Disclaimer: The ABO story has different versions. Sorry if there are errors in this story.
***
"Hah.. Hah.. akh!"
I stood up from my fall because of a tree root. The dark night made the atmosphere around me even more tense. If only... if only I was in good condition, I would have hidden in a safe place.
"I'm sorry Iris, this is all my fault," I said to my inner wolf. If only I hadn't been careless and injured my leg this morning, maybe Iris could have run faster.
Having lived alone in the wilderness for years makes me always anticipate situations like this. But maybe this is an unlucky day for me so those damn wolves can find my hiding place.
"It's not your fault Hyunji-ya, I was the one who neglected to look after you," answered Iris, still running. I, who was watching from behind the shadows, tried my best to hold back tears.
 I think that I and Iris have had enough of living this bitter life. I wonder, when will a good day come? a day where we can live in safety and peace?
At the end of these forests, I saw the light of a fire burning in the dark night. The three rogue wolves were still running behind to chase us, who were starting to limp.
A little more... a little more when I got near that place, one of the wolves that was chasing jumped and grabbed my leg.
"Auuuuuu!" Iris's shriek in her wolf form was shrill, indicating that she was at her limit. With all our might, we defend ourselves and salvage a little hope for life tomorrow. Even though my wolf body was thrown here and there, I still tried to be conscious.
From where I was surrounded by Rogues, I saw several people standing up there. Three people looked hesitant to help, while one other person stood quietly looking at me.
The moment our eyes met, I could feel a strange vibration electrifying my entire body. A different feeling, a feeling that I have never felt at all. A feeling of longing and.. bond?
"Please..." I said weakly, still looking into his eyes.
For a few seconds that felt very close to death, I raised my hopes to him who didn't move. One second, five seconds, ten seconds, it felt like a lifetime. I started to despair and shed tears. Mine and Iris' energy has been drained.
"Hyunji-ya... it's okay. I'm with you," said Iris who looked at me lovingly.
Yes, maybe this is the end. My lonely journey in the world. As long as I'm with Iris, I will fine.
I closed my eyes in surrender, I could feel their breath surrounding me. One breath drew closer to my neck ready to tear. A little more, yes a little more... But the sound of a loud blow made me open my eyes. The three wild wolves had died covered in blood under the feet of a large white wolf.
My gaze shifted to meet his eyes and everything was dark.
***
Night fell when the Alpha came out of the meeting room in a pack. He walked calmly while paying attention to the entire condition of the pack he was guarding.
Winter was almost here and he had just finished discussing defense strategies and food stocks with the other pack leaders. Around him, the Alphas and Betas were carrying out their respective duties while greeting Alpha when he passed.
"Evening Alpha," said Yeonsu, the young alpha who was guarding the gate with two other werewolves. It was very calm outside the pack, just like the previous nights. However, not long after the arrival of the head of the pack, a noise was heard from the south. The sound of heavy footsteps in unison and the rustling of leaves made them put themselves on alert.
Something jumped out, four rogue wolves were fighting in front of their pack gate. One of those rogues is an omega werewolf. His leg was bitten by his enemy and he squirmed as he howled in pain, making several other werewolves in the pack look away.
Yeonsu, who was next to the head of the pack, stood up angrily. This was only his third time on guard duty, and he had never faced a situation like this before. Meanwhile, the respective Alpha stood quietly next to him, not yet giving orders.
"I-" Before Yeonsu had time to speak, Min Youngjaeâthe Alpha raised his hand as a gesture to cover his mouth.
Something was going on inside Youngjae. When the rogues appeared, one of them made something inside him shake. He stared at the accident for a moment until his eyes met the rogue omega, and his heart trembled. Another feeling settled firmly in his chest. From afar, he could hear the rogue's plea for help, but he still didn't move. Until another voice appeared in his hearingâthe conversation between the rogue and his inner wolf.
"Hyunji-ya... it's okay. I'm with you."
Suddenly something stirred inside Youngjae. He felt very angry for some reason. Without warning, he jumped from the top of the gate and made a quick shift before beating three other rogues to death. With blood stains all over his body, he looked back at those eyes before the rogue quickly lost consciousness.
***
I woke up dizzy. I can feel my right leg throbbing violently after last night's bite. Blinking several times, and I still felt darkness all around me.
Wait, am I dead?
Then I remembered that before my consciousness left, a big wolf came and defeated the rogue wolves. So where am I now? behind the wooden gate last night? or thrown into the abyss?
Suddenly panicked by my thoughts, I forced myself to stand up and leave before the other wild rogues discovered my presence. But before I could put my foot down, the sound of creaking wood made me turn my head and a beam of light began to enter where I was.
"Are you awake?"
A person standing with his back to the light makes a dark silhouette that dazzles my eyes. He continued in and opened the window right next to me, lying. I could see a man standing tall beside my bed, making me step back.
"How about your leg?" he asked, looking into my eyes.
When I looked back at him, those eyes kept me transfixed again. This man was someone who looked at me from afar last night. Again I felt a strange feeling inside me making me become defensive about its existence.
"Who?"
The man still looked at me flatly when I asked who he was. Realizing that I was the guest here, I straightened my body.
"I-I mean thank you for saving me," I said while bowing slightly. Still in a defensive posture, Iris whispered to me softly, "Mate."
"What?" I asked Iris. My inner wolf was stunned to see the man who was still standing looking at me. I could feel my chest starting to pound. I don't know exactly what mate is, but a werewolf's instincts have been gifted in such a way by the moon goddess that they can feel things like this.
"He's your soulmate, Hyunji-ya," said Iris again, but now she looked enthusiastic. Now I looked into the man's eyes, my heart was pounding even more, trying to be sure of what Iris was saying. But when I was about to open my mouth, someone appeared from behind the door.
"Youngjae-ah, is she awake?"
I turned and saw a woman walking gracefully into the room I was in. The man called Youngjae smiled when he saw the woman appear and welcomed her presence.
"Yes, he is conscious," said Youngjae, still with a smile on his face.
"Ah, thank goodness. What's your name? I'm Moon Chaewol," said the girl kindly. Her aura exudes positive energy and her attitude is very graceful.
"Hyunji.."
"Okay, Hyunji-ah. Then I'll go get your food. Wait a minute, okay?"
The woman left followed Youngjae who followed him from behind. I was about to close my eyes again when I heard a faint sound from outside. I wanted to try to ignore it, but when Chaewol's voice said my name I woke up and stumbled towards the closed door.
"Moonie, we can't let her be here," said Youngjae in a low voice.
"But you saved her and brought her here. You can't be like that," Chaewol scolded.
I froze where I stood. Chaewol was right, why did he save me if he didn't want me to be here?
Several minutes of silence occurred outside until a voice Youngjae came back, "I just feel sorry for her."
Yes, that's how it should be. What do I expect from the foreign vibrations in my heart? It's just a strange thing that I don't need to pay attention to.
Feeling bad about my presence causing them to fight, I opened the door and they turned to look at me.
"Hyunji-ah, why did you get up?" Chaewol asked worriedly. She approached me and ignored Youngjae. I saw the man's gaze from following Chaewol until it stopped at me.
"I think I'll say goodbye," I said awkwardly.
Hearing that, Chaewol suddenly panicked; she must have felt that I heard their conversation earlier. Mate or not, I can feel that Youngjae doesn't like my existence. He seemed worried when he looked at Chaewol, who was close to me.
"Don't go, your leg isn't healed yet," Chaewol begged while holding my hand. She tried to ask me to come back in, but when I turned to look at Youngjae, His gaze was driving me away.
"It's okay, tomorrow it will be fine," I said, rejecting her kindness. Iris looked at me sadly from inside. She knows what it's like when I'm often thrown out even when I'm less than five meters away from the pack I've met.
Seeing Chaewol about to cry, Youngjae took a deep breath and finally told me to rest inside.
The morning passed in a heavy atmosphere. But good or bad, I can feel the destiny that the moon goddess gave me leading me to something big.
***
To be continue.