~30 days from now…~
"Don't make me do this."
My hand shakes around the hilt of the knife, slick with blood.
"Do it."
Silhouetted by the rising sun, he is bound before me like a sacrifice–damaged, but still beautiful. I step closer to the altar, the train of my wedding dress dragging like a weight behind me.
"I can't."
"You have to. Do it, (Y/N)."
I meet his golden eyes, which glow and pulse with power. I press the blade to his throat…
"I'm sorry–"
~30 days earlier…~
"I'm sorry!" I say quick and apologetically.
"Don't apologize, birthday girl. That was a damn good hit."
My friend, Jooe, works her jaw where my fist connected harder than intended.
"No, I shouldn't have gone all out. We were just loosening up after class."
"Where do you get that strength from? Were your parents vikings or something?" She questions jokingly.
"They were, How did you know? Their dying wish was for me to take up the family broadsword and protect the weak."
"That's a lot better than the real story: joining a cult and landing you in foster care."
Jooe slings her bag over her shoulder and frowns.
"I'm sorry for bringing them up on your birthday. I'm an idiot."
Her words sting a little, but you force a smile.
"It's okay, I never knew them. Now, I'm out of the system, allowed to drink…being an adult rocks. I'll catch you later. Have a good night."
Jooe waves goodbye, and I finish locking up. I move to grab my coat…but a massive bang halts me in my tracks. The front door flies off its hinges. Against the haze of the rain stands the chiseled outline of a man.
"Finally. I found you."
Like an animal appearing out of the darkness, he slowly, deliberately, moves into the light.
"I should have known I'd find you in a place like this."
The stranger laughs softly as he touches a punching bag. I stiffen.
Who is this guy?
"I'm sorry, sir, but the dojo's closed."
"I'm not here for a lesson."
Lightning strikes, illuminating his lean muscles and sharp, feral eyes. Eyes trained on me.
Calm down, (Y/N). You know what do in a situation like this.
I straighten to my full height as I stare the man down.
"Maybe you didn't hear me. The dojo is closed. Please leave."
He smirks haughtily, his dark smile both stunning and aggravating.
"Or what?"
"Or I'll make you."
His smile widens.
"I'd really like to see you try."
My mind made up, I lunge for him. His eyes widen a fraction, but he dodges my attack with fluid ease, as if he is dancing with me. He laughs.
"Damn. You've got spunk, I'll give you that, (Y/N)."
What? How does he know my name?
"Who the hell are you and how do you know who I am?"
"The name's Bang Chan. And I'd know you anywhere. You're my mate, after all."
His strange words hit me harder than the lightning cracking overhead.
"Your…mate? What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means you're mine."
"Uh…does that line ever work for you?"
He lets out a bark of laughter, maintaining his cocky composure.
"You'd be surprised how many women would love to be called my mate. But that honor lies solely with you, (Y/N). You're my mate and you're coming with me. Right now. Happy Birthday, by the way."
Okay. Forget this.
I bolt for the exit. But before I can reach it, two more hulking men stand in my way.
"So. This is her."
"This bitch doesn't look like much, does she, Lee Know?" he says elbowing the other.
"Remember our orders, Seungmin. You can't hurt her."
"Me hurt her? If anything we should be afraid of her–"
"She's no threat to you. Just hurry up and take her." Bang Chan said cutting Seungmin with an order.
A chorus of haunting howls drift in through the smashed entryway. Bang Chan's eyes darken.
"We don't have much time."
This is insane. They're actually trying to kidnap me.
I take a step back as they surround me. My hands curl into fists.
They're messing with the wrong girl.
I crouch slightly and lift my hands, putting myself in a defensive position. Seungmin growls.
"I should have known you'd resort to violence. It's in your blood."
In my blood? Who does this guy think I am?
With a snarl low in his throat, Seungmin lunges at me. I know I need to think quick and knock the wind out of him. As Seungmin dives for me, I send my fist into the soft center of his stomach.
"Agh!" The man crumples to the ground in agony.
"This doesn't have to get violent." exclaims Bang Chan.
I turn to face Bang Chan, but as soon as my back is turned, Seungmin sends me flying out of the building. I skid on the wet pavement, the wind leaving me.
"Vicious little brat. I should put an end to you right here and now."
Seungmin pulls me to my feet as though I weigh nothing, his nails breaking my skin like claws.
"Mmph…I'll kill you first!" I growl.
"Enough!" Bang Chan yells yanking the man off of me sending me crashing to the ground.
When I look up, Bang Chan's imposing, muscular frame stands above me. He fixes Seungmin with a ferocious glare.
"What did I just say about hurting her?"
Grinding his teeth, Seungmin bows his head submissively. Bang Chan turns back to me.
"I'm sorry, (Y/N). Not everyone appreciates that fire you have."
He holds out his hand to me, his once-sharp eyes tinged with concern.
"Here. Let me help you."
I stare at Bang Chan's open palm, steady and radiating a strange warmth, even in the freezing rain. But I see an opportunity, too. An opportunity in how open and relaxed he is. An opportunity to trick him and escape.
Hiding my true intentions, I reach out and place my hand in Bang Chan's. But as soon as my palm touches his, fire erupts in my veins.
"What–!"
A coursing shock passes through me and everything fades away except Bang Chan. He feels it, too, gasping for breath as his fingers close over mine.
"What just happened?"
"You…and I…"
Time stands still as we stare at each other, our hands pulsing as though we share a single heartbeat.
Wait. No. I can't get distracted by him and…whatever this is. I still need to get away. I have his hand. Now's my chance.
"Thank you."
"Right of course."
As soon as he starts to pull me up, I use all my strength to pull him down with me.
"Hey-!" he cries as he stumbles and hits the ground.
As I leap to my feet and stand over him, he laughs.
"I wasn't expecting you to be such a skilled fighter."
"People rarely do." I informed him.
With a wink, I sprint as fast as I can, rounding the corner into a nearby alley.
Yes. Now if I just–
But I skid to a halt when I find Bang Chan already there, blocking my path.
"How did you–"
"Look. I'm not trying to hurt you."
His eyes almost glow in the darkness as he moves closer. My body reacts to his proximity as if lit by a match.
"(Y/N)–"
"Stop saying my name like you know me."
"I know more than you think."
"Like what?"
"Like who your parents really are."
I freeze at his words, staring him down in the pouring rain.
"You…really know them?"
"I do, (Y/N). I wish I didn't, but I do."
I open my mouth to demand answers–but a sharp blow from behind steals my words, and darkness swallows me. In the black haze, a dream surfaces. The same dream I've had since I was young.
The smell of smoke and blood. The crackle of flame. Someone screams my name.
"(Y/N)!!"
"(Y/N)."
I open my eyes, wincing as light hits me. I lie in a comfortable bed I don't recognize.
"Good. You're awake."
"Where…where am I?"
I bolt upright only to groan at the dizzy spell it causes.
"Try not to move."
Bang Chan comes into focus just as he sinks down on the bed beside me. He reaches for me.
Him again?
"Please don't touch me."
Bang Chan stops himself.
"It's okay. You're safe."
"Says the guy that kidnapped me."
"Believe it or not, I'm trying to help you. You were in trouble out there."
"What was so dangerous about my normal life? The occasional zit? Taxes?"
"You don't have a normal life."
Bang Chan's voice lowers an octave and he leans over the mattress, reaching for me again. I pull back.
"Would you hold still?"
Bang Chan lifts his hand. It's only then that I see the damp washcloth he's holding.
"That asshole Seungmin went too far. You're bleeding."
"What?"
I touch the side of my neck where the man choked me. Sure enough, it is peppered with small cuts. Alarmed, I move to get up again, but Bang Chan stops me.
"Whoa, easy there. Let me take a look.
"I don't need your help."
"You're not okay, and that's my fault."
I can hear the frustration in his voice. Frustration with himself for causing me pain.
"Just let me make sure it's not too bad. Please."
After a long moment, I nod. Bang Chan eases me back onto the bed and sits next to me.
Why can I feel heat radiate off of him whenever he's close?
He motions, and I slowly raise my chin, exposing my injured neck.
"Stay still."
He presses the warm washcloth to my neck and my breath catches. His careful, steady touch eases the pain a little.
"Can I keep going?"
He whispers, low and serious, his eyes meeting mine beneath dark lashes.
"Yeah. You can keep going."
Nodding, Bang Chan moves closer.
"Okay. Just tell me if it starts to hurt."
Bang Chan uses the warm, wet cloth to stroke my neck, washing my wound slowly. I watch him as he works. He focuses intently on my injury, his rough hands surprisingly gentle.
"So, where am I exactly?"
"At my estate in the mountains, far from town. Far from danger."
"Funny. The most dangerous thing I've come across is sitting right in front of me."
I catch him grinning.
"That wasn't a compliment."
"If you say so."
His breath is hot on my neck, and a slight shiver overtakes me.
God, who is this guy? I know he's a threat, but…that's not what this feels like.
"(Y/N), I know tonight was a…surprise. But if I hadn't taken you, he would have."
"Who?"
"Your father."
His words hit me like a punch to the guy. I shift uneasily on the mattress.
"That can't be right. I've never known my father. He wouldn't just randomly turn up now."
Bang Chan rises off the bed. For the first time, I get a sense of just how tall he is.
"Tell me, what do you know about your family?"
"My parents were…members of a cult. I landed in foster care because of it."
I wince at the memories–being passed from home to home, abused, constantly afraid and lonely.
"My father…never wanted me."
"Oh, your father wanted you. Still does. But not for some cult sacrifice. The whole cult thing was bullshit. Your father is a shifter, (Y/N). And not just any shifter–he's the Alpha of my rival pack."
The word 'shifter' rattles strangely in the back of my mind, both foreign and familiar.
"He's what?"
"A shifter. A person born with a wolf inside of them. A person who can transform. A person just like you."
I can't believe what Bang Chan is telling me. I get up off the bed and back toward the door, shaking my head.
"I…don't understand."
"Try. I know deep down you remember who you are. What you are."
Bang Chan takes a step toward me, his gaze razor-sharp.
"You're a shifter. On your 21st birthday, your powers awaken. You can be claimed as an Alpha's mate."
Claimed as a mate? None of this is making any sense.
Bang Chan steps closer, his presence bearing down on me like an anchor. I glance at the door.
"Claimed mates make their Alphas strong. And the last thing your father wants is for me to get stronger."
I shake my head, judging how many steps it would take to escape.
"No. I won't be "claimed" by anyone."
Shoving past Bang Chan, I make a break for the door, but he catches my wrist. Once again, a searing flame rockets through my body and Bang Chan's. We both gasp as everything around us fades away, leaving only each other in stark focus.
"What is this?"
"I thought I imagined it before but I didn't.
Releasing my wrist, Bang Chan flexes his fingers and looks at me with genuine shock.
"It's rare. So rare I thought it was a myth. But… We must be true mates, (Y/N)."
"What do you mean?"
"You're not just a mate I've claimed for myself. You're bonded to my soul. Born to be mine, above anyone else."
"So, we're soulmates? That is not going to make me stay."
"Yes it is. Once you understand what it means."
Suddenly, Bang Chan grasps my hips and presses me back against the wall. The heat of his body, of his touch, is like gravity against mine: impossible to deny, pulling me closer.
"Don't tell me you don't feel this. The tether between us."
"Bang Chan–"
His words, his hands on me, all melt like honey beneath my skin. I can barely stand it.
"What is this? What's happening?"
"We're one. We are soulmates. And together our power could be limitless. Can't you feel it?"
Bang Chan takes my hand and moves it beneath his shirt. The smooth honey of his touch turns electric, and I feel my skin hum with charged power. Then I see it again–the glow in his eyes, unnaturally bright. Like magic.
"Feel me, (Y/N)."
Bang Chan guides my hand up underneath his shirt, my fingers brushing against hard ridges of muscle. Breathless, I relinquish control, and let Bang Chan move my hand higher. My fingers trace the sculpted slopes of his abdomen, sweat-slick and scorching. Bang Chan huffs.
"Am I hurting you?"
"No. Keep going."
I swim in his eyes as he pulls my hand higher, up over pecks that feel as though they are carved from stone.
"Keep going."
Finally, he places my palm flat against the steady beat of his heart. He inhales sharply. The fire burns hot and bright in my veins, pulsing with every beat of Bang Chan's heart. But it doesn't hurt anymore.
Why does he feel so…good?
"What do you feel?"
"I feel…our connection."
"What does it feel like?"
"Like…like I can hear your heart right next to mine. Or inside of mine. Like I've never been–"
"Whole before now?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah. I feel that with you, too."
I look up at Bang Chan, feeling just how large and solid he is as he holds me. My lips part. He stares at my open mouth, his breath husky and hot. He leans in close… Then, his body stiffens. His eyes suddenly widen, glowing brighter, turning a brilliant shade of molten gold.
"Wh-what?"
Almost pained, he stumbles away from me, his body tensing and curling in on itself. His skin ripples like boiling water, darkening and shifting as he begins to grow in size.
"What the–?"
"Arrrrghh!"
He doubles over as his clothes rip. In place of his handsome face is a long snout and razor-sharp teeth. Finally, where Bang Chan once stood, a powerful black wolf now towers over me.
His onyx fur ripples in the moonlight like liquid night. His eyes glint a bright gold, just as fierce as when he was human.
Oh my God. It's true. He's really a–
The wolf is still, unmoving, and you're unsure if you're safe or if he's about to pounce. Barely breathing, I take a slow step forward, tentatively reaching my hand out.
"Bang Chan?"
I touch the wolf's soft, thick fur, and I take a sharp breath in. He closes his golden eyes and leans into my touch. Another ripple, another breath, and Bang Chan, fully human, takes the wolf's place, naked and bracing himself on all fours. His eyes are wide, his breathing labored as he stares at me in what can only be shock.
"That's never…I've never transformed against my will before. What did you do to me?"
"What did I do? You just–"
Suddenly, I hear the same chorus of eerie, distant howls from the window.
"What was that?"
Swearing under his breath, Bang Chan struggles to his feet, displaying all of himself.
"Taecyeon!!" Bang Chan growled gritting his teeth.
Someone bangs on the door. Bang Chan quickly throws on some spare jeans and unlocks it.
"Bang Chan, what the hell was that? Did you and her just–" Lee Know asks standing in surprise.
"Yeah. We bonded. And he must have felt it. Warn the others."
The man gives a short nod and leaves.
"What's going on?" I ask worriedly.
"Your father. He isn't just any shift, (Y/N)."
Bang Chan walks to the window, his knuckles white.
"Taecyeon is the most dangerous, powerful Alpha anyone has ever seen. He lives to torture and kill. And now, his daughter is the true mate of his sworn enemy. His rival Alpha. Me."
"What does that mean?"
He turns back to me, eyes burning and icy all at once.
"It means he's coming to kill you."