CHAPTER THREE: DEVON

I woke up and glanced at the clock. 5:00 a.m. I got out of bed, brushed my teeth, changed into my running clothes, and headed outside.

The morning air was cold against my skin as I made my way into the woods. I ran in my human form for about forty-five minutes before finally shifting. My wolf took over instantly, and I loved the feeling. There was something different about running in my wolf form. Everything felt more natural. My senses sharpened, the wind rushed through my fur, and for a while, there was nothing else to think about.

After another thirty minutes, I shifted back and headed home. I showered, changed, and went downstairs for breakfast.

My family was already seated in the dining hall. My father, the king, sat at the head of the table with my mother beside him. My brother Jamie and my cousin Danny were sitting together, while my younger sister Ella was seated beside me.

"Good morning," I greeted them.

"Good morning, darling," my mother replied. She looked at me. "What are your plans for today?"

"I'm going shopping with Emily."

My mother smiled. "For the royal celebration?"

I nodded. "She wants us to get matching outfits."

My father chuckled. "Do you really need another outfit? Your closet is already full."

I told her the same thing."

My mother laughed. "Emily wants everything to be perfect."

I smiled. "She always does."

The royal celebration was only a few days away, and Emily wanted everything to be perfect. I couldn't blame her. This wasn't just any celebration.

It was the day the entire kingdom had been waiting for.

For a hundred years, Elarion had gone without a true fated mate bond. Then I was born.

The moment I came into the world, it was revealed that I would have a fated mate. Not long afterward, the gods revealed that my mate would come from the Vaspert family.

When Emily was born, everyone knew.

She was my mate.

My future queen.

The woman who would give the kingdom its heir.

I'd grown up knowing that. Emily and I had been raised together, and once we were old enough to understand what being mates meant, we'd eventually started dating.

I loved Emily. At least, I believed I did.

Sometimes I wondered what our relationship would have looked like if we hadn't spent our entire lives being told that we were destined to be together. Would I have chosen her anyway?

I didn't know.

But I didn't dwell on it. Fate had chosen us, and I'd never had a reason to question it.

I finished breakfast and said goodbye to my family before driving to the Vaspert residence.

Emily was already waiting outside when I arrived. She smiled when she saw me, and I stepped out, kissed her, and opened the passenger door for her.

"Ready?"

"Of course."

She got into the car, and I drove toward the mall.

We spent the next couple of hours shopping, or rather, Emily spent the next couple of hours choosing what she thought would look best on me. Eventually, we found what we needed. I paid, and we headed back toward the car.

That's when Emily suddenly stopped.

I followed her gaze.

A young woman was getting into a car a short distance away.

"Anna," Emily muttered.

I looked at her. "Your sister?"

She nodded.

I'd never really interacted with Anna. I'd seen her around the Vaspert residence a few times, but we'd never spoken enough for me to say I knew her. According to Emily, Anna was rude, difficult, and unnecessarily hostile.

I didn't have much reason to doubt her, but I also wasn't going to judge someone I'd never spoken to.

We got into the car and drove away.

Emily spent most of the journey talking about the royal celebration.

"I can't wait," she said.

"Neither can I."

She smiled. "Especially for the full moon."

I glanced at her.

She was right. The full moon would make the celebration even more important. That was when our wolves would finally connect.

We had known we were fated mates our entire lives, but we'd never experienced the complete connection between our wolves. That would happen on the night of the celebration.

Once the full moon rose, our wolves would recognize each other completely, and the bond would become permanent.

At least, that's what we'd always been told.

I reached over and took Emily's hand.

Soon, she would officially become my fiance.

And eventually, my queen.

We arrived at my home, and I opened the door for her before the servants came to collect the shopping bags.

We went upstairs to my room. Emily wrapped her arms around me, and I kissed her. For a while, everything else disappeared.

Until there was a knock on the door.

"Devon?"

My mother's voice.

Emily quickly stepped away from me.

"Can I come in?"

"Yes, Mom."

The door opened, and my mother walked in and immediately hugged Emily.

"You're here!"

"Yes."

They started talking about the royal celebration as though nothing had happened. I stood there for a moment before deciding to leave them to it.

I picked up the shopping bags the servants had left outside my room and carried them into my closet.

My mother eventually left, reminding us to come downstairs for lunch in thirty minutes.

Emily and I spent the rest of the time talking about the celebration.

Later, I drove her home.

As I was leaving the Vaspert residence, I noticed Anna getting into her car. She didn't seem to notice me.

I watched her for a moment before driving away.

She looked nothing like the perfect daughter I'd heard so much about.

She looked distant.

Almost like she wanted nothing to do with anyone around her.

Maybe Emily was right about her.

Or maybe I was making assumptions about someone I didn't know.

Either way, it didn't matter.

She was Emily's half-sister.

My future sister-in-law.

Nothing more.