Chapter 4

Kael’s POV

“Fate must be playing a cruel joke on me….”

At that moment, my wolf roared awake, recognizing what I fought hard to reject.

Mate.

“No!” I stumbled back, my eyes wild as I shook my head. I wasn’t going to accept it, and my wolf thrashed in response.

A man as my mate?

And not just any man, but the one who drove my sister to take her own life?

Hell no.

The moon goddess must be mistaken.

The fallen Alpha collapsed to the floor, gasping and clutching his neck like he’s been pulled from a whirlpool. It was a pathetic sight, but then he looked up at me, his golden eyes flashing. The despair in his gaze should have satisfied me, but that was if I wasn’t going through the same thing.

It was as if my body was no longer mine, and losing the one thing that had kept me at bay. Control. I could vividly feel his wolf straining towards mine, the bond between us weaving together like a tight rope.

I had felt many things in my life—a sword slicing against my chest, gun shots drilling through my torso, poison hot on my tongue—but never have I felt the rush of need and desire that tackled me all at once, daring to make me falter.

This made my blood boil.

“Guards!” My voice shook the room to its core, and soon the door burst open, revealing a squad of armored men rushing in at my command.

“Get him out of my sight,” I snapped, reaching for the bottle of wine. I turned away as they dragged him out, and when the door closed shut, I emptied the wine bottle in one swig.

My wolf snarled at the distance, clawing at my ribs like I’d just ripped out my own heart.

“Fuck!” I threw the bottle against the wall. It shattered with a loud crash, shards of glass flying across the room.

My chest heaved as I combed my fingers through my hair, frustration pulling at my nerve ends.

This was as good as a curse….because I, Prince Kael of Fenrir….could not reject my fated mate…

Or else it would kill me.

****

I could barely get any sleep, and by morning, I was in the council chamber, my gaze sweeping over my father’s most trusted advisors.

“Tell me,” I started, schooling my expression as I waved at them. “Can a mate bond be broken without outright rejection?”

Silence fell upon the council, and they all shared apprehensive looks. I didn’t blame them, knowing it was probably the most unexpected topic I would ever bring up.

But their hesitance was beginning to annoy me.

“Well?” I snapped, irritation budding in my tone.

The oldest of them cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. “Your Highness,” he began carefully, “A rejection is the only way a bond can be broken, and even that has its consequences. Mate bonds are like Moon’s decree and to deny it is to deny your wolf.”

My jaw clenched, my eyes narrowing into slits. Just then, my wolf growled in protest, as if to prove a point.

Fed up, I slammed my fist on the table, making all of them stiffen in their seats. “There has to be a way.”

“Perhaps….” One spoke up, “If the fates mate dies…”

My wolf roared at his statement, a violent reaction that took me by surprise.

“Enough.” With a sharp glare, I regained my composure, and they quickly shifted to safer topics.

Like my bedridden father on the verge of death. His condition worsened after Aveline’s death, which was no surprise, since she was his pride and joy. The jewel of the king.

But now that she was gone, it was almost as if he had no will to live.

“It won’t be long till the king passes, Your Highness. You must prepare to ascend the throne.”

A beat of silence passed…and they all shared knowing glances.

“And with it, you must take a bride,”

My shadow crossed over my features.

“I don’t want to hear it,” I growled.

“But your highness—”

“This meeting is over.” My voice was firm with finality. I stood to my feet, my chest burning with a fury I couldn’t contain.

I needed to let off some steam, and a wicked smirk pulled at the corner of my lips as I thought of the perfect way to do it.

The moment the council hall emptied, I ordered the guards to bring the fallen Alpha to my private training grounds.

It was the only place where I could bleed without judgment, to let out the pent-up frustrations that threatened to consume me.

Tonight, I wanted him broken, and I was going to do it, with my bare hands.

The guards shoved him into the sand pit and waited for my command. I nodded, dismissing them with a flick of my wrist.

“Leave us.”

When the gates slammed shut, clicking in a finality that left us alone, the fallen Alpha knelt like it was the natural thing to do, avoiding my gaze.

It was amusing to watch, but I didn’t need his submission today.

I stepped forward and unlatched the chains that bound him, tossing them aside. His gaze lingered on them, before snapping to me, confusion evident in his eyes.

I stared at him for too long, examining his bruised and battered form. He looked as pathetic as ever; his crisp brown hair was tousled and ragged, loose strands framing his jaw. His pale skin sank under his eyes, yet there was a defiant glint in his gaze that made me smirk.

I stilled as my wolf began stirring within me, the bond awakening him.

Fuck it.

“You want freedom?” I took a step back, stripping off my cloak. “Fight me for it?”

He arched his brow, “Fight you?”

I rolled my shoulders, “If you win, I’ll let you go, free of all charges weighed against you.” I started, my tone low with a cruel promise. “But if you lose, you are as good as dead, proving that this….bond….means nothing.”

His jaw ticked as he slowly rose to his feet. “You will kill me over a bond that isn’t inherently my fault?”

I threw my head back and laughed, but there was no humor in it.

“I would have killed you with or without this cursed bond,” I said after catching my breath, my gaze sharpening “You should be grateful it gave you a chance to live.”

The fallen Alpha squared his shoulders, massaging his wrists as he straightened up. “Alright then,” His golden eyes glowed as he summoned his wolf, his claws sliding free. He gritted like he was in pain, his jaw set as he took a defensive stance. “You shouldn’t underestimate me, your highness, I won’t hold back.”

My lips split into a wild grin. “I’d be insulted if you did.”

I let my wolf rise halfway, feeling the transformation ripple through my spine. I bared my claws, a growl rumbling in my chest as I narrowed my eyes.

In this form, the mate bond seemed to come, stretching out like a thin wire on the verge of breaking.

For a second, no one moved.

Then he lunged first.

We collided with vicious roars, claws slashing.

My eyes widened as I felt a tear across my arm, blood trickling down my skin. I pushed back on all fours, excitement pulsing through me.

This was going to be fun.

He was fast, I’ll give him that, ducking under my swing and raking across my ribs.

I caught his wrist before the attack could land, delivering a brutal blow that sent him skidding over the sand.

He rolled and came up low, leaping at me with a sharp snarl, fangs bared. We crashed together, with our claws scraping and teeth snapping inches from each other’s throats. I slammed him against the post, the iron denting at the impact.

I ripped his claws from my shoulders and pinned his arms above his head. He thrashed under me, his eyes flashing with something deeper than anger.

That was when I sensed it.

The sweet scent of cinnamon—the smell of a wolf’s arousal.

We froze, our bodies pressed together, so close I could feel the tremors of his heart against mine.

That wasn’t all….I felt his hardness, bulging and aching with need.

“Don’t look at me.” He turned away, squeezing his eyes shut as his cheeks tinted pink with shame. “I give up, so just kill me already, I can’t take it anymore.”

I swallowed hard, faltering yet again.

But instead of recoiling, instead of mocking him, I crashed my lips against his.