Chapter 5 :The Mate I Cannot Forget

Kael Nightshade's POV

The moment I stepped into my mother's room, I forgot how to breathe.

She was awake.

After years of watching her lie motionless in bed, after countless nights of praying to the Moon Goddess to bring her back to us, she was finally looking at me with those familiar eyes.

And then she smiled.

"My son."

Those two words nearly broke me.

I crossed the room in a few hurried strides and dropped beside her bed. Taking her carefully into my arms, I hugged her as though I could somehow make up for all the years we had lost.

"Mom," I whispered, my voice rough with emotion. "I missed you."

She wrapped her arms around me as best she could, gently stroking the back of my head.

"I missed you too, my child."

I closed my eyes, holding her a little tighter.

"Please don't do this to us again," I murmured. "You have no idea how much we've suffered without you."

Her hand stilled against my back.

When I finally pulled away, I saw tears gathering in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Kael," she whispered. "I'm so sorry. I never wanted to leave you and Mira alone."

I shook my head.

"You don't have to apologize, Mom. Just promise me you'll fight to get better. We still need you."

She cupped my cheek, studying my face as though she were trying to memorize every detail.

"You've grown so much."

I let out a quiet laugh.

"That's what happens when you leave me in charge of an entire kingdom."

She laughed softly, and the sound filled the room with a warmth I hadn't realized I was missing.

For the first time in years, my mother's chambers felt alive again.

Before either of us could say another word, the door flew open.

"Mom!"

Mira rushed inside.

She stopped at the foot of the bed, staring at our mother with wide eyes. For a moment, she seemed unable to believe what she was seeing.

Then her face crumpled.

She hurried forward and threw her arms around Mom, burying her face against her shoulder.

"Mom, I missed you!" she cried. "I missed you so much!"

And just like that, my twenty-two-year-old sister became a five-year-old child.

Mom held her gently, smoothing her hair.

"I'm here, sweetheart. I'm here."

"I thought you would never wake up!" Mira sobbed. "Do you know how lonely I've been? Kael is always working, and Liam keeps telling me I should stop bothering the guards, and nobody lets me do anything fun!"

I stared at her.

Unbelievable.

Our mother had been unconscious for years, and Mira had somehow managed to turn her emotional reunion into a complaint about her social life.

I rolled my eyes.

What a drama queen.

Unfortunately, my mother noticed.

She glanced at me with a knowing smile.

"Don't start, Kael."

"I haven't said anything."

"Your face said enough."

Mira lifted her head from Mom's shoulder and glared at me through her tears.

"You're so mean!"

"And you're twenty-two."

"So?"

"So, perhaps you should stop crying like a child."

She gasped as though I had personally betrayed her.

"Mom! He's bullying me!"

Mom laughed.

Actually laughed.

And suddenly, I didn't care how ridiculous my sister was being. I would gladly endure a thousand dramatic complaints if it meant hearing that sound every day.

I looked at my mother and felt something inside me settle.

We were together again.

For tonight, that was enough.

Dinner that evening was unlike any meal we had shared in years.

The royal dining room, which had often felt unbearably quiet, was filled with conversation and laughter. Mom sat at the head of the table, looking tired but happy, while Mira remained glued to her side as though someone might steal her away if she looked elsewhere.

I had ordered the kitchen to prepare several of Mom's favorite dishes, although the royal physicians insisted she should begin with smaller portions.

Mira, naturally, had opinions about everything.

"Mom, you have to try this," she said, placing a small portion of food on Mom's plate. "It's delicious."

"Thank you, sweetheart."

"And you should eat more of this too."

"Mira," I interrupted, "the physicians have already given her a meal plan."

My sister turned to me.

"Do you ever stop being an Alpha King?"

"No."

"That's unfortunate."

I stared at her.

She smiled sweetly and returned her attention to Mom.

I shook my head, hiding a smile behind my glass.

It felt strange to be sitting at a table with my entire family again. For years, I had carried the responsibility of keeping Shadowfang strong while trying to hold together the pieces of my own family.

Now, watching my mother listen to Mira's endless chatter, I felt a quiet gratitude I couldn't put into words.

Perhaps things could finally become better.

Perhaps we could learn to be a family again.

For the first time in a long while, the future didn't look entirely bleak.

But even as I laughed at Mira's ridiculous stories, my thoughts kept drifting toward the woods.

Toward the river.

Toward a girl with blonde hair and a scent like roses.

My wolf stirred restlessly.

Mate.

I tightened my fingers around my glass.

Not now.

We need her.

I ignored him.

Or tried to.

The truth was, I had not stopped thinking about her since I left the river. I remembered the softness of her voice, the curiosity in her eyes, and the way she had wrapped her arms around my neck without the slightest fear.

She had touched me as though I were an ordinary wolf.

Not a king.

Not a ruler.

Just a creature she had found beside a river.

And somehow, that had meant more to me than all the admiration I had received throughout my life.

I wanted to see her again.

I wanted to know her name.

I wanted to hear her laugh.

Most of all, I wanted to understand why the Moon Goddess had brought her into my life at a time when I had almost convinced myself that happiness was a luxury I could not afford.

"Kael?"

Mom's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I looked up.

"Yes?"

"You've been staring at your food for the past minute."

Mira leaned forward, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"He's thinking about something."

"I'm always thinking about something," I replied.

"That's not what I mean."

"Then perhaps you should explain what you mean."

She opened her mouth, but Mom interrupted before another argument could begin.

"Leave your brother alone, Mira."

My sister pouted.

I returned to my meal, grateful that my mother had spared me an interrogation.

If Mira discovered I had found my mate, she would probably announce it to the entire kingdom before breakfast.

And I wasn't ready for that.

Not yet.

The next three days were exhausting.

My mother's recovery had brought happiness back into the palace, but it hadn't made the responsibilities of the throne disappear.

If anything, the work seemed determined to remind me that I was still the Alpha King.

I attended meetings with the elders, reviewed reports from our border patrols, and dealt with growing tensions between Shadowfang and neighboring territories.

The most pressing concern was the repeated attempts by the Ross pack to cross into our lands without permission.

Their Alpha had been testing our boundaries for weeks, sending warriors toward disputed territory and forcing my patrols to intervene.

I had no intention of allowing the situation to escalate into a war, but I would not permit another pack to mistake my restraint for weakness.

Every day brought another discussion, another report, or another problem demanding my attention.

I also worked on strengthening our alliances with neighboring packs, arranging meetings with their leaders and discussing ways to protect our territories from future threats.

By the end of each evening, I was exhausted.

Yet no matter how busy I became, one thought remained constant.

My mate.

My wolf was becoming unbearable.

He paced restlessly inside my mind, interrupting meetings and distracting me during conversations with the elders.

Let's go to the river.

Not now.

She could be there.

I have work.

Work can wait.

I nearly growled during one particularly tedious meeting.

Liam, who sat beside me, glanced at my face.

"Are you all right?"

"Perfectly."

He studied me for a moment.

"You look like you're about to declare war on the council."

"Perhaps I should."

"That would make this meeting much more interesting."

I shot him a warning look.

He grinned.

Liam had always possessed an irritating ability to recognize when something was bothering me. Unfortunately, he was also one of the few people I trusted enough to tell the truth.

Later that afternoon, I summoned him to my study.

He entered and closed the door behind him.

"You wanted to see me?"

I nodded toward the chair opposite my desk.

"Sit."

He did, his expression turning attentive.

I hesitated briefly before speaking.

"I found my mate."

For once, Liam had absolutely nothing to say.

He stared at me.

Then he leaned forward.

"You're serious?"

"Completely."

"The Moon Goddess has finally given you a mate?"

I gave him a flat look.

"Do you want me to repeat myself?"

A huge grin spread across his face.

"Kael, that's incredible!"

He stood so quickly that his chair scraped against the floor.

"I can't believe it. After all these years—"

"Liam."

He stopped.

I lowered my voice.

"No one can know. Not yet."

His excitement faded into understanding.

"You want to keep it private?"

"Yes. I haven't even learned her name. She doesn't know who I am, and I have no idea how she'll react when she discovers the truth."

Liam nodded slowly.

"Understood. Your secret is safe with me."

"Good."

He paused, then smiled again.

"But I reserve the right to be happy for you."

I shook my head.

"Do whatever you want. Just don't tell anyone."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

He bowed dramatically before leaving.

I watched the door close, then leaned back in my chair.

At least one person knew.

And there was someone else I needed to tell.

My mother.

That evening, I visited Mom in her sitting room.

She was resting on a comfortable sofa near the window, a blanket draped over her legs. Although she still looked tired, the color had begun returning to her face, and the physicians were cautiously optimistic about her progress.

When she saw me, she smiled.

"Come and sit with me, Kael."

I settled into the chair beside her.

For a moment, we spoke about her recovery and the kingdom. Then I grew quiet.

Mom studied me.

"Something is on your mind."

I exhaled slowly.

"There's something I want to tell you."

She waited patiently.

"I found my mate."

Her eyes widened.

Then her entire face brightened.

"Oh, Kael!"

She reached for my hand.

"Are you certain?"

"My wolf recognized her immediately."

"Where is she? Who is she? Does she know?"

I couldn't help smiling at her questions.

"I met her in the woods, near the river. She doesn't know who I am, and I haven't learned her name yet."

Mom's expression softened.

"Tell me about her."

I found myself describing the girl in more detail than I had intended. Her long blonde hair. Her beautiful eyes. The sweet scent of roses that had drawn me toward her. The way she had touched my wolf without fear.

And the way I had felt when she wrapped her arms around me.

Mom listened without interrupting.

When I finished, she smiled knowingly.

"It sounds as though she made quite an impression on you."

I looked away.

"Perhaps."

She laughed softly.

"Kael, I've known you since the day you were born. You cannot hide your feelings from me."

I sighed.

"She was kind to me, Mother. She didn't know I was the Alpha King. She simply saw a wolf and treated me gently."

"Then perhaps that is exactly what you needed."

I turned toward her.

"What do you mean?"

"Perhaps you needed someone who could see you without your title standing between you."

Her words settled over me.

I had spent so much of my life being judged by my position that I had almost forgotten what it felt like to be seen as anything else.

Mom squeezed my hand.

"Is she one of our kind?"

I shook my head.

"I don't think so. I believe she's human."

Mom grew thoughtful but didn't look alarmed.

"Then you must be patient with her. She may not understand our world, our customs, or what it means to be a fated mate."

"I know."

"Don't rush her, Kael. Don't overwhelm her with your title or expect her to understand everything immediately. Let her get to know you, and be careful not to frighten her."

I nodded slowly.

"I don't want to scare her away."

"Then give her a reason to trust you."

For a while, neither of us spoke.

Then Mom smiled again.

"Visit the river when you can. If she returns, perhaps you'll have the chance to speak with her. Take things slowly and let the Moon Goddess guide you."

I glanced toward the window.

The woods were beyond the palace walls, waiting beneath the evening sky.

I wanted to go there immediately.

I wanted to find the girl who had unknowingly claimed my heart with a single touch.

But I had responsibilities to fulfill, and I would not approach her carelessly.

Soon, I promised myself.

Soon, I would return to the river.

I would find my mate.

And this time, I would not leave without learning her name.