Chapter 4

There was less than an hour left before Alpha Samuel Kan’s wedding, yet the groom felt no joy. Instead, a weight pressed on him — a mix of anxiety and melancholy. It had been years since he’d last seen Maya, the woman he had finally found again after so long.

Hours before the ceremony, he was in his office, surrounded by the leaders of the family’s companies.

While the elders discussed the details of the event with enthusiasm, Samuel barely listened.

His mind was far away — with Maya. The woman he was certain had been the one he’d waited for all this time. The elders, of course, had no idea.

For a long time, they had demanded that Kan marry and finally produce heirs to continue his hybrid bloodline, but he had always refused, for reasons he kept locked in his heart. There was someone he had been waiting for.

More than a hundred years had passed since the wolves had been cast into that new world.

There, he had built an empire of power and influence among humans, who advanced further each year into modernity.

"A centenarian wolf still without heirs! This is outrageous!" one of the elders barked.

Samuel barely reacted. Heirs, power, lineage — none of it mattered. All he wanted was to find his true mate, the only one his heart recognized as his Luna.

Over the years, the elders had tried to convince him to accept an aristocratic marriage, and he knew that sooner or later he would have to give in — but his hope had been rekindled.

When he met Maya, he knew instantly: his Luna had been reborn. It was her.

The goddess had kept her word. Samuel found her alive, though without memories of her former life — a fragile teenager, with no trace of the power she once possessed. For that reason, he hid his identity and forced her family to do the same.

He wanted her to live in peace, free from the burden of a past she couldn’t remember.

Samuel carried a curse left by the blade that had taken his mate’s life. A cut on his right ear, which never healed, glowed with a poisonous green light.

Once a year, he had to endure the pain to resist the venom forged to kill gods.

Each burning reminded him of her — reminded him that he still had to wait.

"Samuel Kan is finally getting married," his father announced solemnly. "Soon, we’ll witness the rebirth of what was once forgotten."

Samuel only nodded, emotionless.

When the meeting ended, he rose, ending the discussion with firm authority.

"I’m tired, gentlemen. I have other matters to attend to with my brothers — one last meeting before the wedding."

The elders bowed and left the room.

Samuel walked to the adjoining hall, where his three brothers were waiting, laughing as if nothing in the world could touch them.

"I see you’re enjoying yourselves," he said with a faint smile, though he knew they were plotting something.

He still remembered their last punishment — days imprisoned underground, face-to-face with creatures from the underworld. They would never forget that terror, but neither would they stop provoking Kan, even knowing his leadership was untouchable.

"We came to apologize, brother," one of them said, bowing his head in false submission.

"That’s all right," Samuel replied with irony. "Today is my wedding day — the day when many things will realign."

The three exchanged confused glances.

"We thought you’d only marry once your mate reincarnated," another said.

Samuel smiled coldly.

"I won’t wait any longer. My legacy is at risk. I must do what a leader is bound to do."

The brothers poured him a drink. He watched them cautiously, sensing the trace of magic in the liquid — yet he drank as always, proud of the fact that as a demigod, such things had no effect on him.

"You’re giving up centuries of waiting?" one taunted. "And what if the goddess truly brings her back? Will you abandon your destined mate?"

"She will return," he replied calmly. "But there are more urgent matters now."

Samuel would never reveal that Maya had already been reborn. Protecting her was his priority — and this marriage was part of that protection.

He lifted the glass to his lips but hesitated. Something felt wrong. His sense of security wavered for a split second, then he grabbed the bottle and drank directly from it. Laughter echoed through the room.

Then the floor began to spin. A strange heat pulsed through his veins.

"What is this? The bottle too?" he muttered, dizzy, staring at his brothers.

"The seller was right — the effect is immediate. Amazing," one said with glee.

"A potion for demigods. The glass had the one meant for wolves — a diversion. We knew you’d notice. But the potion for hybrids, for those with divine blood, is harder to detect," another explained, amused. "It awakens uncontrollable desires… and only fades once they’re satisfied. The best part? It also suppresses the mate bond for a while — though you hardly need that, do you?"

Samuel’s mind began to blur. They dragged him into a locked room, where three women waited for him.

His instincts surged, his body burning from the inside out. But the memory of Maya made him fight it.

She was the only one.

The only one for whom he would break curses and wait centuries if he had to.

And so, in one final act of desperate will, he vanished — leaping out the window with monstrous agility. Neither poison, nor destiny, nor desire would make him yield before holding her in his arms again.

But he didn’t expect to be found — by the one person he could never have imagined.

Chapter 5

Samuel Kan

With a guttural roar, I broke free from the women restraining me and leapt through the window in my wolf form, making them stumble back in fear.

The potion my brothers had given me would have a weaker effect, but still — my time was short. I had to find a place to wait it out. I still had a chance.

For a brief moment, I thought I saw a shadow perched atop a tree — or perhaps… a woman? But it didn’t matter now.

I kept running through the trees, stumbling with every step. My blurred vision made the escape difficult, and I knew my brothers would soon send someone after me. I needed a place to hide and activate a magical barrier.

My wolf form was imposing, common among war wolves. My size and silver-gray fur made me an easy target. It was hard to hide among the bushes, especially under the potion’s influence. I shifted back into human form and lay hidden beneath the shield I could create.

Suddenly, a loud crack echoed behind me. A branch broke just a few meters away — someone was following me.

I crouched low among the foliage, feeling the potion seize my body. With all my strength, I focused on forming the barrier.

Slowly, the protective magic surrounded me. No one outside would be able to hear, see, or sense me. It was my only chance to stay safe from my brothers.

“It’s done…” I muttered to myself, letting out a groan of pain. My chest burned from the potion, and I needed to suppress it somehow.

As I focused on purging the poison from my body, a soft sound echoed through the garden between the trees and shrubs.

It wasn’t the heavy stomp of boots I expected from my brothers — but light, hesitant steps, as if someone was approaching with care.

My vision was still hazy from the potion, but I managed to make out the silhouette of a woman. She wore a voluminous white dress, though its details were impossible to discern.

Confusion clouded my thoughts. How could she see me? The barrier should have been active, blocking all visual contact. I frowned, suspicious.

“Sir… are you all right?” she asked softly, approaching slowly.

I shook my head, warning her to stay away. But who was she? An accomplice of my brothers? She shouldn’t have been able to touch me — the barrier would protect me.

Or so I thought. To my astonishment, she stepped through the invisible shield without hesitation, crouching beside me.

“Impossible…” I muttered, my breath unsteady. She didn’t hear when I told her to stay back.

“Heavens… what happened to you?” her voice trembled, filled with genuine concern. “Do you need me to call for help?”

I could sense my brothers drawing near. The woman beside me clearly didn’t recognize me — and judging by her fear, she had nothing to do with them. I grabbed her wrist and yanked her inside the barrier before they could find her — or me.

Darkness and the potion’s haze clouded my vision, but my sharp hearing picked up their rushed footsteps.

She struggled in panic at my sudden movement, but I held her tight in my arms.

“You’re insane! What are you doing?” she screamed, thrashing and kicking weakly. Her strength was pitiful — the weakest I had ever felt.

“He must’ve come this way! The girls said he jumped out the window!” one of my brothers’ voices echoed through the forest as their men spread out to search.

The woman suddenly went still, silent against my chest as she watched the shadows moving around us. It almost felt as though she, too, was running from something.

The barrier worked perfectly, shielding us from my brothers. But how had she managed to enter it?

Never before had anyone been able to cross my magical camouflage barrier — let alone see me through it.

This woman was different. Something inside me told me she wasn’t who she appeared to be. If she were a wolf, she could’ve easily escaped my hold. Was she… human? A human here? But even humans couldn’t see me, much less pass through the barrier.

As long as I was under the potion’s effects, my brothers might have a chance to get what they wanted. But I wouldn’t yield. My magic shield protected me, and I could keep it active as long as I wished.

Still, the wedding must have already begun long ago. I didn’t know how late I was. Maya must be terrified, thinking I had abandoned her. Each passing second gnawed at me, the anguish of not being by her side consuming my chest.

I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the ache of longing and frustration burn within me.

Then, a soft moan of pain broke the silence. It was the woman I’d trapped within the barrier. Her weak, pleading voice stirred something strange inside me — pleasure, guilt, and confusion all at once.

“Hey…” she whispered desperately. “Are you going to kill me? Let me go! Help! Someone, help me!”

She screamed as loud as she could, but her cries were useless. The barrier blocked every sound, isolating her from the world outside.

Panic overtook her eyes as she realized she was trapped.

“Who are you?” she asked. I let her move slightly away, though I kept her within the shield. But I could feel the loss of control creeping in — I couldn’t have a woman here, not now. Yet if I let her go, I would be found.

Another growl tore from my throat. The potion’s effect was reaching its peak. A burning red light radiated from my body, engulfing me completely.

The potion consumed me, driving me from reason — and now, I wanted her. She had become my escape, the release I didn’t want but couldn’t resist.

“Unlucky you, crossing my path…” I snarled, my voice rough and distorted. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw the crimson glow of mine.

In that moment, she was my prey.

Chapter 6

Maya tried to pull away the moment she had a chance, but he moved in a flash, his eyes glowing with a fierce intensity that made her tremble. His arm wrapped around her like a whip. Just a second ago, she had been above him—now she was beneath him, his weight pinning her to the ground.

“Be quiet,” Samuel warned after hearing footsteps in the distance.

“Who… who are you?” she gasped, trying to push him away, but he was solid as stone. The sound of tearing fabric filled the air as her clothes became nothing more than a pile of rags.

Samuel couldn’t think. His senses were in chaos—confused, tangled in a storm of instinct and desire. His eyes were a dark abyss, wild and unfocused. He held Maya so tightly her body ached, yet he couldn’t bring himself to release her.

His breath was hot against her face, and for a fleeting second, Maya saw something flicker in his eyes… pain? Awareness? But it vanished, swallowed by the beast within him.

“Let me go!” she cried, her voice trembling with fear. “Please, stop! What are you going to do?”

Her plea struck him, but he couldn’t stop. He heard her—felt every word like a blow to his soul—but the wolf inside him roared louder. He wanted to fight it, but couldn’t. Her scent drove him mad—sweet, unmissable, intoxicating.

“I can’t let you go…” he murmured, his voice low and rough, yet laced with desperation. Maya felt tears stream down her cheeks as she pushed against his chest one last time.

But he didn’t release her. Samuel took her there, on the damp grass, his instincts consuming every scream, every plea that no one would ever hear.

And even as he did it, he felt his heart shatter. Her sobs were like glass breaking inside his mind—because they were caused by him. Yet he couldn’t fight what the potion had awakened within him.

“I didn’t want to take your first time like this… but I need your body…” he whispered, clutching her in his arms while she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to silence her sobs and the pain tearing through her.

When it was finally over, Samuel collapsed beside her, his body trembling with exhaustion.

Maya curled up, tears streaming down her face as she clutched the torn remains of her dress and the mess he had made. His scent clung to her skin, and that only made it worse. She rose unsteadily, her body aching, driven by the need to flee from him in panic—though a part of her almost wished she had died under his touch.

Samuel tried to reach her, but his body wouldn’t obey. He fell back into the grass.

“Please… I need to know who you are!” he pleaded, ashamed of himself.

He watched as she ran, dressed in white like a ghost fading into the darkness.

As his consciousness wavered between lucidity and darkness, Samuel tasted the bitterness of guilt. He was the Alpha—the leader who was supposed to be married that day—and he had just taken a woman by force. A woman who, he realized with horror, had never been touched by any man before.

A storm of thoughts devoured him. He bitterly regretted not staying in that room with the women his brothers had sent. At least then, he wouldn’t have forced anyone.

After a few minutes, he gathered what strength he had left and deactivated the barrier once he felt safe enough.

The elders were already approaching, searching for him.

“Those triplets… always scheming something!” one of them grumbled. “When is Gael going to deal with those half-blood wolves?”

“Stay focused!” another barked. “Samuel must have activated the anti-tracking barrier. We won’t find him like this.”

Their voices sounded distant, as if from another world. Samuel let the pain of his mistake consume his thoughts for a while, not knowing how he could ever fix what he had done.

The image of the woman running, crying, and looking at him with disgust—even through the darkness—would haunt him for a long time. Still, he couldn’t tell who she was; his blurred vision made it impossible to distinguish anything around him.

“Here…” he grunted, forcing himself up as the elders came closer to help.

“What happened?” one of them asked, scanning him with concern.

“I just needed some time… wasn’t feeling well,” he muttered, still dazed by the potion’s effects. They could never find out what he had done.

They dragged him through the back halls to his room. His wedding suit was laid out on the bed, and a few maids waited anxiously.

“The bride’s parents are furious about the delay! What are you going to do? Get ready quickly—you look terrible!” one of the elders scolded.

“They’re being patient… this shouldn’t even be called a delay anymore,” he murmured anxiously. “Apologize to them for me and tell them I’ll be downstairs in a few minutes,” he ordered, keeping his composure as he dismissed the maids.

He fell to his knees on the bed, his body aching, his mind tormented by guilt. Yet amid the pain and confusion, a strange sense of pleasure consumed him.

The moment had been degrading, but he couldn’t deny it—it had been one of the most powerful sensations he had ever felt, as if he had known that woman countless times before.

After a cold shower, he dressed and left the room. Everyone seemed tense, and one of the elders approached him.

“The bride’s family was acting strange. I sensed something was wrong. They were walking through every room of the mansion, searching for something—or someone.”

“Whatever. As long as my bride is ready,” he muttered, not giving it much thought.

His brothers were in the hallway too. He approached them; they kept their heads down. But his father stopped him, examining him from head to toe before pulling him into another room.

“I questioned the triplets,” his father said tensely. “Did something happen? Did you have an affair with someone?” he pressed, but Samuel just tightened his lips.

“Let’s just say… what can’t be proven, can’t be discussed.”

“Kan, this is serious. You have to be careful,” his father sighed, then began sniffing the air. His eyes turned glowing blue, fixed on him.

“You tampered with the Goddess of Fate?” he asked, holding a shimmering stone in his hand.

“This is dangerous. If you were with someone like that… you may have gotten her pregnant. Have you thought about that?” His father’s tone grew tense, and Samuel’s worry deepened.

“I hope not—but it’s likely she will be pregnant,” he admitted quietly.

“It’s possible… The Goddess of Fate gave me this stone to reveal her identity, but it shows nothing. They said she was a woman untouched by any man.”

“I already knew… I feel like garbage because of it.”

“Let’s keep this between us for now. We should get to the ceremony—we’re already far too late. It’s a miracle they’re still waiting,” his father warned, cutting the subject short.

“There’s been a small issue—it seems the bride is having some kind of problem. We’ll have to wait a bit longer. And since the groom is late, we can’t exactly complain,” one of the elders added, rushing into the room.