Alpha Liam takes a deep breath, filling his nostrils with the scent of blood seeping from Mia’s wounds. He forces himself to remain in control—her fragile body and cannot withstand further harm.

Like a true Alpha who protects what is his, he retrieves a hemostatic medicine from his pack. At that moment, Mia instinctively closes her legs, distrust flickering in her eyes. She doesn’t believe he means well.

"Open your legs," he commands.

She refuses again, leaving him no choice but to use his strength. Once he gains access, he lowers his head to examine the wound more closely. Without a word, he applies to the medicine, never bothering to explain what it is.

Mia keeps her eyes shut, her body tense. The moment she felt Liam’s hand so close to her most vulnerable place, she feared he would take advantage of her weakened state. But he didn’t. And that realization makes her question everything. Liam is not the villain she thought he was.

Still, Liam’s wolf roars within him, demanding he claim her, urging him to tame her. But the Alpha fights back the primal instinct, suppressing his own desires.

"Thank you…" Mia whispers. She cannot be ungrateful to the man who saved her life.

"I’ll help you sit up," Liam says, stepping closer. He places one hand on Mia’s neck and the other on her back, lifting her gently.

And in that moment, his instincts take over. His mark burns into her skin, a permanent claim that will prevent her from ever leaving him.

"What have you done to me?"

Mia felt a tingling sensation on her neck. She didn't know what it was, but Liam caught her off guard and kissed her. She didn’t hate his kiss—her wolf awakened. She couldn't control the desire of the wolf inside her, which craved this man's wolf. She kept focusing on the strange man before her; it was so embarrassing.

Liam couldn't explain anything and stopped kissing her.

"It's nothing… It's just that you're so beautiful."

Liam observed her intently, and she did the same.

Mia looked very young. Although she had married Domenik at eighteen, she was now only twenty and already a single mother, making her life difficult.

As he analyzed her with his gaze, Liam thought about the fate of his illegitimate pup and swore to take good care of Mia and her child.

"You will be mine alone.” I will not give you up," Liam said in his mind.

The night was uncomfortable for Mia, being so close to Liam, but it was because her wolf longed to be claimed by him. However, both suppressed those desires.

But sleep overtook her, and she fell into a deep slumber next to her pup. Since the night was cold, Liam moved closer to her, wrapping her in his warmth, which made her sleep peacefully.

Before dawn, Liam carried Mia in his arms, taking a moment to admire the delicate face of his wolf. She was beautiful—thick eyebrows, fair skin, full lips, and her magnificent mane moving with the wind made her look like a goddess, stealing the Alpha’s heart.

On the way to the Southern Rogue territory, Liam couldn't shake his worries. He kept glancing at Mia’s face and the pup, with whom he felt a strange connection.

"Your duty was to mate with your wolf!" Liam’s inner wolf huffed, displeased.

"Her health comes first. There will be time for that."

"You should have done it so she would give you a pup! You are a king—you need an heir!" the wolf snapped furiously.

"I'm doing the right thing. Stop bothering me," Liam dismissed his wolf, making it retreat into silence.

Upon arriving at his grandmother’s estate, Liam stopped, and Beta approached from a short distance away.

“Beta, order the trusted Rogue pack to conceal my identity. No one can know that we are Rogue wolves for now.”

“As you command, my Alpha,” Beta replied before quickly leaving.

Liam took a deep breath before stepping into the house. He planned to shelter Mia at his grandmother Debora’s home, a secluded widow who had defied both her son and grandson from Blackmoon. She lived near the hidden kingdom, concealed among the trees.

It was 4 AM, and at this hour, Grandmother Debora was already awake. Hearing the door, she immediately peeked into the main hall, only to see her beloved grandson carrying a woman and a child in his arms.

“Grandmother Debora, I need you to take care of this woman and heal her.”

“But who is she? And that child?”

“He’s, her son. Help them while she regains her strength. A great battle is coming.”

“Let’s take them to your room,” she ordered. Liam nodded but couldn’t stop looking at Mia. He carefully laid her down beside her son before stepping out of the room with his grandmother.

“Give me an explanation, Liam! How can you take in a beggar with a child? Is this boy yours?”