CHAPTER 5 - THE ALPHA PRINCE
1154 Words
ZANE’S POV
The morning of my coronation arrived with a feeling I had not expected. I stood in my chambers at the palace, staring at my reflection in the mirror, with the ceremonial robes laying heavy on my shoulders. I should have been focused on the ceremony, on the pack, on my duty. But my mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of a woman with dark hair and sad eyes.
I had not been able to stop thinking about her since that night at the bar. The way she looked at me like she was drowning and I was her only lifeline. The way she felt in my arms, so soft and broken and perfect. I had told her I would find her, but I had failed. I did not even know her full name.
“Get yourself together, Zane,” I muttered to myself. “You are about to be crowned Alpha Prince. Focus.”
The door swung open and my father walked in, with a commanding presence as always. Alpha Alaric was an imposing figure, even in his old age. Then he studied me with his sharp eyes, with a hint of a smile on his lips.
“Look at you,” he said, in a voice thick with pride. “My son, about to be crowned Alpha Prince. Your mother would have been so proud.”
I forced a smile on my face. “Thank you, Father.”
He walked closer and placed a hand firmly on my shoulder, and said with a solemn expression on his face. “You have grown into a strong Alpha, Zane. The pack is ready for you, and the people are eager to meet their new leader.”
I nodded and said, “I will not let you down.”
“I know you will not,” He said proudly. Then he narrowed his eyes sightly. “But there is something else we must discuss. The pack needs stability, and that means you need a Luna.”
I froze for a moment. Then I turned to look at him and smiled. “Father, I just returned. There is time.”
“Time is a luxury we do not have, son,” he said firmly. “The pack looks to its Alpha for strength and direction. A Luna by your side will give them hope. You need to find a mate, Zane. Someone strong and beautiful, someone who can lead beside you.”
I said nothing, because I could not tell him that my heart already belonged to a woman I did not even know.
Then he squeezed my shoulder lightly and lowered his voice. “I am not forcing you into a marriage. But I expect you to take this seriously. The future of the pack depend on it.”
“Yes, Father,” I said quietly.
He studied me for a moment longer, then nodded. “Good. I will see you at the ceremony.”
And then he was gone, leaving me alone once more with my thoughts.
The door opened again and Tristan walked in, my Beta and closest friend. He looked at me with a knowing expression, but there was something else in his eyes. Something nervous.
“You look like man about to face his execution,” he said, leaning against the wall. “Not a man about to be crowned Alpha Prince.”
I laughed bitterly. “It feels the same.”
Tristan raised an eyebrow and said, “I have been doing what you asked. Searching for any sign of her.”
My heart leaped excitedly. “And? Did you find her?”
He shook his head slowly. “I have been asking around, quietly ofcourse, because I did not want to raise suspicion. But I have not found her yet, Zane. I only have a little information.”
“What information?” I demanded and stepped closer.
“I know she is a Sinclair.”
My heart missed a beat. I tilted my head slightly and asked, “A Sinclair? That means she is from this pack?”
“Yes,” Tristan said. “She is a member of the Nightcrest Pack. But that is all I know for now. There are many Sinclairs in this Pack. So I need more time.”
I inhaled deeply and ran a hand through my hair, as frustration biold up innmy chest. Then I said calmly, “I need to find her, Tristan. I need to see her again. After the coronation, I will search for her myself.”
“Zane, the ceremony—”
“I do not care about the ceremony,” I said firmly. “She is here. She has been here all along, so I need to find her.”
Tristan studied me for a moment, then he nodded. “Alright. We will find her. But first, you need to get through the ceremony. The Pack is waiting for you.”
I took a deep breath and nodded. “Alright. Let us get this over with.”
The ceremony was grand, just as expected. The stage was decorated with the symbols of our pack, and the colorful crowd filled the whole venue. I walked out into the light, with the heavy crown in my hands, and the crowd erupted into cheers.
“Long live the Alpha Prince!”
I scanned the crowd, searching for her, hoping she was there. And then I saw her and my heart stopped. She was standing in the crowd, her dark hair catching the light, and her eyes were wide with shock.
Aria.
She was here. She was real. I could see the recognition on her face, and the disbelief. Without thinking, I took a step forward, ready to go to her, opening my mouth to speak her name.
But then the mate bond snapped into place. And it pulled me tiwards a woman I had not even noticed, a blonde woman standing near the front. I felt the bond tie our souls together, but there was no warmth, no pull. It felt so hollow and wrong.
“Aurora Sinclair?” The name left my lips before I could stop it, with confusion thick in my voice.
The blonde woman stepped forward with a triumphant smile on her face and bowed slightly, “Yes, Alpha. I am here.”
The crowd erupted into cheers instantly. “The Luna! The Luna has been found!”
I stood frozen, unable to move, and unable to breathe. I looked at the crowd, at the cheering faces, and then, looked at Aria. She was staring back at me with wide wounded eyes, and I could see the pain in them, the devastation.
My heart ached terribly. No! This was not what I wanted. This was not who I wanted. I wanted her, Aria. I had always wanted her.
But I was bound to the wrong sister.
- Writer
