Ren continued walking through the forest for a long time.
When he finally came across a small wooden house, he stopped a few steps from the door.
The wooden house was magnificent. Unlike the broken houses he had seen before, this one was intact—on the contrary, it almost seemed to shine brilliantly.
Ren decided to go inside. He sighed, then pulled the door handle. What he saw was far from ordinary.
Behind the door… there was the forest.
There was no interior at all.
Ren closed the door and continued on his way as if nothing had happened.
He didn't seem impressed. But why?
After several more minutes of walking, it was already ten o'clock according to his watch. Time for him to return. To his surprise, he wasn't very tired, and his body wasn't trembling at all.
It felt strange for Ren to be in a child's body. His consciousness belonged to an adult—someone who had once been an Omega with unsatisfied desires. Now that he had become a Beta, he would no longer have to endure the painful heat cycle every month.
Suddenly, his foot sank into the damp soil, and he lost his balance.
He barely managed to grab onto a tree trunk, his heart beating faster than expected.
Then, without warning, a deep voice echoed behind him.
"You shouldn't have come here alone."
Ren felt his heart slam violently against his chest.
He didn't turn around right away.
"Who's there?" Ren asked, his voice firmer than he expected.
A faint sound of footsteps crushed the dead leaves behind him.
"The forest isn't a place for someone like you to wander."
Ren clenched his teeth. "Someone like me?"
He turned around abruptly.
Between the shadows of the trees stood a tall silhouette—a man.
Ren looked him in the eyes despite the shiver running through his body.
"And why does that concern you?" he said.
A heavy silence settled between them.
Then the stranger took a step forward.
"Because this territory… is mine."
Ren swallowed.
"Your territory…?"
*How is that possible?*
He narrowed his eyes, trying to see his face more clearly, but the shadows of the trees still concealed his features.
"I didn't know the forest belonged to someone."
The man let out a small laugh—not amused.
"Everything belongs to someone."
Ren felt a flicker of irritation.
"I was just walking."
*The system didn't tell me anything.*
"Alone?" the stranger asked.
Ren hesitated for a second.
"Yes. And so what?"
*I hope he's not here to kill me.*
The man stepped closer. Now Ren could see his face clearly.
"You're not afraid?"
Ren clenched his fists.
"Hm. And why should I be afraid? You don't look scary at all."
The man replied in a lower voice.
"What arrogance."
He looked at Ren with a cold gaze.
Ren lifted his chin slightly.
"What? Are you going to make me leave just by staring at me like that?"
The man didn't answer immediately.
Ren continued, even though his heart was beating too fast.
"If it's your territory… your name isn't written on the trees."
A heavy silence fell.
The air suddenly felt colder.
"You're insolent," the man said calmly.
Ren shrugged.
"Maybe. But I didn't do anything to you."
The man stepped even closer.
"Do you at least know who you're speaking to?"
Ren held his gaze.
"No. And it doesn't change anything."
A faint smile appeared on the stranger's lips.
"You're either brave… or stupid."
Ren replied without thinking.
"Or maybe I have nothing left to lose."
This time, the man's smile disappeared.
He stared at Ren for a long moment.
"Nothing left to lose…?" he repeated.
"Yes, that's true. A rejected child like you—that's only natural. Ha… ha."
Ren was stunned. This man knew Elijah's story.
"You monster," Ren muttered, holding back his tears. He felt pity for Elijah.
A strong wind passed between them. The leaves rustled.
Then, without warning, the man grabbed Ren's wrist.
Ren flinched.
"Hey! Let go of me!"
*He's completely insane!*
The grip was firm.
"You're trembling," the man said calmly. "And yet you keep defying me."
Ren tried to pull his hand free, but it was impossible.
"That doesn't mean anything."
*Of course I'm scared—what do you think?*
The man leaned slightly closer.
"Yes, it does. It means you're lying."
Ren's heart was beating so loudly he felt like the other man could hear it.
"So what? What are you going to do? Punish me?"
Silence.
Then the man released his wrist.
"No."
Ren stepped back.
"Then what?"
The man looked straight into his eyes.
"You have beautiful eyes. Combined with your white hair and your body—"
Ren :"Shut up! I don't need your damn compliments!"
Then Ren ran off, leaving the man behind without even knowing his name.