Kkum tossed and turned in her sleep, her mind caught in the clutches of a nightmare that refused to release her. She saw Jong-suk again, just as she had seen him a hundred times in her dreams, standing in the middle of a battlefield, his face bloodied, his eyes filled with determination and love. He was fighting. For her. For their pack. For their future together. But no matter how hard he fought, she knew what would come next—knew the moment his expression would change, the exact second when hope would be snatched away from them both.

"No!" Kkum shouted in her dream, her voice echoing into the void. She tried to reach him, but her legs wouldn’t move. She was paralyzed, forced to watch as the rogue wolves surrounded him. Her heart pounded, her breath quickened, but she was helpless.

Jong-suk turned his head toward her, their eyes locking for a brief second before the wolves attacked. The vicious growls, the blood splattering, his body collapsing into the mud—it all played out in slow motion. She screamed, her voice breaking with the agony of watching the love of her life die in front of her, just as she had in the real battle.

In the dream, she ran toward him, desperate to hold him, to bring him back, but her legs wouldn't move fast enough. She could feel him slipping away, just as he had that day. It was always the same. She could never save him.

"Kkum..." Jong-suk’s voice whispered, broken, from the ground. She fell to her knees beside him, reaching for him, but as soon as her fingers touched his skin, his body turned to ash. A howl tore from her throat, her wolf Elysia howling with her, the pain unbearable.

Then everything went black.

A loud, insistent knocking jolted Kkum from her nightmare, her heart still racing, her body covered in a cold sweat. She shot up in bed, her breath coming in short gasps as she tried to shake off the remnants of the dream. For a moment, she was disoriented, caught between the nightmare and reality. The knocking continued, sharp and demanding, pulling her fully into the present.

She blinked, pushing her tangled hair away from her face as she tried to calm her racing heart. It was just a dream. But the familiar ache of loss settled deep in her chest, reminding her that even though Jong-suk’s death had happened months ago, the pain still lived within her, raw and ever-present.

Another knock. Louder this time.

Kkum wiped the tears from her face, forcing herself to get up. Her body felt heavy with grief, her muscles sore from the tension of the nightmare. As she made her way to the door, she took a deep breath, trying to center herself. Whoever was knocking was clearly impatient, and she wasn’t in the mood to deal with anyone.

She opened the door, the cool night air hitting her face. Standing in the doorway was her father, Alpha Moon Myeong-wol, his expression hard and unyielding, just as it always was when he looked at her. His gaze swept over her, disapproving, as if her very presence offended him.

Kkum’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, though she quickly masked it. She hadn’t seen her father in weeks, and she certainly hadn’t expected him to show up here, outside her cabin in the middle of the night. She swallowed, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Father," she said, her voice hoarse from sleep and the lingering effects of her nightmare. "How did you know I was here?"

Myeong-wol’s eyes narrowed, his lips thinning. He didn’t answer her question, instead, his voice dripped with disdain as he looked her up and down. "Won’t you even ask me to come inside, Kkum? Or have you lost all sense of discipline and respect along with your mate?"

The words stung, cutting deep into her already fragile heart. Kkum clenched her jaw, swallowing the retort that threatened to slip from her lips. She stepped aside, allowing him entry, though she didn’t offer any verbal invitation. It didn’t matter what she said—her father had never been the kind of man to wait for permission.

Myeong-wol strode into the small cabin, his presence dominating the space instantly. He looked around, his nose wrinkling slightly as if the sight of her modest living conditions disgusted him. Kkum followed him, her hands curling into fists at her sides as she tried to maintain her composure. She had never been close to her father, not like her brothers, but ever since Jong-suk’s death, the distance between them had grown even larger.

"What are you doing here?" Kkum asked quietly, standing a few feet away from him. She wasn’t in the mood for whatever lecture or order he was about to give, but there was no point in resisting.

Myeong-wol turned to face her, his expression cold and unforgiving. "Pack your belongings. You're leaving this place tomorrow."

Kkum blinked, the words taking a moment to register. "What?" she asked, her voice soft with disbelief. "Where am I going?"

Her father’s expression didn’t change. "It doesn’t matter where. You’re going, that’s final."

A cold wave of dread washed over her, and for a moment, she couldn’t breathe. She had chosen this cabin because it was far from the pack’s territory, far from the memories of Jong-suk and the packmates who whispered that she was the reason he was dead. Here, in the solitude of the forest, she could grieve in peace, away from the judgmental stares and harsh words. And now her father was ordering her to leave, just like that.

"I don’t want to go anywhere," Kkum said, her voice firmer than she felt. "I’m fine here."

Her father’s eyes flashed with irritation, his tone sharp and commanding as he spoke. "You don’t have a choice, Kkum. You will do as I say. You’ve been a nuisance long enough, hiding away here. It’s time to stop wallowing in your weakness and do what's beneficial for the pack"

The words felt like a slap across the face. Kkum could feel Elysia stir inside her, growling softly in protest, but there was nothing she could do. Her father’s Alpha command was clear, and despite her grief, despite her anger, she couldn’t disobey.

Her throat tightened as she forced herself to meet his gaze. "Why now? Why can’t I stay here a little longer?"

Myeong-wol’s lips curled into a sneer. "Because it’s time. You’re needed elsewhere. Stop questioning me, Kkum. Pack your things and be ready to leave tomorrow. That’s an order."

The Alpha tone in his voice left no room for argument. Kkum’s body tensed with frustration, her wolf pacing restlessly inside her, but she knew there was no point in fighting. She was still an Omega, and her father was still the Alpha. Even though she had trained herself to be as strong as a Beta, she couldn’t defy an Alpha command.

Her shoulders slumped in defeat, her heart heavy. "Fine," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I’ll be ready tomorrow."

Myeong-wol gave a curt nod, satisfied with her compliance. He turned and walked toward the door without another word, leaving the cabin as abruptly as he had arrived. Kkum stood there, staring at the closed door, her mind swirling with emotions she couldn’t fully process.

As the sound of her father’s footsteps faded into the night, Kkum sank to the floor, her body trembling with a mixture of anger, sadness, and exhaustion. She hugged her knees to her chest, her mind still filled with the lingering images of Jong-suk’s death, of the life they could have had together.

But now, she had to face a new reality—one where she had no choice but to leave behind the only place where she felt even a shred of peace.

_______________________________

Jungkook sat in his office, leaning back in his leather chair, his eyes fixated on the papers spread out across his desk. He tried to focus, tried to get his mind back on the task at hand—important decisions that needed to be made for the pack, strategy, borders, alliances. It was all critical. And yet, all he could think about was her.

That scent. Vanilla and musk. Sweet, but with an earthy undertone that was intoxicating in a way he couldn’t explain. It had hit him hard, like a punch to the gut, the moment he stepped into that forest near the cabin. And ever since then, it had plagued him, lingering in his mind like a haunting memory he couldn’t shake.

His wolf, Kyro, was restless, pacing within him, scratching at the edges of his control. It had been so long since his wolf had behaved this way—so long since he had felt Kyro with such intensity. After his rejection, after the death of his first mate, Kyro had gone silent, retreating deep into Jungkook’s mind as they both struggled to move past the pain. But now, Kyro was back, more alive than he had been in years, his presence almost overwhelming.

"Mine..."

The word echoed in Jungkook’s mind, a low growl from Kyro that had been building ever since they had caught that scent in the forest. He had fought it, had pushed it down with everything he had, refusing to let his wolf take control. He couldn’t afford to. Not now. Not after everything that had happened.

But Kyro wasn’t listening.

Jungkook gritted his teeth, his hands gripping the arms of his chair as he fought for control. His body was tense, his muscles tight, every instinct in him screaming to go back to that forest, to follow the scent and find whoever it belonged to. But he couldn’t. Not yet.

Who was she?

That was the question that had been gnawing at him ever since the meeting with the Lunae Pack had ended. He hadn’t seen her clearly—just a glimpse, really. A girl with long hair, her form shadowed by the trees. But it didn’t matter. His wolf had recognized her.

She’s mine.

Jungkook ran a hand through his dark hair, frustration bubbling to the surface. He had thought he was done with this. Done with the idea of mates. After his rejection, after the death of his first mate, he had sworn he wouldn’t let himself get caught up in the idea of fate again. It had been painful enough the first time. But now...

Now everything was different. And it was driving him insane.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, rubbing his temples as he tried to clear his mind. The papers in front of him blurred as he stared at them, the words meaningless. He needed to focus, to get back to work, but every time he tried, that scent would fill his mind again, pulling him back to that moment in the forest.

Kyro growled softly, pacing within him.

"Go back. Find her."

Jungkook slammed his fist down on the desk, the sound echoing through the empty office. "Shut up," he muttered under his breath, though he knew it was useless. Kyro wouldn’t be silenced, not this time.

He stood up abruptly, pushing the chair back with more force than necessary, and began to pace the room. His office was large, the windows overlooking the dense forest surrounding their territory. Normally, the view would calm him, but today it only made him feel caged. Trapped.

He couldn’t focus. He couldn’t think straight. His wolf was a constant presence in the back of his mind, gnawing at his sanity.

His phone buzzed on the desk, but Jungkook ignored it, his mind too preoccupied. There had been a time when he could control Kyro with ease, when their connection had been strong, but ever since that day... things had changed.

He hadn’t told anyone about what had happened. Not even his Beta. The truth of his first mate’s rejection, and then her tragic death at the hands of rogue wolves, was something he kept to himself. He didn’t want the pity. Didn’t want the questions. All he wanted was to keep moving forward, to focus on his pack and nothing else.

But now?

Now that scent had thrown him off course. It had stirred something in him that he thought was long dead, and it was terrifying. The idea of having another mate, of being tied to someone else again, was not something he wanted to entertain. And yet... Kyro wouldn’t let him forget.

He stopped pacing and stared out the window, his hands shoved into his pockets. The meeting with Lunae Pack had gone well—better than expected, considering the history between them. His father, their Alpha, had been eager to mend the rift, to finally put the bad blood behind them. And Jungkook had wanted the same. He had brought proof, evidence of their innocence in the rogue attacks, and he hoped it would be enough to move forward.

But none of that mattered now. Not with his wolf clawing at him, not with that scent still lingering in his mind.

He let out a frustrated sigh and turned away from the window, running his hand through his hair again. This was ridiculous. He was the Alpha of the Moonlight Pack. He couldn’t let something like this distract him, couldn’t let his wolf’s instincts cloud his judgment.

But Kyro was relentless.

"She’s ours. Go to her."

Jungkook growled, the sound low and rough in his throat. "Not now," he muttered, though he knew Kyro wasn’t listening. The pull was getting stronger, and he could feel his wolf pushing harder against the mental barrier he had constructed after his rejection.

He sank back down into his chair, trying to focus on anything other than the maddening scent, but it was no use. His mind kept drifting back to the forest, back to that fleeting glimpse of the girl near the cabin.

Was she part of the Lunae Pack? A lone wolf, perhaps? He had never seen her before, but then again, he hadn’t been involved in their pack’s territory for long. His mind raced with questions, but he didn’t have any answers. Not yet.

But Kyro... Kyro was certain.

Jungkook closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair as he tried to calm the storm raging inside him. He couldn’t let this consume him. Not now. Not when there was still so much work to be done, not when the future of his pack depended on him being focused and in control.

But for the first time in years, he felt out of control.

And that terrified him.

He rubbed his temples again, trying to ease the tension building in his head, but the scent was still there, haunting him, pulling him toward something he didn’t fully understand.

With a frustrated growl, Jungkook stood up once more, grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair. He couldn’t stay here, couldn’t sit in this office and let his mind spiral any further. Maybe some fresh air would clear his head, maybe a run in his wolf form would give Kyro the release he needed.

Or maybe, deep down, he knew that nothing would help. Not until he found her.

Not until he understood what this was.

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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.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Stay tuned for the next chapter!

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Love,
lavendermiso <333

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