Chapter 4

Following the instructions etched in my memory, I unraveled the barrier, and Silent Peak finally revealed its true form. From the outside, it appeared shrouded in mist, an otherworldly sanctuary. But as I stepped closer, I realized it was no paradise. The mountain exuded an oppressive darkness, lifeless and heavy. The path ahead twisted upward, littered with brittle, dead leaves and fragments of shattered stones. No living creatures stirred, no signs of vitality remained—not even the faint whisper of wind. The silence was absolute.

"How is it getting hotter when I can't even see the sun?" I muttered, wiping the sweat from my brow. The elders had often spoken of Silent Peak as a place brimming with primordial energy, a sacred ground for the growth of werewolf strength. Yet now, it reeked of death. Finding the Lycan could wait. I needed water first, or I'd collapse from thirst before anything else.

The moment I entered the mountain, an unnatural heat began to radiate through my body. My head grew foggy, and unease crept into my thoughts. Thankfully, it wasn't long before I heard the sound of flowing water. Following the sound, I came upon a glimmering pool. Caution abandoned me. My body burned so fiercely that I couldn't think. Without hesitation, I shifted into my wolf form and leapt in. The icy water offered little relief. The heat deep within me was unrelenting, as if a fire smoldered in my core. My body felt hypersensitive. Of all times, why now? My heat cycle was upon me.

Desperately, I summoned my strength to calm myself, but it was futile. Though I was an Alpha, this primal urge was beyond my control. It was a curse of our kind: we were bound to seek mates at a certain age, or risk being consumed by the relentless torment of unfulfilled desire. Damn it! Any male wolf would do right now. Frustrated, I glanced around. Then, something caught my eye—a cave hidden beneath the water. A faint golden glow emanated from within. Could it be the Heart of the Moon? And what lay inside?

Holding my breath, I swam into the cave. What I found made my heart race. A Golden Lycan, larger and more imposing than any I had ever seen, lay coiled upon a stone pillar, his eyes closed. His form was magnificent, the epitome of our kind's strength and grace. I dared not make a sound. Trembling, I approached, taking out the Moonpetal pollen I had brought. I placed the powder near his nose, but my body betrayed me, the heat within me surging uncontrollably at the sight of him.

Moments later, the Lycan's eyes snapped open. In one fluid motion, he leapt from the pillar, landing with a thunderous crash that shattered the stone beneath him.

I stumbled back, panic rising. Had the pollen failed? The Lycan lunged at me, his gaze piercing and feral. I wanted to flee, but my body was weak, unresponsive. I collapsed where I stood. With a deafening roar, he charged past me, out of the cave, churning the pool's water into a violent storm. Then, just as suddenly, he returned, his golden eyes locked onto mine. For a moment, I thought he would tear me apart. Instead, he spoke, his voice deep and resonant. "I've been waiting for you."

The Lycan began circling me, his movements deliberate, his presence overwhelming. His body radiated heat, mirroring my own turmoil. Our breaths grew heavier, our gazes tangled, and in his eyes, I saw the same hunger that burned within me. He stepped closer, his massive frame towering over mine. Gently, his claws encircled me, pulling me into an unyielding embrace. His touch was both commanding and tender, and my already clouded mind descended further into chaos. I glanced down at where our bodies intertwined.

"My god... his size—how is that even possible?"

The symbol of his masculinity throbbed with unmistakable intent, and my heart clenched. Instinctively, I swallowed hard, a sudden urge to escape flickering in my mind. But my heat-addled body betrayed me. Strengthless and consumed by desire, I could only surrender to his dominance. His movements were precise, skilled. Pleasure coursed through me, and for a fleeting moment, I questioned whether the Moonpetal pollen had any effect on him at all.

"Do you like it?" he asked, his voice low and gravelly, the words charged with a primal power.

As his body entwined with mine, the last shreds of my resistance melted away. He claimed not just my body, but the remnants of my will, leaving me lost in the fire of our union.