The night refused to end.
Even as dawn threatened the horizon, the sky remained dim, like the world itself was reluctant to move forward after what had happened.
Emmanuel walked alone.
Barefoot.
Wounded.
Changed.
Each step he took through the forest felt heavier than the last. Not because of exhaustion—but because of awareness.
He was no longer running blindly.
Now, he knew.
Something was hunting him.
A sharp pain suddenly shot through his chest.
He stopped.
Clutching his shirt tightly.
"Not again…" he muttered under his breath.
But this pain was different.
It wasn't violent like before.
It was… pulling.
Like something—or someone—was calling him.
His breathing slowed.
His eyes softened slightly.
"…what is this feeling?"
For a brief moment…
The chaos inside him went silent.
And in that silence—
He saw her.
Not clearly.
Not fully.
But enough.
A girl.
Standing under the night sky.
Her long hair swaying gently.
Her eyes… filled with confusion.
And something else.
Something that hit him deeper than anything he had ever felt.
"…you…"
The image vanished instantly.
Emmanuel staggered back slightly, his heart pounding.
"What was that?!"
Before he could process it—
A scent hit him.
Sharp.
Dominant.
Dangerous.
His instincts screamed.
"Run."
But this time—
He didn't.
Instead…
He turned slowly.
And there they were.
Three figures stepped out from the shadows.
Not ordinary wolves.
Not even ordinary Alphas.
These ones…
Were different.
Their presence alone weighed heavily in the air, like gravity had increased.
Power radiated from them—not wild like Emmanuel's—but controlled.
Refined.
Deadly.
At the center stood a man.
Tall.
Broad.
Eyes glowing silver.
He smiled.
But there was nothing friendly about it.
"So…" he said calmly. "The rumors were true."
Emmanuel narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
The man took a step forward.
The ground seemed to acknowledge him.
"I am Lucien," he said.
"Apex Alpha of the Northern Dominion."
A pause.
His smile widened slightly.
"And you…"
His gaze darkened with interest.
"…are the problem everyone is starting to fear."
Emmanuel said nothing.
But his body tensed.
The two others flanked Lucien silently, their eyes fixed on Emmanuel like predators waiting for a signal.
Lucien tilted his head slightly.
Studying him.
"You don't even understand what you are yet, do you?" he asked softly.
Emmanuel clenched his fists. "Say what you came to say."
Lucien chuckled.
Low.
Amused.
"Very well."
His expression shifted.
From curiosity…
To authority.
"You will come with me."
The words were simple.
But they carried weight.
Command.
Expectation.
Emmanuel's eyes hardened.
"No."
Silence fell.
The air grew colder.
Lucien's smile faded slowly.
"…be careful," he said quietly. "That wasn't a request."
Emmanuel stepped back slightly.
Not in fear.
But in readiness.
"I don't take orders," he replied.
The tension snapped.
In a flash—
One of the wolves lunged.
Fast.
Precise.
Lethal.
But Emmanuel moved faster.
He caught the attacker mid-air, slamming him violently into the ground.
The impact cracked the earth beneath them.
Lucien's eyes flickered.
Interest.
"Well…" he murmured. "Impressive."
The second wolf attacked from behind.
Too late.
Emmanuel spun, his fist connecting with the wolf's jaw with brutal force, sending him flying into a tree.
Silence.
Both attackers were down.
Lucien clapped slowly.
Once.
Twice.
"Raw power," he said. "Untrained. Uncontrolled."
He stepped closer.
Unafraid.
"But still… beneath me."
Emmanuel's chest rose and fell.
The energy inside him was rising again.
Responding.
"I don't want to fight you," Emmanuel said.
Lucien stopped.
Then smiled again.
"That's unfortunate."
His eyes flashed.
Silver light exploding outward.
"Because I do."
The ground beneath him cracked.
And in an instant—
He transformed.
His wolf form was massive.
Elegant.
Terrifying.
Not as wild as Emmanuel's.
But far more disciplined.
An Alpha.
In full control.
Emmanuel's breathing slowed.
His body responded instinctively.
Bones cracked.
Muscles expanded.
And once again—
The beast emerged.
Crimson eyes.
Dark fur.
Unmatched presence.
The forest trembled.
Lucien froze for a split second.
Then—
He smiled.
"There it is…"
The two monsters faced each other.
Power vs power.
Control vs chaos.
Destiny vs dominance.
Then—
They moved.
The collision was explosive.
Claws clashed.
Teeth snapped.
The force of their impact sent shockwaves through the forest.
Lucien was fast.
Strategic.
Every move calculated.
But Emmanuel?
He was something else entirely.
Unpredictable.
Relentless.
Overwhelming.
Lucien dodged a strike—barely.
His expression changed.
"…what are you…?" he whispered.
Emmanuel didn't answer.
He attacked again.
Faster.
Harder.
Stronger.
Lucien was pushed back.
For the first time in years—
He was losing ground.
And he knew it.
This wasn't just power.
This was authority.
Ancient.
Absolute.
Something that didn't need to be taught.
It was born.
Lucien leapt back suddenly, creating distance.
His breathing steady—but his eyes… alert.
"…this changes things," he muttered.
He looked at Emmanuel one last time.
"You're not ready yet," he said.
A pause.
"But when you are…"
His eyes glowed dangerously.
"I'll be back."
And just like that—
He vanished into the forest.
The silence returned.
Emmanuel stood there, breathing heavily.
His form slowly shifting back.
His body trembled.
Not from fear.
But from realization.
"They're coming…" he whispered.
Not just Lucien.
Others.
Stronger.
Worse.
And somewhere far away—
Fiyin collapsed to her knees.
A sharp pain shot through her chest.
"Ahh!!"
Her body shook violently.
Her eyes glowed faintly for a split second.
And then—
On her wrist…
A mark appeared.
A symbol.
Ancient.
Glowing faintly.
She stared at it in shock.
"…what is this…?"
At that same moment—
Emmanuel looked down at his own arm.
The exact same mark…
Burned into his skin.
He froze.
"…no way…"
The connection hit him instantly.
The girl.
The vision.
The feeling.
It wasn't random.
It was real.
And it meant only one thing.
His voice came out low.
Heavy.
Certain.
"My mate…"
Miles away—
Fiyin whispered the same word.
"…Emmanuel…"
The bond had been sealed.
And with it—
A love that would either save them…
Or destroy everything.