Chapter 4

The moment the Lycan King disappeared through the ballroom doors, the room erupted.

“What just happened?”

“She ran from her mate!”

“Why would she do that?”

“Did you see the King's face?”

“She must have been overwhelmed.”

“Or maybe she doesn't want him.”

The whispers traveled from table to table.

Some wolves turned toward the doors, trying to catch a glimpse of the King and his mysterious mate.

Others leaned closer to one another, already creating their own explanations.

“She probably didn't expect to find her mate tonight.”

“Imagine discovering that your mate is the Lycan King.”

“I would faint.”

“You wouldn't run.”

“You don't know that.”

The room grew louder.

Liam Hemsworth watched the chaos for a moment before stepping onto the raised platform.

He lifted one hand.

“Everyone, settle down.”

The conversations slowly faded.

Liam looked across the ballroom.

“The King has gone after his mate. There is no reason for the celebration to stop.”

A few wolves exchanged curious looks.

Someone called from the crowd, “But what if she rejects him?”

Liam's expression remained composed.

“That is between the King and his mate.”

Another voice followed.

“Do you think she'll come back?”

Liam gave the slightest smile.

“I'm sure you'll find out soon enough.”

A few people laughed.

The tension eased.

Liam turned toward the musicians.

“Keep playing.”

The music began again.

“Enjoy yourselves,” he continued. “Dance, eat, drink and socialize. Tonight is still a celebration.”

The musicians picked up the rhythm.

A couple stepped onto the dance floor.

Then another.

Soon, the ballroom began to return to normal.

Servers continued carrying food between the tables. Guests filled their glasses. Laughter slowly replaced the earlier commotion.

But the mystery remained.

People continued whispering.

“She definitely rejected him.”

“We don't know that.”

“Then why did she run?”

“Maybe we'll hear the story tomorrow.”

“I'm more interested in who she is.”

Liam heard every word.

He simply ignored them.

For now, the King's business was his own.

---

Serena didn't get far.

The garden stretched behind the castle, but panic had made her careless. She ran between two rows of trees before slowing down.

Her breathing was uneven.

Her hands trembled.

She pressed one against her chest.

“What have I done?”

Her wolf answered immediately.

Mate.

Serena squeezed her eyes shut.

“No.”

Our mate.

“I don't want one.”

Her wolf whined.

Serena opened her eyes.

“I said I don't want one.”

She took another step.

A low growl sounded behind her.

Serena froze.

She knew that sound.

Footsteps approached through the grass.

Then Lucian's voice broke through the darkness.

“Mine.”

The word was rough and possessive.

Serena turned.

Lucian stood several yards away, his chest rising and falling from the chase.

His eyes were fixed on her.

His wolf was celebrating inside him.

Mine. We found her. She's ours.

For nine years, he had imagined this moment.

Nine years of waiting.

Nine years of wondering whether the Moon Goddess would ever answer him.

Now his mate stood in front of him.

Lucian crossed the distance between them.

Before Serena could react, he pulled her into his arms.

She stiffened.

His embrace was warm and firm.

He buried his face briefly against her hair and inhaled her scent.

His wolf practically roared with happiness.

Mate.

Lucian held her as if he had spent years afraid she might disappear before he could touch her.

“Mate,” he whispered.

Serena's anger snapped into place.

“Don't.”

Lucian loosened his arms.

Serena pushed herself away.

“I said don't call me that.”

His brows furrowed.

“But that's what you are.”

“I don't care.”

He stared at her.

For the first time since finding her, uncertainty crossed his face.

“What should I call you?”

Serena hesitated.

“My name is Serena.”

Lucian repeated it quietly.

“Serena.”

Something about the way he said it made her uncomfortable.

Not because it was unpleasant.

Because it sounded too familiar.

Too warm.

She looked away.

“Just call me Serena.”

A small smile appeared on Lucian's face.

“Serena.”

She sighed.

“You really like saying my name.”

“I've been waiting nine years to know it.”

Her eyes returned to his.

“Nine years?”

“Yes.”

His smile disappeared.

“I was eighteen when my wolf fully awakened. I knew my mate was somewhere in this world.”

He paused.

“I waited.”

Serena folded her arms.

“And now you found me.”

“Yes.”

“I wish you hadn't.”

The words struck him.

Lucian's expression hardened for a moment, but he didn't look away.

“I've spent nine years searching for you.”

“I didn't ask you to.”

“I know.”

“Then don't expect me to suddenly become the woman you imagined.”

“I don't.”

“You don't know anything about me.”

“Then I'll learn.”

Serena shook her head.

“You don't understand.”

“Then help me understand.”

“I don't want this.”

Her voice was firm.

“I don't want the bond. I don't want a mate. I don't want to be tied to someone just because the Moon Goddess decided it.”

Lucian took a slow breath.

“And if it takes forever for you to accept me?”

“I won't.”

He studied her.

“You're certain?”

“Completely.”

Lucian nodded slowly.

“Then I'll wait.”

Serena stared at him.

“For what?”

“For you to change your mind.”

“You could wait forever.”

“Then I'll wait forever.”

She gave a bitter laugh.

“You're the King. You have an entire kingdom depending on you.”

“I know.”

“And you're willing to waste your life chasing someone who doesn't want you?”

Lucian's eyes darkened.

“You aren't someone I can simply replace.”

“That's not my problem.”

“I know.”

His voice softened.

“But it is my choice.”

Serena stepped closer.

“You think being patient will change my mind?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

“I think getting to know each other might.”

She shook her head.

“You're wasting your time.”

“Maybe.”

Lucian looked directly into her eyes.

“But you're worth wasting it on.”

For a moment, Serena didn't know what to say.

She quickly looked away.

Her wolf stirred again.

She pushed the feeling down.

“This ends here.”

Lucian's expression changed.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I've made my decision.”

He went still.

Serena took a deep breath.

She could feel the bond between them, that invisible thread pulling at her chest.

She hated it.

She hated the way her wolf responded to him.

She hated how easily his presence affected her.

And she refused to spend the rest of her life fighting something she didn't want.

Lucian seemed to understand what she was about to do.

“Serena.”

She looked at him.

“Don't.”

His voice was no longer calm.

“Think about this.”

“I have.”

“You don't have to decide tonight.”

“I already did.”

He took a step toward her.

“Serena, wait.”

She shook her head.

“I know what I'm going to do.”

Her voice didn't waver.

“I've made up my mind.”

Lucian's eyes widened.

“Don't reject me.”

Serena swallowed.

Then she said the words.

“I reject this mate bond.”

Pain exploded through both of them.

Serena gasped.

Her hand flew to her chest.

“Aah!”

Her knees gave way.

She crashed onto the ground.

At the same moment, Lucian staggered backward.

His face twisted in agony.

A roar tore from his throat.

His wolf howled violently inside him.

NO!

Serena's body shook.

She had expected pain.

She hadn't expected this.

It felt as though something had been ripped straight through her chest.

Her fingers dug into the earth.

She tried to breathe.

She couldn't.

Across from her, Lucian dropped to one knee.

His hand pressed against his chest.

“Serena…”

She looked up through tears.

Another wave struck.

Lucian's head lowered as a raw growl escaped him.

His wolf refused to surrender.

Our mate.

Serena's wolf cried out too.

Mate!

“Stop,” Serena whispered.

She couldn't tell whether she was speaking to her wolf, Lucian, or the bond itself.

Lucian forced his head up.

Their eyes met.

Pain had stripped away the coldness in his expression.

There was only determination.

“I don't accept it.”

Serena stared at him.

“What?”

His breathing was ragged.

“I don't accept your rejection.”

She shook her head weakly.

“You have to.”

“No.”

Lucian planted one hand against the ground, trying to steady himself.

“You can reject me.”

Another wave of pain tore through him.

He clenched his teeth.

“You can say it a hundred times.”

His eyes remained locked on hers.

“But I will never accept it.”

Serena's eyes filled with tears.

“You can't do this.”

“I can.”

Lucian's voice broke, but his resolve didn't.

“I waited nine years to find you.”

He swallowed against the pain.

“And I'm not going to lose you because you were afraid to give us a chance.”

Serena couldn't answer.

Another wave struck.

Both wolves howled at once.

The sound echoed through the silent garden.

Serena collapsed onto both knees.

Lucian did the same.

Neither could move.

Neither could breathe properly.

The bond had been rejected.

But neither of them had truly let go.

And beneath the cold night sky, the Lycan King and his unwilling mate remained on their knees, bound by something neither of them had been able to escape.