The forest was too quiet.
No wind.
No birds.
Not even the distant howl of wolves.
Only silence.
Then—
A breath.
Sharp.
Ragged.
Alive.
A man's body jerked against the frozen ground, fingers clawing into the dirt as air flooded his lungs like fire.
"…hah—"
His chest rose violently as he dragged in another breath.
And another.
Pain.
Everywhere.
Like something ancient had been forced into something far too small.
Slowly… painfully… he opened his eyes.
Crimson.
Not natural.
Never natural.
Nyx lay still for a moment, staring up at the pale winter sky through the bare branches above him. Snowflakes drifted down lazily, landing on his face, melting against skin that felt… wrong.
Too soft.
Too human.
His fingers curled.
Then uncurled.
"…human," he whispered.
The word tasted bitter.
He sat up slowly, dark hair falling into his face as his body trembled—not from weakness, but from adjustment. From power forced into a fragile vessel.
A laugh slipped from his lips.
Low.
Unsteady.
Then it grew.
"…I'm back."
The sound echoed faintly through the empty forest.
But the laughter didn't last.
Because with awareness… came memory.
White hair.
Amber eyes.
A bond that should never have existed.
A love that had always slipped through his fingers.
Nyx's expression twisted.
Not in pain.
In something worse.
Resentment.
"Theron…" he murmured, voice soft and venomous.
Even now.
Even across lives.
That name burned.
His gaze darkened.
"And him…"
Aiden.
Always Aiden.
Always the one chosen.
Always the one protected.
Nyx's hand clenched in the snow.
"…not this time."
A slow smile spread across his lips.
Sharp.
Unstable.
Hopeful in the most dangerous way.
"I finally have a body," he whispered. "A real one."
And that meant—
He could act.
The forest shifted.
A presence.
Not far.
Nyx's head tilted slightly, crimson eyes flicking toward the trees.
"…come out," he called softly.
Silence.
Then—
A figure stepped into view.
Tall.
Ash-blond hair tied low.
Grey eyes calm, observant.
Eirik.
Nyx smiled wider.
"There you are."
Eirik didn't move closer.
Didn't show fear.
But his gaze was sharp, measuring, already aware something was wrong.
"You're not from this pack," Eirik said quietly.
Nyx tilted his head.
"Very observant."
His eyes dragged slowly over Eirik, as if reading him.
Not his body.
His soul.
His history.
His longing.
Nyx's smile deepened.
"…you're interesting."
Eirik's expression didn't change.
"State your purpose."
Nyx chuckled softly.
"So direct."
He took a step forward.
Snow crunched beneath his feet.
"I'll make this simple," he said. "I want something."
Eirik's gaze hardened slightly.
"And what would that be?"
Nyx's eyes gleamed.
"The Alpha King."
Silence.
The forest seemed to hold its breath.
Eirik didn't react immediately.
But something in his stance shifted.
Subtle.
Guarded.
Dangerous.
Nyx noticed.
Of course he did.
"And you," Nyx continued smoothly, circling slightly, "want something too."
Eirik's eyes snapped to him.
"I want nothing from you."
Nyx laughed.
"Liar."
The word wasn't loud.
But it landed.
Heavy.
"You watch him," Nyx said softly. "Every day."
Eirik went still.
"You stand close," Nyx continued, voice almost gentle now, "but never close enough."
Silence.
Snow fell between them.
"You loved him," Nyx said simply.
Eirik's jaw tightened.
Nyx's smile turned sharp.
"Before the bond."
That hit.
Eirik didn't deny it.
Didn't confirm it.
But the silence said enough.
Nyx stepped closer.
Slow.
Careful.
Predatory.
"He was just a beta then," Nyx murmured. "Reachable. Human. Yours… if you had only taken the chance."
Eirik's hand curled into a fist.
"Enough."
Nyx leaned in slightly.
"But you didn't."
A pause.
Then, softer—
"And now he belongs to a god."
That word lingered in the air.
God.
Eirik eyes widen, "wha-what you talking about? god?"
Nys smile, a twisted one "Theron, his a god. you didn't know that, huh? you really thought he was you, like Aiden?"
Eirik move closer, wolf ears lay back growling low "don't you dare says his name like that, you don't understand anything!"
Nyx's expression darkened briefly.
Then smoothed again.
"I understand," he said quietly.
Eirik's eyes flickered.
"You understand nothing."
Nyx smiled.
"Oh… I understand everything."
His voice dropped.
Cold.
"I've lost him too."
Silence.
Real silence this time.
Not tension.
Recognition.
Two beings.
Different paths.
Same loss.
Nyx straightened.
And then—
He offered it.
Clear.
Simple.
Deadly.
"I want Theron dead."
Eirik's breath stilled.
"And you…" Nyx's eyes gleamed, "…want Aiden."
The forest seemed to darken around them.
Snow falling slower.
He extended a hand.
"Help me," Nyx said softly.
"And we both get what we want."
Eirik stared at the hand.
Didn't take it.
Didn't move.
But his mind—
Was no longer steady.
Nyx watched him carefully.
Patient.
Because he knew something important.
Eirik wasn't weak.
He was loyal.
But loyalty… cracks.
And love?
Love breaks.
Nyx's smile softened.
"You don't have to answer now," he said, pulling his hand back.
"For now… just think."
He stepped back into the shadows.
"And watch how long you can stand beside them…"
His voice lingered.
"…without wishing it was you."
Silence returned.
The forest went still again.
Eirik stood alone.
Snow gathering on his shoulders.
Unmoving.
Uncertain.
And for the first time in a long time—
Not at peace.
Eirik didn't move.
Nyx's words echoed.
You want Aiden.
Silence stretched.
Long.
Heavy.
Then—
"…no."
The word was quiet.
Firm.
Eirik's gaze lifted, steady again.
"I don't make deals with strangers in the dark."
Nyx didn't look surprised.
If anything—
He smiled.
"Of course you don't."
He turned slightly, as if already leaving.
"…you just stand there," Nyx added softly, "watching another man build a life with the one you love."
Eirik's breath caught.
Just for a second.
Nyx didn't turn back.
"A bond you can't break. A life you can't touch," he continued. "maybe they get pups."
Silence, Eirik gaze harden, hand tightning.
"oh, they already have, don't they?" Nyx asked.
Eirik didn't answer and the sound of the forest fill the silence between them
Then—
"Tell me," Nyx said quietly, "how long can you keep pretending you're fine?"
Eirik's jaw tightened.
Images flashed—
Aiden laughing.Aiden holding the pups.Aiden leaning into Theron without thinking.
Belonging somewhere Eirik never would.
His hand clenched.
"…stop."
Nyx finally looked back.
Eyes sharp.
"You had him first."
That did it.
Eirik's control cracked.
"He was never mine," Eirik snapped.
"Because you never took him," Nyx shot back instantly.
Silence.
Heavy.
Painful.
True.
Eirik's breathing slowed.
But his thoughts didn't.
If things were different…
If Theron didn't exist…
If fate hadn't chosen—
His eyes darkened.
"…and if I refuse?" Eirik asked.
Nyx smiled.
"Then you keep watching."
A pause.
"Until one day you realize you've spent your entire life standing beside him…"
His voice dropped.
"…and never once being chosen."
That landed deeper than anything else.
Eirik closed his eyes briefly.
Snow melted against his skin.
When he opened them again—
Something had changed.
Not gone.
But… shifted.
Darker.
"…I won't harm him," Eirik said finally.
Nyx's smile widened.
"Of course not."
A long pause.
Then—
"…Theron," Eirik added quietly.
Silence.
Final.
"I won't touch Aiden," he continued. "I won't touch the pups."
Nyx tilted his head.
"And the Alpha King?"
Eirik didn't hesitate this time.
"…that's your problem."
Not a full yes.
Not yet.
But close enough.
Nyx stepped forward again, satisfied.
"That's all I need."
