Chapter 2

I was about to grab for the light switch when I abruptly stopped, the tension in the air around me growing. I was gasping for air as my hand hung in midair. I was not by myself.

A wolf and not just any wolf, was the only source of the low, guttural growl that echoed through the room.

A deep, authoritative voice whispered, "Mate."

……………

Liana’s POV

Despite the sorrow clinging to me like a second skin, I allowed Veronica to dress me as she pleased. She bustled around, clearly excited about the night, while I stood there, numb, letting her take the reins. Finally, she stepped back and beamed at me, her excitement contagious enough to make me glance at my reflection.

I barely recognized myself. The emerald gown Veronica had chosen clung to my figure, accentuating curves I usually hid beneath oversized sweaters. My hair cascaded down in loose waves, and my cheeks were flushed with just the right amount of rouge. I looked... regal. Like a princess in a fairy tale.

“And for one final touch,” Veronica declared, holding up a small glass bottle. “Perfume.”

“I’ve got one!” I exclaimed, reaching into my bag to retrieve a small vial. It was a perfume I’d recently created at the shop where I worked. The scent had been inspired by a memory—fleeting but vivid—that always lingered in my mind. Matthew, my boss at the shop, had noticed how much it meant to me and had gifted it to me on my birthday.

Veronica spritzed the perfume generously, and the subtle floral and citrusy aroma filled the room. She smiled approvingly. “It’s perfect. Now, come on! Tonight is going to be unforgettable.”

I was dragged out the house into the bustling streets of our pack's area by her grasping my hand.

I had never seen the streets of Blackhide so congested and busy. There was a lot of excitement, and I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.

What's happening?" Observing the abnormally joyous environment, I inquired.

“It’s Robison’s engagement ceremony,” Veronica explained as if I should have known.

“Robison?”

“The first prince of the Woodblack Kingdom,” she clarified, her tone tinged with impatience. “He’s getting engaged to Selena, the daughter of the most powerful wolf family in the kingdom.”

That explained the crowd. The Woodblack Kingdom, where our Blackhide Pack was located, was ruled by a Lycan King and his two sons, Robison and Cassian. The kingdom was vast, with numerous packs under the Lycans’ authority. But Lycans themselves were rare.  The royal family was stronger, faster, and more powerful than the rest of us werewolves because of their Lycan ancestry.

With experienced ease, Veronica guided me through the crowd, her assurance standing in stark contrast to my anxious energy. The audience's delight was so overwhelming that I felt like a small fish in a tidal wave.

Eventually, we arrived at an open-air bar, already packed with people. Veronica ordered drinks for us, her excitement unabated. She offered me a glass and encouraged me to taste it. It was my first time trying alcohol, so I was nervous. But her eagerness drew me in, and I took a hesitant drink, the warmth seeping through me almost immediately.

Veronica disappeared for a few minutes, leaving me alone. The moment she was gone, a group of men began to approach me, their intentions far from innocent. I stiffened, unsure of how to handle the situation. Just as I was considering leaving, Veronica reappeared, her fiery glare scattering the men like leaves in the wind.

“What’s this?” I asked as she pressed a small keycard into my hand.

“We’re getting drunk tonight,” she declared with a mischievous grin. “And there’s no way I’m letting us go home to face my mother’s lectures. I booked a room at the hotel nearby. We’ll crash there and head home in the morning.”

I hesitated, my apprehension clear. But Veronica waved off my concerns with a laugh.

“It’s all set, Liana. Trust me!”

Before I could argue further, a massive screen overlooking the bar flickered to life, drawing everyone’s attention. Loud applause filled the air as the screen displayed Robison and Selena. The pair looked magnificent, clad in lavish ceremonial garb that exuded richness.

The crowd’s cheers grew louder as Robison and Selena smiled and waved. Veronica nudged me playfully, but my attention was caught by a conversation happening nearby.

“A girl wearing a tight pink dress exclaimed to her friend, "Robison is so handsome."

“He is,” the other girl agreed, her voice tinged with envy. “And Selena’s the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. They’re perfect together.”

Their words stung more than I cared to admit. Selena and I shared a peculiar connection—we were both born on the same night, under the harvest moon. It was said that any wolf born under the harvest moon would grow to be powerful and beautiful.

Selena had fulfilled that prophecy. Me? Not so much.

I forced myself to look away from the television and allowed my eyes roam across the throng. I saw him at that point.

He stood aside from everyone else, his cold blue eyes staring at the screen with such intensity that it seemed as though he was wishing for the scene to change. He had a tight posture and a frigid, almost suffocating aura. Yet there was a quiet grace to him, an undeniable presence that drew my attention like a moth to a flame.

Then his eyes met mine as though he could sense my gaze.

A chill ran down my spine, and I quickly looked away, my heart pounding.

The screen showed Robison and Selena sharing a kiss, and the crowd erupted in cheers. But the man’s aura seemed to grow even colder.

"Who is he?" Unable to stop my eyes from returning to him, I mumbled to myself.

“He’s the second prince, Cassian,” the girl in the pink dress whispered, her tone conspiratorial.

“The second prince?” her friend asked

“Yes,” the girl replied. “And Selena is his fated mate and first love.”

My heart stopped.

“But she’s engaging Robison,” the friend pointed out, confusion evident in her voice

“The second prince can’t become king,” the girl explained. “He was born of a surrogate, and there’s a curse on him. Even tho his the most powerful wolf in woodblack, Selena had no choice but to marry Robison to secure her place as queen.”

I felt a pang of sympathy for Cassian. Being rejected by one’s fated mate was a pain I understood all too well.

When I looked back, Cassian was gone.

“Who are you looking for?” Veronica asked, appearing out of nowhere with another drink in hand.

“No one,” I lied, taking the glass she offered.

“Drink up,” she urged. “You deserve to have some fun for once.”

After some hesitation, I caved in, the effects of the alcohol taking effect almost instantly. My body felt simultaneously weighty and weightless, and my brain swirled.

I said, "I have to lie down," as I fumbled for the keycard that Veronica had handed me.

Somehow, I made my way to the nearby hotel, each step feeling like a monumental effort. I found the door labeled 410 and pushed it open, desperate to collapse onto the bed.

But as I stepped inside, I froze.

The room wasn’t empty.

A low, wolfish growl filled the air, sending shivers down my spine.

“Mate,” a voice rumbled, deep and resonant, and I realized with a jolt that the room’s occupant was none other than the man who had captivated me at the bar.

Lycan Prince Cassian.