The mate she never wanted

The alarm rang at 5:30 a.m.

Serena Hawthorne silenced it before it could ring twice.

She sat up, rubbed the sleep from her eyes, then glanced at the clock.

She had a morning shift.

Again.

She dragged herself out of bed and walked toward the mirror.

Her fiery red hair was a mess.

“Perfect.”

She grabbed her brush.

Within minutes, the tangles were gone. Her long hair fell over her shoulders in soft waves, framing a face that had always attracted more attention than she wanted.

At twenty-three, Serena knew she was beautiful.

She also knew beauty was useless in an emergency room.

Her patients didn't care about her hair or her curves. They cared about whether she could save them.

She reached for her makeup bag.

As she dabbed concealer beneath her eyes, an unwanted memory surfaced.

Mrs. Amelia.

Her favorite patient.

Serena could still remember the woman's trembling hands.

I don't know how to live without him.

Her mate had died three months earlier.

Amelia had stopped eating. Stopped sleeping. Stopped talking.

Serena had tried everything.

Then one morning, Amelia was brought into the hospital.

Already dead.

Serena's hand froze.

The makeup brush slipped from her fingers.

That was why she hated the word mate.

People called the bond beautiful.

Serena had seen the other side.

Love could make you happy.

It could also destroy you.

She picked up the brush again.

Never.

She would never allow herself to become that vulnerable.

A knock sounded.

Before she could answer, the door opened.

“Serena?”

Her mother stepped inside.

Grace Hawthorne stopped when she saw her daughter.

“You're awake.”

Serena glanced at her through the mirror.

“That's usually how mornings work.”

Grace sighed.

“Can we talk?”

“No.”

“You don't even know what I want to say.”

“I know.”

Her mother folded her arms.

“The ceremony is tomorrow.”

Serena stopped applying mascara.

There it was.

The conversation she'd been avoiding.

“I know.”

“Everyone is leaving for the Northern Castle tomorrow morning.”

“I know.”

Grace frowned.

“You're going too.”

Serena slowly turned around.

“No.”

“Serena.”

“I have work.”

“The hospital will be closed.”

“Then I'll find something else to do.”

Her mother stared at her.

“You're being difficult.”

“I'm being honest.”

Grace walked closer.

“This isn't optional.”

Serena picked up her stethoscope.

“Why does everyone suddenly care so much about where I spend tomorrow evening?”

“Because it's the Lycan King's mating ceremony.”

“I know what it is.”

“Then you know why everyone has to attend.”

Serena's jaw tightened.

Lucian Blackwood.

The Lycan King of the Northern Territory.

Twenty-seven years old.

Powerful. Wealthy. Feared.

And still without a mate.

Serena had heard enough stories about his unstable wolf to know she wanted no part of his ceremony.

“I don't want a mate,” she said.

Grace's expression softened.

“You've been saying that since you turned eighteen.”

“And I still mean it.”

“You can't hide from fate forever.”

“Watch me.”

Another voice came from the doorway.

“She probably could.”

Serena looked over.

Zara stood there with a small smile.

Leo's mate.

And one of the few people Serena trusted enough to argue with her.

“Don't encourage her,” Grace said.

Zara stepped inside.

“I wasn't.”

Serena raised an eyebrow.

“You were.”

Zara laughed.

“Fine. Maybe a little.”

She sat on the edge of Serena's bed.

“Just go to the ceremony.”

“No.”

“You don't even know if you'll find your mate.”

“That's the point.”

Zara studied her.

“You're afraid.”

Serena's expression hardened.

“I'm not afraid.”

“Then what are you?”

“Prepared.”

Zara smiled.

“For what?”

“To reject whoever the Moon Goddess thinks belongs to me.”

Grace closed her eyes.

“Serena.”

“What?”

“You can't keep treating love like it's a disease.”

Serena's smile disappeared.

“I've watched it kill people.”

The room went quiet.

She looked down at her stethoscope.

“Mrs. Amelia loved her mate. When he died, she lost herself. I watched it happen.”

Her voice dropped.

“I won't live like that.”

Grace reached for her hand.

“You don't know what your story will be.”

“I know what I want.”

“And what's that?”

“A life that's mine.”

The words came easily.

“I want my career. My freedom. My choices. I don't want to wake up one morning and realize every decision has to include someone else.”

Zara nodded slowly.

“What if your mate doesn't ask you to give those things up?”

Serena gave her a look.

“Then I'll be impressed.”

A laugh escaped Zara.

Grace wasn't amused.

“The Northern Kingdom has given a direct order. Every pack must attend. Those who refuse will face punishment.”

Serena's eyes narrowed.

“What kind of punishment?”

Her father answered from the doorway.

“Last year, one pack refused the King's summons.”

Abel Hawthorne stepped inside.

“Their rations were cut for a month.”

Serena stared at him.

“Seriously?”

“The King isn't asking.”

Her father paused.

“Neither is Alpha Adrian.”

That changed things.

Serena knew Adrian Vale well enough.

He was their Alpha. He respected her, but he would never challenge a direct order from the Lycan King.

Abel continued.

“The entire pack is leaving tomorrow morning.”

Serena looked between her parents.

“So you're forcing me to go.”

“No,” Grace said.

“We're asking you to be sensible.”

Serena grabbed her doctor's coat.

“I'll go.”

Her mother blinked.

“You will?”

“Yes.”

Zara smiled.

“But don't misunderstand me.”

Serena pointed at her.

“I am going because I don't want trouble for my family or the pack.”

She slipped her stethoscope around her neck.

“If I find my mate, that's his problem.”

Grace sighed.

“What are you going to do?”

Serena opened the door.

“Reject him.”

“Serena!”

She turned.

“I've made my decision.”

Then she walked out.

The cool morning air greeted her as she stepped outside.

Silver Fang Pack was already waking.

Warriors headed toward the training grounds. Children ran along the streets. Shopkeepers lifted their shutters.

Everything looked normal.

But tomorrow wouldn't be.

Tomorrow morning, Serena would leave her home for the Northern Castle.

Tomorrow evening, she would stand in a room filled with hundreds of wolves.

And somewhere among them might be the man the Moon Goddess had chosen for her.

Serena tightened her grip on her doctor's bag.

She didn't care who he was.

Alpha.

Warrior.

Prince.

Even the Lycan King himself.

She would not surrender her life to a mate.

She had spent five years making the same wish beneath the Blue Moon.

Please, Moon Goddess.

Never give me a mate.

Serena headed toward the hospital.

For the first time, she wondered if the Moon Goddess had finally decided to answer.