Chapter 4: The Scent Of My Mate

Kael Nightshade's POV

Being the Alpha King was not as glorious as people imagined.

Most people saw the crown, the power, the magnificent palace, and the respect that followed my name. They saw a king who could command an entire kingdom with a single word and make even the strongest Alpha bow his head.

What they did not see were the sleepless nights, the endless meetings, the burdens of leadership, and the responsibilities that seemed to multiply with every passing day.

Sometimes, I wondered whether I had ever truly known peace.

Today was one of those days.

I sat behind the enormous oak desk in my study, staring at a pile of documents that seemed determined to bury me alive. Reports from the northern borders lay beside requests from neighboring packs. There were disputes to settle, patrol schedules to review, and meetings I had postponed so many times that my Beta had threatened to drag me out of my office himself.

I rubbed my forehead and leaned back in my chair.

"Enough."

The word came out as a growl.

The two guards standing near the door immediately straightened.

I glanced at them. "Not you two. Leave."

They bowed and hurried out.

I stared at the documents again before pushing them away.

I had been working since dawn, and I was beginning to feel like a prisoner in my own palace.

Being king meant that everyone expected something from me. My warriors expected protection. My people expected strength. The council expected decisions. And my family—

My family needed me more than anyone.

My father had died several years ago, leaving behind a kingdom that needed a strong ruler and a family that was slowly falling apart.

His death had broken my mother.

Queen Elara had once been the heart of Shadowfang. She had been warm, graceful, and strong enough to silence an entire room with a gentle look. Even the oldest members of the council had respected her wisdom.

But after my father's death, something inside her had shattered.

She withdrew from everyone. She barely spoke, barely ate, and eventually slipped into a coma.

The royal physicians had tried everything they could. They prepared medicines, called upon the most experienced healers, and searched for answers, but my mother remained trapped in a darkness none of us could reach.

Sometimes, when I visited her, I would sit beside her bed and hold her hand, telling her about the kingdom, the weather, and the little things that happened in the palace.

I told myself that perhaps she could hear me.

Perhaps somewhere deep inside, she knew I was there.

I refused to believe that she had completely left us.

And yet, every day I watched her lie motionless, a part of me feared that I might never hear her voice again.

I clenched my jaw.

I had lost my father. I could not lose my mother too.

Then there was Mira.

My younger sister was twenty-two years old, but sometimes I wondered whether she had stopped growing emotionally at the age of twelve.

She was beautiful, clever when she wanted to be, and annoyingly good at getting her way. She could turn a serious conversation into a ridiculous argument within seconds, and she had absolutely no respect for my attempts to appear intimidating.

She was also the only person who could make me forget, even briefly, how heavy the crown felt.

I loved her more than I could explain.

That was why I had to be strong.

For my mother.

For Mira.

For Shadowfang.

And sometimes, I wished someone would ask who was being strong for me.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in."

The door opened, and my Beta, Liam, stepped inside.

Liam was one of the few people I trusted without reservation. He had been my closest friend long before I became king, and he was familiar with every one of my moods. Unfortunately, that meant he had no fear of telling me when I was behaving like an idiot.

He glanced at the mountain of documents on my desk.

"Still working?"

I gave him a flat look. "What does it look like?"

"Like a king who desperately needs fresh air."

"I need a new Beta."

"You say that every week, Your Majesty."

"And every week, you give me another reason to mean it."

Liam grinned and pulled a chair closer to my desk.

"Then allow me to make myself useful. I'll handle the remaining reports, review the patrol schedules, and deal with the council's complaints."

I raised an eyebrow. "All of them?"

"Most of them."

"Liam."

"Fine. All of them." He sighed dramatically. "But if someone asks me to settle another argument about boundary stones, I'm leaving the kingdom."

For the first time that day, I almost smiled.

"You're welcome to try."

"Wonderful. I'll begin planning my escape immediately."

He stood and gathered several documents from my desk.

I watched him for a moment before speaking.

"I'm going for a run."

Liam stopped.

Then he slowly turned toward me.

"You?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Would you prefer that I stay here until I become part of the furniture?"

"No, Your Majesty. I'm simply surprised. I can't remember the last time you went running without three warriors, two guards, and a royal physician attempting to follow you."

"Then perhaps you should learn to mind your own business."

"Perhaps you should learn to take a day off."

I rose from my chair and straightened my black shirt.

"You're in charge until I return."

Liam's expression turned serious.

"Understood."

I paused at the door.

"And Liam?"

"Yes?"

"If I return to find that you've given my crown to Mira, I'll have your head."

He laughed.

"Then I suppose I'd better keep an eye on the princess."

I left before he could say anything else.

For the first time in weeks, I felt the faintest hint of freedom.

The woods surrounding Shadowfang were among my favorite places in the kingdom.

They stretched for miles beyond the pack's main territory, filled with towering trees, thick undergrowth, and winding paths that few humans would have been brave enough to explore.

To me, the forest was more than a place to run.

It was where I could silence the expectations of the throne and simply exist.

The moment I reached a secluded clearing, I removed my shirt and trousers, placing them safely beneath a large rock before allowing my wolf to rise to the surface.

The transformation came naturally.

My bones shifted, my muscles expanded, and within seconds, my human form disappeared beneath a thick coat of black fur.

I shook my enormous body and lifted my head.

The forest welcomed me with familiar scents: damp earth, pine needles, wildflowers, and the distant presence of my pack.

Then I ran.

My paws struck the ground as I raced between the trees. The wind swept through my fur, and the steady rhythm of my movement drove the thoughts of the palace from my mind.

For the first time in days, I was not a king.

I was simply a wolf.

I ran farther than I had intended, crossing a familiar stretch of woodland and following a narrow path toward a river that flowed near the edge of our territory.

Then something changed.

I slowed.

My ears lifted.

A scent drifted through the air, so delicate that I almost mistook it for the fragrance of flowers carried by the breeze.

Roses.

Fresh roses touched by morning dew.

I inhaled again.

No.

It wasn't merely the scent of flowers.

There was something else beneath it—something sweet, warm, and strangely familiar.

Something that reached into the deepest part of me and stirred a feeling I couldn't explain.

My wolf lifted his head.

There.

I turned toward the river.

The scent grew stronger with every step, pulling me forward with an insistence I couldn't resist. I moved carefully through the trees until the sound of flowing water reached my ears.

And then I saw her.

A girl sat beside the river, resting beneath the shade of a tree.

Sunlight slipped through the branches, falling across her long blonde hair. A few strands framed her face, and her dress spread softly around her as she leaned back against the tree trunk.

She appeared peaceful.

Completely unaware that she had just turned my world upside down.

I stood behind the bushes, watching her.

I had seen beautiful women before. As the Alpha King, I had met princesses, noblewomen, and daughters of powerful Alphas who had hoped to catch my attention.

None of them had ever made me feel the way this stranger did.

The scent of roses surrounded her, filling my senses until I could barely think of anything else.

My wolf shifted restlessly inside me.

Go to her.

I remained still.

Go to her, Kael.

I took a step forward.

A twig snapped beneath my paw.

The girl turned her head.

Our eyes met.

For one suspended moment, neither of us moved.

Her eyes widened slightly, but there was no scream, no immediate attempt to flee. She simply stared at me with unmistakable curiosity.

I knew what I looked like.

In my wolf form, I was larger than most wolves, with thick black fur and striking blue eyes. Even experienced warriors sometimes hesitated when I approached them like this.

Yet the girl did not seem frightened.

She tilted her head.

"Well, aren't you beautiful?"

Beautiful?

I blinked.

I was fairly certain no one had ever described me that way while I was in wolf form.

She slowly rose to her feet.

"Are you lost?"

I almost snorted.

Lost?

I was the king of an entire werewolf kingdom. I knew these woods better than most of my warriors knew their own homes.

But she didn't know that.

To her, I was simply a large black wolf standing near a river.

She took a careful step closer.

I should have retreated.

I should have remembered that I had no idea who she was or why her scent affected me so strongly.

Instead, I remained where I was.

She extended her hand, allowing me to approach at my own pace.

"Don't worry," she whispered. "I'm not going to hurt you."

Something inside my chest tightened.

Her voice.

It was soft and melodious, carrying a warmth that seemed to settle over my restless wolf.

I moved closer.

She watched me carefully, a small smile forming on her lips.

"That's it."

Her fingers brushed the fur near my head.

The instant she touched me, the entire world seemed to fall silent.

A strange warmth spread through my body.

My wolf went utterly still.

Then—

Mate.

The word thundered through my mind.

I froze.

Mate!

My heart slammed against my ribs.

No.

It couldn't be.

I had spent years believing that the Moon Goddess had no intention of granting me a mate. As Alpha King, I had responsibilities that stretched far beyond my personal happiness, and I had long since accepted that I might never find the person destined to stand beside me.

Yet my wolf was certain.

Our mate! Our mate!

I stared at the girl.

She was still stroking my fur, apparently unaware that my entire existence had just changed.

Her fingers moved gently along my head, and she laughed softly when I leaned into her touch despite myself.

"You're such a gentle giant, aren't you?"

Gentle giant.

If my warriors could hear her, I would never know peace again.

But I didn't care.

For those few precious moments, I allowed myself to enjoy the feeling of her hand against my fur.

She sat down again and patted the grass beside her.

I hesitated before lowering myself to the ground.

She looked pleased.

"There. That's better."

She leaned against the tree and studied me.

"I've never seen a wolf as big as you before. And your eyes..." She paused, looking directly into them. "They're such a beautiful blue."

I couldn't look away from her.

There was something familiar about her, though I knew I had never seen her before.

Or perhaps I had.

Perhaps the Moon Goddess had been leading me toward her all along, waiting for the exact moment when our paths would finally cross.

The girl reached forward and wrapped her arms around my neck.

I went rigid.

No one embraced me like that.

Not without fear, hesitation, or an expectation of something in return.

But she held me as though I were nothing more than a beloved companion she had stumbled upon in the woods.

And strangely enough, I wanted her to keep holding me.

I lowered my head against her shoulder.

My wolf practically purred with happiness.

Mate. Ours. Protect her.

I had never felt so completely certain of anything in my life.

She was mine.

My fated mate.

The woman the Moon Goddess had chosen for me.

And I didn't even know her name.

The thought should have frustrated me, but I found myself watching her with growing fascination instead.

Finally, she drew back slightly.

"I suppose I should ask you something."

I lifted my head.

"What is your name?"

I stared at her.

For one absurd moment, I considered answering her in my human voice.

Instead, I could only watch as she waited patiently for a response.

She smiled at my silence.

"Of course. You can't tell me, can you?"

If only she knew.

She ran her fingers through the fur between my ears.

"Then I'll just call you my beautiful stranger."

My beautiful stranger.

My wolf practically howled inside me.

I was the Alpha King of Shadowfang. My name was spoken with respect and fear across neighboring territories. My title alone could make seasoned warriors lower their heads.

Yet this girl had reduced me to a wolf who wanted nothing more than to remain beside her.

I had never experienced anything like it.

And I didn't want it to end.

Unfortunately, the Moon Goddess apparently had other plans.

A sharp mind-link suddenly pierced through my thoughts.

Kael!

I stiffened.

Liam.

His voice sounded urgent.

Kael, where are you?

I reluctantly pulled my attention away from the girl.

In the woods. What happened?

It's your mother.

Every muscle in my body tightened.

What about her?

There was a brief silence.

Then Liam's voice came through again, filled with disbelief and excitement.

She's awake.

For a moment, I couldn't understand the words.

My mother.

Awake.

I stared at the river, struggling to process what I had just heard.

Kael, did you hear me? The queen has opened her eyes. The royal physicians are with her now. You need to come back immediately.

My chest tightened.

For years, I had prayed for this moment.

I had begged the Moon Goddess to give my mother another chance. I had sat beside her bed, wondering whether she would ever hear my voice again.

And now she was awake.

I looked at the girl beside me.

She was watching my sudden change in behavior with a puzzled expression.

I wanted to stay.

Every instinct in my body demanded that I remain beside her. My wolf was practically clawing at my mind, furious at the thought of leaving our newly discovered mate.

But my mother needed me.

And I had no idea how long she had been awake or whether her condition was stable.

I rose quickly.

The girl blinked in surprise.

"What's wrong?"

I took one step backward.

She stood too, looking confused.

"Hey. Where are you going?"

I looked at her one last time.

Her blonde hair glowed beneath the sunlight, and her eyes held a mixture of curiosity and disappointment.

I wanted to tell her that I would return.

I wanted to promise her that I would find her again.

Most of all, I wanted to know her name.

But I could not explain any of that to her in my wolf form.

So I turned and raced into the forest.

Behind me, I heard her call out.

"Wait! You can't just leave!"

The sound followed me between the trees.

Every step away from her felt wrong.

My wolf fought against the distance, urging me to turn around, but I forced myself to keep running.

My mother was awake.

That was all that mattered for now.

I would return to the river.

I would find the girl with the scent of roses.

And I would discover who she was.

Because the Moon Goddess had finally given me what I had almost stopped hoping for.

A mate.

My mate.

I would not lose her.

Not when I had only just found her.

By the time I reached the palace, I had shifted back into my human form and dressed in the clothes I had left near the clearing.

I barely acknowledged the guards as I hurried through the corridors.

When I reached my mother's chambers, I found Liam waiting outside.

He looked up immediately.

"Kael."

"How is she?"

"She's conscious. The physicians are examining her now."

I pushed open the door.

My mother lay against the pillows, her eyes open and moving slowly around the room.

For several seconds, I could do nothing but stare at her.

Then her gaze found mine.

"Kael?"

Her voice was weak, almost a whisper.

But it was her voice.

The sound I had feared I might never hear again.

I crossed the room and took her hand.

"Mother."

Her fingers closed around mine.

And for the first time in years, I felt the crushing weight on my chest begin to ease.

I had come to the woods seeking a moment of peace.

Instead, I had found my mate.

And now, I had my mother back.

For the first time in a very long while, I dared to believe that perhaps the Moon Goddess had not forgotten me after all.