Kira's POV
I had three hours until sunset.
Three hours until the ceremony that would change everything.
I spent them pacing my room in that beautiful white dress, trying not to throw up from nerves.
Then Rowan's voice came through the connecting door.
Kira. Get out here. Now.
Not a request. A command.
I opened the door to find him dressed formally black shirt, black pants, looking every inch the Alpha King. His eyes raked over me in the ceremonial robes, but his expression stayed cold.
We need to go, he said.
Go where? The ceremony isn't until sunset
The Council wants to meet you first. He turned and started walking. They need to approve the mating. It's tradition.
My stomach dropped. Approve? You said this was happening
It is. But we have to go through the motions. He glanced back. Keep up. And don't embarrass me.
I hurried after him, the silk robes making it hard to walk fast. What if they don't approve?
They will. I'm the Alpha King. They don't get to tell me who I can mate. His jaw was tight. But they'll ask questions. Make judgments. Try to humiliate you.
Great.
Don't let them see weakness. Don't apologize. Don't explain yourself. He stopped suddenly, making me almost crash into him. And whatever they say about the rejection, about you being halfblood, about us let me handle it.
I can defend myself
No. His eyes burned into mine. You can't. You're about to walk into a room full of wolves who've spent seven years watching me suffer because of you. They hate you, Kira. And the only thing stopping them from tearing you apart is me.
The words should have scared me. Instead, they made me angry.
Then maybe you should have thought about that before forcing me to be your mate, I snapped.
Something flashed in his eyes. Surprise? Respect?
Then it was gone.
Too late now, he said. We're here.
He pushed open a heavy door.
The Council chamber was worse than I imagined.
Twelve wolves sat around a circular table. All of them older. All of them powerful. All of them staring at me like I was something disgusting they'd stepped in.
The room went silent when we entered.
Alpha King, an older male said, standing. The others followed. We weren't expecting you so early.
I'm introducing you to my future mate. Rowan's hand went to my lower back. The touch sent electricity through me. As is tradition.
Of course. The male's eyes slid to me. This is the halfblood?
The slur hung in the air like poison.
This is Dr. Kira Thorne, Rowan corrected, his voice sharp as a blade. My chosen mate. You will show her respect, Councillor Thorne. Or you will leave my Council. Permanently.
Councillor Thorne.
I looked at the male really looked. Gray hair. Cold blue eyes. Sharp features that looked familiar.
Sebastian Thorne, he said, inclining his head slightly. Your mother's uncle. Though I'm surprised she never mentioned our family to you.
Because my mother had been shunned for mating a human. For having a halfblood child. For choosing love over pack politics.
Just like I'd chosen my dreams over Rowan.
Maybe it ran in the family.
She mentioned you, I lied. She said you were a bastard.
Gasps echoed around the table.
Rowan's hand pressed harder against my back. Warning or support, I couldn't tell.
Sebastian's expression darkened. I see the halfblood has claws.
I see the councillor is still an ass, I shot back before I could stop myself.
More gasps. One wolf actually laughed before covering it with a cough.
Enough. Rowan's voice cut through the tension. We're not here to trade insults. The Council needs to formally acknowledge the mating. So acknowledge it.
Forgive me, Alpha King, Sebastian said, his tone dripping false politeness. But the Council has questions. After all, this is... unexpected.
Unexpected how? Rowan's tone was dangerous.
Well. Sebastian gestured vaguely. Seven years ago, Dr. Thorne rejected the mate bond. Chose a human education over you. Left pack society entirely. And now, suddenly, she's returned. Agreed to mate you. One might wonder about her motivations.
One might mind their own business, I said.
Kira. Rowan's voice was sharp. Warning me.
But I was done being polite. Done letting these wolves judge me when they didn't know anything.
My motivations are simple, I continued. The Alpha King made me an offer. I accepted. What happens between us is none of your concern.
Isn't it? A beautiful shewolf spoke up. Elegant. Polished. Everything I wasn't. The Luna Queen is everyone's concern. She represents the pack. And a halfblood who rejected her mate
Councillor Ashford, Rowan interrupted. Choose your next words carefully.
The she wolf Vivienne's mother, I realized smiled. I mean no disrespect, Alpha King. I'm simply concerned. As I'm sure we all are. The sudden reunion seems... convenient. Almost as if Dr. Thorne only accepted the bond when she needed something from you.
The accusation hit home. Because it was true.
I had only accepted because Rowan threatened my sanctuary. Because I was desperate. Because I had no choice.
And what if I did? I said quietly. What if I only agreed because I was desperate? Does that make the bond less real? Does that make me less worthy?
Yes, Sebastian said bluntly.
Then I guess I'm not worthy. I lifted my chin. But neither is your Alpha King for blackmailing me into this. So maybe we deserve each other.
The room exploded.
Wolves shouted. Argued. Some defended Rowan. Others attacked me. It was chaos.
Then Rowan's hand found mine under the table.
The touch burned. The dormant bond flared stronger than before. Strong enough that I gasped.
So did he.
The room went silent. Every wolf could see it. The connection. The bond pulling us together despite everything.
Enough, Rowan said. His voice was calm but carried absolute authority. Here's what you need to know about my mate.
He stood, pulling me up with him. His hand stayed locked with mine.
Seven years ago, Kira rejected our bond. She broke my heart. Nearly destroyed me. His eyes found mine. And I spent every day since hating her for it.
The honesty hurt worse than any lie.
But. He turned back to the Council. She's still my fated mate. The bond never truly severed. And now she's here. She's agreed to wear my mark. To be my Luna Queen. Whether you approve or not is irrelevant.
But Alpha King Sebastian started.
I wasn't finished. Rowan's grip on my hand tightened. You want to know why I'm mating her? Simple. I never stopped wanting her. Never stopped needing her. Seven years of pain didn't change what she is to me.
He looked at me again. And I saw something in his eyes I didn't expect.
Vulnerability.
She belongs with me, he said quietly. She's always belonged with me. The rejection was just a detour. Now she's finally where she should be.
The words sounded sincere. Real. Like he actually meant them.
But I could feel his hand trembling in mine. Could feel the bond pulsing with emotions I couldn't name.
So you can approve or disapprove all you want, Rowan continued. But tonight, at sunset, I'm marking her. She'll be my mate. Your Luna Queen. And anyone who disrespects her disrespects me.
He pulled me closer. Put his arm around my waist.
To the Council, it probably looked possessive. Protective.
But I could feel him shaking.
Meeting adjourned, Rowan said. Unless anyone else wants to question my judgment?
Silence.
The wolves filed out one by one. Some looked angry. Others thoughtful. Sebastian shot me a look that promised this wasn't over.
Finally, only Rowan and I remained.
He dropped his arm immediately. Stepped away. Put distance between us.
You did well, he said stiffly. Better than I expected.
You lied to them.
About what?
About wanting me. About this being real. I gestured between us. You made it sound likelike you still have feelings for me.
I do. The admission was flat. Emotionless. I hate you. That's a feeling.
Rowan
Don't. He held up a hand. Don't read into it. I said what needed to be said. Made them believe this is real. That's all.
But his hand had been shaking when he held mine. His voice had cracked when he said I belonged with him.
Those weren't lies.
Were they?
Two hours until sunset, Rowan said, already walking toward the door. Stay in your room until then. I'll send someone to escort you to the ceremony.
Wait. I grabbed his arm.
He froze. Looked down at my hand on him.
The bond pulsed. Stronger. Hungry for connection.
What you said in there, I whispered. About me belonging with you. About never stopping wanting me. Was any of it true?
For a long moment, he didn't answer.
Then he pulled his arm free.
Does it matter? he asked. In two hours, you'll be mine either way. Whether I want you or hate you or both you'll still wear my mark. Still be bound to me. Still have no choice.
It matters to me.
Why? He turned to face me fully. Why does it matter if I want you, Kira? You didn't care seven years ago when you rejected me. You didn't care when you walked away. So why care now?
Because I stopped. Because why? Because I was scared? Because I wanted him to still love me despite everything? Because the thought of being bound to someone who truly hated me was unbearable?
All of the above.
Because I need to know what I'm walking into, I finished weakly.
Rowan laughed. It wasn't a kind sound.
You're walking into a bond with a male who loves you and hates you in equal measure. A male who's spent seven years dreaming about you and wishing you were dead. A male who wants to protect you and destroy you simultaneously. He stepped closer. That's what you're walking into. That's who I am now. And you made me this way.
The words were brutal. True.
I'm sorry, I whispered.
I know. His expression softened slightly. But sorry doesn't fix this. Only the bond can do that. So we'll mark each other tonight. We'll feel everything. And then? He shrugged. Then we see if love can survive seven years of hate. Or if we destroy each other trying.
He left before I could respond.
I stood alone in the Council chamber, shaking.
In two hours, everything would change.
In two hours, I'd be marked. The bond would wake up. I'd feel everything Rowan felt.
All the love. All the hate. All the pain I'd caused.
And I had no idea if I was strong enough to survive it.
My phone buzzed. Elena: Last chance to run. Say the word and I'll have a car there in twenty minutes.
I stared at the message.
I could run. Could refuse the ceremony. Could let the sanctuary go and save myself.
But forty-three wolves would die. My staff would lose their jobs. Seven years of work would be destroyed.
And Rowan
Rowan would be rejected again. Broken again. Destroyed again.
By me. Again.
I couldn't do it.
I typed back: No running this time. I'm seeing this through.
Even if it killed me.
Even if the bond shattered what was left of my heart.
I'd chosen this. Agreed to this. Now I had to survive it.
I just hoped the female who walked out of tonight's ceremony would still be me.
And not just another piece of Rowan's revenge.