AN'

ere laser sharp and I'd always won every practice round. But toda

e to land a blow on my arm, a feat that wo

yes widening in sur

ore he could launch into apologies.

ow furrowed in concern. "Are you cert

ated, my voice

rned to leave, leaving me al

clothes. My reflection in the mirror showed a man sculpted for power - broad shoulders,

efore your 30th moonrise. For if you remain unmat

adline, the curse that threatened not just m

s 29, only a year left unt

of finding a mate. Every interaction, every inspection, were

t me, finding my mate

door startled me from my th

entered. Her eyes widened at the sight of my bare chest, I cou

arely a whisper. "Your Majesty, I was instr

her a c

onight, Your Majesty?" she ask

None of it mattered. Tonight was about finding a solution, not

," I instructed, my

y by it with forced smile. "Of course, Your Majes

s her. Omegas – weak, powerless, forever on the fringes of pack hie

ningless right now. It wouldn't solve my prob

irmly. Without another word,

inning room to join my parents. The aroma of roasted boar a

assorted meals. My parents, King Edmund and Queen Daisy, sat at the

r said, her voice laced with rel

t a chair a

laced with worry. "You look troub

t a long day, Mother.

"Is everything alright f

ng is in order, Father. I am prep

ising prospect. We've heard good things about his pack,

osing my words carefully, "but what if I'm not com

ity and true love is important, of cou

out the perfect mate. It wasn't just any mate I needed; it had t

r options solely to Derek's pack. There are ot

g packs for a year now. Every promising lead has come to nothing.

's all I had left before the curse

er," I replied, my

alone. Discussing the details, the possibi

to Alpha Derek's pack. As I arrived, the welcomi

n his face. His eyes, however, held something akin to nervousn

extending a hand in greeting. "We are honored by your

e polite but firm. "Thank you for your hospitality. I t

sured me, his smile disappearing for a second. "

ces were mixed with curiosity and trepidation. I nodded, engaging i

he one who held the title of De

r mate isn't present

a grimace. He hesitated for a moment, his eye

w where she

liar. The nervous glances exchanged amon

s power structure. Her absence, espe

ence of your mate during an official inspection is. u

o speak, but no sound ca

oubling you regarding your mate's absence? If there's been an incident, a threat,

ore, then leaned in. "It's Serena. My mate. My

d her then