POV: Lucian
The palace was more active than I supposed. All the corridors were filled with footsteps, all the rooms were filled with flowers and fresh polish. It was weird to be home after four years in a foreign land with people who were used to seeing me as a stranger.
Forty or fifty laborers were installing lights, gold curtains, and tables. It was the Mating Ceremony tomorrow night--the night of the year when unmated wolves of the Blood Moon Pack were summoned under the protection of the Moon Goddess to discover their predestined mates.
The voice of my mother was full of joy behind me. "It is happening, at last, My son has come home, finished his education, and is ready to occupy his throne. I have long been dreaming of it."
My father laughed at his seat. "He is just a day home, Helena. Give him time to breathe."
She did not look at him at all, but came nearer to me, "Lucian, my love, this is not a pack tradition, this is the gift of fate. Goddess herself may decide who you are going to marry tomorrow."
I smiled faintly. "Since breakfast you have been saying so."
"Because it's true." She smiled pleasantly, and added in a playful sigh, If the Moon goddess wills me still further, she will bring me a daughter-in-law of a strong family. Someone with a powerful wolf. And perhaps a grand child or two soon after.
"Mother," I groaned.
Father laughed. "You must have seen her at lunch--she was already arranging what she was going to put on when she goes to meet your mate."
"Lucian, assure me that you will have an open heart tomorrow. The Luna's timing is perfect." Mother requested and I had to smile to avoid long talks.
My parents were asleep by the time night came and as they fell asleep, they continued to whisper about the ceremony. I was lying in bed staring at the ceiling, being restless.
After some time, I woke up, dressed quickly in something easy, dark jeans and a hoodie, and sneaked out through the side door. The guards didn't stop me. The majority of them were not even aware that I was back.
The warm night air was pleasant to my skin. I passed along the silent streets of the chief town of the pack. Nobody bowed, nobody welcomed me as the son of Alpha. I was just Lucian.
After hearing music I was outside a club. The neon blue sign above it flickered. I was reluctant, however, and finally entered.
The location was full, wolves dancing, drinking, forgetting their troubles. The smell of liquor and sweat and perfume was in the air. I remained close to the entrance, and I was merely watching.
Then I saw her.
A glass in her hand, a woman sitting alone in the bar. She had long dark hair which masked the greater part of her face, but I could see enough of it to observe her eyes, which were tired, red, and distant. She had the appearance of not smiling in years.
The bartender bent down to her and spoke to her, but she shook him off and asked him to bring her another drink.
I do not know why, but there was something inside of me that wanted to go closer. Maybe it was worry. Maybe it was instinct. I went up beside her and whispering, said, "That is your third one."
Her eyes were a little glassy as she looked at me. "Counting for me?"
"Just noticing," I said.
No, no, she said to herself, looking into her glass.
I did, and sat down beside her. "You okay?"
She let out a weak laugh. "Is there anybody who comes here that looks okay?
I didn't answer. She wasn't wrong. But the melancholy of her voice vexed me more than I thought.
"You are not like other people that belong here," I said.
She shot me a look. "And what do I look like then?"
I shrugged. "Someone who's had a bad day."
Her lips were twisting as though she would have liked to smile but could not. "You have no idea."
We chatted a little--nothing so solemn as to cause her to laugh once or twice. But I could feel her pain. What had happened I did not hear, but I knew it in her eyes: she had been hurt, and very much.
Later in the night, the music became slower and she started to appear pale. I volunteered to take her home, but she shook her head. "No, no, no, I do not want to go home," she said to herself.
The rest of the night blurred. Nothing was planned to happen, it just happened. She was leaning on me, and I did not push her off. I said to myself that I was helping her forget, just at the moment.
The following morning I woke up and the sun was shining through the half-open curtains.
Still asleep beside me was she.
I stood and stared at her a moment. Her features were at peace now, serene in a manner that it had not been long before. I was just going to slip quietly into a dressing-gown, when my eyes snatched upon something on her neck--a sort of a pale spot.
A mate mark.
I froze.
It was weak, yet explicit enough to make it certain that it was not there long ago. And that meant... she was rejected.
Guilt hit me like a punch.
I moved back slowly towards the bed with a racing heart. I didn't even know her name. However, whoever she was, she did not have to get up and see a stranger lying next to her anymore.
I rushed into dressing, looked at her once more, and went away before she was up.
On arriving in my room, I immediately headed to the mirror to clean up. But that's when I saw it.
Just above my collarbone--a burning mark.
My heart stopped.
A mate mark.
And then, as quickly, it died away, leaving no trace of it.
I was standing amazed at my mirror image.
"What just happened?" I whispered.