Adrian's POV:
I am Adrian, the Lycan King.
Some call me a ruler.
Most call me a monster.
They say I have no mercy, and perhaps they are right. Mercy is a luxury kings like me cannot afford. In my kingdom, mistakes are paid for in blood, and crimes are answered with punishment—without exception. That has always been my rule.
I am twenty-seven years old, and for the past eight years, I have worn the crown of the Lycans. Eight years of war councils, executions, treaties written in fear, and loyalty bought with strength. Eight years of watching powerful Alphas lower their gazes when I enter a room.
They fear my power.
They fear my wolf.
They fear me.
And because of that fear, every single one of them wants me married.
Every pack wants the same thing—to see their daughter sitting beside me on the throne, wearing the title of Queen. They send portraits, gifts, proposals disguised as alliances. Smiles filled with greed, eyes shining with ambition.
None of them understand one thing.
I will never choose my Queen.
She will be chosen for me.
By the Moon Goddess herself.
My fated mate.
The only woman who will ever rule beside me is the one fate has bound to my soul. I have believed that since the day I first felt my wolf stir inside me. I have waited. Patiently. Stubbornly.
But patience is wearing thin.
I am twenty-seven now, and my mother's health grows weaker with every passing year. She does not say it out loud, but I see it in her eyes—she wants to see me settled, wants to see her son with a Queen before her strength fails her completely.
Tonight, there is a grand party at the palace.
And everyone expects me to choose my mate there.
The thought makes my chest tighten.
Something feels… wrong.
As if fate itself is holding its breath.
I sit behind the massive oak desk in my office, the glass walls of the building reflecting the fading afternoon light. My office stands tall above the city, a symbol of power and authority. Files lie open before me—reports of rogue movements, border disputes, trade routes—but my mind is nowhere near them.
There is an unease in my chest that refuses to settle.
It feels like someone is close.
Very close.
Before I can make sense of the feeling, a sharp tug snaps through my mind.
"King!" Kai's voice bursts into my head, strained and urgent. "Princess Ivy has been kidnapped."
The world stops.
I am on my feet instantly, the chair scraping harshly against the floor as my power surges uncontrollably.
"What?" I snarl aloud. "Where is Elena?"
Kai responds immediately, his thoughts racing.
"She's home. Unconscious. They attacked near the jungle. Six rogues ambushed them. Four were killed, but two escaped—with Ivy. They knocked your sister out before taking her."
The air around me turns heavy, lethal.
Rogues.
I don't hesitate for even a second.
I stride out of the office, fury rolling off me in suffocating waves. The guards straighten instinctively as I pass, sensing my mood. Kai is already approaching from the corridor, his expression grim.
"Mobilize everyone," I order coldly. "Search the entire jungle. I want my niece brought to me unharmed. Whoever took her—bring me their heads."
"Yes, my King," Kai answers without question.
We move fast.
Too fast for fear to catch up.
The jungle lies an hour away from the palace, dense and wild, a perfect hiding place for rogues. Cars line the edge of the clearing as we arrive, warriors spilling out, shifting, scanning, searching.
I inhale deeply, letting my senses stretch.
Nothing.
No trace of Ivy's scent.
Lucas is there—my best friend, and Elena's husband. His face is pale, jaw clenched tightly as he fights to remain composed. His wolf is frantic beneath the surface.
Damon Frost, my other trusted friend, stands beside him, a steady hand on Lucas's shoulder.
"She'll be found," Damon says firmly. "She's strong."
My younger sister Maya is nearby, tears streaking her cheeks as she calls Ivy's name again and again, her voice breaking with every echo.
This jungle feels darker than usual.
Dangerous.
Then—
Another mindlink slices through the tension.
"My King," one of the palace guards speaks, breathless with disbelief. "Princess Ivy has returned. She's home. Safe."
My feet freeze.
"What?" I whisper.
A slow, disbelieving smile touches my lips, relief crashing through me so powerfully that my knees nearly weaken.
I turn to the others. Lucas already knows—Elena must have mindlinked him. His face breaks into pure relief, a shaky smile replacing the fear.
"She's safe," I announce. "We're going home."
The tension dissolves instantly. Warriors retreat, engines roar back to life, and we head toward the palace.
I lean back in the car seat, closing my eyes for just a moment.
That's when it happens.
A scent.
It hits me without warning—soft yet powerful, wrapping around my senses like a whisper against my soul.
My heart stops.
Mate.
My wolf roars inside me.
"Stop the car!" I bark.
The vehicle screeches to a halt as I throw the door open and step out. I breathe deeply, searching, scanning the road, the trees, the shadows.
Nothing.
The scent is already fading.
"What's wrong?" Lucas asks, stepping out after me. "Adrian?"
I don't answer him. I get back into the car slowly, my thoughts racing.
Adrik, I call my wolf internally. What was that?
"She was here," Adrik growls, restless and excited. "Our mate. I felt her. I smelled her."
My hands tighten into fists.
Where did she go then? I demand.
"I don't know," he admits reluctantly. "But her scent…"
The image floods my senses again.
It wasn't sharp or overwhelming.
It was warm.
Like night-blooming jasmine mixed with rain-soaked earth. A hint of wild berries, touched by something ancient and pure. A scent that didn't just fill my lungs—it sank into my bones, into my soul.
'Find her.' Adrik pleads. 'Please. She's ours.'
My head throbs.
Enough, I snap, forcefully blocking him.
The palace gates come into view moments later.
Inside, chaos has already settled into relief.
Lucas rushes forward first, pulling Ivy into his arms, holding her as if she might disappear again. Elena, pale but awake now, watches with tears streaming silently down her face.
Ivy breaks free and runs to me.
I lift her easily, pressing a kiss to her hair. "You scared us," I murmur.
"I'm sorry, Uncle," she whispers.
Maya and Damon crowd around her next, showering her with affection.
Finally, Lucas pulls back, confusion flickering across his face.
"But how did she get home?" he asks. "You said the rogues took her."
Every eye turns to Elena.
She takes a shaky breath. "A girl saved her."
Silence.
"She killed the rogues," Elena continues. "Both of them. And brought Ivy back herself."
My mother steps forward, eyes shining.
"She was beautiful," she says softly.
"Where is she now?" Maya asks eagerly.
"She left," my mother answers. "Said she had urgent work."
My heart skips.
Could it be her?
Before the thought can root itself, Gamma Kael speaks.
"She was a rogue," he says firmly.
The word extinguishes the spark instantly.
A rogue.
Impossible.
My mate could never be—
"But her scent wasn't rogue," Elena argues quietly.
"She said it herself," Kael insists. "She's a rogue."
My mother frowns. "Even if she is, she saved my granddaughter."
I cut in sharply. "Enough. Focus on the party tonight."
I turn away. "We'll discuss the rising rogue attacks later. They're becoming bolder. More dangerous."
I motion to Kai, Kael, and Damon to follow me.
~
Evening had fallen, and the palace was alive.
Crystal chandeliers glowed above polished marble floors, music flowed through the grand hall, and laughter echoed beneath vaulted ceilings. The party had begun exactly as expected—elegant, loud, and political. Alphas from neighboring packs stood in clusters, glasses in hand, discussing threats, alliances, and power plays disguised as polite conversation.
I stood among several Lycans, my posture relaxed but my senses sharp.
"The rogue attacks are increasing," one Alpha said grimly. "Not just on borders—entire packs are being targeted now."
Another nodded. "They're organized. This isn't random violence anymore."
I listened, my jaw tight. I already knew this. Reports had been piling up for weeks—rogues growing bolder, smarter, deadlier. Something was changing in the shadows, and I didn't like it.
Before I could respond, a familiar voice cut in.
"King Adrian."
I turned to see an Alpha stepping forward—Alpha Roderick Vale. His expression was confident, calculating.
He inclined his head toward my father, who stood beside me. "I believe the time has come for your son to choose his mate."
My muscles stiffened.
Alpha Vale smiled thinly. "My daughter, Elera, would make an excellent Luna. She is fierce, intelligent, and strong. A perfect match for a King."
I knew Elera.
She is beautiful—undeniably so. Sharp eyes, confident movements, a woman who knew how to get what she wanted. We had crossed paths more times than I cared to count. I fucked her, shared heat and desire in moments that meant nothing beyond physical need.
But Queen?
Never.
I had never lied to any of them. I never promised more than fleeting pleasure. Desire was one thing. A mate—my mate—was something else entirely.
My father glanced at me, expectation clear in his eyes.
I didn't give him the satisfaction of a response.
"Excuse me," I said calmly, already stepping away.
I left the hall before anyone could stop me, the noise fading behind me as I moved deeper into the palace. The moment I crossed into the quieter corridor leading to my private quarters, a sharp pain sliced through my chest.
I stumbled.
My breath hitched as a strange pressure wrapped around my heart, squeezing hard enough to make me gasp. Voices whispered at the edge of my mind—faint, desperate.
Help…
I shook my head, trying to clear it. "Get a grip," I muttered to myself.
I pushed forward, my steps quickening as unease crawled under my skin. Something was wrong. Deeply wrong.
When I opened the door to my room, I froze.
Elera was there.
She sat casually, as if she belonged, confidence dripping from every movement. Candlelight danced across her skin, her presence deliberate, planned. She turned slowly, a smirk curving her lips.
"My King," she purred. "You left the party so suddenly. I thought perhaps… you needed company."
She stepped closer, her intentions unmistakable.
For a moment—just a moment—I let instinct take over. Familiarity. Heat. Distraction.
But as her hands brushed mine, my mind screamed.
Help.
The voice was louder now. Clearer.
Please help.
My entire body went rigid.
I shoved Elera back gently but firmly, stepping away as I clutched my head. The pain returned, sharper this time.
"Adrian?" she asked, confused. "What's wrong?"
I didn't answer.
Please… help…
My wolf roared inside me.
"Mate," Adrik growled urgently. "She's calling us. Our mate is close. She's in danger."
My blood ran cold.
I turned and ran.
I burst from my chambers and into the hallway, nearly colliding with Kai.
"King—?" he started.
I ignored him, sprinting toward the palace exit.
Behind me, I could feel Kai chasing, his mindlink pressing against mine. I blocked him out completely. I had no explanations to give—not when I barely understood it myself.
The night air hit my lungs as I shifted mid-stride, power surging through my veins as I bolted toward the forest.
"Left," Adrik urged. "Toward the border."
How can we feel her from so far away? I demanded internally.
"I don't know," he snapped back. "Just run."
Rain began to fall as I crossed deeper into the woods, my speed increasing, heart hammering wildly. Her scent grew stronger with every step—jasmine and rain, blood and fear.
She was close.
Too close.
When I broke through the last line of trees, the world shattered.
She lay on the ground.
My mate.
Her white hair was soaked with rain, her body unmoving. Blood stained the earth beneath her, a knife embedded in her abdomen. Four wolves stood nearby, cruel grins on their faces, while another crouched beside her, hands where they never should have been.
Something inside me snapped.
I threw my head back and howled—a sound of pure fury and grief.
They turned, terror flashing in their eyes.
They tried to run.
They didn't get far.
I was on them in seconds.
Claws. Blood. Screams.
I killed three without mercy. Kai arrived like a storm, finishing the remaining two before they could escape.
My wolf raged, desperate to take full control, but I forced him back. This wasn't about slaughter.
This was about her.
I dropped to my knees beside her, gently brushing her hair from her face. She was unconscious, pale—but alive. And she is so beautiful.
"Mate," I whispered, my voice breaking.
I pulled the knife free carefully, blood pouring out as rain soaked us both.
Kai knelt beside me, his face grave. "We need to get her to the hospital now. The blade was coated in wolfsbane. She won't survive long like this."
My heart slammed painfully against my ribs.
I gathered her into my arms, holding her as if my life depended on it—because it did.
"Mate," I whispered again.
Kai stared at me, stunned. "She's… your mate? Your Queen?"
I didn't answer.
I ran.
Each step toward the hospital felt heavier than the last. Fear clawed at me, raw and unfamiliar.
Today, I had found my mate.
And I was terrified of losing her before she even opened her eyes.
For the first time in my life, the Lycan King was afraid.
_________