Jungkook stood frozen beneath the shadows of the trees, his breath heavy in his chest, the intoxicating scent of the mysterious woman still lingering in his senses. His wolf, Kyro, had not stopped growling since the moment he saw her, and now it was a constant, feral presence, trying to break free from the tight grip Jungkook had on it.

His fingers clenched into fists at his sides as he pressed his back against the rough bark of a tree, staring at the cabin in the distance. The scent of her—the woman he hadn’t seen before, but whose presence had shaken him to his core—was pulling him, dragging him closer, like an invisible tether that wouldn’t let go.

Mine, Kyro growled again, louder this time.

Jungkook gritted his teeth, his breath ragged as he tried to steady himself, fighting back the surge of possessiveness that was rising within him. It didn’t make sense. None of this made sense. He had already lost his mate. The rejection had nearly broken him, and the loss that followed had shattered what was left of him. He had closed off that part of himself, refusing to let Kyro feel anything but the cold detachment that had kept them both safe from the pain.

But now… now, his wolf was awake, alive, and demanding what he could not give. This woman, whoever she was, couldn’t be his mate. It wasn’t possible. Yet everything in him—his instincts, his wolf—was telling him otherwise.

With a final look at the cabin, Jungkook forced himself to turn away. He had to leave. He had to get to the meeting with the Lunae Pack. There was no time for distractions, no time to figure out what was happening here. He had come to resolve a conflict, to set the record straight about the rogue attack that had torn through both packs. His father and the rest of his pack were already on their way to the Lunae Pack’s main compound, and he couldn’t afford to linger any longer.

But as he walked away from the cabin, Kyro fought him at every step, growling and clawing at the barriers Jungkook had built around him. The wolf wanted to go back, to find her, to claim her. It was relentless, almost violent in its desperation. Jungkook’s hands trembled as he pushed Kyro back, barely holding on to the control he had fought so hard to maintain.

“Stop,” Jungkook whispered to himself, his voice hoarse. “Not now.”

Kyro growled again, the word mine still echoing in his mind, but Jungkook shoved the thought away, forcing himself to keep moving. The wind rustled the leaves around him, but the intoxicating scent still lingered, making it harder with every step. He had to leave before Kyro broke free.

By the time Jungkook reached the main path again, the sun was beginning to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor. His car was gone, taken with the rest of his pack, but one of the guards had left behind a bike for him. It was parked just off the road, the engine cool and ready for the ride ahead.

He hesitated for a moment, glancing back toward the direction of the cabin, but then shook his head. Focus. He swung a leg over the bike and started the engine. The familiar rumble of the motor helped drown out Kyro’s incessant growling, but not entirely. His wolf was still restless, pacing inside him, demanding to go back.

Jungkook revved the engine and shot forward down the dirt road, pushing the bike faster than necessary as he tore through the trees. The meeting with the Alpha of the Lunae Pack, Myeong-wol, loomed over him, but his thoughts were still clouded with the memory of that woman and her scent—wild, soft, and yet overwhelming in its pull.

Who was she?

He didn’t know, and right now, he couldn’t afford to care. The Lunae Pack was already suspicious of him, and he couldn’t let this distraction affect the task at hand. The tension between their packs had been festering for too long, fueled by the loss of Lee Jong-suk, the son-in-law of the Lunae Alpha. It was a wound that ran deep for their pack, and the fact that Jungkook’s own Moonlight Pack had been blamed for the attack only made matters worse.

It wasn’t until recently that the truth had surfaced—rogue wolves had been behind the attack, orchestrated by the Shadow Pack in an attempt to pit the two powerful packs against each other. But Myeong-wol didn’t know that yet, and Jungkook’s job today was to reveal the truth and prevent further bloodshed.

He focused on that as he rode through the forest, the wind whipping at his face, the trees blurring past him. The Lunae Pack’s territory loomed ahead, just over the ridge. His father and the other elders would already be there, preparing for the negotiations. Jungkook’s heart pounded as he thought about the meeting. If this didn’t go well, it could mean war.

And that was something he couldn’t afford.

As he approached the border of the Lunae Pack’s territory, Jungkook slowed the bike, the tension in his body returning tenfold. His senses sharpened, alert for any signs of patrols or guards. He knew the rules. No one entered another pack’s land without permission, not even an Alpha. His father had already sent word ahead, requesting an audience with Myeong-wol, and they had been granted safe passage for the meeting. Still, that didn’t mean the Lunae Pack would be welcoming.

Jungkook came to a stop just outside the border, turning off the bike and dismounting. The trees here were taller, denser, casting long shadows across the path. He could hear the distant murmur of voices—the patrol guards, no doubt, waiting for him.

With a deep breath, Jungkook stepped forward, crossing the invisible line that separated the territories. Almost immediately, two guards emerged from the trees, their faces hard and unreadable as they approached. They didn’t speak, but their eyes flicked over Jungkook, assessing him with barely concealed suspicion.

“We’ve been expecting you, Alpha Jeon,” one of them said, his tone cold but respectful.

Jungkook gave a curt nod, his face impassive. “Lead the way.”

The guards turned and began walking, and Jungkook followed, his mind already shifting to the meeting ahead. But no matter how hard he tried to focus, that scent—the one from the cabin—still lingered in his mind, clouding his thoughts.

The walk to the Lunae Pack’s main compound was a short one, but the air was thick with tension. The guards remained silent, their movements precise as they led him deeper into the territory. The trees gave way to a large clearing, where the Lunae Pack’s main hall stood—an impressive structure made of dark wood and stone, surrounded by smaller cabins and outbuildings.

Jungkook’s eyes scanned the area, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. The Lunae Pack was smaller than his own, but they were known for their strength and loyalty. He had no doubt that every pack member here was watching him closely, even if he couldn’t see them.

As they approached the main hall, Jungkook spotted his father and the other Moonlight Pack elders standing outside, waiting for him. His father’s eyes met his, and for a moment, the tension between them was palpable. Jungkook’s relationship with his father had always been complicated, especially after taking over as Alpha. But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

The doors to the main hall opened, and Myeong-wol, the Alpha of the Lunae Pack, stepped out, flanked by several of his own elders. He was an imposing figure, his sharp features and cold eyes giving nothing away as he studied Jungkook and his pack.

“Alpha Jeon,” Myeong-wol greeted, his voice low and measured. “Welcome to my territory.”

Jungkook inclined his head slightly in respect, keeping his expression neutral. “Alpha Myeong-wol. Thank you for granting us this meeting.”

Myeong-wol’s eyes flicked to the rest of the Moonlight Pack elders before returning to Jungkook. “Let’s hope this meeting is worth the time we’ve given it.”

The tension was palpable, the weight of unspoken accusations hanging in the air. Jungkook’s heart pounded as he followed Myeong-wol inside the hall, knowing that what happened next could change everything.

☆

The atmosphere in the hall was heavy with anticipation as Jungkook finished his explanation, his voice steady, calm, yet laced with the weight of everything that had transpired between the two packs. Myeong-wol, the Alpha of the Lunae Pack, sat across from him, his sharp gaze never leaving Jungkook’s face as he listened, his expression unreadable. The elders from both packs were gathered around the long wooden table, tension thick in the air. It had been a long discussion, filled with accusations, counterarguments, and finally, the truth.

Jungkook had laid it all out—the evidence that rogue wolves had been behind the attack that had killed Lee Jong-suk, and the devastating truth that the Shadow Pack had orchestrated it all to pit the Moonlight and Lunae Packs against each other. He had shown the proof his pack had gathered, the reports, the witnesses, and the patrols that had seen the Shadow wolves in the area during the attack. There was no longer any doubt about who was responsible.

As the final pieces of evidence were placed before Myeong-wol, Jungkook leaned back in his chair, his heart still pounding from the intensity of the meeting. He could feel the eyes of the Lunae Pack elders on him, their gazes hard and skeptical. But he had done what he came to do—he had proven the Moonlight Pack’s innocence. Now, it was up to Myeong-wol to decide what came next.

Silence settled over the room, thick and suffocating, as Myeong-wol stared at the documents in front of him. His fingers tapped lightly on the table, a gesture that spoke of deep contemplation. Jungkook waited, his own wolf, Kyro, pacing restlessly in the back of his mind. Even after proving their innocence, Kyro wasn’t settled. His thoughts still drifted back to the cabin, to the woman whose scent had awakened something deep within him.

But he couldn’t think about that now. Not yet.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Myeong-wol lifted his gaze to meet Jungkook’s. The tension in the room seemed to deepen as the Lunae Alpha leaned forward slightly, his voice low but commanding.

"Alpha Jeon," Myeong-wol began, his tone measured. "You’ve provided compelling evidence. It appears we were misled... deeply misled. The Shadow Pack has done more damage than I could have imagined."

Jungkook gave a small nod, though inside, he felt a surge of relief. This was what he had hoped for—the acknowledgment that his pack wasn’t responsible for the attack, that they hadn’t been the ones to bring such pain and devastation to the Lunae Pack.

Myeong-wol continued, his gaze sharp. "I owe you an apology, not only for the accusations but for the hostility that has lingered between our packs. This should never have happened."

Jungkook straightened in his seat, meeting Myeong-wol’s gaze head-on. "What’s done is done, Alpha Myeong-wol. All we can do now is move forward, for the sake of both our packs. I hope that after today, there will be no more bad blood between us."

Myeong-wol inclined his head, a subtle acknowledgment of the offer of peace. "Agreed. I believe it’s time we put these conflicts to rest. However," Myeong-wol’s voice lowered slightly, his eyes narrowing with a hint of calculation. "Before we conclude this meeting, there’s something else I’d like to discuss with you in private."

Jungkook’s brow furrowed slightly, but he nodded, curious about what the Lunae Alpha wanted to talk about. "Of course."

Myeong-wol rose from his seat, motioning for Jungkook to follow him. The elders exchanged brief glances but remained silent as the two Alphas left the room. The moment they stepped outside, the cool evening air greeted them, a sharp contrast to the tense atmosphere in the hall. Myeong-wol led Jungkook toward the edge of the compound, where the forest loomed just beyond the clearing.

Once they were alone, Myeong-wol turned to face Jungkook, his expression more relaxed now that they were away from the eyes of the elders. "I wanted to ask you something... something unrelated to the rogue attack."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What is it?"

"Your pack," Myeong-wol began slowly, as if weighing his words. "Do you have any lone wolf groups within your borders? Wolves who have lost their families, their mates... widows or orphans?"

Jungkook’s eyes narrowed slightly. The question caught him off guard. Lone wolves were a rare occurrence, especially within a pack as tight-knit as the Moonlight Pack, but it wasn’t unheard of. There were always a few wolves who had lost everything, who chose to live on the outskirts of pack life, never fully integrated but still protected by the pack’s territory.

"Yes," Jungkook replied carefully. "We do. Lone wolves who’ve lost their mates, their families... they’re rare, but we allow them to stay within our borders. They live in groups, supporting each other as best as they can."

Myeong-wol nodded thoughtfully. "I see. The reason I ask is... we have a lone wolf in our pack. She’s weak, emotionally and physically, ever since she lost her mate."

Jungkook frowned, wondering where this conversation was headed. "Why are you telling me this?"

Myeong-wol sighed, his gaze drifting toward the trees. "We’ve been trying to help her, but... she refuses to fully recover. She’s distant, disconnected. I fear that if she continues down this path, she may never heal."

Jungkook’s frown deepened. He didn’t know what Myeong-wol was asking of him, but the mention of a lone wolf struck a chord. The image of the woman in the cabin flashed in his mind, unbidden, but he pushed it away. He couldn’t afford to be distracted.

"What do you want me to do?" Jungkook asked after a moment.

Myeong-wol turned back to him, his expression serious. "If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask for your help. Tomorrow, I’d like to send the wolf  from my pack to yours as you know rogues have gone wild so it's bit difficult to keep them safe. Maybe... maybe they can help each other in some way. But only if you’re willing to grant us permission to do so."

Jungkook blinked, surprised by the request. It wasn’t uncommon for packs to assist one another, but this was different. Lone wolves were often isolated, left to their own devices unless they chose to reintegrate. But the idea of offering support to another pack’s lone wolf was intriguing.

"Are you asking me to send someone from my pack to meet with yours?" Jungkook clarified.

Myeong-wol shook his head. "No, not exactly. I’m asking for your permission to send someone to your pack. To meet with your lone wolves, if they’re willing. We’re hoping they might be able to help each other."

Jungkook considered the request for a moment. It was unusual, but it wasn’t unreasonable. If anything, it was a step toward further peace between their packs. After everything that had happened, maybe this was a way to start building bridges instead of burning them.

"Alright," Jungkook said finally. "You have my permission. If your wolf wants to come to our territory, we’ll welcome her. But I’ll have to let my pack know beforehand."

Myeong-wol nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Thank you, Alpha Jeon. I appreciate it."

Jungkook gave a short nod in return. "I hope this will help... and that there’s no more bad blood between us."

Myeong-wol’s smile faded slightly, but his expression remained respectful. "I believe we can move forward from this. No more bad blood."

With that, the two Alphas stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their words settling between them. Jungkook’s mind was still buzzing with everything that had happened—the meeting, the revelations, and most of all, the strange encounter in the forest. But for now, he pushed it all aside. There were more pressing matters to deal with.

Jungkook nodded toward the path. "I should get back to my pack. They’ll be waiting for me."

Myeong-wol inclined his head. "Safe travels, Alpha."

Jungkook turned and began walking back toward the clearing where his bike was waiting, the weight of the day’s events settling heavily on his shoulders. As he reached the bike, he swung his leg over the seat and started the engine. The familiar rumble echoed in his ears as he revved the engine and shot down the path, the wind whipping at his face.

But even as he rode through the forest, his thoughts kept drifting back to the woman in the cabin, and the strange pull he had felt toward her. He didn’t know who she was, or why Kyro had reacted so strongly to her presence, but one thing was clear.

Something had changed.

And Jungkook couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever it was, it was only the beginning.

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Dear Readers,

THANK YOU for picking up LOVE REKINDLED. I hope you love and enjoy it as much as I did while writing it.

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Love,
lavendermiso <333

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