Chapter 3 The One I Left Behind

I couldn't move. Neither could he.

Garret stood across the hall, his eyes fixed on mine. My heart was still pounding from the moment our scents had collided, and my Lycan wouldn't settle - if anything, it grew more restless the longer I stood there.

*Go to him.*

I swallowed. Maybe I should. Maybe that was just what happened now - you found your mate, and you walked to him. So I took one step.

Garret's expression shifted. Hope, quick and unguarded, gone almost as soon as I saw it. He took a step toward me too. Then another. The crowd seemed to part between us without anyone asking them to. I couldn't hear the whispers anymore. I could only see him.

His scent grew stronger with every step. My chest felt strangely warm. He was almost there.

Then I saw my father.

He stood near the council doors, looking straight at me, and Luca's promise came rushing back. *I'll talk to Father.* I hesitated. Garret stopped where he was, his eyes searching my face. I looked from him to my father, who raised his hand slightly - waiting.

I made my choice. I turned away from Garret.

I didn't see his expression fall. I didn't see his hand curl slowly into a fist. I didn't see the hope drain out of his eyes. I only heard my Lycan whine as I walked toward my father instead.

---

"What happened?" I asked.

My father looked at me. "What do you mean?"

"Luca."

His expression hardened right away. "I already told you."

"I know what you told me."

"Then why are we having this conversation again?"

"Because I won't accept it."

His jaw tightened. "Evelyn."

"You can't expect me to stand there and take a crown that was supposed to be his."

"It was never supposed to be his."

"That isn't what you told him."

"I told him he was being prepared for leadership."

"Because you expected him to become King."

"I expected him to become whatever the kingdom needed."

"That isn't fair."

His eyes flashed. "Fair?" His voice dropped low. "Do you think ruling a kingdom is about what's fair?"

I fell silent. He stepped closer.

"You think because you love your brother, you can simply hand him the throne?"

"I think because I love him, I should."

"You don't understand what you're saying."

"I understand perfectly."

"No, you don't." His voice sharpened. "You've spent your entire life being prepared for this moment. You know the laws. You know our history. You know what happens when succession gets questioned."

"I also know Luca."

"And that's exactly why you're thinking with your heart instead of your head."

I crossed my arms. "Maybe my heart isn't wrong."

He just stared at me. For a moment, neither of us said anything. Then he sighed. "My decision is made."

"Then change it."

"No."

"Father-"

"No." His answer was final. "You are my heir."

"I don't want it."

"That doesn't matter."

"It matters to me."

"And one day you'll understand why it can't."

I shook my head. "You don't get to decide what I want."

"And you don't get to decide what an entire kingdom wants."

His words stung. I looked away. He kept going.

"You want to convince the council?"

"Yes."

"You want to convince the nobles?"

"Yes."

"You want to convince the warriors?"

"Yes."

He stepped aside. "Then do it." I looked at him. His expression had gone cold. "Convince every person who has a voice in this kingdom. Convince them that bloodline, tradition, and years of preparation mean nothing."

I clenched my hands. "And if I do?"

His eyes met mine. "My decision still won't change."

I stared at him. "Then what's the point?"

"You wanted to try." His voice softened just slightly. "So try."

I had nothing left to say. I turned and walked away, my mind already racing - the council, the nobles, the warriors. There had to be a way through this, and I would find it. I had to. I'd promised Luca. And I never broke promises to my family.

---

I stepped back into the great hall. The celebration was still going - music, laughter, everyone talking over everyone else - but I barely noticed any of it. I was already thinking about who to speak to first.

Then I felt it.

That scent. My body reacted before my mind caught up, and I stopped where I stood. Warm. Musky. Earthy. The same scent that had turned my entire world upside down minutes ago.

I looked up slowly. Garret.

He stood on the other side of the hall, and he wasn't smiling anymore. His eyes found mine immediately, and something in my chest twisted at what I saw there. Not anger. Not accusation. Hurt.

I remembered it all at once - him coming toward me, and me walking away.

His gaze dropped for a moment, then came back to mine. He didn't move. Neither did I. My Lycan pushed against my ribs. *Go to him.*

I couldn't. Not yet. I had just promised Luca I'd fight for his future.

But looking into Garret's eyes, I understood something I hadn't let myself see until now. I had already hurt my mate. And he didn't even know why.