Prologue

Prologue

Damon POV

“Ahhh… yes. That’s it, Alpha. You’re right there. F**k me harder, please.”

I gritted my teeth, irritation crawling up my spine as her slutty moans echoed around my chamber, sharp and piercing, bouncing off the walls while I rammed into her from behind.

She was too loud.

*She’s too loud,* my wolf, Rowan, scoffed coldly in my head, his annoyance mirroring mine perfectly.

That was it.

“Keep your voice down, bitch, or I’m kicking you out of my room right now.”

My voice came out as a warning growl, cutting through her scream. Right on cue, she went silent. Her body stiffened beneath my grip, breath hitching as fear replaced pleasure.

“That’s better.”

I snorted in disgust, gave her one final thrust, then pulled out and spilled my seed on the bed.

The release did nothing to ease the tension coiled tight inside me, though and I couldn't help but scowl as I looked at her.

“Your neck.”

She didn’t hesitate. She flipped onto her back immediately, fingers trembling as she pushed her hair aside and bared her neck to me, which was smooth and still unmarked.

My body tensed the instant I saw it.

This was it, the only part of this whole 'Mating and Marking' ritual that mattered.

I let my gaze sweep slowly over her, deliberately, counting the seconds in my head as I waited for Rowan to do his thing.

She was petite, blonde hair, blue eyes, pretty in the most ordinary way. But I forced my mind past her appearance and focused on the qualities that actually mattered.

The one that would make her worthy of me if I put my mark on her and it stayed, and as usual, the questions surfaced again, just like it always did.

Is she worthy of being my Luna?

For years, women had come to this bed and go. And every single time, I asked myself this same question over and over again, though I already knew the answer.

Whoever my mate was, none of this mattered, whether she was pretty or ugly, whether she was fit to be Luna or not, none of it.

What actually mattered was finding her. And no matter how much I despised this ritual, having to bed too many women, seeing the hope in their eyes when they come thinking they'd be the one, and then the disappointment afterward when things turned out different, I knew still there was no other way.

It was this…

Or losing myself completely.

Soon, I felt the familiar marking instincts kicking in, and immediately I grabbed the woman's neck, tilted it to the side. 

Her breath caught sharply in my palm, and I felt my fangs itch harder, pressure building in my gums as Rowan stirred restlessly inside me.

My fangs sprang free without effort, and I didn't need a mirror to know my eyes were already glowing.

I leaned forward and sank them into her neck.

Her scream tore through the room as I pulled back, blood warm against my tongue. She collapsed inward, clutching her neck, sobbing softly.

I didn’t move.

I stayed exactly where I was, eyes locked on the bite, watching and waiting.

The first few seconds passed in silence as nothing happened.

She was still whimpering, though quietly now, but her big eyes were now fixed on her neck, hope flickering inside them despite herself. I saw it, that fragile, foolish hope that maybe, just maybe, she would be different.

Another second passed.

Then another, as we continued waiting. The entire time, the sound of her breathing filled the room, shaky and uneven.

My chest tightened the longer we waited, and for a brief, dangerous moment, I was beginning to think this was it, that this nightmare of Mating and Marking might finally be over, that I had found her, my mate.

But then it happened.

The bite mark began to close.

The wound healed in seconds, skin knitting itself back together until her neck was pale and smooth, as if I had never touched her at all.

Shit. Not again, Rowan wailed inside me.

Something inside my chest cracked and died in that instant.

Why was the Moon Goddess so cruel?

Was turning my fate into a game not enough? Was forcing me through this humiliation, this endless cycle, not enough punishment already?

Every woman I marked healed. Every single one of them.

“Alpha… please…”

The woman was on her knees before me now, with tears brimming in her eyes.

She knew what this meant. Everyone did. Failing to become Alpha Damon’s mate meant losing everything, the title, the privilege, and luxury every woman who joins the harem gets.

And I knew for a fact that was all she cared about.

“Get out.”

The words came out cold and final, as I stood and turned away from her, heading for the bathroom.

“Please, Alpha Damon. Another trial. Please.”

Before I could leave, she grabbed my legs, arms wrapping around me desperately.

“I’m sure there must have been a mistake somewhere. Please.”

“A mistake?”

I paused, then turned slowly. The growl that left my throat made her flinch violently.

“What do you women take this ritual for? A money parade show? How dare you call my mark a mistake?”

She immediately released me and collapsed back, kneeling with her head bowed, hands clasped tightly as tears streamed down her face.

“Alpha, please, I’m sorry. Forgive my tongue. I promise I won’t repeat such…”

“Leave.” My voice was low now, dangerous as I spoke again.

“Before I lose my temper completely. You want luxury? Fine. Go to my Beta. He’ll give you whatever wealth you need. Then leave my palace this evening. You won’t be staying for the final ritual.”

I turned away without another word. She scrambled to her feet and fled the room.

I scoffed and moved to the bar, pouring myself a glass of wine. The thought of bathing no longer appealing to me, though I couldn't help but cringe at the thought of her clung to my skin.

Greedy and desperate, that was what I had noticed about almost all the women who came here. It was as if they were only concerned about the benefits that come with being a Supreme Luna.

And maybe that was why none of them passed the test.

Once the alcohol finally settled down, dulling the edge of my anger, I mind-linked my Beta.

“Alpha?” Colleen responded immediately.

“Has the lady been attended to?”

“Yes. She’s being seen off to her pack, as you ordered.”

“Good. Send for Azula. I need her in my chamber. Now.”

“Understood, Alpha.”

Thirty minutes later, the door opened, and Azula, my pack high priestess, entered in her usual white attire, beads and charms swaying softly as she bowed.

“You sent for me, Alpha.”

I said nothing, just stared at her, letting the weight of my thoughts show on my face.

She sighed quietly. “Let me guess. Same result.”

“I just sent the twentieth woman this month home,” I scoffed. “How long am I supposed to keep doing this? Are you even sure my mate exists?”

“You know I don’t have an answer to that,” she replied calmly. “The only way to know is to keep trying.”

“Trying?” I scowled. “This is the ninety-ninth woman I’ve sent home this year. How long do I keep bringing women here, filling their heads with hope that one of them might become my Luna, only to send them away heartbroken?”

“For as long as the ritual permits,” she said, then paused, giving me a meaningful look. “Unless…”

I swallowed. I already knew where this was going.

“You know what happens if you don’t find her.”

My chest tightened.

“How much time do I have left?”

Her expression softened. “Not much, Alpha. And If I were you, I would put more effort into finding her.”

With that, she turned and left.

Immediately, I hurled the glass I was holding across the room and punched the wall behind me as rage like wild fire surged through me.

More effort?

What the hell did she think this was?

Sharing my bed with women of every size, shape, and status, some I would never glance at twice under normal circumstances. That was still not enough effort really?

Well... the Moon Goddess better make my true mate worth every bit of this hell.

Because the things I had been forced to do just to find her were driving me insane.

I mind-linked my Beta again.

“Yes, Alpha,” he answered immediately.

"Listen carefully," I said.

“Spread the word far and wide that Alpha Damon is still searching for his mate.”

"Yes, Alpha."

“And also send out more invitation cards.” I clenched my fist tight as I leaned back against the wall, staring at the door.

“I want more than fifty women in the harem this week to participate for the mating consort.”