Raina's POV

The evening had approached fast. The men from the Black Fang dynasty had retreated, surprisingly. I'd assembled the pack members for roll call just to be sure that everyone was safe.

I'd left the Beta with the king after he'd mentioned whatever he did about his mate. I didn't care to find out what he was speaking of.

Now, I was seated between Mama Rita and Samantha on a thatched mat, watching the twins, Natalie and Nahum, play.

“About that… err, Beta, don't you think something is off about him?” Samantha was the first to speak up.

“Everything is off about strangers in camp,” I said, then turned to Mama Rita apologetically.

“I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble,” I said, staring into her wise, all-knowing eyes.

She touched my hair, then patted it softly. Mama Rita was the only elder in the pack. She'd also been the only one who had been able to shift in a long while. She'd told me I would someday.

But I was scared that even if I did, she wouldn't be alive to witness it. She would be eighty by the next full moon.

“You sensed him in trouble, and you helped. That's a wise thing to do, child.” Her weak voice was full of admiration.

“Wait, that's true. You literally ran out like you were being hunted. How did you know that he was in trouble?” Samantha asked in an almost too-loud voice.

Ahh, I haven't told them about it yet.

I exhaled.

“Well, this might come as a shock to you, but…” I hesitated, not sure how I was going to break the news.

“But what?” Samantha chimed in.

“He's my mate.” I just dropped it.

Silence.

Then...

“WHAT?!” The loudest squeal I'd ever heard. I winced and covered my ears.

“You are fated to the king. Of all—wait. Are you being delusional? Because I…”

“Calm down, Samantha. Raina has never made jokes this serious,” Mama Rita cut in.

“So he's really your mate. We've waited for this for a long time,” she said, and I winced. I was a female Alpha, a leader, even

if it was to the most vulnerable pack. I wasn't just some mate to be claimed, but if this was how I could ensure the pack’s

safety, then I would gladly do it.

“Samantha, he is the king. From royalty. He might reject me,” I voiced out the worry on my mind.

“Then he's plain stupid if he does that,” she murmured. I turned to Mama Rita, who had been quiet about the matter.

“Mama?” I called. She looked at me and smiled. Slowly, she cupped my face.

“I didn't know the cycle would start so soon,” she said, and I furrowed my brows.

What was she talking about?

“You have to win over destiny, okay?” she said, and I was about to say something when the sound of footsteps made me look up.

“The king wants to see you.”

It was Cyrus, the Beta, and he was speaking to me.

My heart rate increased, and I wet my dry lips. After excusing myself, I stood from the mat and went with him.

The king was seated on the bed. A kerosene lamp was the only source of light in the small room. I could see that some of the colour had come back into his face.

“You can leave us, Cyrus.”

His voice had more strength in it. I clenched the hem of my gown slowly as Cyrus left the room.

I didn't know what to expect being left alone with him.

I avoided his gaze when I felt his eyes on me.

“Are you going to just stand there?” he asked, and I blinked.

“You never told me to sit,” I said, looking up at him.

I could see the amusement in his eyes.

“Sit then,” he said, tapping the spot beside him.

Fiona was silent in my head. I didn't know what she was thinking, but then I sat still beside him.

My mind was spinning with different thoughts. His eyes hadn't left me the whole time. Then suddenly, he reached out, and I shifted instinctively.

Our eyes met, and he held out his hand. I reluctantly let him take mine. Everything felt strange to me.

The way my skin burned at his touch. The desire to be with him was hot, fiery, almost too painful.

“You didn't treat the wounds,” he said. His voice was hoarse, filled with something I was too afraid to name.

But the thought that he was going to reject me was too great, eating me deep inside. I couldn't wait anymore.

“I can't shift,” I said, and he raised a brow at me.

“You can't shift?”

“My pack is the Mundane pack. My dad was killed alongside my brothers. We are prey, especially to your own pack.”

His eyes never left mine.

“Is that so?” He sounded unhinged.

“And… and my pack, well… none of us can shift. We live outside of civilization, in rags…” My voice broke. My eyes stung, and

I stared down at our entwined hands.

“Why are you telling me all this?” I heard his voice, but I was too distracted to know if it carried mockery in it.

“So you'll make it snappy if you're already thinking of rejecting me,” I said in a low, surrendered tone.

I heard him exhale and shift on the bed, felt his fingers on my chin, felt my body react to his touch.

He raised my face to meet his. His eyes bored holes deep into my soul. Dark and… surprisingly tender.

“Now you've said your bit, would you let me kiss you?” he asked. My eyes widened, my cheeks flushed, and I blinked rapidly.

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.

“Will you?” he asked, leaning in closer.

I could feel my wolf pressing in. Her desire was mine. I couldn't resist this man. My throat ran dry as my gaze fell to his lips, and without a second thought, I nodded.

“Yes,” I said.