A cold, rough surface rubs against my cheek.

I lift my head up and notice that I am on hard concrete floors. A mop of raven black hair and the scent of cedar makes me wake up completely.

I crawl to my mate's sleeping self and cradle his head in my lap.

"Our execution is happening in a few hours, I suggest you kiss Lorenzo and I goodbye now."

I snap my head to the cell next opposite mine.

"Mia!"

She gives me a sad smile."Kaceline won, Chloe. It's been an amazing time with you. Who knew that that little apprentice in Hazel Coven would become the Alpha of the werewolves? Thank you Chloe, for everything and I love you as my own daughter."

"No! Don't talk like that! We'll find a way to escape here." I plead.

I look around the place and recognize it as the pack's dungeons underneath the castle.

If we're here, that means Kaceline succeeded in getting control of the scepter and made every werewolf think that I'm the enemy.

Wow, if someone told me last year that I'd be locked up in the pack prison with Mia and my ex-omega mate because of my un-dead uncle Kenneth and evil aunt Kaceline, I would've laughed in their face.

A small laugh escapes my mouth. I don't know how or why I find our situation humorous. I guess I'm that wacky friend that would laugh in danger even though I'm scared shitless.

Lorenzo stirs and starts tossing and turning. A look of distress comes across his once peaceful-looking face. My poor mate is having a nightmare. I hold him closer to me and take one of his warm hands in mine. His large but soft hand seems to fit perfectly over my small one like a puzzle piece; like it is made for only my hand to hold.

Lorenzo's pov

"Stupid boy! How did the oracle predict such a worthless mute mutt to be the future ruler of the werewolves? And his dead sister the guardian of Delphinea?"

Another surge of electricity, stronger than before, passes through my weak body. I grit my teeth and ball my fists hard because I can't scream.

I didn't ask for all this. I didn't ask to be born! I didn't ask to be in a stupid infamous prophecy!

"Two children, birthed by the royal third in command

One will protect, the other will rule, the land

of the children of the moon goddess, Selene.

The one expected will not be queen.

The threat will not be at bay;

A high price they will have to pay."

They told it to me every day. And when they did, they would torture me in every way they can. Then they would expect me to go back home and not tell Linkin and his parents who opened their heart and home to me when I ran from the castle.

They killed Linkin's dad because he discovered the truth and

tried to interfere to save me. Linkin and Aramina do not know the cause of his murder, though. And it will stay that way.

A little after Linkin's dad's death, they stopped their kidnapping and torture sessions because they saw that I was too broken to be a ruler.

"Should I do more?" The female taunts me.

I shake my head no, but she continues anyway.

"You're a weakling!"

"You are worthless!"

"You are nothing!"

The scene changes and I am in school. I am on the ground, surrounded by one of the popular mixed species groups.

A kick goes to my stomach.

"Get up and be a man!"

I try to stand up, but as I do, the air is knocked out of my lungs and I am back on the floor again, this time, blood pours out of my mouth.

Suddenly, I am floating in mid air. Noah, a teenage witch, has his palm facing me. I look at him and he gives me a smirk.

I scream in pain as my blood boils. Heat fills my entire body to the core and I can't move.

"You're a useless excuse for a wolf!"

"I feel sorry for whoever this mutt's mate is."

"He doesn't have one! I used to think the moon goddess doesn't make mistakes, that was until I saw this runt."

More insults came my way and each one felt like a dagger to my heart.

I can't do this anymore. I can't live like this. I want to just be gone already. No one will ever love me.

"Lorenzo, I-I love you."

The scene before me distorts and I see a beautiful face that is filled with distress looking over me. I am in the arena where I proved myself worthy of being king; in my mate's arms.

I want to confess my love for her too, but I'm slowly slipping away and into darkness.

My eyes snap open and the first thing I see is my breathtakingly gorgeous mate. I feel sparks within my left hand that is entwined with Chloe's.

Her worried eyes meet my own.

"Lorenzo, were you having a nightmare?" Her voice resonates with a deep concern.

I nod my head, then look away to avoid eye contact. I don't want to burden her with my sob story of a life.

She is the only light in my dark abyss of a heart.

Her soft hand caresses my cheek and turns my face to look at hers. "It's fine if you don't want to talk to me about it right now, okay?"

I audibly gulp and clear my throat. If I don't tell her now, I'll never get peace of mind.

"I love you, Chloe. Your beauty... is ethereal, your scent is... the most enticing I've... come across, and... your heart is pure. You truly.... are a gift...f-from the moon goddess."

I sit up straight and stare into her captivating eyes that seem to glow with happiness and love.

Love. Towards me.

She leans closer to me until our faces are almost touching. I'm pretty sure she can directly smell my breath right now.

Oh goddess, I hope my breath doesn't stink!

Her eyes flicker to my lips and mine do the same.

Do it. Ford growls.

I swear my wolf only communicates in growls.

I gulp down my nerves and just do it.

Sparks explode as soon as our lips make contact. My heart beats faster and Ford howls in pleasure. Her arms make their way around my neck and mine instinctively wrap around her waist. She moves herself so she's straddling me, all while not breaking contact. The kiss is slow and sincere; it feels as if we're both pouring out our emotions and feelings for each other.

Warmth spreads through my body and I let her dominate. Her tongue skillfully explores every crevice of my mouth. I let out a growl of pleasure as her hands get tangled in my hair and gently pull it. My body feels like I'm on fire, but in a good way. Even though the setting sucks, our first kiss is definitely something I would remember.

Someone loudly clearing their throat interrupts us and my mate pulls away from me and turns her head to face the interrupter.

I shoot a glare at the guard who is smirking at us.

"The Alpha king knew that something like this would happen. Hope you've said your goodbyes, now stop sucking each other's faces off, it's time for your execution, traitors."

Chloe reluctantly gets off of me, but not before growling at the guard. I let out a growl of my own.

I do not like it when my mate is mad.

Woah, when did I get so protective?

The mating process has already been initiated, next we mark, then mate with her.

Hey, hey. Get your dirty thoughts out of my head, you horny wolf. In case you haven't heard, we're going to die now.

I don't listen to what Ford growls out next because the guard cuffs Mia, Chloe and I.

"Lorenzo, Mia, I have a plan." My mate mind-links us.

"Listening." I say.

"Ditto." Mia replies.

Chloe looks around and makes sure to count the number of guards around us.

Three. Kenneth must've really underestimated us, or overestimated those guards.

"Mia, you create a diversion. Lorenzo, you take out Dylan, I'll handle Mick and Xavier but don't kill any of them. They don't know the truth, their minds are twisted by Kaceline."

Mia and I give her firm nods.

We walk out of the cells and up some stairs. When we reach a door, Chloe links us.

"Now."

A loud explosion erupts from downstairs, and thick white smoke crawls up the flights of stairs.

Mick, Xavier and Dylan look back. I take this as my opportunity to shift and take down the dirty blonde-haired guard, Dylan. He also happens to be the guard that interrupted my mate and I's moment. I whack his head with a large black paw and he falls to the floor, unconscious.

My mate seemingly handled Xavier and Mick well without having to shift, judging by their unconscious forms on the cold, hard floor.

"Let's go but don't shift back, Lorenzo." Chloe says placidly as she opens the door.

We walk out of the dungeons. The castle is eerily quiet, and not a single scent can be smelt on the ground floor.

Chloe leads us to a back exit in the South wing because it's the least frequently used part of the castle.

When we reach the exit, a collection of growls fill the air. Mia opens the door and we see about forty to forty-five warriors outside waiting for us in wolf form. They are all poised in an attack position and growling at us.

We're being ambushed.

The three of us exchange glances and nod at the same time. We are all thinking the same thing.

What's a couple of wolves to three Alphas?

Hardly sounds fair. For them, that is.

♀️🥇