The mansion was eerily quiet when Lucas returned. The towering walls, draped in shadows of the evening, seemed to echo with his every step. He had been running through the woods for hours, trying to clear his mind, but there was no escaping the pull he felt—toward her. Toward Julie.
He entered the grand dining room, where his parents, the King and Queen, sat at the head of the long table, their faces lit by the dim glow of the chandelier above. His mother, the Queen, was sipping wine, while his father, the King, was engrossed in a scroll of documents. They looked up when they heard his footsteps.
"Lucas," his father's deep voice rang out, laced with both warmth and authority. "Come join us. You've been gone for a while. I trust you have been thinking about the matter we discussed?"
Lucas took a seat across from them, his eyes darkened with uncertainty. He hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words, knowing this conversation would change everything.
He leaned back in his chair and looked at his parents, their regal presence commanding the room, and yet, for once, he felt more distant from them than ever before. "I have found her," Lucas said, his voice low, almost strained.
His words were like a spark in dry tinder. His mother's eyes widened with excitement, while his father's lips curved into a pleased smile.
"Finally," the Queen whispered, her face glowing with anticipation. "You have found your mate, Lucas. And I assume you've already decided to claim her?" Her voice was full of hope, a longing to see the future unfold before her eyes.
Lucas' heart pounded in his chest. He had expected their reaction, but it still made him feel trapped, as though his every choice had already been made for him. He knew what they wanted to hear. But was he ready to say it?
"I've found her… but she's human," Lucas continued, his voice barely above a whisper. The words felt like a weight on his tongue.
The King and Queen exchanged a brief, knowing look, but their expressions remained calm, even pleased.
"Human?" The King leaned forward slightly, intrigued but undeterred. "That is of no consequence, Lucas. Some humans already know of our kind. The presence of your mate among them could only be an advantage." He glanced at his wife. "A human queen would serve us well, wouldn't you agree?"
The Queen nodded, her eyes glowing with an almost uncontainable pride. "Yes, it would. Her connection to the human world could bridge gaps, make alliances, even offer new opportunities. We've always known the world is changing, and there are advantages to having a mate who is part of it."
Lucas felt a bitter twist in his chest as they spoke so casually about Julie. The excitement in their eyes only made the knot in his stomach tighten. They were treating this like an opportunity, an easy solution. But for him, this wasn't just about power or strategy—it was about something deeper, something that had begun to haunt him in his dreams.
He leaned forward, breaking the moment of blissful assumption. "I'm not sure I can do it."
His words hit like a blow.
"What do you mean?" His mother's tone softened, concern creeping into her voice.
Lucas' heart hammered as he finally spoke the truth that had been gnawing at him for days. "I'm not sure I'm ready to accept her as my mate. Not when I know what that means." His voice was thick with emotion. "She's my weakness, and I can't afford to have a weakness. Not as the Crown Prince. Not as the future King. I can't let her become a vulnerability."
The Queen's expression faltered for just a second, her lips pressed tight. She understood his fear—the same fear that had kept her from accepting her own mate in the past. But she also knew something that Lucas didn't: this was a battle he couldn't win.
"My son," the King spoke, his voice firm but compassionate, "I understand your concerns. But a mate is not a weakness. It is a strength. And you have already known this—look at your mother and me." His gaze softened as he looked at the Queen beside him, their long years together reflecting in their eyes. "We are stronger together. And so will you be with her."
Lucas swallowed hard, his gaze averted to the table. The King's words didn't bring comfort; they only reinforced the fear he had carried since his dreams had begun.
"I'm not sure," he repeated, his voice quieter this time. "If I'm meant to be with her, how can I resist this bond? How can I choose to reject someone who feels like… everything?"
His mother reached across the table, her hand settling gently on his. "Lucas," she said softly, her voice laced with understanding, "you are not the first to face this. You have to allow yourself the time to know her. To decide if you can truly resist what the bond offers. If you can't, then you must accept it. But if you feel you must reject her, at least you'll know it's your decision, and not your fear guiding you."
Lucas met her gaze, his heart torn in two. The bond, the pull—it was already there, overwhelming, undeniable. But could he live with it? Could he live with the knowledge that his mate was human, knowing that accepting her would make him vulnerable to both his enemies and his own feelings?
The Queen's voice was calm and measured as she continued, but there was a quiet certainty in her words. "Lucas, perhaps it is time to experience what being close to her really means. Go to the university, as a student. Be near her. Spend time with her. See if you can resist the bond. If you can, then you may reject her. But if you can't, then you'll have your answer."
Lucas stood up abruptly, his chair scraping harshly against the floor. His parents' expectations, their certainty, left him feeling suffocated.
He needed space, time to think. Time to understand the pull he felt and the decision he would have to make.
"I'll consider it," he muttered, his voice tight with frustration, before turning to leave the room.
He didn't want to admit it—not to his parents, not even to himself—but deep down, he knew. The moment he had laid eyes on her, the moment he had caught her in his arms, something inside him had already changed. He had already accepted her. The question wasn't whether he could resist her—it was whether he could live with the consequences of that acceptance.
And whether he could allow her to become the one thing that could undo him.
-----
The morning sun filtered gently through the window, casting soft rays on Julie's face as she slowly stirred awake. The sterile, white walls of the hospital room greeted her. She blinked several times, trying to push away the fog of sleep that still clung to her mind. She was fine—no broken bones, no serious injuries—but there was one thing she couldn't shake.
The image of the blue-eyed stranger from the woods, his intense gaze locking with hers as he saved her from certain death, kept replaying in her mind. Her heart fluttered just thinking about it. Who was he? Why hadn't he stayed? Why hadn't he spoken to anyone about what happened?
Misha's voice broke through her thoughts. "Julie, are you awake?"
Julie turned to see her friend standing at the edge of the bed, a concerned expression on her face. "Yeah, I'm awake. Just... still processing everything," she replied, rubbing her temples gently.
Misha smiled, her eyes softening. "Well, you're free to go now. Dr. Carter said you're perfectly fine. A few scratches here and there, but nothing serious."
Julie nodded, her mind still tangled with questions. "Okay... I guess it's time to go."
Misha quickly helped her out of bed and into the clothes Julie had left at her dorm. "Don't worry, everything's taken care of," she assured her. Julie couldn't help but notice the sincerity in Misha's eyes as she gently zipped up her jacket.
"Thanks, Misha," Julie said with a smile, though her thoughts were elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Samuel stood near the door, looking every bit the concerned friend. He had already settled the hospital bill, ensuring that Julie wouldn't have to worry about the costs. His face was still a mix of guilt and relief—guilt over the accident, relief that Julie was okay.
"Ready to head out?" Samuel asked, stepping forward and offering her his arm.
Julie hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, let's go."
Samuel guided her carefully toward the exit, making sure she didn't lose her balance. Misha followed closely behind, her steps light and quick.
Unbeknownst to them, Lucas watched from a distance through his mind link with his trusted man, who had been sent to keep an eye on Julie. His emotions were a whirlwind—anger, confusion, protectiveness, and an overwhelming possessiveness he couldn't ignore. The moment he had seen Samuel help Julie into his car, the urge to claim her had nearly consumed him.
*She's mine.*
The thought came with a suddenness that took Lucas by surprise.
But he wasn't ready. He couldn't be.
His first instinct was to protect her, to keep her safe, but there was another part of him, the part that feared the consequences of acknowledging her as his mate. The dream, the vision of the other man, all of it weighed on his mind. His mother's advice echoed in his ears.
*"The human world will allow you to blend in, Lucas. It will help you understand your feelings. You need to be close to her. See if you can reject her."*
Lucas clenched his fists, his body tense as he made his decision.
He would go to the University of Florida tomorrow. He would keep an eye on Julie, learn more about her, and see if he could keep his distance, or if the bond between them was too strong to ignore.
---
At the same time, back in the university dormitory, Misha, Rebecca, and Julie were gathered in Julie's room, the air filled with the sound of laughter and chatter. The girls were huddled together on the bed, watching movies, snacking on chips and soda, and catching up on all the latest gossip.
Despite the events of the day, they were enjoying each other's company. It felt almost like nothing had changed. Julie had been through something traumatic, but in this moment, with her friends around her, she felt safe—almost normal.
After a while, the laughter died down, and the soft hum of the television was the only sound in the room. The girls slowly drifted off to sleep, exhaustion finally claiming them.
But Julie's dreams were far from peaceful.
In the darkness of her mind, the same blue eyes that had haunted her thoughts for days now filled her vision. They stared at her, intense and unblinking, before the man's voice whispered in her mind.
*"Mate."*
The word echoed through her entire being, a pulse of warmth and recognition flooding her chest. She saw herself falling, plummeting toward the ground, and then... the arms that had caught her. She felt the weight of his embrace, his strength holding her as if nothing could harm her.
And then, those eyes again. They stared into her soul, searching for something—perhaps an answer that neither of them could give.
Julie woke with a start, her heart racing in her chest. She gasped, her eyes darting around the room, desperate to reassure herself that she was safe, that she wasn't still falling.
The room was quiet. The moonlight filtered softly through the window, casting gentle shadows across the floor.
Misha and Rebecca were still fast asleep beside her, oblivious to the storm of emotions raging inside Julie. But as she lay there, her mind returned to that moment—the blue-eyed stranger. Who had he been? Why hadn't he told anyone what happened? Why had he disappeared into the night, leaving only his gaze and the word *mate* behind?
Julie felt a sense of longing that she couldn't explain, a connection to someone she couldn't remember fully.
But there were too many questions. She had to know who he was.
And somehow, she knew she would find him.
---
The next morning, as Julie and her friends walked through the university gates, she couldn't shake the feeling that something—someone—was watching her. It wasn't just the pull she felt deep inside, but something more. A presence that was always there, just out of reach.
As they headed toward their classes, Julie couldn't help but glance over her shoulder once more. Would today bring answers? Or would the mystery of the blue-eyed stranger remain unsolved?
---