KADE’S POV
A knock resounds on my door as I prepare to go to the training ground. I love to the door, pull it open to see Derek, my Beta, his face looking grim.
"What is it?" I ask, pulling on my shirt.
"Five she-wolves arrived this morning," he says. "From the River Bend Pack. They heard about the search and came early."
My heart jumps. "Already?"
"Your father wants you to meet them. He says it's a good start."
I nod at him, close the door and follow Derek down the hallway. My wolf stirs restlessly inside me. Maybe one of them will be different. Maybe one of them will be the answer we've been looking for.
The sitting room is filled with nervous energy. Five young women sit on the couches, their backs straight and their hands folded. They're all beautiful in their own ways. All from good families. All perfect on paper.
"Ladies," I say, entering the room. "I'm Kade."
They stand and bow their heads. "Your Highness," they say in unison.
The first girl has blonde hair and blue eyes. "I'm Sarah from the River Bend Pack. My father is the Beta of the Pack."
"I'm Elena," says the second. Dark hair, green eyes. "My father leads the northern scouts."
The third steps forward. "I'm Lisa. My family breeds the best horses in our territory."
"I'm Maria," says the fourth. Red hair, freckles. "I'm trained in healing arts."
The last one smiles shyly. "I'm Anna. I help run our pack's school."
They're all nice, and smart. All exactly what Father would want for a daughter-in-law.
But as I look at each one, I feel nothing. There is no spark, no pull, and no sort of recognition from my wolf.
"It's nice to meet you all," I say. "Would you like to take a walk in the gardens so we can talk more?"
"Yes, Your Highness," they chorus.
We spend an hour talking. They ask about the pack. I ask about their homes. My wolf grows more agitated with each passing minute.
"Ladies," I say finally, "I need to show you something. Something important."
"Of course, Your Highness," Sarah says. "What is it?"
"The truth about what you'd be marrying into."
They exchange glances. "We know about the curse, Your Highness," Elena says carefully.
"You know about the bloodline," I correct. "But you don't know about me."
I step back from them. My wolf pushes at the edges of my control. It's been too long since I've shifted. Too long since I've let him free.
"What do you mean?" Lisa asks.
"I mean the curse didn't just make our family smaller," I say. "It changed us. Changed me."
The air grows thick with tension. The girls shift uncomfortably.
"Your Highness," Maria starts, "maybe we should go back inside—"
"No," I say firmly. "If one of you is going to be my mate, you need to see all of me."
I close my eyes and let the change begin. My bones start to crack and stretch. My muscles expand. My skin burns as fur erupts across my body.
But this isn't a normal shift. This is the curse showing itself.
I grow bigger. My wolf form towers over normal werewolves. My shoulders are massive. My claws are like daggers. My teeth are the size of a man's fingers.
When I open my eyes, all five girls are staring at me in horror.
"Oh my god," Sarah whispers.
"What is that thing?" Elena backs away.
"He's huge," Lisa breathes.
"That's not natural," Maria says, her voice shaking.
Anna just stares, her face white as snow.
I try to make my wolf smaller, gentler. I lower my head. I sit down to seem less threatening.
It doesn't work.
"Monster," Anna whispers.
The word hits like a physical blow. My wolf whimpers.
"He's a monster," Sarah says louder. "The curse made him a monster."
"We have to go," Elena says. "We have to leave. Now."
"But the alliance—" Lisa starts.
"No alliance is worth this," Maria cuts her off. "Look at him. How could anyone mate with that?"
Instantly, all five of them turned around and took to their heels, and I watched them as they flee back toward the main hall.