Chapter 1

Ember

I jolt awake at the sound of my Wolf, Nara’s voice in my head. She sounds excited, but cautious as she makes her proclamation, “We are close to finding our mate again. I feel it.”

The thought terrifies me. There is nothing I want less in this world than to find my mate.

This is the third time I have felt this pull. The last two times the Moon Goddess mated me I was rejected when both men chose my twin sister Bianca over me.

Although we look similar, Bianca has always had a brighter smile, shinier hair, and clearer eyes. She has never felt like an outsider, conforming to society’s standards effortlessly. She is charming, social, and easily accepted by all.

My sister and I could not be more different. Fitting in and looking beautiful has never been much of a priority for me. I prefer battle and have always seemed as strange and out of place as a result.

My lack of conformity resulted in both of my former mates rejecting me and in favor of becoming Bianca’s playthings. They left me alone, unwanted, and unlovable.

The Moon Goddess only allows three chances to mates. If I am rejected again, I will lose my Wolf. Will my new mate reject me like the others?

I feel pressure in my chest and Nara’s voice echoes in my mind. ‘I feel it. This is different.’

I sigh and slowly push myself up from the bed. I’m running late, so I make quick work of throwing on my guard uniform, and then I put my long auburn hair into a bun before heading downstairs to grab a quick breakfast.

I have wanted to be a warrior for as long as I can remember. Now that I have been accepted as a trainee in the Royal Guard my dreams are finally coming true.

Even if Nara is right and my new mate is different, I do not welcome him. Being with him would destroy everything I have worked for.

Unmated females are allowed to work, but once they have found their mate, they are expected to quit in order to tend to their homes. I will not let that happen to me.

Females are usually prohibited from joining the guard, but once they saw my strength, they could not deny me. I will not give that up.

My mother died giving birth to me, causing a rift in my family too large to mend. I need to prove that I am worth something. I need to prove that my birth was not a mistake.

When I reach the kitchen, I am dismayed to see Bianca standing in front of the fridge. “Shouldn’t you be off cosplaying as a man?”

“Bianca, I don’t have time for this.” I stand my ground but can’t help but feel insecure as her grin widens.

“What? Did you want to get in here?” she asks, gesturing toward the fridge. “Maybe you should skip it. You’re starting to bulk up, sis,” she says, pointing to my arms. “You wouldn’t want a potential mate to find you masculine, and that uniform is not doing you any favors.”

I roll my eyes, trying not to think about that invisible pull. Maybe she’s right. I’m strong, but the curves of my body haven’t softened with training.

It doesn’t matter. I will not mate again. I will ignore the pull and reach my goals.

“You know, Bianca, you really need to let go of this notion that your vanity is my problem,” I huff as I push her aside and grab a yogurt from the fridge, trying not to show how her comments got to me. I will not show weakness.

Bianca comes close and whispers “I don’t know, sis, I feel like my beauty has definitely been a problem for you before. Having you as my twin is embarrassing.” she says before winking and walking toward the front door.

My chest tightens as I accept the truth of her words. This was nothing new, Bianca had always been prettier and more social.

“I don’t know why your failed mates even bothered, since everyone knows I’m going to end up with Prince Kaine. Maybe they were just looking for an excuse not to end up with you,” she laughs and saunters out the door, swinging her hips, on her way to meet up with her friends.

Prince Kaine is the oldest and fiercest of the Alpha King’s sons, and Bianca has had her sights set on him for as long as I can remember but as far as I know she’s never been to the palace.

I take a deep breath, grounding myself as I think about the day ahead. It won’t be easy, but I refuse to find my mate.

I arrive for training noting the palpable energy shift as I approach. Every eye is on me. I do my best to shake off the uneasy feeling growing in my stomach as I find a good spot to stretch.

After a moment, I hear the crunch of boots hitting the earth and I straighten to see Daniel, my former mate striding toward me, his eyes hungry. “Ember, this is just pathetic,” he says smirking.

His gaze rakes up and down my body and heat rises to my face as anger ignites in my veins. Nara bristles, preparing for a fight. “I don’t know what you mean,” I bite out, gritting my teeth.

“Oh come on Em, if you think following me into the guard is going to win me back then you are as foolish as you are inadequate.” He says, a sadistic smile spreading across his face.

I hear laughter from somewhere behind him and notice for the first time that a group of guards has gathered and is listening intently. My eyes begin to sting at the mocking looks of what are supposed to be my colleagues.

His grin widens, encouraged by the others as he continues, “Be a good she-wolf and stop pestering me. It’s embarrassing. No one wants you, Ember.”

My mind races as I try to think of something, anything to say, but his words cut deep. I joined the guard for myself and myself alone, but it’s true that I’ll never fit in. I don’t regret my choices, but I understand that those choices make me unlovable.

I blink back my tears, willing myself not to cry before pushing past Daniel. If it was just Daniel, I could handle it, but the humiliation of being mocked in front of the other guards is something that will haunt me.

Today is a sparring day, so I take advantage of the chaos and the looser schedule to break away and train on my own. I know I will have to deal with this eventually but right now I just can’t. I beeline toward a group of what appears to be abandoned buildings off to the side of the palace in my desperation to be alone.

I approach one of the larger buildings and jiggle the handle. After a moment, it opens and I begin to descend a flight of stairs. My mind begins to swirl as I enter the room.

I continue forward until hear a growl from behind me. I squint but the dark room doesn’t allow me to see as I am grabbed from behind. I feel the raw strength of my attacker as he effortlessly manipulates my body, and I am pressed roughly against a wall.

I shudder as the mate bond snaps into place, flooding my senses. Nara hums as he pulls my head back I am locked in a wild, unrestrained kiss.

My earlier resolve melts away as I relish the kiss, my body on fire. His hands slide down to cup my ass, and my need grows as I feel his rough hands massage what’s his.

I can’t help but lean back into his tall frame, his hard body fitting perfectly against my own as a battle rages within me. “I…” My breath comes out as a gasp, but I try to clear my head. I cannot mate again.

His hands reach around to cup my breasts and the final piece of my resolve vanishes. Everything about him was made for me from his strong arms to his scent musk, pine, and leather. I allow myself to be taken willingly as my feelings continue to overwhelm me.

“Mine,” he rasps out just before he bites down, marking me as his. I can’t help my cry as waves of ecstasy crash over me, and my mate continues, taking me higher and higher until suddenly it’s over, leaving me with a sense of loss.

I turn to finally look at the man whose mate call was strong enough to possess me. My stomach turns. There is not a person in the kingdom who does not know this face. I have just mated Prince Kaine, the man Bianca has sworn to marry.