Varianth’s POV
“You need an heir, Varianth. You can’t rule forever.”
I took another slow sip of my whiskey, letting the burn of the liquor chase away my Beta’s words. An heir. A Luna. A future.
The weight of my entire kingdom rested on those three things.
My grip tightened around the glass. How could I be the most powerful Alpha in existence, yet still be at the mercy of something I couldn’t control?
For years, I had searched for my fated mate. The one the Moon Goddess had destined for me. But she was nowhere. Not in my lands. Not in my kingdom. Not in my world. And without her, my rule was crumbling.
I had enemies circling like vultures, waiting for my moment of weakness. I could feel them plotting, whispering among themselves.
“The Alpha King has no mate. No heir. He is vulnerable.”
They wanted my throne. They would never have it.
Another shot of whiskey burned down my throat, but it wasn’t enough. Nothing was enough.
The music of Silver Fang pulsed around me, loud and alive, but I felt nothing. The VIP section was packed with my closest warriors, my Beta, my most trusted allies.
“Slow down, Varianth,” my Beta, Dain, muttered, watching as I poured another drink.
I ignored him. Dain had been my Beta since we were young. He was the only one who dared to speak to me as a friend rather than a king. But even he didn’t understand the curse of being Alpha King.
He had a mate. A home. A future.
I had responsibility.
He sighed, leaning back in his seat. “If you drink yourself to death, who the hell will protect this kingdom?”
I smirked. “You.”
Dain snorted. “I’d rather face an army of rogues than your council. Those old bastards are vultures.”
I chuckled, but the sound was hollow. He wasn’t wrong. The council demanded an heir. The packs demanded a Luna. The world demanded a future. And I had nothing to give them.
Dain suddenly straightened, glancing at the bartender. “Get him a room at the hotel next door.”
I scowled. “I don’t need a—”
“You do,” he cut me off. “Sleep this off. I’m not dragging your royal ass home again.”
I sighed, rubbing my temples. I didn’t have the energy to argue. “Fine.”
The hallway blurred as I made my way to the hotel, the alcohol buzzing in my veins.
I barely remembered checking in. The elevator ride was a haze. Then, I reached the room. Or what I thought was my room. The door was slightly ajar. The lights dim.
I stepped inside.
And froze.
A woman stood in the center of the room. She was breathtaking. Long, dark hair spilled over her shoulders, the strands partially covering her left eye drawing attention to the delicate curve of her neck. Her lips were parted, her cheeks flushed. And her eyes—stormy. Unreadable.
She stared at me, her breath hitching.
The scent of alcohol lingered around her, mixing with something else. Something sweet. Something addictive. And she was staring at me like she wanted to devour me.
Her gaze swept over my body, lingering on my chest, my shoulders, my hands.
I had seen women look at me with hunger before. But not like this. Not with this much desperation. My lips twitched into a smirk. “You’re staring.”
She blinked, caught red-handed. Her cheeks darkened.
“I—” Her voice was husky, slurred slightly from the alcohol. “You’re gorgeous.”
Goddess help me.
Hearing those words from her lips sent something sharp through me.
I wasn’t used to flattery. Fear, yes. Respect, always. But never this. I stepped closer, watching her. She didn’t move away. My fingers brushed against her arm, and she shivered.
A spark. A whisper of something ancient. She didn’t know who I was. She didn’t see the Alpha King. The ruler. The warrior. She only saw a man. And she wanted me. The thought was intoxicating.
I didn’t ask her name. I didn’t want to. This was the first time in years that I wasn’t suffocating under my title. Tonight, I wasn’t the Alpha King. Tonight, I was just a man in a stranger’s arms.
I reached for her, my fingers trailing along the curve of her jaw.
She leaned into my touch, her eyes half-lidded, dazed with desire.
“Are you real?” she murmured.
I let out a low chuckle. “I was about to ask you the same thing.”
She smiled, lazy and sweet. Then she grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me to her.