You're My Equal, My Partner

Kaiser's voice echoed angrily, his face twisted with rage. "I gave specific orders for you to stay locked in my room!"

He grabbed my arm so hard it hurt and reddened instantly. I saw Lucien take another step forward, his eyes fixed on Kaiser's hand on my arm. A low growl rumbled from his chest.

"Is this woman yours?" Lucien asked Kaiser, his voice deadly calm.

"She's my property," Kaiser said with a cruel smile. "My future wife."

"Your wife?" Lucien's eyes flashed silver. "She's your mate?"

"No. But she belongs to me by treaty. In four months, she'll be mine officially."

Lucien looked at me. Really looked at me. I saw him take in my old dress, my bruised arm, the healing cut on my forehead from when Kaiser had hit me.

"She's hurt," Lucien said softly.

"I discipline my property as I see fit," Kaiser replied.

"She's not property." Lucien's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "She's your pack member. You're supposed to protect her, not abuse her."

"I'll do whatever I want with what's mine."

Lucien's jaw clenched. "Release her."

"I don't think so." Kaiser's grip on my arm tightened. "This doesn't concern you, Alpha Lucien."

"It concerns me more than you know." Lucien's eyes met mine again. "Tell him, Maya. Tell him what you are to me."

My mouth went dry. Everyone was staring at us. Victoria looked furious. The other pack leaders watched with interest.

"I..." I couldn't get the words out.

"She's my mate," Lucien said, his voice ringing clear through the hall.

Gasps echoed around the room.

Kaiser's face went pale, then red with rage. "That's impossible."

"It's not impossible. It's true." Lucien took another step closer. "Now release her. Immediately."

"The treaty…"

"The treaty is void," Lucien interrupted. "The Moon Goddess has chosen. She's mine."

Kaiser looked at me with extreme anger, I instantly stepped back. "You planned this," he hissed. "You manipulated…"

"She didn't plan anything," Lucien said. "Fate did. Now let her go before I make you."

Kaiser released my arm and shoved me forward. I stumbled, but Lucien was there, catching me before I could fall.

His hands on my arms sparked sensations through my body. That incredible scent surrounded me, making me dizzy.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly.

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

He looked at Kaiser. "We're leaving. Tonight. And she's coming with me."

"Like hell she is!" Kaiser snarled. "The treaty…"

"Is void," Lucien repeated. "She's my mate. That supersedes any treaty. Unless you want to argue with the Moon Goddess herself?"

Kaiser looked like he wanted to kill us both. But he couldn't argue with mate law. Nobody could.

"Fine," he spat. "Take her. But don't come crying to me when you realize what worthless trash she is."

Lucien's eyes flashed dangerously. "Watch your mouth."

"She's nothing," Kaiser continued, his voice dripping with venom. "A throwaway daughter. Weak. Broken. Used. You think she's some kind of prize? She's garbage."

Each word hit me like a physical blow. Because part of me believed them.

Lucien's hand moved to my waist, pulling me closer to him. "She's my mate," he said quietly. "That makes her worth more than your entire pack combined."

He turned to look at me, his silver eyes searching my face. "We're leaving. Right now. Will you come with me?"

I looked at Kaiser, who stared at me with pure hatred. Then at Victoria, who looked smug, like she'd known all along I wasn't good enough for her brother.

Then I looked at Lucien. My mate. The man the Moon Goddess had chosen for me.

He didn't look disappointed anymore. He looked protective. Possessive. Like he would fight anyone who tried to take me away.

"Yes," I whispered. "I'll come with you."

His face softened into a small smile. "Then let's go home."

But as we turned to leave, I caught sight of a figure in the shadows at the back of the hall. A man in a black hood, watching us with cold eyes.

The same man who'd been talking to Marcus in the dark.

And he was smiling.

Lucien's hand stayed on my waist as we walked out of the main hall. His touch felt protective, not possessive like Kaiser's. But my whole body was shaking.

Everything had happened so fast. Ten minutes ago, I'd been trapped in Kaiser's room. Now I was walking out with the most powerful Alpha in the region, who claimed I was his mate.

It felt like a dream. Or a trap.

Behind us, I could hear angry voices. Kaiser was shouting at someone. Victoria was crying. The party had turned into chaos.

"Keep walking," Lucien said quietly. "Don't look back."

Three large wolves walked beside us. Warriors from his pack, I guessed. They formed a protective circle around us as we headed toward the black SUVs outside.

"Alpha," one of them said, a man with scars on his face. "Should we prepare for conflict?"

"Kaiser won't attack," Lucien replied. "He's arrogant, but he's not stupid. He knows what happens to packs that violate mate law."

"And if he tries anyway?"

Lucien's eyes flashed silver. "Then we remind him why Blood Moon is the strongest pack in the region."

We reached the cars. Lucien opened the back door of one SUV and helped me inside. He slid in next to me while his warriors got into the other vehicles.

As soon as the door closed, the scent of him surrounded me completely. Pine and rain and that wild smell I couldn't identify. My wolf purred inside my head.

"Mate," she whispered. "Our mate."

But my hands wouldn't stop shaking.

Lucien noticed. He reached over and took one of my hands in his, his thumb rubbing gentle circles on my palm.

"You're safe now," he said softly. "I promise. He can't hurt you anymore."

I looked at him properly for the first time. His face was all sharp angles and strong lines. His eyes were the color of storm clouds, framed by dark lashes. A small scar cut through his left eyebrow.

He was beautiful in a dangerous way.

"Why?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"Why what?"

"Why did you look disappointed when you first saw me? You said it couldn't be right."

His jaw tightened. He looked away, out the window as the car started moving.

"I wasn't disappointed," he said finally. "I was shocked. And angry."

"At me?"

"At the Moon Goddess." He turned back to me, his eyes intense. "For giving you to a man like Kaiser. For letting you suffer. When I saw the bruises on your arm, the cut on your head, I wanted to rip him apart."

Something warm spread through my chest.

"But you don't even know me," I said.

"I know you're my mate. That's enough."

"Is it though?" I pulled my hand away from his. "You saw what I am. What Kaiser said was true. I'm just a servant. A throwaway daughter. Weak and…"

"Stop." His voice came out harsh. "Don't repeat his lies. Those are his words, not the truth."

"They are true," I insisted. "My own father gave me away when I was ten. I've been Kaiser's property for fourteen years. I'm nobody."

"You're not nobody." He reached out and tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his eyes. "You're the Luna of Blood Moon Pack now. My equal. My partner. And anyone who treats you as less than that will answer to me."