*Summer’s POV:

 

I was being drawn somewhere. I quickly put on a dress and fixed my appearance before exiting the room. After all, it was still my birthday. I had to look beautiful, especially after what happened. I imagined Samantha’s reaction, and it made me feel even worse. Finally, I opted for a turquoise dress. I fixed my hair into loose waves and put on some makeup, then headed for the door.

 

Somehow, I still had this strange feeling, that I was about to meet my mate. It couldn’t be Marcus: he was no longer in the pack house and the scent was very different. Besides, it felt like whoever this was, he was a lot stronger than Marcus.

 

Alexandria was urging me to follow that feeling, and eventually, I did. I slowly went down the stairs, taking the time to sniff around. There was a unique scent in the air, I couldn’t really tell what it was, but it was warm and comforting.

 

It had strong smoky influences, but also a sweeter note, like some sort of vanilla. The more I walked, the more the smell became stronger. It flooded my nose and throat, and I almost felt like I was drinking a very sweet scotch.

 

“What are you talking about? We’ve never had scotch…” I thought to myself, and Alexandria. She just shrugged in the back of my mind. Of course, these descriptions were dictated by her…

 

I was now standing right outside the meeting room and the smell was all over the place. I could hear my father’s voice inside, as well as Chris. Suddenly, I felt someone coming up behind me. Lemon-grass and sea waves… It was Marcus! As I turned to try and move out of the way, he walked past me with an indifferent look that made my heart ache. He opened the door, like I wasn’t there, and entered the meeting room. I heard him say:

 

“Sorry for the delay, Alpha, my Prince, I came as fast as I could…”

 

He turned to close the door, but before he could, a gravelly voice reached my ears.

 

“You can leave the door open, Beta…”

 

I was standing there, in shock. It was the sexiest, most masculine voice I had ever heard. Could it be? I didn’t even care that Marcus was there anymore, and tried to focus on the voice, imagining what it would feel like to hear him say my name, but he didn’t say anything else. My insides were stirring, and I simultaneously felt like I was freezing.

 

Was it possible to have a second mate, so soon after losing the first one? I couldn’t see who it was, all I could see was my father’s back, as Marcus had gone inside and left the door only slightly open. All I needed was to look at this person, like my life depended on it. I reached to further open the door, and…

 

“SUMMER!”

 

I literally jumped!

 

“Rose, what do you think you’re doing? This is the third time today you’ve scared me half to death!”

 

“What are you doing? There’s an official meeting going on there!”

 

Before I could argue, she pulled me from my hand and out of the house:

 

“The party has already started, let’s get you mingling. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find your mate too!”

 

*Lucian’s POV:

 

As I was sitting in Alpha Storm’s meeting room, I felt my wolf fidgeting in the back of my mind. He was growing more restless by the minute, it was the strangest feeling.

 

“Ghost, focus, what is going on with you?”

 

“We need to GO!”

 

“Calm down! We need to discuss the rogue pack with Alpha Storm. Their territory is in danger and we are responsible for hunting the rogues. Father will be furious if another pack is attacked.”

 

Blood Ghost was trying to take over. Un-f***ing-believable! Never since we first shifted has he tried to disobey me. I turned to my Beta, Samuel.

 

“Something’s wrong with Ghost. He won’t stop messing with my head.”

 

Samuel was 27, which meant he was a lot more experienced with wolves. Although Blood Ghost was a lot stronger than his wolf, Bolt, he was the one who taught me how to control myself and my wolf, and strengthen the bond between us. So whenever something was off, like right now, I always asked for his advice.

 

“Maybe he wants to massacre another pack,” he joked.

 

I gave him an annoyed look.

 

“I know I shouldn’t have lost my temper, but…”

 

“But, nothing. You need to have more control over your wolf and over yourself. The Alpha King has declared that if you have an heir before your elder brother, you will become King after him. I doubt a King who murders his people will be welcomed with open hearts.”

 

He was right, as always. But I wasn’t about to admit it. I leaned back in my chair and put my feet on the elegant red oak table. My father had awfully complicated things when he made that stupid decree. Now Nathaniel, my older brother, barely ever speaks to me.

 

He has been mated for a very long time, yet was unable to produce an heir for our bloodline. My father was furious at his failure, and decreed that he was no longer his official heir. Whichever one of his sons managed to have pups first with their mates would get the official title of Heir to the throne.

 

After this decision, Nathaniel started to see me as a threat. It was painful, but I mirrored his behavior and distanced myself from the court. Hunting rogues, making our kingdom safe, killing traitors: I considered this much more important than making love to a she-wolf and getting her knocked-up. But, my father had a different view on things.

 

Lately, he’d been sending me more and more messages, urging me to find a mate and claim the throne. Apparently, my brother was growing cruller by the second. His poor wife was surely paying the price for not being able to give him pups. I really didn’t have any ambition for the throne, almost wanted to become heir, just to spite him. Of course, being named heir would require me first finding my mate. It had been 5 years since my first shift, and despite all my travels, I hadn’t found her.

 

Suddenly, it hit me. Maybe this was why Blood Ghost was telling me to move! Before I could further analyze his behavior or ask him, Alpha Storm came in, along with a young blonde wolf, probably his Beta.

 

“Prince Lucian, it’s an honor and a pleasure to host you”, he bowed his head in respect.

 

I liked his aura, he seemed like a genuinely good Alpha, so I took my aura down a notch and lowered my feet. I stood to shake his hand.

 

“Alpha Storm, I hope you understand that this meeting is of the highest importance. Your pack and family are in danger.”

 

“I understand, your royal highness, and we appreciate your help more than we can say. This is my acting Beta, Chris, and mate of my daughter and heir.”

 

Acting Beta? That’s weird. I felt a slight touch of disappointment, however, when I heard his daughter was already mated. But it wasn’t the Beta’s fault, of course. I nodded in his direction.

 

“This is Samuel, my Beta, whom you’ve already met a few years ago.”

 

They both nodded. Samuel was mated to a young wolf from the Storm Pack. A few years ago, I had sent him to their aid, as rogues were attacking their borders. Samuel saw her and immediately recognised the mate bond. Lucky b*stard… I thought before immediately saying “let’s not waste anymore time. The rogues have gathered into a pack. This is a problem, obviously, and a problem we’ve never had to face before.”

 

“I understand, my Prince. As I have said before, we really appreciate your help and presence.”

 

“Now, before we start, where is your real Beta? As this is a matter of the utmost importance, there is a need-to-know protocol in place. I am wondering if your acting Beta should actually be in this meeting.”

 

Alpha Storm exchanged a look with the blonde young man, Chris, I believe his name was. They were hiding something… He then turned to answer me:

 

“My Beta Marcus has had some personal issues today. I have summoned him, but he has yet to come. His mate-bond was broken, and…”

 

I was seriously starting to feel annoyed, but I couldn’t lose sight of why I was here.

 

“Very well, Alpha Storm. If you trust this acting Beta of yours, so be it.”

 

“I trust him.”

 

“Let’s proceed, without waiting for Beta Marcus.”

 

All those included in the meeting took their places around the table as I started explaining my plan. We were still discussing the details when the door suddenly opened. A young wolf, whom I could only assume was the real Beta, walked in.

 

“Sorry for the delay, Alpha, my Prince. I came as fast as I could.”

 

He turned to open the door, and that’s when I spotted her.

 

“MATE! IT’S OUR MATE! GO AFTER HER!”

 

I tried my best to ignore Blood Ghost’s pleas to get out. I was feeling ecstatic, of course, but this meeting was too important. Her scent reached me and I was very close to losing it.She smelled like freshly baked cinnamon rolls, my favorite treat since I was a kid.

 

I didn’t know if she felt or saw me too, but knowing I had a mate here which only made this meeting more important: if my mate’s family and friends are killed, I will forever be ridiculed in front of my subjects. Before I could start looking for her, I had to make sure her and everyone she loved would be safe.

 

–Don’t worry, little wolf. I’ll find you soon and take care of absolutely everything, from now on…