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Cold…

Raiga lamented, feeling the downpour hammering his naked flesh. He tried to open his eyes, only to find his body utterly devoid of strength, too exhausted to lift even a finger. Doubt started to cloud his mind. Even now, he could recall the excruciating pain when hundreds of bullets pierced his chest and cut through his heart. He should've been dead, he knew he was dead, yet somehow his soul still stubbornly lingered on the realm of the livings. Was this divine retribution? Did Heavens above think he hadn't suffered enough they spared him a few last breaths just to realize his existence would always end in torment?

Or so he thought, but as the rain continued to shower him, it became painstakingly clear to Raiga that his demise wouldn't be arriving any time soon, however pitiful his conditions were. As coldness sapped his consciousness away, there was little Raiga could do but wondering what kind of world he'd ended up in this time, or how his third life would play out compared to his previous two.

---

Reincarnation – to die and be reborn, to start life anew just as it ceases.

A term traced back in legends, myths, fictions, and has, for all intents and purposes, remained there thorough the course of history. Humanity has constantly evolved as they thrive and dominate Earth, scouting the deserts and exploring the oceans, or even extending their reach to the stars and above, yet no matter advanced their civilization becomes, mankind never truly grasps the meanings of their souls. As for those unfortunate enough to, their words were dismissed as that of madmen.

Raiga was one of those souls.

Given that most people always clung onto life, they would jump on the chance to cheat death even if they had to 'die' before reincarnating, but Raiga would give anything to die for real every time he bit the dust, for his two lives had been but a never-ending nightmare.

Raiga's first life saw him born a servant in a wealthy household. On the surface, things always seemed all well and good in the family, but little did the master knew his wife had rather…creative ways of treating her slaves.

Whenever her husband was absent, Raiga's mistress would chain him up in her little dungeon and process to toy with his body and mind, using her whip and venomous words to torture him until she broke him in. When she deemed him ready, the depraved lady would give Raiga the role she'd been preparing him for: Her sex slave. Raiga couldn't count how many times she put him into use, nor did he want to recall the repulsive debaucheries she forced upon him.

The lecherous woman thought she had Raiga firmly in her hand, but in reality, he only intended to wait until she grew bored of him, but when it became increasingly clear that his mistress had no plan on letting her toy go anytime soon, Raiga snapped. He put an end to his own misery, taking revenge on the woman who'd used and abused him by strangling her with the very leash she once put on him, before setting the whole manor ablaze. Watching the fire eating away his flesh with frightening calm, Raiga thought he had finally attained peace in death.

But when the fire settled, Raiga opened his eyes again, only to find himself still breathing. This time, he woke up in the body of his 13-year-old self, confined in a cell with many other children around his age. It appeared that they were test subjects belonged to terrorist organization, who was conducting experiments in hope of producing super soldiers for the black markets. Raiga was one of the very few who survived the DNA modifications, but it was nowhere near enough. As long as they remained powerless, folks like him would end up nothing but others' pawns, and he wasn't at all eager to relive yet another life of slavery.

With no regard for his well-being, Raiga volunteered to be the test subject for an extremely dangerous serum known as chemical X. Created for the sole purpose of combining men's intelligence with beasts' strength, the serum was capable of mixing humans' and animals' DNA to create potentially unstoppable killing machines. To put it simply, monsters.

They wanted a monster, and a monster they got.

Chemical X enhanced Raiga's strength and senses to superhuman level, and fittingly, rid him of all human traits. Due to having his DNA mixed with wolf's, what used to be a human male specimen now morphed into a monstrous beastman, handsome face replaced by that of a wolf, body covered in grey fur, hands and feet equipped with sharp, retractable claws.

For Raiga, it was but a slight makeover. He had power, and this time, he would put it into good use.

A mutiny was inevitable. It took years of preparation, but he got the job done on his first try. Raiga, along with others who shared his thirst for freedom, launched a full-blow assault on their oppressors. Amidst the chaotic screaming and shooting, Raiga only remembered dashing through the facility, tearing apart anyone between him and his liberty. The air stunk of gunpowder, the ground littered with mangled corpses, the wall splattered with blood, but still, when the carnage ended, they won.

Yet when he was seemingly freed of all shackles, Raiga realized he just went from being a prisoner to being an outcast. Where to go, when the stink of blood still lingered on his claws and fangs? Who would willingly look past his appearance, when they still spread horror tales of how savage a beast he was?

In the end, Raiga chose to live as a mercenary and vented his frustration on whoever opposing him on the battlefield. Every now and then as he looked back at the trail of corpses he left behind on his path of destruction, Raiga wondered who the real monster was, him – the one straying from his humanity and trying in vain to get back on it, or his hirers – those having no qualms about using him to kill and enslave their kin.

But even a monster grew tired of meaningless slaughter. Once again, Raiga decided to let go of his own life, hoping this would be the last time. Driven by his suicidal thought, the beastman charged into his enemy lines, welcoming the wave of projectiles thrown at him until a bullet finally cut through his defenseless torso and pierced his exhausted heart.

Darkness had never felt so terrifying, and so relieving…

---

“Take this and get lost, you filthy half-bred!" the bakery owner scowled, throwing Gao a load of stale bread after taking every single coin in his trembling hand. Though Gao was used to this kind of behaviors, it always stung a bit when people got all axe-crazy around him. He didn't ask to be born a half-bred. He never hurt, insulted and stole from anyone, nor did he shamelessly beg for their pity.

What had he done to deserve this?

Outside, the downpour went on, like the questions that Gao would likely never get the answers. Sighing, he wrapped his bread in a piece of worn cloth and headed for the forest, where he could avoid these people and their venomous leer.

“No use pitying myself." Gao told himself, unaware of the tear running down his face under the heavy rain.

---

“Mmm…" Raiga mused sleepily, but immediately noticed something was off. Wet grass and forest wind couldn't possibly come off as 'warm', could they?

Raiga instinctively sprang up, falling half-way onto a bed of straw as his body still yet to gather enough strength. Bewildered, he ran his eyes at the surroundings and realized he was in an old but pristine cottage, next to a crackling hearth. The place severely lacked furnishings, with the only thing Raiga saw was an old table, on top of which stood a cooking pot and some wooden bowls. Whoever lived here wasn't faring very well for themselves.

More importantly, since he retained his physical traits from his previous life, Raiga was likely still a beastman in this world, and under normal circumstances, he would be lucky if humans didn't try to kill him on the spot, much less carrying him all the way back to their place. As grateful as he was, Raiga couldn't help questioning his helper's intent and sanity.

“Glad you finally wake up, doggie." came a soft, cheerful voice.

Raiga's head twisted to the source of the voice, but his attention quickly shifted to something else.

Doggie what?

Confused, Raiga tried to rub his forehead, but to his utter horror, instead of a clawed, humanoid hand, he found himself staring at a big, furry paw.

Raiga groaned. Because the serum he used was a prototype, not only did it permanently transform him into a beastman, but it also came with another side effect – the ability to switch between humanoid and feral form. As a beastman, Raiga could easily crush rock, bend metal and rip humans to shreds whereas his significantly weaker feral form made up for the loss of strength with excellent speed, agility and healing factor. Perhaps his body had automatically changed into this form to speed up his recovery.

The initial shock, though, quickly subsided, and Raiga realized this defense system was ultimately a blessing. At least he could postpone that inevitable moment when this human would freak out at his beastman form and assemble a mob to hunt him down the way a savage like him was supposed to be dealt with.

When he got the gist of everything, Raiga focused on his helper, nearly yanking himself away at the stroking sensation on his fur. A boy around 15 or 16 in worn-out clothes, thin and slender, if not slightly malnourished, with short, black hair and round, gleaming black eyes. Had it not been for the long scar on his left cheek, Raiga would've considered him quite handsome.

After a while, Raiga came to the conclusion that he was saved by a kind, innocent and perhaps naïve boy? Who would add to their own burden by bringing home an animal when they could barely take care of themselves.

Raiga's thoughts were interrupted by his growling stomach. Come to think of it, he'd yet to eat since waking up in this world.

“You hungry?" Gao noted, then went to the table to fetch his bread and two wooden bowls, “This is all I have, how about we eat together? By the way, my name is Gao, let's get along from now on."

Raiga frowned at the name, as he thought it was yet another of fate's cruel mockeries - 'Gao' in the language of his second life meant 'fanged king', and so far, nothing about his lives had been distinctively 'royal'. However, as he looked at the pastry that had nearly gone stale and Gao's enthusiastic smile, Raiga decided to eat his share in silence, unaware of his slightly wagging tail.

Gao's smile brightened as he watched his four-legged guest making short work of the offered bread. The boy fully understood the risk of having a wild dog in his house, but somehow when he looked at the soaked, shivering creature, Gao couldn't help himself, perhaps because it reminded him of his own miserable life – rejected and alone in a cruel reality.

He tried to give the canine a bit of this own portion, but the dog unexpectedly turned away, shook its fur dry and laid down again. This curious behavior caught him off guard, but Gao quickly wrote it off. Surely he must've been seeing things, otherwise how could a dog tell what he was about to do?

Gao settled himself on his straw bed and gingerly put his arm around the canine. When he felt no resistance, Gao finally relaxed and indulged himself in the newfound warm and fluffy sensation, quickly drifting off.

…

Raiga kept himself awake contemplating the human embracing him.

Clearly, Gao was the hungrier one, and even a fool could tell the boy was struggling to feed himself, yet he didn't hesitate to share what little food he had with a stray dog. Having lived twice, Raiga thought he'd been through and seen through it all, but kindness to the point of stupidity like this was a first. Among the people he'd met, from decent folks to absolute scums, Gao was the only one to leave him completely mystified…in a good way.

Leaning closer to the human, Raiga stared at Gao intensely as if to burn the image into his memory, before giving the long scar on his face a gentle lick, taking in his scent – a soothing combination of grass and sunlight.

For the first time in his torturous existence, he was looking forward to the next day.

…

“Come on doggie! Could you stop running around?" Gao wiped the sweat from his forehead before continuing his laborious affair of hole digging. He was rather surprised to notice it was almost noon when he woke up, but truth to be told, he hadn't slept so soundly since his parents passed away. Something about the dog's warmth and fluff made him greatly at peace, or perhaps it was the sensation of having someone willingly by his side after years of isolation.

If Raiga had been in his beastman form, he would've rubbed his head in frustration. This kid…had he run out of creative nicknames? Raiga didn't mind laying low, but for better or worse, he was still a wolf, and to think he would be subjected to a lame and generic pet name…Besides, when was he running around? It's okay that Gao didn't realize Raiga was checking the surroundings to make sure there were no dangerous predators, but must he really treat him like a pup?

Tossing Gao aside, Raiga took his place and quickly finished the work. It would take forever to dig a decent trap with Gao's horrendously slow pace, not that he could afford more than one with that severely malnourished body of his. Speaking of malnutrition, even now Raiga couldn't believe Gao saved the last bit of his stale bread for him, instead opted to fill his stomach with water. The more Raiga thought about it, the angrier he became. When had he sunken so low to become a liability, of a child, no less?

Gao watched in amazement as the dog produced one trap hole after another. The boy didn't realize he was staring until he felt a gentle tug on his sleeve, and to his absolute joy, found himself looking at twelve neatly prepared trap holes, each of which was deeper than any he'd managed to make. Just give them a camouflage of dried leaves, and this might turn out the biggest catch in his life so far.

Excited by the prospect of salted meat piled up in his house, Gao couldn't help stroking the canine's fur fondly, “You're amazing, doggie, you really are."

There he goes again with that stupid pet name, Raiga huffed, yet as much as he hated to admit, Gao's touch felt rather…comforting, so much so he was tempted to lean into it even more. The wolf shivered at his thought. He wouldn't turn into a pet from getting treated like one, would he?

Leaving the traps aside, Gao took them on a fishing trip at a nearby spring. This time, Raiga jumped right into the water before Gao had a chance to do anything. Leaving Gao to his own devices, and he would catch a cold before he actually caught anything edible.

Again, Gao could only watch in awe as the canine skillfully flicked unfortunate fish out of the water. Though he was born a half-bred, his parents always loved him like all normal parents would to their child, perhaps even more so. They lived in a small cottage in the woods, isolating Gao from the society that would swallow him alive once it discovered his nature, but deep down, they knew they were simply delaying the inevitable.

What happened to him after their death indeed verified such fear.

Now without his only caretakers, Gao had no choice but venturing into the nearby town for help. Due to the distinct birthmark on his nape, the townsfolk recognized Gao's nature as soon as he stepped into their domain, and so came the insults, the flying rocks and the beating. To them, that he had been born was already a cardinal sin, but a six years old child couldn't possibly understand this, could he? That fateful day had left a scar on Gao's face, and an even deeper scar in his mind, even when he figured out the reason behind it.

Gao received so much abuse he eventually assumed it was the only way someone like him would ever be treated, but at this moment, a dog was taking care of him. Whether it was genuine kindness or an animal's instinctive sense of gratitude, permanent or temporary – he cared not. For now, just a bit more warmth, just a bit more happiness was enough.

Satisfied with the amount of fish he'd caught, Raiga attempted to get out of the spring, but as the wolf turned around, his muscles simply refused to move, as with his eyes.

Raiga thought he'd seen enough treasures to stop concerning himself with them.

In his first life, Raiga was a slave in a wealthy household, whose masters took pride on their monetary status with all kind of riches they could get their hands on, from heaps of gold to meticulously crafted jewelries to invaluable antiques. Perhaps to sate his spite, after he was reincarnated, Raiga attained a penchant for fine arts and treasures, spending the majority of his mercenary paychecks on all kind of luxuries money could buy, save for sexual ventures as no prostitute was brave enough to get laid with him, even the greediest ones.

But Gao's smile was…different.

It wasn't regal and overbearing like gold and silver. It wasn't shiny and pointlessly fancy like jewelries. It wasn't covered by the dust of time like antiques, nor was it self-righteous like many so-called 'works of art'.

It was beauty at its purest, yet also finest.

In this moment, aside from the thumping in his ears, the only thing in Raiga's mind was that smile. He wanted to see it everyday, protect it, and make it only his.

Still zoned out, Raiga didn't notice a pair of slender arms wrapping around his midsection and pulling him back into the spring water, until Gao's playful voice echoed in his ears, “Mind if I give you a bath? Your fur's so dirty and tangled up!"

Of course he minded. Raiga grunted, but when he tried to cast an irritated glare at Gao, the wolf nearly choked on his complaint.

Gao's clothes, rendered nigh-transparent by the wetness, stuck into his body, exposing his well-proportioned shape, his exquisite curves, his slender neck and his delicate collar bone.

Why on earth did he find this sight so enticing?

…

That night, Raiga got his grilled fish, and Gao got a fever.

The boy might yet to figure out how he fell sick that easily, but Raiga knew better. Those fish he caught today must've been Gao's first decent meal in a while, and his feeble attempt at hole digging earlier had completely exhausted whatever energy left to power his immune system. Getting himself drenched just to give Raiga a pointless bath was the last nail in the coffin.

On his straw bed, Gao was twitching and clutching his chest in agony. His body heated up like a piece of charcoal on the verge of ignition, yet it didn't stop the boy from soaking his clothes with sweat. His breaths felt strained and laborious, as if any of them could be his last.

But the real issue for Raiga was how to deal with this. Taking care of a sick person in his feral form surely wasn't a bright idea, but exposing himself too early wouldn't be one either. After considering his options, Raiga ultimately came to the conclusion that one bad case of fever wouldn't kill a normal person, left alone one who had managed to survive in this forest. His secret, on the other hand, was a much bigger deal.

Just as he was about to turn a blind eye to Gao's sufferings, a choked sob stopped the wolf on his track.

“Mom…dad…don't…leave…" Gao moaned deliriously, reaching out his shaky hand as if trying to grasp onto something. This always happened when he got sick.

The nightmare always came.

Empty, endless space, filled with the townspeople's insults and mockeries, and the figures of his parents moving further away, regardless how hard he tried to catch up. This wasn't the first time, and when Gao eventually woke up realizing his pointless struggle, his mood would go downhill until grievance threatened to drive him mad.

Yet tonight, that depressing routine was broken.

Instead of nothingness, Gao's hand was met by a much bigger one. It gently enveloped his, spreading warmth and comfort through his body, washing away the loneliness nearly swallowing him whole.

Along, came a deep, assuring voice, “Don't worry. I'm here."

In his feverish haze, Gao felt a piece of wet cloth on his forehead, and through blurry vision, found himself gazing into a pair of silver eyes.

…

When the scorching midday heat brought Gao back to his senses, he realized his fever had significantly subsided, though his body still felt like mush. Shaking his head to get it working again, Gao unwillingly recalled the dream last night, but all he could remember was flickering, blurry images – save for a pair of luminous silver eyes.

A woof shook Gao off his hazy thoughts. The boy turned around and saw his dog - holding a hare in its mouth, yet the only thing he could focus on was two silver eyes reflecting his own gaze. Such a striking detail Gao wondered how he managed to let it slip through for an entire day.

“Did you…take care of me?" Gao blurted out, just in time to notice how ludicrous it sounded. Had he gotten so pathetic he must rely on such a frail and ludicrous fantasy?

Then again, so what if he was pathetic, when the townsfolks treated him like filth just because he was born the way he couldn't even choose. Smiling, Gao began to stroke the dog's fur fondly, “Thank you."

Raiga fought back the urge to wag his tail…Good, pet him, talked to him, smile with him.

A whole night staying at Gao's side helped Raiga fully comprehend his feelings for the human. Perhaps he yearned for Gao's comforting touch, perhaps he found the boy's silly generosity mystifying, perhaps he couldn't resist stealing another glance at his wholesome smile. Regardless reasons, Raiga started to harbor feelings he'd never experienced in his previous lives. What started out as mere curiosity and a desire to protect had grown much deeper and stronger than anything he'd ever felt.

But even after figuring that all out, Raiga knew he had no right to just barge in and snatch Gao away. If Raiga's previous lives had proven anything, thievery always came at a steep price. His mistress tried to strip him of his will and make him her sex slave, only to be murdered by her own creation. The experiments meant to make him a living weapon by removing his humanity ended up with his would-be masters dead. Raiga himself took countless lives to vent his frustration and ironically, it did nothing but drove him suicidal.

And if Gao had been shunned to the point where he preferred solitary in a forest, there was no guarantee he would welcome another human being into his life, much less a beastman. He needed Gao's affection. He needed Gao's reliance, until the boy found it impossible to let him go, whether he liked it or not.

...

Over the next few weeks, Raiga had only two things in his mind: To nurse Gao out of his pitiful state, and to discover the reason behind the boy's alienation.

Gao, happily oblivious, never bothered to ask himself how his 'pet' exhibited more intelligence than that of a regular dog. Gao also grew familiar with the wolf's random licks and nuzzle, while Raiga had now gotten used to his role as Gao's pillow. Raiga's presence also did wonder for Gao's diet, as the boy no longer had to live off stale bread or whatever pitiful sum he could forage in the forest, and now began to look like a regular person rather than a skin-covered stick figure. In fact, as Gao put on weight, Raiga realized he was much older than he first appeared to be, somewhere in his 18s, which Raiga rather appreciated as it meant he didn't fall for a minor.

Following the boy to town was quite daunting. Even in his feral form, Raiga still stood out like a sore thumb, as it was impossible for him to mingle with regular dogs and assume the townspeople would blatantly mistake him for one like Gao. Speaking of Gao…the unfortunate child alone already attracted all kind of malice and ill-will, but having a wolf on his tail would undoubtedly earn them both a death sentence. And that was just the beginning of his problem.

Never for once had Raiga expected himself to be his biggest headache, and it was not like he came in unprepared. God knew how much self-control he had to exert to not slaughter Gao's abusers right on the spot, and it only got worse when he finally learnt the reason they isolated and bullied him.

No wonder Gao would rather avoid contact with these people. As someone who'd lived through two lives of slavery, Raiga could say he got off easier than Gao did. While he did suffer a great deal, Raiga knew precisely the ones responsible for his misery and eventually handed them their just deserts. Gao, on the other hand, was up against an entire system built around the belief to condemn and harass those like him. Given the frequency and amount of animosity he suffered, it was somewhat a miracle that Gao had managed to remain sane and compassionate this entire time.

…

Standing by the riverbed, Raiga stared intently at his reflection in the crystal-clear water, eyes showing nothing but utmost resentment. When he began all of this, the wolf had everything planned out carefully – everything, except his monstrous appearance. How was he supposed to tell Gao he was a beastman, much less one that had been living with him in the disguise of a seemingly harmless dog. Agitated, Raiga thrusted his hand into the water, dispersing his own image. If only it'd been just as easy to erase his hideous face.

His lament was disturbed, however, courtesy of Gao's panic-stricken scream. Raiga immediately shifted into his feral form and dashed toward the source of the noise, fearing for his human's well-being. To ensure Gao's safety, Raiga had cleaned up the entire forest and slain all potentially dangerous wild animals, thus he couldn't help wondering what could've threatened Gao to such a degree. As he ran, the scenarios in Raiga's mind became increasingly graver, but when the wolf finally spotted Gao, what he saw was tenfold worst.

With his upper clothes crudely torn off, the quivering young man seemed completely helpless and was on the verge of tears. Surrounding him were three other man, all carrying axes and one even brandished a bow and arrows, evidently woodcutters or hunters. If this was any other given days, Raiga could've easily deal with those three, but unwilling to act rashly and put Gao in a potentially dangerous spot, he decided to keep his distance and observe, all the while sorting out an escape route for them should the situation deteriorate to that point.

“I've heard the rumors, but I didn't think we'd actually run into one here. What's to do with him, boss?"

The man in the middle, seemingly the one addressed as 'boss' cackled, and as soon as that sound hit Raiga's ears, his hackles immediately raised. Malice wasn't the only thing laced that laugh, but more so something far worse…lust - selfish, unbridled, revolting lust. How could he tell? Because a very similar laugh had haunted every day of his first life until it became too miserable for him to carry on.

As if to confirm his suspicion, 'boss' replied, “Even filth has its use. How long has it been since we relieved ourselves? I think this'll be one heck of a ride."

“But boss," the one on the left asked concernedly, “He's a half-bred, what if he gets…"

“This is why you morons can never get laid." 'boss' snared, “Just dispose of him when we're done. Who cares what happens to this piece of filth?"

Anyone with the tiniest bit of humanity would be utterly disgusted by such depravity, but when he saw the other two brightened in excitement, Raiga realized he had indeed underestimated how low certain people could sink.

Since his third life, the wolf had tried to refrain from killing, and had, for the most part, succeeded. Recently, however, his mood had been growing increasingly foul as he was unable to shelter Gao from the townspeople's wicked tongue, and unfortunately for the rapists, their timing couldn't have possibly been worse. The hunters had only themselves to blame, because had them not foolishly insisted on throwing murder into the fit, Raiga would've relented and spared their lives.

…

The horrid scream of humans being torn apart in his dream forced Gao to open his eyes, sweat trickling down his face despite the night's mild coldness. Having survived in the woods for years, Gao was never one with a faint heart, but everything happened at that time made him wish it had been just a nightmare. Sure, getting raped was horrifying, but it was nothing compared to witnessing manslaughter on the spot. The boy shuddered as images flashed through his mind – the scream, the gore, the splattering blood…and just what was that…thing? Right before passing out from the carnage's sheer horror, he remembered catching a glimpse of a vaguely humanoid figure, yet however hard he tried, it was all his frightened mind could manage.

It took Gao a while before he even started to pay his surroundings any attention, only to find himself in his very place, decently dressed, as if everything had been but a nightmare…and Gao actually believed it. The boy ran his eyes around, trying to find his canine companion, but his heart almost stopped when he spotted a huge, shadow-cloaked figure in a corner, still as a statue. Even from afar, Gao could feel the power and pressure radiating from it, no doubt this was something way beyond his capabilities.

“You know as well as I do, there's no use trying to run." Came a deep, rumbling voice, effectively squashing Gao's attempt at a quick escape. Strangely enough, the sound somehow calmed Gao's thundering heart, as he realized if this creature wanted him dead, he wouldn't be breathing right now, and if it could actually talk, maybe there was a chance to converse his way out of this situation. However, as the figure stepped out of the shadow to reveal himself, Gao couldn't help blurting out, “Who are you? W-What are you?"

Illuminated by the moonlight was a tall, muscular male, but a dog face resided where a that of humans should be, with grey fur and silver eyes. What Gao found even more disturbing was how oddly familiar those features were, and how his body remained stubbornly paralyzed as the man…beast inched closer to him.

Raiga sighed, obviously expecting this kind of reaction. Nonetheless, the wolf kept his voice calm, “Those will be matters of a further discussion. For now, shouldn't I receive my thank for saving you?"

“You…you killed those men!"

“Who tried to rape and murder you. Even sympathy needs to be reasonable, don't you think?" Raiga retorted.

Those irrefutable words rendered Gao speechless for a while, mostly because he was trying to comprehend the meaning behind them, especially the first half. This thing – he killed, to protect him? No, that can't be right. Gao didn't even know this creature; why would he go to such a length to protect a stranger, much less someone like him? Him.

“I know what you're wondering?" Raiga said, noticing he'd reached a safe distance to talk comfortably without trespassing Gao's personal space. He took a casual seat and continued, “If you want an answer, how about taking a good look around to see if anything is missing?"

Missing?

Gao examined his home again, and saw nothing of abnormality. The cottage seemed undamaged, what meager possessions he had were intact, even the tiny bowl he used to feed doggie, which still contained some salted meat he'd given the canine this morning…

“Where is my dog?" Gao demanded, finally discovered the supposedly 'missing' thing, “What've you done to him? Don't tell me you killed him!"

Raiga didn't know whether he should laugh or cry at the boy's hilariously pessimistic assumption. Moreover, justified as it was, the thought that his appearance insinuated the impression of a vicious, bloodthirsty monster (from Gao of all people) really put Raiga off, “I didn't do anything to 'him'. Think about that dog's behaviors. Doesn't it seem weird to you that a dog can be so intelligent, however well it is trained?"

A long silence draped over them, Gao taking his time to contemplate Raiga's suggestion while the latter kept an observant gaze on him. The boy worked through an array of theories, until it all suddenly clicked. Gao shuddered as he stole a glance at Raiga: The fur, the similarities, those piercing, luminous silver eyes…it all made sense now, but how could something like that be possible, even in this world where there existed people like him, who, though male, were perfectly capable of…

“Just as you think.", Raiga took the initiative to break the silence, knowing that Gao had finally figured everything out. The wolf then proceeded to narrate their entire life since the day Gao picked him up in the forest, not leaving out even smallest details. Then, for good measure, Raiga shifted into his feral form in front of a bewildered Gao, nuzzled his hand and gave it a soft lick - an intimate gesture they'd grown accustomed to giving and receiving.

Raiga's attempt to defuse the tension didn't yield the result he anticipated. After staring blankly at him for a while, Gao recoiled, looking immensely frightened.

“What now?" a heavy sigh escaped Raiga's muzzle as he resumed his humanoid appearance.

“Don't…don't hurt me, lord!" the human shouted, waving his hands frantically.

“Lord? What are you talking about?" Raiga rolled his eyes. Serious as he was, the wolf still found Gao's reaction quite hilarious, evident by his sarcastic undertone.

“Are you not…a god?" Gao stammered breathlessly.

“I'm no god. I'm less than a human. In fact, you may call me a monster if you like." Raiga replied, a wave of somber solemnity rumbling through his voice, “But regardless what you think of me, I mean no harm, and I'm here to help you."

I'm here – two utterly simple words, yet they hit Gao so hard he, for the second time this night, began to space out, because the last time he heard them, the boy thought it had been the result of his delirious imagination. As his memory ventured back to that feverish night, Gao remembered his empty dreamscape, in which he was showered with underserved and unwarranted hatred while chasing after figures he knew were lost to him forever. Amidst misery and despair, a warm, fuzzy hand enclosed gently around his, followed by an assuring voice whispering those words 'I'm here', giving him the strength to overcome the ordeal threatening to end his sanity.

And most important of all, those mesmerizing silver eyes, watching over him, tirelessly, compassionately.

Tear rolled down Gao's cheek, but out of gratitude rather than self-pity. He knew this…person wasn't tricking him, because he simply had no reason to. Nonetheless, for an individual who had tried so hard to validate his existence, only to get beaten down time and time again, the prospect of receiving unconditional kindness from someone other than his parents seemed too good to be real. Yet, even with the overwhelmingly positive emotions, Gao still struggled to figure out the most relevant issue – it just seemed inconceivable that anyone would bother to treat him with even a shred of decency, left alone genuine affection.

“What's wrong? Did I say anything inappropriate?" came the nervous inquiry, which seemed rather odd, seeing as the one making it was a supposedly menacing beastman.

“No, it's just…why? Why even bother with someone like me? If you've been with me all this time, you must've known what I am. My blood is filthy, I'm an abomination, I'm…"

“Enough!" Raiga growled. For the first time, his eyes were gleaming with anger as he glared at Gao, almost burning a hole through the shivering boy, “I don't care what others call you, but don't you dare saying those words again. Filthy blood? Abomination? Is that what you inherited from your parents? Is that who they loved and sacrificed for?"

Gao flinched at the mentioning of his parents. Indeed, he'd always tried to keep his promise with them, to enjoy a happy and normal life, or at least try to, yet isolation never made it easy for his endeavor. His life only got better after meeting this…beastman, or dog (as he'd assumed back then) because this companionship provided Gao with enough optimism to overcome unjust hatred from people around him…until today's mishap. He knew people often harassed and antagonized him only because of what he was but they meant no harm, yet the fact that three individuals tried to rape and kill him without batting an eye was truly a crushing blow to his self-esteem.

“Still unconvinced? Then tell me, who's the real abomination: You - the one risking his own safety to rescue a stray animal, or them – those so-called 'humans' who had no qualms about raping and murdering a helpless prey?"

Before Gao could get over the shocking realization that someone was speaking for rather than against him, Raiga continued, “I know things have been tough. I'm here to help, but it's entirely up to you. If you're uncomfortable with my presence, I'll leave and never bother you again."

“I…I…" Gao hesitated, but at last vocalized his doubt, “I just don't understand why you're so nice to me? If it's about repaying me, then you've done more than enough, really."

“Indeed, that was my plan in the beginning, but things have changed. I have…other reasons to stay now."

“…"

“I like you."

…

“Y-you…"

“I like you." Raiga repeated solemnly, looking directly into Gao's bewildered eyes, “Will you give me a chance to stay with you?"

In this moment, Gao's brain nearly ceased to function. Within minutes, he was forced to receive and digest a staggering amount of information. He was cornered, nearly raped by a group of hunters, then from out of nowhere a beastman appeared, slaughtered those people to save him, then the beastman turned out to be the dog he rescued in that rainy night and had been living with him for more than a month. Most importantly, the beastman said he liked Gao, regardless his half-bred nature, and even asked for a chance to stay by his side! How was any of that possible?

Reluctantly, Gao looked at the beastman's silver eyes, trying to locate any notion of dishonesty, mockery or sarcasm, but all he could find was two love-filled pupils, gazing softly yet intensely at him. For some reason, Gao's mind started to recall the time they had spent together over the last month, the licking, cuddling…kissing, and red patches started to spread across his cheeks. Innocent as they were, Gao could never see those intimate moments in the same light after knowing the one he shared them with was far from a mindless animal.

A soft laugh rumbled in Raiga's throat as he observed the redness reached the tip of Gao's ears. He knew the boy was shy, but not to this degree. He understood Gao's hesitation, as he too, would be suspicious if out of the blues, a stranger wanted to enter his life. Sure, they'd lived together for a while, but the one Gao knew was a dog, not him. The beastman had his own worries, since his brutal display of manslaughter had definitely damaged Gao's first impression on him, not to mention his premature confession. Still, if he could reverse time, the outcome would've remained the same.

Gao took his time studying Raiga; mind raced back and forth between flashbacks and contemplation. It was admittedly unnerving, learning someone had technically been spying and hitting on him for a while, but that aside not once did he felt the presence of lust or malice. In fact, the beastman provided him with a senses of warmth, joy and security akin to that of his parents, then it became apparent to Gao how much he cherished such connection. That explained his courageous outburst when he realized something bad might've happened to his 'doggie' and the soft, almost indistinguishable exhale he let out knowing his companion was alive and well, albeit in a different form.

“Uh…" Raiga's ears perked up when Gao finally ended the quietude, heart racing madly as he awaited the response, “I'm sorry…I need more time to think this over, but for now…it's okay for you to stay. You can start by…err, telling me your name."

The wolf sighed in relief; not the perfect answer, but one within his anticipation. Even if he promised to respect any decision from Gao and truly meant it, Raiga still had no clue what to do had he been rejected from the get-go. Go back to a hollow, aimless life with nothing to strive for; consumed by despondence until suicide inevitably came knocking at his door? Of course Raiga would still watch over and protect Gao if the latter dealt him eviction, but if he could help it, the wolf wanted to walk alongside his loved one rather than watching from afar. So long as that door wasn't completely closed on him, the day would come when there was truly a place for him in Gao's future.

“I'm Raiga…Thank you." for giving me a home.

---

Over the next few days, the two gradually returned to their usual life…kind of. Gao still occasionally worked in town to earn money for basic necessities while Raiga roamed the forest, hunting and collecting anything he deemed useful. Nonetheless, since the wolf no longer had to hide the fact that he could talk, communication emerged as a new daily practice. Of course there was still hiccups, such as once Gao accidentally questioned if Raiga preferred cooked or raw meat, to which the beastman only chuckled.

Raiga could tell Gao was opening up to him. When things first started, the boy was apprehensive, often staying several meters away from him whenever they had any kind of interaction. As time passed and Raiga patiently proved his trustworthiness, the space between them shortened until physical contacts became increasingly common. One time Gao got so excited at the sight of an assortment of scrumptious fruit he literally leaped onto Raiga, only to immediately back away and avoid the latter's eyes while his ears were still visible and, suspiciously red.

However, the real turning point only came when the wolf stopped Gao just in time as he reached for a dangerous mushroom, one toxic enough to paralyze just from a slight contact.

“Don't pick that one. It's poisonous."

“Ah, really? You can tell?" Gao inquired curiously.

“Let say I have…prior experience." Raiga replied. He wasn't wrong, as in order to ensure Gao's safety, he'd tried every single forageable flora and fungus in this forest that he came across. Hurt like hell, but at times like those did Raiga truly appreciate his inhuman immunity and endurance. His feral form also sped up recovery significantly, allowing him to conceal any sight of discomfort or pain, lest Gao would be worried sick.

But to his surprise, Gao actually figured out his trick, quickly no less, “You tested them on yourself, didn't you?"

“Uh…that's, well…"

One minute ago they were enjoying a casual day, and now Gao's hands were balled into fists as his shoulders trembled violently. The mood whiplash caught Raiga off-guard, as he had no idea which sore spot of Gao he'd accidentally rubbed, “What's wrong?"

“Do you know why my folks passed away early?" came the seemingly irrelevant question, but Gao's icy voice told Raiga it was more of a warning.

He was right.

A second later, Gao exploded, angrier than he'd ever been, “Because of stunts like this, because of me! And now you?! You think I'm okay with that? You think I enjoy living off others' lives?"

His outburst went on and on, unhindered, until two powerful arms lifted him off the ground and pressed him gently against a certain beastman. Nestled in the broad, fuzzy chest, Gao blushed so hard he might've vaporized his own anger, leaving him a crimson, babbling mess, “W-what…are you-…?"

“I've worried you. I'm sorry." Raiga whispered; waves of emotion coursed through his chest – guilt, relief and joy. Gao might yet to notice, but by likening Raiga's well-being to that of his own parents, he'd essentially accepted and held the wolf in the same regard as his dearest ones.

At last, his efforts came to fruition.

Still holding Gao, Raiga brought the boy face-to-face and gazed into his eyes. Gao's cheeks heated up even further at the sudden surge of attention, especially when their faces were barely apart. When he noticed Raiga's fixating on a certain facial feature of his however, Gao dropped his head dishearteningly, “Don't stare at my scar…It' ugly."

His self-pity was short-lived. A hand lifted Gao's chin and brought him back to two silver eyes. “Which part of you is ugly? You're the finest thing I've ever seen."

Thump. Thump – Gao's heartbeat drummed deafeningly in his ears. As someone with no romantic experience whatsoever, it was impossible for him to handle this kind of endearment, made even more impactful by the staggering contrast of whom he received it from. How could these arms, strong enough to tear humans into shreds, hold him so gently? How could this beastman, so rough around the edge, display such profound affection for someone like him?

Worries and doubts dispersed. This person had proven enough. Watching over him. Protecting him. Risking his life for him. Accepting him.

“Raiga, I…"

“Say nothing, I understand." The wolf smiled warmly; silver eyes reflected Gao's image as he closed the distance between them, bringing Gao's lips to his.

…

Raiga's being able to walk on two legs had done wonder for Gao's cottage, as the wolf, though no expert, was skilled enough to craft basic furniture. Within days, his effort turned the place from pitiful to cozy and inviting; worn-out table and chairs replaced with new ones and there were even new additions such as cupboard, pantry, chests and even a king-sized bed, which Gao was particularly excited about. Believe it or not, he'd never slept on a proper bed until now, mostly because his family fled the town right after his birth, thus most of their assets had either been hastily sold or left behind. The thought of resting on something other than the cold floor for the first time kept him smiling for days,

…

“Can I ask you something?" Gao said, leaning against Raiga's chest.

“Go ahead."

“I've been thinking…now we're in this kind of relationship, but I know so little about you…can you tell me more about your past? It's fine if you don't want to, really." Gao ventured; fingers twirled wolf fur nervously.

Might as well, Raiga nodded, “Where should we start, mmm? It might be hard to believe, but once, I was just like you, a normal human being…"

The beastman began to narrate his first life: How he was born an orphan, how he was enslaved into the wealthy household, how his mistress tortured him physically and mentally, then used him to satisfy her deranged fantasies. Raiga didn't mince words, and he could tell how tense Gao was when he depicted the grotesque or outright revolting parts.

“…and I'd finally had it. I choked the life out of her and set everything on fire. But I guess there's still a price to pay for murder, regardless the reason. Shortly afterward, I got captured…"

'Captured' was a very mild way to put it once you left out all the details about his first rebirth, but Raiga decided against scaring Gao further. He continued his story – now had escalated to his second life, just as vividly. By the time there was nothing left to tell, Gao had already sobbed quietly into his chest, “It's my fault…I shouldn't have asked."

“Don't cry, they're but remnants of the past. In fact, I'm kind of glad it turned out this way…"

Raising a hand to meet the moonlight, Raiga chuckled, “You know, I used to have conflicting thoughts about this power. I believed it'd give me freedom, but it just sent me from one prison to another, at one point even corrupted my mind and turned me into a savage. Until now, I saw it as a curse, one I brought upon myself."

He paused, tracing a finger gently against Gao's scar, “But it also let me meet you…And I can't justify myself. I killed those three men in cold blood, as with countless others before them, and it made me I wonder if destruction the only thing I'm good at. I don't have a clear answer, but I'd gladly destroy anything if it means protecting you and our family."

Gao was visibly shaken, and one word hit him particularly hard: Family. If he was to say what's the most important thing in his life, it had been, was, and always would be his family. The day he lost his parents, Gao was on the verge of despair, barely fending off his desire to follow them by a single promise he'd made with his mother. The idea of starting a new family had, since then, lingered in his mind, but given the social status of those like him, Gao would be lucky people didn't constantly demonize him, much less seeking any kind of positive relationship with him. That prospect no longer felt unattainable, however, owing to the beastman cradling him in his warm embrace.

“Do it…"

“Yes?"

“Make a family with me." Gao mouthed, heart aflutter. The notion behind his proposal couldn't have been more obvious, but Raiga was so taken aback it took him a while to respond, “Are you sure? I don't want you to rush such an important decision."

“I've never been more certain." Gao confirmed.

He couldn't help it. There seemed to be no hiding, no running away when he faced those silver eyes.

…

“Hmm…"

Pinned against the bed, Gao could only moan breathlessly as a wolf tongue explored his mouth relentlessly. The kiss, still carried the same gentleness as their first one, now further enhanced by an intense flare of passion. Raiga's hands weren't slacking either, slipping under the human's clothes to caress his smooth skin teasingly. Raiga smirked to himself as his hands explored the treasure hidden underneath; the difference between Gao's physique now and his scrawny self a month ago was days and nights. And it felt good to the touch. Smooth skin; slender hips; well-portioned, supple body.

Really good indeed.

The two continued until they could no longer ignore their air-deprived lungs, and reluctantly parted, months still connected by a translucent string of saliva. With a nod of approval from Gao, Raiga loomed over his human and lifted Gao's back to remove his shirt, tracing a hand along his lover's chest and stomach until it reached the boy's already tented trousers.

“Someone's excited." The wolf chuckled, giving the bulge a playful flick. Gao groaned in protest; dazed eyes glared at Raiga but to no avail. In fact, Gao was completely unaware of how deliciously helpless he looked right now, or how his adorable attempt at displaying annoyance only further fanned Raiga's flame of lust. Before he knew it, Raiga's hand had finished its work, tugging at Gao's pants to remove them, revealing a completely disrobed boy, ready to be devoured.

Raiga took a brief moment to drink in the sight of his naked, aroused lover before pressing his snout against Gao's neck to take a whiff of the human's scent, something he could never get enough of. As usual, warm, vibrant sunlight and grass. The wolf helped himself to his feast, dragging his tongue along Gao's lithe body. He started from the chest, taking a moment to savour two pink spots, then gradually moved down.

Gao could only gasp and moan and shudder. There he laid, bare, vulnerable, exposed to relentless assaults of newfound pleasure. He knew kissing was a sensual gesture shared between lovers, but never had he thought something so heartfelt could also so arousing, only to fall victim to a blanket of ticklish wolf fur and rough wolf tongue. The boy had barely recovered from his saliva bath when warm breath suddenly washed over his cock, a brief warning of what was about to come.

“Ahh!"

A warm, moist maw closed around his erection, and Gao could no longer keep his voice down. The tongue previously invaded his mouth and ravaged his upper body now coiled around his shaft, sliding up and down as it began the laborious task of milking every drop he had to offer. Gao held onto the wolf's ears, fingers running through soft fur as pleasure overwhelmed him, until a slippery appendage slithered under his foreskin and peeled it back, exposing his sensitive glans to whatever devious intent his lover had in mind.

Raiga took his lover's length all the way to the base; his hand cupped the boy's testicles gently, feeling the fruits and their content. For an average-size human, Gao packed surprisingly heavy package; the size alone made Raiga wonder how much he would get or many shots he could muster every night. The erotic thought made him excited, as unbeknownst to the wolf, his bestial cock had already emerged from his sheath, knot and all, screaming for a good rutting. For now, though, the only thing in Raiga's mind was to bring his little lover to an ecstatic climax and taste that virginal ejaculation, which he could tell Gao was near thank to the intense twitches from the cock in his muzzle.

Gao was helpless, unable to do anything as waves pleasure washed over him, until he crossed the climatic line for the first time. Ropes of rich, milky semen spurted into his wolf's awaiting maw, flooding his taste buds with Gao's sweet scent and flavor. The volume was incredible, allowing him to enjoy a throughout taste of his lover while practically gulfing down the vicious fluid.

Raiga licked his muzzle greedily as if he'd just finished the most exquisite meal in the world. He had no intent to just stop there.

Still recuperating from his heart-stopping climax, Gao nearly jumped when Raiga's tongue, having worked diligently on his groin, was now lapping at his untouched entrance. Long, wet strokes splattered his pucker with drool, softening them just enough for the slippery organ to wiggle inside. Gao's head turned left and right as he cried out in wanton lust, wolf tongue lodged deep inside him, touching places he thought were unreachable, stretching his unused passage to make way for what to come. To Gao's surprise, he felt no pain at all, and in fact, the pleasure was so intense his semi-flaccid penis had already sprung back to life, throbbing needily as it threatened to reach a second release, though never had the chance to.

Raiga ceased just in time. He didn't want to further delay the main course.

“Ready?" Raiga asked as he aligned the tapered head of his erection at Gao's lubricated opening. The human gulped as he spotted his lover's massive shaft, but nonetheless nodded. Given how easy it was for a tongue to slide into him just now, perhaps this whole process would turn out a painless one, right?

Spoiler alert: Wrong!

Getting the tip in wasn't much of a challenge, but when Raiga applied more pressure to force his cock in further, Gao immediately went pale from the excruciating pain. His most intimate, most vulnerable place was enduring a merciless intruder that stretched him to a degree beyond anything he'd experienced, including the prep work he'd just received from Raiga.

So tight, Raiga frowned, but Gao's visible discomfort concerned the wolf more than his own. The pleasure of being squeezed tightly by a steamy, velvety tunnel nearly drove him mad, but Raiga stayed patiently static, allowing Gao to relax and adjust; his forehead drenched in sweat. Lowering his head, the wolf planted a soft kiss on his lover's lips, “Gao, look at me. Relax, baby…that's it."

Gao looked up at the beastman through half-lidded eyes, whimpering as he tried to return the kiss. Raiga's deep, rumbling whispers had a nigh-sedative effect on Gao, and amazingly, he found himself loosen up significantly. The pain was still there, but now mingled with a sense of numbness as his inner walls gradually adapted to the hot filling.

“Can I…start moving?" Raiga asked gingerly, to which Gao nodded.

The wolf immediately took the hint, pulling out slowly then gently easing his hips toward, each stroke sinking himself even deeper into his lover. The pace was slow, corresponding to their sensual love-making and Gao's was extremely grateful for his lover's consideration. Pain gradually faded away, replaced by tingling warmth and pleasure each time that hefty rod of flesh pierced him, searing his hyper-sensitive bowels and soaking them with copious pre leaking out from the tip. Before long, Gao was moving his hips to meet Raiga's poundings, all the while working his muscles to clench down on the beastman's shaft even harder.

“Gao…" Raiga repeated his lover's name amidst the human's blissful moans; the one thing keeping him from surrendering to his bestial instinct. Unlike anything he'd obtained in the past, all of which he merely considered playthings, Raiga wanted to cherish this precious human, and to give Gao as much pleasure as he was receiving. Still reaming the boy, Raiga went on to search for Gao's prostate, and quickly found it after a particularly loud moan from his lover.

“There it is." the wolf chuckled. From there, Gao's sweet spot became Raiga's primary target as he battered it constantly; furry balls slapped against the boy's rump, squelching noises accompanied gasps and moans in a symphony of lust. Gao threw his arms around Raiga's broad shoulders; lips quivered as even breathing became somewhat a challenge. Each of Raiga's thrusts seemed to shatter his soul, leaving him a gasping, squirming mess with no other choice but to hold onto his lover for dear life.

However, the wolf soon became alarmed at the realization that the more he thrusted, the bigger his desire to get the knot in grew, or just his knot in general. Conflict unfolded in his head, whether to just throw rationale out the window and force the knot in, or reject his desire and spare his lover potentially tremendous pain. Before he could make up his mind though, his lover beat him to it. Turn out, Raiga wasn't the only aware of the swelling bulb pressing against Gao's rear.

Was Gao scared? Of course he was! The thing felt thicker than all that he'd managed to take so far, and Gao thought he was already at his limit, yet when he noticed the gentleness and self-control the wolf was exerting for his sake, Gao knew there was no way he would repay him with selfishness and cowardice. He knew Raiga was holding back because of him, but…sometimes, doing what's you think is good for your loved ones doesn't necessarily mean they'll appreciate it. And given that they had already made it this far, a bit more pain didn't seem like a big deal after all.

Raiga nearly hissed when two legs suddenly clamped around his waist, followed by a tugging sensation. The urge to tie with his lover was threatening to take over, and Gao's action only exacerbated what little restraint he had left, “No, you'll hurt yourself!"

“Don't hold back, I want it, all of you."

“Please…I don't want to…hurt you." The wolf begged; his mind slipped away dangerously.

“I'm not scared! Are you not respecting my wish anymore? I said I want it. All. Of. It!"

At this point, Gao wasn't just fanning but also adding fuel to the flame, and it instantly incinerated all reason in Raiga's head. With a dominant growl, the wolf finally let loose. And it's not like Gao hadn't been warned, but as soon as Raiga aggressively pulled his penis out, only to hammer it back in, he still felt the air being knocked out of his lungs.

Bit by bit, Gao's pucker gave away, unable to withstand the ferocious assault. Moans, whimper, and growls filled the air as the two edged closer to their limit, neither intended to stop until they were fully locked and connected with each other. Then, it happened.

For a split second, everything seemed to come to a halt. Gao's eyes widened when the knot finally breached his abused opening and slipped inside, stretching him impossibly wide. Now entirely enclosed within him, Raiga's cock throbbed and unleashed the content of the wolf's heavy sacs; liquid fire burst into his depths, lacing every corner it found with heat and life-giving sperm. Every pulse sent a bit more into Gao, all of which had no escape thank to the knot sealing his entrance shut, just as he wanted.

At some point during the blissful haze of being filled to the brim, Gao must've climaxed, streaks of his pearly semen landed on both his and the wolf's lower abs, yet the only thing he could feel was Raiga's seed conceiving him. He felt a new life, and for the first time, Gao was glad he'd been born a half-bred. He carried that happiness into his dream, dozing off in the safest place in the world – his mate's embrace.

…

Looking at Gao, Raiga couldn't help giving his sleeping mate an affectionate lick on the cheek. The void within him, long thought impossible to be fulfilled, was gone. He had a home, he had a mate, and soon, he would have a family.

Yet...he knew the time would come when he eventually died again. Raiga dreaded that moment, even if he had reborn twice. He didn't want to wake up in another world, with the memories intact but no one by his side.

He wanted to always stay by Gao's side, to watch their children being born, growing up, living a happy, healthy life until they, too, found the place they belonged and the family they deserved. And if he was to die, let him die for good. Let him be with his mate, buried by their children after they'd enjoyed a fulfilling life together. Let their hands remained connected, even after life had left their bodies.

Unbeknown to Raiga, the gentle moonlight beamed through the window and shone upon him amidst his prayers, offering him its blessing.