First Meeting

Sebastian’s POV

The wind howled like a wounded beast as it passed through the narrow windows of the Starlit Pack's palace. Cold and magnificent Even with the fire flickering in the hearth, the hall was as lifeless as a tomb. And today, they were bringing a new haunter: my intended bride.

"Avery Walter is here, Your Highness," one of the guards said.

I did not lift my gaze right away. My fingers tightened on the armrest of my chair, made of dark oak and steel, as I mentally prepared. Yet another puppet. Another bargain in the king's power game.

But then I listened to her.

Her steps echoed across the stone, graceful yet hesitant. Like a person entering a cage for the first time.

When I finally looked up, I froze.

She looked... radiant.

I had not expected such beauty. Not like this.

Her hair fell over her shoulders like midnight silk. Skin smooth and radiant with life's subtle blush. Her eyes are gods; they are gentle and open, yet beneath the surface they are blazing with a fierceness. I could see the red tint surrounding them even from the other side of the room. Even though she had been crying, her beauty remained unaffected.

I had never seen anyone like her before.

Not at this palace. Certainly not in this cursed life.

She stood there, unsure but proud, her back straight.

"My name is Avery Walter," she said. Her voice was soft and slightly hoarse. "Nice to meet you, Prince Sebastian."

I stared at her for a moment too long.

She noticed.

Her gaze drifted to my wheelchair. I spotted it. That flicker of sympathy. And just like that, the moment ended.

"Sebastian," I said, coldly and abruptly.

Then I turned my chair and rolled away, my gaze still fixed on her.

She is stunning. Too beautiful for this place. I thought bitterly, "She is too beautiful for me." She must be one of the king's pawns... but I feel like I just saw a dream walk into my prison.

Avery’s POV

I was not sure what I expected, but it was not this.

The palace was colder than ice. Towering ceilings, long corridors, and not a single flicker of warmth. My father had not even accompanied me. He just sent two silent maids and a sealed letter to the Starlit Pack officials. He had not spoken to me since the day I agreed to the marriage.

And now I am here.

In a strange pack, with strangers, marrying a stranger.

He was absolutely breathtaking.

Prince Sebastian. Dark hair tangled, cheekbones sharp, and eyes like polished storm clouds. He was the type of man who could rule entire kingdoms with a single glance. And yet, he sat in a wheelchair, stiff-backed and distant. His silence cut deeper than any blade. No warm greetings. No polite smiles. He only gave a nod and said his name before rolling away.

I blinked, torn between admiration and awkward resentment.

He is so attractive... but also so cold. Arrogant.

Nonetheless, I noticed how his hands gripped the chair's wheel and his jaw clenched, as if he was bracing for more than just conversation. Perhaps he hated this as well. Perhaps we were both pawns.

"My lady," a soft voice called from beside me. One of the palace staff, a young man, probably no older than me, bowed politely. "His Highness has asked me to show you to your quarters."

I nodded quietly and followed him down the corridor. Behind me, my maids were already being led to the servants' wing, which was separate from where I would be staying.

TWO DAYS AFTER

After two days here, I still felt as though I was trapped in an uncanny dream that was woven together by my father's brutality and the betrayal of the people I cared about.

The cuisine was tasteless. The air was excessively crisp. The silence is deafening.

I had barely seen Sebastian since our first meeting. He kept to himself, locked in a different part of the palace, guarded and distant. The only indication of his presence was the echoing sound of his wheelchair wheels in the hall, as well as the occasional murmur of his voice with his guard or steward. I had found myself thinking about him more than I should, about his sharp jawline, the cold beauty in his eyes, and the bitterness that permeated every movement.

But I did not expect to be summoned again so quickly.

A knock came on the door, and one of Sebastian's personal guards entered, head bowed politely. "Lady Avery, His Majesty the King has summoned you and Prince Sebastian to the main court." Please be prepared to depart within an hour."

I swallowed, stood up straight, and nodded. "I will be ready."

Sebastian waited at the base of the wide staircase, dressed in a sleek black tunic lined with deep red and silver, fit for a prince if not for the wheels beneath him. Today, his wheelchair had thin silver accents and was carved from polished mahogany. It appeared majestic, yet lonesome.

When I got close, he did not say anything, but I could see his eyes dart in my direction. For a moment, he looked twice as if he had not anticipated my stylish attire. My gown was simple, deep blue with gold thread across the sleeves, but I made sure I looked like a lady.

He nodded once and motioned for us to proceed.

We traveled in silence. The air was thick with formality, reminding me that I did not really belong here. I was an outsider, brought in to seal a deal, not a girl to love.

But my wolf moved slightly, twitching beneath my skin as we walked closer together.

I frowned. What was that?

She murmured inside me, "Be alert." Something is strange about him.

I cast a sidelong glance at Sebastian. He did not appear to notice anything. His eyes were fixed forward, unreadable as always.

I paused as we entered the main palace court. A vast hall with towering pillars, marble floors that sparkled like ice, and stained-glass windows casting slanted colors across the golden throne.

There sat the King.

He wore a heavy cloak of obsidian and gold, with a crown atop his silver-streaked hair. He was younger than I expected, commandingly handsome, and as cold as winter itself. When his gaze fell on me, it was filled with interest rather than warmth.

Sebastian wheeled forward and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty."

The King said, "Nephew," with a faint smile. "You have returned."

"I never left, Your Grace," Sebastian replied calmly. "Only stayed out of the spotlight."

That made the King chuckle. "And still sharp, I see. And this has to be Alpha Walter's daughter?

I took a step forward and gave a low curt bow. "Yes, Your Majesty." "Avery Walter."

The King nodded once and then raised his hand. "Make it known before the court. The marriage of Prince Sebastian of the Starlit Pack and Lady Avery Walter of the Moonridge Pack will proceed. Preparations are to begin immediately. "The wedding will happen before the next full moon."

A low murmur sounded throughout the room. Courtiers spoke quietly behind their fans. Sebastian did not flinch.

My head remained bowed, but my heart pounded.

I felt that strange sensation again. I felt a pull, as if something was calling to me just below the surface. My wolf was pacing now, agitated.

Why do I have a sense of déjà vu with his scent? However, there is a difference. older and deeper.

I bit the inside of my cheek and followed Sebastian as we were dismissed from court. We exited into the quieter hallway together. I turned slightly to face him, a prickling of curiosity beneath my skin.

"You did not seem surprised," I said.

"I wasn't," he replied. "For years, I have known my fate. You simply arrived at the correct time."

His words chilled me, but before I could react, he turned away and rolled toward the southern wing.

Later in the day, I wandered alone through the western garden. The flowers were withering in the cold. My wolf remained on edge, ears perked inside me, pacing as if she were looking for something. Or someone.

Then it happened.

I had gone to find Sebastian not for conversation, but to better understand the person I was destined to marry.

I found him in the training room. He was alone, shirtless, seated in his wheelchair with two short swords strapped across the sides. He was practicing arm movements with such sharp focus that I had to pause at the door.

And that was when I noticed it.

A mark.

Just beneath his left shoulder blade, shaped like a crescent moon, with delicate swirls and three small claw-shaped streaks beneath.

My breath caught.

That particular mark.

It was more than just a birthmark. It was the mark. The kindness shown to wolves when fate provided them with a second chance at a mate.

Nobody could see it unless they were the other half of the bond.

And I saw it.

My heart thudded so loudly that I feared he would hear it.

He's… He is my second chance, mate.

My knees trembled.

My mate. Sebastian, was my second chance mate?

He turned abruptly, as if he sensed someone watching. Our gazes met, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw something in his expression that suggested curiosity, confusion, or even recognition.

However, it vanished.

"Avery," he stated bluntly. "Were you in need of anything?"

I opened and then closed my mouth. The words jumbled in my throat.

"No. I… "I just got lost," I lied before fleeing the room.

But nothing could undo what I had witnessed.

Sebastian is my second chance mate.