CHAPTER 2

ESMERAY

I watched as my father raised his right hand to signal orderliness in the chamber, and everyone became calm.

Then afterward, he read the rules that must be followed in the battle of the Alphas on the other side of the wall.

I stood beside my father, my arms wrapped around his, wondering who among these Alphas would come out victorious and claim me as his fated mate as my gaze circled the dozens of Alphas.

Oh, how long I have longed to meet the one Alpha for me.

I couldn't remember the exact day I started yearning for my mate like a breath of life. Although I knew my mother's beautiful story she told me every night when I was much younger about how my father claimed her had a hand in it.

I was a bit anxious amidst more than 200 Alphas, and my mate is staring at me right now.

"What will my mate be thinking of me as he watches me stand right here?" The thought ran freely in my head.

My curiosity about that question made me scream joyfully in my belly while I tried to control my emotions from showing too much on my face.

I couldn't help it. I had been looking forward to this day for a long time. All my neighboring princesses already found their mate at a much younger age than me.

Some at age 16, others at age 15, but the majority of them I knew found theirs at age 14.

I recently turned 18 years old, and I haven't the slightest idea who my mate is, although my wolf, Fox, has been awakened since I was 14 years old.

The reason for this was that centuries ago, our kingdom needed an Alpha king. However, the princess never found her mate, and then they met with the Moon Goddess to prevent the kingdom from perishing without an Alpha king.

A Moon pact was formed between the Moon Goddess and our kingdom. Whenever the princess turned 18 years old, a battle of the Alphas would be held to choose the next Alpha king.

That was how it had been done for centuries, and my case was no different.

My father was finally done with his speech, and the mighty gate to the wilderness where the battle would take place was now declared opened.

I watched from my father's arms as the Alphas shook the ground with their steps, dashing toward the opened gate while creating sounds like earthquakes.

Their movements were frenzied, like a swarm of scattered ants as they collided with each other.

I tightened my grip around Father as their sudden movements frightened me. I certainly wouldn't want to be down there while they ran at such a pace for my safety.

Suddenly, my gaze landed on him.

This Alpha simply stood there while the others ran towards the gate. I caught his gaze, which was also fixed in my direction, and our eyes locked.

"Mate!" Fox howled with joy and confusion.

My eyes widened upon hearing Fox's words in my thoughts, and I still didn't take my eyes off the mysterious Alpha.

My heart started pounding right where I stood. I froze, my eyes still locked on my supposed 'mate' as he stood there like a motionless statue, devoid of any emotion.

"What do you mean, mate?" I asked Fox.

"He is our mate."

"But... But... but the battle of the Alphas is yet to begin. That shouldn't be possible," I said to Fox, my voice stuttering slightly.

Now, my attention was fully focused on this Alpha. I didn't understand why he had been marked as my Mate, something I had long awaited—to find my mate. And now, he was standing in the same building as me.

This wasn't how my predecessors had found their fated mates, and I wasn't sure whether to feel joyful about my newfound mate or see it as a curse. Despite my uncertainty, a wave of joy washed over me like never before.

My legs started moving before I even realized it, and I felt my hands slowly slipping away from Father's arms.

"Where are you going, my daughter?" Father asked.

"I have a slight headache. I'll go to my room and rest for a bit," I replied to Father while walking away from him without glancing in his direction.

Lying to my father broke my heart, but it was the only excuse that came to mind in that moment—it slipped out of my tongue before I knew it. What was I doing? I didn't know.

I found my footing and stepped out of the chambers the same way I had entered, with my palace guards escorting me. I was now heading in the direction where I had seen my fated mate, walking fast enough to catch up to the Alpha before he proceeded to the battlefield.

What was I going to do when I stood in front of him? Would my anxiety overwhelm me, despite having looked forward to this moment all my life?

"No, you'll be just fine," Fox tried to calm me down, but I could sense her own anxiety.

Just a little while ago, I had wondered what my Alpha would think of me as I stood beside my father, and now I was about to find out.

My heart soared with joy as I closed the distance in the direction where I had spotted him earlier, and my heart raced faster.

I had instructed my personal guards to wait for me at the entrance of the chambers before proceeding alone down the hall to have some privacy with him.

I didn't plan on rushing through the throng of Alphas to reach him, but rather to find a way to make him come to me.

Lost in my thoughts as I walked down the hall, a hand suddenly grabbed my wrist with firm yet gentle force.

Before I could comprehend what was happening, my back came kissing the wall in an intimate position, and the hand still didn't release its grip on my wrist.

My eyes opened wide to meet his enchanting pale green eyes, staring directly into mine. It captivated my wolf as much as it captivated me. He had the most perfect face.

The jawline of a god, with eyes so clear I could see myself in them. And his skin, oh, his skin reflected diamond-like sparkles from the gentle rays of the sun that streamed through the side window of the hall and kissed his skin.

He stood right in front of me, so close that his wrist lightly brushed against mine, being careful not to hurt me. He was my mate.

All the words I had meticulously planned to say to my mate over the years vanished from my mind, and I found myself simply gazing into his captivating eyes, just as he did with me.

"I reject you as my fated mate. You are free to choose another," his husky voice descended, crushing my hopes. And as if that weren't enough, he went even further.

"I have no interest in this mate nonsense. You are merely a distraction; do not obstruct my path, princess."

And at that moment, my wolf, Fox, howled...