Chapter 5

The pain slowly began to fade.

Serena remained on her knees, breathing heavily as the last wave passed through her body. Her hands trembled against the cold ground.

Across from her, Lucian was in the same condition.

Neither spoke.

The garden was silent except for their uneven breathing.

Serena finally lifted her head.

She had rejected him.

She had said the words clearly.

So why was the bond still there?

She didn't understand it.

Lucian placed one hand against the ground and slowly pushed himself up.

His face was pale, but there was determination in his eyes.

He looked down at Serena.

“Stand up.”

Serena frowned.

“I can stand by myself.”

She pushed herself up.

Her knees almost gave out.

Lucian reached for her instinctively.

She stepped away before he could touch her.

“I said I can manage.”

He lowered his hand.

“Fine.”

Serena brushed the dirt from her dress.

“I've done what I needed to do. I'm leaving.”

Lucian's expression hardened.

“No.”

She looked at him.

“No?”

“You're not leaving.”

Serena stared at him in disbelief.

“You don't get to decide that.”

“I do tonight.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“You're becoming very comfortable giving me orders.”

“And you're becoming very comfortable ignoring the consequences.”

“What consequences?”

Lucian stepped closer.

“If you walk into that ballroom right now and announce that you've rejected me, everything changes.”

Serena folded her arms.

“Good.”

“You think this is only about you and me?”

“It should be.”

“It isn't anymore.”

He gestured toward the castle.

“Everyone in that ballroom witnessed the bond.”

Serena said nothing.

“They saw you run from me. They saw me go after you. If we return separately, they'll know something is wrong.”

“So?”

“So by morning, the entire Northern Territory will be talking about you.”

“I don't care.”

“You will when the stories reach your pack.”

That made Serena pause.

Lucian continued.

“The elders won't accept a public rejection of their King without an explanation. They'll question why you refused the bond.”

“They can ask.”

“They won't stop there.”

His voice became firmer.

“They could demand that you appear before the Council. They could question your family. They could question your Alpha.”

Serena's jaw tightened.

“My family has nothing to do with this.”

“Tell that to the elders.”

She looked away.

Lucian watched her carefully.

“You don't understand how quickly a kingdom can turn against someone.”

“I understand enough.”

“No, you don't.”

He took another step.

“If you walk into that hall and announce that you rejected me, they won't see a woman protecting her freedom.”

His gaze held hers.

“They'll see someone who humiliated their King.”

Serena scoffed.

“And what? They'll hate me?”

“Some already will.”

She looked at him sharply.

Lucian's voice remained calm.

“Others will call you arrogant. Some will say you rejected the Moon Goddess's choice. Others will blame your family for raising you that way.”

Serena's expression changed.

He continued.

“Your name will become a subject of gossip throughout every pack.”

She hated how easily she could imagine it.

Her family being questioned.

Her father having to answer for her.

Her brother being dragged into something that had nothing to do with him.

Still, she refused to give Lucian the satisfaction of seeing her surrender.

“So your answer is to make me pretend?”

“Yes.”

Serena laughed bitterly.

“You're unbelievable.”

“I've been called worse.”

“I don't want to pretend to be your mate.”

“You don't have to pretend for me.”

“Then who?”

“For everyone else.”

She stared at him.

Lucian continued.

“We return to that hall together.”

“And then?”

“You stand beside me.”

“I won't touch you.”

“I won't ask you to.”

“I won't smile.”

“You don't have to.”

“I won't act like I'm in love with you.”

“I didn't ask you to.”

Serena frowned.

“Then what exactly am I supposed to do?”

“Stand beside me and let them believe you accepted the bond.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“And if I refuse?”

Lucian's expression turned cold.

“Then you walk into that ballroom alone and tell them the truth.”

Serena stared at him.

He wasn't bluffing.

“You're threatening me.”

“I'm telling you what will happen.”

“You could stop it.”

“I could.”

“Then why won't you?”

“Because if I publicly announce that my mate rejected me, it creates a weakness around the throne.”

Serena looked at him in surprise.

Lucian's voice lowered.

“The kingdom is watching me. The packs are watching me. The elders are watching me.”

He paused.

“If they believe my own mate has rejected me, they'll question the strength of my rule.”

“So this is about your pride.”

“No.”

His answer came immediately.

“This is about preventing chaos.”

Serena shook her head.

“You barely know me.”

“I know.”

“And you're already deciding what I should do.”

“I am asking you to survive tonight.”

“I didn't ask you to save me.”

“You don't have to.”

His eyes softened slightly.

“But I'm not going to stand by and watch them tear you apart because of something neither of us chose.”

Serena looked at him.

For the first time, she didn't have an immediate answer.

Lucian extended his hand.

She stared at it.

“You don't have to take it,” he said.

“I wasn't planning to.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“I expected that.”

She walked past him instead.

Lucian followed.

They had barely reached the edge of the garden when footsteps approached.

Liam appeared between the trees.

He stopped when he saw them.

“My King.”

Lucian nodded.

“Liam.”

The Beta's gaze moved between them.

“You've been gone for quite some time.”

“We're coming back.”

Liam looked relieved.

“The guests are beginning to ask questions.”

Serena muttered, “Let them.”

Liam heard her but wisely kept quiet.

His eyes briefly moved to Lucian.

Something in his expression asked a question without words.

Lucian gave him the smallest shake of his head.

Not here.

Not now.

Liam understood.

“We should return before the rumors become worse.”

Lucian turned to Serena.

“Ready?”

“No.”

Liam almost smiled.

Serena noticed.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

She gave him a suspicious look.

Lucian stepped toward the castle doors.

“Remember what we discussed.”

Serena followed reluctantly.

“I remember.”

The doors opened.

The music and voices of the ballroom rushed toward them.

Then everything stopped.

Hundreds of wolves turned.

Silence spread across the room.

Serena felt every eye settle on her.

Whispers immediately began.

“They're back.”

“She stayed with him.”

“Look at them.”

“Maybe she accepted him.”

Serena's stomach tightened.

Lucian walked beside her with the confidence expected of a King.

She kept her face composed.

They reached the center of the ballroom.

Liam followed behind them.

Lucian leaned slightly toward Serena.

“Just stay beside me.”

Serena didn't look at him.

“This changes nothing.”

“I know.”

“I still reject the bond.”

His expression remained calm.

“And I still don't accept it.”

Serena's fingers curled at her sides.

The music slowly began again.

People returned to their conversations.

But this time, every eye remained on the pair standing together in the center of the ballroom.

To everyone watching, they looked like the newly bonded King and his mate.

Only the two of them knew the truth.

This was nothing more than a pretence.

And neither knew how long they could keep it that way.