CHAPTER 001

Keira's POV

In a week's time, I would be getting married to my fated mate, Zeke. Happiness couldn't begin to describe how great I felt. This was the beginning of something new—of strengthening our pack and ruling with justice. I was Alpha heir to the Iron Wood Pack, and Zeke was a gamma who worked closely with my father.

I had the sample colours for our decorations in my hand, and I was eagerly looking for him around the pack house to show him the beautiful samples. I felt my wolf purring softly inside of me with the raw excitement that matched mine.

Just as I stepped onto the stairs, an Omega stopped me.

"Miss Keira, your archery teacher sends word to you from the training ground."

"I told him that we had no practice today!" I said, rolling my eyes.

Teacher was being extremely hard on me because of the upcoming Luna Archery Tournament. He had told me he wouldn't let me off even if this was my marriage week.

"I had already passed on the message to him," she said, looking conflicted, and I just sighed.

"Don't worry, it's fine. I'll get to him after I quickly find Zeke," I said, and she nodded and went. I walked up the stairs, still looking around for Zeke. By the increased pacing of my wolf, I knew I was close to finding him.

I heard his voice then, drifting from one of the rooms, and my smile widened as I walked towards it.

But as I reached it, I heard my sister Lyra's voice and stopped short. A crack in the door opening gave me sight of what they were doing.

Lyra had tears in her eyes as she stared up at Zeke. They were close in the familiar way they had always been; my heart ached at the sight.

Everyone whispered that if it hadn't been for the mate bond, Zeke would have chosen to be with Lyra instead. But Zeke had told me none of that ever mattered. It was the Moon Goddess's choice and our duty to the pack.

What he hadn't told me, I realised as I stared at them, was that he was in love with me and happy to be with me.

"They can't marry me off to the Lycan King," she said, her voice breaking. "I can't marry him, Zeke. Do you know how many men he's killed? He took the throne from his own father when he was sixteen."

Lyra was to get married to the Lycan King of the North on the same day I was to marry Zeke. This had been a deal from my father to strengthen his borders.

And as much as I also detested the pact based on the rumours of the Lycan King, we had to keep our side of the agreement unless he would ruin us all.

"Don't cry, please. I promise you. We will find a way to stop it," Zeke said, cupping her face and wiping her tears.

The sight before me made my wolf growl in rage.

Why did I stand rooted here? I should announce myself and make them stop this display. The colourful materials fell from my hand as the truth hit me in the face.

"Mark me. Maybe if you mark me… then he won't be able to marry me," she pleaded.

"You know I can't do that. I'm fated to marry Keira. Your father will have my head, and the pack will revolt."

This was the truth, hitting me again and again, causing my eyes to sting. To me, he owed duty, but to Lyra, he owed his heart and the core of his being.

So why did I want to carry on with the wedding? I loved Zeke. I had loved him ever since even when he only had eyes for Lyra, and him being my fated mate was a gift from the Moon Goddess.

"It's always about Keira, isn't it? With everything. Her Alpha blood always redeemed her even when she mistreated me just because I'm an adopted Omega with no wolf," her voice broke.

"Don't call yourself that," he said, rubbing her arm.

"Even with the tournament. I barely register after crying and begging, but my parents already think I have no chance of winning. But it's Keira who does? She always gets away with mistreating me."

"She's nothing compared to you. You're warm and thoughtful. You're kind and brave. I see potential in you. And I won't let you get married to that monster," he said, pulling her into his arms.

Another second of this would break me. This was how she worked—she'd spent years playing the fragile Omega in front of the pack while making sure I looked cruel and cold by comparison.

I had learned to live with that game a long time ago.

But Zeke? He was supposed to be mine. He was supposed to love me, not stand there holding her like she was the one he cared about.

I turned and fled as tears ran down my eyes, my wolf clawing against me. The pain was unbearable. When would he look at me that way? Sure, he had been good friends with me… but would he ever show me that tenderness?

My thoughts had me distracted, and I didn't know when I missed a step as I ran down the stairs.

My balance swayed, and I felt my legs give way. I let out a loud yell, bracing myself for the impact of the fall.

But a pair of strong hands wrapped around my waist and held me up.

"Careful," a low voice said above me.

I gasped and grabbed onto whatever I could reach, my whole body trembling.

He steadied me, and then I wiped my eyes quickly, but when I looked up… I froze.

He had pale skin and dark hair. The entire aura of a villain.

A face so striking it almost didn't look real, and eyes so cold I felt them plunge deep into me.

"Running away already?" he asked.

I stared at him, still trying to catch my breath. I had never seen him before in my life, and yet everything about him made the air feel heavy.

He took a step toward me, and my feet wouldn't move.

"You better not run, little bride," he said, "or I'll burn your whole pack down."

I swallowed hard, my mind racing to catch up. Little bride. What did that mean? Every instinct in me screamed to run, and yet I couldn't look away from him.

"W-who are you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

A slow, humourless smile crossed his lips.

"Me? The scary Lycan King of the North. You must have heard the rumours."

He tilted his head, watching me like I was prey. "I'm Magnus Valeborn.”