Rejected By My Mate Claimed By His Alpha King

Aria

Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life.

After twenty-two years of being treated like a burden, I was finally going to stand before the entire Blackthorn Pack and discover who the Moon Goddess had chosen as my mate.

I had dreamed about this day for as long as I could remember. While other girls talked about handsome warriors and powerful Alphas, I had always wanted something simple. I wanted someone who would love me, protect me, and make me feel like I belonged somewhere.

But perhaps I had been asking for too much.

"Stop looking so nervous, Aria." Selena stood behind me, adjusting the back of my dress. "You look beautiful. I'm sure the Goddess has someone wonderful waiting for you."

I looked at her through the mirror and managed a small smile.

Selena was my stepsister, but she had always acted like she was the better daughter. She had a wolf, beautiful clothes, and everyone in the pack adored her. I had none of those things.

Still, I had never hated her.

She was the closest thing I had to a sister, and I wanted to believe that she was happy for me.

"Do you really think I'll find my mate today?" I asked.

"Of course." She smiled. "Who knows? Maybe you'll get someone powerful."

I laughed nervously. "Someone powerful would never choose me."

"Don't say that." She touched my shoulder. "You never know what the Moon Goddess has planned."

I wanted to believe her.

For as long as I could remember, everyone had called me wolfless. I had reached the age when most werewolves could shift, but my wolf had never awakened. My father had taken me to healers, priests, and even a pack seer, but none of them could explain what was wrong with me.

Eventually, he stopped trying.

My stepmother, Mirelle, made sure I never forgot how much of a disappointment I was. She gave Selena the best things in the house while I wore old clothes and worked like a servant.

My father never stopped her.

Sometimes, I wondered whether my mother would have protected me if she had been alive. She disappeared when I was a child, leaving me with nothing but a small silver pendant and memories I could barely hold on to.

My father refused to talk about her.

Whenever I asked questions, he told me to stop digging up the past.

So I learned to keep quiet.

But today was different.

Today, the Moon Goddess might finally give me something that belonged only to me.

"Come on," Selena said, taking my hand. "Everyone is waiting."

I followed her out of the room.

The pack's ceremonial grounds were already crowded when we arrived. Warriors stood in neat rows, while the elders gathered near the stone altar. The Alpha's guards watched the entrance, making sure everyone followed the rules.

At the center stood Alpha Darius Blackthorn.

My breath caught.

Darius was the youngest Alpha in the region, known for his strength and his cold nature. Even other Alphas respected him. His black hair was neatly combed, and his dark suit made him look even more powerful.

I had admired him from a distance for years.

He had never paid much attention to me, but sometimes I caught him looking in my direction. Once, when a warrior pushed me into the mud, Darius had ordered him to apologize.

I had remembered that moment for months.

Perhaps it was foolish, but I had wondered whether there was something between us.

Now, as I looked at him, my heart began to race.

What if he was my mate?

The thought was ridiculous. A man like Darius would never want a wolfless girl like me.

Still, when his eyes met mine, he didn't look away.

My heart skipped.

The ceremony began, and one by one, the young wolves stepped forward. Some discovered their mates and embraced them with tears in their eyes. Others received disappointing news and walked away quietly.

I watched everything with trembling hands.

Then the elder called my name.

"Aria Vale!"

The crowd fell silent.

I stepped forward, trying not to trip over my dress. The elder placed his hand on my head and began the ancient blessing.

"May the Moon Goddess reveal the one whose soul is bound to yours."

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then a sharp pull struck my chest.

I gasped and grabbed the front of my dress.

A strange warmth spread through my body. It was unlike anything I had ever felt before, and suddenly, I knew.

My mate was here.

My eyes moved across the crowd until they landed on Darius.

He was staring at me.

The same invisible pull connected us, growing stronger with every passing second.

Then the words came.

"Mate," I whispered.

Darius's expression changed.

He looked shocked, but only for a moment. His jaw tightened, and his hands curled into fists.

Before I could take another step toward him, he walked onto the ceremonial platform.

"Alpha Darius," the elder said carefully. "The Moon Goddess has revealed your mate."

"I know."

Darius looked directly at me.

My heart pounded so hard I could barely breathe. I wanted him to smile. I wanted him to walk toward me and take my hand.

Instead, he turned to face the entire pack.

"I have an announcement to make."

The crowd quieted.

"Selena is the woman I intend to take as my Luna."

For a moment, I didn't understand what he had said.

I looked at Selena.

She stood near the front, her head lowered as if she were embarrassed by the attention. But when she glanced at me, I saw the tiny smile on her lips.

My stomach twisted.

No. It couldn't be.

Darius was my mate. The Moon Goddess had chosen him for me.

"Alpha," the elder said, looking uncomfortable. "The bond has already been revealed. Aria is your fated mate."

"I am aware of that."

Darius's voice was cold.

"But I will not take a wolfless woman as my Luna."

The words struck me harder than a slap.

A few people whispered. Others stared at me with pity.

I shook my head, unable to accept what I was hearing.

"Darius?"

He looked at me.

"Please," I whispered. "You can't mean that."

His face showed no kindness.

"Aria Vale, I reject you as my mate."

Pain exploded through my chest.

I screamed and dropped to my knees, clutching my heart. It felt as if something inside me had been ripped apart. Tears blurred my vision as the bond that had connected us moments ago began to break.

My wolf, the one everyone claimed didn't exist, let out a cry deep inside me.

Then everything went quiet.

I couldn't breathe properly. My hands shook against the ground, and I struggled to keep myself from collapsing completely.

Darius watched without moving.

He didn't come to help me.

He didn't even look sorry.

"Please," I begged, lifting my head. "Why are you doing this? I never asked to be your mate."

"Exactly," he replied. "You never asked for anything, yet the Goddess decided to burden me with you."

A fresh wave of pain washed over me.

The crowd began to murmur louder.

I could hear them talking about me, calling me unlucky, weak, and useless. Some even laughed.

I wanted the ground to open and swallow me.

Then Selena stepped forward.

She moved to Darius's side and slipped her hand into his.

My breath caught.

She looked at me with a gentle expression that didn't reach her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Aria," she said. "I never wanted you to get hurt."

I stared at her hand resting on Darius's arm.

"You knew?"

Her smile faltered for a second.

"Please don't make this difficult."

"Did you know he was going to reject me?"

She didn't answer.

That was enough.

I felt something inside me break that had nothing to do with the mate bond.

My own stepsister had known.

She had stood in my room, comforted me, and encouraged me to hope, all while knowing that the man I had dreamed of would destroy me in front of everyone.

I tried to stand, but my legs were too weak.

Darius looked away from me and addressed the guards.

"Take her out of here."

Two guards approached.

I pulled away when one reached for my arm. "Don't touch me!"

"Then walk," Darius snapped.

I forced myself to stand, even though every breath hurt. I would not give him the satisfaction of seeing me beg again.

As the guards led me away, I looked back one last time.

Darius had already turned toward Selena.

He was speaking to her quietly, his hand resting on her waist. She leaned against him as if she had always belonged there.

And I understood something terrible.

The man the Moon Goddess had chosen for me had never wanted me.

I was nothing more than a mistake he wanted to erase.

But just as I reached the edge of the ceremonial grounds, a strange heat spread across my chest.

I stopped.

Beneath the neckline of my dress, my mother's silver pendant began to glow.

I grabbed it, staring at the faint red light spreading across its surface.

What was happening?

The guards tried to pull me forward, but the pendant grew hotter. A sharp pain shot through my palm, and I gasped.

For one brief moment, I heard a voice inside my head.

The Bloodmoon heir lives.

My blood ran cold.

Before I could understand what the words meant, a messenger rushed into the ceremonial grounds. He dropped to one knee before Darius and handed him a sealed letter.

Darius broke the seal and read it.

The color drained from his face.

"What is it?" Selena asked.

He looked toward the place where I stood.

For the first time that day, there was something other than disgust in his eyes.

Fear.

"The Lycan King," he said slowly. "He's demanding payment for our pack's debt."

The messenger lowered his head.

"His Majesty has given you until the next full moon, Alpha. If the debt remains unpaid, Blackthorn Pack will lose its lands and protection."

Darius crushed the letter in his fist.

Then his eyes returned to me.

I didn't know what he was thinking, but the look on his face made my stomach tighten.

He had rejected me in front of the entire pack.

He had watched me suffer without caring.

So why was he looking at me like I was suddenly worth something?

Darius turned to his Beta and spoke in a low voice.

"Find out whether the Lycan King is still accepting a personal offering in place of payment."

My blood turned to ice.

Personal offering?

His gaze met mine again.

And this time, I knew I had every reason to be afraid.

Aria

Darius's words followed me long after the guards dragged me away from the ceremonial grounds.

I couldn't stop thinking about them.

A personal offering.

What did he mean by that? And why had he looked at me when he said it?

My chest still hurt from the rejection. Every step reminded me of what I had lost, but the pain wasn't the worst part. It was the way Darius had looked at me, as if I were nothing more than a problem he wanted to get rid of.

I had spent years hoping someone would finally see me as more than a wolfless girl.

Instead, the Moon Goddess had chosen the one man who made me feel even more worthless.

"Keep moving," one of the guards ordered.

I stumbled as he pushed me through the packhouse doors.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked.

"Your room."

"My room?"

He gave me a look. "You heard me."

I wanted to ask more questions, but the guard behind me grabbed my arm and forced me up the stairs. By the time we reached my bedroom, my legs were shaking.

The moment the door opened, I stopped.

My clothes were gone.

The old dresses I had kept in the wooden wardrobe, my shoes, the few books I owned, and even the blanket my mother had left me were missing.

I stared at the empty room.

"What happened to my things?"

The guard shrugged. "Orders from the Alpha."

"But where are they?"

"Ask him yourself."

He pushed me inside and shut the door.

I rushed to it and grabbed the handle, but it wouldn't turn.

"Open the door!"

No one answered.

I hit the door with my palm.

"Please! I need to speak to my father!"

My voice echoed through the hallway before fading into silence.

I stood there for a moment, waiting for someone to respond. When no one came, I slowly stepped away.

They had locked me inside my own room.

I sank onto the edge of the bed and covered my face with my hands. I wanted to cry, but I was tired of giving these people the satisfaction of seeing me break.

Darius had rejected me.

Selena had betrayed me.

And now my own pack was treating me like a prisoner.

What else could they possibly take from me?

My fingers brushed against the silver pendant hanging around my neck.

Mother.

I pulled it out and stared at the small crescent carved into its surface. It was the only thing I had left from her, the only piece of my childhood that hadn't been taken away.

The pendant was cold now, but I could still remember how it had burned against my skin during the ceremony.

The Bloodmoon heir lives.

The strange voice returned to my thoughts.

I shook my head.

I had no idea what a Bloodmoon heir was. Perhaps the pain of the rejection had made me imagine things.

Still, I tucked the pendant beneath my dress.

Whatever happened next, I wouldn't let anyone take it from me.

A knock sounded at the door.

I jumped to my feet.

"Who is it?"

"It's me."

My father's voice.

Relief rushed through me. I hurried to the door and grabbed the handle.

"Dad! Please, open the door. I need to talk to you."

I heard keys turning, and the door opened a moment later.

Garrick Vale stood outside, dressed in his usual dark suit. He looked at me briefly before glancing down the hallway.

"Dad, what is happening? Why did they lock me inside?"

"Keep your voice down."

I stared at him.

"Why?"

He stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.

"You're making things difficult for everyone, Aria."

For a moment, I couldn't believe what I had heard.

"Difficult? Darius rejected me in front of the entire pack. Selena knew what he planned to do, and now my belongings are gone. How am I the one making things difficult?"

My father rubbed his forehead.

"Your rejection has caused enough embarrassment. You need to accept what happened and stop drawing attention to yourself."

I felt something tighten in my chest.

"He's my fated mate."

"Was your fated mate," he corrected. "He has rejected you. The bond is broken, and there is nothing you can do about it."

I looked at him, waiting for him to say something else.

He didn't.

Not once did he ask whether I was all right. He didn't even try to comfort me.

"Dad, please," I whispered. "I have nowhere else to go."

His expression hardened.

"You should have thought about that before making yourself a burden to this family."

The words silenced me.

He turned toward the door.

"Where are you going?" I asked quickly.

"To handle the situation with the Alpha."

"Can you tell him to let me stay? I won't cause any trouble. I can leave the pack if he wants, but please don't let them lock me away."

My father paused.

For one brief moment, I thought he might agree.

Then he looked back at me.

"Do as you're told, Aria. It will be easier for everyone."

He left before I could answer.

The lock clicked into place.

I stood in the middle of the room, staring at the closed door.

My father had abandoned me.

The same man who had promised to protect me after my mother disappeared had just walked away while I begged him for help.

I wiped my face and forced myself to move.

I couldn't stay there.

If Darius wanted me gone, I would leave on my own terms. I didn't have much money, but I could find work in another territory. I could survive without this pack.

I had to.

I searched the room for anything I could use. There was a small window near the bed, and beyond it lay the gardens that stretched toward the outer wall.

The drop wasn't too high.

I pulled the curtains aside and pushed the window open.

Cold air rushed into my face.

I climbed onto the ledge and looked down. The ground was several feet below, but there was a narrow stone ledge I could use to lower myself.

I took a deep breath and began climbing out.

My hands gripped the stone as I lowered one foot.

Then a voice sounded behind me.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I froze.

A guard stood inside the room, staring at me.

Before I could move, he grabbed the back of my dress and pulled me inside. I landed hard on the floor, pain shooting through my knee.

"Let go of me!"

"You're not leaving this room without the Alpha's permission."

"I haven't done anything wrong!"

"That's not for me to decide."

He dragged me to the bed and forced me to sit.

"Stay here. If you try that again, I'll have to tie you up."

I stared at him in disbelief.

He walked out and locked the door again.

I pressed my hands against my knees, struggling to control my breathing.

They weren't going to let me leave.

But why?

I was no longer Darius's mate. He had made that clear in front of everyone. There was no reason to keep me here unless he wanted something from me.

A chill ran down my spine.

The personal offering.

I remembered the messenger's words about the Lycan King's debt. I remembered Darius asking his Beta to find out whether the king would accept someone in place of payment.

And I remembered the way Darius had looked at me.

My stomach turned.

"No," I whispered.

He wouldn't do that.

He might hate me, but I had never harmed him. I had never asked to be his mate or demanded that he make me his Luna.

Surely, he wouldn't sell me to another man.

A key turned in the lock.

I jumped to my feet as Darius entered the room.

He was alone.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. His eyes moved over my face, then dropped to the pendant at my neck.

I instinctively covered it with my hand.

"What do you want?" I asked.

He closed the door behind him.

"We need to talk."

"About what? Your new Luna?"

His jaw tightened.

"Don't start."

A bitter laugh escaped me.

"Don't start? You rejected me in front of the entire pack, Darius. You humiliated me, and now you've locked me in my room. What exactly do you expect me to say?"

He walked closer.

"I expect you to listen."

"Why should I?"

"Because your future depends on it."

I stared at him.

"What does that mean?"

He took a folded document from his jacket and placed it on the table.

"The Blackthorn Pack owes the Lycan King a considerable amount of money. Our lands, our warriors, and our protection agreements are all at risk if the debt isn't settled."

I folded my arms.

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Everything."

My heart began to pound.

Darius watched me without emotion.

"The Lycan King has agreed to accept a personal offering in exchange for settling the debt."

I took a step backward.

"No."

"You haven't even heard the rest."

"I don't need to."

His eyes narrowed.

"Aria, you are no longer my mate. You have no place in this pack, and I have no obligation to keep you here."

I shook my head.

"You can't be serious."

"I am."

"You want to send me to the Lycan King?"

"I've already made the arrangements."

My mouth fell open.

For a moment, I couldn't breathe. I stared at the man before me, searching his face for any sign that this was some cruel joke.

There was none.

"You are selling me?" My voice broke. "You're selling me to pay your debt?"

"Don't make it sound worse than it is."

A tear slipped down my cheek.

"Worse than it is? You're treating me like I'm something you can trade!"

His expression remained cold.

"You're getting a roof over your head and a chance to serve a greater Alpha. Some women would consider that an opportunity."

I slapped him.

The sound cracked through the room.

Darius's head turned slightly.

I stood frozen, my palm burning. I had never struck anyone before, but I couldn't stop myself.

"You bastard," I whispered.

He slowly turned back to me.

His eyes had gone dark.

"Watch your mouth."

"Or what? You'll reject me again? You've already taken everything from me!"

He grabbed my wrist.

Pain shot up my arm as his fingers tightened.

"You have until sunrise to prepare yourself. The king's carriage will arrive tomorrow morning."

I tried to pull free.

"Darius, please. Don't do this."

For the first time, my pride meant nothing. I didn't care if he thought I was weak. I didn't care if he laughed at me.

I just wanted him to stop.

"I'll leave the pack. I'll never come back. You won't have to see me again."

He released my wrist.

"The decision has been made."

He turned toward the door.

"Wait!"

He stopped but didn't look back.

"Why me?" I asked, my voice shaking. "Why are you doing this to me?"

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he answered.

"Because the king has agreed to take you."

The door opened.

Darius walked out, leaving me alone with the truth.

I had thought his rejection was the worst thing he could do to me.

I had been wrong.

He wasn't simply throwing me away.

He was handing me over to the most feared man in the kingdom.

And tomorrow morning, I would belong to the Lycan King.

Chapter 3

Aria

I didn't sleep that night.

How could I?

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Darius standing in front of me, telling me I would be handed over to the Lycan King. His words kept playing in my head, reminding me that my life no longer belonged to me.

By sunrise, I had made a decision.

I would escape.

I didn't know where I would go, and I had no money or friends outside the Blackthorn Pack. But I would rather face the dangers of the forest than let Darius sell me like an animal.

I waited until the footsteps outside my door faded before moving toward the window again. This time, I didn't climb out immediately. I searched the room for something useful and found an old bedsheet in the bottom of the wardrobe.

I tied one end around the bedpost and pulled hard to test it.

It held.

My hands were shaking as I secured the other end around my waist. I had barely lowered myself through the window when I heard a shout from inside the room.

"She's escaping!"

My heart jumped.

I moved faster, lowering myself toward the ground. The bedsheet slipped through my fingers, burning my palms, but I refused to let go.

Then the knot came loose.

I fell the last few feet and landed hard on the grass.

Pain shot through my ankle, but I forced myself up. I didn't look back as I ran toward the garden wall.

I could hear the guards shouting behind me.

"Stop her!"

"She's heading for the eastern gate!"

I pushed through the bushes, ignoring the branches scratching my arms. The eastern gate was only a short distance away. If I could reach it, I might be able to disappear into the nearby village before anyone caught me.

I was almost there when someone grabbed my hair.

I screamed as my head jerked backward.

"Where do you think you're going, little runaway?"

One of the warriors dragged me away from the gate. I kicked and fought, but he was much stronger than I was.

"Let me go!"

"Not a chance."

He pulled me toward the packhouse, where two more guards waited. One of them grabbed my injured arm, and I winced.

"Be careful!" I snapped.

He laughed.

"Careful? You should be grateful the Alpha hasn't ordered us to break your legs."

My stomach twisted.

They dragged me inside and threw me into a chair in the main hall.

A few minutes later, Darius appeared at the top of the stairs.

He looked perfectly calm, as if he hadn't just ordered my life away.

His eyes moved from my dirty dress to my bleeding palms.

"You tried to escape."

I glared at him.

"What did you expect me to do? Wait happily for you to sell me?"

His expression hardened.

"Watch your tone, Aria."

"Or what? You'll sell me twice?"

One of the guards stepped forward, but Darius raised his hand to stop him.

For a moment, he simply stared at me.

Then he came down the stairs and stopped in front of my chair.

"You have no idea how much trouble you've caused."

I laughed bitterly.

"Me? You're the one selling me to a stranger!"

"The Lycan King is not some ordinary stranger."

"That makes it worse!"

My voice cracked, but I didn't care.

"I've heard stories about him. People say he kills anyone who disobeys him. They say he has no mercy, even for his own warriors. You know that, don't you?"

Darius said nothing.

I grabbed his sleeve.

"Please. Don't send me there. I'll do anything you want. I'll leave the pack and never come back. You won't have to see me again."

He pulled his arm away.

"The agreement has already been made."

"Then cancel it!"

"You think I can simply cancel an agreement with the Lycan King?"

"At least try!"

His jaw tightened.

"You are not worth risking my entire pack."

The words cut deeper than I expected.

I slowly released his sleeve.

Of course.

That was all I had ever been to him. A burden. A problem. Someone who could be discarded whenever keeping her became inconvenient.

Darius turned to the guards.

"Take her back to her room. Make sure she doesn't leave again."

"No!" I jumped to my feet. "You can't keep me locked up!"

Two guards seized my arms.

I struggled, but they dragged me toward the stairs.

"Darius!"

He didn't turn around.

"Please!"

The main doors opened behind him, and Selena walked into the hall.

She stopped when she saw me being dragged away.

"What's happening?" she asked.

"Your stepsister tried to escape," Darius replied.

Selena looked at my bleeding hands, then at my face.

For a second, I thought she might say something in my defense.

Instead, she sighed.

"Aria, why can't you just accept things? You're only making this harder for yourself."

I stared at her.

"You knew he was going to do this."

She frowned.

"Do what?"

"Sell me to the Lycan King."

Her eyes flickered toward Darius.

It was a small movement, but I saw it.

She knew.

"You don't understand the situation," she said.

"Then explain it to me!"

She stepped closer, lowering her voice.

"Darius is trying to protect the pack. If giving you to the king saves hundreds of lives, isn't that better than letting everyone suffer?"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"So my life means nothing?"

"That's not what I said."

"But it's what you mean!"

Her face hardened.

"You've always been selfish, Aria. Everything has to be about you."

I stared at her in disbelief.

Selfish?

I had spent my entire life giving up things so she could have more. I had swallowed every insult from her mother, accepted every punishment my father gave me, and stayed silent whenever she treated me badly.

And now she was calling me selfish because I didn't want to be sold.

I stopped fighting the guards.

There was no point.

They dragged me upstairs and locked me inside my room again.

This time, I didn't approach the window.

I sat on the bed and stared at the wall, trying to understand how my life had fallen apart so quickly.

Then I remembered my pendant.

I pulled it out from beneath my dress.

The silver crescent caught the morning light, and for a moment, I thought I saw a faint red glow beneath its surface.

I rubbed it with my thumb.

"What are you hiding, Mother?" I whispered.

I had asked myself that question countless times since she disappeared.

Why had she left me? Why had she never returned? And why had my father become so angry whenever I mentioned her?

I had no answers.

All I knew was that I couldn't trust anyone in this pack anymore.

A loud horn sounded outside.

I rushed to the window.

A black carriage had stopped in front of the packhouse. Four dark horses stood at its front, their bodies covered in polished armor. Several armed warriors surrounded the carriage, and a royal crest was painted on its door.

My heart began to race.

The Lycan King's carriage.

He had come for me.

I backed away from the window, shaking my head.

"No. No, please."

Footsteps sounded in the hallway.

The door opened, and Darius entered with two guards.

"Get up," he ordered.

I clutched my pendant.

"I don't want to go."

"That's no longer your choice."

He gestured toward the guards.

They grabbed my arms and pulled me to my feet.

I tried to resist, but they were too strong. One held me while the other fastened a pair of silver cuffs around my wrists.

The metal touched my skin, and I gasped at the sudden sting.

"Why are you putting those on me?"

"Orders," one of them replied.

I looked at Darius.

"You really think I would run away again?"

"I don't intend to take that risk."

I wanted to slap him again. I wanted to scream until the entire pack heard what he had done to me.

Instead, I swallowed my tears and let the guards lead me downstairs.

The packhouse was crowded when we reached the main hall. Several warriors watched me with pity, while others looked away.

No one stepped forward.

Not even my father.

I searched the crowd for him, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Perhaps he couldn't bear to watch me leave.

Or perhaps he simply didn't care.

The guards pulled me through the front doors.

The morning air hit my face, and I saw the royal carriage waiting at the bottom of the steps.

A tall man dressed in black stood beside it. He had a sword at his waist and a scar running across his cheek.

When he saw Darius, he bowed slightly.

"Alpha Blackthorn."

"Your arrival is appreciated," Darius replied.

The man glanced at me.

"Is this the woman?"

Darius nodded.

"Aria Vale."

The royal guard studied me for a moment before opening the carriage door.

"Get inside."

I looked at the carriage, then back at Darius.

"Please," I whispered one last time. "Don't do this."

He met my eyes without a trace of regret.

"Go quietly, Aria. It will be better for everyone."

Something inside me went still.

I had begged him enough.

I straightened my back and lifted my chin.

If he wanted me gone, I would leave without giving him another tear.

I stepped into the carriage.

The door slammed shut behind me.

A moment later, the horses began to move.

Through the small window, I watched the Blackthorn Pack disappear behind us. The place where I had spent my entire life was becoming smaller with every passing second.

I didn't know whether I would ever return.

And for the first time, I wasn't sure I wanted to.

The journey lasted several hours. The farther we traveled, the thicker the forest became. Tall trees blocked the sunlight, and the road grew rough beneath the carriage wheels.

I sat with my hands clenched in my lap, trying to ignore the ache in my wrists.

Then the carriage suddenly stopped.

I lurched forward.

"What happened?"

No one answered.

I heard horses screaming outside, followed by the clash of metal.

My heart pounded.

"What's going on?"

A loud crash shook the carriage.

Someone shouted, "Protect the prisoner!"

Another voice answered, "Forget the guards! We need the girl alive!"

My blood turned cold.

The girl?

They were talking about me.

I scrambled toward the opposite seat just as an arrow pierced the wooden door.

I screamed.

The carriage tilted sharply, and I fell against the wall. The door burst open, letting in a rush of cold air.

A masked man appeared in the doorway.

His eyes fixed on me.

"Found you."

I tried to crawl away, but he reached inside and grabbed my ankle.

"Let go!"

I kicked him in the face.

He cursed and tightened his grip.

Then a low growl shook the forest.

The masked man froze.

So did I.

The sound came from somewhere behind him, deep and terrifying. It was unlike anything I had ever heard from an ordinary wolf.

The man slowly turned his head.

A shadow moved between the trees.

Then a powerful voice rang through the forest.

"Touch her again, and I'll tear your throat out."

The masked man released me.

A tall figure stepped out of the mist, dressed in black, his dark coat moving in the wind. Several warriors followed him, their weapons drawn.

The masked attackers began to retreat.

One of them raised his blade, but the stranger moved too quickly for me to follow.

A sharp cry cut through the air.

The man fell.

The others dropped their weapons and ran into the forest.

The stranger didn't chase them.

He walked straight toward the carriage.

I pressed myself against the wall, trembling as his shadow fell across the doorway.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed like someone who was used to giving orders and watching people obey.

When he looked at me, I forgot how to breathe.

His eyes were fixed on my face.

For one strange moment, he seemed unable to move.

Then he took a slow breath.

A low growl rose from his chest.

"Mate."

The word was barely audible, but I heard it.

My heart stopped.

No.

It couldn't be.

The stranger stepped closer, his gaze dropping to the silver pendant at my neck before returning to my face.

Something changed in his expression.

His eyes darkened, and the air around him seemed to grow heavy.

Then he held out his hand.

"Come with me, Aria."

I stared at him, unable to understand how he knew my name.

"Who are you?" I whispered.

His gaze never left mine.

"Kael Draven."

The Lycan King.

The most feared ruler in the kingdom was standing before me.

And he was looking at me as if I were the one person he had been searching for his entire life.