The ride home that night was unusually quiet.
Liang Zhen insisted on driving Mei Lin himself. At first she refused, but after everything that had happened in the parking lot, she finally agreed.
The car moved smoothly through the bright streets of Shanghai. Neon lights reflected on the windows while the city continued its usual busy rhythm.
Inside the car, neither of them spoke.
Mei Lin stared out the window, trying to process everything.
Werewolves.
Rival enemies.
Someone watching her son.
Her normal life suddenly felt like a lie.
Finally she broke the silence.
"Are there… many of you?"
Liang Zhen kept his eyes on the road.
"Yes."
Her fingers tightened slightly in her lap.
"So all this time… creatures like you have been living among humans?"
"We live quietly," he replied. "Most humans never notice."
Mei Lin let out a slow breath.
Everything felt unreal, but the memory of those glowing eyes proved it wasn't a dream.
The car eventually stopped in front of her apartment building.
Before she could open the door, Liang Zhen spoke again.
"There's something else you should know."
Mei Lin looked at him cautiously.
"What now?"
Liang Zhen's expression grew serious.
"This situation isn't random."
"What do you mean?"
He turned slightly toward her.
"In our world, there's something called a mate bond."
Mei Lin frowned.
"A mate bond?"
"Yes."
Liang Zhen spoke carefully, choosing his words.
"Werewolves sometimes have destined partners. A person chosen by instinct… someone their wolf recognizes as theirs."
Mei Lin crossed her arms slightly.
"And why are you telling me this?"
Liang Zhen looked directly at her.
"Because my wolf reacts to you."
The words made her heart skip a beat.
She stared at him in disbelief.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
Mei Lin shook her head slowly.
"So you're saying that because you're a werewolf… you think I'm supposed to be your… partner?"
Liang Zhen didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he said something that made the situation even heavier.
"My wolf recognized your scent the moment you entered my office."
Mei Lin looked completely confused.
"That doesn't make sense."
Liang Zhen knew it wouldn't.
Because she still didn't know the biggest piece of the truth.
The night seven years ago.
For a moment he considered telling her everything right now.
But revealing that they had slept together in the past… and that their son existed because of it… might overwhelm her.
So he held back.
"For now," he said calmly, "just understand one thing."
Mei Lin waited.
"You're not in danger because of me."
He paused.
"You're in danger because someone else wants power."
She immediately thought of what he said earlier.
"The person watching us?"
Liang Zhen nodded.
"Han Wei."
"Who is he?"
"A rival Alpha."
Mei Lin sighed tiredly.
"This is too much."
Her quiet life had completely collapsed in a single night.
Liang Zhen understood her reaction.
"You don't have to believe everything right away," he said calmly. "But until this situation is resolved, you and your son shouldn't be alone."
Mei Lin looked at him sharply.
"You want to protect us?"
"Yes."
She studied his face carefully.
For the first time, Liang Zhen didn't look like the cold CEO she knew.
He looked serious.
Protective.
Almost… concerned.
Finally she opened the car door.
"I need time to think," she said quietly.
Liang Zhen nodded.
"That's fair."
She stepped out of the car but paused before closing the door.
"One more question."
Liang Zhen waited.
"If this mate bond thing is real…"
She hesitated slightly.
"Does that mean you're forced to love someone?"
Liang Zhen's eyes softened slightly.
"No."
"Then what does it mean?"
He answered honestly.
"It means my wolf chose you."
Mei Lin stared at him for a moment before finally closing the door and walking toward her apartment building.
Liang Zhen watched until she disappeared inside.
The mate bond had finally been mentioned.
But the biggest truth still remained hidden.
Soon he would have to tell her everything.
About the night they forgot.
And about the child who connected their lives forever.