The royal carriage door opened, and I stepped inside. My heart hammered against my ribs as I settled into the velvet seat across from him. Alpha King Jack watched me with those piercing silver eyes that seemed to see straight through every wall I tried to build.
"How have you been, my love?" he asked, extending his hand toward me.
I took it briefly before pulling away. "I'm fine, thanks."
The words from earlier burned in my mind. What if someone had told him what I'd said to that woman? The interior of the carriage was spacious, fitted with privacy curtains and soft lighting. Everything the Alpha King possessed carried weight and power.
His gaze never left my face. I shifted uncomfortably.
"I am not comfortable with your stare, Jack Hudson," I said.
He laughed, the sound rich and warm. "Oh sorry, Jack's woman."
Heat flooded my cheeks. I looked away quickly.
"I waited longer than expected. What happened, my love?" he asked.
"I'm sorry, Jack. There was a little distraction at the manor. But I handled it."
"What distraction?"
My stomach twisted. "It's nothing, Jack. Forget it."
I turned toward the window, watching the kingdom pass by. Stone buildings mixed with modern architecture. Our world had evolved, blending ancient werewolf traditions with contemporary life. Please do not ask me more questions.
"You look beautiful and stunning, my love," Jack said softly.
"Thank you." I smiled, feeling his hand cover mine again. This time I moved it away more deliberately. He sat back without comment, and guilt pricked at my conscience.
The carriage stopped at the Moonstone Pavilion, the most exclusive dining establishment in the capital. The name alone carried history. Every werewolf knew the legend of the cursed lovers who built it.
"Get a private reservation for us," Jack spoke into his phone. He glanced at me. "Just a few minutes, please."
I nodded, studying my hands.
Five minutes later, his phone buzzed. Shall we?
We stepped out together. He did not reach for my hand this time. If I would not let him touch me in private, he would not try in public. We walked through the main entrance, but instead of stopping at the restaurant level, he led me to a private elevator.
The doors opened to reveal a floor I had only heard about in whispers. Moonflower petals lined the hallway. Crystal chandeliers cast soft light over romantic alcoves separated by silk curtains.
Jack pushed open a specific door. "This is my preferred place. Clara and I came here several times."
Something sharp twisted in my chest. Why did he still mention her? His ex-mate who had betrayed him so completely. Did he still think of her?
The room held a table for two, a plush sofa in one corner, and a washroom behind an ornate door. Rose scent filled the air. A bouquet of blood-red roses sat at the table's center.
He pulled out my chair. I sat, and he took the seat across from me. I kept my eyes down.
A server arrived. I ordered quickly, barely looking at the menu. Jack did the same.
"Do you think it was a wrong decision to give me a chance in your heart?" His voice cut through the silence.
My head snapped up. His silver eyes held no emotion, but questions swirled in their depths.
"May I know why you asked?" I countered.
He sighed. "You are cold toward me. I do not want it to be as if I impose anything on you."
The vulnerability in his words caught me off guard. The Alpha King, the most powerful werewolf in the kingdom, sat before me uncertain.
"I was muddle headed. A lot is going on in my mind. Sorry about that," I said.
The server returned with our first course. We ate in relative silence. The food was exquisite, but I barely tasted it. An hour passed. Finally, I set down my fork.
"Thank you for the lunch," I said, managing a genuine smile.
"You're welcome, my love."
I excused myself to the washroom. When I returned, I felt steadier. More ready to be honest.
"The last time I shared lunch with someone I cared about was two days before my supposed mating ceremony," I said, sitting down.
Interest sparked in his eyes. "What happened? I know the ceremony never took place."
"No, it never did." I took a breath. "A day before my ceremony, I found my intended mate, Ethan Romero, with my best friend. The one who was supposed to stand beside me as my witness. I was devastated, betrayed, wounded by love."
Jack leaned forward slightly, completely focused on me.
"I could not contain the shock. I went to the Silver Moon Club to drink away my pain, to make the memory disappear. But it would not fade. Then..." I glared at him. "Then I decided to hook up with someone. Maybe if I was with another male, I would forget the pain. And I met the most handsome Alpha King unknowingly."
Relief washed over his face. He reached across the table and squeezed my hand gently.
"The next morning, I knew I had crossed a line. I paid him one hundred silver marks and left. I only had a vague memory of it, but I knew he was skilled. He made me feel wanted. I sneaked away and left the capital city."
I sipped my juice, watching his expression.
"But unknown to me, he had planted his seed in me. I went to a healer. The young doctor who attended me was Richard Delmark, and we became friends. Should I continue my story?" I asked.
Jack laughed, the sound transforming his entire face. He shook his head.
"Why did you leave the next morning?" he asked, then continued before I could answer. "After I discovered you were untouched, I did not go. I waited to speak with you. I slept beside you, but when I woke, you were gone. You left one hundred silver marks folded in my hand."
He paused. "The security footage was deleted. I grew suspicious. I had just taken the throne months before, and I had many enemies. I was not comfortable with the mystery."
His silver eyes locked on mine. "I had my guards search for you everywhere, but I could not find you. So I kept the necklace you left behind. It's made from pure moonstone with a heart shaped pendant."
My breath caught. He had searched for me. All this time, he had kept my necklace. The one my mother gave me before she died.
"I need to know something, Aurora," he said, his voice dropping lower. "Are you here because you want to be, or because you feel obligated?"
The question hung between us like a blade. Outside, the sun began to set over the kingdom, casting golden light through the windows. My wolf stirred inside me, drawn to him in ways I could not explain or deny.
But could I trust this? Could I trust him? After everything that happened with Ethan, after all the betrayal and pain, could I really open my heart to the most powerful male in the kingdom?
The Alpha King waited for my answer, and I realized that whatever I said next would determine everything.