Chapter 4 Chapter 4

My brain refused to process what I had just heard.

Mate.

Jeremiah had actually called me his mate.

I stared at him as if he had just announced that the moon was going to fall out of the sky. The stranger standing in front of me was the same Alpha everyone had been whispering about all day, the leader of the RedDevils, the man accused of raiding more than ten territories. And now he was standing in front of me with that ridiculously confident smirk, acting as if discovering his mate was the most normal thing in the world.

My wolf stirred again.

Mate.

“Oh, shut up,” I muttered under my breath.

Jeremiah’s eyebrow lifted. “Did you just tell your wolf to shut up?”

My eyes widened.

“How can you hear her?”

“I can’t hear her thoughts. I can feel the bond.”

Of course he could.

Everything about this man seemed designed to irritate me.

I took a cautious step backward and pointed at him. “Stay right there.”

His mouth twitched.

“You seem to be under the impression that I take orders from you.”

“You should start.”

He actually laughed.

That laugh only made me more annoyed.

Jeremiah was impossibly handsome, which was unfortunate because it made him even more irritating. His jet-black hair was slightly messy, his features sharp and masculine, and his crystal-blue eyes seemed to see far too much. There was a confidence about him that suggested he had never doubted himself a day in his life.

I hated that.

Mostly because some annoying part of me found it attractive.

I immediately ignored that part.

“You’re my mate,” he said, as if repeating it would somehow make the situation less insane.

“I heard you the first time.”

“Then why are you looking at me like I’m a criminal?”

“Because everyone says you’re a criminal.”

That wiped the amusement from his face for a moment.

I folded my arms.

“Apparently you’ve been raiding territories, causing trouble and making a hobby out of terrifying everyone around you. Forgive me if I don’t immediately throw myself into your arms because the Moon Goddess decided we’re compatible.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“You’ve been listening to rumors.”

“I’ve been listening to everyone.”

“That’s usually your first mistake.”

I scoffed. “And what exactly is my second?”

“Believing them.”

I stared at him.

He stared back.

I hated that he had an answer for everything.

“You expect me to believe you’re innocent?” I asked.

“No.”

That answer caught me off guard.

Jeremiah stepped closer, but I immediately raised my hand.

“Don’t.”

He stopped.

For the first time since we’d met, his expression became serious.

“I won’t force you.”

I blinked.

I hadn’t expected that.

“You’re free to walk away, Astrid.”

My stomach dropped.“How do you know my name?”

His smirk returned.“Because I’ve known who you are for a very long time.”

My instincts screamed at me to leave.

I didn’t know this man. I didn’t trust him. And whatever this strange bond was, I wasn’t going to let it decide my life for me.

I took another step backward.“I don’t know what game you’re playing, Jeremiah, but I’m not interested.”

His gaze remained fixed on me.“This isn’t a game.”

“Good. Then stay away from me.”

I turned before he could say anything else and ran.

I didn’t look back.I didn’t need to.My wolf was screaming inside my head, protesting every step I took away from him.

Mate!

“I know!” I snapped mentally. “I’m trying to figure out why our mate has apparently decided to become everyone’s worst nightmare.”

She didn’t answer.

Traitor.

I pushed myself harder, sprinting through the forest until the familiar boundary of my father’s territory came into view.I crossed it and immediately felt the presence of several wolves nearby.Then I saw them.My father stood at the border surrounded by his warriors.

And judging by his expression, I was in serious trouble.

“Astrid.”

I slowed to a stop.

My father’s voice was calm.Far too calm.

I swallowed.“Hi, Dad.”

He stared at me.

I gave him a weak smile.“Before you get angry, I’d like to point out that I’m alive.”

His jaw tightened.“That is not helping your situation.”

He crossed the distance between us in seconds and grabbed my arms, checking me for injuries.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“Did anyone approach you?”

I hesitated.

That was apparently enough.

His eyes darkened.

“Who was there?”

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

I couldn’t tell him.

Not yet.

If I told my father that I’d crossed the border, met Jeremiah and discovered he was my mate, he would probably declare war before I finished the sentence.

My hesitation made his expression even harder.

“Astrid.”

“I was alone.”It wasn’t exactly a lie.

Not anymore.My father looked toward the forest “Search the area.”

Several warriors shifted instantly.

“Make sure it’s safe before anyone leaves this territory.”

The wolves scattered, some crossing the border while others remained behind to secure the area.

My father turned back to me.

“Inside.”

I sighed.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Don’t start.”

I followed him toward the palace.

I knew I was in trouble.

The question was how much.

Once we were inside, my father finally released my arm and turned to face me.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

“I went for a walk.”

“You crossed the border.”

“I know.”

“You left without telling anyone.”

“I know.”

“You shut down your pack link.”

I winced.

He noticed.

“You knew I wouldn’t be able to find you.”

“I was hoping.”

“Astrid.”

I sighed. “Fine. That part was intentional.”

His eyes flashed.“You could have been attacked.”

“I wasn’t.”

“That isn’t the point.”

“I know.”

“You could have been killed.”

That silenced me.

My father rarely sounded frightened.Angry, yes.Furious, definitely.But frightened?Almost never.For a moment, I saw something beneath his anger that made me feel guilty.He wasn’t furious because I had embarrassed him.He was furious because he had been afraid.

Still, I wasn’t going to let him lock me away forever.

“I needed to get out,” I said quietly.

“You have an entire kingdom.”

“I have a palace.”

“You have everything you need.”

“No, I don’t.”

His expression hardened.

“What exactly are you missing?”

“Freedom.”

The word hung between us.

My father stared at me.

I took a breath.

“I know you think you’re protecting me, but sometimes it feels like I’m being kept in a cage. I can’t leave the territory. I can’t walk through the marketplace without four guards following me. I can’t train without someone watching me. I can’t even go for a run without everyone acting like I’m going to disappear.”

“You are the future queen.”

“I know!”

My voice cracked with frustration.

“That’s the problem. Everyone keeps telling me what I am supposed to be. Nobody asks what I actually want.”

My father opened his mouth, but I didn’t give him the chance to interrupt.

“And before you say it, yes, I understand that being queen comes with responsibilities. I understand that people depend on me. But I’m eighteen, Dad. I haven’t even seen the world outside these borders. How am I supposed to lead a world I’ve never been allowed to see?”

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then he sighed.

“You’re still my daughter.”

“I know.”

“And I will not apologize for protecting you.”

“I didn’t ask you to.”

His expression softened slightly.

“But your punishment remains. More guards.”

My mouth fell open.

“You cannot be serious.”

“I am.”

“Dad, I already have enough guards to start my own army.”

“You’ll have more.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“You’ve proven that you cannot be trusted to make responsible decisions.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“I saved your life once when you were drunk.”

“You were eight.”

“I was still heroic.”

Despite himself, the corner of his mouth twitched.

I caught it.

“You smiled.”

“I did not.”

“You absolutely did.”

His face immediately returned to its usual stern expression.

“Go to your room.”

I groaned.

“Yes, sir.”

“And Astrid?”

I looked back.

“If you ever cross that border again without telling me, the punishment will be much worse.”

I nodded.

Then I muttered, “Good thing I definitely won’t be doing that.”

His eyes narrowed.

I smiled innocently and walked away before he could respond.

I had just reached the corridor when Mother appeared.

She took one look at my face and sighed.

“Your father punished you.”

“He has a very creative imagination.”

“What did he do?”

“More guards.”

Her eyebrows rose.

“Oh.”

“Exactly.”

She followed me into my room and closed the door behind her.

Unlike my father, Mother didn’t start yelling.

She simply sat beside me.

That somehow made it worse.

I stared at the floor.

“I really messed up, didn’t I?”

“A little.”

“I hate when you’re reasonable.”

She smiled.

I leaned back against the headboard.

“I just wanted one day where I wasn’t somebody’s princess.”

Mother’s expression softened.

“I know.”

“I wanted to know what freedom felt like.”

“You will have it someday.”

“Everyone keeps saying someday.”

She reached for my hand.

“Astrid, you’re eighteen. You don’t have to have your entire life figured out today.”

I looked at her.

“I don’t even know what I’m supposed to feel. My wolf finally woke up, but everything else feels wrong.”

Mother squeezed my fingers.

“You’ll figure it out.”

I wanted to believe her.

But there was one thing I couldn’t tell her.

One thing I couldn’t tell anyone.

My wolf had awakened.

And she’d done it because I’d met my mate.

Jeremiah.

The dangerous Alpha my father had been discussing all day.

The man who apparently knew exactly who I was.

I remembered his words.

I’ve known who you are for a very long time.

I frowned.

How?

Why?

And most importantly, what exactly did he mean by that?

Mother pulled me into a hug, and I rested my head against her shoulder for a moment before finally pulling away.

“I think I need to be alone.”

She nodded and kissed my forehead before leaving.

The moment the door closed, I stood and walked toward the window.

The forest stretched beyond the palace walls.

Somewhere out there was the border.

And somewhere beyond that was Jeremiah.

I should have been terrified.

Instead, curiosity burned hotter than my fear.

I had spent my entire life being told that the world outside was dangerous.

Now I had finally stepped into it.

And the first thing it had given me was a mate who might be the most dangerous man in the supernatural world.

I stared into the darkness.

“Great.”

I folded my arms.

“Happy birthday, Astrid.”