Prince Alpha's Mate

Crema's Point of View

"Prepare yourself. Tonight is the night."

The words should have made me happy.

Instead, they made my stomach tighten.

My father stood before me with pride shining in his eyes. After three long years, the Crimson Moon would finally rise again. And with it would come the moment every wolf dreamed about.

The arrival of my fated mate.

I should have been excited.

I should have been counting the minutes.

After all, tonight was supposed to bring Prince Giovan to me.

The man I had spent years believing was my future.

The man everyone expected me to love.

And maybe I did.

At least, I thought I did.

Prince Giovan was everything a Luna could want. Handsome. Powerful. Respected. As the senior alpha of the royal family, his presence alone commanded attention wherever he went.

Even from the few times I'd seen him from a distance, I understood why so many admired him.

He looked strong enough to protect an entire kingdom.

Strong enough to protect me.

So why couldn't I shake this feeling?

The closer tonight came, the louder the unease became.

Something felt wrong.

Not enough to make me run.

Not enough to make me refuse.

Just enough to make me wonder if the future I'd spent years dreaming about was truly mine.

Or one that had been chosen for me long ago.

"Indeed, Father. I'll be ready."

I tried to sound composed.

Tried to sound like the future Luna everyone expected me to be.

But excitement still leaked into my voice.

Unlike most young women, I had never dreaded the arrival of my mate.

Maybe it was because I'd already convinced myself that Giovan was the one I wanted.

"I'm glad you're happy about it," Father said with a smile. "At least we never had to convince you."

I frowned.

"Dad, what does that mean?"

My voice came out sharper than intended.

"Shouldn't I be excited that my mate is an Alpha? That he's the future king?"

I stepped closer.

"You should be happy for me too. This is what I've been preparing for my whole life."

Images flashed through my mind.

A future.

A family.

Children running through palace halls.

Everything I'd imagined since I was little.

Father's expression softened.

"Of course I'm happy, sweetheart."

His voice gentled.

"I'm grateful that, unlike others before you, you never fought the tradition."

I knew exactly what tradition he meant.

The arranged engagement.

The agreement made years before I was old enough to understand it.

"Your acceptance means more than you know."

Something inside me twisted.

Just slightly.

But I pushed it away.

I smiled and wrapped my arms around him.

"No regrets," I whispered.

It wasn't entirely a lie.

Father hugged me tightly before stepping aside.

The moment he left, my mother took over.

Servants immediately surrounded me, carrying dresses, jewelry, and everything expected of a future Luna meeting the royal family.

The room buzzed with activity.

Prince Giovan's family would arrive soon.

And suddenly everything felt very real.

My mother adjusted a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Marriage isn't easy, Crema."

The warmth in her voice made me look up.

"There will be days when you want to walk away."

She smiled sadly.

"There will be misunderstandings. Arguments. Difficult moments."

Her fingers squeezed my shoulder.

"But stay patient."

I listened quietly.

"Your relationship with Prince Giovan is important. This future was arranged when you were both children."

Something about those words settled heavily inside my chest.

Before I could answer, another voice echoed through the room.

"Oh?"

Every servant immediately stiffened.

My mother closed her eyes briefly.

And I already knew who it was.

Janine.

I turned toward the doorway.

She stood there with her arms crossed, wearing her usual smug expression.

Beautiful.

Effortlessly beautiful.

The kind of beauty that made people stop talking when she entered a room.

The kind that made men forget their own names.

My mother hadn't invited her.

In fact, she'd gone out of her way to keep tonight a secret from her.

So why was she here?

And why did a bad feeling suddenly settle in my stomach?

Janine slowly scanned the room.

The servants.

The dresses.

The jewelry.

Then her eyes landed on me.

A cruel smile spread across her face.

"What's all this?"

Her voice dripped with mockery.

"Is there some grand event happening tonight?"

No one answered.

That only seemed to amuse her more.

She looked me up and down.

Then laughed.

"Wow."

Her gaze lingered on the maids fixing my appearance.

"The poor servants are working overtime trying to make Crema look presentable."

A few servants lowered their heads immediately.

Janine clicked her tongue dramatically.

"It must be exhausting."

She sighed.

"Making someone beautiful is easy."

Her smile widened.

"But making someone who isn't naturally beautiful look good?"

She shrugged.

"That's practically a miracle."

The room fell completely still.

I was used to it.

Janine had always been like this.

Sharp.

Cruel.

Deliberately hurtful.

The worst part?

She knew exactly where to aim.

Because she wasn't wrong.

Janine was stunning.

Perfect hair.

Perfect skin.

Perfect confidence.

Men followed her everywhere.

Alphas.

Betas.

Even omegas.

Meanwhile, I had never cared much about appearances.

I preferred simplicity.

Comfort.

Peace.

Unfortunately, Janine treated that like a personal flaw.

"Janine."

My mother's voice cut through the room.

Cold.

Warning.

"I don't appreciate your tone."

Janine raised an innocent eyebrow.

Mother stood from her chair.

"Tonight, Prince Giovan's family will be visiting to discuss the marriage."

For the first time, something flickered across Janine's face.

Something quick.

Gone almost instantly.

But I saw it.

And suddenly, my unease grew stronger.

My mother stepped forward.

"I only have one request."

Her voice hardened.

"Do not test my patience tonight."

The room seemed to tighten around us.

"I've tolerated enough of your behavior."

Mother's gaze locked onto hers.

"So whatever you're planning..."

Her voice dropped.

"Don't do anything that could ruin this meeting."

I watched Janine carefully.

Too carefully.

Because I knew exactly why she looked upset.

Janine had always been obsessed with Prince Giovan.

She never admitted it openly, but she didn't have to.

Everyone could see it.

And now that my mother had revealed the purpose of tonight's gathering, I knew one thing for certain.

Janine wasn't happy for me.

Not even a little.

For a brief second, her mask slipped.

Her cheeks flushed.

Disappointment flashed across her face.

Then it disappeared just as quickly.

A smile replaced it.

Polished.

Fake.

Dangerous.

"Aunt, it's fine."

She released a dramatic sigh.

"I'm happy for Crema."

Her eyes shifted toward me.

"Really. Congratulations, cousin. You're finally getting married."

Something about the way she said it made my skin prickle.

Then she continued.

"Unfortunately, I won't be attending the meeting."

She pressed a hand against her chest.

"You didn't inform me beforehand, so I suppose I'm not considered family enough to be included."

Her smile widened.

The kind that wasn't a smile at all.

"Anyway, I'll be leaving now."

She took a step backward.

"Goodbye."

"Janine."

My mother's voice stopped several servants from moving.

But not Janine.

She didn't even look back.

The front door closed a few moments later.

Hard.

Mother rubbed her temple.

"Stubborn girl."

I said nothing.

Part of me was simply relieved she was gone.

At least now there would be less drama tonight.

Or so I hoped.

The maids returned to their work.

A few final adjustments.

A ribbon straightened.

A wrinkle smoothed.

Then my mother stepped back and studied me carefully.

A slow smile appeared.

"You look lovely."

The servants were dismissed.

Together, we walked toward the living room.

My pulse grew faster with every step.

I glanced down at myself.

The dress was simple.

Elegant without being flashy.

Exactly how I wanted it.

My hair had been pulled into a neat ponytail, tied with a delicate butterfly ribbon.

I wanted Prince Giovan to think I looked beautiful.

Not desperate.

Not overly prepared.

Just... beautiful.

Then my father's voice echoed through the house.

"They're here."

Every thought vanished.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

They're here.

The words repeated over and over inside my head.

Suddenly I couldn't breathe properly.

What if he changed his mind?

What if he never wanted this marriage?

What if the king had come here to cancel everything?

The questions attacked one after another.

Relentless.

Cruel.

My mother's hand found mine.

She squeezed gently.

"It's normal to be nervous."

Her voice softened.

"You've waited a long time for this."

I nodded.

Or at least I tried to.

Because the knot inside my stomach only tightened.

Guests slowly filled the room.

Voices blended together.

Greetings.

Formalities.

Pleasantries.

But I barely heard any of it.

My eyes searched only for one person.

Giovan.

I looked near the entrance.

Nothing.

Near the windows.

Nothing.

Beside his father.

Nothing.

The room suddenly felt colder.

Where was he?

My pulse quickened again.

What if he wasn't coming?

What if everything I'd imagined was about to disappear?

I hated how desperate that thought made me feel.

One thing I always admired about our kingdom was its tradition.

It didn't matter if the groom was an Alpha, a king, or the future ruler.

When discussing marriage, the man came to the woman's home.

Even King Dior followed that custom.

No exceptions.

No privileges.

Yet despite that respect for tradition...

His son still wasn't here.

Minutes passed.

Each one felt longer than the last.

Then King Dior finally spoke.

His deep voice filled the room.

"If Giovan refuses to comply..."

His expression darkened.

"Bring him in."

The room froze.

So did I.

For a moment, I simply stared.

Then a bitter laugh escaped me.

Small.

Quiet.

Impossible to stop.

Not because anything was funny.

Because suddenly everything made sense.

He didn't want to be here.

The future king didn't want this marriage.

Didn't want me.

The realization landed harder than I expected.

Beside me, my mother nudged my arm sharply.

A warning.

Not here.

Not in front of them.

I lowered my eyes.

Trying to hide the sting building inside my chest.

But how was I supposed to feel?

My future husband wasn't late because of an emergency.

He was late because someone had to force him to come.

A few minutes later, footsteps echoed from the hallway.

The room turned toward the entrance.

And then he appeared.

Prince Giovan.

For years, I'd imagined this moment.

Wondered what I would feel when I finally saw him standing before me.

Excitement.

Happiness.

Relief.

Maybe even destiny.

Instead...

My heart sank.

Because the first thing I noticed wasn't how handsome he was.

Or how powerful.

Or how every person in the room immediately noticed him.

It was the expression on his face.

Annoyance.

Pure annoyance.

Like he had been dragged somewhere he never wanted to go.

Like meeting me was the last thing he wished to do.

And in that moment, every hour I'd spent dreaming about tonight suddenly felt foolish.

Still...

I couldn't deny it.

Prince Giovan was devastatingly handsome.

The simple dark shirt he wore stretched across broad shoulders and a powerful frame. Even standing there with obvious irritation written across his face, he somehow drew everyone's attention without trying.

Mine included.

For a few embarrassing seconds, I found myself staring.

This was the man I'd spent years imagining.

The man who was supposed to become my husband.

The man fate had chosen for me.

Then reality came crashing back.

Hard.

Because no matter how handsome he was, he looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

The excitement I'd carried all day slowly drained away.

I lowered my eyes and remained quiet.

There was nothing else to do.

Nothing except wait.

King Dior rose from his seat.

His voice cut through the room immediately.

"Everything is prepared."

Every conversation stopped.

"When the Blood Moon rises tonight, the wedding will proceed."

The room froze.

Including me.

My father's eyes widened.

My mother's fingers tightened around the armrest.

This wasn't what anyone expected.

We thought tonight was a discussion.

A formal meeting.

Not a final decision.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty."

My father carefully stood.

Though respectful, surprise was impossible to hide from his voice.

"This is rather sudden."

He glanced toward my mother.

"We believed tonight would be used to discuss arrangements."

King Dior's expression never changed.

"I'll be direct."

The atmosphere instantly grew heavier.

"My son is being distracted by a woman."

A muscle ticked in his jaw.

"A woman I know nothing about."

His voice hardened.

"Someone with no standing in our kingdom."

The king's gaze swept across the room.

"I refuse to allow my son's future to be destroyed because of a temporary obsession."

My stomach dropped.

A woman?

I looked toward Prince Giovan.

His expression immediately darkened.

The reaction was impossible to miss.

Who was she?

Someone he loved?

Someone he wanted instead?

Questions flooded my mind so quickly they became impossible to separate.

I looked between father and son.

One determined.

One furious.

And suddenly this marriage no longer felt like a fairy tale.

It felt like a battlefield.

"Have you nothing to say?"

King Dior's voice turned cold.

The question was directed at Giovan.

The room waited.

So did I.

Slowly, Prince Giovan turned his head.

His gaze landed on me.

For the first time.

My heartbeat stumbled.

His eyes moved over me carefully.

Not rushed.

Not dismissive.

Yet somehow it made me feel exposed.

As if he were measuring something.

Evaluating something.

Deciding something.

Then he looked away.

Without a single word.

The ache that followed surprised me.

Because silence can hurt far more than rejection.

And his silence spoke volumes.

Within minutes, everything was finalized.

No discussions.

No negotiations.

No objections.

The wedding would happen tonight.

The dress had already been delivered.

The guests had already been informed.

The decision had already been made.

By the time King Dior and his entourage departed, I still felt numb.

Prince Giovan left with them.

Without speaking to me.

Without looking back.

Without giving me a single reason to believe he wanted this marriage.

And yet...

There were truths I couldn't see.

Truths hidden behind every cold glance.

Truths no one had told me.

Because Prince Giovan had already fallen for me.

Long before this meeting.

Long before tonight.

Long before either of us stood in the same room.

He had seen me.

Watched me.

Remembered me.

And the indifference he wore so effortlessly was nothing more than a mask.

A dangerous one.

Because the more he wanted me...

The harder he fought to hide it.

Hours later...

The mansion buzzed with excitement.

Guests filled every corner.

Music echoed through the halls.

The Blood Moon would rise soon.

Everyone waited for the bride.

Everyone except the bride herself.

"Janine, stop!"

My voice shook.

The dressing room felt too small.

Too hot.

Too chaotic.

Janine had completely lost control.

Her hands gripped my wedding gown.

Pulling.

Tearing.

Destroying.

The sound of ripping fabric echoed through the room.

"Please!"

I grabbed her wrists.

"What are you doing?"

Her eyes were red.

Wild.

Filled with something darker than anger.

"I can't accept this!"

The scream burst from her chest.

Years of jealousy.

Years of resentment.

Years of obsession.

All crashing out at once.

"I met Giovan first!"

She yanked the dress again.

"He was mine first!"

The fabric split further.

My heart nearly stopped.

"Janine, listen to yourself!"

"No!"

Tears streamed down her face.

"No!"

Her voice cracked.

"I loved him!"

The room spun.

Because this wasn't about the wedding anymore.

This wasn't even about me.

This was about a woman who had convinced herself that love entitled her to someone else's future.

"You knew he was my arranged mate."

My voice shook.

"You knew from the beginning."

For a brief second, guilt flashed across her face.

Then it vanished.

Replaced by rage.

Pure rage.

"You should have refused!"

She lunged forward.

"You should have stepped aside!"

Another tear ripped through the gown.

My wedding gown.

The one I'd dreamed about wearing.

The one waiting downstairs.

The one everyone expected to see.

Gone.

Destroyed piece by piece.

"Enough!"

I shoved her away.

My chest heaved.

The room fell quiet.

Janine stared at me.

I stared back.

Neither of us moving.

Then...

A knock sounded at the door.

Three sharp knocks.

Everyone froze.

My blood ran cold.

"Lady Crema?"

A servant's nervous voice came from outside.

"The ceremony begins in twenty minutes."

Twenty minutes.

I slowly looked down.

At the ruined wedding dress hanging from my body.

At the torn fabric pooled around my feet.

At the damage that couldn't be hidden.

Couldn't be repaired.

Couldn't be explained.

My pulse thundered.

Because downstairs...

Hundreds of guests were waiting.

The Blood Moon was rising.

The future king was waiting at the altar.

And I had nothing left to wear.

Then the servant spoke again.

This time sounding terrified.

"Lady Crema..."

A long pause followed.

Then the words that made my heart stop.

"Prince Giovan is coming upstairs."