Prologue

Hazel Lavoie’s POV

My heart thumped wildly in my chest as the car sped away from the airport of Ioannina, following the winding roads up the Pindus Mountains in Northern Greece. My destination was the kingdom of Aromania, perched in a valley on the highest range of the Pindus Mountains. I had been here two years ago when I was sixteen. It was the most memorable trip of my life. 

I had experienced my first shift and realized who my mate was. 

It was none other than my first and only crush, Stavros Petrakis. Two years older, Stavros was the son of Theodore Bergeron, the Delta of the Luceres Pack. I’ve known Stavros since I was born, but everything changed ten years ago when the Whiteridge Pack attacked and overpowered our pack. We lost our family, home, and our village, Lucania, in the Northern Territories of Canada. 

Zephyrus, the Alpha’s son, and Stavros helped us flee Lucania to avoid death. We took shelter in Zephyrus’s ancestral home in Aromania. After a month, my grandparents arrived from Alaska to take me away with them, but I always kept in touch with Hera, Zephyrus’s twin, and my best friend. 

“We’ve entered the kingdom of Aromania, miss.” I blinked and focused on the royal chauffeur whom the Alpha King Georgios Averoff had sent for me. King Georgios was Zephyrus’s uncle and the ruler of Aromania. 

I took in the surroundings to confirm. At an elevation of 6000 feet above sea level, dense forests of European black pine and common beech, rocky ridges, mountain streams, and lakes stretched in front of me. Nothing had changed here in the last ten years. 

Shrouded in a blanket of thick fog, visibility was poor around the area, creating a magical ambiance all around. We came across the little hamlets dotting the slopes until I saw the familiar gigantic palace looming ahead of us! Nestled amidst the verdant Alpine meadows, the castle was still the most picturesque thing I had ever seen. 

Was Stavros as excited to meet me as I was to meet him? He had promised to accept me as his mate when I turned eighteen. I still remembered his promise. 

Grow up, Hazel! Maybe we can figure out this mate thing between us after you turn eighteen! 

It still echoed in my head as if he had uttered them now instead of two years ago. 

Did he remember? I grew up with one hope in my heart. It was to belong to him forever! 

The car stopped in the grand, expansive driveway of the castle and I hopped out. Where was everyone? 

I was expecting Hera and Stavros to welcome me with open arms. The attendants led me through the arched stone entrance to the cavernous entry room in the castle. My gaze fell on Luna Queen Helena and King Georgios seated right before me. The boys, Zephyrus and Prince Isaak, King Georgios’s son, were right behind them, but where was Stavros? 

“Welcome back, Hazel. It’s so nice to see you again,” said the king, and I bowed to him. “Come here and give me a hug.” 

“It’s nice to see you too, Uncle Georgios, Aunt Helena. How have you been?” I hugged both of them. It was truly surprising they were so down-to-earth and loving, despite their position and status. 

“We’ve been good. Why don’t you freshen up and join us for lunch?” said the queen. “Zeph, show her to her room.” 

Zephyrus and Isaak hugged me too and led me down the corridors to Hera’s room. They knew I wouldn’t stay anywhere else. The moment we knocked, Hera opened the door and squealed with delight, pouncing on me to wrap me in a bear hug. 

“At last, girl! I’ve been waiting for you all morning!” The others chuckled and left us alone. I wanted to ask them about Stavros, but they had already left.

“Yeah, my flight got delayed because of turbulent weather.” I hugged her back, genuinely happy to see my best friend after two years. 

“I can’t wait to catch up. Did you meet Stav?” I shook my head, anxiously waiting for her to update me about his whereabouts. Only Hera could understand why I was here. She knew how much I loved Stavros. I had been waiting to complete school and turn eighteen. Finally, two days after my birthday, I convinced my granny, Erica Payne, and arrived here on the first available flight. 

“Freshen up and let’s go out to look for him.” She released me and I smiled at her, my heart skipping a beat at her suggestion. 

“I’ll be ready in a jiffy!” I rushed to the washroom to freshen up. The attendant had already left my luggage in Hera’s room, but I would change later. I had to see Stavros first. Didn’t he know about my arrival? 

We went out but met Zephyrus’s youngest uncle, Alpha Omiros, and his wife, Daphne. They led us to the stately dining room, where the others were waiting for us. Lunch was a lavish affair, but my eyes scanned the crowd seated around the table. There were Leandros and Alexandrios, the Zeta’s sons who had fled with us, but where was Stavros? 

“He isn’t here,” whispered Hera, noticing the lost look on my face. “Don’t worry, we’ll go look for him.” 

I flashed a fake smile at everyone and interacted with them to the best of my abilities, but in reality, I waited for lunch to get over. At last, lunch was over and Hera pulled me along with her to the backside of the castle. 

“He should be in the fighting arena practicing for his next fight.” I nodded since practice for warfare was an important part of a warrior’s training. Zephyrus, Hera, and the boys were a part of the army of Aromania and fought battles for their kingdom. I couldn’t live such a life. I wasn’t a warrior! Therefore, it was best for me to leave for Alaska, but now things were different. I was the Beta’s mate. I had to get used to fighting, and I was ready, only for Stavros’s sake. 

I could do anything for him, even give up my life!

“This way. Where are you lost?” scolded Hera, and I negotiated a stone pillar and walked towards the gigantic doors to the fighting arena. 

Just as Hera had guessed, I saw five armed warriors fighting against one. Goosebumps erupted on my body, recognizing who it was. 

It was none other than Stavros, my beloved mate. 

Even the protective armor couldn’t shield him from me. Swords clashed, and I flinched at the deafening sound of metal scraping metal. My eyes widened at the sight in front of me. Stavros fought single-handed with the others, a strange glow emanating from his body. He sprang into the air as if he was a dragon! He broke every strike effectively with his sword, bringing his opponents down. 

“He’s good, isn’t he?” Hera’s remark brought me out of my daze. Yes, he was too good, but I suddenly couldn’t associate with him anymore. This wasn’t the shy, reserved, ever-smiling Stavros I fell in love with. I had never seen this aggressive side of his nature. 

He turned and took off his headgear, and looked straight at me, holding my gaze. His electric blue eyes sparkled, catching the glint of the sun while an orange hue emanated from his body. He looked different, unlike any shifter wolf I had ever seen! 

He didn’t look surprised to see me here. In fact, his eyes showed no signs of emotion as he approached me. Didn’t he recognize me? I looked the same as always! 

“Umm, I think his practice session is over. I’ll leave you to talk to him,” said Hera, escaping before I could stop her.  

I nodded absent-mindedly as I stood transfixed on the spot, hypnotized by his gaze. His ebony hair was shorter now, framing his perfectly chiseled jaw. It suited him better than the long hair he usually sported. Despite the armor, I could make out his bulkier and muscular form. His eyes swept over me, stripping me bare, and heat rushed to my cheeks. Did he notice how much I had grown? Did he notice how ready I was for him?

He stopped in front of me, his eyes still fixed on my face. He looked angry to see me instead of being happy. An unfamiliar emotion, something I couldn’t fathom, flickered across his features.

“Stavros, aren’t you happy to see me?” I whispered, my voice quivering a little. Yes, I felt hurt by his reaction to my presence. He didn’t look happy that I came here for him all the way from Alaska. 

“My reaction doesn’t count. Why are you here, Hazel?” He grabbed my wrist forcefully, and the feel of his roughened fingers on my skin made my pulse quicken. 

“I’m here for you. Don’t you remember your promise?” My heart sank with despair, realizing he had forgotten everything. This wasn’t my Stavros. How did my mate change so drastically in the last two years? My heart broke realizing he didn’t know I had left home to come to him forever. I had expected him to claim me. I had expected him to give me my happily ever after with him.

“What promise? I promised you nothing.” My wrist was still clamped in an unrelenting grip while I gaped at him. It was obvious he didn’t remember a thing. 

“You promised me we would figure out this mate thing between us after I turned eighteen!” He rolled his eyes and laughed, the mirthless, empty sound echoing along the cold stone walls surrounding us. 

“That was in jest. Don’t tell me you took me seriously. You’re so naïve, Hazel!” I hung my head in shame. No, I wasn’t naïve. I was stupid. Anger, and defiance, boiled inside me at his indifference. I was his fated mate, chosen for him by the Goddess. He had no right to trample on me.  

“But we’re fated mates, Stavros. Don’t you feel the mate bond between us?” I looked up into his eyes and all my anger and defiance slipped away. I watched his eyes beginning to glow–a white-hot heat growing where the electric blue had been just moments ago. 

He released my wrist abruptly, making me stagger backward.

“I know you’re my mate, but it means nothing to me. I don’t believe in mates, never will, never have. Go away and live your life, Hazel. You’re wasting your time waiting for me.” He stepped closer, spitting every word into my face, his eyes filled with anger. I stood frozen at the spot, wondering why he was talking to me in this manner. Did he want to reject me? Didn’t he like me? 

“Are you rejecting me, Stavros?” I whispered, my eyes filling up with tears, ready to overflow.