"Baby, you're going to be so busy with the royal delegates tonight, right?" Rosaline purred, her voice soft and sultry as she traced her fingers along Lucian's arm, caressing it with practiced seduction.
Lucian stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of his dark tailored suit. His icy eyes focused on his reflection. He had just finished getting dressed and was about to go meet his parents, a rare deviation from tradition. Usually, they would see each other during the ceremony, but tonight was different.
Tonight, he would be appointed as the next Alpha of the Mooncrest Pack, the most powerful and respected pack in the entire kingdom. Everything needed to be perfect.
Rosaline leaned into him, her body pressing lightly against his. But before she could continue her teasing touches, Lucian turned sharply toward her and grabbed her face in his hand, not gently, but instead of flinching, Rosaline smiled. She relished his roughness.
"Yes," he said curtly, his deep voice rumbling against her skin as he leaned down, brushing his lips against the curve of her neck. Her hands instinctively slid around his shoulders and into his hair, clinging to him with a hunger she no longer had to fake.
She tilted her head, giving him more access to her neck. "What do you think the royal delegates are really coming for?" she murmured, stroking his scalp. "Do you think… the king himself might be attending?"
The moment the word "king" left her lips, Lucian stilled.
Suddenly, his grip on her shifted, it was as if something deep inside him scorned that word, his hand tangled roughly in her hair, jerking her head back with force. Rosaline gasped in pain, her scalp stinging, but she didn't dare to pull away.
"Why the hell would you care if the king is coming?" Lucian growled, his silver eyes narrowing, blazing with menace. His voice was low and deadly, every syllable laced with threat.
Rosaline's throat dried instantly. She blinked fast and swallowed the lump of fear forming. "It's not like that, Lucian," she said quickly, choosing her words with painstaking care. "I was just curious… That's all. I mean, everyone's talking about the royal family. It's natural to wonder, right?"
Lucian's expression didn't soften. If anything, his grip tightened slightly. Her scalp burned, but she kept her face composed, letting no pain show.
"I am your royalty, Rosaline," he said, his voice cold and sharp as steel. "The only royalty that matters in this pack. When you're with me, you don't speak of other kings. You understand?"
He gave her hair another sharp tug for emphasis, making her wince again. But Rosaline swallowed the pain and forced a seductive smile to curl across her lips.
"I understand, my king," she whispered, pulling him closer by the collar and kissing him with fervor. She poured all her desperation into the kiss, trying to remind him that she was the only one worthy of standing beside him.
Lucian returned the kiss with bruising intensity, his fingers still tangled in her hair. When he finally pulled back, he held her gaze, his eyes fierce and unreadable.
"Tonight, when I feel the mate bond with you," he said, his voice a dark promise that wrapped around her spine like ice, "I'll make you mine. And after that, you won't just call me your king—I'll be the only name on your lips."
Normally, words like those would leave Rosaline breathless. She had worked for this moment for a year, manipulating, seducing, and doing everything in her power to ensure Lucian would choose her the moment the bond awakened. But something in his tone tonight… it wasn't possessive. It was threatening. It sent a chill down her back she couldn't shake.
Still, she kept her expression perfectly polished.
"Trust me," she said sweetly, her lips curling into a familiar, well-practiced smile. "I've been waiting for that moment longer than you can imagine."
She leaned in to kiss him again, but this time Lucian didn't let her. He pulled away with a flicker of annoyance in his eyes.
"We have to meet Mother and Father. I'm not about to be late," he said, and turned to leave the room without another glance.
Rosaline hesitated for a moment before rushing after him, her heels clicking against the polished floor as she followed him out.
They soon arrived at the estate, the grand Alpha mansion, a sprawling residence encircled by perfectly trimmed hedges and guarded by towering iron gates. The house itself was a testament to power and legacy, its façade a blend of elegance and intimidation.
This was the home of Dante Ashborne, Alpha of Mooncrest and Lucian's father. A man feared across every corner of the kingdom. No one, not even the most powerful alphas or elders, dared raise their voice in his presence.
No one, except the king himself.
Dante Ashborne was a name etched into the bones of every pack member across the kingdom. Known for his ruthless discipline and fearless authority, his presence alone was enough to silence a room. Many believed that if power alone decided who would rule, Dante wouldn't just be Alpha of Mooncrest, he would have been king.
But unfortunately for him, the throne's heir was Zevryn Aldebane, the most revered King the supernatural world had ever seen.
"Father, I'm here," Lucian said, his tone respectful and composed as he stepped into the grand sitting hall of the Alpha estate. His voice echoed faintly off the high ceilings and marble floors.
His eyes remained lowered, fixed respectfully on the intricate crimson-and-gold carpet beneath his polished boots. Behind him, two paces back, Rosaline followed in silence, her head bowed just as low. The air around them was thick with expectation.
Dante Ashborne sat beside his mate, Luna Lily Ashborne, both of them dressed in formal attire. As soon as Lucian entered, Dante rose to his feet, cutting straight to the point with his usual blunt authority.
"You will become the next Alpha of Mooncrest Pack, Lucian," he said without preamble, his gravel-toned voice steady and firm, devoid of any warmth.
As always, there was no greeting, no birthday wishes, no sentiment. Dante had no time for emotion. Only duty.
He stepped forward and continued in a stern, unwavering tone. "Carry out your role with absolute discipline. Lead with strength. And if the time ever comes where you must choose between your heart and this pack...." his eyes briefly flicked to Rosaline, sharp and cold, "....you choose the pack. Every single time. Understand?"