Bonus Chapter-1
*Seth’s Point of View*
Our mate will be there. We will finally meet here.
We won’t ever see her, Altair. She stays in the kitchen.
It’s her brother’s ceremony. She’ll be there.
I sigh. It’s like he’s forgotten anything Rob had ever told us about her. She stays in the kitchen. You know
this. She doesn’t have a wolf, Altair. She can’t be the future queen.
She is our Princess, he says, and I can feel the growl he wants to release. The Goddess makes no mistake. I
want my mate.
“Seth! Have you even been listening?” mom says from the seat behind me pulling me from my argument
with my wolf.
“Sorry, I’m just tired,” I tell her, shaking my head.
“If you hadn’t stayed up late talking to that girlfriend of yours you wouldn’t be tired,” Dad admonishes me. You really do need to let her go and focus on finding your mate. You’re twenty-three years old, son. You’ve got to find her to take the throne.”
I sigh, keeping my eyes straight ahead. “I know. I will.” If only he knew that I wasn’t talking to her all night. Knew that she’d left me. I told them she was just visiting her family, too embarrassed to tell them that she had decided not to return after her father’s death. If I had just marked her, pretended she was my mate,
things would be more simple.
She’s not our mate, Altair growls in my head.
I know she’s not my mate, and I know that Rob’s sister Molly IS… but she doesn’t have a wolf. She hides in the kitchen, like a common Omega. She could be training, trying to get stronger, doing whatever she can to help her pack, but instead she locks herself away and hides. I have to say, though, that cookie I stole once was probably the best cookie I’ve ever eaten.
“Goddess, Seth,” mom says again. “You’re still not listening. It’s important you make a good impression. Luna Celeste and Alpha Randall are some of our very best friends and allies.”
I nod, trying to pay attention. “I know, Mom.”
“No, you don’t,” she tells me as I turn to meet her eyes. “Celeste and I knew each other as kids. We had some rough patches in our friendship, but I love her like a sister. I need you to act the best you ever have.”
I smile at her, the smile that always makes older ladies swoon. I don’t bother showing it to anyone younger, though. I’ve found my mate, but I can’t have her. I’m searching for the perfect queen. “I’ll be on my best behavior and then I’m back to the palace in two days. I won’t cause any trouble.”
1/4
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“It would be nice if you could join us for the full moon run,” Dad offers and it takes everything in me to not roll my eyes at him. I know he’s suspicious, but I can’t tell him Altair won’t let me shift without telling him why.
I turn and stare out the window as we approach the packhouse. “We’ll see, but I’d rather not.”
The car stops and I open my door, climbing out and opening the door for my mother seated behind me. I
offer her my arm and she smiles up at me, a look of pride on her face as she reaches her free hand up to
straighten my tie. Dad walks around and offers her his arm, but she shakes her head and squeezes my
arm tightly.
Alpha Randall and a lovely woman both smile and bow, straightening and walking over to us. “We’re so
glad you could make it!” the Alpha says excitedly as he approaches and shakes Dad’s hand, pulling him
into a hug.
“I’m glad we could work it out,” Dad says as I smell it… I smell… her.
