming presence.

When it’s over, I collapse against him, exhausted, my body covered only by his shirt. It’s cool and comforting, a stark contrast to the oppressive heat of the prison. I fall into a deep sleep, too tired to notice how easily Rishi frees himself from the chains. The so-called unbreakable restraints meant to hold a former Alpha are nothing to him.

He pulls me into his arms, his gaze lingering on my face, his eyes glistening with something unspoken. He leans down and kisses my eyelids, still flushed from the heat.

“What we just did,” he murmurs, his voice low and steady, “that wasn’t truly sharing our strength. Tonight, I’ll teach you how it’s really done. Would you like that?”

That night, I had a dream.

I was lying on an endless hillside, the spring rain soaking my clothes as I tangled with a man whose scent carried the faint, wild aroma of pine and earth. The grass was soft beneath us, wildflowers blooming in vivid colors. As the rain fell on my face, my eyes—blind for so long—suddenly could see again.

The man had eyes full of tenderness, his brows dark like ink, his long lashes lowered. The depth of emotion in his gaze made my heart race. His kisses were lighter than the rain, trailing from my temple to my shoulder. He gently loosened the ties of my dress with his teeth, his movements unhurried, deliberate.

I pressed a hand against his chest, interrupting his tender assault. “Who are you?” I asked.

“Josephine, it’s me,” he murmured.

“Rishi? Why am I dreaming of you?”

“Is it so bad to dream of me?”

“Is this really what you look like?”

I closed my eyes, shook my head, and when I opened them again, his features seemed even clearer. The fine rain had dampened his dark hair, his skin pale, his lips a deep red. He looked like a painting, fresh and unfinished. I reached out to touch his face, and he nuzzled into my palm. “If I looked like this, would you like me?”

His face, his body—there wasn’t a flaw to be found. I answered honestly. “Yes. Any woman would.”

He took my hand, kissed my fingertips. “Between me and Alexis, who do you prefer?”

“The order in which people enter your life matters. If I’d met you first, I’d have chosen you. Your beloved Madelyn—she’s as blind as I was. She didn’t choose you either.”

“She was blind, yes, but I don’t blame her. When I first met her, I was wearing someone else’s face,” he said, his eyes locked on mine.

I barely heard his words, my attention caught by a droplet of rain that slid from his jawline into the open collar of his shirt. His clothes were loose, revealing the sharp lines of his collarbone and the firm muscles beneath. My vision returning at this moment—what perfect timing. The sight before me was enough to unravel anyone’s composure.

“Rishi, what next? Are we just going to stand here in the rain?”

He laughed, his alpha aura wrapping around me like a warm embrace. “If it were just the rain, what would be the point of this dream?”

“In that case, Alpha Rishi, forgive my boldness.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him, my aim true this time. Even as his breath grew ragged, he still managed to tease me. “Josephine, you’re doing it wrong. A mate bond isn’t just about the kiss. Try here…”

He guided my hand, showing me every vulnerable spot on his body, every place where he was mine to claim.

The rain grew heavier, the air around us thick with mist. My consciousness was like the droplets on the leaves—shattered by his touch, only to be pulled back together by the intensity of our connection. In the haze, I thought I saw a wolf in the distance, its silver-blue fur gleaming as it moved through the storm, stirring the clouds and bringing down more of the rain. The wolf’s presence was unmistakable, a reminder of the bond that tied us together, deeper than any dream.