Chapter 2: The Prince's Hunt

The celebration is in full swing by the time I emerge from the storage room. I had no choice - Luna Margaret sent three warriors to drag me out if necessary. Now I stand in the corner of the ballroom, holding a tray of champagne glasses, trying to become invisible.

The packhouse has been transformed. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light across the crowd of elegantly dressed wolves. Everyone who matters is here - Alphas from neighboring packs, council members, warriors in their formal uniforms.

And him.

Prince Byrde stands at the center of it all, surrounded by admirers. He's changed into a black tux that fits him perfectly, emphasizing his powerful build. Every unmated female in the room circles him like hungry sharks, but his eyes keep scanning the crowd.

Looking for me.

Our eyes meet across the room, and the tray shakes in my hands. He starts walking toward me, but Sarah intercepts him, pressing her body against his arm.

"Prince Byrde," she purrs, "you must let me show you our pack's rose garden. It's absolutely beautiful under the moonlight."

"Perhaps later," he says, not looking at her. His eyes are still on me.

I turn quickly, weaving through the crowd toward the kitchen. But before I can escape, Blake blocks my path.

"Going somewhere, slave?"

"The kitchen needs more champagne brought up," I lie.

He grabs my wrist, his grip painful. "You know what? I don't think you should be here at all. A traitor's daughter, serving drinks to royalty?" He leans closer, his breath hot on my ear. "Maybe I should tell the prince exactly who's been walking around his wing."

My blood runs cold. "Please-"

"Is there a problem here?"

We both freeze. Prince Byrde stands behind Blake, his green eyes dark with barely controlled anger.

Blake releases me immediately, bowing low. "No problem at all, Your Highness. I was just making sure the servant was doing her job properly."

"Is that so?" Byrde's gaze shifts to me. "And what is your name, miss?"

I open my mouth, but Blake speaks first. "This is nobody, Your Highness. Just a servant. Not worth your-"

"I asked her." The temperature in the room seems to drop. Several people nearby stop talking, sensing the tension.

"Wendy," I whisper, keeping my head down. "My name is Wendy."

"Wendy." He says my name like he's tasting it. "Look at me."

I can't disobey a direct order from royalty. Slowly, I raise my eyes to his. The mate bond sparks between us, electric and undeniable. His jaw clenches.

"Your Highness," Alpha Marcus appears, slightly out of breath. "Your father has arrived. He's asking for you."

Byrde doesn't move. "In a moment."

"I'm afraid he insists it be now."

For a second, I think Byrde might refuse. Then he nods curtly. "Very well." He looks at me one more time. "We're not done here."

As soon as he's gone, Blake grabs my arm again, dragging me toward the side door. "You little whore. Trying to seduce the prince?"

"I didn't-"

He slams me against the wall in the empty hallway. "Don't lie to me. I saw how he looked at you."

"Blake, please-"

His hand wraps around my throat. "You're going to stay away from him. Understand? Or I'll make sure everyone knows exactly whose daughter you are."

"That's enough."

Blake jumps back. A man stands in the hallway - older than Byrde but with similar features. The Alpha King himself.

"Your Majesty," Blake bows so low his nose nearly touches the floor.

The King's eyes are the same green as his son's, but colder. He looks at me, and I see recognition flash across his face. He knows. Somehow, he knows I'm Byrde's mate.

"Girl," he says. "Come with me."

Blake starts to protest. "Your Majesty, she's just-"

"Now."

I follow the King through empty hallways to a private study. He closes the door and turns to face me.

"You're the Stone girl."

It's not a question. I nod.

"Your father tried to kill Alpha Marcus because Marcus was selling pack secrets to rogues. Did you know that?"

My head snaps up. "What?"

"Your father wasn't a traitor. He was trying to protect the pack. Marcus framed him and had him executed before the truth could come out."

The room spins. I grab the desk for support.

"I've been investigating Marcus for years," the King continues. "But I needed proof. Recently, I found it." He pulls out a folder. "Your father kept records. Hidden them. Smart man."

"But... but why are you telling me this?"

"Because you're my son's mate." His expression softens slightly. "And because you deserve the truth."

"He won't want me," I whisper. "I'm nobody."

"You're the daughter of a hero," the King corrects. "And you're my son's fated mate. That makes you far from nobody."

A commotion outside makes us both turn. Shouting. Fighting.

The door bursts open. Byrde stands there, his eyes wild, blood on his knuckles.

"Father, what are you-" He sees me and stops. "Wendy."

"We need to talk," the King says.

"Later." Byrde crosses to me in three strides. "Are you hurt? That Beta's son, did he-"

"What did you do?" I whisper, seeing the blood.

"What I should have done the moment he touched you." His hand cups my cheek, and the mate bond sings. "Mine."

"Byrde," his father warns. "There are complications."

"I don't care."

"You should." Alpha Marcus enters the room, his face twisted with rage. "That girl is a traitor's daughter. She has no right to-"

"Actually," the King stands, "she has every right. Considering her father died trying to expose your crimes."

The color drains from Marcus's face. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't you?" The King pulls out a document. "This is a signed confession from your former Beta, James. He's been very helpful in exchange for a reduced sentence. You've been selling pack secrets to rogues for years. Richard Stone found out, and you had him killed for it."

"You can't prove-"

"I can and I have." The King's power fills the room, making everyone except Byrde bow under its weight. "Alpha Marcus Black, you're under arrest for treason."

Everything happens at once. Marcus shifts, his wolf lunging for me - the witness, the daughter of the man who almost exposed him. But Byrde is faster. His wolf, massive and midnight black, intercepts Marcus mid-air. They crash into the bookshelf, snarling and clawing.

"Get her out!" the King commands.

Guards flood the room. I'm pushed back, watching in horror as Byrde and Marcus fight. Marcus is an experienced fighter, but Byrde is younger, stronger, and fighting for his mate.

It's over in seconds. Marcus lies on the floor, throat exposed in submission. Byrde shifts back, breathing hard.

"Take him to the cells," the King orders. The guards drag Marcus away.

Byrde turns to me, his eyes still glowing with his wolf. "Are you-"

I don't let him finish. I run to him, throwing my arms around his neck. He catches me easily, pulling me against his chest.

"You're safe," he murmurs into my hair. "You're safe."

But looking over his shoulder, I see Luna Margaret in the doorway. Her face is twisted with hatred, and she mouths one word: "Dead."

She blames me for her mate's arrest. And she's going to make me pay.

"Byrde," I whisper.

"I know," he says, following my gaze. "I won't let her touch you."

But later, when the chaos has died down and I'm alone in my storage room packing my few belongings, I find a note slipped under the door.

You killed my mate. Now I'll kill yours.

My hands shake as I read it again. Luna Margaret doesn't make idle threats.

A knock at the door makes me jump.

"Wendy? It's me."

I open it to find Byrde standing there with a bag.

"You're moving to my room. Now."

"But-"

"No arguments." He takes my single bag of belongings. "You're my mate. You belong with me."

"People will talk."

"Let them." He pulls me close. "I've waited my whole life for you. I'm not letting you go now."

As we walk through the packhouse, everyone stares. Some with shock, some with disgust, some with envy. But I don't care. For the first time in five years, I'm not alone.

But when we reach his suite, we find the door open. Inside, written in blood on the wall, are two words:

YOU'RE NEXT.