I reached out my hand to Alijah, who appeared utterly perplexed by what happened to him. If I thought about everything that had happened, I would be too. I mean, a girl randomly popped up and bound him to her with no consent.

Usually, one would wait until marriage for this sort of thing.

But, hey, I have no choice! This is the only way for now.

He probably thought, what the fuck this crazy chick wants with me?

When I only wanted to save this poor wolf from my family and himself. He gazed at me scornfully; my hand couldn’t help but quiver.

Please… I need you to trust me!

There was no doubt in my mind that from how he looked at me, I was some alien in his eyes that turned his world upside down.

I bet you're wondering who can ever say those words to you after all you’ve been through, but I…

I was puny compared to him, but I could be much more if he let me be.

No, I need to be, even if it isn’t with your consent for now!

“Please—” I started, only for him to interrupt me.

“You’re too fucking crazy.” Alijah finally broke a wry smile on his lips.

He seemed somewhat amused by what was happening, which was better than total denial. At least he was quick to pick up his wits. Grabbing my hand, I helped him up from the ground.

“Well, I’m the only one crazy enough to save you,” I mumbled.

He rolled his eyes, “Save me? Is that a funny joke?” the crimson eye Lycan scuffed, shaking his head.

“I need you to listen!” I huffed, triggering him to cross his arms.

“Eh, I’ll play along for now.” He shrugged, prompting me to smile in return.

Progress!

“Good. Well, I need you to shift.” I announced, causing Alijah to tilt his head.

That wasn’t what he expected to come from me.

“Why?” he questioned.

He didn’t know that the entire world was after him. It was funny to see, but it was concerning, too. This man was so strong that he couldn’t see the danger, even if it was right before him.

“Because the moment they catch our scents, they’ll find us. If we don’t go faster than our human legs will go. I’m a luma, and I can’t shift!” I tried to explain.

His expression changed instantly, glaring at me.

Oh? Did I hit a sore spot?

In his defense, most lumas could shift, but it wasn't straightforward in my case—something he didn’t need to know.

For now...

“So, how will you keep up?” he queried, narrowing his eyes at me.

It caused me to smirk.

You’re serious, aren’t you?

The answer was obvious, but not every Lycan liked to be ridden. I suspected he would be one, thanks to his demeanor. Despite that, we had no choice.

Your consent doesn’t matter when our lives are in danger! It should if this were under normal circumstances—well, ones that don’t involve death or entrapment!

“By riding you, duh.” I rolled my eyes, triggering him to flash his fangs at me again.

Alijah crossed his arms as his eyes shimmered brightly.

Uh oh... No... Please don’t do this! We don’t have the time!

Oh, girl! You fight on your hands—a ghost floated by.

I tried to ignore their chatter. Luckily, acting like a crazy person in front of this Lycan wouldn’t help my cause.

“No one has ever ridden me. So that’ll never happen, wench.” Alijah growled, attempting to appear fierce.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

All it did was make my eyes roll again. There was always a first, although that made me happy to hear. I would be his first rider, a minor victory.

Chill heart! I can’t be a fangirl right now!

“Well, there’s always a first time! So, do it because if they find us, they’ll kill you or throw you into prison!” I tried to make him understand the urgency.

“Not if I kill them first,” he announced, eyes glowing.

This wolf was so cocky. He could have done so without the bond, but not with it.

Ah... crap.

I had forgotten something important. Vera made it so I would have to take a specific action to solidify the bond. Otherwise, it would only last an hour at best.

Well, this will be awkward, but it should be more straightforward. The bond forces you to listen to me. Think nothing of it. Rem, this is business. Nothing more.

“Look at me, and don’t move for five seconds, Alijah,” I suddenly ordered.

When the black wolf gazed at me, my order froze him in place. With brief hesitation, I grabbed his fur vest, yanking him into a quick, light lips peck. The moment they brushed together, another pulse went through us both.

After five seconds, he drew me away from him, holding onto my shoulders. The look on his face was one of pure bewilderment.

Ah… I wanted it to last a little longer.

My lips burned from the light touch.

“What the actual fuck?” Alijah muttered, shaking his head.

Even if he wished to kill me, he couldn’t, especially since I solidified the bond. This incantation was an idea I got when I saw Mom and Dad call each other’s soul mates.

With it, if you die, so will I. It’ll protect you from my parents, but they won’t…

However, in my case, it was a different matter. Thanks to that, he couldn’t shove me away if there was a potential for me to come to harm.

It’s the perfect plan, but it has its flaws. But even so! It’s going far better than I expected!

It was the only thing I could think about to keep the warmth of his lips from haunting me.

I can’t allow it to show. This has to be a professional relationship.

After all, his heart was closed to everyone but one woman, and I could never be her.

“I’m sorry, but I needed to solidify the bond. With that, I seal it until further notice.” I informed, trying to hide the fact I enjoyed every second his lips were on mine.

He gazed at me the entire time, utterly lost, leaving me feeling bad for him.

You haven’t had a break, have you?

This wolf was thrown into this forest to be met with this mess and now assaulted like this, too. However, that wasn’t my plan. No, Vera made it like that so I wouldn’t be bound for life to anyone. Sadly, it wasn’t like I could ask him nicely for a kiss.

Oh... Whatever, you’ll get over it, eventually. Right? It’s nothing like what others have done to you.

“You may not use your powers unless I say so. So right now, you’re an ordinary Lycan.” I quickly added, triggering those crimson eyes of his to fly open.

“The wench said what?!” Alijah uttered, veins popping from how heated he was.

Oh boy… you’ll blow an aneurysm if you keep going!

This wasn’t a brilliant start. The way he was glaring at me made me sure he would’ve splattered me on the floor if he could.

Vera, it seems you’re always right. I am an annoying bitch.

At least I was stubborn enough to want to keep him alive at all costs while also saving my family.

That isn’t much to ask, right?

“I won’t let you kill anyone here and now that you’re bound to me. So it would be best if you did what I wish.” I clarified.

His expression told me all I needed to know. He desired nothing more than to strangle me where I stood. The hate in his eyes was present and reassuring, but I didn’t care if he loathed me. I only cared if the angered wolf before me made it out alive.

That’s all that matters. You don’t deserve more pain.

“I don’t know how the fuck you bound me to you, but I promise I’ll find a way to kill you, little girl.” He threatened, appearing like a big bad wolf.

I softly nodded, acknowledging my peril at his hands. There was no more time to speak as I could sense them coming for us.

Dad... Aiden... Caden... I’ll protect all of you, along with Alijah. No one is going to die tonight!

I would open the mad Lycan’s heart to this world and perhaps close mine to him before everything was set. After all, once he knew he could see his beloved again, that would fill him with all the joy he needed.

There was no room in his heart for me.

Sometimes, it’s better not to meet the celebrity one has the hots for. Rem, this sucks!

“Okay! I look forward to the day you kill me, but for now, shift! We need to go!” I clapped my hands.

He growled at my command but had little choice but to obey. If we stayed there the way we were, he would be disadvantaged. Fur exploded from his skin as his body morphed into one of a giant black wolf.

Even though I wanted to bask in his new form, there was no time to waste. Quickly, I climbed onto his back before gripping tightly onto his soft hair.

Is there something about you that isn’t amazing? Crap Rem… Be strong.

However, before he took off, I cautioned him about something important, adding a little white lie. "If I die, you’ll forever be stuck as a normal Lycan. So, protect little oh me, Alijah-tan,” I snickered.

Thanks to my connection to the soul cairn, on the day I fell off the roof, it was found that I couldn’t die.

I should’ve been dead when I splattered my brain on the floor, yet I was able to come back. Somehow, I’m still standing here.

Mom explained to me that something healed me, saving me from death’s door, but we didn’t know what it was.

Thanks to that, I’m not an ordinary hybrid, but there’s something even worse.

A growl left his lips when he heard the nickname that came out of my mouth. “Fucking luma!” He huffed, suddenly bolting through the forest and away from the lake.

I had only ever ridden Dad or my brothers before, but this wolf’s silky black fur was softer than theirs in my hands. Alijah was also faster than they ever were. His speed alone could've easily blown me off if I weren’t more robust than the average human.

By the gods, if I could feel this speed with my paws.

That would be... Irrelevant—something I’ll never feel.

All I could do for this black wolf was keep his extraordinary powers in check, not his physical strength. In that, he would always excel no matter what I did. So, I wasn’t accurate when I said he would be a normal Lycan.

No, you’ll always be much more than that.

The only thing stopping me from using his ridiculous strength was that he was bonded with me. I wanted him to be free in this world, not pursued because of the crimes he committed. At this time, he had killed no one.

So, you have a chance to live freely, and I’ll fight for it.