"Where… am I?" Kwan groaned, slowly opening his eyes.
It was night. The air was cold, and the forest around him was cloaked in darkness. He looked down—he was inside a cage, handcuffed like an animal. Blood crusted around his wrists.
"Where’s Rebecca? Who are these people?"
A deep voice answered from outside the cage. "Finally awake, Kwan Moldrick."
Kwan looked up and recognized the towering figure—it was the man who had fought them on the bus.
"This is quite something," the man sneered. "A notorious hitman, wanted dead or alive, hiding out with a vampire. What a perfect match."
"Notorious hitman?" Kwan blinked. "Am I really that dangerous? Who... who am I?"
But there was no time to figure it out. He asked instead, "Where’s Rebecca? What have you done with her?"
"She’s alive… for now," the man said casually. "Our leader has chosen her as a vessel—for his son, the next alpha."
Kwan’s heart dropped. "A vessel?"
The man smirked. "You don’t need to know more. Not yet."
Panic welled in Kwan’s chest. They’re going to force her... He gritted his teeth. He had to stop them. But he was nothing—just a human in a cage, bound in chains.
"Oh well," the man said, turning to leave. "See you in hell, Kwan Moldrick."
"Wait! Help me!" Kwan shouted after him, but the man only laughed and disappeared into the shadows.
Kwan looked down at the handcuffs. Metal. Tight. Cutting into his skin. "I have to get out… Rebecca needs me."
He pulled. Pain shot up his arms. His skin tore, blood poured down his wrists, but he didn’t stop. With a roar of agony, he forced his hands free. His scream echoed through the woods. Breathing hard, hands slick with blood, Kwan staggered up and broke the lock on the cage.
"I don’t care if I’m human… I will save her. She saved me. Now it’s my turn."
He ran through the forest, pain burning through him with every step. Finally, he reached the wolves’ village—more crowded than before. Fires crackled, drunk laughter filled the air, and around it all were people who looked like monsters in disguise.
And there—tied to a tree—was Rebecca.
The pack’s leader stood in front of her, his intentions unmistakable.
"Help me!" Rebecca cried, struggling.
Kwan didn’t think. He ran to her—but was caught immediately, tackled to the ground. They tied him up and forced him to watch.
The leader stepped closer to Rebecca, cruel and smug.
A flash of memory hit Kwan—another time, another place—he had seen the woman he loved suffer at the hands of an enemy.
No more.
Rage surged inside him. His head throbbed. Pieces of his past slammed together.
"Let my wife go!" Kwan roared.
"Oh, so you’re the husband?" the alpha smirked. "Don’t worry, man. I’ll let her go... when I’m done."
"I’ll kill you!" Rebecca spat.
"So brave," the alpha chuckled. "But what can you do, tied up like that?"
Kwan trembled—but not in fear. In fury.
With a sudden kick, he knocked down the two men flanking him. In the confusion, he tore free from the ropes.
The alpha lunged forward and punched him hard, knocking him to the ground. Blood filled Kwan’s mouth.
"You’ve picked the wrong fight, boy," the alpha sneered.
But Kwan had already risen. He wiped the blood from his lips and charged. He punched the alpha—hard. Blood burst from the leader’s nose.
The other werewolves stood back, watching. They wouldn't intervene. Not yet. If their leader couldn't defeat a human, he wasn’t worthy to lead them at all.
The alpha clenched his fist, enraged at Kwan's audacity to fight him in his own territory. But because he didn't want his subordinates to call him weak, he controlled himself not to transform into his wolf form and give Kwan a fair fight. He threw a punch, swift and brutal, but Kwan dodged it effortlessly and countered with a sharp strike to his ribs.
"What’s up, Drake?" one of the werewolves called out with a mocking grin. "Already giving up?"
"Hell no!" the alpha snarled. "I’ll tear this man to pieces!"
Kwan didn’t respond. He barely even heard the trash talk. His focus was clear: get Rebecca, get out, and survive.
"You’re pretty quick for a human," Drake growled, throwing another flurry of punches. "Let’s see if you can dodge this."
He struck again and again, but his fists met only air. Kwan moved like smoke—calculated, fast, and silent.
And in those moments, something clicked inside Kwan. He remembered every brutal fight, every con, every time he had to claw his way out of a corner—all of it made him strong.
"I give up..." Drake said, falling to the ground, black and blue.
Everyone was in shock. The werewolves watched in stunned silence as Kwan untied Rebecca. With their alpha defeated, none of them had any reason—or courage—to intervene. Some even began to question whether Drake deserved to lead them at all.
Rebecca threw her arms around Kwan, tears streaming down her cheeks, overwhelmed with relief and gratitude.
"It’s time to go home now, milady," Kwan said softly.
"Mhm," she whispered, holding him tightly as they left the werewolf village behind.
Back at the mansion, Rebecca paced the floor, anxiety rushing through her. "You shouldn’t have done that, Kwan. Do you know how dangerous it was? What if you’d been killed?"
Kwan sat calmly on the couch, his gaze steady. "And let you die? Why would I do that? Why would I let those mongrels harm you? I... I won’t allow anyone to hurt you, Rebecca."
Something clicked inside her. She remembered—he’d called her his wife. That meant... He remembered everything. She sat beside him, eyes searching his. "Your memories... they’re back, aren’t they?"
Kwan nodded. "I just wish I’d known sooner. I could’ve protected you better."
Rebecca placed her hand on his. "It’s all in the past now, Kwan. We can’t change it. But you’re here—and I’m here. I’ll never leave you again. I hope you won’t either."
Kwan’s voice dropped to a whisper. "Now that I remember who I am... will you let me kiss you again?"
He leaned closer, closing the space between them, and gently held her face. Their lips met in a deep, longing kiss.
Rebecca’s heart pounded. This man—this fierce, wounded, loyal man—was her husband. Her fingers found his neck, pulling him closer as their kiss deepened. She’d held back for so long, but now she could smell him—his scent, his warmth—and she gave in. Without thinking, she bit him.
"Arghhh! What have you done?" Kwan cried out. Pain coursed through his veins as his eyes flared red and sharp fangs emerged from his gums. His body convulsed slightly, and in moments, he had turned—into a vampire.
Rebecca looked at him with a smile, her eyes gleaming. "I just thought... if we’re both vampires, we can live together forever."
Kwan growled lowly, his expression darkening with desire. "So this is what you wanted, huh?"
He kissed her again, more fiercely this time, until he found himself leaning over her on the couch.
Rebecca lay back, her breath hitching. He kissed down her neck, to her collarbone, then lower, making her moan.
"Ahhh... Kwan, don’t stop," she whispered breathlessly.
He paused just long enough to look into her flushed face. "I missed you so much, milady. Why don’t we continue this… in my room?"
Before she could answer, he scooped her into his arms and carried her through the halls and upstairs, straight to his bedroom even if she feared of falling down the winding stairs. He laid her gently on the bed, and the door clicked shut behind them.
Kwan removed his clothes, leaving only his briefs, revealing the hard lines of his body, and then he leaned over Rebecca. He bit her neck and sucked her blood. "Your blood tastes bad," he said.
"What would you expect?" Rebecca asked. "I've been alone for too long, with nobody to love and be loved by, so that makes my blood taste bad."
"So, if I love you every day, will your blood taste like sweet strawberries?" Kwan asked, then he made up his mind. "I'll always love you, every single day, from now on."
"Actually, your blood tastes even worse. You'll need lots of love too," Rebecca bantered.
"Okay, so let's love each other deeply from now on. Let's make our blood taste better," Kwan replied with a smile.
Kwan wrapped his arms around her, and she nestled against his chest. In that quiet moment, their hearts still beating in sync, they fell asleep together.