The day had been a whirlwind of paint, presentations, and late–night shelving at the library. It was a way out to forget the day, my birthday, so I keep myself busy.
I was running on fumes, my limbs aching, and my brain foggy from staring at art history notes for far too long. If I had known what the right would bring maybe I would’ve stayed in the library till sunrise.
I didn’t even notice the tension in the air. The faint electric buzz that usually signalled something was off–too tired, too distracted. When I finally pulled my phone out, I saw the message from Patricia waiting.
‘Rogues spotted near Florence border. Be careful. Inform the warriors if you see anything. And DON’T walk alone, El!‘
I bit my lip, cursing under my breath.
Of course I was walking alone. At ten at night. In the middle of rogue warnings. Classic me.
My pace quickened. The streets were nearly empty, the lights dim, casting long shadows that twisted with the wind. I tucked my coat tighter around me and whispered to myself, “Just three blocks. You’ve got this.”
I hadn’t even made it past the first block when I heard it.
A howl….
Low and guttural. Close. Too close.
Shit!
I froze. My breath caught in my throat. And that’s when I remembered–my wolf. Mika.
She still hadn’t come back.
It had been months since I last felt her presence. Ever since the bond with Ruben was shattered, Mika had gone silent, deep inside me, lost in grief or anger. I didn’t know. All I knew was that I was human in a world of predators.
Panic surged through me. I clutched my bag tighter and ran.
My dorm wasn’t far. Just a couple minutes if I sprinted. I ran like hell, dodging parked scooters and crossing empty intersections with reckless abandon.
The howl sounded again, closer this time. The pounding of paws echoed behind me–no, around me.
I was being hunted.
And I was utterly defenseless.
“Just a few more steps,” I whispered to myself. “Almost there, almost-”
BAM!
Something massive slammed into my side, sending me flying.
Ugh..!!! Perfect… I groan in pain.
I hit the ground hard, my body skidding against the pavement. Pain exploded through my ribs and knees as I struggled to breathe. I looked up just in time to see the rogue–huge, matted fur, blood–red eyes–snarling as he got up from where he’d also stumbled.
He turned and saw me. And smiled.
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16:49 Sat, 12 Jul ↑ GO
Chapter 8
It was terrifying.
“Shit!” I whimpered, crawling backward. The rogue’s gaze locked on mine, a deep growl rumbling from his chest. He stalked forward slowly, fear pouring off me.
“Hey!”
A familiar voice rang out behind him.
Béta Alfonso. Thank the Moon.
He stood a few feet away, already half–shifted, his shirt torn, claws out, face dark with fury.
“You’re done running, rogue,” he growled. “Turn and fight.”
The rogue hesitated for a second… then turned toward me again.
No. No, no, no!
“Good job, Ellaine,” Alfonso called out. “Now you shifted and blocked him perfectly. Hold your ground.”
What?
Shit, he didn’t know..
“I–I didn’t-” My voice trembled.
Alfonso frowned. “You can shift, right?”
I shook my head frantically, panic rising. “No! Beta–I can’t! I can’t shift!”
His face froze.
His expression shifted into something unreadable–worry, maybe, or fear–but it was too late.
The rogue charged.
I screamed…
Then a blur of gray shot past me like lightning.
A monstrous shape collided with the rogue mid–lunge, the impact loud enough to shake the earth beneath us.
The rogue yelped, then crashed into a tree with a sickening crunch,
I stared, stunned.
The creature that now stood between me and the rogue was huge–towering, broad, with silver–gray fur that shimmered under the moonlight. E wasn’t a werewolf.
That’s… It was a Lycan.
The stories didn’t do it justice.
un and scarred.
Chapter 8
It was terrifying.
“Shit!” I whimpered, crawling backward. The rogue’s gaze locked on mine, a deep growl rumbling from his chest. He stalked forward slowly, savoring the fear pouring off me.
“Hey!”
A familiar voice rang out behind him.
Béta Alfonso. Thank the Moon.
He stood a few feet away, already half–shifted, his shirt torn, claws out, face dark with fury.
“You’re done running, rogue,” he growled. “Turn and fight.”
The rogue hesitated for a second… then turned toward me again.
No. No, no, no!
“Good job, Ellaine,” Alfonso called out. “Now you shifted and blocked him perfectly. Hold your ground.”
What?
Shit, he didn’t know..
“I–I didn’t-” My voice trembled.
Alfonso frowned. “You can shift, right?”
I shook my head frantically, panic rising. “No! Beta–I can’t! I can’t shift!”
His face froze.
His expression shifted into something unreadable–worry, maybe, or fear–but it was too late.
The rogue charged.
I screamed…
Then a blur of gray shot past me like lightning.
A monstrous shape collided with the rogue mid–lunge, the impact loud enough to shake the earth beneath us.
The rogue yelped, then crashed into a tree with a sickening crunch,
I stared, stunned.
The creature that now stood between me and the rogue was huge–towering, broad, with silver–gray fur that shimmered under the moonlight. But it wasn’t a werewolf.
That’s… It was a Lycan.
The stories didn’t do it justice.
The aura that radiated from him was overwhelming, thick with power and ancient grief. His body was built like a warrior’s, massive and scarred, and his glowing amber eyes burned with a rage that didn’t belong in this world.
Alpha Francesco!!
16:50 Sat, 12 Jul T GO
Chapter 8
The silent Alpha. The beast of Florence.
He didn’t even glance at me. His entire focus was on the rogue who groaned and tried to stand.
Without hesitation, Alpha Francesco lunged again. His movements were brutal and graceful- like a dance of death. Claws slashed, jaws snapped. The rogue didn’t stand a chance.
And when it was over, when the rogue lay unconscious and bleeding in a heap, the Lycan turned.
His eyes locked onto mine.
My breath caught. I couldn’t look away.
His gaze wasn’t gentle, but it wasn’t cruel either. It was heavy. Like he could see everything inside me–my fear, my shame, my broken pieces. And for a second, I wondered if he recognized them because he had the same ones.
I swallowed hard, unable to speak.
“Alpha…” Alfonso stepped forward carefully, his tone cautious. “We’ll take care of the rogue.”
The Lycan gave a small nod and then… shifted.
Right there in front of us, his body began to shift. But it wasn’t like a normal werewolf transition. It was faster, smoother. His bones didn’t snap; they reformed with a quiet grace, as if the world obeyed his will.
And then he stood there–tall, bare–chested, covered in dirt and blood and old scars. A man. A legend.
The Francesco Lycaon.
His eyes stayed on me. Even in his human form, they glowed faintly in the dark.
“Are you harmed?” he asked, voice deep, rough–like thunder after a storm.
I blinked. “No… Um I… I don’t think so.”
He nodded once, then turned to Alfonso. “Get her back. And make sure the borders are reinforced.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Alpha Francesco didn’t look at me again.
He simply walked away, disappearing into the trees as quietly as he had arrived.
Alfonso came to my side, helping me up gently, “You okay?”
I nodded shakily. “I… I didn’t know he…”
“Could care?” Alfonso smiled faintly. “Yeah. Neither did we. He never shows up before unless it’s important.”
I looked back at where the Alpha had disappeared, heart pounding for a different reason now.
He saved me. A Lycan…
The one wolf I thought was too broken to care about anyone… had saved me.
And he didn’t even know who I was.
He didn’t know my past. My scars. My shame.
3/4
16:50 Sat, 12 Jul GU
Chapter 8
Yet he came anyway.
Maybe not all bonds needed to be spoken.
Maybe some were just… felt.
