Chapter 2 2: His Mate

20 YEARS LATER. (PRESENT DAY)

PRINCE ZEROTH

Sigh...

Who dares to think they can leave without consequence?

"Darethor... you have failed me. Your incompetence is enough to make anyone's blood boil." My voice boomed coldly, as my gaze pinned Darethor to the ground. His body quivered, not in defiance, but in fear, and I liked it that way.

"M-My... my prince," his voice trembled, barely a whisper against the silence that hung heavy in the room. "I'm sorry. It's my fault, and I take all the blame. Your personal maid... she was blessed with her mate, from another pack. She traveled with him, and I..."

He faltered... pathetic. I held up my hand to silence him.

"And you didn't find a replacement, did you?" I scoffed, my eyes narrowing. He was still kneeling, his body shaking like a leaf. His weakness was unbearable to witness.

"You serve a prince, not a beggar, Darethor. I give you three days to find me a new personal maid... three. Or you'll be scrubbing the blood off this floor with your tongue." My voice dropped to a lethal whisper... a threat that would burn itself into his soul.

His eyes, pleading for mercy, met mine. But I saw nothing there, nothing but the hollow desperation of a man who knew his fate was sealed the moment he failed me. I didn't need to say more. The silence spoke volumes.

"Y-Yes, Your Highness," Darethor stammered, his voice breaking. He would remember this moment. I made sure of it.

I turned, flicking my wrist to dismiss him. "Now, let's go hunting," I said, moving toward the door with the purpose of hunting. Darethor scrambled to his feet and followed, still trembling, but not from fear of the hunt. His fear lay elsewhere, and I found that amusing. Like he was hiding something from me, but I ignored it.

We walked through the halls of my mansion, the heavy silence between us broken only by the soft rustle of our footsteps on the polished stone. But then, two guards appeared and blocked our path. They were familiar... guards from my father's palace.

"Greetings, Prince Zeroth," one of them spoke, his tone stiff but respectful. "Alpha Tyrian seeks your presence."

I froze. My father? Unannounced? What could he want with me now? I turned to Darethor, a flicker of irritation running through my blood. "We'll hunt later," I said, the words more an afterthought than a decision. "Now, we go to see my father. He clearly has business for me."

"As you command, my prince," Darethor replied, no hesitation in his voice. But his face betrayed him... his unease was palpable, and his pulse quickened like he knew something I didn't. But I ignored him again still.

I rode to the palace inside the chariot in silence. When we arrived, the atmosphere in the air felt different. I could feel the tension before I even entered.

The moment I stepped inside, I saw them. My father, seated at the head of the room, his gaze piercing. But it wasn't just him... Alpha Vassius stood near the window, flanked by a few of his men.

His daughter, Princess Ygraine, was beside him- her regal posture and icy beauty ever-present. Then, my mother, Luna Amarisse, stood at the far end, watching the scene unfold with a quiet intensity.

My gaze locked with Ygraine's, but I showed no sign of recognition. She was nothing more than a pawn... a political connection and a tool. Yet there was a flicker in her eyes that I couldn't quite place. Was it fulfillment? Or something else? I couldn't tell.

I turned my attention to my father, his expression unreadable. "Father," I greeted, keeping my tone even, masking the unease stirring within me. "You summoned me?"

"Zeroth," he said. "We need to discuss matters of great importance."

"Our packs," he began, gesturing between the Skyfire Pack and the Frostbite Pack, "will unite in an alliance. This is not just a joining of werewolves, but of destinies. The strength of our bonds will make us formidable in the coming days." He paused, as his gaze landed on me.

I shifted slightly but stayed silent. The alliance was expected... inevitable, even. But what he said next made my blood run cold.

"To solidify this alliance, both Alphas have decided that our children will marry," he said.

To marry? I have to marry Ygraine?

I turned to my father in disbelief. "Is this true?" I asked, though I already knew the answer. He nodded.

"Father..." I began, but he cut me off.

"It's already done, son. You don't have a say."

My jaw clenched. Words swelled behind my teeth, but I swallowed them like poison. I turned without a bow or a goodbye. My mother's voice called to me pleadingly, but I ignored her, and the palace doors slammed behind me.

Outside, I saw Darethor... he was smiling.

The image snapped something inside me. My mind shot back to earlier... when my father's guards had come, and Darethor trembled like a dog. He knew about Ygraine and me... and he said nothing.

I strode up to him and drove my fist into his face without a word. Blood burst from his nose, painting his tunic.

"You knew about the marriage?" I growled in anger.

But he couldn't speak... he just whimpered beneath the blood.

I didn't wait. I mounted my horse and rode. I didn't care where- I just needed to be far. I found myself in the woods. Still, I didn't stop.

Then, a root jutted from the earth, gnarled and hidden beneath fallen leaves. I misstepped, and the horse stumbled, letting out a wild snort as it lost its balance. I fell to the ground, and my head collided with a tree. I passed out immediately from the searing pain.

A few minutes later, I opened my eyes. The world was blurry. A figure knelt beside me, her touch gentle against my bloodied head.

"You're going to be fine," she said, in a hushed tone. The voice was familiar, though we'd never met.

I blinked, trying to see her face, but the haze wouldn't clear.

Still, my soul whispered one truth.

She's my mate.