Chapter 3 The Mating ceremony

Dane’s POV

“No, Father, I can’t. You wouldn’t even let me spend a few proper days in the pack before forcing decisions down my throat.”

“You will not tell me what to do, Dane,” my father thundered, his voice reverberating through the walls of his study. “I am your father and your Alpha King. You left this pack without a word, shamed this family, and now that you’re back, you still run from your duties.”

“I don’t want to be Alpha King!” I spat, my jaw tightening. “I don’t want a mate, and I will never bring another cursed child into this damned lineage.”

His eyes glowed, sharp and golden with fury. “You will do no such thing, Dane. You will obey your bloodline.”

I rose from my seat, anger rippling through me. “I didn’t return for this, Father. I came back on a mission, something far more important than your ceremonies and meaningless traditions.”

“I don’t care about your excuses,” he barked. “A ceremony will be held tonight to welcome your return. The pack will witness their future Alpha King, and you will choose a mate.”

I laughed bitterly. “After what happened the last time? You expect me to stand there and smile, to pretend I didn’t lose everything because of you?”

His silence burned heavier than his anger. Without another word, he turned and stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls trembled.

When the echo faded, I sank onto the sofa, elbows resting on my knees. The scent of the pack house — oak, dust, and wolf musk brought back memories I’d buried deep. Painful ones.

This place was nothing but a graveyard of my past. Every corner whispered of betrayal, every shadow reminded me of the mate I once loved and the father who destroyed it all.

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

“Come in,” I muttered.

The pack’s seamstress stepped in, clutching a folded garment. “The Alpha ordered I deliver this to you,” she said with a forced smile that made my skin itch.

“Place it on the rack and leave,” I replied, tone sharp.

Her smile faltered. “Yes, my Lord.” She set it down carefully and scurried out.

Barely moments later, another knock — sharper this time.

“What now?” I barked, my patience splintering.

“Calm down, Dane. It’s just me.”

Darius entered, tall and steady, his expression cautious. My beta and closest friend the only one who could still walk into my room uninvited. He took the chair across from me, studying me with concern.

“I’m not partaking in any mate-choosing ceremony,” I said before he could open his mouth. “And don’t you dare lecture me about duty.”

He chuckled under his breath. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I’m just surprised you’re back and already hiding out in the forest before anyone noticed.”

“You think this is funny?”

“No,” he said quickly, hands raised. “Just ironic. You’re the Alpha Prince, yet you hide like a rogue.”

I shot him a glare sharp enough to wound. “This isn’t my home, Darius. Not anymore.”

He sighed. “Still, this is where you were born. You can’t keep hating everything that’s left of your family.”

“Family?” I scoffed. “My home is ashes, my mate is gone, and my father only sees me as a breeding tool. Now he wants me to choose another woman to continue his cursed lineage. That’s impossible.”

Darius leaned forward, his eyes dimming. “And what about the prophecy, Dane?” he asked quietly. “The one about the Blood Moon and the chosen she-wolf. The time is near.”

“Don’t start that again.”

“I’m serious,” he pressed. “If the seer was right—”

“She wasn’t,” I cut him off sharply. “I’m not destined for love or redemption. I’m not capable of loving anyone again. Not after what I did.”

His expression softened, but I couldn’t bear the pity in his eyes.

“I’m here for something far more important,” I said, turning away. “Once my mission is done, I’ll leave. And this time, I won’t come back.”

“So… what did you find out on your journey? What mission are you embarking on?” Darius asked his eyes on mine.

“I’ve visited the witches,” I said, my voice tight. “I spent seven full moons on the journey, Darius—from Sagrienta to Carmesi.”

“The fae, the witches, the warlocks… they all told me almost the same thing. Not in the same words, but with the same meaning. They said the bane of my existence… it’s still in my pack.”

I paused, letting the truth hang between us.

“The Alpha King caused the disaster, yes. But he isn’t the true source of it.”

My throat tightened as I went on. “The fae from Carmesi… she said I would find her. And that I would end her.”

I glanced at Darius. He had grown even more serious, his silence heavy.

“They also said I would recognize her,” I added softly. “That there would be a mark… a symbol on her body. And when I saw it, I would know.”

I lowered my gaze, a bitter smile touching my lips.

“They said once it’s done… my life will finally be normal.”

The finality in my tone silenced him. For a long moment, neither of us spoke. Only the howling wind outside filled the space.

When Darius finally stood, his voice was low. “Are you certain this would work?”

“Definitely,” I muttered, staring out the window as he left.

The moon hung low and cruel over the horizon, reminding me of every scar I carried both visible and buried deep within. Tonight, the pack would celebrate my return, but I felt more like a prisoner than a prince.

And as the sounds of the approaching ceremony echoed faintly through the pack lands, I knew one thing I would not bow to fate again.

*******+

Meira’s POV

The full moon shimmered above the valley, cold and distant. Its light brushed against my bruised skin, tracing every mark like a cruel reminder of my place in this world.

The night was unusually quiet and almost sacred. Every she-wolf and her mother were already at the pack’s great hall, preparing for the grand ceremony. The one meant to welcome back the Alpha Prince — the ruthless son of our Alpha King.

I’d only heard stories of Dane. Stories whispered in the servants’ quarters of his strength, his coldness, the mystery surrounding the mate he lost. Some called him cursed, others called him the beast of the Blood Moon.

I never cared to find out. My life wasn’t one that mixed with the high ranks. I was the daughter of no one important, a servant, forgotten even by the Moon Goddess herself.

My hands trembled as I carried the laundry basket through the corridor, my arms sore from endless chores. I was supposed to fetch Claribel and Annabelle’s gowns for washing when I noticed it a discarded dress lying near the back door.

It was torn at the hem, dusty and forgotten, but the fabric shimmered faintly under the moonlight. A dress meant for the ceremony.

I knelt, brushing my fingers against it. For a moment, my chest tightened with something I hadn’t felt in years hope.

Maybe just for tonight, I could be someone else.

Not Meira, the servant. Not the nameless wolf that everyone ignored. But someone who belonged even if it was just behind a mask.

I looked toward the distant glow of the great hall, where music and laughter floated in the air. My pulse quickened.