Destiny.

I returned home that evening, I was met with the familiar sight of my father, slumped in a drunken stupor on the balcony. He lay in an armchair, surrounded by scattered whisky bottles. I felt a deep resentment for what he had become, but I chose to ignore him and stepped inside.

I often contemplated leaving this place, as my sister Blair had suggested I move in with her. However, I didn't want to impose on her, so I remained here, even though I felt I was reaching my breaking point.

The night fell, and I dedicated some time to my studies. I could hear the sound of plates clattering in the kitchen, indicating that he had likely woken up and was searching for something to eat.

I tried to focus on my work, but suddenly, a loud thud against my window interrupted my concentration. I glanced over, suspecting it might be some of my bullies, as this was not the first time they had pulled such a stunt.

I attempted to ignore it, but the noise persisted, becoming increasingly disruptive. Frustrated, I stood up and approached my locked window. To my surprise, a dark figure was lurking beneath the trees. The moonlight illuminated the area just enough for me to see him, but his face remained obscured by shadows.

As he stepped closer, I gasped in shock. How did he know where I lived? Had he followed me? My wolf, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up with a surge of excitement, exclaiming, "mate."

I was abruptly jolted by my father's voice calling out "Yolanda," his tone laced with anger over the lack of food. It wasn't my fault; I was just as hungry. I quickly stepped away from the window to respond, my heart racing. Alejandro sudden appearance surprised me.

"Yes, father," I called back, but the look my father gave me made me shrink back. "Why is there nothing for me to eat?" he demanded. I was baffled by his accusation. "There are no groceries, so I couldn't make anything," I explained. He raised his hand as if to strike me, and I instinctively closed my eyes, bracing for impact.

In an instant, I heard the sound of shattering window glass, followed by a thud and my father's groan of pain.

My breath caught in my throat as I sensed my mate's presence. With my eyes still shut, I felt a gentle hand stroke my face, prompting me to open my eyes.

Alejandro's red eyes glimmered in the dim light of my room, and I felt an overwhelming urge to embrace him. "What on earth happened?" my father asked, but he quickly gasped as Alejandro turned to face him, a clear intent to kill in his gaze. Just then, an awkward yet humorous moment occurred—my stomach growled loudly.

This caught my mate's attention, and he looked at me, saying, "You should eat." I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me; this was precisely why I hesitated to get involved with someone like him. I didn't feel worthy of his affection.

I shifted my gaze to my father, who was staring at me in astonishment, realization dawning on him that the man before us was my mate.

One thought continued to occupy my mind: how could he have accomplished what he did in mere seconds? Normal werewolves lack such speed, except for lycans, but that couldn't be the case—I couldn't possibly be mated to one.

In an instant, he lifted me, and although I wanted to object, the words failed to form. My window was shattered, and part of my room was in disarray. The cold air hit my skin, causing me to shiver as we sped away.

I shut my eyes, trying to block out the reality; he hadn’t even shifted into his wolf form, yet he was running at an incredible pace. When we finally stopped, I opened my eyes to find ourselves at the pack house.

Was this his home? The massive gate swung open as he stepped inside, and we walked for several minutes in silence.

We halted at the entrance of an impressive mansion, where the alpha and his Luna emerged. Confusion washed over me as everyone bowed in respect to him, prompting me to glance at him. He remained focused ahead, commanding the alpha, "Bring something to eat to my room immediately." We continued onward, and he carried me into a stunning room.

Something felt off. He didn’t set me down but instead remarked, "Yolanda, that’s a lovely name; I like it." A smile graced his face. "I shouldn’t be here," I whispered.

He nodded and replied, "Exactly, you should be at the palace." Palace? What was he referring to? Noticing my bewilderment, he sat down and pulled me onto his lap, turning my head to meet his gaze. "Do you know how long I have waited for this day, mate? Your place is with me in my palace, which is now yours. I am the lycan king."

My eyes widened in disbelief. Could it be true? Was he really claiming to be a lycan, and not just any lycan, but the king? Yet here I was, just an omega, literally sitting on the lap of a lycan king tightly held.

A meal was swiftly delivered to the room, and I was still grappling with the shock of what I had just heard. The servants exited quietly, their heads lowered in deference. "You should eat," he urged me. I felt the pangs of hunger, yet I knew I had to express my unworthiness to stand by his side; he needed to reject me.

"I don't believe I'm suitable to be your mate," I confessed. He let out a soft laugh. "Is that why you ignored me in class today?" My throat tightened.

If he was already aware of my reasons, wouldn’t he simply reject me? "I heard what that jerk said in class, calling you pointless. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to restrain myself from tearing him apart?" It was clear he was referring to Rodney.

He continued, "Honestly, I don’t care who my mate is. I need you more than you can imagine." His words sparked my curiosity—what could I possibly offer to the lycan king?