Prem, a normal village boy haunted by his past, discovers a wounded wolf one night. When the wolf transforms into real human (Boun), an alpha werewolf, their worlds collide. Amidst love and danger, Prem must navigate their forbidden relationship and...
The days passed in a delicate balance between secrecy and growing connection. Prem's world continued as it always had...punishingly ordinary.
But now, a quiet secret simmered beneath the surface, one that he couldn't share with anyone, not even Aunt Ning. He had to keep Boun hidden from his father, whose drunken rages were unpredictable. If his father knew there was a man, a stranger, living in their yard, he wouldn't just hurt Prem....he would destroy him.
Prem's heart raced every time he heard his father's voice, every time he had to sneak out to check on Boun. It was a constant game of cat and mouse.
Yet, for all the tension, Boun had been slowly healing, and with each passing day, he seemed to grow stronger. His eyes, once cloudy with pain, were now sharp and clear, full of curiosity. Boun's silent strength had a way of pulling Prem closer, of drawing out a side of him that he rarely showed to anyone else.
One morning, as Prem approached the yard to check on Boun, he was struck by how much Boun had changed. He was sitting up well, his back against the old tree, his face turned towards the sun, his chest rising and falling steadily with deep breaths. His injured leg was now partially healed, though still a little stiff, and his torso, once marked by deep gashes, was now wrapped in fresh bandages that Prem had carefully applied earlier.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Prem couldn't help but smile. There was something about Boun's resilience that stirred something within him. He was no longer the frightened boy who hid away from the world. Boun was becoming a force, a presence that Prem couldn't ignore. He was strong, yes, but there was an undeniable tenderness about him as well, something that pulled at Prem's heartstrings.
"Boun," Prem called softly, walking over to him. "How are you feeling today?"
Boun looked up, meeting his eyes. His lips curved into a soft smile, and for a moment, Prem forgot how to breathe. "Better... Still a little sore, but I'll manage."
Prem knelt down beside him, his eyes softening. "I think you can stand now, maybe walk a little.... Let me help you." He reached out to Boun's arm, but Boun hesitated for a moment before allowing Prem to gently pull him up.
The instant Boun stood, Prem could see the subtle discomfort on his face. His leg was still weak, and he swayed slightly, but there was a quiet strength in the way he held himself. Boun wasn't someone who accepted help easily, but the way he leaned into Prem's support told a different story.
"You're doing better," Prem said, his voice full of admiration. "But we'll go slow, okay?"
Boun nodded, his hand still gripping Prem's forearm. There was something incredibly intimate in that moment....the simple connection between two people, relying on each other, in a way that felt almost too perfect to be real.
As they took slow steps around the yard, Boun's gaze was focused ahead, but he spoke softly, as if trying to ease the silence. "You've been very kind to me, Prem."
Prem's heart fluttered at the words, and he glanced at Boun, a soft smile curling on his lips. "You've been through so much. I just wanted to help."
Boun's eyes met his, and there was an undeniable spark....something between them that neither could explain, but both felt.... The air felt electric, thick with unspoken words.
"I've never had anyone take care of me like this," Boun confessed, his voice soft, almost vulnerable. "My pack... they don't show this kind of kindness. We take care of each other, but it's different."
Prem's breath hitched. He hadn't realized how much Boun had been alone, even within his own pack. "What do you mean?"
Boun paused, his gaze softening as he looked up at the sky. "We don't show weakness in my pack... It's a survival thing.... To be strong means to be the leader, to protect your pack at all costs. But sometimes... we forget that we're not invincible. We need to lean on others, too."
Prem nodded, his heart aching a little at the thought. He had always felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, and now he could see how that burden was shared by Boun in ways he couldn't fully understand. "But you're not alone now. Not with me."
The words hung in the air between them, heavy and sincere.
Boun looked at him, his lips slightly parted. He didn't say anything, but the look in his eyes was enough. Prem had no idea how he had gone from being just the village boy working at a bakery to being someone Boun could rely on....but somehow, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
"Thank you," Boun finally said, his voice a low murmur.
As they continued walking, Prem's thoughts drifted to the things Boun had shared with him in the past. The world of werewolves was so far from his own...so foreign and strange—but the more he learned about it, the more fascinated he became. He had heard bits and pieces of the legends...the stories of werewolves with incredible strength, of packs that ruled the forests, of the dangers that lurked in the shadows.
"What's it like, Boun?" Prem asked, as they stopped under the tree, both of them leaning against the rough bark. "The pack. What's it like to belong to one?"
Boun looked at him, his expression pensive. "It's complicated. We fight for our survival, Prem. We protect each other, but there are rules we have to follow. The alpha calls the shots, and you either accept them or you don't."
"And if you don't?"
"Then you leave. Or... you're forced out," Boun said, his tone more serious now. "But we are a family, in a way.... And for me, being alpha means taking on that responsibility, protecting those I care about."
Prem felt a deep, unspoken weight in Boun's words. "That sounds... hard. It sounds like there's so much pressure."
"There is." Boun glanced over at Prem, his gaze intense. "And there's also a lot of danger.... We live in a world where we have to constantly protect our territory, our pack, from threats."
"Like hunters?" Prem asked, remembering what Boun had said about the hunter who had injured him.
Boun nodded. "Yes. There are hunters who don't just target us for sport.....they want to destroy us.... And then there are those who just want to take what they can from us."
Prem's heart clenched at the thought. He couldn't imagine living in constant fear, always looking over his shoulder. He wanted to protect Boun, just as Boun had protected him.
"Let's go inside. You need rest," Prem said, standing up and offering his hand to Boun.
Boun's hand clasped his, and for a moment, Prem felt an overwhelming surge of warmth and connection. As they walked back to the house together, the bond between them....silent, yet unbreakable....grew deeper.
