Chapter 3 The Mate She Refused

The first scream came just before sunrise.

Aurelia woke instantly.

Her eyes opened in the darkness, her wolf already alert beneath her skin.

Another scream followed.

This time, closer.

Aurelia threw the blanket aside and reached for the dagger beneath her pillow.

Someone was running through the corridor.

Then came the sound of metal striking stone.

She opened her bedroom door.

Two guards rushed past.

"Your Majesty!"

Aurelia stepped into the corridor.

"What happened?"

"The east wing."

Her expression changed.

"Kael?"

The guard nodded.

"We don't know if he's alive."

Aurelia was already moving.

She didn't wait for an escort.

Her footsteps echoed through the palace as she headed toward the east wing. Guards followed behind her, struggling to keep up.

When she reached Kael's room, the door was hanging open.

Two guards were lying unconscious outside.

Aurelia's eyes narrowed.

"Who did this?"

No one answered.

She entered.

The room was a disaster.

The table had been overturned.

The curtains were torn.

One window was shattered.

Kael was nowhere in sight.

Aurelia's wolf snarled.

Mate.

She ignored it.

"Search the room."

The guards immediately scattered.

Aurelia walked toward the broken window.

There were footprints on the floor.

One set belonged to Kael.

The other belonged to someone else.

Someone had entered his room from outside.

Someone had attacked her guards.

Someone had tried to take her prisoner.

Aurelia's expression became deadly.

"Lock down the palace."

The commander bowed.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"No one leaves."

"Yes."

"And find Kael."

A guard hesitated.

"What if he's the one who attacked the palace?"

Aurelia turned.

Her golden eyes flashed.

"Did I ask what you think?"

The guard immediately lowered his head.

"No, Your Majesty."

"Then find him."

The palace doors were sealed.

Every entrance was guarded.

Every corridor was searched.

But Kael was gone.

For nearly an hour, there was no sign of him.

Then Aurelia heard a voice behind her.

"My Queen."

She turned.

A young guard stood at the end of the corridor.

"We found blood."

"Where?"

"The old training grounds."

Aurelia followed him immediately.

The training grounds were located behind the eastern wall, surrounded by tall trees.

The grass was wet with morning dew.

A trail of blood led from the forest toward the abandoned training hall.

Aurelia crouched.

She touched the blood.

Fresh.

Her wolf reacted immediately.

His.

Aurelia's stomach tightened.

"Spread out."

The guards surrounded the building.

Aurelia pushed the doors open.

Inside, the air smelled of blood.

Kael stood in the center of the room.

His shirt was torn.

Blood covered his shoulder.

His silver eyes were glowing.

And someone was lying unconscious at his feet.

Aurelia raised her dagger.

"Kael."

He looked at her.

"You came."

"Drop your weapon."

Kael looked down.

He was holding a short blade.

"This isn't mine."

"I said drop it."

He threw it onto the floor.

Aurelia stepped closer.

"What happened?"

Kael glanced at the unconscious man.

"He came for me."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"You expect me to believe that?"

Kael laughed bitterly.

"Believe whatever you want."

Aurelia walked toward the unconscious man.

She recognized him immediately.

One of her palace guards.

Her eyes hardened.

"You attacked my guard?"

"No."

"Then why is he bleeding?"

"He attacked me."

Aurelia looked at Kael's shoulder.

The wound was deep.

"You could have killed him."

"I could have."

"But you didn't."

Kael looked at her.

"I didn't come here to kill anyone."

Aurelia studied him.

Something about the situation wasn't right.

She turned to the guards.

"Take him to the infirmary."

Two guards moved toward Kael.

He stepped back.

"I don't need help."

Aurelia's eyes narrowed.

"That's not your decision."

"I can heal myself."

"You're bleeding."

"I've had worse."

Aurelia stepped directly in front of him.

"You're coming with me."

Kael stared at her.

"No."

The guards froze.

Aurelia slowly tilted her head.

"What did you say?"

"I said no."

"You are becoming very comfortable forgetting your position."

"And you're becoming very comfortable giving orders."

Aurelia stepped closer.

"Get on your knees."

Kael's eyes flashed.

His wolf resisted her command.

His body shook.

But he refused to kneel.

Aurelia watched him struggle.

Then she whispered:

"Interesting."

Kael breathed heavily.

"You enjoy this, don't you?"

"Enjoy what?"

"Having power over people."

Aurelia smiled.

"Power isn't something I enjoy."

She leaned closer.

"It is something I earned."

Kael stared at her.

For a moment, neither moved.

Then Aurelia noticed something.

Blood was dripping from Kael's hand.

Not his blood.

The blood belonged to the attacker.

Aurelia looked toward the unconscious guard.

"Take him to the dungeons."

The guards obeyed.

Kael watched them leave.

"You're not going to question him?"

"I will."

"Then why are you letting me go?"

Aurelia looked at him.

"Because I haven't decided whether you're part of this."

Kael's expression hardened.

"I told you I wasn't."

"I heard you."

"And?"

"I don't trust you."

Kael laughed.

"Good."

Aurelia frowned.

"Good?"

"I don't trust you either."

For some reason, his answer made her smile.

"You're learning."

She turned away.

"Come."

Kael didn't move.

Aurelia looked back.

"I won't repeat myself."

He sighed.

Then followed her.

They walked through the palace corridors in silence.

But neither noticed the figure watching them from the balcony above.

A hood covered the stranger's face.

Their eyes followed Kael.

Then Aurelia.

A whisper escaped beneath the hood.

"So the prophecy was true."

The stranger disappeared into the shadows.

Hours later, Kael sat inside the infirmary while a healer wrapped his shoulder.

Aurelia stood near the window.

She had refused to leave.

"You're staring," Kael said.

"I am observing."

"Same thing."

Aurelia ignored him.

"Who taught you to fight?"

"My father."

"Your father trained you himself?"

"Yes."

"How long?"

"Since I was six."

Aurelia's eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

Kael looked away.

"He said I needed to survive."

"From what?"

Kael didn't answer.

Aurelia stepped closer.

"From whom?"

"My father never explained."

She studied his face.

"You're hiding something."

"So are you."

Aurelia's patience was beginning to disappear.

She reached for his wrist.

The instant she touched him, the mate bond surged again.

Both of them froze.

Kael's breathing changed.

Aurelia quickly released him.

Neither spoke.

Then Kael whispered:

"You felt that."

Aurelia looked away.

"No."

"You're lying."

She turned sharply.

"You will never question me about this again."

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

Kael stood.

"And if I do?"

Aurelia stepped toward him.

"Then you'll learn exactly what happens when you disobey your Queen."

Kael held her gaze.

There was anger between them.

But beneath it was something neither wanted to acknowledge.

Something stronger.

Something dangerous.

The mate bond.

Aurelia turned toward the door.

"Rest."

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"Is that an order?"

"Yes."

She walked out.

The door closed.

Kael sat back down.

His fingers touched the pendant around his neck.

The ancient symbol was glowing again.

But this time, a second symbol had appeared.

A black crown.

Kael's face went pale.

His wolf whispered:

She doesn't know who you are.

Kael stared at the symbol.

"No."

His voice was barely audible.

"And she must never find out."

Outside the infirmary, Aurelia stopped walking.

Her hand pressed against her chest.

Her wolf whispered the same word again.

Mate.

Aurelia closed her eyes.

"I will never accept him."

But somewhere deep inside her, she already knew the truth.

The bond was growing.

And the more she fought it...

The stronger it became.