In the middle of the night, Alijah’s groaning woke me up. It sounded like he was in pain. The room had two beds, and we each slept on our own. However, the noises the sleeping wolf was making worried me enough to head towards him. They were familiar, in a way. After the accident I had when I was twelve, I would have night terrors.

To combat them, my parents and siblings would cuddle me to sleep every night. One evening it would be Vera, the other Aiden... and so on. By the time I was fifteen, I stopped having them so frequently. Although my siblings would still sleep with me from now on and then. It had become a ritual of sorts. The worst offender of this was Vera, though.

Alijah had no one. He probably had not dreamt all those years he spent in his timeless prison. There was no way to know, though. Sitting on the edge of his bed, I brushed away his hair from his face. He seemed in agony.

“Alijah...” I whispered his name, trying to wake him up softly from his nightmare.

He was trapped in it with no way out, though. I wanted him to know I was here, but it seemed he was out heavier than a log. Getting closer to him, I hesitated a bit.

Is this right? Eh… It isn’t like he doesn’t hate me already.

I sighed, slowly lying next to him, and caressing his hair. To soothe his troubled soul, I hummed a lullaby mom used to sing for us. I hoped he would find the same comfort it gave to us when we were young. Intertwining his left hand with my right, I faced the troubled wolf.

Gently, I caressed his skin with my free hand’s thumb, continuing to soothe Alijah’s dreams.

How I wish I can make them go away. And never come back.

That way, he would never have to worry about anything again, but life was not that easy. No... it was not. Slowly, the restless wolf became blissful once again.

The moment his troubled expression softened, then I... Before I knew it, I struggled to stay awake, comforted by the warmth that radiated from his hand into mine. His groans had stopped, and his expression softened to the point he could rival an angel.

They were beautiful messengers of the gods. Ones never seen before. The wolf’s dreams returned to more peaceful times.

“Lilith...” Alijah mumbled in his sleep.

Hearing her name caused me to sigh bitterly. In his dreams, she was the one to comfort him, even though I was the one who held his hand. The urge to wake him up and tell him otherwise rushed through me. But I drowned it instead.

Waking him up over that would have been a stupid decision. For now, and forever... I would be her replacement until she came back to him.

I thought I would be alright with that, but my heart ached a bit. Trying to not think too much into it, I caressed his hair. It left my fingers feeling tingly, but my eyes felt heavier. The warmth from his hand comforted me in such a way, I could not help but fall asleep next to him. Even though I tried to fight it off.

My dreams were peaceful, ones where Alijah smiled happily. The next morning, I was rudely awakened by stumbling onto the floor. The grumpy wolf growled at me after finding me in the bed with him. He was not happy at all like in my dream. Not like he ever was, but tossing me onto the ground was extra.

Unneeded!

However, to him, I was invading his space. I had not realized he was naked under the covers when I climbed onto the bed. The only thing that covered his privates was a sheet of cloth.

Oops...

Thankfully, the pain from the fall snapped me out of my gaze to his...

“Ouch!” I complained, wincing in pain.

I rubbed my back that again. Recently, all my injuries seemed to find themselves there. Though this time the floor was hard and smooth, unlike the spiky tree from before.

“Wench, did you attack me in my sleep?” Alijah heckled me, not happy to see me in the bed with him.

Fuck... that is not what I want it to look like.

Wanting to defend my honor, I faced him head-on. Though it would be a slippery slope. I really needed to pay attention to what I did, but that would not mean I would back down. I would not allow myself to be called a pervert! Especially when I had not done such a thing!

Well, while in my waking moment with him.

“I did nothing of that sort!” I defended myself, huffing my chest, ready for a fight.

He made it sound like I was aggressively doing things to him. In my burst of emotions, I failed to realize something that slowly set in after those words left my mouth.

Ah... he probably thinks I was like all the other women he has encountered.

Those who only wanted him for his seeds and the future, he could provide for them. My poor brothers were hounded by Lycan girls, too. It was probably why Aiden was smitten by Sophie, who could not care who he was.

She was also the only one who knew him for him, rather than what he was. Again, I did something that might have hurt Alijah. Yet I could not help myself. He was in such pain that I could not prevent myself from coddling him.

“Then why the fuck were you in the bed with me?” Alijah glared, not trusting me one bit.

Even though it felt I knew him thanks to the dreams I had throughout the years. In reality, I was an utter stranger to him. We were unknown to one another. Yet I could not stop feeling this way. Even though they were just dreams.

Why can’t I move past them?

The wolf’s eyes were so full of hate whenever he gazed at me, too. The sad part was that I could not blame him for being cautious around me. If I wanted, I could do whatever I desired with him. I could order him not to move while I assaulted him. Or worse, I could tell him to fuck whoever I wanted.

If I did that, he would have little choice over it. If I was another female. Perhaps that would have been my goal, but I...

“I... saw you in pain and wanted to comfort you.” I tried to reassure Alijah that I had not been attempting to hurt him.

Though it sounded worse than what I thought. From his expression of pure disgust it showed me he did not interpret my words the way I wanted him to. He was gazing at me like I was a complete creep. Maybe I was... a bit, but I would never...

Scratch that, I would do that. But only if he wants it.

“You fucking did what?” Alijah snarled at me.

I tried to keep my ground. Even though I was on the floor squirming and failing to reach him.

“All I did was hold your hand! I sweat! You were groaning and, oh… I also pet your hair for a bit.” I tried to make him understand.

My words caused him to huff, gazing away from me.

Wait, are his cheeks light pink? Shit, did he feel ill?

It was only for a slight moment, though. He rolled his eyes soon after.

“Don’t touch me again, wench,” Alijah warned me, releasing a small growl along with those words.

We were on an ultimatum; it seemed. But... I could not promise him that. There was no way I could keep my mittens to myself if he was in discomfort. I would always try to help this grump. No matter what. Even if he hated me more for it in the end.

“I probably will...” I grumbled, not wanting to finish the full sentence.

After all, I knew Alijah was about to fight me on everything I said, but I would not give up.

“What?” Alijah muttered.

He did not like my defiance of his placement of personal boundaries. I stood up from the floor and faced him straight on. There was no backing down. He truly was not as terrifying as people made him out to be. Mom called him a monster, but he... He was not. Then again... the only reason he was not one was probably because of the magical bond we shared. I might be splattered somewhere by now if it were not for it.

Even so, all I wanted was to comfort Alijah. Show him that this world could not harm him anymore. That someone would always be there for him. Well, that I would be there for him. For that, I would have to let some emotions I had for the wolf show. But not all.

I had to be careful. Or he would use them against me.

“If I see you in pain, I will do everything to make it better! I swear that is all I want. So, I will probably touch you if it means I can help you!” I declared, grabbing onto my pajamas blouse.

It triggered another glare to come my way, though. No matter how many times this wolf tried to push me away. I would constantly be there for him. Always and forever. Even if it meant a world of heartbreak for me later. I would save him and his love for this world.

They deserve everything and much more!

“You little...” Alijah began, trying to appear tough and unbreakable, but he was brittle and fragile.

The cracks in his heart were so visible to me.

Why did everyone ignore them?

He was a kid who was taken advantage of. Then used and abused. I would not back down, even if it meant I was on the floor every morning. Until he could sleep soundly every night, I would repeat my actions. No matter the cost I had to pay after, he was free from my bonding incantation.

“Moan and cry all you want, but I will not apologize. Not for trying to ease your pain.” I simpered, reaching my hand towards him.

Alijah slapped it away and growled at me to stay away. We were getting nowhere. Releasing a sigh, I headed towards the stuff I had bought the previous day. Grabbing the bag, I offered it to him. He sat in the bed glaring at me move around the room.

Hesitantly, the somewhat curious wolf snatched it from my hands. I slowly sat down next to him on the floor with my hands in view. This was so he would not think I was assaulting him or anything like that.

I had to earn his trust. And the only way to do that was with time. Slowly, he took out a ball of chocolate with strawberry filling inside. It was in one of the many boxes inside the bag I had given him.

For a moment, he inspected and sniffed it. I could not help but chuckle when he stared at me like I had given him some alien substance. He did not know what it was. It was like a child gazing at something he did not know existed. His expression caused my heart to squeeze tightly.

‘By the gods... I knew he has an adorable side!’

My hidden tail was slightly wagging to the sides. I also still wore my wig and contacts. In fact, I would not take them off while I was with him.

“What is it?” Alijah asked, inspecting the ball in his hand, unable to figure it out.

He had seen nothing like it.

A win for me at last!

Once he tasted it, hopefully, it would free his heart a little for me to sneak into. I would be happy if it opened a centimeter for me, honestly. Even with a millimeter or micro, I would be pleased.

“It is a chocolate ball filled with strawberry jam inside. You can eat it.” I answered the curious wolf’s question.

He turned it, not sure about anything that he was seeing. Everything was so different from where he was from. They had nothing close to it. In fact, anything sugary was nonexistent in his time.

“I don’t know,” Alijah mumbled, hesitant to put it in his mouth.

The chocolate was melting on his fingers.

A waste.

“It isn’t poison. If I wanted you dead, don’t you think I would have done it already?” I sighed.

It caused him to glare at me, somewhat annoyed by what I said.

“That isn’t what I meant,” Alijah growled.

His cheeks were slightly pink.

Has he ever receive a gift before? Surely he has, right? I mean, Lilith, the elven girl he fell for who was his lover of two years, surely gifted him treats from their time. Right?

That thought quickly stopped, as his expression seemed to be one of a pouting child.

Oh... he can be cute, too. Fuck... that is not good.

His slight sulking made me want to jump into him. Then give him the biggest hug I could give.

A big no. Control yourself, Rem. Don’t be a creep!

“Oh... you think you will not like it?” I asked, slowly reaching from the bag.

Once in my hand, I gently pulled it from him while I sat on the floor. This was the only thing I could do to drown the urge to tease him. The gods only knew how much I wanted to eat that ball from his hands. His reaction would be priceless too, yet I tried to hold off from acting on impulse. If I kept doing things to piss him off, he would hate me forever.

Yet I...

“Never had anything like it. So, I am unsure of how it will taste. Or if it is even edible.” Alijah mumbled.

His ears fully tilted backward; his tail seemed shaky. The wolf in front of me did not know what to do with the kindness I was showing him. And I did not know why his expression was one of sadness, but it was all it took to destroy my better judgment.

Before I knew it, I pulled myself up, leaning towards his hand. In an instant, the chocolate ball was in my mouth. My tongue slightly licked Alijah’s fingers. For a moment, he stared at me, surprised at what I had done.

Oops... Stupid Rem. Why do that?! I know of his past yet I... Stop making him hate you!

I had always been like this with my siblings. It was not uncommon for me to be spontaneous and random, but usually, towards strangers, I was more reserved.

So, why can’t I control myself around Alijah even though we are... Is it because I saw him almost every night in my dreams for the past five years?

Slowly, I pulled away from his fingers, leaving behind traces of saliva on them. Clearing my throat, I tried to salvage the situation I brainlessly created.

“It is sugary and somewhat tangy because of the filling.” I grinned, trying to find a way out of this mess I had created.

Though it was hard to hide the utter embarrassment that filled my being. I had one job.

One fucking job! And I failed at so miserably.

Alijah stared at me, stunned at what had happened while he tried to understand me. A moment passed before he chuckled somewhat. The smile that rose from his lips seemed so genuine that it broke through me. It made me melt right where I stood. And I could not move my gaze from him. The expression he made was more beautiful than I would have ever thought.

My dreams were nothing compared to what was in front of me. Solely because the grump was real... And it warmed my heart in more ways than one. He continued to chuckle, while I wanted to memorize every bit of his smile. The tone of his crackling also filled me in ways I never thought would be possible.

I was utterly smitten with him.

“Oh, yeah?” Alijah started, playfully.

Before I knew it, he pulled me onto the bed with him. Our eyes met while he placed his thumb, which I had licked, on my lips. There was still some chocolate on it, which he smothered against them. The only thing covering his privates were the blankets he had used to keep warm. He hovered over me. His soft tail was on my belly. I, for once, was the one on the other end of the tease stick.

“Ali...” I tried to call out to him, only for him to stick his thumb in to hold my mouth open.

My heart stopped, not knowing what he was going to do. A soft smile rose on his lips before his tongue took a quick lick of the inside of my mouth. Pulling away a second later, he returned for a second round as he lapped my lips this time, too. He set my heart into a marathon.

“It is sweet,” Alijah mumbled, pulling away from me.

It left me shocked by what he had done.

How? Why? What?

My mind seemed to be jumbled, trying to find any words to help me out.

My heart... Oh, my poor heart. Please stop beating so fast!

He probably did that because of what I had done. There was no meaning behind it. I had to speak. I had to hide this feeling that was arising. But how? It was too warm.

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“I-I b-bought y-you a-a b-bunch of o-other s-stuff t-too!” I stuttered, sitting up faster than lightning.

My face seemed to gush redder than blood itself. My poor heart. But instead of enjoying the reaction, he caused me to have. Alijah pulled the bag towards himself, avoiding my gaze.

“Rem...” Alijah trailed off, licking his fingers where there had been chocolate.

After they were clean, he reached inside the bag for more treats. I fluttered my eyes closed to steady my chaotic heart. He was not giving me any breaks. Before I could find my footing, he continued.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” The wolf asked, wondering why I would do all these things for him.

It was unfair to ask that. Especially when he sent my steady heart into an arrhythmic attack. I could almost feel my heartbeat in my ears. Had Alijah somehow turned it into a drum? Grabbing onto a bread the grumpy wolf chomped on it, blissfully unaware of what he had done to me.

Is this a test? Did he expect me to pounce on him after doing something like that to me? By the gods... It has hard not to.

I licked my lip, unable to move past the feeling he had left behind. It was so warm and addictive. I wanted more.

Wait... No... don’t give me another taste!

If he did, I could not let it go.

“Because I want to be,” I grumbled out, biting onto my lip.

Alijah sighed, settling his gaze back on me.

Fuck...

I could not control myself. He would notice my feelings for him. Surely... My expression surely gave me away.

Or can I hide it?

I would not know.

“Why though? You should of bit my tongue off when I did that.” Alijah pointed out, expressing, not with hate, but confusion.

Ah... this is a test.

He was investigating how far he could go until I snapped at him like everyone else. Breaking out of my initial shock, I pulled myself together. This was my shot to earn some trust. It was my opportunity for him to see I was not an enemy. That I would never hurt him.

“Because I want you to smile, Alijah.” I simpered, realizing he was attempting to reach me.

In a weird way, but he was trying to understand me. Shade was right. Sugar was the way to the heart, but this was different. I had to show him I meant no harm.

“I can’t figure you out, luma.” The troubled wolf sighed, gazing back towards the bag full of treats.

He seemed bothered by the fact I was not like others he had met. That I wanted nothing else but to help him. It was something surreal to him. After all, the only person who wanted to help him was long dead.

“Good. That means I will always keep you second-guessing, Alijah-tan.” I hummed the last bit while my tail wagged under my pants.

In response, he threw me a sugary bread from the bag. I struggled to understand what was happening. Thankfully, I caught it before it hit my face.

“Eat. We have to leave soon, right?” Alijah said without a hint of aggression, glancing back towards me.

I instinctively nodded right away to confirm. I did not know if my cheeks were still bright red when he gazed at me, but he chuckled again.

Is it my expression or something else?

I wanted to know why he had laughed... because I wanted to do it again. Over and over endlessly to see him make that expression again. Before I could say anything, his cheeks turned slightly pink. Before, he shook his head and sighed.

“Hope you know, that was payback for kissing me last night. And for eating my chocolate before I could even try it. Never do it again.” Alijah warned, flicking my forehead gently.

It triggered me to nod again, more fiercely. Though, I really could not promise I would not do it again. I usually acted before thinking thoroughly.

Is it me, or is he letting me in a bit?

That alone was exhilarating. Happiness beamed out of me as my tail almost slipped from my clothes.

“I will try to!” I assured Alijah, not wanting to promise him something I would not keep.

In response, he shook his head in disappointment, expressing it as much with his face. A firm frown was present on his lips. Rolling his eyes, he suddenly stood up from the bed, triggering me to crash my face into the bedcovers. At least it was not dirt anymore. An upgrade from yesterday.

“Please don’t do that!” I yelped, feeling the rush of everything.

The grumpy wolf smirked, enjoying my reaction to him. He surely realized the effect he had on me. But that was something I could not control. I mean, if I saw him bare. I would die.

How can I keep my hands off him throughout the journey to heal his heart?

This would cause a problem. Well, eventually. So, I had to kill these emotions.

“Are you a virgin or something?” Alijah asked, standing bare.

I huffed from the covers. That simple question snapped me out, thankfully. He must have done it on purpose.

“That isn’t your business!” I squealed, not moving my face from my position, though.

I would not until he clothed himself. Nope, my heart could not handle a single nipple shot right now.

Nope, nope!

Even though they had been staring at me the whole time. For his safety, it was best I kept my sight on the bed.

“You really are not like other females I have met. That is for sure.” Alijah noted, getting dressed.

I sensed my eyes would burn if I glanced up even for a moment. Just like my lips and mouth felt after feeling him. With my spontaneous tendencies, I would not pass it by me that I would jump him.

Especially since in my dreams we... Even so, I would do everything in my power to not be like the girls who assaulted him. I wanted to be unique and a friend. That was all I would ever be to him.

“Good! I don’t want to be like anyone you have met!” I mumbled, trying to keep my gaze on the bed below.

Alijah slowly continued to dress. He was doing so because he wanted to tease me. I felt it in my bones. An irritating temptation.

“Hm… You really are unique.” Alijah sighed.

It caused my heart to skip a beat.

My heart... I... How... will I survive this man?

My sanity would not.

“Fine. I will give you a shot, Rem,” He added soon after.

It successfully ripped my eyes off the sheets while tears formed in my eyes.

Give me a shot... That is all I want.

I could not hold the emotions of happiness, which caused me to pounce on him. Unfortunately for him, I was delighted that he will give me a shot at his trust.

“Alijah-tan!!!” I beamed, hugging him from behind.

It was not long before I smothered my face in his back.

“Oi!” Alijah complained at my sudden attack.

I clung to him dearly. His shirt was still loose, but everything else was decent. This did not constitute assault!

Surely...

“Thank you for this opportunity! I promise you will not regret it!” I blurted out cheerfully.

I did not know if it was my hug or the words leaving out of me, but he did not shove me away. Instead, much to my surprise, he grabbed onto my hands that held him. Something in my belly fluttered while I slowly peeled myself off him, nervously giggling.

I grabbed my bag and ran into the bathroom to catch myself. In my wake, I left behind a bewildered grump to finish dressing. I must have appeared like an idiot running into the bathroom after saying all that. Yet I knew I was a stupid fool.

Filling the sink full of water, I dumped my face into it to cool myself.

That was so very uncool of me.

Before I drowned, I took my face out of the water, somewhat gasping for air. The mirror in front of me only showed a girl way out of her league. Everywhere Alijah touched, felt like he set it on fire. There was no way I could hide my feelings for long.

That was if he had not figured it out already. That left me wanting to slam my face into the mirror, but something stopped me. I caught something worrisome in my reflection.

My eyes were getting irritated with the constant use of the contacts. I had always been sensitive to them. They were not the type that needed to be pulled out for safety reasons. But this was not a pleasant situation to arise.

Normal lumas usually took the mother’s characteristics for their eyes. Yet me being Lilith’s, the most powerful witch ever to live, daughter. I did not inherit her natural brown orbs. No, I inherited one of her transformed blue orbs from her. This was thanks to the power I inherited from her.

And one from my father’s, Fenris’s, side. His eyes were pure crimson, which was far from the normal ambers that Lycans had. If Alijah ever saw them. There would be no doubt left in his mind of who I was. Or at least he would suspect it.

This was something I wanted to avoid. Luckily, my wig was still in place to cover my natural silver with brown strips in my hair. I always tucked my tail under my clothes, even though it wanted to be freed at all costs.

Done readying and dreading everything that was to come, I walked out of the bathroom. Alijah waited for me outside by the bed. Luckily, he did not care enough to take a detailed look at me. He went into the bathroom after me.

Once Alijah finished, he placed his hat and shoes on while I waited by the door. It seemed the ones I picked out for him were the right size, too. I was good with details, at least. One of my only good outstanding qualities, I guess. It was barely noon by the time we were back on the road.

Outside of the town, we hitched a ride with one merchant leaving. He was headed towards the border of Celestelia. A place we could not cross easily because of all the Cerberus officers that patrolled it, but at the speed of the carriage. It would take us nine days on the road to get there.

Either way, it was better than Alijah exerting himself and drawing attention. Our final stop was not at the border itself. I had wormed my way out of a birthday meal with aunty Amelia, but by now my parents were aware I was missing. Dad must have figured out I was behind Alijah’s disappearance, too. That or Edna had beat them to it, and I had gone missing randomly.

A very unlikely scenario. Edna did not approach the forest because of all the eyes that were there. She had always been a person who stuck to the shadows. Her plan comprised Alijah killing everyone there, or maybe she had another one. Either way, lingering was not good.

Alijah seemed wary about everything and everyone we encountered, including the merchant we hitched a ride with. Luckily, instead of running his mouth and getting us into trouble. He stayed by me, grumpily grumbling, keeping his distance from everyone else. He was willing to give me a chance, but that was all it was.

However, unlike him, I was utterly excited to be in a carriage powered by horses. Something rare in Silverant who had machinery for everything. That was my hometown, in Lyari. I was too excited, though.

Everything fascinated me, even with the little things we saw. So much energy was being exalted that by the sixth day, the merchant appeared annoyed. He was fed up with all my questions to the point of telling me to shut it or be kicked off at the next stop. At that point, Alijah chuckled, sitting in one of the wooden seats near the entrance of the carriage.

For the past nights, I had been sleeping with this wolf every time he had a nightmare. Usually, it ended with me being shoved off the bed. But two days ago, instead of finding my own way while he groaned. The grumpy wolf pulled me onto the bed with him.

“Since you are going to do it, anyway. You, dumb luma, might as well sleep with me from the beginning.” He retorted, giving into me.

Under the night sky by the campfire, we laid next to each other for a while. Eventually, I slowly reached for his hand, intertwining my fingers with his. Instead of pulling away, he stared at me for a bit before closing his eyes.

To me, it felt like a win, but now that he was laughing at me. It made me feel somewhat like an idiot. Grumbling, I headed back to my seat. Although, I enjoyed his pleasure, that seemed to come at my expense.

“You don’t need to enjoy it that much,” I muttered.

Alijah continued to chuckle, relishing it.

“What? You being told to shut up? I enjoyed it very much. You seemed to go on and on about every stupid thing you see for days now.” Alijah pointed out, much to my annoyance.

He did not need to be rude. It made me seem gauche.

“So what? I just want to know everything there is to know about this world! Don’t you also want to?!?” I argued.

He shook his head before shrugging it off. To him, the world was nothing interesting to see, which was something I wanted to change.

“I’m just glad I’m not the only one who wants silence.” Alijah teased.

His words caused me to growl at him.

Does he have to be this irritating?!

“You...” I went to complain.

The only thing that stopped me was the cart hitting a bump on the road. It triggered me to lose my balance before being expelled out of the cart. The moment I was in the air, it sent me back to that moment when I fell off the roof of the manor. The only thing that stopped me from being seriously injured was Alijah’s swift action.

Instinctively, he grabbed onto my hand, pulling me back into the safety of his arms.

“Sorry about that, I didn’t see that rock.” The merchant apologized from the front.

I desperately clung to Alijah’s shirt, tighter than I had ever done before. My hands trembled while I held onto him. It id not help my breathing was irregular too. Those memories were still fresh in my mind.

“Geez, how can you be so stupid? You have to sit down in a moving cart!” Alijah complained about having to save me, but quickly changed his tune when he saw I was panicking.

My hands quivered while I held onto his shirt.

“Hey... are you okay?” Alijah breathed, worried about me.

I somewhat struggled to snap out of that moment. It was almost as if something wanted to come out of me again. Something I wanted to keep buried down at all costs. And a thing I hoped he would never see.

“Oi, Rem!” Alijah called out to me again.

I finally snapped out and gazed up at him. The moment my eyes met with his, he noticed something alarming in me. Suddenly, he cupped my cheeks and assessed me further.

“Your left eye is bleeding,” Alijah said, passing his thumb under my eye socket.

I yanked away quicker than lightning.

Shit.

Not what I wanted. This was not good.

“I am fine,” I assured him, heading to the back of the carriage to find a mirror.

“It doesn’t seem that way.” Alijah did not want to drop it.

My health concerned him. After what I told him, who would not find it worrisome when my death would affect them. It took a bit, but I found a mirror within all the items the merchant had. The only bad part was that Alijah loomed over me. Finding a small corner in the cart, I tried to keep what was happening from the grump’s view. I assessed my eye.

When I saw my reflection, my left eye was almost completely bloodshot.

“I am fine,” I said firmly, tearing away from the mirror before he could see it.

Though it was hard to take off my contacts while he stood behind me. My eye needed to rest. I could not wait until it was nighttime. Well, when he was asleep. The second I took off my left eye lens, I noticed it was glowing red from the palm of my hand.

Fuck!

Another complication. Instantly, I covered my eye with my hand. The person I least wanted to see what was happening got closer. If he saw this, then I...

“Rem?” Alijah called.

I snapped, fearing his approach and the ultimate rejection that would result from him seeing my eyes. This could not happen. Not when I had finally gotten closer. I did not want to lose it. After all, no normal luma would ever have crimson eyes like him. There was no explanation for them either.

Humans did not have naturally occurring red color orbs like vampires. Nor did normal Lycans. He would know I was silver blood. Even the blue in my other eye differed from those found in humans. He would piece everything together.

Alijah was many things, but dumb was not one.

“I said I am fine. I just have to rest my eyes, that is all. Something I did must have strained them.” I lied through my teeth.

He seemed to not believe a word of what I said.

Please... don’t...

“You know this is hilarious. If you won’t trust me, then how will I ever trust you?” Alijah growled.

His words caused my heart to sting. I closed my eyes and shook my head, trying to not think too much into it. If he saw my eyes or hair, it would be all over. But once there was something in the grumpy wolf’s mind, he would not relent. Instead of backing off, he took another step towards me.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, voice quivering.

He unexpectedly grabbed me by the shoulder, causing me to yelp in surprise.

“Show me,” Alijah ordered, angry I was hiding something from him.

I tried to pull away but could not. His grip was too strong this time. My head was scrambled by fear, too. I should have ordered him to leave me alone, but my mind could not keep up. I was not a fighter. Never was meant to be one, especially with my condition.

“No!” I yelled.

Alijah did not care for what I wanted, though. Forcing me against a chest that the merchant used as storage, he pulled my chin to meet with his gaze. I held my eyes shut.

“Rem, stop being such a baby, and let me see,” Alijah growled, but before he could get to look at me.

The cart hit another rougher bump, triggering Alijah and me to tumble inside the cart. However, he did not let me hit the wall. Instead, he held me in his arms as his back was the one who hit the hardwood. The blow caused him to hiss in response to the pain that shot up through his body.

“Damn it! What the fuck was that?!” Alijah cursed, holding me close to him.

This time, the merchant seemed unresponsive. The next moment, we were in the air. Something slammed into the cart, sending us onto the ground outside. The scent of blood was in the air as everything that happened next was so fast. Part of me could not grasp it was even happening.

The moment we hit the ground; Alijah held onto me protectively. We rolled on it, while he prevented me from scrapping myself on the ground itself. In return, his arms and back were injured from the rocks below.

Nothing too major for a Lycan such as himself. But he had protected me again. Something that I did not expect. This action alone showed me he wanted to keep me safe. Even though he desired to kill me as well. A perfect contradiction to his own words.

Yet that was because he was bound to me, but that fall would not have killed me. Severely injured yes, but slay, no. He could have let me suffer, but did not. He sat me up and checked if I was injured at all. After a glance, he stood up to figure out what happened.

Everything had left me stunned. My brain could not follow. Taking a step towards the cart, something hit the unsuspecting Lycan's neck. He reached for it instantly, after feeling the prick. I called out to him, unable to stand up. My legs were shaking when he pulled a needle-like object from his neck.

He seemed sluggish, too.

“Rem... run.” Alijah struggled to say, falling on all four.

Instinctively, I jumped at him while he fell into my arms, unconscious. I screamed his name, worried about him, not knowing a thing that was happening. That was when I noticed the thing he pulled out in his hands.

It looked like a tranquilizer Dad regularly used for unruly wolves. They were used when he needed them to cool off or stop what they were doing.

Why is one here?

Cerberus was supposed to be the only one to have them in their possession. My panic rose as my inexperience went into play. The smell of blood that filled the air was not only from Alijah either, someone else was also injured nearby. Even though I tried to find out what was going on, the next moment something hit my head, knocking me into darkness.

The next bits were dark while my consciousness struggled to keep up.

“Woah, Loren! You were right! He is a mother fucking Lycan!” One raider said, pulling off Alijah’s hat from his body.

I mumbled, unable to see anything coherent thanks to the blow my head had endured. It had left me with a head-breaking headache. Even though I was healing, it was not fast enough. The blow probably cracked my skull too. It did not go deep enough to end me, but enough to disorientate me.

“Well, tracking them was worth it, then. He will bring big bucks! The doss will be glad!” Another noted.

I could not move my body. It refused to do anything I wanted. Everything was so blurry, too.

I can’t... let them…

“What about the other one?” A female raider with a familiar voice asked, placing their foot on my back.

Even though I wanted to move, the blow to the head made it impossible. Everything was blurry and dark, that I could not tell if I was dreaming or awake. I wished it were a dream. A nightmare I would wake up from.

“Eh... leave her there. I dislike killing women. And taking her with us is not good. Lumas are useless to sell to the mainland.” Another male answered.

The female took her foot off me and walked away.

Sell? No... it can’t be. No... I... Alijah...

The next moment, my consciousness wavered once again, driving me into darkness. When my eyes flew open, an orb flew above me.

‘Are you okay, kid?’ The friendly ghost asked.

I groggily sat up, holding onto my throbbing head. It seemed I had healed enough to keep my mind in place.

“Arg... What happened?” I asked, wincing in pain.

The ghost flew towards the merchant’s severed body by the cart.

‘You got attacked by traffickers.’ The ghost pointed out the obvious.

I noticed something even more alarming. Alijah was nowhere to be found. Whatever I had heard was not a dream. My heart dropped as I lost my cool.

“Alijah?!?!?” I screamed for him, standing up from the ground only to receive no answer.

He was nowhere to be found. They had taken him away from me!

Unforgivable…

‘That is the Lycan, right? They took him, dear.’ The ghost said, floating towards where they went before coming back to me.

“No... No... why?!?!?” I screamed as loud as I could, unable to bear what was happening.

How can they take him? Why? This can’t happen!

My guilt consumed me since I had left Alijah defenseless. He could not use his power for anything, and it was all my fault. I should have known that we would not meet friendly people all the time. I was foolish. I should have been more prepared.

Damn it! Alijah...

‘They are smugglers that come here from time to time. They probably took your pretty face friend to sell him. As well as all the goodies inside the cart. You should have known, Lycans are very sought after here.’ The ghost informed annoying me.

It was right. I knew that. It was the reason I wanted to hide Alijah until we got out of Celestelia. I had failed him in more ways than one. And worse yet, I had neutered the wolf within him, even if it meant protecting himself. Something I never thought would be needed as long as we did not run into Cerberus.

That thought made me feel the urgency to find Alijah even more. Dad had spoken to Caden and Aiden once about smugglers before, within Celestelia and on the mainland. He taught us they were people who abduct others to sell them off as slaves or worse. My wolf could not fall into that ever again. It would only solidify his beliefs in this world even more.

Not that he was wrong. Dad and Mom had tried to change the world for the better. And they had, but not all evil was gone. Prejudice and hatred still prevailed in our time. I was a fool to forget because of all the love my family filled me with.

“Oh, by the gods... I have to go.” I mumbled, unable to take a step without falling to the ground.

My legs were weak because of the fear that was surging within me. Anger soon joined the dread rush as my Lycan blood boiled.

‘They had a hovercraft, which means they are probably long gone.’ It continued to comment.

I glared at the orb in response. That was something I did not want to hear, ever.

He isn’t gone! He can’t be.

“Show me!” I ordered, standing up before taking a few steps towards the ghost.

It slowly backed away from me, fearing what I would do.

‘W-what?’ It stumbled, confused by my words.

I clasped my hands around its ethereal form, preventing its escape. My body glowed purple in response to my emotions as they went into an array of stages. I rarely used my magic, because of how unstable and vulnerable it made me, but this was not a time to be hesitant.

No, I had to be reckless if I wanted to find Alijah. It had to happen before anything irreparable happened to my beloved wolf.

“I said show me!” I demanded, causing a boom of energy to erupt around me.

Images of what happened invaded my mind. It was just as the ghost had informed me. Three unknown males. But what caught my attention the most was that the female hybrid we had seen in the town was also there. They had taken Alijah and traveled in a hovercraft filled with other victims.

Fuck! It is just dandy.

Somehow, that hybrid had made Alijah back in the town. Letting go of the ghost more appeared, attracted by the magical essence that was erupting around me. They were probably miles away by now. I had no way to catch up unless I... shifted.

Every time my dad encouraged us to do so when we were children, I could feel the darkness want to swallow me, stopping me in my tracks.

The reason I had lied and said I could not shift. It was because it terrified me of what would happen if I did. That combined with the blood lust that surged through me every time I used my powers. It made me unable to control the beast within me. I would lose control, even if I did not die to lose myself in death’s embrace. But doing nothing was also unacceptable.

I would have to do the impossible to find Alijah. Closing my eyes, I let myself go of all the fears that held me back for years. Letting all the dark urges raise in me while I huffed, trying to figure out how any of this would go. What I was about to do could place many people in danger, but if I did nothing. Then I would lose Alijah.

“If you are listening... I willingly give you my body. All I ask is his safety! I don’t care who you hurt, as long as you take me to him!” I screamed.

Ghosts continued to gather around me. Images of Alijah in the cage with the other Lycans and elves became clearer too. The path was clear to me. My body morphed as I turned into my beast form for the first time. Well, before everything went black.

Pictures of Alijah continued to flow through me while I saw him wake up from the drug in his system. It was almost as if I were connected to every ghost in the world, and my sole focus was on finding him.

And I would find him no matter what, even as something took over me. Even as the darkness consumed my consciousness. I would find him... at all costs.