Chapter 2

Nicholas’s POV

“Leave me be,” I ordered my guards as they flanked my door. “I wanted some time on my own.”

They bowed to me and left. As soon as the door closed behind them, I slumped into my chair, my head in my hands.

I could feel my wolf howling inside me. Norman had been feeling the effects of the full moon coming on, and he wanted out.

He wanted to find his fated mate.

I had wanted it too, but trying to control Norman and stop him from bursting forth twisted me up inside. I felt like I was about to go mad, sweat creeping down my back and causing my shirt to stick to me.

I had to stay in control. Being the Alpha King, I needed to be calm and collected, not a complete and utter mess as I searched for my Luna.

My choosing ceremony had been highly anticipated, and I was not going to waste time once I found my chosen mate.

Norman yapped at me before settling down, still agitated, but the message he sent was clear.

He would go feral if my fated mate wasn’t found as soon as possible. And with the full moon out, it felt like it was creeping along my skin.

But I didn’t think I could go through with it.

I had lost my sister, and then Esther had betrayed me. I didn’t think I could bear losing another loved one.

That would likely kill me before going feral did.

“You won’t lose another loved one,” Norman pointed out, lifting his head. “You’ll be in control once more, and nothing can ruin that.”

“I couldn’t put my sister’s death to one side because of this,” I said through gritted teeth. “I would rather have her back than go through this.”

“What are you more upset about? Your sister dying or the slave being the one who killed her?”

I didn’t know what to say to that. When Emily had died, I had been devastated, but knowing that Esther had been the one who murdered her…

I could never describe the pain I had felt when I saw her lying next to my sister’s dead body. Pain before the rage, which had now become all-consuming.

“It’s a shame that her father contributed to the pack during the war,” Norman remarked. “It would’ve been so easy to kill her back then.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“At least you’re reminding her of where she stands in this pack.”

“It would be so much easier if she confessed, and then I would truly find satisfaction in her torture,” I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose.

I had a headache coming on.

“But she’s never going to confess, so you’ll have to resign yourself to that.”

Norman paused before yapping again. “She was never your friend, so never think of her like that again.”

I had stopped thinking about Esther years ago, but now Norman gave me pause. It didn’t stop the pain from coursing through my veins, though.

I groaned as it flashed bright and hot in my chest and curled over myself. Norman might have been languishing right now, but he was eager to get out.

If I didn’t find my Luna, I was going to go feral. That wasn’t good for the Alpha King.

I couldn’t have anyone seeing me like that.

“My Lord?”

I sat up straight. Amanda had come into the room.

How had she gotten in without me realizing?

“What are you doing here?” I snapped.

“I thought you might want some… company before you join us this evening.”

Amanda gave me a coquettish smile and ran her hands down her hips.

She wore a very sexy black dress with a plunging neckline and a short skirt. Her hair was piled up on her head.

Very pleasing.

But I couldn’t. Not when Norman was close to escaping.

I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t become my father.

“Get out,” I snarled.

Amanda faltered.

“What?”

“I said get out! I don’t want anyone here with me!”

I stood up, trying not to sway as I did, and I bared my teeth at her.

“Are you deaf? I said leave!”

Amanda looked terrified now, her eyes widening in shock. She staggered back, stumbling a little on her heels.

Then she hurried out of the room.

I sagged back into my chair again. Of all the times attempting to seduce me, why would she choose now?

I couldn’t let her see me this close to being feral. If that happened…

That I couldn’t let happen. Not tonight.

Just as I thought I had Norman backed up and under control, the door opened again. I was about to tell Amanda to leave me alone again, but I stopped when a delicious-smelling scent wafted past my nose.

It was the scent of daisies, innocent and sweet. It didn’t seem to be Amanda.

I felt like I was about to lose control of myself.

Esther’s POV

I knew I was lost. I couldn’t believe I had managed to get stuck in the maze that was the palace.

I had been here plenty of times, and yet I still didn’t know my way around.

This was going to get me into trouble. I would get another beating for this, and it wasn’t even my fault.

I had to find a way out. As it was, I was on the top floor of the palace, and it was deserted.

There weren’t even any guards around, and my footsteps echoed as I padded across the tiled floor. It was eerie, and I felt a cold shiver down my spine.

Something told me I shouldn’t have been there. I needed to leave immediately.

But I couldn’t stop myself from looking around and wondering what was on this floor. I wanted to find out.

There was a set of double doors in front of me, barely a shape in the shadows that had fallen since I had been sent away to do my task. When I touched them, they felt cold under my fingers.

Cold and smooth.

My head told me I should leave before I was caught and punished again, but I ignored it. After the torture I had endured today, any further beatings were not going to do me any harm.

It was like I had given up, and I didn’t care anymore.

The door opened easily and I stuck my head inside. It was mostly dark, some light coming from the moon through the huge windows.

It was both beautiful and scary at the same time.

And I wasn’t alone.

I could sense that much. My wolf might have disappeared, but I could tell when there was someone in the room with me.

Looking around, I tried to peer into the shadows to figure out who it was. Was it a guard, or the owner of this room?

Then I saw the blood-red eyes off to my left. That was when I froze.

A wolf was there. Alone and ready to pounce.

My heart raced as panic set in. This was not what I had wanted, but I could barely move.

My feet were rooted to the spot.

A snarl reached my ears, and then I saw the large shape of the wolf bounding towards me. Turning, I reached for the door, hoping I could get it between me and the approaching predator.

If it caught me, it was going to kill me.

But I was knocked away from the door, and I ended up sprawled on the hard floor. Then there was a heavy weight on top of me, huge claws planted on either side of my head.

I could hear it panting heavily above me, its breath brushing against the back of my head.

This was it. I was going to die.

I closed my eyes and tried to relax. Maybe this was how it was meant to be, on the eve of my birthday.

It was just a case of accepting it.

Then I felt a sharp pain in my neck, right where it met my shoulder. It was so sudden that I cried out in surprise.

It didn’t feel like someone was trying to tear me apart. Despite the pain, it felt almost tender, as if they were being delicate.

My head began to feel woozy. This was not something I had experienced before, and it was making me lightheaded.

Then, just as blackness descended on me, I heard a familiar voice tickle my ear.

“You’re mine.”