Chapter 4

Adrian POV

When morning came, I made my way back to Shadowfang Pack not with the imposing march of a King, but with the hurried steps of someone desperately trying not to be seen.

I was a mess. Dirt stained my skin, and my clothes were filthy and wrinkled. What was left of them, anyway. Since I couldn’t find my shirt, I had to dress my suit without anything underneath. And my appearance wasn’t the only thing in shambles.

My mind was in far worse shape.

Though I hadn’t been drinking, I couldn’t remember what had happened last night clearly. Everything became blurry the moment I was struck by that enthralling scent. Yet strangely enough, I remembered her vividly.

The mysterious girl I had found in the forest… She was the most magnificent female I’d ever laid eyes on. Beautiful, delicate, and so delicious. There was no doubt about it. She was my second chance mate.

Still, I shouldn’t have given into desire. It was a mistake. Pursuing her would have consequences. Allowing that night to happen had already put me in a tough spot.

And to top it off, my stupid wolf wouldn’t shut up.

“Mate! We need to find our mate!” he howled in agony, pacing frantically in my head.

“No, we don’t!” I barked at him. “You’ve done enough already. How dare you steal control of my body to mate with a she-wolf we don’t even know? You put our reputation at risk!”

“I don’t care about our reputation. All I care about is her!” he snapped back. “And I know who she is. She’s my mate. Mine! She’s ravishing, sweet, marvellous—”

“And a mistake!” I cut him off. He was so loud he was giving me a migraine. I couldn’t entertain this nonsense for another second. “Get your head in its place and forget about her.”

At last, he fell quiet, a low whimper leaving him as he lowered his ears. “How can you say that?”

Before I could answer him, I realized I had reached the guest cottage Alpha Ryan had prepared for me. I pushed the door in a haste, praying to find some silence inside. I’d completely forgotten my Beta was sharing the place with me.

“Morning, sunshi— Wow! Did you get hit by a train?” Dylan’s eyes grew wide, but not as wide as his smirk. “Or maybe… a hungry she-wolf?” he suggested, wiggling his eyebrows. “Did the mighty Alpha King get pinned by a female in heat? Who’s the lucky one?”

I normally tolerated his jokes, but the accidental accuracy of them struck a nerve this time.

“There’s no lucky one. I have no space in my life for anyone but my daughters,” I shot back instinctively.

I immediately regretted it as I watched the humor drain from his face, turning into understanding. It was obvious my seriousness had given away that he was indeed correct. If I’d played along, maybe I could have avoided the questions I knew would follow.

“Wait. Are you serious? Did you actually sleep with someone last night?” he asked quietly, but as his excitement rose, so did his voice. “Who is she? How was it? What are you gonna do now?”

“She’s my second chance mate but I don’t even know her name,” I deadpanned. Dylan’s jaw threatened to hit the floor. Before he could further pester me, I went on, “As for my plans regarding her, I’ll make sure to reject her if we ever meet again.”

I tried to keep my voice steady and confident as I said it, but to be honest, the idea of rejecting her made my stomach twist.

When my wolf stole control after he scented her, I gave into my most primal instincts. We didn’t just sleep together. I came very close to marking her. And that wasn’t even what unsettled me most.

It was the fact I’d slept so well beside her.

Ever since my first mate’s betrayal, I avoided women completely. I only had occasional one night stands, and threw them out as soon as the deed was done. I refused to share my bed with someone who could stab me in the back.

Yet this stranger… She made me feel safe. Relaxed. Like I hadn’t felt in years. Maybe she was different.

No. I couldn’t let these irrational feelings poison my thoughts. I had been burned once and learned my lesson. I wouldn’t fall for that again.

“Well, if you were actually present at your daughter’s engagement party, you wouldn’t be in this mess,” Dylan pointed out, pulling me from my thoughts.

I waved him off. “I don’t fit in these youthful celebrations.” A frown crossed my face. “Besides, I’m the one who killed Alpha Ryan’s father. Though he begs to differ, I know better than to believe he holds no resentment towards me. My presence would’ve only served to ruin their night.”

My Beta raised an eyebrow. “Then why did you agree to their union in the first place?”

“Anything my daughter wants, she gets. She’ll always have my support,” I replied promptly. “Ryan, on the other hand, should be careful. If he ever hurts my princess, I’ll make sure he suffers.”

“Alright, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, shall we?” Dylan said, trying to keep my temper under control. “For now, you should take a shower and rest. Don’t forget we’re meeting the groom and bride for lunch later,” he reminded me, tapping my shoulder as he walked past me. “I’ll give you some privacy.”

As my Beta left the room, I decided to take his advice and dragged myself straight to the shower. At first, I was thankful for a moment of peace and quiet. But the silence left space for my mind to wander.

I couldn’t keep my thoughts from drifting back to the mysterious girl. Flashes of our night together took over my mind, forcing me to remember her taste on my mouth and the fragrance of jasmine that stubbornly clung to my skin. And before I could stop it, one thing became clear. 

I had to find her.