Zayne stopped outside his mother’s quarters and frowned.
He had barely returned from a meeting with several of the pack’s senior warriors when the message had reached him.
His mother wanted to speak with him privately.
That alone wasn’t unusual.
What was unusual was the tone.
“Zayne, I need you to come here right now.”
She hadn’t asked him to come when she was free.
She had specifically told him to come immediately.
Zayne knocked once before opening the door.
His mother stood near the window, her hands folded neatly in front of her.
“You wanted to see me, Mother?”
“Yes. Come in.”
Zayne stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
His mother turned toward him.
“You’ve been exceptionally busy lately.”
“I am the Alpha of the largest pack in the territory. Being busy comes with the position.”
“I know.”
She walked toward the seating area and gestured for him to sit.
Zayne remained standing.
“What is this about?”
His mother sighed.
“You’ve been an Alpha for some time now.”
“And?”
“And you’re twenty years old.”
“I am aware of my age, Mother.”
She gave him an unimpressed look.
“You’re also still unmarried.”
Zayne’s expression immediately changed.
“Mother, Don’t start. I already know where this conversation is going.”
“Then perhaps you should save us both some time and listen.”
Zayne folded his arms.
His mother continued.
“Blackthorn is the strongest pack beneath the Council. Every smaller pack looks to you for leadership. You attend council meetings, settle disputes, oversee warriors, manage alliances, and carry responsibilities that most Alphas twice your age struggle with.”
“I know.”
“You have everything a powerful Alpha should have.”
Zayne’s jaw tightened.
“Except a Luna.”
He said nothing.
His mother watched him carefully.
“You need someone beside you.”
“I’ll find my mate.”
“And if you don’t?”
“I will.”
“You don’t know that.”
Zayne finally sat down, though his expression remained guarded.
“I’ve waited this long. I can wait longer.”
His mother shook her head.
“Waiting isn’t always enough.”
“What exactly are you suggesting?”
She hesitated for a moment.
Then she said it.
“I want you to marry someone.”
Zayne stared at her.
“No!.”
“You haven’t even heard who.”
“I don’t need to.”
“Zayne”
“No.”
His mother frowned.
“Listen to me.”
“I am listening. I’m simply telling you my answer before you waste your time.”
“This isn’t about your feelings.”
“It is MY marriage.”
“It is about the pack.”
Zayne stood.
“And that is exactly why I’m refusing.”
His mother looked frustrated.
“The woman I have in mind comes from an influential family. She is educated, respected, well-mannered, and would make an excellent Luna.”
“I don’t know her.”
“You can get to know her.”
“I don’t want to marry someone I don’t love.”
His mother’s expression hardened.
“Love?”
“Yes.”
“Do you honestly believe leadership gives you the luxury of making every decision based on love?”
“No. But marriage is one of the few decisions that should belong to me.”
“Your responsibilities don’t disappear because you want a romantic life.”
“I never said they did.”
“Then act like an Alpha.”
Zayne’s eyes narrowed.
“I have spent my entire life acting like one.”
Silence filled the room.
His mother’s expression softened for only a moment.
“You’re my son. I want what is best for you.”
“Then let me find my mate.”
“And if she never comes?”
“She will.”
“You sound very certain.”
“I am.”
His mother looked away.
Zayne could see the disappointment on her face, but he couldn’t bring himself to change his answer.
He had spent years waiting. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
He had watched other wolves find their mates, build families, and create lives together.
He wanted that too not a political arrangement or a woman chosen because her family had influence.
His mate.
Someone whose presence felt right because the bond itself had chosen her.
“I won’t marry someone just because it makes Blackthorn stronger,” he said quietly.
His mother turned back to him.
“You may not have a choice.”
Zayne stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you need to start thinking beyond yourself.”
“I always think about the pack.”
“Then prove it.”
“I have Mother.”
His voice was firmer now.
“I’ve sacrificed my time. My freedom. My personal life. I’ve spent years doing exactly what everyone expected of me. I’ve accepted every responsibility placed on my shoulders.”
He took a breath.
“But I’m not going to sacrifice my mate too.”
His mother’s expression tightened.
“You’re being stubborn. Your father understood what leadership required.”
“My father also found his mate.”
The words silenced her.
Zayne turned toward the door.
“I won’t do this Mother.”
“Zayne.”
He stopped.
His mother spoke more quietly.
“Think about it.”
He looked over his shoulder.
“I already have.”
Then he walked out.
The door closed behind him.
Zayne stood in the corridor, his fists clenched.
He was angry not because his mother wanted him to have a Luna, He understood why she wanted one.
What infuriated him was that she was willing to turn something as personal as marriage into another political decision.
He needed air.
He needed space.
He needed to get away before he said something he would regret.
As he walked through the palace, he passed several pack members who greeted him.
Normally, he would stop.
Tonight, he barely acknowledged them.
When he reached the main entrance, he heard a familiar voice.
“Alpha?”
Zayne stopped.
Cassian was approaching from the opposite corridor.
His Beta studied him for a moment.
“Everything alright?”
“Not now, Cassian.”
Cassian raised an eyebrow.
That alone told him something was wrong.
Zayne rarely dismissed him so abruptly.
“That’s a first.”
Zayne gave him a warning look.
“Not now.”
Cassian’s expression became more serious.
“You’re coming from the Queen’s quarters.”
Zayne said nothing.
“And you’re angry.”
Still nothing.
Cassian slowly nodded.
“Ah.”
“Don’t.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“I was only going to ask-”
“I’m going for a run.”
Cassian watched him walk away.
“That’s probably a good idea.”
Zayne didn’t respond.
He stepped outside.
The moment he reached the edge of the palace grounds, he shifted.
His big black wolf emerged, large and powerful, his dark coat disappearing almost completely against the approaching night.
He didn’t wait.
He ran.
Fast.
The trees blurred around him as he pushed deeper into the forest.
He didn’t have a destination neither did he need one.
He simply needed to run.
Hours passed.
The anger slowly faded, replaced by exhaustion and the cool silence of the forest.
Eventually, Zayne slowed.His paws pressed into the damp earth as he came to a stop.
He lifted his head.
The forest was quiet, too quiet.He looked around.
“We’ve run too far.”
His wolf gave an irritated huff.
‘You were the one running.’
Zayne almost laughed.
“Fine. We should head back.”
He turned then stopped.
A scent drifted through the air. This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
Faint.
He sniffed again.
His wolf lifted his head.
‘Wait.’
Zayne became still.
“What?”
His wolf sniffed the air again.
‘I thought I smelled something.’
“Something?”
‘Nothing.’
Zayne frowned.
He took a few steps forward.
Then his wolf suddenly became alert.
His ears stood upright.
His body tensed.
‘There!’
Zayne stopped.
“What is it?”
His wolf didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he pulled toward the scent.
Zayne followed.
One step then another.
The scent became stronger.
Warm, Familiar, Impossible to explain.
His wolf’s excitement grew with every step.
‘Faster.’
Zayne moved through the trees carefully, following the scent without losing it.
“Easy.”
‘She’s close.’
Zayne’s heart began beating harder.
“Who?”
His wolf didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.
The scent was getting stronger.
Zayne pushed through another line of trees.
Then he saw it.
A small tent stood in a clearing.
Nothing extravagant.
Just a simple temporary shelter surrounded by trees.
But that wasn’t what caught his attention.
A few feet away from the tent stood a beautiful girl.
She was training alone.
She held a weapon in her hand and moved with focused precision, striking, stepping back, turning, and attacking again.
There was no opponent in front of her.
Every movement was deliberate.
Every strike carried determination.
She trained like someone preparing for something far more serious than an ordinary sparring session.
Zayne stood completely still.
His wolf went silent.
For several seconds, he simply watched her.
There was something about the way she moved.
The confidence, The discipline, The sheer determination and then he saw her face..
Beautiful.
Strikingly so.
Zayne forgot about the argument with his mother.
Forgot about the pack.
Forgot about everything.
His wolf stirred inside him.
Then came the word that changed everything.
‘Mate.’
Zayne’s breath caught.
“What?”
‘Mate.’
His wolf was certain.
Zayne stared at the girl again.
His mate.
After twenty years of waiting.
After all the arguments.
After all the pressure to choose someone else…
She was here.
Right in front of him.
And he hadn’t even known he was looking for her.
He took one step forward.
The girl stopped.
Zayne froze.
She slowly lowered her weapon.
He hadn’t realized she had noticed him.
Her eyes moved toward the trees.
Zayne blinked.
For a fraction of a second, he looked away.
When he looked back,
She was gone.
His eyes widened.
“What the heck?”
Something moved behind him.
Before he could turn, cold metal pressed against his throat.
Zayne froze.
A female voice came from directly behind him.
“Who are you?”