At Night.
Zara sat before a large mirror, wrapped in the luxurious gown her caretakers had chosen, each detail of her attire carefully attended to. She watched in silence as they styled her hair and adorned her with jewelry, her reflection revealing not the girl lost in an unknown world but a woman slowly embracing her newfound status.
She felt the shift in the room, the weight of new deference in the lowered gazes and measured movements of those around her. Once, they had looked upon her as a mere human; now, they dared not meet her eyes, their reverence for her palpable. She was their queen, uncrowned, yes, but her place beside the kings had been declared by themselves. It was official.
Only hours ago, she had wandered the tangled shadows of the forest, uncertain if she'd ever return home. But now, she prepared to walk by the side of those she'd once tried to evade, feeling her identity bending, adapting, as if this life, somehow, belonged to her all along.
A gentle voice broke through her thoughts.
"Zara."
She looked over her shoulder, meeting the warm, familiar gaze of Xavier. The caretakers all bowed and excused themselves, leaving Zara alone with him.
He took a seat across from her, a tender smile lifting his stern features. "How are you, princess?" he asked, his hand resting atop hers, his thumb tracing gentle circles in her palm.
"I'm… doing well, I think,"
she replied softly, almost as if testing the words. The breath she released felt weighted, freeing.
Xavier's calm presence was soothing, a stark contrast to the powerful aura he usually bore as alpha. Now, he was only her father, not the fierce leader of their kind.
"It's all so much to take in, I know. I'm still processing it myself, but it's real. It's your reality now."
He leaned forward, pride shining in his eyes.
"I always knew you were special. Even without a wolf of your own, you had a strength, a purpose, though I never imagined this. Queen of our world."
Zara could feel the warmth of his pride, an unexpected gift. His voice held the weight of both joy and disbelief, echoing the wonder in her own heart.
"You're not just any queen," he continued, his voice laced with reverence. "You have by your side the protectors of our realms. Those two—" he smiled, his expression softening "they would lay down their lives for you. With them, I have no doubts for your safety."
She felt the words strike something deep within, a fatherly warmth enveloping her. The bond was new but powerful, a piece of family she had always craved in her old life. Tears pricked her eyes as she leaned forward, embracing him. He wrapped her in his arms, a silent reassurance of love, safety, and pride.
After a long, heartfelt hug, he kissed her forehead gently, pulling back to smile "Now," he said, rising and offering her his arm, "shall we go? They're all waiting for you, my queen."
With a steadying breath, Zara took his arm, the softness of her smile betraying a nervous excitement. Together, they walked toward the banquet hall.
-
At the Banquet Hall
The hall was alive with murmurs and rustling as high-ranking officials from every pack gathered, the air charged with an eager anticipation. News had spread like wildfire—both Lycan kings had found their mate. It was the kind of revelation that didn't just ripple through their world; it reshaped it.
The hall filled with wary glances and whispered speculations as Zara entered. She felt the weight of their eyes, the awe, and the envy, especially from the female wolves. To them, a mere human ruling their realm was unimaginable. But none dared voice dissent, not with the kings' stern warning looming over anyone who disrespected their mate.
…
Denzel and Devonte stood waiting in the grand hall, their presence commanding the attention of all around them. When Zara entered, a hush fell over the room, as every gaze turned to her. She glided forward, carrying herself with the poise and power of a true queen, her regal aura tempered by a natural grace and the quiet strength of royalty. For a moment, the brothers were struck silent, their conversation with the officials forgotten. Zara looked every bit the formidable figure they had always imagined, and a fierce pride swelled in their chests, knowing she belonged to them. Only them.
As she approached, she gifted them with a soft smile, which they returned with subtle smirks, each brother reaching out to take her hand. Together, they led her to her place between them, and once she was seated, Denzel's voice rang out across the hall.
"Let the banquet begin!"
With his announcement, the hall came to life, and the grand banquet of the Dark Moon Pack began in earnest. Guests poured forward to congratulate the kings, while others offered warm greetings to Zara.
Amid the festivities, she couldn't shake the intensity of the Lycans' eyes upon her. Their gaze wasn't casual; it was charged with a possessive heat that made her pulse quicken. Though she kept her smile steady, she was acutely aware of how their attention affected her, the quiet tension building with each passing moment. She was praying inside her mind to let the night end soon.
---
A few clouds later.
"No… no… no… this can't be happening!"
Zara paced frantically around her room, her mind spiraling with panic. The kings' decision, made only minutes ago, echoed relentlessly in her head.
"Xavier, prepare the arrangements for Zara's farewell. We're taking her with us tomorrow!"
Their words kept pounding in her mind, refusing to fade. She chewed her nails anxiously, but it wasn't just the impending departure that had her heart racing. What truly terrified her was their declaration that they would be spending the night in her room. They had declined the chambers prepared for them and, within minutes, they would arrive. meaning she'd spend the entire night alone with them. Utterly alone.
Zara sank to the floor, overwhelmed.
"Oh, God… what if they change their minds?"
she muttered "What if they decide I'm unworthy to be their queen and. kill me?"
Her thoughts spiraled faster, darker.
"What if they somehow realize… I'm the author of this world, living inside my own story?"
A hundred terrifying questions crowded her mind, making it impossible to stay calm. Her hands grew clammy at the mere idea of sharing the night with two of the most feared figures in existence. She knows there's no way this night is going to be just as simple as she hopes. Yet She could only hope they would quietly go to bed without a word. Only if the moon goddess at least hears this request of hers.
Just as her anxiety peaked, she noticed the caretakers entering, carrying items the kings might need for the night. The sight made her pulse quicken, each item reminding her that soon, there would be no escape
---
In the meeting hall.
The discussion with the officials had concluded smoothly, leaving Xavier brimming with excitement after hearing the kings' decision to stay the night. As the last of the officials left, an intense stillness settled over the room, thickened by the powerful presence of the two Lycan brothers. Neither spoke, yet the silence grew heavier with every second.
Finally, Devonte broke the tension around them "Is this really happening?" he asked, disbelieving his voice "Did we truly find her? Our mate? Are you sure this isn't some kind of witchcraft illusion?"
Denzel exhaled, understanding his brother's doubts. He felt it too. this surreal sense that they were living a dream. And yet, the truth was undeniable. Zara was waiting for them, only a few rooms away. If this was a dream, it was one they had no desire to wake from. But they know it's not any dream or any witchcraft magic. This is real and that was so intense.
"Unreal as it seems, Dev. This is our reality. She's here. Our mate," Denzel said, a rare, soft smile touching his lips. His wolf stirred with excitement, and he could sense Devonte's was no different.
"So…"
Devonte asked, his voice thick with anticipation, "Are we going to mark her tonight?" He tried to sound calm, but the thrill in his eyes betrayed him.
Denzel's smile faded, a tense look taking its place as he shot Devonte a serious glance. He gives him an unbelievable look. He wasn't prepared for such a question at this point.
"Devonte, control yourself. You need to get a grip."
Devonte's brows drew together in confusion, his eagerness turning into a frown.
"Why? What's wrong with it? She's our mate—the one the Moon Goddess herself chose for us. Isn't marking her the next step? Why the hesitation?"
Denzel swallowed, gathering his thoughts before responding.
"Dev… She's human. She doesn't have a wolf. She's too fragile to withstand the pain of being marked by both of us. Even strong she-wolves take time to recover. She might not… survive…"
The weight of his words sank in, and Devonte's expression shifted from confusion to grim understanding. He realized the risk was high—potentially fatal. A wave of frustration surged through him as he clenched his fists, unable to accept the cruel irony of it all.
"So.. even after finding our mate, we can't claim her,"
he muttered, bitterness creeping into his voice "It's brutal."
Denzel nodded, his own sadness mirrored in his brother's eyes "As hard as it is, we can't risk losing her the same day we found her."
Devonte's hands tightened until his knuckles turned white. Denzel noticed, his gaze dropping to the unmistakable tension in his brother's stance, and something clicked. His eyes got lower. Raising an eyebrow, he fixed Devonte with a stern look
"Devonte Blake Knight!" he said, his tone sharp
"Don't tell me,your urgency isn't just to mark her but to breed her?"
A faint flush crossed Devonte's face as he quickly looked away, his posture defensive. Clearing his throat, he answered, "Can you blame me? She's finally here, and you're asking me to keep my distance. Do you realize how impossible that sounds?"
Denzel shook his head in disbelief. He can't believe his ruthless brother who won't even flinch seeing the female in bare, now sounds so desperate to be in a mating session with their mate.
"Don't act like a reckless pup, Dev. We've gone through countless generations without this. We can hold out a few more days until we find a solution. Besides, do you really want to risk her life over our impatience?"
Devonte scowled, the frustration rolling off him.
"She's not just any woman, Den. She's our mate—the one we thought we'd never have. You're feeling it too, don't lie. You want her just as much as I do."
Denzel's silence spoke volumes. Of course, he shared the same fierce longing, the same deep desire. But he knew better than to act recklessly.
They'd waited too long, and he couldn't let desire override reason now. They can't let her go through the cruel possibilities of pain for satisfying their hunger. Softening, he placed a steadying hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Dev, I understand. The pull is overwhelming, but we have to be careful. Her life is worth more than satisfying our urges. We need to find a safe way forward… for her."
Devonte exhaled, finally nodding, though frustration still tightened his jaw "Fine. I'll wait. But it doesn't make it easier."
The thought of spending the night in her room, so close and yet unable to claim her, was maddening. still they know, her safety was more important than the aim to get her bare under them.
With a shared look of determination, the brothers left the hall and made their way to Zara's chamber. They had strong wills, but both knew this would be one of the longest, most trying nights of their lives—an endless night of restraint, with their fated mate within reach, yet just out of their grasp.