Chapter Three: "Mate..."

Zira’s POV

I didn’t need to turn to know who was behind me. Years of meeting her at almost every event I had, either close to home or in the capital, made Scarlett’s voice stick in my mind.

I reluctantly turned and saw her, glamorously dressed. With our packs right beside each other, Scarlett had been obsessed with Killian and had pursued him for the past few years.

And as his “betrothed,” I had encountered far too many of Scarlett’s dirty dealings and other aspects to believe her appearance was any reflection of who she was.

“If it isn’t Blood Moon’s future Luna,” Scarlett said with a mocking smile, and I squared my shoulders, determined to let her see only my strong side.

“Oops! I forgot, Ex-Luna,” she added hurriedly and then shot me a wink that had me thanking the moon goddess I had an empty stomach.

I smiled sweetly and said vaguely, “Like usual, Scar, you never seem to think things through,” and only went on when I could tell she was getting impatient.

“I was never Luna. I just happened to have been in a relationship with a man you would have killed for and then broke up.” It was my word against hers anyway; she wasn’t there, after all.

She laughed heartily one moment, then leaned in close the next, a cold glow filling her eyes. “It’s always about twisting words and trying to make yourself look good. I know your sister, who’s right behind you, awakened the bond with Killian on your wedding day, Zira,” Scarlett said, with venom slipping through her words.

“And I know how hard it can be for you to admit it despite how hard you tried”—she gave Leah a look from head to toe before chuckling—“you still lost him, Zira.”

I clenched my fists tight, determined not to lose control. It took me only a few seconds to get my mood right.

In a place like this, losing control wouldn’t do anyone any good. I could even implicate the pack with any wrong decision.

I wanted to chuckle as she added, “If it’s any comfort, I guess Killian had quite a bit of bad luck with his mate,” but instead I reached out to prevent Leah from retaliating excessively.

“You bitch!” Leah shouted. “What do you mean by bad luck?”

Even though I had her in my arms, she was trashing me so much that it was difficult to keep her still.

“Exactly what you just showed me,” Scarlett said in her superior way, “vulgar and basic.”

I whispered a warning in Leah’s ear that made her stop moving immediately, and I shifted my attention back to Scarlett.

“I’ll leave you both to your matters,” Scarlett said. “Once I become the selected bride of the Lycan king, I’ll have other ways to deal with our grudge, Zira.”

“What Lycan king bride?” Leah asked quickly, eyeing her with suspicion.

“Of course neither of you would know.” She looked down her nose at us. “Since neither of you are considered suitable for him. But we’re not here for the crowning alone. There are also plans to pick a bride for the Lycan King.”

I resisted the urge to laugh at how stunned Leah looked.

As Scarlett talked, a sweet and intoxicating fragrance drifted into my nostrils. It almost seemed to be calling out to my soul. I looked around, trying to locate the scent’s origin, but Scarlett’s voice drew me back to her.

“But don’t—” Scarlett's eyes shifted from me to someone or something behind me, and a dazed look appeared within them.

To satisfy my curiosity, I turned and peered toward the building where my father said we would see everyone later that day. My body stiffened as my eyes met with a man standing just across. He had looks that shouldn’t exist within the boundaries of the world, with a build that made me feel small, even from a distance.

However, his attractiveness was not the issue. It was how my wolf lurched inside me anxiously the moment my eyes met with the man’s own. My entire body yearned to rush him and claim him as mine. I tightened my fists to prevent myself from doing anything rash.

Was the man before me really my mate? I could feel it in my bones and from my wolf’s chant. Yet, I didn’t dare to do anything hasty. In that moment, however, I regretted not asking Leah how she had felt when she and Killian had known they were mates.

Was this how it felt?

The man broke eye contact with me, and I felt a tinge of regret. It only lasted a moment, though. Next thing I knew, he had closed the distance between us with long strides and pulled me into his embrace.

“Mate…” he growled lowly into my ear, confirming my suspicions and feelings.

I had a mate! My own mate!