2. Hide the real Mate

DAMIAN

It's not strange anymore, I can smell someone I've been waiting for a long time. My nose wasn't wrong, a werewolf's sense of smell is very keen, even to the point of disturbing my intellect since I first entered this room. Joshua was talking to me, so I couldn't concentrate on his words, but I could hear him giving information about the two girls standing in front of me.

"This is Lady Rachel, she's King William's favourite daughter, but she can't be an Alpha if she becomes your mate. But don't be mistaken, the girl next to her seems to be Lady Rachel's maid, brought by King William when he rescued the girl from the evil deeds of a human prince, whose kingdom I forget," Joshua whispered a few minutes ago.

Then I realised, as my fangs were slowly sharpened by a warming body, that I had tried to stop myself from continuing until I was face to face with the King of Lexington. But as soon as I had the chance to get close to his daughter, I went straight for her, certain that the scent was coming from her. I was puzzled at first, for my sense of smell had never mistaken the smell as coming not from Rachel, but from a servant beside her. I tried to confirm and hoped to Goddess Artemis that Princess Alpha was my true mate, but instead my wolf soul said that my mate was not Rachel.

Not her, you fool! Your mate is the servant!

No way!

You must accept it now that you've found her. It's time to mark her.

'No, I won't!

'But you need her.

I'll do something, shut up, you wolf!

After wrestling with my wolf soul a few times, I looked at Rachel, who looked nervous.

"King Damian..." She called my name in a voice that was so soft and full of emphasis that it made me say something important for all the people watching us to hear.

"I think I should make you my wife. I've already found my mate, Lady Rachel." I said this not just because my mate was Lady Rachel, but because I wanted to tell Lady Rachel that I needed her as my wife, while I had already found my mate, who I couldn't tell everyone was a servant and a human with half her face covered.

I looked at her. She also looked at me in a different way. I could feel a hint of sadness, but I quickly pushed it away from my thoughts and feelings.

A warm hug grabbed me immediately and with great force. Rachel hugged me as she buried her face in the hollow of my neck. She looked so happy because she thought she was going to be my Luna. I hope that when the time comes, when I can tell her the truth, she will do me a favour and continue to pretend to be my mate in front of everyone. Then I will treat her like a real Queen Luna.

King William felt that his hunch was correct, he was thrilled that his daughter was a Luna from the land of Drakela. He approved of our relationship and allowed Rachel to come with my herd, but before our ship set sail to return to Drakela and bring the good news to the people of Drakela, I had to mark Rachel to convince King Lexington.

***

RACHEL

I was delighted when King Damian said I was his mate. A feeling of happiness came over my flowery heart. But I felt strange when I didn't feel any connection to him. I tried to ignore it, after Damian's confession and feeling lucky to be his wife, I quickly prepared everything. I told Nadlyn to pack as we were leaving Lexington soon. Of course I had to take Nadlyn with me, as I was already happy with her being chosen as my personal maid, Nadlyn was also willing to come along, and Damian was very accommodating to all my requests, as to him I was the future Queen Luna.

I waited for the evening before we set sail. I was setting up the room to make it more romantic when Damian walked in and was about to sign me. Marriage is not important in the werewolf world. But when a mate is found and announced, he must be marked immediately and we are officially a married couple.

His footsteps came closer as I deliberately turned my back on him. My heart was beating so hard that only Damian had touched me all my life. Because I haven't found my mate yet either. When my skin felt the touch of his skin, it burned. He slowly reached down and helped me undress by tearing off the top. That's what wolves do. They looked rough, hasty, passionate, but the way they made love was gentle, loving, and at the same time I could feel that we wanted each other. When we turned and did it, we became stronger and stronger. It was crazy, we couldn't stop it. Tonight I already belonged to him. He belonged to King Damian and I was officially Queen Luna, just as I had dreamed.

***

NADLYN

Something disturbed my sleep, I woke up and sat up with a gasp. My eyes were wide open, my hair a bit messy as I had accidentally messed it up when a nightmare hit me. My chest felt sore, aching and like I'd been betrayed, though I didn't know what or who had done it. I reached for the glass of water on the bedside table and gulped it down. Then I took a deep breath. It was as if I couldn't sleep.

To calm my feelings, which were suddenly overtaken by fear, I decided to leave the room. Maybe I'll take a walk around here, since I'll be leaving this place soon. The place I've made my home because I'm sure that no one here will hurt me, they take care of me like King William's orders, even though they are very dangerous for a human like me.

When I opened the door, the room opposite was Lady Rachel's. I heard a noise in there and a sigh that something might have happened to Lady Rachel. Curious, I quickly approached the door and pressed my ear to it.

Oh no. That's probably what the Wolf Nation does to mark their mates. I've read about it in books, but do they turn into wolves too? I muttered to myself, and the longer I listened to the noise inside, the more my chest ached.

This is strange, I clutch my chest and try to make sense of it. Why does it feel like being betrayed by a friend? Ah, I might not be able to let Lady Rachel go when she finds her mate, and I'm afraid she'll be so busy that there won't be time for us to play together like we used to. Also, we are going to move to another country, maybe my chest hurts because that makes more sense. It's not because I'm jealous of Lady Rachel. There's no way I'd wish for that wolf king, because I know I'm just an ordinary servant and an ordinary person who can't possibly have a wolf mate like her.

Before I was caught, I left quickly. There was a park not far from where my room was, and I used to go there to sit and read novels or just to think.

Since it was night, I was used to hearing the howling of wolves. For those who like to hunt at night, they must be transforming right now and going to the forest not far from the palace.

Crunch...

My ears caught the sound of someone's foot stepping on a branch, and I quickly turned my head towards the source of the sound. But behind me I found no one but myself.

"Nadlyn, is that really your name?"

I turned my head in the direction of the voice, someone was calling my name, but I couldn't see their form.

"Who are you? Why are you talking to me when I can't see you? Where are you hiding?" I immediately got up from my seat and asked this question.

"I came out and left him because of you. I can feel what you're feeling because you're actually my mate. Don't ever tell anyone if you want to stay alive and safe. Once you're in Drakela, I'll see you personally.

I gaped at this explanation, what did it mean?