ZANDER
The next day came around, bringing round with it a sense of unease that settled in my bones. I hadn't had a wink of sleep; Rena constantly played on my mind. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her bruised hands and heard her hesitant voice. The only thing on my mind, constantly on repeat, was Rena. her pain, her strength. I could shake the image of her battered and broken.
Along with that, the weight of my responsibilities as Alpha King felt even heavier, knowing my mate was suffering within my own kingdom, and I was unaware of it.
Left alone with my thoughts for company, the hectic events of the previous day subsided, leaving me to ponder the bond between us. It occurred to me that something was off. When a wolf finds its mate, the connection is usually instant, a blazing recognition that leaves no room for doubt - especially for those of strong bloodlines. It should have been obvious from the start that she was my mate, yet it took me some time to realize it.
“Why didn't I sense it immediately? I wondered. And why is the bond so weak?” I questioned aloud, knowing my wolf could hear me. “She’s my mate, and yet the connection feels fragile, almost as if it’s incomplete.”
My wolf growled softly in my mind, a sound of agreement mixed with frustration. "She is wolfless," he reminded me, his voice a low rumble that echoed through my thoughts. "The bond is different, not broken. She is not like us, but she is still our mate."
I can feel her, but it's faint, I admitted, my thoughts swirling with uncertainty. I expected…more. “Shouldn’t the mate bond be stronger? It’s supposed to be unbreakable, a link that binds us together in every way. Why do I feel like there’s a barrier between us?”
My wolf's agitation grew, his pacing back and forth a physical sensation in my mind. "It is her lack of a wolf. The bond relies on both wolves to connect fully. Without her wolf, the link is weaker, but it is still there."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair as i paced the length of the room. The connection was with Sirena felt fragile, like thin threads that could snap at any moment. The usual strength of th mate bond between two werewolves was absent, replaced by something more tenuous. "Then how do we strengthen it? How do I protect her and make her feel the bond as strongly as I do?"
"By being there for her," my wolf replied, his voice softening. "By protecting her, supporting her. The bond may be weaker, but it can still grow. She needs to feel safe and feel your love and commitment. Only then will the bond become stronger."
“And if she doesn't?” I couldn't help but voice my deepest fear. What if she can’t feel it like we do?
“She will,” my wolf assured me, his confidence unwavering,
Taking a deep breath, I tried to centre myself to focus on the path ahead. The connection with Sirena might be different than expected. It was no less important. If anything, it made me determined to protect and cherish her even stronger.
"I will do whatever it takes. She deserves to feel the full strength of our bond. I won’t let her down."
My wolf settled slightly, his restlessness easing. "Good. She is ours. And we are hers. Our mate, our Queen. We will protect her, no matter what. That's all that matters."
And he was right. After all, my search has come to an end. It's been a long time coming, and I've finally found my Queen.
Before I could dwell further, Devon’s voice interrupted my thoughts through the mind link.
Hey man, when are we leaving? I’m getting sick of this place.
We’ll leave soon, I replied, my mind still on Sirena. Have you heard from Sirena yet?
Nope, I’m afraid not. Would you like me to check on her?
I considered it for a moment before answering. There’s no need. Let her rest. There's much to do yet.
Devon’s presence lingered in the back of my mind. His impatience was palpable.
So, what's your plan with Sirena?
I frowned, momentarily confused. What do you mean, what’s my plan?
Devon sighed, his frustration evident.
From what I observe, it seems she doesn’t know much about what’s going on. You’ve got to fill her in.
Seating myself near the window, I gazed out across the landscapes, lost in thought. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue across the fields. The beauty of it contrasted sharply with the turmoil in my mind.
I know, Devon. It's just... I hesitated, searching for the right words. She's been through a lot. I don't want to overwhelm her.
I get that, but keeping her in the dark isn't helping either. She needs to know what's at stake.
I sighed, my shoulders slumping. You're right. I'll talk to her. But we have to be careful. There's a lot she doesn't remember, and pushing too hard could do more harm than good.
Fair enough. Just make sure you do it soon. We can’t afford any more delays.
I nodded, though Devon couldn't see me. His concern mirrored my own, but there was more at play here than just strategy. Sirena’s safety and well-being were my top priorities, even if it meant making difficult choices.
Sensing Devon had more to say, I prompted him. Is there something else you want to convey, or will that be all?
Alpha, Devon started, his voice taking on a serious tone. Whenever Devon addressed me by my title outside of a formal environment, I knew he was serious.
I immediately picked up on the shift in his demeanour. What's on your mind?
It’s Sirena.
My heart skipped a beat. What about her? I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
I'm worried about how she’ll fit into the role of Queen Luna.
I paused to consider his concern. The thought hadn’t crossed my mind. Rena is stronger than she looks, Devon. I believe in her. She has endured so much already. I believe she can handle this,
Okay, Devon started, And what about the pack? I’m just worried it’ll cause chaos if they find out their future. Queen Luna is a wolfless she-wolf.
We’ll handle it, I replied, determination seeping into my words. Rena is more than just her wolf. The pack will see that in time. And if they don’t… Well, they’ll have to answer to me.
I exhaled slowly, my mind racing. but you're right. The pack respects strength and heart , not just physical power. Rena has both in spades. We just need to approach the pack carefully.
You’re calling her 'Rena' now? Devon teased, his tone lightning. What happened to Sirena?
I felt a warmth spread through me, mixed with a twinge of embarrassment. She’s my mate, "I said firmly. I can call her whatever I want.
It's good to see you so taken with her, Zander. His tone turned teasing. Never thought I'd see the day.
Don't get used to it. I still have to keep you in line, I gruff out.
Devon chuckled through the link. Touche. But you are getting soft, and it hasn't been a day.
Soft? I scoffed aloud, breaking the silence of the room. Just because I care about her doesn’t mean I’m losing my edge.
Devon’s laughter echoed in my mind, tinged edge. It’s just too easy with how smitten you are. Anyone can see it from a mile away.
Laugh all you want, Devon. At least I have someone to be smitten with.
Ouch, low blow, he responded with mock offence. Just don’t forget who your real best friend is.
As if I could, I shot back, a grin tugging at my lips despite myself. But if you keep this up, you might get demoted.
Devon laughed, the sound echoing through the link. In your dreams, Zander. Now go talk to Rena before you start crying about it.
I couldn't help but chuckle at his teasing. Yeah, yeah, keep laughing. Just remember, next time you need help, I might just be "too busy" to answer.
Touché, my friend. Now go on. She's waiting.
I closed the link with a sigh, leaning back against the windowsill. Devon always knew how to get under my skin, but he also knew how to push me in the right direction. It was uncanny how well he understood me, almost like he could read my mind even without the link. Maybe that was just the bond we shared, forged through years of fighting side by side.
—
The distance between us felt like a physical ache. My wolf stirred restlessly within me, itching to be near our mate. His impatience mirrored my own, though he was driven by primal instinct rather than rational thought.
We need to see her. Now, he growled, his voice a low rumble in my mind.
"It's not that simple," I replied, trying to calm him. We can't just barge in. She needs time to adjust, to trust us.
Time? he scoffed, his irritation palpable. Every moment away from her is torture. She is ours. We must protect her.
And we will, I assured him, though my own longing made it hard to be rational. But we can't rush this. She needs to come to us willingly.
She will, he insisted, a note of desperation creeping into his voice. But we need to show her our presence, our strength. She needs to feel us close.
I took a deep breath, knowing he was right. The bond we shared with Sirena was powerful but fragile. She needed to understand it, to feel it as deeply as we did. Alright, I finally conceded. Let's go to her.
His approval washed over me, a mixture of satisfaction and relief. Following her scent, I made my way through the corridors of the academy. The scent grew stronger, leading me to a part of the building I rarely ventured. Each step brought me closer, the familiar lavender and honey scent wrapping around me like a comforting embrace.
My heart pounded with anticipation, my wolf pacing eagerly within me. Rounding a corner, her presence became almost tangible, drawing me in with an irresistible pull. She was close, just beyond the next door.
When I came face to face where he scent was the strongest, what stood before me was one of disgust. The room was worse than a maid’s quarters – small, dingy, and devoid of any comfort.
My mate, sleeping in such a place? I growled, my wolf snarling in agreement, his outrage palpable. It took everything in me to control my anger.
Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door, my impatience barely contained. "Sirena?" I called out, struggling to keep my voice calm. "It's Zander. Are you in there?"
The seconds stretched out, each one feeling like an eternity as I waited for her response.
The door creaked open, and there she stood, looking up at me with wide, curious eyes. Her presence was a balm to my frayed nerves, yet the sight of her in such a meagre room made my blood boil.
"Your Highness?" Her voice was soft, hesitant. "What are you doing here?"
"I needed to see you," I replied, stepping into the room. The small space felt even more claustrophobic with the two of us in it. "I couldn't stay away."
She closed the door behind me, her brow furrowing. "Is something wrong?"
"Everything is wrong," I said, my voice harsher than I intended. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Why are you in this room, Sirena? You deserve better."
She looked around, confusion evident in her eyes. "It's just a room, Zander. It's where I was assigned."
"It's not just a room," I said, stepping closer to her. "You're my mate. You deserve comfort and safety. Not... this."
Her eyes softened, and she reached out, placing a hand on my arm. "Zander, it's okay. I've been through worse. This is nothing."
My wolf snarled in protest, but I forced myself to remain calm. "You shouldn't have to endure worse," I said, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Not anymore."
She squeezed my arm gently. "I appreciate your concern, truly.
I nodded, swallowing the lum in my throat. “You are right. My deepest apologies for overreacting.”
She smiled, a warmth that made my heart ache. “It's okay.”
Her presence soothed the turmoil within me, grounding me in a way nothing else could.
Silence filled the air, heavy and thick, punctuated only by the faint hum of the building’s old wiring and the occasional creak of the wooden floorboards. The room, small and dimly lit, felt even more oppressive as the weight of unspoken words hung between us.
Sirena shifted uncomfortably, clearly not used to this kind of attention—especially the good kind. She glanced around, trying to make conversation to break the tension. “So, um, what brings you here?” she asked, her voice wavering slightly.
"I needed to make sure you were okay," I said, my voice filled with concern.
"I'm fine," she replied, her voice unconvincing as she averted her gaze. "Really, you don't need to worry about me."
I stepped closer, unable to ignore the sense of unease emanating from her. Gently, I reached out and lifted her chin, forcing her to meet my eyes. "I do need to worry about you, Sirena," I said firmly. "You're my mate."
The intensity of the moment was almost overwhelming. Her eyes widened, a mixture of fear and something else—something deeper—flickering within them. My wolf growled softly, urging me to close the distance, to show her the strength of our bond.
"How are you taking all of this?" I asked, my tone softening but remaining serious.
She hesitated, her eyes darting away. "It's a lot to process," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Everything's changed so quickly. I still feel like I'm trying to catch my breath."
Silence filled the air again, thicker this time, pressing down on us. I could see the struggle in her eyes, the battle between fear and trust. I needed to bridge that gap.
"Please, sit," I said softly, gesturing to the small bed. "There’s a lot we need to discuss."
She nodded, her mind clearly racing, and sat down. I took a seat beside her. We were close enough that our knees almost touched. The proximity added a new layer of tension, a charged energy between us.
"Do you know much about mates?" I asked, my eyes never leaving hers.
Sirena looked down, fidgeting with her hands. "A little," she admitted. "Rosaline, my friend, told me some things. That mates are destined to be together, that it's a bond stronger than anything else."
I nodded, taking her hand in mine. "That's right. The bond is powerful, Sirena. It's not just about destiny; it's about connection, trust, and mutual support. So, yes, we’re really mates."
She looked up at me, a mixture of hope and fear in her eyes. "Would you be rejecting me then?"
The very idea appalled me. "No," I said firmly, my hand gentle but firm in hers. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her. "I would never reject you, Sirena. You are my mate, wolfless or not. The bond between us is still strong, and it's something I value deeply."
"But... I'm wolfless," she said, her voice trembling.
"That doesn't matter to me, Sirena. Like I've said before, you are my mate, wolfless or otherwise. Our bond is stronger than anything."
Tears welled up in her eyes, a mixture of relief and fear. "But I don't know how to be a mate, how to be... what you need."
"We'll figure it out together," I assured her, my thumb rubbing soothing circles on the back of her hand. "You don't have to have all the answers right now. What's important is that we face this together."
She took a shaky breath, trying to steady her racing heart. "What does it mean for me, being wolfless and... your mate?"
My eyes softened as I looked at her. "It means you'll be the Queen Luna of our pack, my equal. It means you'll stand by my side, leading our people. And it means that no matter what, you will always have my protection, my loyalty, and my love."
The word "love" sent a shiver down her spine. Could he really mean that? Could he truly love me despite everything?
"I know it's a lot," I continued, sensing her turmoil. "But you are stronger than you realize, Sirena. I've seen it in you, felt it. And together, we'll make this work."
She nodded, the weight of my words settling into her heart. "Okay," she whispered, the word carrying a world of uncertainty and hope.
I smiled, a rare and beautiful sight. "We'll take it one step at a time, Sirena. Just trust me."
"Okay," she echoed. "One step at a time."
For a moment, we sat in silence, the enormity of our conversation settling over us. Then, I spoke again, my voice filled with a quiet determination. "We'll start with the basics. I'll teach you everything you need to know about our world, our customs. And you'll teach me about your world, your strengths."
She looked up at me, a spark of hope igniting in her chest. "I can do that," she said, her voice gaining strength. "I want to do that."
"Good," I said, my smile widening. "Because we have a lot to learn from each other."
SIRENA
The air in the room felt stifling, the small dingy space amplifying every heartbeat, every breath. The walls, lined with faded wallpaper and lit by a single flickering bulb, seemed to close in around us. The faint scent of old wood and damp stone mixed with Zander’s presence, a heady combination that made it hard to think straight.
I shifted uncomfortably, not used to this kind of attention—especially the good kind. His intense gaze fixed on me was almost too much to bear. My heart raced, and my palms felt clammy.
His commanding presence paired with his large frame filled the room, making it feel even smaller. The power radiating off him, a tangible that made my skin tingle. Every part of me wanted to shrink away, to hide from the overwhelming intensity, but another part - one I didn't fully understand - wanted to lean into it, to let it wash over me.
Glancing around, I search for something, anything to break the tension. My eyes landed on the worn rug beneath my feet, the only piece of decoration in this other stark room. “So, um, what brings you here?” I asked, my voice wavering slightly in an attempt to make conversation
“I needed to make sure you were okay,” Zander said, his voice filled with concern.
"I'm fine," I replied, but my voice sounded unconvincing even to me as I averted my gaze. "Really, you don't need to worry about me."
He stepped closer, and I could feel the sense of unease radiating from him. Gently, he reached out and lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. "I do need to worry about you, Sirena," he said firmly. "You're my mate."
The intensity of the moment was almost overwhelming. His blue eyes seemed darker as they bore into mine. They held an emotion I couldn't wuite decipher - concern, protectiveness, something deeper. My breath hitched, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. This was real. He was serious.
"How are you taking all of this?" he asked, his tone softening but remaining serious.
I hesitated, my eyes darting away, the weight of his question pressing down on me. "It's a lot to process," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "Everything's changed so quickly. I still feel like I'm trying to catch my breath."
Silence filled the air again, thicker this time, pressing down on us. I could see the struggle in his eyes mirroring the struggle within me. The battle between fear and trust was evident.
"Please, sit," he said softly, gesturing to the small bed. "There’s a lot we need to discuss."
I nodded, my mind racing, and sat down. He took a seat on the bed. We were close enough that our knees almost touched. The proximity added a new layer of tension, a charged energy between us.
"Do you know much about mates?" he asked, his eyes never leaving mine.
I looked down, fidgeting with my hands. "A little," I admitted. "Rosaline, my friend, told me some things. Those mates are destined to be together, that it's a bond stronger than anything else."
He nodded, taking my hand in his. The warmth of his touch sent a light tingle through me. "That's right. The bond is powerful, Sirena. It's not just about destiny; it's about connection, trust, and mutual support. So, yes, we’re really mates."
I looked up at him, a mixture of hope and fear in my eyes. "Would you be rejecting me then?"
The very idea seemed to appal him. "No," he said firmly, his hand gentle but firm in mine. "I would never reject you, Sirena. You are my mate, wolfless or not. The bond between us is still strong, and it's something I value deeply."
"But... I'm wolfless," I said, my voice trembling.
"That doesn't matter to me, Sirena. Like I’ve said, you are my mate, wolfless or otherwise. Our bond is stronger than anything."
Tears welled up in my eyes, a mixture of relief and fear. "But I don't know how to be a mate, how to be... what you need."
"We'll figure it out together," he assured me, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on the back of my hand. "You don't have to have all the answers right now. What's important is that we face this together."
I took a shaky breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "What does it mean for me, being wolfless and... your mate?"
"It means you'll be the Queen Luna of our pack, my equal. It means you'll stand by my side, leading our people. And it means that no matter what, you will always have my protection, my loyalty, and my love."
The word "love" sent a shiver down my spine. Could he really mean that? Could he truly love me despite everything?
"I know it's a lot," he continued, sensing my turmoil. "But you are stronger than you realize, Sirena. I've seen it in you, felt it. And together, we'll make this work."
I nodded, the weight of his words settling into my heart. "Okay," I whispered, the word carrying a world of uncertainty and hope.
He smiled, a rare and beautiful sight. "We'll take it one step at a time, Sirena. Just trust me."
"Okay," I echoed. "One step at a time."
For a moment, we sat in silence, the enormity of our conversation settling over us. Then, Zander spoke again, his voice filled with a quiet determination. "We'll start with the basics. I'll teach you everything you need to know about our world, our customs. And you'll teach me about your world, your strengths."
I looked up at him, a spark of hope igniting in my chest. "I can do that," I said, my voice gaining strength. "I want to do that."
"Good," he said, his smile widening. "Because we have a lot to learn from each other."
The sun's soothing light filtered through the window, casting a warm glow over us, I felt a flicker of something new. It was the beginning of a journey, one filled with uncertainty but also with the promise of something greater. And for the first time, I felt like I wasn't facing it alone.
And with that promise, a new chapter began, one filled with uncertainty but also with the promise of something greater.