Chapter 2

Regaleon’s POV

“Your Highness, the carriage is ready,” Ryss said, standing at attention by the massive doors of my private study.

“I’m not going to the gala, Ryss,” I said without looking up from the map spread across my desk. “You know I hate these foolish pack gatherings. It’s just a crowd of arrogant wolves showing off.”

“Normally, I would agree with you, Prince Regaleon,” Ryss said, stepping further into the room. “But the Pack Elder sent a formal invitation. If you don't show up for at least ten minutes, the council will complain that the royal family is ignoring the Luminescence district.”

I let out a sigh, tossing my pen onto the desk. “Fine. Ten minutes. Then we leave.”

I grabbed my royal cloak, throwing it over my shoulders as I strode down the stone hallway toward the courtyard. Ryss fell into step beside me, his eyes scanning our surroundings like always.

“Are you expecting trouble tonight, my Prince?” Ryss asked as we climbed into the sleek black carriage.

“No,” I replied, staring out the glass window as the carriage began to move through the cobblestone streets. “I’m just tired. Every female in that ballroom is going to throw themselves at me tonight. They wear loud perfumes, fake smiles, and flaunt their curves just to catch a royal title.”

“Can you blame them?” Ryss chuckled slightly. “You are the Wolf Prince. Every she-wolf wants to be your Queen.”

“I don't want any of them,” I said plainly. “None of them are real. None of them have any substance.”

My mind drifted away from the gala and went straight to the quietest corner of the High Archives.

I thought about the willowy girl who sat by the arched window every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

She never wore makeup or flashy dresses. She wore oversized sweaters that hid her frame, but she moved with an elegance that stole my breath every time I saw her. Her long legs, narrow waist, and soft dark hair falling over her shoulders while she lost herself in old history books—she was the most captivating creature I had ever seen.

“You’re thinking about her again, aren't you?” Ryss asked softly, cutting through my thoughts.

I looked over at my Beta. “I don't know her name, Ryss.”

“You’ve been watching her from the palace balcony for six months,” Ryss reminded me with a knowing smile. “You know her schedule better than your own security detail. If you like her so much, why haven't you walked up to her and spoken to her?”

“Because she’s shy,” I said, looking back out the window as the bright lights of the Grand Lyceum ballroom came into view. “She hides in the shadows like she thinks she doesn't belong in this world. If I barge into her life with my full Alpha status and royal guard, I’ll terrify her. I want her to see me, not just my crown.”

“Well, you might get your chance tonight,” Ryss said as the carriage pulled up to the front entrance of the ballroom. “The entire district was invited to this prom. Even the quiet ones.”

My heart gave a sudden, unexpected thud against my ribs.

Could she actually be inside?

I stepped out of the carriage, my boots hitting the ground. The cool air rushed into my lungs, carrying the smell of crushed pine, roasted meats, and thick perfumes from the ballroom.

I took a deep breath, scanning the scents floating on the breeze.

And then I caught it.

Underneath all the cheap perfumes and food, a soft, delicate scent hit my nose. It smelled like rain, fresh earth, and sweet wild berries.

My inner wolf, who had been sleeping soundly in my chest, suddenly sat up and let out a low, rumbling growl of recognition.

SHE IS HERE.

My eyes widened. My pulse spiked into overdrive.

“My Prince?” Ryss asked, instantly noticing the change in my posture. “What is it?”

“She’s inside,” I whispered.

“The girl from the archives?” Ryss gasped, looking toward the wide-open double doors of the ballroom. “Are you sure?”

“I’d recognize her scent anywhere in this world,” I said, my strides already carrying me toward the entrance.

I didn't care about the Pack Elder. I didn't care about the gala or the council. My entire world had just narrowed down to the female waiting inside that room.

I pushed through the massive double doors and stepped into the blinding light of the ballroom.

The moment I crossed the threshold, my Alpha aura exploded outward in a wave. The booming music stopped instantly. The loud chatter died into silence. All the wolves in the room dropped to their knees, bowing their heads in fear and respect.

“Your Highness!” the Pack Elder squeaked, rushing toward me with his head low. “We are honored by your presence!”

I ignored him completely. My gaze swept slowly over the crowd of bowed heads, searching for one specific frame.

I saw the short, curvy she-wolves in bright dresses pushing themselves forward. I saw males whispering nervously. But none of them mattered.

Then my eyes locked onto the far corner of the room, right next to a cold stone pillar.

There she was.

She was wearing a simple violet dress that fell straight down her willowy body. Her shoulders were pulled inward, trying so hard to make herself look small, yet her height made her stand out like a solitary jewel in a sea of stone. She looked terrified, her dark eyes wide as she pressed her back against the wall.

My wolf roared inside my mind, clawing at my chest to reach her.

MATE! MATE! MATE!

The bond snapped into place like an electric bolt, slamming straight into my soul.

She wasn't just a girl I had been watching from afar. She was my fated mate. The Moon Goddess had crafted this long-limbed, breathtaking female specifically for me.

“Ryss,” I said, my voice dangerously low as I started walking straight toward her.

“Yes, my Prince?” Ryss whispered, following half a step behind me.

“Look at the group near the punch bowl,” I commanded softly, keeping my eyes locked on my mate. “They are laughing. Three females and a male. Who are they?”

Ryss quickly scanned the group. “The blonde in red is Alyssa. Beside her are Delilah and Sienna. The male is Garrick, a junior guard.”

“Why are they looking at her like that?” I growled, my hands clenching into tight fists at my sides.

“I… I don't know, Your Highness,” Ryss said, his tone turning serious. “It looks like they were mocking her right before we walked in. She has tears in her eyes.”

Tears.

The word hit me like a blow. Someone in this room had made my Queen cry.

My vision tinged dark red. The temperature in the ballroom dropped several degrees as my protective Alpha instincts flared into full rage.

The crowd parted frantically in front of me, wolves throwing themselves out of my path as I cut straight through the hall. Alyssa took a step forward with a hopeful smile, but I walked past her as if she didn't exist.

I stopped directly in front of the slender girl by the pillar.

Up close, she was even more magnificent. Her height brought her eyes right up near mine, and her delicate frame made my chest ache with the desperate need to wrap my arms around her and shield her from the entire world.

She looked up at me, trembling like a leaf in a storm, completely unaware that she had just conquered the heart of the most powerful wolf in the kingdom.

“I’ve found you,” I whispered.