Hope

THORNE

Leaving Lunarava was no struggle. You don’t feel remorse leaving behind a council of old men. But leaving a dying kingdom, my kingdom, was anguish.

A land that survived only on tributes and taxes while its crops withered year after year.

Rose Circle’s lush gardens and evergreen forests mocked me. Even if I conquered them, my curse would follow. The moment I claimed their lands, their gardens would rot. The Moon Goddess made sure of that.

I was being punished for a crime I never committed.

And now, my only hope of redemption lay in finding my mate. Without them, the curse would devour my throne, and I would be forced to surrender it.

At the gates of Rose Pack, Damien and I shifted back into human form.

“My King,” he bowed.

“Damien, try to reach Lyra for me. I’ll see the Alpha.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

I moved toward the packhouse, and collided with someone.

For a heartbeat, the world stilled. Ralph, who had been restless all morning, went utterly silent. Calm.

“I’m sorry,” a soft voice whispered.

I looked down. And my breath caught.

A young man. Barely reaching my shoulder, maybe five-foot-three. His skin was the kind of dark perfection people would kill to imitate. His eyes, gods, his eyes reminded me of the calmest ocean in summer, but with flecks of silver, sharp as wolfsbane. Poisonous, yet magnetic.

If he were my mate, I would lock him away in my palace so no one else could see him. If he were mine, I would burn the world down just because he asked it of me.

Goddess help me, I would take him here and now and fill him with my pups.

Ralph howled inside me, whimpering with a longing I hadn’t heard in years. My body ached to claim him. And yet… the prophecy had never spoken of mating a human.

But surely, he couldn’t be

“Wait!” I called, as he tried to rush past me.

He froze, eyes wide, tears staining his cheeks. “I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to run into you. Please forgive me.”

“Are you alright?” My voice was softer than I intended. “Why are you crying?”

“I’m fine, sir,” he said quickly, voice trembling. “My mum will be here soon. I don’t want to keep her waiting.”

Before I could stop him, a small Audi pulled up. He slipped inside without looking back.

I clenched my fists, pulse hammering.

“Damien,” I said through gritted teeth, never taking my eyes off the car, “find out everything about that young man. Start with the plate number.”

“Yes, my King.”

Inside the boardroom, the meeting began the moment I entered. Alpha Sabastine greeted me with that uneasy smile I had seen too many times glee mixed with fear. But this wasn’t the fear of losing land or life. This was the fear of someone guarding a secret. He knew something.

“Alpha Sabastine ,” I said, folding my arms, “your tribute?”

He hesitated. “This harvest… we may not be able to pay. Our young wolves are mating and starting their new homes. They need the resources.”

“Then take this month’s tribute as my gift,” I said smoothly. “For your pups and their mates.”

Relief flooded his face. “Thank you for your generosity, my King. I hear your own pup comes of age today. Do you plan to leave with her?”

“Yes. If she finds no mate here, we’ll return to Verendale. Perhaps her destiny lies there.”

He nodded. “Since the meeting is over, perhaps you’d like to look around. You might find your mate among us.”

“Speaking of looking around…” I tilted my head, pinning him with a stare. “Tell me about the Jacksons. I saw their pup fleeing the ceremony. Why was there a human at your gathering?”

The Alpha shifted uncomfortably, his smile faltering. His scent soured with unease.

“He’s… not human, my King,” he admitted finally. “Just a lowly omega. No wolf. No scent.”

My chest tightened.

No wolf. No scent. And yet, my wolf howled for him.

This was no ordinary omega.

This was something more.

“He’s an omega. That explains a lot. And by his countenance… he must have been rejected by his mate.”

The words struck me like a hidden blade.

“Did he get rejected?” I asked sharply.

“Wh.., what, what do you mean by that?” The man stuttered, his unease twisting into anger.

“I ran into him. He was crying.”

“Who rejects one chosen by the moon goddess herself?” his voice thundered, my wolf bristling.

“One of your pups did, I guess,” I muttered.

“Foolish,” he hissed,

Though I caught the flicker of knowledge in his tone. He knew more than he should and his stammer told me it was something I wasn’t meant to learn.

I left the boardroom with a storm brewing inside me. Outside, Damien waited, far too cheerful for his own good. He tried to suppress it, but his grin betrayed him.

“Speak,” I ordered.

“My king, as I briefed earlier, his record came clean. He’s twenty. Unmated. This is his second ceremony. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, both given second-chance mates. His biological parent is Mrs. Jackson, an omega nurse who works among humans. He’s her only surviving child.”

“And?”

Damien hesitated. “That’s all… except he is close friends with Lyra.”

I narrowed my eyes. “But that isn’t the reason you’re bouncing like a pup, is it?”

His ears flushed red. “She’s my mate, my king. Lyra. She doesn’t seem enthusiastic about it, but.. ”

I cut him off with a growl. “Hold your horses, young man. You’re saying you’re mated to my pup?”

“Yes, my king. I’ll need your blessing to court her.”

“Oh, then why are you still standing here? Go find her!” I waved him off, though the corners of my lips twitched. The boy had no idea what storm he’d walked into.

Before Damien could retreat, a familiar voice pierced the air.

“Dad!”

I turned around just in time to catch my daughter as she launched into my arms. “Princess. How’s my angel doing? I hear you’re giving my delta a hard time.”

“Dad!” she groaned. “Not now.”

I chuckled. For a healer, Lyra was stubborn to her core. Damien was in for a challenge, and I almost pitied him. Almost.

“So, what do you want to talk about, love?”

Her smile faltered. “It’s Cael. He was rejected by his mate. He wants to leave. I think he should come with us to Lunarava. He doesn’t have a wolf, Dad. If he stays here, he’ll be tormented. He’s already been bullied enough.” She spoke in one breath, her eyes burning with conviction.

My chest tightened. For some reason I wanted to protect him outside Lyra's request.

“Very well,” I said quietly. “He will come with us. We leave tomorrow, so he has time to pack and say his goodbyes.”

“Yaaay!” Lyra squealed. “Thanks, Dad!” She darted off, phone in hand.

“Damien,” I said, turning to my delta, “go help her pack. And call someone to ready the car. Don’t make your mate lift a finger when she has you.”

“Yes, my king,” he said with a bow, scurrying after her.

But Lyra returned almost immediately, tugging me aside. “Dad, privately?”

I followed her to a quiet alcove. Of all the children I had rescued from wars, Lyra was the only one who could steady me and Ralph alike. She had been the calm in every storm since I brought her to Rose Pack.

“Dad… about the mate bond,” she whispered. “I don’t know what to do. He’s way older than me. He’s your delta. He’s seen me in diapers. It feels… wrong.”

I sighed, I understood her unease. Damien had watched her grow through every embarrassing phase.

“I know, princess. But the moon goddess does not make mistakes. If she gave him to you, then she saw something you cannot yet see. And I can vouch for him, he will take good care of you and your future pups.”

Her eyes shimmered, though her smile was soft. “Thanks, Dad. I just hope you find your mate soon too.”

A quiet ache settled in me. “I hope so too,” I murmured.