Freya’s POV
"Mates?" The word ca out before I could stop it, my voice dripping with disbelief. "That’s impossible. No way. That’s... that’s crazy."
Ronan raised a brow, clearly unimpressed with my reaction. "It’s not crazy. It’s fate."
"Fate?" I crossed my arms, stepping back slightly. "Is that what you call it when a random mark just shows up on my neck and so guy decides we’re destined to be together? Sounds more like a weird prank."
He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "It’s not a prank, Freya. It’s a bond. When two wolves are fated to be together, the mark appears. It’s nature’s way of sealing the connection."
I blinked at him, my mind spinning. "But... I’m just an oga. How could I be... your mate?"
His jaw tightened, his gaze boring into mine. "Do you think fate cares about rank? About status? I know for sure I don’t."
I opened my mouth to argue, but he held up a hand, stopping .
"Listen," he said, his voice softer now. "There’s a ball tomorrow night at the packhouse. I want you to be there. I’ll be introducing you as my mate."
My jaw dropped. "Wait—what? You can’t just—"
"I can and I will." His tone was firm, leaving no room for argunt.
"No wonder you felt that... pull to ," I muttered, mostly to myself. My head was a ss of thoughts, too many to process all at once.
Before I could say anything else, he stepped closer, his presence overwhelming.
I froze as he reached for , his hands gently resting on my arms.
"Freya," he murmured, his voice low and raw. "I didn’t know either. Not until I saw you again. But now that I do, there’s no denying it."
His words sent a strange warmth coursing through , lting so of my defenses. I didn’t know if it was the bond or just his presence, but for the first ti in days, I felt sothing other than despair.
He guided backward, and before I realized what was happening, we were on the soft grass.
The stars overhead twinkled faintly, but all I could see was him, yhe way his lips curved into the faintest smile as he leaned in.
His kiss was slow at first, testing, as though he was afraid I might push him away. But when I didn’t, it deepened.
For the first ti in what felt like forever, I felt... happy.
"I’m sorry," I whispered against his lips when we finally broke apart, my voice trembling. "I didn’t know we were mates. I an, oga and all, I—"
He cut off with another kiss, silencing every word I was about to say.
****
I humd as I twirled around.
I had never looked this beautiful.
The dress shimred like liquid moonlight as I smoothed my hands over the fabric for the hundredth ti.
It clung to perfectly, as though it had been made with only in mind. The soft silk cascaded down to the floor, the subtle sparkle catching the light every ti I moved.
Ronan had picked this dress, his golden eyes sparkling as he handed it to yesterday.
"You’ll look beautiful in this," he’d said, his voice warm.
And now, standing in front of the cracked mirror in my room, I almost believed him.
Almost.
The faint murmur of music drifted in through the open window, the sound of the ball at the twin center was in full swing.
My heart thudded in ti with the rhythm.
This was it.
My mont.
He would be introducing as his mate.
For once, I wouldn’t be the girl hiding in the shadows, scrubbing floors while Nina and Greta basked in the spotlight. Tonight, I was here as Ronan’s mate, his choice. The mory of his words ward , even now.
"I’ll introduce you to everyone," he’d said, his hand brushing against mine. "You’ll finally take your place where you belong, Freya."
I clung to that promise like a lifeline as I slipped out of the house, the worn soles of my shoes silent against the dirt path. Greta and Nina were already at the ball, but I didn’t care. Because tonight I will be Luna.
---
I hesitated at the entrance, suddenly overwheld.
Eyes flickered in my direction, so curious, so dismissive. I tugged at the hem of my dress, my confidence faltering for a mont. But then I rembered Ronan’s words, the way he’d looked at like I was the only person in the world.
He’d see .
He’d find .
I stepped inside, my heels clicking softly against the floor.
For the first ti, I felt... seen.
I wandered through the crowd, my head held high, scanning the room for Ronan. My heart raced as I spotted him near the stage, his dark hair catching the light, his broad shoulders unmistakable even in the crowd.
He looked every bit the Alpha’s son, commanding and effortlessly elegant in his tailored suit.
He turned, his golden eyes locking onto mine, and my breath caught. His smile was faint but warm, and for a mont, the rest of the room faded away.
"Freya," he said softly as he approached, his hand brushing against mine.
"You look... incredible," he murmured, his gaze roaming over like I was sothing precious.
My cheeks burned, and I couldn’t stop the small smile that tugged at my lips. "You’re not so bad yourself."
He laughed, a low, lodic sound that made my chest ache in the best way. "Co with ," he said.
I let him lead closer to the stage, my heart pounding with every step. The room blurred as we weaved through the crowd, their faces lting into an indistinct sea of color.
"Ronan, what’s going on?" I asked, breathless.
"You’ll see," he said, his voice warm with promise.
We stopped at the edge of the stage, and he turned to face , his hands resting lightly on my shoulders. "Stay right here," he said, his gaze steady. "I’ll call for you when it’s ti."
"Ti for what?"
He smiled, his thumb brushing against my cheek. "Trust ."
I nodded, my chest tight with anticipation.
Ronan climbed the steps to the stage, the crowd quieting as he took his place at the center. He stood tall, his presence commanding, and I couldn’t help but feel proud.
"This is it," I whispered to myself, my fingers clutching the fabric of my dress.
He raised a hand, silencing the last murmurs of conversation. "Thank you all for being here tonight," he began, his voice strong and clear. "As you know, this ball is a celebration of new beginnings, of unity."
The crowd watched him with rapt attention, their gazes flickering between him and the Alpha, who stood at the side with a proud smile.
My heart raced as Ronan’s eyes scanned the crowd, his gaze lingering on for a mont before he continued.
"There’s soone very special I want to introduce tonight," he said, his voice softening slightly.
This was it.
The mont stretched, my breath catching as he turned toward .
But then, his gaze shifted. His expression changed, a flicker of sothing I couldn’t place crossing his face.
"Nina Hunter, my soon to be Luna," he said, his voice steady but distant. "Please join ."
The world tilted, the words ringing in my ears like a death knell.
Nina.
I stared, frozen, as my stepsister erged from the crowd, her golden gown shimring as she ascended the stage. She smiled brightly, her hand slipping into Ronan’s as though it belonged there.
No.
This couldn’t be happening.
Ronan’s voice continued, but the words were drowned out by the roar of blood in my ears. My chest tightened, my breaths coming in short, sharp gasps.
"Freya?" soone murmured beside , but their voice was faint, like it was coming from far away.
I took a step back, my vision blurring. My heels caught on the hem of my dress, and I stumbled, the sharp pain in my ankle barely registering.
And then, I ran.
The sound of my heels against the floor echoed through the hall, mingling with the gasps and whispers of the crowd.
Ronan’s eyes found mine as I fled, and for a split second, I saw it—the regret, the pain.
But it wasn’t enough.
"Freya!" soone called, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.
The cold night air hit like a slap as I burst through the doors, my chest heaving.
Tears blurred my vision, but I didn’t wipe them away.
I ran and ran and ran.
The words played in my head like a cruel joke.
Nina Hunter, my soon-to-be Luna.
Everything he’d said to , the promises, the warmth in his eyes, the kiss that had made believe I could be sothing more, all of it had been a lie.
"Beautiful," he had called . "Special."
I choked out a bitter laugh as the tears stread down my face. How could I have been so stupid? So naive?
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