The Silver Wolf Series

Chapter Eleven:The Royal Prince

Fiona pressed her back against the column, trying to steady her breathing. The Alpha

King had looked at her like he was trying to solve a puzzle. Like his ancient wolf sensed

something off but couldn't quite identify what. Too close, Sinead said, her voice shaken. He almost saw us. We need to be more careful.

She needed to be more careful. More guarded.

The music swelled, and the herald's voice rang out across the ballroom.

"His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Callum Thorne."

The entire room shifted.

Every head turned toward the entrance. Every conversation stopped. Even the

orchestra seemed to play softer, as if the music itself was bowing to his presence.

And inside Fiona's mind, Sinead went absolutely still.

The she-wolf's attention snapped toward the entrance with laser focus, her entire being

suddenly alert in a way Fiona had never felt before. It wasn't fear. It wasn't wariness.

It was recognition.

What— Fiona started to think.

But Sinead didn't answer. The she-wolf was completely focused on the entrance,

waiting, her consciousness expanding outward like she was searching for something.

And then he walked in.

Fiona had heard stories about the Alpha Prince her entire life. How he was the strongest

wolf of his generation. How he'd led successful campaigns against rogue factions. How

he was being groomed to take over the kingdom one day. How he was handsome,

powerful, and utterly unattainable.

The stories hadn't done him justice.

Prince Callum Thorne was tall—easily six and a half feet—with broad shoulders that

filled out his black formal suit perfectly. His hair was dark, almost black, and slightly too

long, giving him a roguish edge that contrasted with the formal setting. But it was his

face that made Fiona's breath catch. Sharp cheekbones, a strong jaw, and eyes that

were an unusual amber-gold, like sunlight through whiskey.

He moved with the fluid grace of a predator, his power radiating outward in waves that

made every wolf in the room instinctively straighten.

And inside Callum's mind, his wolf Triton was hunting.

The wolf had been restless all evening, pacing with anticipation. But the moment they

crossed the threshold into the ballroom, Triton's entire focus sharpened to a single point.

She's here, Triton said with absolute certainty. Our mate is HERE. Callum's gaze swept across the room, but it wasn't a search. Triton knew exactly where to look. The wolf's consciousness reached out, seeking, finding—

There.

Behind a marble column. Trying to hide. Trying to disappear.

THERE, Triton roared with possessive certainty. OURS. MATE. GO TO HER NOW.

The unmated she-wolves pressed forward, trying to catch his attention. They smiled,

they preened, they broadcast their interest with every fiber of their being.

Prince Callum's gaze swept past them all. He was looking for something. Someone.

His fated mate.

And Triton had already found her.

Fiona pressed harder against the column, trying to disappear into the marble. She didn't

want his attention. Didn't want those amber eyes to land on her. She just wanted to

survive this night and go home and—

His gaze found her.

Across the entire ballroom, through hundreds of people, Prince Callum's eyes locked

onto Fiona's.

And the world stopped.

Inside Fiona's mind, Sinead exploded with recognition. MATE! The she-wolf's howl

was so loud, so visceral, so absolutely certain that Fiona nearly staggered under the force

of it. MATE! MATE! MATE! TRITON! OUR MATE!

MOON GODDESS CHOSE HIM FOR US!

Fiona couldn't breathe. Couldn't move. Couldn't think. She felt pinned in place by that

stare, like a butterfly on a collector's board.

And inside Callum's mind, Triton was roaring with equal force.

SINEAD, the wolf declared with absolute possession. OUR MATE. BLESSED. OURS.

GO TO HER. CLAIM HER. NOW.

The mate bond snapped into place between them like a physical force—invisible to

everyone else but undeniable to the two wolves who recognized each other across the

crowded ballroom. Destiny crystallizing in a single moment of eye contact.

Callum's expression shifted—confusion, then surprise, then something else. Something

intense and focused and utterly terrifying. He started walking toward her.

No, Fiona thought desperately. No, no, no—

The crowd parted for him like water. She-wolves stepped aside, their faces falling as

they realized he wasn't looking at them. He was looking past them. Through them.

At her.

Sinead was throwing herself against Fiona's control now, desperate to surge forward,

desperate to shift, desperate to show herself to Triton. The she-wolf's joy was

overwhelming, all-consuming.

MATE, Sinead sang with absolute certainty. OUR MATE. TRITON. OURS. Moon

Goddess Chose Us. Perfect. Perfect. Need To Go To Him. Need To

Claim Him. Need To—

We can't, Fiona thought desperately, fighting to keep her wolf contained. He can't know.

No one can know.

HE ALREADY KNOWS, Sinead declared. Triton Recognized Us. We Recognized Him. Mate Bond Is Real. Cannot Hide From Destiny.

Inside Callum's mind, Triton was equally certain.

She's trying to hide, the wolf observed with possessive amusement. Sinead is there. We

can feel her. But the human is afraid.

She's terrified, Callum thought, seeing the panic in Fiona's eyes even as he moved

closer.

Doesn't matter, Triton declared with absolute authority. She's OURS. Her wolf knows it.

The human will accept it. We claim what's ours.

Prince Callum stopped in front of her, and up close, he was even more overwhelming.

He towered over her, his presence filling her entire field of vision. She could smell him—

pine and winter air and something wild and untamed that made Sinead whine with

recognition and longing.

TRITON, Sinead whispered with reverent joy. Can smell him. Can sense him. OURS.

"Hello," he said, and his voice was deep and rough, like distant thunder.

Fiona's mouth had gone completely dry. "Your Highness," she managed, dropping into

another curtsy because it was the only thing she could think to do. “What’s your name?"

"Fiona. Fiona Moonstone."

"Fiona." He said it slowly, like he was tasting it. Inside his mind, Triton purred with

satisfaction. Perfect. Her name is perfect. Everything about her is perfect.

"Moon River Pack?" Callum asked.

She nodded, not trusting her voice.

Prince Callum's head tilted slightly, his amber eyes studying her with an intensity that

made her feel naked. Triton was studying her too, through Callum's eyes, taking in every

detail of their mate.

Beautiful, Triton declared. Strong. Trying to hide, but we see her.

"Why are you hiding back here?"

"I'm not hiding," Fiona lied. Sinead whimpered at the lie, hating the denial.

Not hiding, Sinead protested. Waiting. Waiting for mate. And he CAME. He found us!

A hint of amusement touched his lips. "While every other unmated she-

wolf in this room is trying to get my attention, you're hiding behind a column."

"I'm not trying to get your attention, Your Highness."

"I noticed." He stepped closer, and Fiona's back pressed against the marble. Sinead

surged forward with desperate longing, wanting to close the distance, wanting to touch

him, wanting to claim him.

"Why not?" Callum asked.

Because I'm terrified you'll sense what I am. Because I'm hiding a secret that could get

me killed. Because you're looking at me like you can see straight through every lie I've

ever told.

"Because I'm wolfless," Fiona said instead. "There's no point in trying to catch the

attention of someone looking for their fated mate when I don't have a wolf to recognize

the bond."

It was the perfect excuse. The logical explanation. The reason she should be invisible to

him. Sinead howled with anguish at the denial. But Prince Callum's expression didn't

change. If anything, he looked more intrigued.

Because Triton was laughing in his mind.

She's lying, Triton said with absolute certainty. Her wolf is RIGHT THERE. We can feel

her. Sense her. She's powerful. Beautiful. OURS.

"Wolfless," Callum repeated. "That's what they say about you?"

"That's what I am."

"Interesting." He was still studying her, his gaze moving from her face to her hair to the

sapphire gown she wore. "Because I've met wolfless humans before, and they don't feel

like you."

Fiona's heart slammed against her ribs. Sinead went very still, suddenly wary.

He knows, Sinead whispered. Triton told him. He KNOWS.

"I don't know what you mean."

"Don't you?" He leaned in slightly, and Fiona caught another wave of his scent. Sinead

went absolutely wild, throwing herself against Fiona's control with desperate,

overwhelming force.

"There's something about you, Fiona Moonstone. Something I can't quite identify. But

it's there." "You're mistaken, Your Highness."

"I'm never mistaken." It wasn't arrogance. It was simple fact. Inside his mind, Triton's

certainty was absolute. "Tell me—do you feel it too?" "Feel what?"

"This." He gestured between them, and Fiona realized with horror that there was

something. A pull. A magnetic attraction that made her want to step closer even as every

logical part of her brain screamed to run.