Kira's POV
I was still sitting against the door when my phone rang.
Elena's name flashed on the screen. I'd been avoiding her calls for an hour. Couldn't avoid her forever.
You're alive, Elena said the second I answered. Thank God. I thought when you didn't answer
I'm fine. My voice came out hollow.
Liar. What happened? Did you see him? What did he say about the sanctuary?
I closed my eyes. Took a breath. He agreed to let me keep it.
Elena's relieved exhale was loud through the phone. Oh thank God. So he's not as heartless as
On the condition that I become his mate.
Silence.
Then: WHAT?
I pulled the phone away from my ear. Elena was practically screaming.
You heard me, I said quietly.
Kira, please tell me you're joking. Please tell me the Alpha King didn't just blackmail you into
He gave me a choice. I stood up, legs shaky. Accept his deal or lose everything. I chose the sanctuary.
That's not a choice! That's extortion!
It's the only option I have. I walked to the window. Outside, the city sparkled with lights. Beautiful. Foreign. The ceremony is in three days.
More silence. Then Elena's voice, small and scared: Are you coming back? Before the ceremony? To pack? To say goodbye?
Rowan's sending a car for me tomorrow morning. I can grab some things, check on the wolves
I'm coming with you when you return.
No. I shook my head even though she couldn't see. It's not safe. If this goes wrong
Then I want to be there. Elena's voice turned fierce. You're not doing this alone. I don't care what the scary Alpha King says.
Despite everything, I smiled. He is pretty scary.
Is he awful? Mean? Did he hurt you?
I thought about Rowan's eyes. The pain hidden under all that ice. The way he'd said my name like it hurt him.
He's different, I said finally. Cold. But not I don't think he wants to hurt me. I think he wants me to hurt the way he hurt.
That's the same thing, Kira.
Maybe. Maybe not.
I have to go, I said. I'll see you tomorrow morning. Early.
Kira, wait are you sure about this? Really sure? Because once he marks you
I know. The mate bond would wake up. Become permanent. Tie me to Rowan forever. I know what it means.
And you're still going through with it?
I looked at my reflection in the window. Saw a female who'd spent seven years running from her biggest mistake. Who'd built a whole life trying to prove that mistake was worth it.
And now that life depended on facing what I'd run from.
I don't have a choice, I whispered.
After we hung up, I fell into bed fully clothed. Exhausted but unable to sleep.
Tomorrow I'd go back to the sanctuary. See my wolves one last time before everything changed.
Tonight I just had to survive being this close to Rowan with only a door between us.
The bond hummed quietly. He was still awake too. I could feel it.
Could he feel me?
I pressed my hand over my heart and tried not to think about what I'd agreed to.
The next morning, a sleek black car arrived at dawn. The driver stern-faced wolf who didn't speak drove me the six hours back to my sanctuary in complete silence.
Elena met me at the gates, pulling me into a crushing hug the second I stepped out.
You look terrible, she said.
Thanks.
I mean it. Did you sleep at all?
No. I pulled away, looking at my sanctuary. My wolves. Everything I'd built. How are they? The pup?
Strong. Drinking well. Thalia says she'll make a full recovery. Elena's expression softened. You saved her, Kira.
We saved her. I started walking toward the enclosures. How are the others?
We spent the morning checking every wolf. I memorized their faces. Their names. The way they trusted me.
In three days, I wouldn't be here anymore. Wouldn't be able to check on them daily. Wouldn't be Dr. Kira Thorne, sanctuary director.
I'd be Luna Queen. Rowan's mate. Someone I didn't recognize.
You're crying, Elena said gently.
I wiped my eyes. I'm fine.
You're allowed to be scared.
I'm not scared. I was terrified. I just what if I can't do this? What if I fail and he takes the sanctuary anyway?
Then we fight. We'll find another way
There is no other way. I turned to face her. Pack law is absolute. If Rowan wants this land, it's his. The only reason I get to keep it is because I agreed to his terms.
Terms that include giving up your freedom.
For six months. I tried to sound confident. Just six months. Then I can come back.
Elena gave me a look that said she didn't believe it. I didn't believe it either.
We packed in silence. I didn't have much a few clothes, some books, photos of my parents. Everything fit in two suitcases.
Seven years of life in two bags.
This is wrong, Elena muttered, watching me pack. All of this is wrong.
I know.
You shouldn't have to choose between your dream and your mate.
I already made that choice once. I zipped the first suitcase. This is just living with the consequences.
Kira
I need to go. I couldn't do this anymore. Couldn't keep pretending I was okay. The car's waiting.
Elena grabbed my arm. Promise me something.
What?
Promise me you'll fight for yourself. Not just the sanctuary. Not just the wolves. You. Her eyes were wet. Promise me you won't disappear into being his mate. That you'll remember who you are.
I wanted to promise. Wanted to believe I could stay myself while bound to an Alpha King who hated me.
But I'd learned not to make promises I couldn't keep.
I'll try, I said.
It would have to be enough.
The palace felt different returning to it. More real. More permanent.
A servant different from yesterday, but just as coddled me through hallways I didn't recognize. We climbed stairs. Turned corners. The palace was massive. I'd get lost here.
Maybe that was the point.
Your quarters, the servant said, stopping at the same double doors from yesterday. The Alpha King requests you don't leave the Royal Wing without an escort.
I'm a prisoner?
The servant's lip curled. You're the future Luna Queen. There are protocols.
She opened the door and left without another word.
I dragged my suitcases inside. The room looked the same. Beautiful. Cold. Not mine.
Nothing here was mine.
I unpacked slowly. Put my clothes in the massive closet where they looked pathetic next to the empty space. Set my photos on the nightstand. Stared at the connecting door to Rowan's room.
He was in there. I could feel him through the bond.
Did he know I was back?
A sharp knock made me jump.
Not from the connecting door. From the main entrance.
Maybe Elena had followed me after all. Maybe
I opened the door.
A shewolf stood there. Tall. Beautiful. Perfectly dressed in clothes that probably cost more than my entire sanctuary budget. Her blonde hair was styled in waves. Her makeup flawless.
She looked exactly like someone who belonged in a palace.
Everything I wasn't.
Can I help you? I asked.
Her smile was sharp. Predatory. You must be Kira Thorne.
And you are?
Vivienne Ashford. She extended a hand with perfect nails. I thought we should meet before the ceremony.
I shook her hand cautiously. Her grip was strong. Challenging.
Nice to meet you, I lied.
Is it? Vivienne's smile didn't reach her eyes. I doubt that. You see, I've been groomed my whole life to be Alpha Queen. My family has connections to the Royal Pack going back generations. I was supposed to be standing where you are.
Understanding clicked. You wanted to be Rowan's mate.
Want. Present tense. She stepped closer. Until three days ago, everyone assumed the Alpha King would choose me. I'm perfect for the role. Pureblood. Connected. Beautiful. Everything a Luna Queen should be.
She looked me up and down. The judgment was clear.
And then he announces he's mating you. A halfblood who rejected him seven years ago. Who runs a little animal sanctuary and has no political experience. Her laugh was cold. It's almost insulting.
My temper flared. If you have a problem with Rowan's choice, take it up with him.
Oh, I will. Vivienne's smile turned vicious. But I wanted to meet you first. To give you fair warning.
Warning about what?
That you don't belong here. That you're going to fail. She leaned close enough that I could smell her expensive perfume. Six months seems like a long time. But palace life? Pack politics? The constant scrutiny? You'll crack in six weeks.
You don't know me.
I don't need to. I've seen wolves like you before. Playing at being something they're not. It never ends well. She stepped back. When you fail and you will fail I'll be waiting. The Alpha King deserves a real mate. Someone who won't run the moment things get hard.
The jab landed. She knew about the rejection. Of course she did. Probably everyone knew.
I'm not running, I said quietly.
We'll see. Vivienne turned to leave. Paused at the door. Oh, and one more thing? The mark might make you his mate legally. But it won't make you his queen. That's something you earn. And half-bloods? She looked back at me. They never earn anything here.
She left.
I stood alone in my beautiful prison, shaking.
This was a mistake. All of it. I didn't belong in this world. Couldn't survive the politics, the judgment, the constant reminders that I was less than.
I sank onto the bed. Buried my face in my hands.
What had I gotten myself into?
A sound made me look up.
The connecting door the one to Rowan's chambers was opening.
My heart stopped.
Rowan stood in the doorway. He must have heard everything. His expression was unreadable.
She's wrong, he said.
About what?
About you not belonging. He stepped into my room. You belonged to me seven years ago. You belong to me now. That's all that matters.
But what she said
Is jealousy from a female who never had a chance. He moved closer. The moment I felt our bond, Vivienne stopped existing. There's only ever been you, Kira. Even when I hated you. Even when I wanted to hate you.
His words should have comforted me. Instead they terrified me.
Because he was talking about the bond. About fate. About things neither of us could control.
Not about love.
Rowan
The ceremony is tomorrow. He cut me off. Not three days. Tomorrow at sunset.
What? But you said
I changed my mind. His eyes held mine. Every minute you're here unmarked is a minute someone like Vivienne thinks she has a chance. So we're doing this now. Tomorrow you'll be marked. Claimed. Mine.
I'm not ready
You've had seven years to be ready. He turned toward the connecting door. Stopped. Oh, and Kira? That door stays unlocked from now on. I want to be able to reach you. Anytime I want.
But you said
I lied. He looked back at me. I'll always be able to reach you. Get used to it.
He left, door open behind him.
I stared at that open doorway. At the glimpse of his room beyond.
Tomorrow. The ceremony was tomorrow.
Which meant I had less than twenty-four hours before everything changed.
Before Rowan marked me. Before the bond woke up. Before I became his mate for real.
And somewhere in this palace, Vivienne was waiting for me to fail.
Waiting to take my place.
I touched the silver wolf necklace under my shirt. The one Rowan gave me. The one I'd carried for seven years like a talisman.
Tomorrow I'd face my past.
Tomorrow I'd pay for my mistakes.
Tomorrow I'd either survive becoming Luna Queen
Or I'd break completely.
And I had no idea which was more likely.