Chapter 3

Aubrey’s POV Without a doubt, I had joined Knox's pack, waiting for his arrival so I could become his personal bodyguard. They had been recruiting rogues—wolves without a pack—to bolster their ranks as warriors. I knew why: they were planning to attack other packs. That was exactly why I was here—to be Jax's spy. Today, I would finally meet Knox. A scent hit me—cedar and storm rain—so powerful it stopped me mid-stride. It crashed into my senses, making my knees weak. Aria immediately went wild beneath my skin, clawing and howling in recognition. No! I already felt the word forming on Aria's tongue, the revelation I'd been dreading, when a deep baritone voice behind me spoke it into existence. "Mate." The word slid down my spine like a physical touch, sending shivers through my entire body. I spun around, and rage flooded my veins like liquid fire as recognition hit. The memories of our first meeting crashed over me, as sharp and crystal-clear as if that night were happening all over again. ****Two Years Ago - The Royal Masquerade Ball******** Rainbow shadows from crystal chandeliers danced across my silk green gown—Jax's gift for tonight. He had instructed me to attend under a different name, and as always, I didn't question why. My savior deserved my unquestioning obedience. I weaved through the crowd of masked nobles, touching the delicate silver mask covering the upper half of my face to make sure it stayed in place. This might have been my first grand ball, but I couldn't let excitement make me careless. Jax's warning echoed in my mind—no one could recognize me. I had just taken a flute of champagne from a passing tray when a scent hit me so powerfully that I choked on my drink. It drew me like a moth to flame, making me forget the burn in my throat, ignoring the coughing fit, everything but that intoxicating pull. Our eyes locked across the ballroom, and Aria's word made everything fall into place: "Mate." He moved toward me with the fluid grace of high werewolf status—I believed royal. His black and gold mask made his green eyes seem almost luminous against the candlelight. My heart thundered as he bowed, extending his hand. "My lady," he said, his voice rich as aged wine. "May I have this dance?" The request caught me off guard, and I needed a moment to collect myself before nodding. I had expected him to ask my name, acknowledging our mate bond, but perhaps that conversation would come during our dance. His warm hand slid across my waist, pulling me close enough to feel his heat. Aria howled in delight at our proximity to our mate. He guided me through the waltz with practiced ease, asking questions about my supposed noble house—the one Jax had crafted for tonight. My heart swelled with joy that my mate wanted to know me, even this false version. Soon, I told myself, I would share the truth. "Tell me of House Blackwood's summer estate," he murmured, twirling me beneath the sparkling chandeliers. "I hear the gardens are quite spectacular in bloom." My heart stuttered—this wasn't in my prepared responses. "Oh yes, particularly the rose gardens—" "Curious." His fingers tightened on my waist, just shy of painful. "House Blackwood is famous for their lily fields. Not a single rose grows on their lands." The music continued, but the air grew thick with tension. His smile remained perfect, practiced, but something deadly now lurked in those green eyes. Other couples slowly stopped dancing, wolves sensing the shift in the atmosphere. "You dance beautifully for a noblewoman," he said, his voice carrying in the growing silence. His thumb brushed over my palm, finding the calluses I had failed to hide. "Tell me, Lady Vivian, do all members of House Blackwood have hands roughened by blade work? Or is that particular to impostors?" The last word echoed through the ballroom. Whispers rippled through the crowd like wind through grass. My mouth went dry as masked faces turned toward us, jewels glinting like predatory eyes in the candlelight. "Your Grace," I started, but he cut me off with a laugh that froze my blood. "Guards," he called out, still holding me in that mockery of a dance pose, his grip now a steel trap. "It seems we have an uninvited guest in our midst. One who thought she could fool the crown with pretty lies and a borrowed dress." ****Present Day******** "Why?" I spat the word at him, my hands clenched so tightly that my nails bit into my palms. For two years, I'd carried the humiliation of that night, never knowing my tormentor was the Crown Prince himself. Now, here he stood—Prince Knox, the very man I was meant to guard. The bitter irony tasted like ash in my mouth. "You could have had me arrested quietly. Instead, you chose to humiliate me in front of the entire court." "And why the hell would I do that?" His green eyes flashed with barely contained fury, reminding me of storm clouds before lightning strikes. "You were an impostor trying to infiltrate my court. Should I have quietly escorted you out, allowing others to think they could attempt the same without consequences?" "You didn't have to—" "Didn't have to what?" He stepped closer, his presence flooding my senses, cedar and storm rain threatening to overwhelm me. "Didn't have to protect my people? My crown? Do you have any idea how many assassins and spies try to worm their way into these halls using pretty faces and forged papers?" The worst part was seeing the genuine conviction burning in his eyes—the unwavering belief that he had done the right thing and my public shame had served some greater purpose beyond his own pride. "I am the Crown Prince," he continued, his voice low but intense enough to make my wolf want to bare her throat. "Every decision I make sets a precedent. If word had spread that I'd shown mercy to an impostor..." He shook his head. "I couldn't risk appearing weak. Not even for my—" He caught himself, but we both heard the unspoken word hanging between us like a drawn blade. Mate. I scoffed, trying to mask how his words pierced my heart. "Of course, the perfect crown prince would hide behind duty." Venom dripped from every syllable as I tried to wound him, even just a little. "You probably took pleasure in the humiliation." "I have already explained myself." "Yeah, right," I said, rolling my eyes at him. Before I could blink, his hand closed around my arm, pulling me flush against his chest. Even with anger radiating off him in waves, my traitorous body melted into his, the mate bond snapping into place like a lock finding its key. "Did you just roll your eyes at me? The crown prince?" he barked, his fury a tangible thing between us. I squared my shoulders and met his blazing gaze. "I did, Crown Prince Knox. What are you going to do about it?" Prince Knox's lips parted with what I was sure would be a scathing reply, but another voice cut through our tension like a blade. "You have a mate?" The king's voice made us both freeze. I turned to find King Alexander and Queen Grace staring at us, shock evident on their faces. "Why didn't you mention her before?" the king demanded of Knox. "If you heard our conversation, then you know the answer to that," Prince Knox replied, his jaw tight. "Even though she must have had her reasons," Queen Grace said with maternal concern, "you should apologize for what you did that day and listen to what she has to say." Before Knox could respond to his mother, I cut in, "There won't be any need for that, Your Majesty. I would never accept a mate who would humiliate me in front of the entire court." "As I would never accept a mate who tried to infiltrate my court through deception, regardless of her reasons," Prince Knox fired back. The king and queen gasped at our mutual rejection—a sound that would almost have been comical if it weren't for the gravity of the moment. After all, rejecting the mate bond was nearly unheard of in our world, let alone between a crown prince and his personal guard.