Chapter 3

By six in the evening, Serena was standing in front of her mirror.

She barely recognized herself.

Her dress was deep red, fitted at the waist and flowing softly around her legs. The neckline was elegant, leaving her shoulders bare without being too revealing.

Her fiery red hair fell in loose waves down her back.

She added a pair of small diamond earrings and stared at her reflection.

Beautiful.

That was the first word that came to mind.

The second was unfortunate.

Because tonight, every unmated she-wolf in the Northern Kingdom would be searching for the same thing.

A mate.

Serena wanted none of it.

She picked up her perfume and sprayed a little onto her wrists.

“Let's get this over with.”

A knock came.

“Serena?”

“Come in.”

Zara entered and stopped.

Her mouth fell open.

“Wow.”

Serena sighed.

“Don't.”

“I didn't say anything.”

“You didn't have to.”

Zara walked around her.

“You look incredible.”

“It's just a dress.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

Serena grabbed her small purse.

“Ready?”

Zara smiled.

“As I'll ever be.”

They left the room together.

The hallway was already crowded.

Guests were making their way toward the ballroom, their voices filling the castle.

Serena walked beside her family.

As soon as they entered the ballroom, she noticed the stares.

One person.

Then another.

Then almost everyone.

Conversations faded as heads turned in her direction.

Even two guards near the entrance looked at her for a second too long.

Serena frowned.

Why is everyone staring?

Zara leaned closer.

“Because you're beautiful.”

“I hate this.”

“You'll survive.”

Serena ignored her.

The ballroom was enormous.

Golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Tables lined the walls, covered with food and drinks. Music played softly while wolves from different packs gathered in groups.

At the far end stood a raised platform.

The throne.

Serena looked away.

She didn't want to think about the man who would soon sit there.

Lucian Blackwood.

The Lycan King.

She had never seen him before.

She didn't plan on being impressed.

A sudden silence swept through the ballroom.

The music stopped.

Everyone turned toward the large doors.

Serena's heart gave an unexpected thump.

The doors opened.

A group of guards entered first.

Then came the Council of Elders.

Their silver robes swept across the floor as they walked toward the platform.

The room fell completely silent.

Then the herald stepped forward.

“People of the Northern Kingdom, stand and welcome your king.”

Everyone rose.

Serena followed.

The doors opened again.

Lucian Blackwood entered.

Serena's breath caught.

She hated that it did.

He was tall.

Broad shoulders filled his black suit. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his face carried a cold, commanding expression.

There was nothing soft about him.

Nothing approachable.

He looked like a man born to command.

His eyes moved across the ballroom.

Slowly.

Carefully.

The crowd bowed.

“Long live the Lycan King.”

Lucian gave a small nod.

“Thank you.”

His voice was deep enough to silence the room.

He walked toward the throne.

Serena lowered her gaze.

Not interested.

She reminded herself of that.

Lucian reached the platform and turned toward his people.

“I welcome every pack that has answered my summons tonight.”

His gaze moved across the crowd.

“For years, I have waited for the Moon Goddess to reveal my mate. Tonight, I hope that wait ends.”

The ballroom erupted in applause.

Serena clapped politely.

Nothing more.

Lucian took his seat.

The ceremony officially began.

Music returned.

People began talking again.

Serena finally relaxed.

She had survived the king's arrival.

Now she only needed to get through the rest of the evening.

She reached for a glass of water.

Then Lucian froze.

His fingers tightened around the armrest.

Something had changed.

A scent.

Soft.

Sweet.

Familiar.

His wolf lifted its head.

Mate.

Lucian's breathing stopped.

No.

It couldn't be.

After all these years?

His eyes slowly scanned the ballroom.

The scent grew stronger.

His heart began pounding.

Mate.

His wolf was no longer whispering.

It was certain.

Lucian stood abruptly.

The Council noticed.

“My King?”

He didn't answer.

His eyes moved through the crowd.

Then he saw her.

Fiery red hair.

Beautiful face.

Those eyes.

The woman standing beside another she-wolf.

His wolf exploded inside him.

Mine.

Lucian stared.

The world seemed to disappear.

He could hear nothing.

See nothing.

Except her.

His mate.

After years of searching, the Moon Goddess had finally answered him.

But the woman across the ballroom felt it too.

Serena's breath caught.

A strange pull seized her chest.

Her wolf rose instantly.

Mate.

Her eyes widened.

“No.”

She looked toward the throne.

The Lycan King was staring directly at her.

Their eyes met.

Everything inside her went still.

The bond snapped into place.

Serena's heart pounded violently.

Her wolf cried out.

He's ours.

“No.”

She shook her head.

“No, no, no.”

This couldn't be happening.

Not to her.

Not after five years of wishing.

Not after everything she had seen.

She had promised herself she would never accept a mate.

She couldn't.

The bond pulled harder.

Serena took a step backward.

Lucian noticed.

He stepped down from the platform.

One step.

Then another.

People began moving aside.

Whispers spread through the ballroom.

“The King found his mate.”

“Who is she?”

“Is that his mate?”

Serena's panic rose with every step Lucian took toward her.

She couldn't breathe.

She couldn't think.

She couldn't stay.

The man who was supposed to become the center of her life was walking toward her.

And she didn't even want him.

Serena turned sharply.

Then she ran.

She pushed through the ballroom doors, ignoring the shocked faces around her.

Behind her, Lucian froze for half a second.

His wolf roared.

Mate!

He immediately followed.

“Wait!”

Serena didn't stop.

She ran down the corridor as fast as she could.

Lucian followed her.

He didn't know her name.

He didn't know where she came from.

He didn't know anything about her.

But he knew one thing.

She was his mate.

And he wasn't going to let her disappear.

The ballroom doors swung shut behind them.

The ceremony continued in stunned silence.

But outside, Serena was already running from the one thing she had spent five years begging the Moon Goddess never to give her.

And Lucian was right behind her.