Logan
The whole pack mansion was a disaster.
Warriors were running everywhere, shouting orders, checking every corner, searching for the witch who tried to kill me. Doors slammed. Boots hit the floors. Wolves growled under their breaths.
But me?
I was pacing around my room like a wounded animal.
Honestly, that's exactly how I felt — hunted, tired, angry, and barely holding myself together.
"Calm down," Spike said from my bed, watching me like I was an overactive child. Spike is my beta, my best friend, the only person who still talks to me like I'm a normal man and not a king with a death target on his back. "They'll catch her. She has nowhere to hide. The whole place is locked down."
I scoffed and spun around to face him. "Are you sure? Because I'm not sharing that confidence. I don't know if you noticed, but she's a witch, Spike. She could literally disappear into thin air!"
He sighed. "Logan, just calm—"
A knock interrupted him.
I snapped, "Come in," glaring at the door.
One of my generals rushed in and bowed his head so fast I thought his neck would crack.
"What is it? Did you find her?" I asked, desperate for good news.
"I'm sorry, Alpha," he said. "We're still searching."
I rolled my eyes. "Then why are you here?"
He swallowed. "I came to inform you that… the guests are arriving for the party."
Shit.
I completely forgot tonight was my engagement party.
I waved him closer. "Come here."
He hurried forward.
I lowered my voice. "Who else knows about the witch?"
"Just some of the warriors…" he whispered, "and your fiancée."
"What?!" My voice cracks. "Clara already knows? How did she—no, don't answer that. This is exactly why I told you guys to be careful."
"I'm sorry." He bent his head like he was waiting for lightning to strike.
I rubbed my forehead. "This is getting out of hand. Listen — find the witch BEFORE the party starts. And do it fast. Quietly. I don't want panic. I don't want rumors. I don't want people pointing fingers."
He nodded quickly and rushed out.
Spike let out a breath. "Take it easy on him, man. They're trying."
"I know," I said, dropping onto the edge of my bed. My shoulders felt heavy. "I'm just… not okay right now, Spike. This is the sixth time someone has tried to kill me in two months. Six. I'm running out of patience and sanity."
"I get it," Spike said gently. "I really do. But you need to hold it together. Tonight is your engagement. Keep your head straight."
I groaned. "I don't want to go through with it."
He crossed his arms. "You don't have a choice. This is the only way to save your life. And I don't understand why you're so against this. Clara loves you."
"But I don't love her the same way," I said, looking up at him. "She's like a sister to me, Spike. That's it."
"Then you'll learn to love her," he replied. "Remember what the high priest said — only true love can save you. Maybe you don't love Clara, but she loves you, and maybe that's enough."
"Enough for who?" I murmured. "Everyone but me?"
I shook my head. "I don't know, Spike. Something feels wrong. I wish Erica was alive."
Spike's face loses its hardness. "Erica's been gone a hundred years—a full century, Logan." I know the wound never closed. I know losing your mate nearly destroyed you. But you can't keep living in the ashes. We're running out of time. Your life, the pack, all of it is hanging by a thread. And the prophecy is clear—you must marry for love. And Clara loves you."
He pushed himself off the bed. "Now go take your bath and get ready. This engagement has to happen."
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, waving him away like a child told to clean his room.
He sighed, opened the door, and left me alone.
Silence fell over the room.
I stared at the floor.
Everything felt wrong.
Never in my life did I think I would have to marry someone I didn't love. After Erica died, I knew I had only one true mate in this world.
The Moon Goddess didn't give me a second chance.
She didn't even try.
A soft knock pulled me out of my thoughts.
Great. Another person.
"Come in," I said tiredly.
A maid slipped inside, head bowed. "My king… the water is ready for your bath."
I nodded. "Thank you."
She bowed again and left.
I leaned back and closed my eyes for a moment, wishing just one day could pass without someone trying to kill me…
or trying to marry me.
The royal bath was quiet when I entered, usually the place hummed with servants running around, steam floating like clouds, herbs burning in bowls. But tonight I sent everyone away.
"I want to be alone," I told them.
They bowed and left.
Good.
I needed silence. My head was a storm.
A witch tried to kill me again.
My engagement party was starting soon.
My life was a mess.
I stepped into the bath hall — a huge stone room built centuries ago. Torches lit the walls. Steam curled through the air. And in the center, the bath sat like a small lake. Wide. Deep. Hot. Quiet.
A place meant for kings.
I walked into the water, letting it swallow me slowly.
Heat wrapped around my skin, calming my nerves.
Finally. A moment of peace.
I leaned back, closing my eyes.
And that's when I heard it.
Bubbling.
Not normal water bubbling.
This was… angry. Loud. Wild.
The water didn't get hotter — it started boiling like something was trying to break out from under me.
"What now…" I muttered, sitting up.
A smell rose from the water.
A scent so strong my breath caught in my throat.
Sweet. Warm. Soft.
Like fresh rain and warm skin and something… extraordinary.
My wolf, Jack, snapped awake instantly.
Mate.
My heart slammed painfully against my chest.
"No," I whispered. "That's impossible."
The smell grew stronger, swirling around me.
My body reacted before my mind. My pulse raced. My skin burned.
Jack growled inside me, excited.
Find her. She is close.
"Where?!" I said under my breath. "Where is this coming from?!"
The water shook again.
And then —
a woman exploded out of the bath.
She gasped, thrashing against the water, her soaked red hair plastered to her face. Her thin nightgown clung to her skin as she twisted around in pure panic.
"What—where—WHAT IS THIS?!" she shouted.
I froze.
My mind went blank.
She was… beautiful.
Too beautiful.
The kind of beautiful that made my chest hurt.
Jack whimpered with joy.
Mate. Ours.
The woman turned — and her hazel eyes hit mine.
She screamed.
I almost did too.
"What are YOU doing here?!" she yelled.
"THIS IS MY BATH!" I snapped back.
She looked me up and down — and her expression flipped into pure disgust.
"Oh great. A naked creep. Of course."
"Creep?!" I choked. "You came out of my water!"
"I was just staring into a mirror a moment ago and then everything exploded into… whatever THIS is!" she yelped, frantically scanning the room. "And now I'm here—WITH YOU—completely NAKED—why in the hell are YOU naked?!"
"It's a bath!" I shouted.
"Well COVER your… everything!"
She slapped a hand over her eyes.
I stared at her, confused, frustrated, and hopelessly drawn to her scent.
"Who are you?" I demanded. "Who sent you? How did you get into my bath?"
She glared at me like I was insane. "I SHOULD be asking that! Where the hell am I?! Where's my grandma?! And WHAT PART OF THE VILLA IS THIS?!"
Villa…?
What villa?
What grandma?
"What are you talking about?" I snapped, confused. "Is this a trick? A spell? Did the witches send you?"
She squinted her eyes at me like I was a talking potato. "What? Are you okay? Are you on drugs? Why are you showering in my grandma's plumbing system?!"
I blinked. "Your… what?"
She pointed at me — at my face, actually — and kept shouting.
"And don't think because your face looks like it was carved by God on a Sunday and your abs are perfect that I'm gonna faint or swoon or something! YOU MET THE WRONG GIRL. NO MAN — I REPEAT — NO MAN CAN SEDUCE ME."
My jaw dropped.
"What is wrong with you?" I muttered. "Do you not understand who I am?"
"No," she shot back.
I froze, my eyes catching on something on her chest—a small birthmark.
A crescent moon.
My blood ran cold.
The mark.
The one the high priest described.
The mark of the mate who could break the curse on my life.
"Are you seriously staring at my boobs right now? Oh my god—"
"I WAS NOT—"
"If you stare again, I will KILL YOU."
"You…" I whispered. "How did you get that mark?"
She slapped me.
Hard.
Right across the face.
My head snapped sideways.
"Did you just—" I choked, "SLAP ME?!
"Yes," she said. "And I'll do it again."
I stared at her, shocked. No one slapped me. Ever.
"I can have your head for this! I am your king!"
She laughed in my face.
Actually laughed.
"King? Sure. And I'm Beyoncé."
"Who the hell is Beyoncé?!"
"Someone more important than you!" she yelled back.
I stared, speechless. Completely speechless.
She kept talking. Loudly.
"I'll report you to my grandma. I know you're some worker who broke into her villa bathroom—"
"What villa?!" I yelled.
"MY GRANDMA'S VILLA!" she fired back, pointing at me like I was a stray dog.
"Now MOVE. I'm serious. I have a black belt, and I'm not scared to use it. One wrong move and I will send your royal nuts on a vacation!"
Jack whispered in awe.
Mate is… crazy.
"Yes," I whispered back. "Beautifully crazy."
"What?!" she snapped.
Before she could throw another slap, punch, kick, or insult,
I moved behind her in a flash and tapped the nerve at her neck.
She collapsed instantly.
I caught her before she hit the water, pulling her into my arms.
Her scent hit me again, fierce and overwhelming.
Great Mother of the Moon… my mate was human.
For a long second… I just held her there.
Dripping. Warm. Soft.
Truthfully, I was lost.
After a century, the Moon gives me a second mate—and she's human? Would my parents accept her? Would the elders… the pack?
Her scent wrapping around me like it had been made just for me.
My wolf howled inside me, shaking with excitement.
But I didn't move.
Because everything in my life… every curse, every prophecy, every loss…
suddenly felt different with her in my arms.
I lifted her slowly, water sliding off her skin.
Her face was peaceful now.
Too peaceful for the chaos she caused two minutes ago.
My mate.
I couldn't believe it.
I didn't know what to do with it.
I—
BANG!
The bathroom doors flew open so hard the walls rattled.
Two of my warriors stood there, panting, eyes scanning the room—until they landed on her.
And then their faces drained of all color.
"Alpha…" one whispered, hand trembling as he pointed at her.
"You found her."
"The witch," the other breathed, taking a step back.
I clenched my jaw. Hard.
"No," I said sharply. "She's not—"
But before I could finish, the girl in my arms jerked.
A sharp gasp ripped from her throat.
Her fingers curled against my chest.
Then her eyes snapped open.
Silver.
Bright.
Otherworldly.
Not human.
Both warriors stumbled backward in terror.
"Alpha…" one whispered, voice shaking.
"What… is she?"
I stared into those glowing eyes.
I didn't have a damn answer.
Not one.
But I knew one thing for sure:
Whatever she was…
she was mine.