I WILL WAIT FOR YOU.

CHAPTER ONE.

LYRA'S POV.

I knelt in the center of the ritual circle, my white dress stained with the grey dirt of the northern winter. Around me, hundreds of wolves, people I had called family for years, snarled at me. The sound was not human, it was a low, vibrating growl that shook the very bones of my chest.

''Murderer.''

''Traitor.''

I could hear every whisper, and the words that were not silent. ''She was there when it happened.''

''She must have known.''

''How else will the rogues have found them?''

''She betrayed them.''

I kept my eyes lowered, my hands trembled against the cold stone beneath my knees. Blood still stained my knees. I had spent the entire night trying to save those who had been injured from the attack. I had used every herb I knew, every healing prayer my mother had taught me. It had not been enough.

The smell of smoke still clung to my hair, my chest hurt whenever I breathed because of how much smoke I inhaled, trying to save people. But none of that mattered now, because my mate was standing above me, looking at me like I was a stranger.

Or worse, he was looking at me like an enemy. His black cloak was torn at his shoulder, blood covered his face, and his golden eyes burned with a fury I had never seen before. Even through the distance between us, the bond we had discovered months ago pulled painfully inside my chest.

Kael, my mate.

The Crown Alpha Prince of the whole Silver Crest Realm.

The man I had once believed would be my home, but I was not so sure anymore.

''Kael,''I whispered.

''Do not call my name.''

The words struck harder than any blade, I slowly raised my head.

''I did not betray your family.'' A bitter laugh escaped someone in the crowd, but Kael did not laugh.

''My mother is dead.''

My lips parted, I knew this. I knew because I had been there. I had watched the healers fail to revive the Dowager Luna Queen. Because the Alpha King was now also dead. I had watched Kael kneel beside his mother's body and howl until his voice became nothing but pain.

And I had stayed, I had stayed because I loved her and I loved him. Because I believed he needed someone beside him. But now he looked at me with hatred.

''I know.''

''You know?'' He stepped closer. ''You knew the northern border was weak, you knew the guards had been moved.''

''I did not move them,'' I said because that was all I could, I did not know what else to do.

''You were seen speaking to a rogue.''

I froze.

''What?''

''Three witnesses saw you speaking to rogues and near the eastern woods before the attack.''

''That is not true.'' What the hell? I did not go there to speak to rogues, why would I do that? I was the Queen Luna Apparent for crying out loud.

''The only reason I went there was because I heard wolves calling for help.''

''You expect me to believe that?''

''Yes, I do.'' My voice broke, but I forced myself to continue. ''I went there because I thought someone was injured. I did not know they were rogues. And I expect you to believe me because I’m your mate, your mate, Kael. I would never hurt you like this.”

Kael stared at me for a moment, I did not know if it was uncertainty, but something moved through his eyes.

''You should have told me everything.''

''I tried to tell you in the battle, but I could not reach you because you were fighting, and after it ended I was too afraid to tell you because of these exact thoughts.'' I explained.

''Afraid?''

His voice rose. ''My mother is dead, Lyra, so is my father, and my little sister, my niece that is not even a year old is injured, her father is dead. Everybody is dead, Lyra and you are saying you were afraid?

The hall fell completely silent after the outburst and I felt tears roll down my eyes. He is grieving right now and I want to be there for him so badly but he won't let me.

''My mother trusted you, so did my father and my sister.''

''I loved them too.''

''Then why did they die?''

I had no answer that could ease his grief, it was too much. It felt like my heart was being ripped out from my chest.

''I swear by the Moon Goddess, I had nothing to do with the attack.''

Kael looked at me for a long moment, then he moved closer to me, every step sounding like a death sentence. My heart pounded in my ears, I knew what was coming, what he was about to do. I guess it was time to meet my parents.

Instead of slashing me open like I thought he would, he touched my cheek, wiping away a stray tear, the moment his skin touched mine, the world disappeared. It was like a strike of lightning, a surge of heat exploded where we connected, a golden warmth that raced through my veins settled in my heart. It was the mate bond, I saw his pupils dilate, I heard his heart skip a beat.

For a split second, the hatred in his eyes flickered, I saw the boy who had once promised to protect me. I saw his pain, his loneliness, and the desperate soul's deep hunger for the comfort only I could give him. We both groaned at the same time, it was a sound of pure, agonizing relief. My body leaned into his touch instinctively, craving the safety of my mate. Then his face hardened. He looked at me with more disgust than he had shown the rogues who killed his mother, Seraphina.

'''Lyra Ashwood,'' my breath caught.

''No no no no. Please do not do this to me, kill me.'' I begged because he was condemning me to a lifetime of sorrow and pain. I could not do it.

''By the authority I have in me, as the Crown Alpha Prince of the Silver Crest Realm, and before the witnesses of my Realm.....''

''Please Kael, just kill me instead, I would rather die than to be condemned to living a lifetime without you, please my love, have mercy on me.'' I begged without shame because I loved him but did not want to live with the pain of being a rejected mate. Even though I was innocent, there was nothing left of me anyways.

''I reject you as my mate.'' he finally completed and immediately, my fingers pressed against my chest as pain exploded beneath my ribs, I gasped.

The bond between us twisted violently, as though an invisible hand had reached inside me and torn something apart. A cry escaped my lips.

''The next time I see you, Lyra Ashwood, that death that you are begging for, I will give it to you, so do not ever return, or show your face in front of me, ever again.'' He said coldly and I was still reeling from the pain he just bestowed upon me.

''If you do not kill me now, I will return, and when I do, I will kill you first.'' My voice was filled with so much pain and hatred for this man that I loved so much it hurt.

He moved closer to me again, staring at me dead in the eye.

''I look forward to that promise, baby. I will wait for you.''