I want my life back.

CATHERINE 

My gown felt heavier than ever as I walked down the long corridor with a long row of maids trailing behind me.

Nothing could prepare me for what awaited me in Kane’s chambers.

I didn’t want to do this. Every fiber of my being screamed for me to run, to turn back and somehow escape this fate. But I kept moving forward. More like I didn't have a choice here.

Finally, we stopped. The doors to his chambers stood right before me, dark and uninviting. One of the maids stepped forward, her hands trembling as she pushed them open.

“Luna,” she whispered as her eyes darted between me and the room. “The king awaits your presence.”

My stomach churned as I stepped inside, the door creaking shut behind me. Kane sat at the far end of the room, waiting like the maid had said. 

A long table stretched between us, covered in luxurious fabrics and filled with dishes I couldn’t even begin to recognize. But all I saw was him, Kane, the Lycan King.

He was impossibly large with his wavy brown hair brushing just past his shoulders and his warm brown eyes catching the firelight in a way that made them almost golden. 

Like I started at him, his gaze was fixed on me also.

“Catherine,” he said softly, breaking the silence. “Join me.”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to move forward, one hesitant step at a time. My pulse quickened the closer I got and my skin prickling with an unwanted heat.

Why am I feeling like this?

I didn’t want to be attracted to him. I didn’t want to feel anything at all. He was supposed to be a monster. But my body seemed to betray me with every step I took toward him.

As I reached the table, I hesitated before sitting across from him. I focused on my plate, refusing to meet his gaze again.

“I had this prepared for you,” Kane said, motioning toward the food. “You should eat.”

“I’m not hungry,” I muttered, more like a silent whisper.

Kane’s brow furrowed slightly and his eyes never left me. 

“You haven’t eaten since this morning. You’ll need your strength.”

“For what?” I snapped, getting nervous. “For this… ritual? For the heir you expect me to provide?”

He paused, probably taken aback by what I said. His expression didn’t change, but there was something in his eyes, something that made me feel exposed, vulnerable.

“I understand this isn’t what you wanted,” he said calmly. “But it’s what must be done.”

I scoffed, pushing the plate away from me. “You don’t understand anything about what I want.”

He leaned forward slightly. “Then tell me. What do you want, Catherine?”

For a moment, I didn’t know how to answer him. His question caught me off guard, and the sincerity in his tone unnerved me.

I expected indifference, maybe even cruelty, but not this strange, quiet intensity that made it hard to look away from him.

“I want my life back,” I finally said, finding my voice. “I want my family, my freedom, my mate, whoever he is. I don’t want this.” I gestured between us with shaky hands.

Kane’s jaw tightened and his fingers curled around the edge of the table. 

“You believe I’m a monster,” he said, but I was so sure that sentence could pass as a question. “Is that it?”

“I don’t know you,” I said, my frustration spilling over. “I’ve heard the stories. I know what you are.”

“And what do you think I am, Catherine?”

His question remained unanswered, and for a second, I hesitated. His eyes were locked on mine now, searching for something I couldn’t name. The pull I felt toward him was undeniable, but I hated it. I hated him for making me feel this way.

“I think you’re dangerous,” I uttered. “The stories say that you’re cursed, and thinking about it, I'm probably just the next sacrifice to whatever darkness you carry.”

Kane didn’t react right away. He just stared at me, his gaze unreadable, and for a moment, the silence between us felt suffocating.

“You’re right,” he finally said. “I am dangerous. And yes, I am cursed. But I am not the monster you believe me to be.”

I swallowed hard, the knot in my chest tightening. “Then what are you?”

Kane leaned back slightly, his eyes never leaving mine. 

“I am a man who’s been alone for far too long.”

His words struck something deep within me, and for a brief, terrifying moment, I almost believed him. Almost.

But I couldn’t let myself fall for it. I couldn’t let myself fall for him.

“I don’t want this,” I whispered again, more to myself than to him.