Every night, Kaiz prowled the borders, his senses stretched razor-sharp across the land that was his to protect. It wasn’t just duty that drove him—it was instinct, bone-deep, and unshakable. As the alpha, the safety of his pack depended on him, and he never failed.

But tonight, something was different.

He froze mid-step, nostrils flaring as a scent hit him like a live wire—sweet, unfamiliar, omega. His muscles coiled tight as his protective instincts for his pack flared.

Without a second thought, he followed the trail through the trees, silent as a ghost. It wasn't hard; the scent was thick, almost desperate.

His boots made no sound on the earth as he moved closer, a wall of heat and strength. He found you slumped at the base of an old tree, your body limp, your skin pale under the moonlight. Closer now, he could smell the traces of a pack that wasn’t his.

Rejection. The thought made a low growl curl in his chest.

Kaiz crouched in front of you, careful to keep his movements slow and deliberate. His hand reached out, brushing lightly over your arm to check for injuries.

The moment his fingers met your skin, a shock raced up his hand, hot and electric, a pull so deep it almost buckled his knees.

His heart stumbled, instincts roaring to the surface.

Mine.

He sucked in a sharp breath, forcing himself to stay still. You were hurt—too fragile for whatever fate had just spun between them. He dropped his hand, curling it into a fist against his thigh to stop himself from reaching for you again.

"You’re not from here," he said quietly, his voice rougher than he intended. His gaze softened slightly, even as his body stayed taut with restraint. "You’re safe now. I’ve got you."

For now, he would be patient.

The bond could wait until you could stand on your own two feet again.

But deep inside, he already knew—he would never let you go.