Chapter 4

Calix inhaled deeply, the scent overwhelming his senses. Beside him, his Beta gave him a puzzled look.  

"What do you mean by scent?" his Beta asked, the confusion evident in his tone.  

Calix couldn't find the words to explain it. They were out by Oakwood Fountain, conducting a routine border check. It was an unusual activity for Calix to join personally, but something had drawn him here today—a feeling, a craving he couldn't ignore.  

And then it happened.  

The scent hit him. It was fresh, like the earth after a rainstorm, mingled with the soft, calming notes of lavender. His wolf stirred violently within him, recognizing the smell instantly. It was a scent that had always made him restless, wild, like it wanted to take over completely.  

He turned sharply, his gaze scanning the area, following the source of the scent. Then he saw her.  

Zara lay crumpled on the ground, blood trickling from a wound on her head, her body lifeless and still. His heart stopped. Without hesitation, he barked an order to his Beta.  

"Help me," he said, rushing to her side.  

The two of them worked quickly to lift her. As Calix cradled her in his arms, an unfamiliar ache twisted in his chest. He didn’t understand it, but it gripped him like nothing else ever had.  

Instincts and medical training he hadn’t used in years kicked in. Despite being a dropout, he remembered enough to act. He focused on her wound, his hands steady and practiced. Yet, as soon as he touched her, he felt it—an electric pulse surged through him. The mate bond.  

The energy was undeniable, a force that shook him to his core. For the first time in years, Calix felt alive, felt something real.  

But it wasn’t just the bond he sensed.  

Her pain hit him like a wave—raw, deep, and unrelenting. It was as if he was experiencing it himself. He gritted his teeth, pushing through the overwhelming sensations, but the bond was relentless. It surged with power, intensifying his connection to her. He could feel it amplifying her healing, speeding up the process. Even his Beta stared, wide-eyed, watching the wound close faster than it should have.  

"Why? Why would you do that? She doesn’t deserve it," his Beta spat, anger lacing his words.  

Calix didn’t respond. He knew why his Beta was angry. Zara had rejected him. She had walked away when he needed her most. His Beta had been there through it all, loyal and unwavering, and now, history was repeating itself.  

But Calix wasn’t angry anymore.  

He couldn’t be.  

"I remember the day she turned eighteen," he murmured, almost to himself. "I met her at Oakwood. She smelled me… and she was so happy. It was like everything finally made sense to her. And me…" His voice softened, heavy with emotion. "I fell in love with her right there."  

He could still see her smile, hear her laughter. Her joy had been contagious, so pure and unfiltered. She hadn’t cared about who he was or what he was. She had shouted with excitement, "MY MATE IS ALLURING, SHE'S CHARMING!" That moment had been perfect, untouched by reality.  

But then she learned the truth—he was a rogue.  

That knowledge had shattered everything. She had turned her back on him so quickly, rejected him without a second thought.  

The last words she had spoken to him had been devoid of warmth or emotion. When he’d asked for her name, she had told him, her voice cold and distant.  

Afterward, he had tried. He had risked everything to see her again, sneaking into her pack’s territory, searching for her. But every effort had been in vain. Eventually, he stopped trying.  

And now, she was here, lying unconscious in his arms.  

She looked just as he remembered—her delicate features bathed in moonlight, her beauty untouched by time. Even in this vulnerable state, she took his breath away.  

Suddenly, Zara stirred, waking with a scream that pierced the night. Calix’ heart skipped a beat as he instinctively pulled her close. She trembled violently, her breathing ragged, her fear palpable.  

He held her gently, letting her rest her head against his chest as she tried to calm down. Her body shook, and her heartbeat thundered against his. Slowly, her breathing steadied, but she didn’t pull away.  

She glanced up at him, confusion clouding her eyes. For a moment, it seemed as if she didn’t recognize him. Then her body tensed, recognition dawning.  

Without warning, Zara shoved him with all her strength. Calix, unprepared, stumbled backward, landing hard on the ground.  

"Crazy bitch," he muttered under his breath, rubbing his back as he got to his feet.  

Zara scrambled to stand, her arms wrapping protectively around herself as if he had wronged her. The sight stung, though Marvel didn’t show it.  

"Who are you? Plea...please who are you?" she demanded, her voice trembling with confusion and fear.  

Calix stood slowly, brushing off the dirt. Did she not remember him? Or was she pretending?  

His gaze locked with hers, and in an instant, he saw it—the moment recognition hit her. She froze, her body stiffening.  

Behind her, his Beta watched in silence, his expression unreadable. Whatever discomfort his Beta felt, he kept it hidden, standing firm.  

None of it mattered to Calix. All that mattered was Zara.