Roman’s P.O.V

When I set sail two weeks ago, looking for the omega I’d spent the night with during the mating ceremony, I actually had zero hopes of finding her. Omegas, especially ones without a wolf had a very slim chance of survival in brutal werewolf packs. Anything could happen to them if their Alpha wasn’t the type that was fond of Omegas and they were subjected to the utmost cruelty. So finding Snow in the midnight pack had been nothing short of a miraculous surprise and I still couldn’t believe she was returning with me. The delicate, silent omega. 

People might argue I had an ulterior motive, accepting the weakness of my mate the way she was and I wouldn’t say they were entirely wrong. Why would the Lycan king accept a mute runt for his mate when he had hundreds of powerful female wolves who would actually benefit the kingdom politically and financially? Brows would be raised, I’m sure but only people in my inner circle would truly understand why my mate was important.

Contrary to everyone’s belief that I was an untouchable, powerful King, I was cursed. A blood curse that has me on the edge of death on my thirtieth birthday. As ridiculous as it sounded, only a true love’s kiss from my fated mate’s wolf can cure me. So I would do whatever it took to make sure Snow fell in love with me. I could see she already adored me and just a little more kindness would make hand her heart over to me on a platter.

Only there was one problem. Even if I was able to get her to fall in love with me without suspecting my motives, Snow’s wolf was as good as dead. Liga had tried everything he could to rip through the barriers in her psyche and this morning, he was finally able to pick her mind apart to form a mind-link with her wolf. But it turned out Snow was empty. Her wolf didn’t exist in her psyche. There were literal cobwebs in the compartment her wolf was meant to live in her chest. That shoved me into the worst kind of pickle and clearly I would have to hire the services of the best witches once we arrived in my kingdom to see if there was a way to revive her wolf.

I pinched my brows still, trying to clear my mind of the worrying thoughts as I stared out at the endless expanse of water but the metallic tang of blood did the trick.

I froze, inhaling deeply. The scent was faint, carried on the salty breeze, but it was unmistakably blood.

By the gods! Snow!

My wolf surged forward, snarling in panic. Why the fuck was my mate bleeding? 

I barked an order to my co-captain, shoving the wheel into his hands before bolting down the narrow hall. My vision tunneled as I sprinted, my wolf clawing at the surface, demanding I move faster. 

When I got to the door, I didn’t bother knocking.

I slammed my foot in it, sending wood splinters flying everywhere as the wood shattered, and the sight before me sent a wave of red-hot fury crashing through my veins.

A fucking vampire.

While it took my form, I could see beneath its camouflage. Its pale, gaunt figure loomed over snow, its mouth latched onto her neck, feeding. How the fuck did it get in here? My mate’s blood stained its lips, dripped down her fragile throat and her body was limp and her skin ashen.

The beast in me roared, and before I could even think, I was across the room. The vampire didn’t see me coming. My claws sank into its shoulder as I ripped it away from Snow, the force sending its scrawny body hurtling into the wine cabinet. Bottles shattered and wine spilled everywhere.

I wanted to kill it. Tear it apart and make it suffer for what it had done.

But Snow whimpered, and my rage faltered.

Immediately, I turned to her, my chest tight with fear as I dropped to my knees next to her. Her body was still and her skin was rapidly turned cold. Oh gods, why was her lips blue?

“No,” I growled, cradling her against me. But her head lolled lifelessly against my chest and icy terror seeped into my veins.

“Snow,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Stay with me. Please.”

A gurgly laughter followed my trembling voice, echoing in the room. I snapped my head up as my vision blurred with rage. The vampire was slouched against the broken shelf, Snow’s blood dripping from its cracked mouth as it grinned at me.

“She tastes divine,” the voice sounded like a million phlegm was stuck in its throat as it rasped. “Too bad it’s not enough.”

Liga howled for retribution and I lunged. The vampire moved in a flash, shifting mid-stance into a skeletal frame before disappearing into thin air. My claws swiped at an empty space and I let out an earth-shattering roar that shook the cabin walls.

The door burst open after and my guards rushed in, weapons drawn. “Your majesty…” one of them said, but trailed off soon after he saw everything. They didn’t need to ask. The scent of blood and death was enough.

Ignoring them, I snapped my focus back to Snow, returning to my knees before her. Agony sliced through me as I touched her bloodied neck with trembling fingers, hoping against hope to feel a pulse.

Nothing.

Her chest didn’t rise. Her heart didn’t beat.

A raw, guttural sound echoed in the air and I realized it was coming out from my lungs as I pulled Snow’s lifeless body against mine.

She was gone.