Chapter 4

“12 o’clock. There's the guy in a black coat.”

My head swiveled as Masha’s alert signal caught my attention. She had spotted something and I immediately followed her line of sight. My eyes landed on a man in a black coat, his face covered by a mask. He was moving with a sense of urgency, constantly looking over his shoulder as if he believed someone was monitoring his every action.

“This doesn’t feel right,” I muttered to myself. “That man is up to something.”

My instincts told me that something was off about this man. I knew I had to keep a close eye on him. The royal protectors and guards were already on high alert, as the Alpha King and his family were scheduled to arrive for the annual feast.

The former Alpha King, along with the former Luna, as well as Alpha Damien’s brother Dane and sister Dianne, entered the feast hall. This was a rare occasion, as they only got together on special occasions, such as his birthday. And today was his birthday.

Many members of the pack had gathered to witness the reunion of the most powerful family in Alvinia. It was a tradition for all the four corners of the continent to come together and celebrate such an event. The Nidavellir, home of the dwarves and healers. The Prime, where the vampires resided. Salem, the land of witches and other elemental creatures. And lastly, the Scarlet Crescent, the territory of the werewolves.

“Just to be safe, I’ll inform the others in case of a sudden attack,” Masha said over the earpiece.

As the feast began, I kept my eyes on the man in the black coat. I noticed him leaving after hearing the banquet host’s declaration. Thinking he might be summoning allies to cause trouble, I reached for the dagger in my holster and began to follow him.

“Where are you going, Amara?!” Masha’s uneasiness came through the earpiece.

“I’m going after him.”

“What? No, Amara! Just keep an eye on the Alpha King. Someone else has been assigned for that,” she insisted, but I didn’t listen. Not that I didn't trust our colleagues, but I felt it was better to catch him myself.

“Chill. I’ve got this, Mash—” I stopped when I suddenly caught a strong scent of coffee and mint. My eyes came out of socket as I realized the reason why.

Is the Moon Goddess really giving me a second mate? It’s only been two days since I accepted Axel’s rejection!

I looked around cautiously, forgetting about my intention to chase the man as I was taken aback by the epiphany. My entire body shuddered as my brain struggled to process what was happening. The atmosphere was lively, and everyone was enjoying themselves. While their faces were adorned with smiles, mine was the complete opposite. Until my attention was soon captured by someone at the front.

I found myself drawn to a handsome man in the distance. His brow was furrowed, and his eyes were scanning the chamber as if searching for someone. Then, he lifted his head, and his eyes met mine. My mouth fell open as my heart raced.

“It can’t be,” I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief.

Overwhelmed and caught off guard, I stumbled backward, unaware of the person behind me. I accidentally bumped into a woman, causing her to drop the tray of wine she was holding, drawing everyone’s attention, including his.

The man’s face registered surprise, then turned into a scowl as he noticed me slowly retreating. His nose flared up, and he breathed heavily, looking furious. I couldn’t tell if he was going to strike me or confront me in some other way, but I knew it wouldn’t be pleasant.

As I was about to flee, he moved swiftly and reached out in front of me. I saw the darkness in his eyes, and he clenched his jaw, annoyed for reasons unknown to me.

“Where are you going, lady?”

I looked down at his hand gripping my arm. When our skin touched, I felt electricity emitted from my body. It sent shivers down my spine. The sensations of spark and connection were all too familiar. I swallowed, not out of fear, but out of anticipation for what was to come.

How could my second mate be the Alpha King?

The moment our eyes met, I felt a strange pull, as if my whole being recognized him as my mate. His scent filled my senses, and my wolf stirred within me, confirming what I had only heard about in legends. But I couldn’t let myself be distracted. I still had a job to do.

“Let go.”

He smirked, unfazed by my resistance. “Feisty, but not enough to intimidate me. Come with me.”

“No,” I stood my ground.

I pulled my arm away forcefully and pushed past him. I could sense the confusion and gossip among those present, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. I had a mission to complete. The situation was already difficult, especially given the presence of the entire Royal Family.

I tried to leave, but the Royal Guards swiftly blocked my way, and I realized that he had used his mind to prevent me from escaping.

“What’s going on, Amara?” Masha asked worriedly, but I remained silent.

Suddenly, I sprang into action, taking down the guards who tried to approach me in the blink of an eye. My movements were quick, and with my atypical skills, I defeated them one by one, leaving them unconscious on the ground. The remaining Royal Guards hesitated to approach me, their fear evident in their eyes. I wiped the sweat from my brow before turning to face the Alpha King again.

“Let me go,” I appealed, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising tension.

“Will you return?”

My eyes were focused solely on him because of his query. His tone sounded as if he longed for the response he hoped to hear.

“Do you want me to?” I countered.

Unflinchingly, he replied, “I’ve been waiting for you for half of my life. You already know the answer.”

“Amara, the Royal Guards are fighting in the southern part of the Dark Crescent Pack! They need you there!” Masha urgently informed me.

I simply nodded, acknowledging her message. I knew she understood my silent response.

“Hurry!” she urged.

“Time is running. I want an answer,” the Alpha King pressed, his gaze locking with mine, leaving me momentarily speechless.

“I’ll try…” I managed to say before quickly slipping away and finding cover behind a nearby tree.

Taking a long breath, I summoned my wolf. “Ready for battle?”

“Is he our second mate, Amara?!” She practically bubbled over with excitement.

Raising my gaze to the moon, I mused, “I don’t understand the Moon Goddess’s intentions, but we have a fight ahead. Are you happy about this?”

It was a rhetorical question, considering Selene’s enthusiasm.

“Well, he’s undeniably attractive!”

Embracing the fury coursing through my veins, I transformed into a wolf, my eyes shifting as the change took hold. Selene’s fur took on a dark reddish-brown hue with striking red sapphire eyes.

“Don’t get too flirtatious, Selene,” I warned playfully.

She laughed and stuck her tongue out as I turned and ran south. My eyes narrowed as I sharpened my senses and sprinted into the field. I bit a rogue who charged at me and broke its neck, not giving it a chance to retaliate. I then dodged to the left, colliding with a black wolf that was about to attack me from behind. The wolf groaned in pain and after a moment or two, collapsed and died.

I leaped and twisted in the air to avoid the metal arrows flying towards me. I spotted rogues in human form aiming at us. These rogues, either expelled from their pack or choosing to live in the wild, had long fur and emitted a foul odor. They could be either good or bad.

I swiftly changed my form behind a tree, donning my leather outfit and boots before climbing the tall trees to target the enemies. They tried to hit me, but my reflexes were too fast. I landed smoothly and kicked one of the rogues to the side, causing it to drop to the ground with a thud.

I strangled another rogue who attempted to attack me, pressing my razor-sharp claws against its neck. I punched the one to my right and ruthlessly twisted its neck.

I noticed the other Royal Guards arrived. Masha must have already informed them that we needed backup. The high number of rogues attacking was unusual today. They were desperate to assassinate the Alpha King, but not on my watch, especially now that I had a special bond with him, even though I was unsure of what to do next.

Lost in my thoughts, I was caught off guard by a rogue flying at me, and it managed to stab me in the stomach. My mouth opened wide in shock, my hands sweating. The piercing pain took a few minutes to fully register, and I could feel the hot blood gushing from the wound, as if my heart sought to pump it out of my body.

“Fuck!” I cursed under my breath.

Before the rogue could strike again, I slaughtered the remaining one by ripping his head off, causing a sickening crack.

“Amara!”

I winced before turning to face Masha. A hint of concern was visible on her face as she examined my fresh wound. The blood continued to leak, and the thick fluid felt neither warmer nor cooler than my own skin. The blade was not ordinary and had left me in a bad state.

“I-I’m okay,” I stammered.

She shook her head, scared to death. “I don’t think so. That blade is poisoned!”

I inspected the weapon used to stab me. For a fighter like me, I was no stranger to situations like this. This was nothing new, but I couldn't shake the feeling of weakness. Perhaps it was the poison taking effect, though it would soon heal and fade away because I knew Masha would never let me die. She held me up to prevent me from falling as the poison began to take its toll on my body. Gradually, my breathing became unsteady, and all I could remember before losing consciousness was that my vision blurred and turned black.