Mate?!

“All I ever want is to lay the curse on my damn mate and end this miserable life.” 

He shook his head and shrugged. “Then, I shall act upon your wish,” he said, taking a step back. 

He stood tall, his white embroidered doublet and fitted hose gleaming in the light, a silver cloak with ermine fur trim flowing behind him. A golden circlet rested on his shoulder, a subtle reminder of his noble status.

He pointed a finger at her, and a shimmering thread appeared between them, its delicate strand glowing softly in the air. As he tightened his grip, the thread seemed to take on a life of its own, pulsing with an otherworldly energy.

He hung his left hand behind him, bringing his fingers to his lips as he closed his eyes and whispered a spell. “Nipa ẹjẹ, iṣọn, ati agbara omi ti nṣàn, jẹ ki okùn yi di, ṣiṣẹ okunkun si alabaṣepọ rẹ ti o ni alẹ lalẹ.”

His eyes snapped open, and with a swift motion, he jabbed his finger at her, the thread piercing her chest and vanishing into her body. 

“Oh!” She groaned, blood spilling from her lips as she clutched her chest. She crumpled to the floor, struggling for breath, while he watched with an unnerving demeanor, his arms crossed behind him.

“That’s a sign the curse has taken hold.” 

The pain vanished suddenly, and she felt as if nothing had happened. Her eyes blinked twice in surprise, and as she stood up, she nodded. “Thanks.”

He dropped his hand from behind his back. “Get ready. This is your final moment—I’m sending your soul off now.”

“Okay.” She nodded, a smile still on her face. Without another word, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

“Smiling?” He asked. 

She nodded without opening her eyes. “Yes. I summoned death, so I should welcome it with a smile. Besides, I want to meet Goddess Selene with a grin, show her the pains didn’t break me in my final moment.”

“What a grim choice, but why do I feel a twisted sense of admiration for you?” He asked, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she clasped her hands together, gently resting them on her stomach. 

“You’re the first person I’ve seen meet death with a smile, and I have to admit, it’s... intriguing,” he said. He raised his finger, and a rope materialized in the air.

The rope slid through the air like a snake, wrapping itself around her neck. As it cinched tight, her eyes turned deep red, and her body jerked. But her face told a different story—her smile never wavered, her gaze fixed on his face, her expression eerily calm despite the struggle for breath.

Her eyes drooped, and she felt herself standing on some threshold, the divide between life and death thinning. 

Just as her lids were about to shut, a soft breeze grazed his face, carrying the scent of flowers he'd never smelled before. The sweetness hit his senses, a brief whisper of something just out and at the same time within his reach.

The scent of star jasmine wafted toward him, its delicate sweetness filling his nostrils. Something struck his chest like a physical blow, weakening him from the inside out. 

A growl rumbled deep in his throat as his wolf, dormant for years, and suddenly roared to life. 

‘Mate!’ 

It howled in his mind, the word echoing through his being like a primal scream.

He coughed up blood, his weak hand faltering as he lunged to catch Izzy before she hit the ground. 

Kneeling beside her, he cradled her head in his lap, his eyes locking onto hers. The weight of her suffering bore down on him, and guilt swamped his chest. 

Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes as he realized he'd failed her. As the Alpha's illegitimate son, he'd left Lydrian Marsh to escape pack constraints.

Dixon, the masked prince, once a legendary protector of the pack, feared by outsiders for his ruthless tactics and unmatched skill. 

For over a year, he'd vanished, abandoning his mission to shield the pack from external threats. Only his grandmother remained aware of his existence—their connection maintained through a secret mind link.

A single tear rolled down his cheek, and his voice cracked as he whispered, “I’m sorry…”

He'd been poisoned, his energy dwindling, his wolf barely clinging to life. The person behind it was still out there, unknown. His only hope was finding his mate, but she'd been right under his nose the whole time—in a place he'd avoided like the plague. 

He was there on the Mating Nigh, but in disguise, and he'd somehow missed her. How could she feel him when her own scent evaded him?

He gently lifted her from the ground, cradling her fragile form in his arms. With a Herculean effort, he struggled to stand, his legs trembling beneath him. Every muscle protested, but he gritted his teeth and pushed through the pain.

“Who’s there?” Aethera's voice rang out, lantern in hand. 

Dixon froze, his mind racing for an escape plan. 

“Who are you?” She repeated, sword in her right hand at the ready, taking slow steps forward. 

With a burst of speed, Dixon sprinted south, his weakened state and Izzy's weight in his arms hindering his jump over the high wall. 

Aethera chased after him, blowing a whistle to alert the guards. 

Anticipating a blockade, Dixon dodged into a corner, confirming Aethera's suspicion that he was an outsider.He sprinted toward the secret wall, launching himself over it with a desperate leap. He landed hard, pain flaring through his body, but he gritted his teeth and pushed on.

As he burst into the woods, the dense foliage slowed his pace, branches snagging at his clothes and whipping at his face. Thorns and twigs tore at his fabric, leaving him ragged and bruised, but he pressed on.

As he pounded through the underbrush, his body began to shift, bones cracking and muscles tearing apart. His vision blurred, but he refused to falter, driven by the need to escape. 

His clothes shredded, his skin itched as fur burst forth, his limbs lengthening into those of a giant grey wolf. His face elongated, his senses heightened, and his mind clouded with primal instinct. 

Still, he ran, the agony of transformation fueling his desperate flight. With a final, anguished howl, he surrendered to the wolf, letting its ferocity propel him forward.

He burst out of the woods and into a rocky cave, the darkness enveloping him like a shroud. Panting, he paused, listening for any sign of pursuit. 

When he realized Aethera had lost his track, he slowed his pace, his body beginning its painful transformation back into human form. 

As his limbs shortened and his senses dulled, he cradled Izzy in his arms once more. His gaze locked onto her face, and his emotions surged. 

His teeth lengthened, and his mouth moved to her neck, where he gently sank his teeth into her skin, marking her as his own.

He lifted his head, staring at her pale face. Despite her closed eyes, her expression was dull and lifeless.

“From this moment on, you’re mine. You’ll know peace, not misery. Your battles are mine to fight, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making up for the past,” 

He paused, his voice taking on a deeper intensity. “With all that I am and all that I’ll become, I vow to bear your pain. I’ll stand by your side, and together, we’ll find solace. Next to me, you shall taste the sweetness of life.”