His Mate. His Claim. His Mistake

Heat

Lilith

This was my first time at the Lycan palace and my first time facing a crowd this massive.

The outside celebration was already in full swing when we arrived. Even the parking structure made me hesitate. My uncle’s modest sedan looked laughably out of place beside the sleek predators surrounding it Lamborghinis, limited editions, and custom builds gleaming under artificial lights.

Stepping through the entrance of the open air banquet, a soft gasp escaped me. High ceilings stretched upward. Grand chandeliers spilled golden light over historical artwork while guests draped in silk and velvet laughed in an intoxicating roar of power and privilege.

We had barely taken ten steps before a group of stressed Omega representatives rushed over. They whispered frantically. Uncle Reginald dragged a hand down his face and let out a weary breath. He turned to me, eyes filled with apology.

“Some changes were made to the invite list. Not everyone can go in. This is only the general celebration.”

Only he and Aunt Evelyn could enter the inner hall.

“Go, Uncle,” I said quietly. “We’ll be fine.”

He vanished into the huddle of officials, leaving Aunt Evelyn and me near the edge of the open hall. The music swirled around us, heavy and regal. If this was only the overflow, I couldn’t imagine the exclusive gathering inside.

Before I could process it, another Omega rushed over and whispered frantically to Aunt Evelyn. She hesitated, her gaze darting between me and the crowd.

“Lilith…”

“I’m nineteen, not nine, Auntie.” I offered a small, reassuring smile. “Go on. I’ll be fine.”

She held my gaze a second longer, then hurried toward the inner doors.

Just like that, I was alone.

At nineteen I already had my wolf, but I had been homeschooled my entire life. Uncle said it was safer that way. Safe. That single word had built my world: no friends, no outings, no life beyond our front door.

My wolf stirred beneath my skin, humming with unaccustomed excitement. Wanting to see the room without getting jostled, I slipped around the edges of the crowd until I spotted a staircase tucked into a dimly lit corner.

Each step carried me away from the chaos until the air grew quiet. From the shadowed upper landing, I leaned over the railing and watched couples glide across the dance floor as light shimmered off glass and jewels.

Beautiful.

“Quite a sight, isn’t it?”

The deep, amused voice beside me made me take a quick step back.

“Yes,” I said softly. “It’s lovely.”

I turned fully toward him and my breath caught.

Recognition hit. I had seen him on screens, broadcasts, and posters.

The Lycan King.

My heart stumbled. “Your Highness.” I curtsied hastily, panic spiking. What was he doing out here? Wasn’t he supposed to be inside?

I was too close. I turned immediately, ready to vanish down the stairs.

“Please, stay,” his voice stopped me. “ understand it can get chaotic down there myself included.” He gave a light, tired chuckle. “I needed some air. I won’t deny you such a well-chosen hiding spot.”

I hesitated, looking back over my shoulder. “I’m not supposed to be here.”

“I didn’t ask you to leave,” he replied softly. “After all, I found you first.”

I slowly nodded and stepped back toward the railing. *Avoid Lycan royals.* Aunt Evelyn’s stern warning echoed in my mind, but running now felt more dangerous than staying.

He didn’t speak again, but I felt the weight of his gaze as I pretended to watch the dancers below. When I finally glanced at him, his expression had softened completely. This wasn’t the imposing ruler I had heard about. He looked… kind. Almost as if he knew me.

“That is a lovely necklace,” he noted after a long pause.

My fingers went to my collarbone, touching the worn silver band. Aunt Evelyn had told me to leave it at home because it did not match my dress, but it had belonged to my mother. I could not leave it behind.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He stared at the pendant, his eyes narrowing as if reading a small script.

“Where did you get that?” he asked, taking a step toward me.

“It belonged to my mother,” I said, taking a step back to keep distance between us.

His eyes rose to my face. His expression shifted rapidly before he smoothed it into complete neutrality.

“My apologies,” he said, voice flat and controlled. He cleared his throat, turned, and began walking down the corridor.

He slowed a few paces away, stopped, and looked back at me over his shoulder.

“You look just like her.”

I wasn’t sure if he said it or mouthed it.

“Huh?”

Before I could ask, he was gone, disappearing into the shadows of the corridor.

I stood frozen. How could my mother have known someone like him? I must have misunderstood.

Tightening my grip on the necklace, I gave a small, late curtsy to the empty hallway, my mind spinning.

He had known I was no ordinary Omega a Demi, even. But he had still spoken to me. Kindly.

By the time I reached the bottom of the stairs, the main party had descended into wild, drunken noise. As I squeezed through the dense crowd looking for my aunt, a heavily built Alpha stumbled straight into me.

Before I could back away, his hand shot out and slapped my hip, grabbing at my dress.

“Watch it, little Omega,” he sneered. Then his eyes locked on mine, shifting into something dark. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.”

He lunged, catching me around the waist.

“Get off me!” I shoved at his arm in pure disgust.

Desperate to break free, I yanked back hard. My wrist caught sharply against the heavy metal buckle of his belt.

The silver bead bracelet my uncle had warned me never to remove snapped in two. Silver beads scattered across the marble floor, bouncing under the boots of dancing nobles.

Panic hit my chest like ice. “No!”

I dropped to my knees, frantically trying to scoop up the pieces before they were crushed, but no one cared. Drunk guests shoved past me, kicking the beads into the dark corners.

*Do not take it off.*

My skin began to prickle with a sudden, abnormal heat. I couldn’t breathe. *Head straight to the car at nine o’clock,* my uncle’s voice echoed in my head.

Abandoning the lost beads, I forced myself up, shoved through the sea of bodies, and burst through the exit doors.

The cold night air hit my face, but my skin was still burning. Limping toward the parking structure with my head throbbing, I had only one goal: find the car and wait.

The concrete parking garage swallowed me in darkness and long shadows. I spotted our modest sedan near the back and felt a flicker of relief until a shadow detached itself from between two luxury cars.

“Little Omega.”

I spun around.

A tall, broad man stepped into the light. His expensive suit hung open, his shirt untucked, and his eyes glazed with predatory hunger.

“Where are you going?” He swayed toward me, nostrils flaring. “God, you smell exotic. Pretty little Omega… all alone out here.”

Disgust rolled through me.

“I’m not alone,” I stammered, trying to double around him. “My uncle—”

“Your uncle’s inside drinking cheap wine,” he cut me off, his hand shooting out and locking around my wrist like an iron clamp. “No one’s coming for you, sweetheart.”

“Let me go!”

“Stop making a scene,” he grumbled, pulling me toward him. His breath reeked of alcohol. “You should not be walking around smelling like this if you do not want attention. This is what your kind is good for anyway. Be nice. It’ll be easier if you’re good.”

Terror crashed over me. My wolf clawed frantically at the surface, but I didn’t know how to let her out. I yanked back wildly. My ankle twisted on the concrete. I fell hard, the impact knocking the air straight out of my lungs.

“Help!” I screamed into the empty garage. “Someone, help!”

He dragged me across the pavement like a rag doll, pinning me down as his hands moved over my face and neck. “Stay still. You’re fine.”

I wasn’t fine.

I was going to die.

Panic exploded suffocating, sharp, absolute.

A sudden, deafening roar tore through the garage, vibrating in my bones.

The weight vanished from my chest as a dark shape slammed the man sideways into the metal door of a parked car with a heavy crash.

I gasped, pulling air back into my lungs. The temperature in the garage seemed to spike instantly. Heat surged through my veins, making my skin prickle from head to toe.

I looked up from the pavement.

A tall man stood over the groaning Alpha, his shoulders broad and posture rigid. He turned around slowly.

His scent hit me next: heavy, rich, like pine and crushed leaves after rain. It filled my nose and made my muscles lock.

His dark eyes found mine, looking over me from head to toe.

Every instinct inside me locked onto one single word.

*Mate.*

Then I looked at his face. The sharp jaw, those eyes… they looked just like the King’s.

Which meant he was the prince.

Lycan royal.

Run.

Before I could even scramble backward, that terrible, violent heat erupted beneath my skin, spreading to every limb with terrifying certainty.

The silver bracelet was gone. My suppressants had failed.

I was going into heat right in front of him.