1.Phuwin
There were things in this world that couldn’t be explained with words.
I was one of them.
Every day, I fought to live what others would call a normal life. To me, normal meant waking up without dreading the next sunrise. It meant looking forward to tomorrow instead of running from the invisible ghost that haunted my every full moon.
Unfortunately, ghosts had a way of becoming part of your life.
The morning sunlight spilled through the wide glass windows of my café, bathing the room in a warm golden glow. It painted the wooden tables, the shelves lined with coffee beans, and the fresh pastries waiting behind the display case. Every sunrise felt like a quiet promise—a reminder that hope still existed, even for someone like me.
This café was my dream.
I had spent years saving enough money to open it, hoping it would become a place where people could escape their worries, even if only for a cup of coffee and a peaceful morning. That was why I named it Livid. It wasn’t just a café; it was my sanctuary.
Outside, Bangkok was already awake. It was only eight in the morning, yet the streets buzzed with life. Office workers hurried past the windows, students laughed as they crossed the road, and the steady stream of customers kept the espresso machine running without pause.
Busy.
Peaceful.
Ordinary.
Just the way I liked it.
“Phuwin.”
I looked up from the espresso machine to find Poem standing near the entrance, wearing the same sheepish grin he always had whenever he was late.
“I didn’t know we opened the café at nine now,” I said dryly, folding my arms.
He scratched the back of his neck before flashing an apologetic smile.
“I’m sorry, boss. Traffic was horrible. Please forgive your adorable employee.”
I raised an eyebrow.
Adorable?
That was the last word I’d use to describe Peem.
He was built like a professional fighter, broad-shouldered and towering over almost everyone who walked into the café. His intimidating appearance scared most people away long before he spoke. Cute wasn’t exactly his strongest quality.
Still, I couldn’t complain too much.
Peem wasn’t just my employee.
He was my bodyguard.
My foster parents had insisted on assigning him to me years ago, claiming it was for my own safety. They worried constantly because of the crescent moon birthmark hidden beneath the sleeve covering my right wrist—a mark I had been taught to hide since childhood.
“You always use the same excuse,” I said with a sigh.
“Because it’s true,” he replied without missing a beat.
I could only shake my head as I returned to making coffee, while Peem chuckled and hurried behind the counter to start his shift.
I only shook my head and returned to the espresso machine. Peem chuckled to himself before getting back to work, as though being late was nothing new.
Truthfully, I didn’t mind.
He wasn’t just my employee.
He was my bodyguard.
Most people would think having a bodyguard was ridiculous for someone who owned a small café.
They didn’t know what I was.
Beneath the sleeve covering my right wrist lay a crescent moon birthmark—a mark that had been hidden by powerful spells since I was a child. My mother had warned me never to reveal it to anyone.
“Your moon mark is a blessing,” she used to say.
“And blessings always attract monsters.”
I was an omega.
Not an ordinary one, either.
Moon-blooded omegas were incredibly rare among werewolves. Our scent was stronger, sweeter, and nearly impossible for other wolves to ignore. It could drive unstable Alphas into a frenzy and make even the calmest wolves lose control.
That was why I kept my mark hidden.
That was why Peem never left me alone.
The world believed werewolves had disappeared centuries ago.
They were wrong. We had simply learned to live among humans. Most humans passed us every day without realizing it.
Among our kind, there were three ranks. Alphas ruled with strength. Betas stood as dependable protectors.
Omegas... were the rarest and most vulnerable.
I belonged to the Lunar Pack, led by my foster father, Kiet Chanwong.
He and my foster mother, Chalisa, had adopted me when I was only a few months old. I knew nothing about my biological parents, and honestly, I had never cared enough to ask.
The Chanwongs were my family. They loved me as their own, and I loved them just as fiercely.
The only thing my birth parents had left me was the moon mark on my wrist. And whatever destiny came with it.
The bell above the café door chimed, pulling me from my thoughts. A man stopped in front of the register.
He looked to be in his late forties, dressed in an expensive suit, but there was something unsettling about the smile stretching across his face. His eyes lingered on me far longer than they should have.
A chill crawled down my spine.
“You smell amazing, boy,” he said, inhaling deeply as though savouring my scent.
My fingers tightened around the order pad. So, he was a wolf.
The spell could hide my birthmark, but nothing could completely suppress an omega’s pheromones.
“Good morning, sir.” I forced a professional smile. “What can I get for you today?” Instead of answering, he leaned against the counter.
“I can think of a few things you could do for me.” His gaze swept shamelessly over my body.
Slowly.
Hungrily.
Like I wasn’t a person.
Like I was prey.
Disgust twisted in my stomach.
“I’d appreciate it if you ordered something from the menu,” I said evenly.His grin widened.
“Or maybe you could warm my bed instead.”
I resisted the urge to throw the hot coffee in my hand straight into his face. Before I could respond, a familiar voice echoed through the café.
“Or maybe you’ll be coughing up your own dick if you don’t get away from my brother.” The temperature in the room seemed to drop. The man’s smug smile disappeared instantly.
I looked toward the entrance.
Perth.
My foster brother.
The heir to the Lunar Pack.
Confidence radiated from him with every step he took. His Alpha scent rolled through the café like a warning, making the other wolf instinctively take a step back.
Unlike me, Perth was fearless.
Reckless.
Infuriating.
A shameless playboy with a talent for breaking rules and starting fights.
But when it came to protecting me...He never hesitated.
From childhood, Perth had always been like this.
If another kid bullied me, he beat them up.
If someone flirted with me, he beat them up too.
He had inherited our father’s temper, and right now he looked at the man as though he was debating whether murder would be considered an acceptable solution.
I couldn’t really blame him. Perth was fiercely territorial when it came to the people he loved.
That was simply his love language.
The old wolf got the message. He hurried toward the exit like his life depended on it.
I bit back a smile. Perth caught the expression on my face.
“You think this is funny?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Kind of.” He rolled his eyes, and I couldn’t hold back my laughter any longer.
“You seriously need to work on your anger issues, Perth,” I said between laughs. “You looked ready to kill him.”
“I was.” His answer came so quickly that I blinked.
“And you,” he continued, pointing a finger at me, “need to learn how to tell people to fuck off. You can’t keep smiling politely at every motherfucker who wants to bite you.”
“I can’t be rude to my customers,” I protested. “They pay my bills.”
“Not those bastards.” He jerked his thumb toward the door the old wolf had just escaped through. “Your kindness is going to get you into trouble someday.” I sighed dramatically.
“Fine. I’ll stop letting people take advantage of me. Besides, even if something happens, Peem’s here to protect me.”
“Speaking of that idiot...” Perth looked around the café. “Where is he?” Almost on cue, Peem walked out of the kitchen carrying a tray stacked with freshly baked cakes.
Perth’s gaze landed on him. Peem froze. The tray slipped from his hands.
Crash.
Cakes splattered across the floor.
“Peem!” I groaned.
He looked at the mess, then at me, before sheepishly crouching to clean it up. Perth pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Completely useless when it comes to using his brain.” I chuckled.
Poor Peem.
“Anyway,” Perth said, turning back to me, “close the café early today. I’ll pick you up at seven.” I frowned.
“Seven? Why?” He stared at me.
“...Seriously?”
“What?”
“Don’t tell me you forgot.”
I searched my memory but came up blank.
“Forgot what?”
“It’s the full moon.” The smile disappeared from my face.
The full moon.
The worst night of every month.
Not again.
*****************
The day passed in a blur.
Customers came and went, coffee was brewed, tables were cleared, and somehow the golden afternoon faded into evening without me noticing.
Outside, the sky darkened. Inside, my chest grew heavier with every passing minute.
Tonight. It was happening again.
The dreams.
His pain.
Him.
Mom always insisted they were only nightmares—visions connected to the moon mark on my wrist.
But they weren’t just dreams. I could feel them.
Every scream. Every ounce of agony.
It settled deep inside my chest until it became my own.
Somewhere, a man was suffering. And no matter how desperately I reached for him...I couldn’t save him.
I couldn’t even touch him.
Something—someone—always pulled me away. I was pulled back to reality by the sound of Perth’s voice.
Standing beside him was a blonde woman clinging possessively to his arm. That was my brother for you.
He could never stay interested in one woman for long. He fooled around, walked away without looking back, and never gave anyone false promises. It wasn’t something I approved of, but that was just who Perth was.
Still, there was one thing about him that never changed.
Once he accepted someone as his own, he would protect them with everything he had.
The blonde practically hung off his arm, yet he didn’t even acknowledge her touch.
Another casual fling. Nothing more.
“Ready, bro?”
“Yeah. Give me five minutes.” I didn’t spare the woman a second glance.
“Did Peem leave already?”
“Yep.” His brows drew together.
“Why?”
“He had an emergency, so I told him to head home early.”Perth’s jaw tightened.
The muscle in his cheek twitched as though he was barely holding himself back.
Before he could lecture me, I raised both hands in surrender.
“Before you start scolding me, it really was an emergency. I insisted he leave.” His eyes shifted to the woman beside him.
“Get out.” Both of us flinched at the sharp command.
The poor woman didn’t waste a second. She hurried out of the café like she’d just seen a ghost.
Honestly...Perth didn’t look much less terrifying.
“Perth...” I called cautiously. He looked at me.
“Let’s go home.”
“Huh?”
“I said...” His voice left no room for argument. “Let’s go home.”
By the time we reached the Chanwong estate, the sun had almost disappeared beyond the horizon.
The moment I stepped inside, Mom greeted us with her usual warm smile.
Chalisa Chanwong.
The Luna of the Lunar Pack.
Despite being an omega, she was deeply respected by every member of the pack. People admired not only her beauty but also her kindness, wisdom, and unwavering strength.
She had always been the heart of our family. Dad walked over a moment later.
Kiet Chanwong.
The Alpha of the Lunar Pack.
Strict.
Protective.
A man who believed rules existed for a reason.
Yet every trace of authority melted away whenever he looked at Mom. His hardened expression softened, and even the beast inside him seemed to calm in her presence.
Perth had inherited almost everything from him.
The same sharp features. The same commanding aura.
And unfortunately...The same explosive temper. Mom complained about it almost every day.
“Hello, Pa,” I greeted.
“Good evening, son.” His eyes crinkled warmly as he smiled at me. Then his gaze landed on Perth. The smile vanished.
Although they looked almost identical, they couldn’t have been more different.
Dad valued order. Perth loved chaos.
Dad solved problems through patience. Perth solved them with his fists.
It was no surprise that they argued more often than not.
“Let’s have dinner,” Dad said, completely ignoring Perth. I glanced at Mom.
She sighed, already used to the silent battle between father and son. Perth, on the other hand, couldn’t have cared less.
According to him,
“He’s just jealous because I’m better looking.”
Typical Perth.
Dinner was unusually quiet. The only sounds were the clinking of cutlery against plates.
Finally, Dad broke the silence. “I heard you’ve been seeing Mira.” He didn’t even look at Perth as he spoke.
““You mean fucking around?” Perth answered without a hint of shame. “Yeah.” I nearly choked on my water.
Mom shot him a sharp glare while Dad’s jaw visibly tightened.
“Perth,” I warned, “think before you speak.” He merely rolled his eyes and continued eating.
“Do you even know who she is?” Dad asked, his voice dangerously calm.
“Of course.” Perth took another bite before answering.
“She’s Lee’s fiancée.” This time, Mom was the one who nearly choked on her water.
“Perth!” she exclaimed. “Are you serious? Lee is one of the most dangerous Alphas in the eastern territories. If he finds out, you’ll end up in his claws.” Perth leaned back in his chair with a lazy grin.
“Very encouraging, Mom.” A realization suddenly struck me.
“Wait... don’t tell me the blonde woman you brought to my café was Mira.” He looked at me with an amused smile.
“Good to know you’ve finally returned to Earth, bro.”
Completely reckless.
“ENOUGH!”
Dad slammed his hand against the dining table as he shot to his feet. The sound echoed through the dining room.
“For once in your life, behave yourself and stop acting like an idiot!” Perth didn’t even bother looking up.
He calmly continued eating as though Dad hadn’t spoken at all. Mom sighed before standing.
“Kiet...”
She gently took Dad’s arm and led him upstairs before the argument could get any worse.
Silence settled over the dining room once again.
***********
After dinner, I headed straight to my room.
I changed into my pyjamas and collapsed onto the bed.
Sleep claimed me almost instantly.
*************
Screams.
Agonizing.
Endless screams.
They echoed through a room bathed in crimson light. I pushed the door open.Someone was inside.
Not screaming.
Sobbing.
Crying out in unbearable pain. Every cry pierced straight through my heart.
The moon mark on my wrist burned hotter with every passing second. He was the one suffering.
So why did it feel like I was the one breaking apart?
I caught a glimpse of a golden sun-shaped mark on the side of his neck.
I tried to run to him.
To help him.
To stop his pain.
But something invisible held me back.
No matter how hard I struggled...I couldn’t move.
His glowing crimson eyes lifted to meet mine.
I couldn’t see his face.
I couldn’t touch him.
I couldn’t save him.
The pain became unbearable.
Only then did I realize I was curled into a ball on my bed, sobbing uncontrollably.
Someone was calling my name.
“Phuwin!”
Mom.
Perth.
Their voices sounded distant, as though they were reaching me from another world. Something inside me stirred.
The burning on my wrist spread through my entire body. It felt as though fire was flowing beneath my skin. When I finally forced my eyes open, everything around me was drenched in red.
Or perhaps...
It wasn’t the room. Perhaps it was my eyes.
Mom stared at me in horror.Sharp claws had burst from my fingertips. My fangs had grown. A violent rage boiled inside me, clawing for control.
“Phuwin!” Dad’s commanding voice shattered the haze clouding my mind.
“Come back to your senses.” The beast inside me retreated.
I blinked.
Slowly.
My family stood frozen before me.
Fear.
Shock.
Relief.
Every emotion was written across their faces.
They were afraid of me.
No...
They were afraid for me.
I had almost hurt the only people who had ever loved me.
My family.
Mom wrapped me tightly in her arms, gently stroking my hair as though I were still a frightened child.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” she whispered. “Everything’s alright.”
No.
Nothing was alright.
Something was terribly wrong with me.
Every full moon stole another piece of who I was.
Every nightmare dragged me closer to becoming someone I didn’t recognize.
And somehow...
That stranger in my dreams was connected to it all.
For the first time, I hated him.
I hated the pain he brought into my life.
I hated what he was turning me into.
If I ever met him...I’d hate him even more.
I would run from the ghost that haunted my nightmares.
Run until there was nowhere left for him to follow.
And I would never let him catch me.
