All Chapters of Desired Mate: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

BOOK CATHYCHAPTER 52CATHERINE The sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the fitting room. I stood in front of a gilded mirror, trying on yet another dress as Zelda and one of her friend, Lady Amara, scrutinized me like hawks. Zelda had chosen Lady Amara to come with us because she knows a lot about fashion and an extra eye wouldn't be bad to check the cloths, just as Zelda said.“This one has potential,” Zelda said, circling me slowly. Her sharp eyes scanned every seam of the champagne-colored gown. “The cut flatters your figure, but the color doesn’t really fit.”Lady Amara nodded in agreement. “Something richer, perhaps? Red or emerald. She needs to stand out tomorrow, not blend into the background.”I sighed, glancing at my reflection. “I feel like a mannequin being dressed for display,” I muttered under my breath.Zelda’s ears caught the remark, and she fixed me with a stern look. “This is no time for such complaints, Catherine. Tomorrow is your mating ceremony, and

CATHERINE The soft knock on my chamber door came far too early, pulling me from the depths of my restless sleep. Before I could even fully comprehend what was happening, a group of maids bustled in, their excited chatter filling the room.“It’s time, my Lady,” one of them said, her voice as light as the morning sun streaming through the windows.My heart sank and rose simultaneously. Today was the day. The mating ceremony.“Already?” I croaked, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My voice betrayed my nerves, but the maids seemed oblivious as they began preparing the room.“You’ll be the most beautiful Luna this realm has ever seen,” another maid gushed, setting down a tray of fruit and tea by my bedside.I managed a weak smile as my stomach twisted into knots. “I appreciate that,” I murmured, though my mind was elsewhere.The realization that I wouldn’t see Kane until the ceremony sent a wave of unease washing over me. I needed him. His presence, his reassuring words—it was the only thin

KANEAs Zelda adjusted the final fold of my ceremonial sash, she turned to leave the room, her gown swishing lightly against the floor. Just as her hand touched the doorknob, I spoke.“Mother, wait.”She paused, turning back with an arched brow. “Yes, Kane?”I studied her for a moment. Something about her demeanor—the too-smooth way she deflected questions left me unsettled. “I have a question,” I uttered casually. “What are your real reasons for coming back to the castle?”Her smile faltered for a split second before returning with practiced ease. “I told you already,” she said smoothly. “I came to see my son mated and freed from the curse. It’s been my wish for centuries, Kane.”I stepped closer, folding my arms. “That’s what you said. But is that all?”Zelda’s eyes narrowed slightly, though her smile remained intact. “What else would it be?”“I don’t know,” I said, probing. “That’s why I’m asking.”She let out a soft laugh, as though I’d made a joke. “Kane, you’ve always been su

KANEImmediately Catherine collapsed and I saw her body going limp and cold, something inside me snapped. The world around me turned into a blur of rage and fear as I watched her—my mate, the one person who could free me from this curse—slowly slip away. I could feel a rush of hormones like a tide within me as my heart hammered violently against my ribs, and before I knew it, I let out a howl.It wasn’t a sound of sorrow, though. It was primal, a desperate cry that came from the deepest part of me, the part that had been caged for too long. It was a warning, a call that resonated through the entire pack, a declaration that something was terribly wrong.The pack’s response came quickly, but it didn’t matter. It wasn’t enough to reach me. I could feel the beast clawing at my insides, begging to be freed. I could feel its hunger, its desire for vengeance, and the uncontrollable need to rip everything and everyone to pieces. And I couldn’t stop it.I felt the change in my bones before I

CATHERINE The door creaked open, and I tensed, gripping the crude, rusted sharp hook I’d found behind the bed. There was no way I was going to sit down comfortably without doing anything. Since he wasn't going to let me go, I might as well do well to escape. Damon walked in, carrying a plate of food and a glass of water. He looked so calm, almost unnervingly so, as he approached. “You need to eat, Catherine,” he said, setting the plate on a small, wobbly table near the bed. “You’ve been relying on nothing but those solutions and drugs to keep you alive while you were unconscious. This is real food. You need your strength.” I didn’t respond. I fixed my eyes on the far wall. My heart was pounding so loudly I was certain he could hear it, but I kept my grip firm on the hook, hidden beneath the loose folds of my dress. “Catherine,” Damon repeated, almost pleading. “Look at me.” Slowly, I turned my head, flashing him a cold and unyielding glare as much as I could muster. “I don’t