CHAPTER 3

The moment they told Zayne they’d found her, his heart exploded with something close to hope and something far too dangerous to name. The girl bearing his mark. The one he’d bitten in the forest. The one whose scent still haunted his every breath. He had finally found her. Thank the moon goddess. He rushed to the meeting hall where the guards had said she was. He was so excited that he could feel his pulse loud in his ears. He was barely able to breathe through the anticipation. But when the doors opened and he saw the woman inside— He stopped dead. “…Leah?” he asked. Leah Westbank. She was the daughter of Alpha Garrett Westbank. Their families were allies. They’d grown up side by side, trained together, hunted together. She had always been around—always been there. They had been friends since childhood. They were quite close. And yet… never once had he looked at her and felt this. He never had any form of attraction to her, talk more of feelings. Looking at her, what he felt now was… nothing. This wasn’t what he felt with the girl in the woods that night. There was no rush. No fire. His wolf stirred but not in hunger. Not in yearning. He was quiet. Watchful. Cautious. She stood. She looked a little too poised. Her blonde hair fell in perfect waves. Her clothes were luxurious as always. The red dress she wore hugged her clothes in all the right places. Her lips curled into a small, victorious smile. “Zayne,” she breathed, walking toward him. “I always know we are meant to be together... The mark; It’s yours.” He stared at the side of her neck. The skin there shimmered faintly. It was his mark. Undeniably his. A perfect imprint. It stared back at him. “This doesn’t make sense,” he muttered, stepping closer. “It does,” Leah said softly. “It only feels… distant because the ritual wasn’t finished. You bit me, but you didn’t give me your blood. We can fix that. Just… complete it now.” He backed away a step. His wolf was silent. There were no feelings of claws. No growl. No urge to touch her. Just… silence. Leah’s smile widened “You don’t feel it?” He didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. Meanwhile, Eva was dropped by her father's men at the gated entrance to Rivers Pack. She considered running away for about one second when a wild howling arises from not far. Good. That's werewolf for sure. She didn't sulk long as a stunning girl shows up to pick her up. "Eva DeRyiles? We've been expecting you! I'm Zoe, Zayne's sister." She hugged her like an old friend. Eva was a bit startled but she didn't dislike it. She couldn't remember when was the last time being squeezed affectionately. Eva followed her lead. Zoe was practically bouncing as she walked alongside Eva through the heart of the Rivers Pack territory. Her arm looped through Eva’s as though they were already fast friends. “You’re going to love it here, I swear,” Zoe said brightly. “We’re not like other packs. We’ve got rules, yes, and protocol, but Zayne’s made this place feel like home. Safer. More equal.” Eva managed a small nod. Everything felt strange. There was too much stone, too many tall warriors walking by and giving her unreadable looks. She was used to hiding in corners, not being paraded through halls like some honored guest. “This is the west courtyard,” Zoe continued, gesturing toward a space lined with bushes and trees. “We hold festivals here when the moons align. You should see the lights at night. I can’t wait for you to see them.” Eva looked around. It was peaceful. Zoe didn’t seem to notice her quiet hesitation. “And that’s the training arena,” she pointed next. “Zayne trains with the warriors there every morning. He says no Alpha should lead without bleeding beside his pack. It’s… kind of amazing. He doesn’t talk about it, but he earned every ounce of their loyalty.” Eva glanced sideways at that. “You care about him a lot.” Zoe laughed softly. “Of course I do. He’s my brother. But he’s also… the best Alpha I’ve ever known. He’s strong, sure, but he carries it quietly. Like it’s not a crown, just a burden he chose.” Eva’s chest tightened. Her thoughts went to Mr. DeRyile’s fists. To the cold threats and shackles of duty. What kind of leader chose their burden? They passed under an arched hall, and Zoe turned left toward the eastern wing. “You’re not what I expected, honestly,” Zoe added, looking at Eva curiously. “You’re… stronger. I thought you’d be all noble and uptight, but you’ve got fire.” Eva gave a dry chuckle. “I’ve been raised in a cage. Fire’s all I had left.” They rounded the next corner and that’s when it happened. Eva stopped cold. Zayne was standing in the chamber up ahead. In his arms was Leah. They were close—too close. His head was slightly lowered. He had his hand on her back. To Eva, it looked like an intimate moment between lovers. She stiffened. Her heart thudded dully. Zoe tried to say something, but Eva had already stepped forward. Zayne turned. The moment his eyes landed on her, everything inside him roared. Her scent hit him like a punch to the chest. Wildflowers. Earth and fire. His wolf howled. He couldn’t stop himself. “Wait—Zayne?” Zoe said in alarm. Zayne was already moving. In one blur of motion, he was in front of Eva, gripping her dress collar. His eyes were wild and searching. He yanked the fabric aside, scanning her neck. His breath was frantic. But—nothing. There was no scar, no mark. “No,” he whispered, his hands trembling. “I bit you… it was right here—why isn’t it here?” Eva shoved him back, hard. “Don’t touch me!” she snapped. Her voice cracked. She was filled with panic and confusion. What was going on?. “I came here under treaty. I’m not here for you to manhandle like some feral beast.” Zayne froze. He blinked, stunned. He then realized he shouldn’t have reacted that way. What came over him? “I came here in good faith,” Eva continued “You have no right.” Zayne dropped his arms to his sides. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I—” “I don’t want your apology,” Eva said, then paused, pressing a hand to her neck. Her fingers hovered over the place she remembered the pain. “The mark,” she whispered to herself. “It’s really gone.” It was gone because she healed fast. Eva looked at him then—really looked. Was this her to be husband? She expected some grizzled old man, not this. Not the tall, muscular Alpha with beautiful eyes and a commanding presence that unsettled something in her chest. But before either of them could say another word— Leah’s sharp voice pierced the silence. Leah stumbled, clutching her chest dramatically. “I—I feel it. The bond. It’s pulling. Zayne, please,! She doesn’t belong here!” Zoe stepped in, alarmed. “Leah—are you okay?” “Get her out of here!” Leah screamed, pointing at Eva. “She’s ruining everything!” Eva’s face paled. Her instincts screamed. She knew what would happen if they cast her out. She’d be sent back. To the DeRyiles. To her fate. “If I go back,” she said evenly, though her voice trembled, “I will be punished. Brutally. I am here under treaty, and you will honor it.” Zayne closed his eyes. Everything felt suffocating to him - duty, instincts, conflicting emotions. Then he opened them. And spoke. “I will honor the treaty,” he said. Eva stood still, silent. “I will marry Eva DeRyile… to protect the peace.” He said. Leah’s face went pale, but then, her eyes gleamed. Zayne didn’t stop there. “But,” he continued, “it will be in name only.” Eva’s chest tightened at his words. He turned to Leah. “You, my true mate, will be Luna.” Eva smiled. It was cold. Hollow. “Of course,” she said quietly. “I wouldn’t expect anything else.” Zayne felt it. That stab. Not from Leah. But from her, Eva. And for the first time in years, he didn’t feel like a king or a warrior. He felt like a man standing at a crossroads. And somehow… already choosing the wrong road.