Tonight would be my eighth rejection.
And my last.
The full moon glowed over Bridgesaw Hall, and every wolf buzzed with excitement. It was the annual full moon ritual, and all wolves from every pack gathered in the vast hall to find their fated mate.
For them, it was exciting and something to look forward to.
For me, it was hell—my curse, since every one of my past mates was present and always ready to pounce on me.
“If it isn’t the witch. Come to embarrass yourself further tonight?” Lady Selene’s voice bounced through the hall as she walked towards me, a champagne flute in her hand.
Lady Selene was the mate of Alpha Theo, and my worst nemesis. One would think that because she’s a Luna and higher than me, she wouldn’t mix with the likes of me, but no. She hated my gut.
“Didn’t I tell you not to show your face in this ritual last year?”
Everyone was already looking, their faces eager for the embarrassment that was soon to come for me.
I gulped, scared and embarrassed. I hate this, hate how she singles me out every time, “I tried not to, Lady Selene… but… I’m an unmarked wolf… I can’t…”
The words had not left my mouth when a hot slap rang in my ears, the pain registering afterward. Hot tears burned at the back of my eyes, threatening to spill, but I held them in.
I will not cry. Not here. Not for them.
“Unmarked wolf?” she scoffed. “You’re not an unmarked wolf, Ilyana. You’re a plague. A witch. Isn’t that why your mates have been rejecting you?” she sneered.
“Seven mating rituals and not one acceptance. Thrown out of one pack to another every time, all because of your curse. You’re a disgrace.” She spat at me.
And they agreed.
I heard the chuckles around me, and my heart clenched bitterly in my chest. I balled my fist, embarrassment churning with anger inside of me.
I was sixteen when I attended my first mating ritual, excited like every other omega—until I found out my mate was the alpha of my pack. An omega turning to be the mate of an alpha, it was unheard of and also a symbol of bad luck for the alpha.
He didn’t even think twice. He rejected me. Cast me out of his pack.
I was sad, but young and naive, hopeful of a life with my fated mate. What was one rejection? So I moved to another pack and settled.
Then the second full moon, another alpha, from the pack that took me in.
Rejected. Cast out again.
Third time—another alpha.
That was when they started calling me cursed. No one wanted me in their pack. No one wanted the curse of mating an omega.
Then came Alpha Theo. He embarrassed me, then cast me out.
And then Selene.
In the fifth ritual, she was Alpha Theo’s second chance mate, and ever since then, she has been on my neck every single year—insulting me, harassing me, making me the brunt of every joke.
“Which alpha do you want tonight? Ryan? Th—”
“Don’t even associate me with that disgrace, Selene. I’d rather die than be mated to an omega like her,” Alpha Ryan replied scornfully.
She grabbed my jaw, her fingernails digging into it with a glare that could kill, “You’re a stain to every werewolf. Why have we even kept you alive this long? What if your curse spreads and contaminates every other omega and you start giving them ideas?”
Whispers surged around us, and her eyes shone with wickedness.
“What if every omega starts mating to alphas because of you? We should kill her.”
The room went silent at once.
She released me, turning to the alphas.
“If after tonight she’s mated to another alpha, we’ll fully know she’s a witch. She has done something and would continue to cause issues. We should begin the ritual now, kill her, and get rid of her once and for all.”
My wolf, Elara, gnawed inside of me, scared and restless at the same time. No… this cannot be. This can’t be right. It was not my fault that the moon goddess mated me to alphas every single time. I’ve asked, cried, done everything to make her break it, to mate me to someone else—but it was always one alpha after the other.
“I agree. An omega like her should not be allowed to live,” Alpha Theo added.
“Yes, I agree,” another said.
“Yes. What if I’m her mate tonight?” An alpha said,
“Let’s kill her. Make an example to every other omega so they won’t try whatever charm she did.” Alpha Liam added.
Every one of them agreed. Not one—not a single one of my past mates—even disagreed. No one spoke up for me, not even the omegas. They looked fine with it, ready to get rid of the omega stain that was me.
Lady Selene turned back, a smirk on her face like she had won.
“Let the ritual begin then!”
Suddenly, a beautiful scent hit my nose, and my wolf sprang inside of me, purring excitedly while dread filled me.
“Mate! Mate! Our mate is here!” Elara howled
Fear sank deep.
No.
No.
This cannot be.
The ritual has not even started yet. It was unheard of for one to find their mate without the mating ritual.
What… What is happening? And why me?
I moved towards the source, unable to hold myself, even though I wanted to. The sound of cars filled the air and three cars stopped in front of the hall, grabbing everyone’s attention. Only the alphas were allowed to park their cars in front of the hall before entering—and they were already here.
Who would dare park in front of the hall?
A car door opened, and a guard walked out to the first door, opening it with a bow as a leg stepped out.
My wolf purred more as the smell got stronger and more delicious. He was near. My mate. My eighth rejection and death was near.
A man stepped out of the car, and the entire hall gasped together.
My stomach sank.
This could not be.
The wolf head on his chest gave him away, and everyone immediately knew. The Alpha King, Kael Stormveil, was here. Whispers filled the air instantly.
“That cannot be…”
“Really… the Alpha King…”
“Why is he here?”
But the murmurs and whispers were nothing in my ears. Because from the moment the Alpha King stepped out, his eyes were on mine, as if he knew.
As if he was feeling the same thing that was tugging at my stomach.
The same feeling that would be my death.
His eyes didn’t leave mine as he walked towards me. Everyone parted for him, still whispering and wondering, as he stopped in front of me.
The words left his mouth before they could leave mine.
“Mate,”
TWO
ILYANA’S POV
“Mate,” his words resounded in my head again.
The whispers increased. Everyone in the room was as shocked as I was. The ritual had not even begun. Why? What…
“Did he just call her mate?” I heard someone say.
“The ritual has not even begun, and she can feel the mate bond. Truly, she’s cursed,” another omega said.
“She has done it to herself this time. Lady Selene was right. She should be dead. She’s a witch to other omegas like us.”
But the words were like air, entering my ears and leaving just as quickly. My entire focus was on the man in front of me and how breathtakingly handsome he was.
No omega had ever seen the Alpha King before. He was always in his pack, giving orders from his throne like a god. And a god he was, because everything about him was perfection.
His sharp cheekbones. Perfect golden orbs. A body that made even a simple shirt look good.
“You’re my mate?” he said again, more like a question, breaking me out of my thoughts.
Cold dread dropped into my stomach as the realization settled in.
This was death.
“What’s your name?” he asked—the same way every other alpha had asked before rejecting me.
Elara whined inside of me, excited by his closeness and scent, but also scared of what was to come. Lady Selene’s words echoed in my head again.
Another alpha, and you’re dead.
“Can’t you speak?” His voice was sharper this time, and before I could answer, Alpha Theo interrupted.
“Alpha Kael, we were not expecting you.” He rushed in front of me, shoving me aside to face the Alpha King.
I almost fell, but I steadied myself quickly, noticing the small frown on the Alpha King’s brow. He didn’t take his eyes off me, even as I lowered mine to the floor.
“But we’re glad to have you at the ritual. For years, we’ve wanted you here for the mating ceremony. It’s only a pity that your mate is this witch omega that seems to have her claws on every alpha. We were just about to kill her after the ritual.”
I clenched my jaw, anger mixing with something heavier in my chest. Was this it? Was this how I would die? For something I had no control over?
I was an orphan. A poor omega.
I had no time for anything outside my duties, not to talk of finding a witch to cast charms. All I had ever wanted was simple. My mate. A small family. A life where I didn’t have to struggle every day.
Something small.
“This is not our death. Let me out and let me fight them!” Elara growled inside me, but I pushed her down. It was not worth it.
Suddenly, the Alpha King spoke, his words cutting through the room.
“Who are you?”
I snapped my head up, and his icy gaze was locked on Alpha Theo.
Alpha Theo froze. For a second, he looked like he hadn’t heard him. Like his mind refused to process the question.
He laughed awkwardly. “Your Highness… surely you jest… I’m Alpha Theo, Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack. You called for a meeting the last time…”
“Ah,” Alpha Kael cut in smoothly.
“The alpha who had so much to say with no effort to back it up.”
Silence crashed over the hall. Thick. Suffocating.
Alpha Theo’s face drained. In all the years of attending the ritual, he was always the loudest. No one spoke down to him. Not even other alphas.
Until now.
No one said anything. Everyone was too stunned.
The Alpha King moved past him like he was nothing. My heart skipped as he stopped in front of me, tipping my jaw up softly so I could meet his eyes.
My breath caught. His scent was too close. Too much.
“I asked for your name.”
I swallowed. “Ilyana Crest, my lo—”
A sharp pain tore through my scalp as my hair was yanked back, and I was thrown to the floor. Pain shot through my body as I hit the ground.
Before I could recover, something cold trickled down from my head to my face.
“Witch!” Selene’s voice rang out. “How dare you mate with the Alpha King?”
“Your Highness, my mate was telling the truth! This omega is a witch. She only mates with alphas—a witch’s luck. Last year, she almost stole my mate. An omega like her. Alpha Kael, she’s not worth your time. She’s proud, useless, wretched. She doesn’t listen and acts like she’s on top of the world.”
Lady Selene continued, walking towards me and dumping more of the drink over me, soaking my clothes.
“Look at her. Pathetic wolf. Everyone knows alphas prefer submissive women, but she acts like she knows better. Never talks back, keeps her head low, and still looks at you like you’re beneath her. Useless. Stupid.”
Suddenly, a hand shot out and grabbed Selene’s wrist. The movement was too fast. Too precise.
My eyes widened as I met the Alpha King’s gaze before it shifted to her.
“And who are you?”
Her lips parted, words stumbling out. “My… Alpha… I’m the daughter of—”
“I didn’t ask for an explanation. I asked who you are to be spilling things on my mate.”
Murmurs rose again.
“Mate?”
“Did the Alpha King just call her mate?”
“Is he going to accept her?”
My chest tightened. No one had ever said it like that before. Not even during rejection.
“Your Highness, I assure you, she’s not worth—”
“If you say one more thing,” his voice cut through hers, “I’ll have you and your mate stripped of your position and demoted to rogues. Would you like that?”
She froze instantly, her arrogance cracking as she bowed. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry, but—”
“Do not test my patience. I am not merciful.” His voice came out low, edged with a growl.
He released her, flinging her aside. She stumbled into Alpha Theo, both of them crashing into a tray and causing a commotion.
But I couldn’t focus on that.
I couldn’t focus on anything.
My eyes were on him.
He stepped closer, closing the distance completely. Then he reached out, pulling me to my feet and using his own shirt to wipe the drink from my face.
My breath hitched.
With our eyes locked, he said the words I had wanted to hear my entire life. Even if it felt too unreal to be true.
“Mine.”
And then he kissed me.
Right there. In front of everyone.
My first kiss—stolen in a moment that didn’t feel real.
THREE
ILYANA’S POV.
This must be a dream. One I didn’t want to wake up from.
I don’t know what I was expecting when he placed his lips on mine, but not something this soft and warm. He bit down on my lower lips, a gasp escaping my mouth only for me to feel his tongue and everything inside. It was messy, but it was good.
Like the kind of thing that completed someone. His hand found its way to the back of my head, pulling me closer as he kissed me—soft and rough at the same time, moving slowly, then deeper, like he was making sure I followed his pace.
Everything disappeared.
My entire soul was lost in this one kiss.
I shut my eyes, letting him use my lips, something new blooming inside of my body. His hand trailed forward to my throat, running a finger down it and down to my chest as a moan involuntarily escaped my mouth.
Suddenly someone cleared their throat and he immediately pulled away from me. I opened my eyes to meet his own. For a second, he looked… surprised. Almost unsure. Then it disappeared.
A small crease formed between his brows, and in a moment, his cold expression was back.
Why?
He cleared his throat and turned to a man that was trying so hard not to grin, “Carius, take her to the car.”
“Of course, your highness.”
The man stepped forward, his grin still dancing on his lips as he bowed a little, “this way, my lady.”
My eyes widened as I stuttered, “I’m…I’m no…lady..…I’m just…”
His grin further widened and he turned, walking away. I didn’t want to embarrass myself further so I just clamped my mouth shut, my head bowed as I followed him outside. I ignored the shocked looks from everyone present, my mind still reeling from the kiss and the sudden change of the Alpha king’s mood.
I couldn’t help but think this was too good to be true.
The man, Carius, opened the car door and pointed for me to enter, “Just wait here, we’ll be back soon.”
I bowed cringely back, pasting a smile I had no idea where I pulled from before entering the car. The moment I sat on it, every taut muscle in me lessened, the softness and perfectness of it warming my body up. The insides smelled like luxury, like it was meant for just greatness and people that deserved it.
Not exactly for people like me.
What had I done my entire life besides being rejected?
“Suffered, Ilyana. You’ve suffered. We deserve this,” my wolf Elara mumbled happily.
The door opened, jolting me out of my thoughts as the alpha King entered, his aura menacing and oozing from every part of his body. His glare was harsh and cold, and he flicked his eyes to mine just a bit before looking away.
My heart was racing in my chest, not knowing what to make of this. Didn’t he just call me his? And also kiss me? Why was he also acting so cold like I was Alpha Theo?
“Take that off.” He suddenly said,
I looked at him, only to see his eyes drop briefly to my chest before returning to my face.
“What…what do you mean?”
“Your clothes. They’re wet.” His gaze lingered this time, slower. “Take it off.”
My eyes widened. I was only wearing a bra under and I had no other thing to wear. If I take it off now, I’ll practically be half-naked.
“Your….your highness…”
“Are you shy?”
I swallowed, my fingers trembling a little on my laps, different emotions racing in me, “no….
In a flash, he moved, seated now in front of me. He leaned forward, close. Too close. With a slight moment from either of us, our lips could touch again. The thought made something pool down inside of me,
“We’re mates now, Ilyana.” He said quietly,
His hand lifted slightly, hovering near my collarbone for a brief second, not touching.
“Do you think your lips are the only thing I’ll be touching?”
My heart skipped.
The air in the room suddenly felt hot, stifling. I could hear my heartbeat, the sound so loud.
My heart stopped as he leaned back and immediately removed his shirt and dropped it to my lap.
My mouth watered at the sight of his chest. A necklace with a wolf head pendant sat on his neck, the wolf head tattoo covering half of it. His ribs, his muscles…
I darted my traitorous eyes away quickly, unconsciously clenching my thighs.
“I’ll let it go tonight. Change into that.” He said and suddenly closed his eyes.
I hesitated for a minute, making sure his eyes were closed before unbuttoning my top and removing it, and placing it beside me.
I picked up his shirt and wore it, and the moment it touched my skin, his scent was back and my wolf yearned inside of me, to feel him again, to smell it directly from his body.
“You whore,” I mindlinked her, “stop it.”
She purred sadly before shutting it down. He opened his eyes and checked me out,
“Good. Now get some rest, it’s going to be a long ride,” he said flatly, spreading more into his chair and shutting his eyes.
There was something different in his voice. Something distant.
Something that made me feel like this was not the fairytale of my mate choosing me like I wanted. But if this was a fairytale that might come to an end, then I better enjoy it.
The car.
His scent.
That kiss.
Even this.
I leaned back slowly, pulling his shirt tighter around me and drinking in more of his scent.
He was my mate, and I’ll be lying if I didn’t feel something for him. And I’ve vowed, this would be my last rejection.
So I’ll take whatever part of him he was willing to give before he rejects me just like the others do.
FOUR
ILYANA’S POV.
When I opened my eyes, someone was tapping me awake. I blinked and met the Alpha King’s gaze. I sat up immediately, apologies already on the tip of my tongue, but he beat me to it.
“We’re here,” he said as the door opened.
He stepped out first, and I followed. My eyes immediately widened, my body and wolf unable to mask my shock at the beauty of the house—or fortress, or castle—in front of me.
It was like stepping into a magical land. The Alpha house in all of the pack houses had been plain, nothing too small but nothing extravagant either. A gate, cars in the compound, and a two-story house.
But this… this was more.
A water fountain stood in the middle of the entire compound, water flowing from the mouth of a wolf and down into a pond. Colorful flowers circled the rest of the building, and a long staircase led up to the entrance.
“Carius will take you to freshen up. Follow him,” he said, breaking my trance before walking away immediately.
I turned to Carius, who I guessed was his beta. The man looked like he wanted to say something, as if making jabs at the back of the Alpha King’s head, before turning to me. He quickly softened and smiled.
“Don’t mind any of that, my lady,” he said with a wider smile. “Please follow me.”
I opened my mouth to tell him not to call me my lady, but I stopped. It felt… nice. Being addressed like that. Being respected.
I followed him into the house, and my shock doubled. Whatever I saw outside was nothing compared to what was inside.
Marble floors stretched endlessly beneath my feet, but they weren’t cold like I expected. They held a strange warmth that made every step feel lighter, almost unreal. The entire house cascaded in an angelic tone—soft and glowing, as if even the light had been carefully placed.
The beta stopped in front of a room and turned to me.
“We’re here.”
He opened the door. “You can use this room. All the maids are still at the ritual, so I’ll find something for you to wear myself. Maybe from the Alpha’s wardrobe, since that seems to look good on you,” he joked.
A blush crept up my cheeks. I was still in the Alpha King’s white shirt, and I immediately fidgeted with the hem.
“And Ilyana,” he called. I looked up.
“You don’t have to be scared here, or worried. You’re the Alpha King’s mate. He’ll protect you now.”
His words were warm and kind, and something heated my chest. No one had ever spoken to me like this before—not even other omegas. And now, a beta was being kind to me.
“Thank you,” I muttered softly, and he nodded.
“Freshen up. I’ll be back soon.”
I walked inside, and my breath hitched. The room was breathtaking. In the other packs I had been to, rooms were always small and cramped with omegas. This was nothing like that.
A large bed sat in the middle of the room. A sofa rested at one side. The room was painted in burgundy and decorated in wine-nude tones.
I made my way to the bathroom, only to be even more shocked. It was four times the size of an entire omega room.
I peeled my clothes off instantly and stepped into the shower, turning on the water.
This was bliss—like finally stepping into a life I had only seen from afar but never thought would be mine.
I let the warm water wash over me, closing my eyes, letting myself enjoy it. I would enjoy every bit of this.
When I was done, I wrapped a towel around my body and another on my head. I stepped out—only to freeze.
There was a woman in the room.
Her glare was sharp—too similar to Lady Selene’s, maybe even worse. She looked me over, disgust curling her lips.
“Who the fuck are you, and why are you in my room?”
My hands tightened on the towel. The comfort from the shower disappeared instantly.
“Don’t you have a mouth? Who sent you here, and why are you using my things?”
She walked closer, and I saw her properly now. An elegant gown, black hair slicked back, face perfectly made up, lips painted deep red.
“Are you dumb?” she snapped.
I jolted. “The beta brought me here.”
“Carius brought you here?” she repeated, scowling. “To my room?”
“Yes… I’m not lying. He brought me here.”
She looked at me again. “You look like an omega. Why would he bring you into the pack house? Aren’t you supposed to be at the ritual?”
My wolf stirred inside me—half pride, half defiance.
“I’m the Alpha King’s mate.”
Something shifted in her expression instantly. The venom in her eyes doubled.
“His mate? The Alpha doesn’t have a mate.”
I swallowed carefully. “He brought me from the full moon ceremony. I’m his mate. He—”
“You’re lying,” she cut in sharply.
“I don’t lie,” I said, firmer than I intended. “He brought me here and told the beta to bring me to this room.”
She stalked closer and grabbed my jaw, just like Lady Selene used to. I stepped back immediately.
I was the Alpha King’s mate. I wouldn’t let anyone bully me again.
“One more chance, you little slut, or I’ll call the guards. Who the fuck are you?”
“The Alpha King’s mate. He brought me here. Ilyana Crest.”
The room went still.
Then she laughed—low, hollow, and cruel.
When she looked at me again, her eyes were ice.
“Get out. Immediately.”
I grabbed my clothes from the floor and stepped out quickly. Before my second foot could even clear the threshold, she slammed the door shut.
The sound echoed through the hallway.
Great.
Now I was in the middle of a house I didn’t know, with no one to guide me.
I quickly changed back into my clothes and tried to find my way. I followed the path the beta had taken earlier, climbing stairs and turning corners, but it only led me deeper into the house.
The more I walked, the more fascinated I became.
Paintings lined the walls. Cold tiles stretched across every corner. The house was endless—luxurious and overwhelming.
Then I reached a door that stood out from the rest.
Most doors were gold or richly decorated. This one was brown, slightly dusty, and looked untouched.
I wasn’t a curious person—but something in me pulled forward.
“Unlocked,” I muttered as I turned the knob.
This was probably not a secret then.
The room was dark when I entered. I reached for the switch and turned on the light. It flickered twice before settling into a dull orange glow.
My stomach dropped in disappointment.
A part of me had expected something hidden—something that explained the Alpha King’s power.
Ten years ago, during the war between Lycans, vampires, and other species, it was said the Alpha King had defeated them all alone. No one knew how a single wolf could overpower them.
But this room wasn’t it.
It was a painting room. Abandoned. Dusty. Forgotten.
Was the Alpha King a painter?
Did he sell his art to the Moon Goddess to gain power?
Questions filled my mind, but there were no answers. I sighed and turned to leave.
The moment I switched off the light, a loud growl tore through the air.
Every hair on my body stood on end.
I turned the light back on quickly, eyes scanning the room. Nothing. The windows were shut. Curtains drawn.
Where did the sound come from?
My heart pounded violently. Fear crawled into my chest. I turned off the light again and rushed toward the door.
I shouldn’t be here.
I reached the hallway—
Then glass shattered behind me.
I screamed as a wolf slammed into the wall, blood staining it before it rose again.
I ran back inside, trying to shut the door, but the wolf lunged at me. The impact threw me backward into a canvas, and it fell with me.
The light flickered back on.
And I saw it.
Not just a wolf.
A creature standing on two legs. Black eyes. Large monstrous human body below. And his upper body, that of a wolf but slightly different.
My stomach dropped.
Fear flooded every vein in my body.
This… this was a Lycan.
And I was going to die.
FIVE
KAEL’S POV.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
The plan was simple: go to the mating ritual, hope to find my mate, and if I did, accept her and give her the full conditions. I’ve heard a lot about the ritual and how it goes, so I made three rules.
No drama. Don’t get attached or feel any pull. And definitely no strings.
First, there was drama. There was the pull. And there was the fucking kiss, which I still can’t get out of my head.
“One more word, Aire, and there will be no run this week,” I growled at my wolf, who immediately whined and quieted down.
The door opened, and my gaze snapped up, finding Carius entering with the grin he has been wearing since we left the mating ritual. I knew what it meant, and I wished I could stomp his fucking head and zip his mouth shut before the words came out.
He walked to the table, picked up an apple, and bit into it immediately. He didn’t say anything for half a minute, and I was already growing impatient.
“Get on with it, Carius. Don’t waste my time,” I snapped, irritated.
“Oh, it’s nothing, your highness,” he started, attempting to act serious. “Just here to take some clothes for the lady.”
I frowned, more irritated by his tone. “And why my room? Isn’t there a woman’s wardrobe for that?”
He shrugged. “I just thought since you’re giving her your clothes—the ones you never share with anyone—you might as well start sharing a wardrobe.”
I clenched my jaw, a scowl settling on my face. “She was wet.”
“I was wet at the stream, and you had two shirts, but you didn’t give me one. Of course, I should have known it’s because I’m not a woman.”
“And what happened to no drama? Going in and getting out?” he added with a chuckle. “One more word and I’ll have you demoted to rogues? Do not test me. I am not merciful.”
He burst into laughter, coughing through it, and my irritation only deepened. If he wasn’t my beta—and my best friend—I would have demoted him already.
“They were bullying her. Did you expect me not to warn them?”
“Of course,” he said, stalking toward me. “And were they bullying her for you to also kiss her?” he added, his gaze taunting.
My cheeks flushed instantly, every memory of that kiss flooding back.
“You held her throat in front of everyone, went down to her chest. If you had gotten your way, I’m sure you would have fucked her right there.”
“Don’t be a prude, you idiot.”
“Well, I’m not the one who almost fucked a girl in front of every werewolf.”
I clenched my jaw, bitterness rising at the truth in his words. I had lost control in that kiss—and control was the one thing I never lost. The moment I kissed her, everything vanished. The ache in my mind quieted. It was just her. A force I couldn’t fight, and all my wolf and I wanted was to sink into her and never stop.
“She’s very pretty,” I said flatly.
“That she is,” Carius replied.
I cocked a brow at him, something unfamiliar settling in my chest.
“Relax! I’m not taking her from you.”
I scoffed, annoyed at myself. Why was I reacting like this? I had nothing to do with her. I had a plan—one I needed to follow. Why did it bother me that Carius called her pretty?
Her image rose in my mind.
She wasn’t just pretty. There was something more.
Before I even felt the pull, she was the first person I noticed from the car. Curly brown hair. Sapphire eyes that looked like they were searching for somewhere to belong.
And those curves.
Not too slender. Not too big.
And her breasts.
My wolf purred.
So did my body, a bulge forming instantly.
“And not to mention she’s your mate. There’s no way you won’t feel attracted,” Carius added.
But it wasn’t just that.
“It’s not only that. I felt something else when I kissed her…”
“Of course you did. With that kiss, there’s no way you’d feel nothing.”
I shot him a glare that shut him up immediately. He grabbed another apple, biting into it to keep himself quiet.
“There was something more than the mate pull,” I continued, my tone serious. “When I looked into her eyes, I felt something… different. Like she’s part of me. Like I’ve known her forever. Was that how you felt with Nerissa?”
Carius paused, his expression shifting as he actually thought about it.
“I don’t think so,” he said slowly. “But it might still be the mate bond. You might be overthinking it.”
He stood and walked toward my wardrobe. “Well, I should pick something for her until the maids get back. Then we’ll find proper clothes for her.”
He had just opened it when something inside me twisted sharply, and I stopped him.
She’s my mate.
If anyone was going to pick something for her, it should be me.
“I’ll pick something. Just wait.”
I remembered how she looked in my white shirt while she slept—the slight opening at the buttons, the glimpse of skin, the way her hair fell around her face.
I grabbed one of my longer shirts.
This should do.
I had just turned back to Carius when something sharp slammed into me. My wolf howled, anger ripping through me.
“What’s wrong? Is it happening again?” Carius was beside me instantly, worry clear on his face.
I shook my head, snarling as I felt my eyes shift.
“It’s Ilyana. Something is wrong with her.”
“But… I left her—”
“She’s in danger!” I barked, already shifting into my wolf as I bolted out of the room.
SIX
ILYANA’S POV.
The Lycan roared, the sound ripping through the air and shaking the entire room before it lunged at me again. I moved fast, grabbing one of the canvases and throwing it at him, but he was faster. Before I even reached the corner I was aiming for, he was already there, lunging right back at me.
I shifted into my wolf immediately, ruining the Alpha’s white shirt. Elara growled low, the sound vibrating through me, before using all her strength to lunge at him.
I managed to tear into his neck as I brought him down to the floor.
But he was stronger.
Faster.
Bigger.
I barely had time to react before he flung me off. My body slammed into the wall, pain exploding through me as something cracked.
I hit the ground hard.
Before I could recover, he was already on me again.
He lifted me with one hand and slammed me back down, roaring straight into my face, his breath hot and foul. His jaws opened, sharp canines glinting, ready to tear into me.
Every one of my twenty-two years flashed before my eyes.
I had barely escaped death at the ritual.
Was this how I would finally die?
I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the impact when a snarl ripped through the air. Loud, dominant and deadly.
My eyes flew open as the weight on me disappeared instantly and I saw him immediately.
The biggest wolf I had ever seen. He stood there like something out of a legend—massive, towering, his black fur gleaming under the dim light. He was larger than any alpha wolf I have ever seen. Larger than all of the alphas wolves at the ritual combined.
He roared back at the Lycan, the sound shaking and rattling my bones before launching at it.
They crashed into the ground, the wolf on top of it as he tore into the Lycan with brutal force, ripping a chunk from its neck and spitting it out like it meant nothing.
His claws dug in again, relentless and merciless as the Lycan’s growls turned into whines. Broken, pathetic sounds.
But he didn’t stop.
He kept going in a mad rage. Clawing. Biting. Tearing. Any piece of skin he could lay his claws on until the Lycan finally let out one last weak cry and went still.
Heavy and thick silence followed in the room, my body still trying to catch up with what I just saw.
He turned towards me and my heart skipped a beat at his eyes. Red, deep and bottomless. The rage in them softened before he started to shift, bones cracking, his fur receding back and his wolf head slowly folding back to reveal the Alpha King with shreds of his clothes attached to his body.
I gulped down as he walked and stopped in front of me, his gaze scanning over my body.
“Will you try shifting back?” he said calmly.
Shit.
I was still in my wolf form.
I shifted back quickly, the torn remains of his white shirt clinging to my skin.
He crouched in front of me, his eyes now back to their normal color. The rage from moments ago was gone, replaced with something softer.
Something… careful.
“Are you hurt anywhere?” he asked, his voice low and filled with concern.
For me.
I was confused. Why was he concerned? He had acted coldly in the car and now he was worried.
He was the Alpha King. Someone like me should be the least of his worries.
But my wolf didn’t care about that.
She wanted this.
The attention. The care. The way he was looking at us like we mattered.
And I wanted it too.
I swallowed, glancing down at myself as I put up a fake cry. I didn’t know if I did it well or not, but it worked.
“He… the Lycan… he threw me.”
“Fuck,” he muttered.
Before I could react, he closed the distance and lifted me effortlessly, throwing me over his shoulder.
Heat pooled throughout my body, warmth flooding my senses from the action of it. Everything felt hot, dazzling and tantalizing. He cursed, and then threw me over. I didn’t even care that I was half naked or that I had just almost died.
All I could think about was him.
He carried me out of the room and into the hallway, his steps quick and purposeful.
Carius rushed toward us.
“Get the pack doctor, Carius. I want him here immediately,” the alpha king ordered.
“Your highness—” Carius started, but he cut him off sharply.
“Now.”
Carius didn’t argue again. He turned and rushed off.
The alpha king didn’t slow down.
He carried me through the halls, up the stairs, and into a room before finally placing me gently on the bed.
Gently.
Like I was something fragile.
He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, then moved to a drawer, pulling out gauze and a bottle.
My eyes followed every movement. The sharp line of his jaw, the tension in his shoulders and the veins along his arms as he worked.
He was… beautiful.
“Our mate is hot,” Elara purred softly.
And the way he moved…
Focused. Controlled. Careful.
He poured the liquid onto the gauze, then turned back to me.
Our eyes met instantly and he paused for a second before stepping closer. His throat bobbed up and down as a line appeared on his forehead,
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice husky but quiet. “This might sting a little.”
He brought it to my forehead, and immediately a sting coursed through my body, dampening all the hotness I'd been feeling from him. I hissed at the sharp pain, every part of the heat I felt from him disappearing.
“Shhhh. It’s okay,” he murmured softly, his voice bringing back everything I was feeling once again.
How nice it is to be taken care of by one’s mate. I could live in this forever, if he marked me. It could be my perfect life.
He continued working, dropping the bloodied gauze and starting over again, cleaning carefully, his hand slightly shifting every now and then, and something unfamiliar blooming inside of me.
Heat pooled low in my stomach, spreading slowly like a seed through every part of me. I was suddenly becoming too aware of his touch and his scent and it was making my skin tingle as I pressed my thighs together.
I swallowed as our eyes met all of a sudden, and the line on his forehead deepened more. His gaze dropped down slightly, turning darker before meeting my eyes. His next words made my breath hitch,
“Is this turning you on, Ilyana?”
Before I could reply, not that I had any tangible response, the door opened.
Carius stepped in, followed by a woman behind him,
“The doctor is here, your highness.”
SEVEN
ILYANA’S POV.
Thank goodness for the arrival of the beta and the doctor, how else was I going to explain that seeing just his arms, and the way he was taking care of me was enough to spread warmth through my body.
“Check her, Atasha. A lycan attacked her.”
The woman moved, turning my hands, my back, checking and cleaning, her movements not the same as the Alpha King and definitely enough to dampen the heat and warmth in my body. After checking through, she wrapped a bandage on my arm and applied some medicine on my back.
“Just a few broken bones but you’ll heal faster with this. Did you shift to your wolf?” She asked.
“Yes.” I said, a part of me was scared as I glanced at the alpha, then to the beta and to her, “I was trying to fight him off. Is that a problem?”
Back at the other packs I lived in, omegas were not allowed to shift or fight for no reason at all. The woman looked at me like I had grown two heads before chuckling, “Not at all. It’s even good you shifted. Your wolf is quite strong. If you had not shifted on time, the throw would have broken most of your bones and you’ll be paralyzed now.”
My eyes widened. Paralyzed? I had just started to live a good life but I would have been paralyzed.
“Don’t worry,” She chuckled again, tucking her hair behind her ears as she finished the bandage, “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Once you sleep and get enough rest, it’ll all be fine.”
She stood up. She looked my age, but also looked a few years older than me. She wore cat eye glasses, dressed in fine nice pants and a fitted blouse with a long jacket to cover. Her brunette hair poured behind her, stopping at her shoulders.
“Apply this to your back tomorrow again, and everything will be fine," She said, dropping a small salve container and passing me a smile before turning to the Alpha king.
“I’ll take my leave now, my lord.” She bowed.
“Thank you, Atasha.” the alpha king replied, his eyes still on me as she walked out.
She left the room, the beta disappearing with her and shutting the door. The temperature in the room dampened, my muscles tensing as I remembered my last words. I half expected him to bring it up again, but he didn’t, disappointment twinging in me.
“How did you get inside that room, Ilyana?”
I blinked, trying to figure the room until it dawned on me, “It was open. I just entered.”
He squinted, trying to gauge my reaction but there was nothing before he sighed, “Why were you down there? Carius left you in that room. We could not find you.”
“I’m very sorry,” The apology left my mouth quickly. “A woman came in and asked me to leave. I was trying to find my way and landed in that room.”
Two lines deepened on his forehead, “A woman? Lucianne?”
Jealousy and irritation twinged within me, my wolf burning with the need to know who Lucianne is and why he knows her name and why he calls her.
“I don’t know. She was just a woman.” I replied, coming off a bit curt than I had intended.
Silence drummed through the room before he finally stood up from where he was seated and stalked towards me, stopping in front of me and pulling the chair beside the bed and taking his seat, “We need to talk, Ilyana.”
The tone of his voice, the way he sat, the curtness and swift change, something was definitely wrong. It was like being Alpha Theo, or being in the car with him again. I tried thinking through what could have happened in the minutes of now that could have made him change again.
“I do not need a mate, Ilyana.”
The room stilled and Elara froze inside of me. My eyes glued to a part of his bicep stopped on it, unable to see past that.
Something chuckled within me, cackled even. What had I thought? That someone would finally accept me? That the cruelty of the moon goddess would suddenly stop?
Tears burned at the back of my eyes. But this was too cruel. Why? Why would the moon goddess do this? Was the normal rejection of the first seventh too boring? She had to invent a new one?
“But I need an heir.”
I looked up to meet his eyes, confused by what he was saying, “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I need my mate to bear an heir for me.”
The words swirled in my head, every little part piecing together to make a meaning. He wanted me, me, to give him heirs, without…
This was even more wicked.
“You won’t acknowledge the mate bond? You won’t mark me?” I said, the tears too close to lacing through my orbs.
He sighed again, “I do not need a mate. I do not need a wife. I do not need anyone to spend the rest of my life with. But I need heirs, and heirs with mates are stronger. That’s the only reason I came to the ceremony. That’s the only reason I took you, and brought you here.”
It felt like my entire life, the care, the concern, everything was spinning. Why? Why me?
“I’ll take care of you. Feed you. Give you everything you want. And you’ll provide me with an heir before the next full moon.”
I forced the tears to stay inside my eyes, looking up at him, "And if I refuse? If I don’t want to do this?”
The temperature in the room turned colder, his face immediately getting graver, not with anger, not with cruelty, but with shock and surprise masked with coldness, like he hadn’t expected that I might say this.
“Ilyana…
Before he could finish his words, the door opened, revealing a wide eyed Carius who looked like he ran all the way here, “Your highness. It’s the lycans. They’re attacking the pack.”
He stood up instantly, gone the caring alpha, now replaced with the brutal King I saw tore a lycan into pieces, “We’ll finish this, Ilyana. You can sleep here tonight.”
And then he walked out, closing the door and leaving my wolf to weep for a bond I thought for once was too real.
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