His Mate. His Claim. His Mistake

Lycan's

Theo

“Where have you been?”

“s**t—”

My foot slipped on the window frame. The world tilted and I crashed onto the floor hard enough to rattle my teeth.

Mom was already there, sitting in the shadows of my room like she owned them. Perfect posture. Perfect composure. Every inch the Lycan Luna, carved from moonlight and steel. One leg crossed elegantly over the other, she watched me the same way she watched council members who had just made a costly mistake.

Her gaze moved from the open window, to me, then back to the sill.

“You know,” she said at last, “most princes use doors.”

I pushed myself up, brushing dust from my clothes. She shook her head slowly.

“You are going to take over this kingdom someday, Theo.” Her voice was calm, edged with the kind of steel that had ended wars. “And you choose to sneak in through your window like a delinquent?”

I shrugged. “Front door’s boring.”

“Theodore.”

There it was. The full name.

I sighed, crossed the room, and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. “Hello to you too, Mother.”

She didn’t pull away. By her standards, that was practically a hug.

“You were absent from council again.”

“I was delayed.”

“You were avoiding it.”

“…Also true.”

“You can’t keep doing this.” Her voice softened, but only slightly. “You know your father and I won’t be here forever.”

My smile dropped.

“He will,” I said, sharper than I meant to. “He’s not going anywhere. Neither of you are.”

I hated these conversations. Lately everyone wanted to remind me that my father’s time was limited. I refused to picture it. My family wasn’t temporary.

She studied me for a moment. Something softer flickered behind her eyes before it vanished.

“And your mate?”

I turned away, grabbing a shirt from the floor and tossing it onto a chair.

Eight years since my first shift. Eight years of silence from the bond. No pull. No instinct. Nothing.

“So when is she supposed to show up?” I muttered. “If she even exists?”

“Then you choose one,” Mom said smoothly. “A chosen mate is still an option if your fated is unsuitable. Or nonexistent.”

The idea settled like lead in my stomach. Choosing. Settling. That wasn’t how it was supposed to work.

“She exists,” I said under my breath. “I’m not forcing a bond.”

I’d heard the way Father talked about finding his true mate. How complete it felt. I wanted that. Nothing less.

“Why are you so certain?” she asked.

I didn’t have a real answer. Only the stubborn certainty that she was out there somewhere.

“She could be a late bloomer,” I offered.

Mom’s frown deepened. “Lycans are not late bloomers. That would mean she is defective. And a Lycan heir does not get fated to a defective mate.”

I shrugged. “Maybe the Moon Goddess just enjoys making me wait.”

Either way, I’d already waited eight years. A little longer wouldn’t kill me.

Mom sighed and dropped the subject. “Come along. Your father is getting ready.” She turned my face toward hers, expression deadly serious. “Tonight is his birthday, Theo. Show up on time.”

“I will,” I promised.

Before we even reached the dressing room, I could hear Father’s voice. We stepped inside and walked straight into Ethan.

“Watch it—”

His identical face stared back at me, eyes lighting up. Same hair. Same build, though he hadn’t quite filled out yet. Same smirk, practiced in the mirror until it matched mine.

He grinned. “Bro… where have you been?”

I smirked and didn’t answer.

“In some she-wolf’s thighs, probably,” he added with a snicker.

“Ethan,” Mother warned from behind us, sharp enough to cut glass.

He didn’t look sorry at all. I chuckled and shoved his shoulder. “Mind your business, pup.”

Father glanced over from where the tailors were fastening the heavy ceremonial clasp of his coat. “So he lives,” he muttered with an amused chuckle.

“I do.”

“You were absent from council again, son.”

I straightened automatically. “Apologies, Father.”

He gave me the look that said he already knew everything. When it came to his children, Father missed nothing.

“You should start preparing yourself,” he continued. “This kingdom will be yours one day.”

“Not for the next ten years at least,” I replied easily, snatching an apple from the side table and taking a bite. “We’ve got time.”

“You assume I do.”

“You do,” I shot back, pointing the apple at him. “You’re strong. Healthy. Not going anywhere.”

He let out a long sigh. “Theo…”

“Goddess above, what is it with everyone warning me that your time is running out?” I asked, exasperated. “Now you too?”

“Theodore—”

“You said it yourself,” I cut in with the grin that usually got me out of trouble. “You had no life once you became king. Sacrifices. Duty. Endless responsibilities. It’s a lifelong burden until death. I’ll spend more years ruling than just being me. So let me indulge a little while I can, yeah?”

A pause stretched between us. He turned from the window and studied me with eyes very much like my own.

“I do want you to live,” he said finally. “But don’t lose yourself in it.”

I nodded. Fair enough.

“I heard people are coming from far and wide,” Ethan muttered, scrolling through his phone.

“I still don’t know why you made this a general invitation, Jason,” Mom said, frowning slightly at Father.

“It’s necessary sometimes,” Father insisted.

That was the kind of man he was. He didn’t believe in inferiority. Omegas, Demis, werewolves, Lycans — in his eyes they were all children of the Moon Goddess. Equal parts of a greater whole.

“You gave us so much extra work,” Mom grumbled, adjusting his cuffs. “I had to go through the invitation list and security passes all over again.”

Ethan leaned forward, studying me with far too much interest. “You know… tonight’s banquet. Almost the entire kingdom will be there.”

“So?”

He grinned. “So there’s a chance you’ll finally meet your mate.”

I shrugged. “Maybe.”

“I already feel sorry for her,” Ethan added.

Father laughed before I could answer. “So do I.”

I looked between them. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Imagine finally meeting the love of your life…” Ethan paused dramatically. “…and it’s Theo.”

“Excuse me?”

Mother didn’t even look up as she smoothed Father’s collar. “She’ll need remarkable patience.”

Father nodded solemnly. “Perhaps counseling.”

“Do you think she’ll cry?” Ethan asked.

“And why would she cry?” I asked, thoroughly offended.

“Because she’s mated to you.”

“Those will be tears of joy,” I scoffed, crossing my arms. “I’m literally the perfect male. Crown Prince. Undefeated in combat. Master strategist—”

“And somehow he still can’t beat this old man at sparring,” Father interrupted smoothly.

“Burn,” Ethan cackled.

Father was the only man in the realm I had never been able to beat. We already had another match scheduled for next week. I was determined to win it.

*Looking back now, that’s what hurts the most. We always believed there would be another week with him. I was wrong.*

A sudden wave of restlessness thumped through me, that same haunting pull I’d been feeling for days. I slipped out of the dressing room into the hallway.

“Theo!” Ethan’s voice echoed as he came running after me. “You’ll be here tonight, right?”

I smirked and ruffled his hair. “Of course, baby brother.”

“I’m not a baby!”

To me he still was. Eager to finally shift and meet his Lycan. That would happen soon enough. I had been almost fourteen when I first shifted. Eight years had passed since then.

“I’m fifteen!” he protested.

“Almost,” I corrected.

“Get off me!”

I ignored him, messing his hair up even more. He ducked and swatted, but I had the height, the reach, and years of practice.

“Let’s see,” I mused, keeping my hand firmly on top of his head. “I was already walking, talking, and eating meat before you even existed, so you…”

I tapped his forehead lightly.

“…baby.”

He glared.

I laughed, released him, and turned to walk off.

“You’re really leaving again?” he called after me.

“Just for a bit. I need to pick up Dad’s gift.”

“You can’t leave me alone! Mom will torment me!”

I kept walking. “That sounds like a you problem.”

“But will you be here tonight?” he demanded.

“Yes, Ethan.”

“You better not miss it!”

I glanced back, strolling backward down the corridor. “It’s Dad’s birthday. How could I miss it?”

Besides, Mom had already looked me in the eye and made her expectations clear. I had a gift to pick up — something worthy of a king who already had everything. I would probably be late to the main entrance, like always.

But I would show up.

I had my family.

That was what mattered.

Nothing could ever go wrong.

At least… that was what I thought.