CHAPTER 3

The sun dipped below the horizon as I approached Gwen’s apartment after the long travel. 

A month had passed since she took me in, offering me the safety and solitude I so desperately needed. Her home, nestled in the heart of a forest glade, had become my sanctuary—a place where the echoes of betrayal couldn’t reach me. Gwen was patient and kind, never pressing me for details about my past, but I knew she hoped I’d eventually open up.

This evening, she greeted me with her usual warm smile as I entered the cozy living room. “Cassie, it’s been a month. Don’t you think it’s time to step out of the shadows?”

I hesitated, clutching the edge of my sweater. “I’m not ready, Gwen. What if he’s still looking for me?”

Her smile softened. “You’ve done well to stay hidden. But isolating yourself isn’t living, Cassie. It’s surviving. And you deserve more than that.”

I bit my lip, unsure of how to respond. The thought of stepping outside this safe bubble filled me with dread. Gwen seemed to sense my reluctance and reached for her phone, her eyes gleaming mischievously.

“Let me show you something,” she said, pulling up an app. The screen displayed a sleek logo: Finder. “It’s a dating app for wolves. Rumor has it that it can even match you with your fated mate.”

I frowned. “A dating app? Seriously?”

“Don’t knock it until you try it,” she teased. “You’re not committing to anything by signing up. Just… see what’s out there. It might help you feel connected again.”

Skepticism warred with curiosity as I took the phone from her. Setting up a profile felt strangely therapeutic, as if I were reclaiming a small piece of myself. But as I scrolled through endless profiles, doubt crept in. Could an app really lead me to something genuine?

Just as I was about to close the app, a rare notification popped up: You’ve been matched by the Virtual Goddess.

The profile name that appeared made my heart skip a beat: Licht.

Something about the name stirred a sense of excitement and destiny within me.

My heart raced as my finger hovered over the screen. There it was, a notification on Finder. The name “Licht” glowed faintly against the dark background, paired with a profile picture of a forest at dusk. Something about that image struck a chord within me, stirring an unexplainable sense of familiarity and… excitement? A soft breath escaped my lips as I debated whether to engage. Was this the thrill everyone talked about—that fleeting rush of connection, even with a stranger?

Finally, I typed a message, my fingers trembling slightly. “Hi. I’m Cassie. This is my first time using Finder, so… be gentle?”

The reply came quicker than I expected. “Gentle? Noted. But don’t blame me if I’m irresistibly charming.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle, my nerves easing. “Irresistibly charming, huh? Big talk for someone without a profile picture.”

“Mystery is part of my charm,” he shot back. “But for you, I might consider revealing a little more.”

A smile tugged at my lips, an unexpected warmth blooming in my chest. “Let’s see if your personality lives up to the hype.”

Over the next few days, our exchanges grew more frequent, our conversations flowing with an ease I hadn’t expected. Licht had a way with words—a mix of humor, confidence, and genuine curiosity that made me feel seen. I found myself anticipating his messages, the thrill of each notification pulling me out of the shadowed corners of my past.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and bathed my room in a golden glow, our chat turned unexpectedly bolder.

Licht: “So, what’s a stunning wolfie like you doing on Finder?”

I hesitated for a moment, biting my lip. “Trying to escape a bad past. What about you?”

Licht: “Trying to find a future worth chasing. Maybe I’ve already found it.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I felt my heart skip a beat. I stared at his words, unsure how to respond. He was bold, I’d give him that. My fingers hovered over the keyboard before I finally replied, “Bold words. I hope you’re not all talk.”

Licht: “Why don’t you meet me and find out?”

I hesitated, the thrill of his challenge warring with my caution. Against my better judgment, I agreed. We arranged to meet at a secluded forest clearing—neutral ground for wolves like us. But as I approached the spot, a creeping sense of dread replaced my excitement. My instincts screamed at me to turn back, but it was too late.

Gamma hunters. Geoff had sent them. 

Panic coursed through my veins as they emerged from the shadows, their weapons gleaming ominously in the moonlight. Cornered and desperate, I fought back, claws slashing and teeth bared, but the odds were against me. There were too many, and I was alone.

Just when I thought it was the end, a blur of motion shattered the tense air. A massive black-grey wolf barreled into the fray, its snarls reverberating through the forest. It fought with unmatched ferocity, taking down the hunters one by one. The remaining few scattered, their cowardice winning out over their ambition.

I stood frozen, my breaths coming in short, sharp gasps. The wolf turned toward me, its glowing eyes locking with mine. My heart thundered in my chest as it shifted back to human form. Tall and imposing, his dark hair framed a face that was both rugged and devastatingly handsome. And those piercing eyes.

“No way. This man is…” I whispered, my voice trembling as recognition struck like a lightning bolt. The rogue alpha of the Dusk Hustlers. Notorious. Dangerous. Unpredictable—Zero Liam Diabros.

His lips curved into a smirk, the air around him crackling with a mixture of menace and amusement. “Well, miss,” he drawled, his tone dripping with confidence. “Looks like you owe me one for saving your life.”

I stared at him, my mind racing to catch up with the chaos of the last few minutes. Zero undeniably gives off a menacing vibe that trembled my whole body and yet, for some unexplainable reason, why did I feel some kind of uncontrollable pull toward him, even as alarm bells rang in my head?

“You’re a Diabros. The notorious rogue alpha.” I managed, my voice a mixture of accusation and disbelief.

He tilted his head, his smirk widening. “Surprised?”

I didn’t know what to feel—relief, fear, anger, or something entirely different. But one thing was certain: my life had just taken a turn I could’ve never anticipated and even my plan to meet up with Licht had been shifted completely.

Where was Licht when we’re supposed to meet up today. Was I even wrong to meet up with him? 

I couldn’t shake off the nagging feeling but I simply couldn’t help but wonder if my intuition was true.

That Licht was a total scam and he had completely ditched me out on our meeting today.