#Chapter 5 The Guard and the Luna

Kaine

A sharp pain hits the middle of my chest as the woman in my arms elbows me, and my arms release their hold in surprise. The woman, Ember, doesn’t hesitate as she darts for the door. Not so fast.

I quickly stride forward and reclaim my hold on her before she can escape. If this woman is my Mate, I will find out. She sure is a feisty thing.

Who is this woman with the tenacity to lay a hand on not just an Alpha, but a Prince? I should be angry, but I can’t help but find myself curious about the creature held within my arms.

She’s definitely fierce enough to be my match, and something about her feels familiar, like the woman from last night. I can’t help but wonder if this could be it. Could this woman be my Mate?

If she is, she clearly doesn’t want to be. I tighten my grip as she continues to struggle until I’m sure she won’t be able to flee again. If she is my Mate, I am sure she will come around.

I reach again for the woman’s collar, but am interrupted by a knock at the door. My sister Lila’s voice rings out, “Kaine! I found the woman you were searching for!” I hesitate but release the woman and stride to the door in order to deal with the interruption first.

I open the door, and Lila beams at me, holding the necklace left on my pillow and standing with another woman I vaguely recognize. “Kaine, Bianca is the woman from last night.”

I stare at my sister, unsure if she’s joking or not. I was told that every woman at the palace last night was subject to inspection. If Bianca was my Mate, how had she escaped their notice?

Bianca steps forward and addresses me directly. “It’s true. That necklace is mine.” I stare at Bianca, shocked, the woman behind me forgotten.

I can’t help the hope that sparks in my heart, despite being uncertain of her motives. Why had she run? “Why didn’t you come forward sooner?”

“You are an Alpha and a Prince. I was nervous and worried that you would reject me, so I hid behind Lila to avoid the inspection. I’m sorry.” Bianca hangs her head, seeming genuinely sorry for the trouble she caused.

Bianca meets my gaze and slides her sleeve below her shoulder, revealing the Royal Mark. “I shouldn’t have left. I’m sorry.”

I feel Rafe’s hope as he reacts to her reveal, but he feels uncertain. “This is different.”

She bears the mark. This must be her.

Bianca, seeming to sense my hesitation, continues. “Don’t you feel the Mate bond?”

At her words, I try to scent her, trying to feel the connection from last night. There is something there, but it lacks the pull from last night. Perhaps the intensity was only intended to draw us together.

Rafe hesitates, unsure. “We should feel more.”

That was the call to bond. There’s something here, and she bears the Royal Mark.

Bianca meets my eyes again. “I’m only here to ask that you at least think this over and don’t reject me too quickly. I’ve dreamt of finding my Mate, and I hope that you will at least give me a chance.”

Her words strengthen my resolve. I know my reputation, but I will not reject my Mate. “I wouldn’t reject you. You are to be my Luna.”

Ember

He’s making her his Luna? I was certain he would reject any Mate that came his way, but was it possible that Nara was right, that this is different? No, that can’t be.

He’s not rejecting Bianca because, well, she’s Bianca. She’s beautiful and well-liked among the pack. If he knew I was his true Mate, rejection would be swift.

Bianca is everything I’m not. She is pretty, social, and charming—qualities someone would want in a Mate. I, on the other hand, fly under the radar with my plain looks and awkward demeanor.

There is no way Prince Kaine could accept those qualities in a Mate. Nara begins to whine at the thought, but I tune her out.

How is Bianca doing this? She has to be lying, but the only way to get that mark is to be mated to a member of the royal family. It should be impossible for her to fake being his Mate.

I am Prince Kaine’s Mate, so how did she get that mark? I can’t help but gawk at my sister as I wonder how she pulled this off. She looks ready to pitch herself into his arms at his declaration of making her Luna.

As he looks at her, my own mark begins to burn at his perceived betrayal, and I can’t help the sinking feeling that comes over me. Nara starts to howl, and I have to fight to keep her from taking control. We can’t risk revealing ourselves.

Nara whines in protest, bristling as Bianca moves closer to Prince Kaine. I stand to leave, pushing myself toward the door before I am forced to do something I will regret. Bianca smiles smugly at me as I pass, causing my mark to burn red hot, but I continue to make my way toward the door.

I will not reveal myself after getting this close to freedom. Whatever Bianca has done to fake that mark is not my problem. If she becomes Prince Kaine’s Luna, I will be free to live my life as a guard.

As I start to push open the door, Prince Kaine’s deep voice calls from behind me. “Ember!”

I freeze, recalling how I had attacked the Prince in my desperation to escape. A fresh wave of panic washes over me as I consider the brashness of my actions.

I was desperate not to reveal myself as his Mate, but I struck the Prince. There will be consequences for what I have done. I turn back to face Prince Kaine, steeling myself for his rebuke.

I can’t help but flinch as he approaches, but I force myself to meet his gaze as he comes to a stop in front of me. The mark on my arm flares in pain at his approach, and I take a deep breath as I try to disregard the pain.

Nara, still restless, whines, but her influence over my actions lessens as panic floods my system. What punishment will I face? Will I be removed from the royal guard, or will it be something worse?

I brace myself as Prince Kaine studies me carefully for a moment, as if there is some sort of puzzle that he is trying to solve, before finally speaking. “Ember, you are to be assigned as my personal guard.”

I am stunned, unable to parse his reasoning for this decision. Why would he make me his personal guard? I am just a trainee—and a female at that.

My heart races as I think about the implications of his decision. This decision means that I will be with Prince Kaine every day. If my mark burns this badly now, the proximity required to be his personal guard might undo me.