"You should be the one to go in, Kana," said Senora, a palace maid standing cautiously outside Prince Kieran's chambers. Doubt and fear were clear on her face as she clutched the bottle of wine tightly in her hands.
"No, you should go. The head maid gave you the bottle and told you to give it to him," Kana argued, her tone sharp. She was another maid and good friends with Senora. Neither of them was eager to step into the prince's chambers, especially with how volatile he was at that moment.
From a corner, Astoria stood quietly, peeking at the two maids from behind the wall. She clutched a broom tightly, hoping they wouldn't notice her. "Maybe I should just leave…" she whispered to herself. She turned to go but, with her usual bad luck, tripped over a bucket nearby. The loud crash echoed through the hallway, grabbing everyone's attention.
"Perfect. She can take it to him," Kana said with a sly smile. She marched toward Astoria, muttering under her breath. "You there!" she called out as Astoria tried to make a quick escape.
Astoria froze in place, her heart pounding. Slowly, she turned to face them, her eyes fixed on the ground.
"Take this to Prince Kieran's chambers," they ordered, shoving the bottle of wine into her hands without waiting for an answer.
"B-but…" Her anxiety made her stutter. "The queen has forbidden me from going near the royal chambers. If she catches me in her son's room, I fear what she might do…"
"Oh, please." Senora's dismissive tone cut her off. She looked Astoria up and down, her expression full of hatred, as if Astoria were something unpleasant she couldn't stand to be near. "At most, she will punish you. If you're unlucky, she might order your execution." Leaning closer, she added in a whisper, "Isn't death more honorable than the life you're living?"
The words hurt because they were true. Death would be more honorable than the life Astoria lived. She had no memory of her mother or father, she has never even met them. From birth, she had been nothing more than a slave within the castle walls—treated lower than the maids, lower than anyone else. She never asked about her parents because she knew the answer wouldn't matter. Everyone despised her, especially the queen, whose hatred went beyond reason.
"I will deliver this to him," Astoria finally said, resigned. She had no other choice. Senora and Kana exchanged knowing smiles before walking away, leaving her alone.
Astoria took a deep breath and cautiously made her way toward Prince Kieran's chambers. Prince Kieran—the man who seemed so far beyond her reach. They lived within the same castle walls, but the distance between their worlds was one that could never be bridged.
They had never spoken, yet she has been in love with him since she can remember. She admired his courage, his resilience, and his undeniable charm. He was breathtaking, an object of desire for every woman in the Winter Storm Pack.
"Your Highness…" she called softly after knocking on the door several times. When there was no response, she hesitated before saying, "I am coming in now. Please be decent, if you are not…"
Still no response. She exhaled sharply, steeling herself for what awaited her. Then, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
As soon as she stepped into the room, large and vast, a chill ran through her body, making goosebumps rise on her skin.
"Hello?" she called out again, but there was no response. The room was dim, and the only light came from the flickering flames of the fireplace.
"It's so cold in here…" she muttered under her breath, noticing the icy air blowing in through the open window.
She hurried over to close it and let out a sigh of relief as her body began to warm up again. "What kind of wolf gets bothered by the cold?" a deep voice suddenly said behind her, making her jump in fear.
She spun around quickly and collided with something solid. The impact sent her stumbling backward, but strong arms caught her before she could fall.
Her heart raced as she looked up at him. He was huge, even at his young age, with the most striking silver eyes that seemed to pierce right through her. His features were sharp—his jawline defined, his black hair swept across his face.
He wasn't wearing anything on his upper body despite the biting cold. A necklace made of bear teeth hung around his neck, resting against his flawless chest. His body was muscular, far more impressive than any of the soldiers she had seen after their long training days.
"Y-your Highness…" she stammered, her voice barely audible. Her heart pounded in her chest, and something unfamiliar stirred within her as she remained in his arms.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, helping her steady herself. He smelled strongly of alcohol, and though he tried to act normal, she could tell he was as drunk as they come.
"I… Brought wine," she said, her voice shaky. Anxiety and nervousness threatened to take over, but she managed to get the words out.
His eyes dropped to the bottle in her hands. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he snatched it from her. Without hesitation, he lifted it to his lips and drank like it was water. Then, with the bottle still in hand, he walked to the window and opened it, staring out into the cold night.
Astoria froze, her heart pounding as she watched him. She wanted to tell him to stop beating himself up, to say it wasn't his fault his best friend had died in battle. But the words wouldn't come. She just stood there, watching helplessly as her wolf stirred within her, stronger now than ever before.
"I… I'll be leaving now," she stammered, trying to make her escape.
Prince Kieran's childhood friend, Jamal, the son of the pack's beta, had died in battle against a rival pack that had been a thorn in Winterfall Pack's side for years. Kieran had tried to save him, but he hadn't been fast enough. He'd been forced to watch as the enemy snapped Jamal's neck right in front of him. Since then, he had drowned himself in alcohol, trying to numb the pain and guilt that haunted him.
As she turned to leave, his voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Mate…"
The single word sent a chill through her, not from the cold air but from deep within her soul.
She turned back to him slowly, her breath catching in her throat. He had already turned to face her, his piercing silver eyes locking onto hers. It felt as though he was looking into the very depths of her being.
Slowly, he walked toward her, closing the distance between them. She backed away, fear gripping her, until her back hit the wall.
She was an omega—a lonely omega—and she couldn't sense things like the mate bond. But now, hearing Kieran mention it, she felt nothing but confusion.
His sharp silver eyes roamed over her, from her head to her toes, as if he was trying to understand something. "You…" he said suddenly, his voice low. He seemed completely unaware of how much she was trembling in fear of his intimidating presence.
"You are my mate?" he breathed, the words making her heart sink.
"Y-your mate?" she stammered, barely able to process what he had just said.
He placed a hand on the wall beside her, trapping her between him and the hard surface. "A small, fragile creature like you… mated to me? What ill luck you have" His voice was laced with a bit of mockery as his hand reached up, brushing gently against her face.
Astoria expected to feel fear in that moment. But instead, she felt something else entirely. The way he touched her sent a shiver down her spine, and her wolf stirred like never before.
The sensation grew stronger, more intense than anything she had ever felt. Her wolf wasn't just stirring—it was restless, clawing at her with a force she couldn't ignore.
Kieran's hand brushed gently against her cheek, moving slowly upward before trailing down to her lips. His fingers parted them lightly as he whispered, "Perhaps…" His breath was warm against her skin, his face dangerously close to hers. The intoxicating scent of him filled her senses completely, making her heart race—caught between fear and awe.
This was the man she had always loved, the one she had admired from afar, never daring to get close despite the strength of her feelings.
"Perhaps you are just what I need for the night," he murmured, his voice low and deep.
Before she could react, his lips pressed firmly against hers, capturing her in a kiss that stole her breath.