Chapter 5

Odessa’s Pov

The silence that followed Avera’s words lasted only a few seconds.

Then the entire gathering erupted.

“Did she just say Odessa?”

“His mate?”

“Isn’t she the daughter of his father’s new Luna?”

“That makes them stepbrother and stepsister!”

Whispers came from every direction. Some people looked at me with disbelief, while others seemed almost entertained by the disaster unfolding before them.

I couldn’t blame them. If someone had told me a few days ago that I would become the true mate of Zane Veyr, I would have laughed in their face.

But nobody was laughing now.

I looked towards Zane.

He hadn’t moved from where he stood, but his expression had changed. His mismatched eyes were fixed on Avera, and the anger in them was enough to make the warriors closest to him step back.

“What do you mean she’s my mate?” he demanded.

Avera remained calm.

“You heard me, Alpha Zane.”

“No.” He shook his head. “You must have made a mistake.”

A murmur travelled through the crowd.

I swallowed, still struggling to understand what was happening. My name had been called in front of the entire kingdom. I had been announced as the mate of the man who had made it clear that he couldn’t stand me.

And worse, he was my stepbrother.

Lenora stood beside him, her beautiful face drained of colour. She looked from Avera to Zane, clearly waiting for someone to explain that this was all some terrible misunderstanding.

“Zane,” she whispered, reaching for his arm. “You have to do something.”

He didn’t even look at her.

Avera lifted one hand, and the murmuring gradually died down.

“The Great Goddess has her ways of playing tricks on those who believe they understand her plans. There are things even the strongest wolves cannot—”

“I want to reject Odessa.”

Zane’s voice cut through hers.

My head snapped towards him.

For a moment, I couldn’t believe what I had just heard.

“Zane, what do you mean I am your mate?” I asked, my voice shaking despite my attempt to control it.

He finally looked at me.

There was no confusion in his eyes. No surprise anymore. Just pure disgust.

“I think you heard me clearly.”

My fingers curled against my palms.

I had not asked for this. I had not asked to be brought into his family, and I certainly hadn’t asked to become his mate.

Something stirred inside me.

This seems interesting.

I froze.

Kora?

My wolf had barely spoken to me in days. Now, of all times, she had decided to wake up.

Interesting? I snapped at her internally. You’ve been quiet for days, and this is what you have to say?

She didn’t answer.

I tried to reach for her again, but she had already retreated.

“Enough.”

Avera’s voice carried across Silver Hollow. Even Zane fell silent.

“Neither of you can reject this bond.”

Zane’s jaw tightened. “And why is that?”

“Because the bond has already been awakened. Rejecting it now would violate an ancient law. One of you would lose your life, and the other would carry the consequences.”

A fresh wave of whispers swept through the gathering.

I stared at her.

“One of us would die?”

Avera turned towards me. Her expression softened slightly, but her answer did nothing to ease my fear.

“That is the consequence of rejecting a bond under the Moon’s Restraint. You must honour the ancient tradition until the restraint is lifted.”

Zane let out a humourless laugh.

“I don’t care.”

His words made my stomach turn.

“I don’t care what happens to her. If she dies, that is not my concern.”

The crowd went completely silent.

Even the warriors who had spent years serving him seemed uncomfortable.

I felt my face grow hot. He had said it so easily, as though my life meant absolutely nothing.

Perhaps it didn’t.

Edric stepped forward and placed a hand on his son’s shoulder.

“Zane, control yourself.”

“Don’t tell me to control myself, Father.” Zane shrugged off his hand. “You expect me to accept this? Her? As my mate?”

Edric glanced at me, then back at his son.

“Not here.”

“Where else would you like me to discuss it? You married her mother, and now the Goddess expects me to take her as my mate. Do you understand what this means?”

Lenora lowered her head. I could see her fingers trembling at her sides.

I wanted to disappear.

Every pair of eyes in Silver Hollow seemed to be fixed on me. I had spent my entire life being looked down on because of the bloodline I was born into. Now, I was standing before the entire kingdom as the one woman their new Alpha was unwilling to claim.

Avera raised her hand again.

“The matter is not open for debate. The bond must be honoured.”

Zane looked at her coldly. “What exactly are you asking us to do?”

“According to the ancient tradition, true mates must complete the first stage of their union. You will share a bed tonight.”

My breath caught.

For a second, I thought I had misunderstood her.

“Share a bed?” I repeated.

Avera looked at me.

“It is part of the ancient rite. You must remain together until the Moon’s Restraint begins to loosen.”

Zane took a step forward.

“I would rather die.”

A few people gasped.

I looked at him, unable to believe that he would rather face death than spend one night with me.

But before I could say anything, Avera spoke again.

Her eyes moved between us, and her voice left no room for argument.

“Share a bed or disobey the Gods. The choice is yours.”