The morning arrived, dragging with it a heavy and dense air that covered the entire forest like a damp blanket.
But the village elders still couldn't find Noah. The omega's tracks seemed to have vanished, as if the earth itself had swallowed him whole, refusing to reveal any secrets about his whereabouts. The wind no longer carried his sweet scent, and not even the tracking dogs were able to follow his trail.
The rescue team and the men from the Everhart family had searched every last corner of the forest surrounding the cliff (abyss) where Noah had disappeared. Ropes, flashlights, thermal drones… nothing had worked. Only silence answered their efforts.
Black Everhart —Noah's father, an alpha with an imposing presence— stood in the middle of the forest, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the trees. His jaw was tense, fists clenched. He had made a clear promise: whoever brought his son back would be honored, rewarded, and protected. It didn't matter if they were human or a beast.
.
.
.
.
.
—Cough! —Noah coughed harshly, his body trembling as he awoke from a deep, warm sleep. His chest rose suddenly, as if he had just been reborn.
The sacred gem that beat within his heart glowed softly, healing every wounded part of his body. His ankle, which had prevented him from moving hours ago, no longer hurt. The wounds on his back, the scratches and cuts, had disappeared as if they had never existed. Even the exhaustion had been ripped from his body, as though some ancient energy had brought him back to life.
Theo's soft, thick tail, which had kept him warm throughout the night, began to slowly slide away, releasing his body gently, as if it regretted no longer protecting him.
Theo, the wild-natured alpha who had saved him, moved swiftly toward Noah's backpack. Without difficulty, he pulled out the water bottle and unscrewed the cap. He already knew how those human objects worked. After observing him for so long, he had already learned his habits and details, as if he had memorized each of his gestures.
Noah didn't notice that. He only felt a warm wave in his chest, deeply moved by how Theo cared for him.
—Thank you, Theo —he whispered with a faint smile, his eyes still somewhat heavy.
—Do you feel better? —asked the alpha, tilting his face slightly.
—Yes —Noah nodded, drinking calmly. The water tasted sweeter than ever.
—Maybe it was my tail fur that made you cough.
—Can't you make that tail disappear?
—Why? Does it scare you? —Theo looked at him with a mischievous glint in his eyes, though there was a hint of sadness in his voice.
—It's not that —Noah replied, lowering his gaze.
—Then?
—It's just… we're going to the city, right? How will you hide that without causing a stir?
Theo smiled softly, almost as if he had been waiting for that question.
—Don't worry, I can make it disappear whenever I want.
—Really? —Noah's eyes widened in surprise.
—Mhm —Theo nodded, and then, one by one, his tails began to vanish in a faint silvery glow, as if they had never existed.
Noah watched the process with parted lips. He didn't remember that the night before they had also disappeared little by little. He only remembered the sudden fear he felt, thinking Theo was dying in front of his eyes.
Noah's kindness and pure heart always clouded his darker thoughts. Even now, knowing that Theo was a mysterious and potentially dangerous alpha, his heart only saw the warmth with which he had saved him. Noah saw Theo as a protective, almost sacred being. He didn't care how strange he was, only his kindness.
—We better get out of this abyss —Theo said, standing up with agile yet gentle movements, as if he didn't want to scare him.
—You know the way out, right? —Noah asked with a thread of anxiety.
—Of course. This forest is my home —Theo replied calmly, though his eyes gleamed intensely each time he looked at the omega.
Noah smiled even more at that. It was as if his chest filled with new hope. As if he could already see the light leading back home, to the warmth of his family's arms.
He also thought of Caleb. Surely he and all his friends must be worried sick. Noah only prayed that his disappearance hadn't yet reached his family's ears. He didn't want to imagine his mother's pain, nor the restrained anger of his father and brother.
—Take my hand —Theo said softly, extending it to him.
Noah looked at him for a moment, and took it without hesitation. The warmth of that palm offered more protection than any shield.
They both began to walk slowly, crossing the dark and deep valley. It was a gloomy landscape, with twisted roots and trees so tall they hid the sky. But with every step, Theo made sure to take care of Noah.
When hunger crept in, Theo silently climbed trees and returned with sweet fruits. When Noah was thirsty, the alpha dashed toward hidden springs and brought back crystal-clear water in his hands.
The journey could've been short, but Theo deliberately made it longer. He turned onto paths that led nowhere, faked exhaustion as if he could barely stand, and every night asked to rest an hour more. Theo didn't want the journey to end. In that forest, Noah was his alone. He wanted the omega to depend on him. He wanted more time...
Finally, an entire week passed.
The light began to appear at the end of the path, slipping through the branches and announcing the end of the confinement.
.
.
.
.
.
The village elders, exhausted, began to halt the search. The rescue team took a break and reorganized their plans.
The Everhart family's people took a moment to breathe.
But Black and Daiki weren't ready to give up. Both were preparing to head back into the forest with determination.
Eiran—the omega father (mother) of Noah—waited in an emergency cabin. His eyes were red, cheeks wet from constant tears. His chest felt empty, as if he couldn't fully breathe anymore.
—Dad, should we open a new path? —Daiki asked, his voice hoarse and dim.
—No. We'll walk the same trail —Black answered firmly.
—Why?
—That way, if Noah sees it… he'll know that's the way back home.
Daiki pressed his lips together and lowered his head. A tear escaped before he could stop it, and he wiped it quickly.
Black, for his part, kept the pain hidden. But his scent, strong and sour, betrayed him like any desperate alpha.
Even so, they both began to walk into the forest. Step by step.
And then, when they took their twentieth step through the underbrush, they both froze.
At the end of the trail, in the light of dawn, they saw a familiar silhouette. Dusty, thin, but alive.
—Dad!!! —Noah screamed, letting go of Theo's hand and running toward him, tears streaming down his cheeks.
...