Chapter 5.

Kira's POV.

"Are you insane?" I hiss. "Why would you—"

Tara shrugs, immediately cutting me off. "To make the Alpha heir fall in love with one of us dummy."

Lena grins. "Yes... And since you successfully brought back blissful leaves the other day, we figured you can do it again. So you’ll do it for us, won’t you, Kira?"

Successfully? Are they fuckiing kidding me? I almost got killed that night. I glare at them. "I don’t believe you. You’ll never give me back my bracelet."

Cassie gasps dramatically. "Kira, I’m offended. You don’t trust us?"

"Not even a little," I deadpan.

The girls exchange knowing smiles.

"Alright," Lena says. "How about this? You bring us a fresh blue rose’s fang, and we swear on the Moon Goddess, we’ll give you back your bracelet. No more tricks."

I hesitate because I know it's a trap. But what other choice do I have?

I stare at my mother’s bracelet, so close yet so far. I can do it…One last stupid favor and I will make sure to avoid them by any means necessary.

I exhale shakily. "Fine. But if you don’t give it back—"

Cassie waves a hand. "Yeah, yeah. Just don’t die out there."

I turn on my heel and march toward the Forbidden Forest, ignoring the way my chest tightens with dread.

***

An hour later, the Forbidden Forest is eerily quiet. The deeper I go, the colder it gets, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and something wild.

I tighten my arms around myself, scanning the dark trees, my pulse pounding. My gut tells me this is a bad idea, but I push forward. If I don’t, I’ll never get my mother’s bracelet back.

Suddenly, a twig snaps behind me and I freeze as the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

A deep, low growl rumbles through the silence, vibrating in the air like a warning.

Oh no… Please don't be rogues again… I turn slowly and my world shifts.

A massive black wolf stands just feet away, golden eyes gleaming like molten fire. He is power and danger wrapped in fur, his muscles coiled tight as if ready to pounce.

But I don’t feel fear. I feel a sudden, unexplainable warmth blooming in my chest, spreading through my veins like liquid fire.

‘MATE!’ My wolf purrs inside me, begging me to come out as the world around me blurs.

Mate? My breath catches while my heart slams against my ribs.

No. No, no, no. This can't be happening here. But the bond ignites.

It’s not just a feeling—it’s a pull I can't resist. A rush of emotions slams into me all at once—shock, awe, and need.

It’s like my soul recognizes him before my mind does.

I can barely breathe.

And then, the black wolf begins to shift.

Bones crack, limbs elongate, fur retracts—until standing before me is a handsome naked man as beautiful as a Greek god.

His chestnut hair is thick and tousled, swept back like he barely tried but still got it right. Sharp green eyes, framed by dark lashes, pin me in place with an intense, almost dangerous edge. His chiseled cheekbones and strong jaw make him look powerful, untouchable—but it’s the way he holds himself, calm yet commanding, that makes my breath catch.

It’s him.

Prince Damian Blackwood. The Alpha heir to Crimson crown pack is my mate.

My entire body trembles, as a cold rush of fear and disbelief washes over me and my vision narrowing to nothing but him.

The scent that surrounds him is a deep, rich blend of cedar and stormy winds—it’s the same scent that has been following me around the past few days.

Was it him following me all along with the royal guards? Or am I losing my mind?

“What are you doing here little fox?” Damian asks in a deep husky voice that makes my heart flutter.

"Never mind what I'm doing here. You… you’re my mate prince Damian?" I barely manage to whisper.

Damian doesn’t answer. His sharp green eyes pierce into mine, unreadable, and cold.

It's maddening but I take a shaky step forward, the mate bond pulling me closer to him. "Do you feel the mate bond?"

A thick silence stretches between us.

And then—without a word or even a flicker of emotion—He turns and walks away.

The bond between us wails in protest, and a deep ache settles in my chest.

I can’t move or breathe.

He just… left without acknowledging our mate bond. And I don’t understand why.

***

I don’t remember how I made it home.

But the moment I step on the porch, Vivienne comes out with her arms crossed and a scowl.

"You’re late again," she snaps. "What were you doing? Sneaking off with a boy?"

I barely register her words. My heart is still racing from what just happened.

"I found him," I blurt out. "My mate is the Alpha heir. Damian Blackwood."

Silence. Then Vivienne’s eyes widen, her expression shifting from shock to something far more dangerous — a slow, greedy smile curling across her lips.

"Well, what are you standing here for?" she says sharply. "You need to go to him."

I blink. "What?"

Vivienne scoffs. "You’re mated to the prince, Kira! Do you know what this means? All our problems are over! Our debts — gone. Our status — elevated. You’ll be a princess and I... I’ll be the princess’s mother."

Princess’s mother? My stomach twists with rage because never in a million years has Vivienne ever acknowledged me as her daughter.

"But… he left," I say quietly. "He didn’t even acknowledge the bond."

Vivienne grabs my shoulders, shaking me slightly. "Then make him! He can’t ignore a fated mate forever."

"But I don’t even know where he is," I mutter, doubting her plan even as I speak.

Vivienne’s smile sharpens. "I do. Word is he's staying at the most expensive hotel in the pack."

My eyes widen. "And how exactly am I supposed to get there because my legs are so sore right now?"

"I'll drive you," she says smugly. "That old car still runs fine, and this—" she gestures at me, "—is our only chance to get out of this miserable life."

I hesitate, but deep down, I know she’s right. If there’s even a sliver of hope that prince Damian might accept me, I have to take it.

"Fine," I say. "Let's go."

Vivienne's grin widens as she grabs her keys from inside the house... Something about her excitement unsettles me, but I push the feeling aside. Right now, I’m too desperate to care.

I need to see my mate and know what the way forward is…