The Luna He Threw Away

Lost Mate

The heavy scent of cedar, fresh rain, and dominant Alpha ozone filled the grand corridor. My legs moved before my brain could stop them. I descended the back servant stairs, bypassing the main hall where the elders were gathering to formally welcome the returning warriors.

I just needed to see him for a second. If I could look into his eyes without a crowd between us, I knew the ice from the courtyard would melt.

"Elena! Where do you think you're going?" Martha’s voice hissed from the laundry chute doorway. "I told you to stay out of the residential wing today!"

"I'll be right back, Martha," I called over my shoulder, keeping my voice a hurried whisper. "I just need to bring the Alpha his traveling cloak. The guards left it in the vestibule."

"Elena, don't—"

Her warning faded as I rounded the corner into the private eastern corridor. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. The golden thread in my chest grew warmer with every step, pulling me toward the heavy mahogany doors of Nikolai’s private quarters.

The two guards stationed at the door crossed their silver-tipped spears, blocking my path.

"Ranks are closed today, Omega," the guard on the left, a burly Beta named Gerald, barked. "The future Alpha is resting before the evening briefing."

"I have his personal effects," I said, holding up the dark velvet cloak I had grabbed from the luggage cart. "He... he likes his tea prepared immediately after a long journey. Please, Gerald."

Gerald looked at the other guard, a mocking smirk playing on his lips. "Right. The future Alpha's special servant. Let her through. But keep it quick, Winny. If the Alpha King catches you in this wing, our heads are on the chopping block."

"Thank you."

They parted the spears. I turned the brass handle and stepped into the room, shutting the door quietly behind me.

The room was vast, dominated by a massive four-poster bed and heavy velvet drapes. Nikolai stood by the arched window, his back to me. He had stripped off his heavy leather armor, wearing only a loose white linen shirt that clung to the broad expanse of his shoulders.

"I told the guards no interruptions," his voice rumbled, low and dangerous. The sheer power in his tone made my inner wolf bow, but the mate bond sang in triumph.

"It's me, Nikolai," I said softly.

He froze. Slowly, he turned around. The silver in his eyes caught the dim light of the room. For a fraction of a second, the harsh lines of his face softened. The tension in his jaw bled away, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.

He’s happy to see me, I thought, relief washing over me like a warm wave. He does care.

"Elena," he murmured, taking a single step toward me.

"You were gone so long," I said, my voice cracking slightly as I walked closer, holding out the cloak. "The letters you sent were so brief. I was worried the northern packs had—"

"I am the future Alpha King, Elena. You don't need to worry about things beyond your understanding," he interrupted, his tone shifting instantly as he took the cloak from my hands and tossed it carelessly onto a chair. The warmth in his eyes vanished, replaced by a cool, detached distance. "Why were you standing on the public balcony earlier? I told you before I left that you belong in the lower wings during arrival ceremonies."

My heart sank. "I wanted to see you arrive. Everyone was shouting your name, and I... I just wanted to welcome my mate home."

Nikolai walked over to his desk, pouring amber liquid from a crystal decanter into a short glass. "In this palace, I am an Alpha first, and a mate second. My father’s eyes are on everything. You standing out there like a lost pup makes us both look weak."

"A lost pup?" The words stung, turning my relief into a dull ache. "Nikolai, Tanya and the others mock me every single day because you won't publicly acknowledge the bond. They call me a servant. They say the Moon Goddess made a mistake."

Nikolai took a slow sip of his drink, his silver eyes tracking me over the rim. "And why do you care what servants say? You have a roof over your head. Your tuition at the academy was paid. You are allowed inside my private quarters. Is that not enough for you?"

"I want to stand by your side," I whispered, stepping closer, my hand reaching out to touch his arm. "I want to be your Luna, Nikolai. The bond chose us."

He caught my wrist before I could touch him. His grip wasn't painful, but it was unyielding—a physical reminder of the massive gap in our strength.

"A Luna is chosen by political necessity and bloodline, Elena," he said, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "The bond gives me a right to you. It does not give you a right to my throne. My father is already furious that I keep you here. Do not push your luck."

Before I could answer, a sharp, rhythmic knock echoed through the door.

"Alpha Nikolai," Gerald’s voice called out from the hallway. "The Alpha King has arrived in the Great Hall. He requests your presence immediately. Lady Bridget of the Bloodcrest Pack has arrived with her father."

Nikolai released my wrist, his expression instantly smoothing into a perfect, regal mask. He picked up his ceremonial jacket from the bed, slipping it over his shoulders.

"Stay here until the corridor clears," he ordered, not looking at me as he fastened the silver buttons. "I have duties to attend to."

"Who is Lady Bridget?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Nikolai paused at the door, his hand on the brass handle. He turned his head slightly, his profile sharp against the dim room. "She is the daughter of a powerful ally. A pureblood Alpha female. Be smart, Elena. Don't make a scene today."

He opened the door and walked out, leaving the scent of his absolute authority lingering in the empty room.

I stood frozen for a long moment, the golden pulse in my chest now feeling like a branding iron. He’s just doing what his father wants, I told myself, the lie tasting like ash in my mouth. He has to be diplomatic.

Driven by a desperate, masochistic need to see the truth, I waited a few minutes before slipping out of his room. I followed the high gallery that overlooked the Great Hall, hiding behind the thick stone pillars where the shadows were deepest.

Below, the Great Hall was a sea of glittering banners and elite wolves. At the center stood the Alpha King, his chest puffed out with pride.

Nikolai walked down the grand staircase, his head held high. The crowd parted for him, bowing out of respect.

At the bottom of the stairs waited a striking she-wolf. She wore a gown of crimson silk, her long blonde hair braided with silver threads. Her aura was loud, vibrant, and undeniably powerful. Lady Bridget.

As Nikolai reached her, he didn't offer the cold, distant nod he had given me. Instead, he took her hand, bowing his head slightly in a gesture of deep, public courtship. He offered her a devastatingly handsome smile—the kind of smile I had prayed to see in his room just minutes ago.

The Alpha King stepped forward, his booming voice echoing off the stone walls, silencing the entire room.

"Packs of the Northern Territories!" the King announced, raising a golden chalice. "The Silver Fang Pack has secured our borders! To celebrate our victory, and to honor the ancestors who guide our bloodlines, I declare a Grand Moon Festival in seven days!"

The room erupted into thunderous cheers and howls.

"And at the climax of this festival," the King continued, his gaze drifting pointedly toward Nikolai and Lady Bridget, who still held hands at the center of the room, "my son will make an announcement that will secure the eternal future and dominance of our royal lineage!"

Bridget beamed, leaning her head closer to Nikolai’s shoulder. Nikolai didn't pull away. He stood tall, accepting the congratulations of the elders, his silver eyes shining with ambition.

Up in the shadows of the gallery, I pressed my hand against my mouth to stifle a sob. The cheap moonstone necklace around my neck felt heavier than a shackle.

Seven days and my mate would be taken from me.