Chapter 1 Mate Saga

“Le-ooo, you're going too hard.” A tear slipped down my cheek as the words left me.

“Sh-sh”

Flush air hit my skin from behind, "Focus on holding those cheeks of yours open."

I managed and turned, barely seeing his face in the dimly lit stable. I swallowed my grimace and obeyed him, dipping my hip so my legs could be wider apart.

The palace bells were faint due to the distance, but I knew it was already time.

"Fuck"

I heard him moan, increasing his thrust. I couldn't hold back, my knees gave way and I collapsed on the hay, cold shivers running through me.

I felt his hand curled under my stomach and he pulled me up, he must have really noticed he was hurting me. "Leo.. I—"

His penis slicked back and filled me, even before I had time to finish my statement, “Leo!”

“Please” I cried, trying to fight him off but he was already pounding, his balls hitting my clit.

“Uh-hu. I got to finish this real quick. I can't be late for my own ceremony”

I sucked up my tears and gritted my teeth hard. Tilting my hip to match his rhythm.

He's right.

Tonight is his running and coronation ceremony. We had always anticipated and rehearsed for this night since he came of age.

I couldn't be more excited, after tonight I'm not just going to be chosen as his Luna, but also I'm putting an end to my nameless lineage.

Yes.

I'm a thrall. I carry the shame of my ancestors' treachery, but tonight when Leoric finally declares me his mate before the whole pack that ugly version will be insignificant.

“We did it,” I shrieked. “Finally, Leo.”

I got no response, rather I felt him convulsing. His deep guttural groan reverberated down the stable, and his grip on my hip tightened.

Hot seeds shot inside me with blazing speed, and I felt some dripping down the middle of my thighs. “Moon mother!”

I felt Leoric's hold loosen before he pulled away his cock, but being that my knees were still unstable, I sprawled exhaustedly on the hay.

"I love you Leo"

I got a sharp huff and nothing else, he must be exhausted to say a thing. He walked over to the wooden cabinet and grabbed his clothes, rushing the whole process.

“Help me up. My love“

I pouted, pushing myself up on one elbow.

“Quit it Morwen”

The alpha authority in his tone locked me in a dazzle. “Important dignitaries and the rest of the pack are waiting for me to grace the ceremony with my presence.”

“What of me?”

Silence,

The old wooden door creaked open and his footstep faded.

Pricking sweat broke out on my forehead,

No.

I'm overthinking it, I shuddered.

Leoric usually has a problem with crowds. I'm sure he didn't mean it that way.

He loves me.

He always has, and most importantly he has spent our younger years reassuring and promising me an everlasting love.

We had even gone to the extreme of using Soul Searching Hex ritual to make me his mate. Though it was a top secret between us. We aren't allowed to speak of it.

I grabbed my clothes and dressed up, I couldn't keep him waiting at the running court.

I sneaked back to the kitchen unnoticed and joined the other maids like I was never absent.

“Morwen”

A voice cracked. Distinctively from the murmurs, It was Ma Madonna, the head chef.

She dumped a wine jar right into my hand. “Go ahead. We need more hands. The guests are demanding more.”

“It's happening”

Veyra- my wolf leapt with joy. If it had been some other day we wouldn't be happy with this. But right now, this is the perfect decoy to get us to the running court.

“Are you okay”

Ma Madonna asked.

I shook myself back to my senses, shrugged.

“Why are you still standing?” Her gaze sharpened, stripped completely of warmth

Moon mother, I never realized I was still standing at the same spot.

“Get those legs moving. Lazy ass”

“Yes. Sorry”

I quickened my pace, away from her snarls. Not wanting anything that would make this tiny loophole shatter.

The trip to the Running Court felt longer than it was. Every step closer made Veyra more restless.

I could feel her hyperactivity, excited.

“Lock it in Veyra” I cautioned, barely holding back my own excitement.

“We made it.”

She howled in my head.

I pressed a hand lightly against my chest as if that could settle her but her pacing turned into something sharper. Anticipation. Hunger. Recognition beyond what we agreed on.

Finally, the Running Court lay beyond the eastern edge of the palace, enclosed by ancient silver-barked trees. It was not a building, but a vast circular clearing where the forest had been deliberately shaped around a wide stretch of soft earth

Wolves crowded every corner, shoulder to shoulder, their growls and excited howls merging into one restless roar.

“This is huge” my heart raced, there was barely enough space between bodies to move but I managed to squeeze through, serving wine to whoever called.

Every now and then a scent drifted through the thick atmosphere. A mix of rosemary and cider. It smelled familiar in a way that made no sense. Whilst, breathtaking.

“He's here.”

Veyra lunged so hard inside me that my knees nearly buckled.

“Veyra” I whispered in a curt tone. “Calm down I will find him”

“Yes…please” Veyra pressed.

Instinctively, I scanned the vast square with the intention of going towards the center to find Leo. But my body angled towards the dignitaries' wing.

“No. We can't”

I shunned Veyra, she went quiet but the silence was no surrender.

I turned again but she pushed harder.

My right foot stepped forward, and another step followed. Then another.

Soon I was gliding through the Royalty's wing, not because I chose to but because Veyra had taken control of my body.

She continued driving me forward, until I reached the front row.

From behind I could see Alpha Brannock seated in the heat of the event, Luna Isode sat by his left and the seat on his right, which I presumed was Leoric's, was empty.

Meaning, he was already in the running field.

“Don't get us into trouble. Leo isn't here” I scolded Veyra, trying to avoid the royal family with the precision of an assassin.

“No wait. He's here”

Veyra argued, I scanned the faces and my gaze landed on a familiar figure.

Ma Althea.

Seated beside her was her husband: Sir Kaelen, Leoric's wolfless half-brother. This is the first time they are making an appearance in the royal house ever since they got married.

My instinct yearned to get close and greet her. As I moved just three feet, Sir Kaelen stood up and that quickly diminished my courage. I turned and pretended that I only came to serve wine.

A thunderous howl pulled my attention towards the inner ring. My instinct screamed danger but I still looked.

“No”

I gasped.

Leoric was circling Elara, the pure-blooded Silverpine Pack princess. Right before my eyes he offered his scent and she accepted.

Leoric marked her and they two swiftly shifted and ran together around the central stones. The pack howled, and I couldn't hold it in anymore.

The wine jar dropped and I shrieked out. “Stop this nonsense.”

Heads turned towards me.

I could feel Luna Isode's disgust closing in but there was no time for regrets. I walked down the aisle. Toward the inner ring.

A hand caught my wrist and I paused, shivers delivering through me.

Before I could think.

Before I could resist the grip, before I could understand the horror blooming through my chest, Veyra screamed one word with enough force to shatter my already broken life.

Mate!