Zendaya's POV
The events replayed in my mind over and over again like a never-ending nightmare. The rogue. The black wolf. His piercing gaze, the weight of his presence—it haunted me. Why had he intervened? My mind spun, desperate for answers, but only more questions surfaced. That wolf had been no ordinary creature; he was powerful, commanding, unmistakably an Alpha.
I leaned back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling. The cold, dim light of the room seemed to mirror the chill settling in my chest. A connection—flickers of something stronger than fate or chance—had passed between us. The memory of his eyes, the brief moment where I'd felt… understood, was still with me. Was it possible that he could be my true mate?
I blinked, pushing the thought away. There was no clarity. Only more confusion.
The silence was shattered by the sudden, urgent voice of my father through the mind-link.
"Zendaya, come to my office. Now."
The harshness of his tone struck me. Something was wrong. My pulse quickened as I pushed myself out of the chair, feeling the weight of the moment. Something was about to change, and I had no idea what to expect.
I arrived at his office, my heart thudding in my chest. I knocked, hearing his steady voice from inside.
"Come in."
When I stepped inside, I noticed the worn photo of my mother on his desk. The one he never left out, the one he'd kept tucked away. My breath caught in my throat. What was going on?
Dad looked up at me, his gaze almost unreadable. His face softened slightly, but his eyes held a quiet storm beneath the surface.
"There's something important we need to discuss," he began, his voice a mixture of weariness and resolve. I braced myself. Whatever was coming, it wasn't good.
"What is it?" I whispered, my throat tight.
He exhaled deeply, his fingers gripping the edge of the desk. "Alpha Damien of the Raven Claw pack… he's agreed to take a second-chance mate. The mating ceremony is in two days, and… he's chosen you."
The words struck me like a punch to the gut. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. The world seemed to tilt beneath my feet. "What?" I managed, my voice cracking. "But I'm barely eighteen! I don't even have a mate! I—" My voice faltered, the last word hanging in the air like a heavy, suffocating weight.
Dad's face softened with a look I couldn't decipher, his eyes full of something I couldn't name. Regret? Worry? He opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat. "I know this isn't easy, Zendaya. But with the rogue attacks increasing, Damien's alliance is the only way to keep us safe. Your… powers make you a target."
A target. My breath caught. "What powers? I don't even know what I'm capable of. You can't just throw me into something like this!"
His hand reached out, his fingers brushing mine. "Sometimes, we have to make sacrifices, Zendaya. For the greater good. For our family. Your mother would have wanted you safe."
His words hit me hard, but I stood up, my mind racing. "I can't," I said in a daze, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can't do this."
The door closed softly behind me as I walked into the hallway, still reeling from his words. My steps echoed through the hall, the weight of the conversation pulling me down. Then I heard it—the unmistakable scent of Annabel. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her gaze sharp as a blade.
"So, Daddy's little princess gets to be Luna, huh?" Her voice was laced with venom. "You get everything, don't you?"
I swallowed, fighting the bitterness rising in my throat. "This isn't what I want, Annabel."
She snorted, rolling her eyes. "Oh please. We both know you'll love the attention. Being Luna, ruling over everyone. That's what you were made for, right?"
I clenched my fists, my anger flaring. "Being a pawn isn't a dream I want to live."
Annabel's lips curled into a mocking smile, her eyes glinting with superiority. "Well, I hope you enjoy it." With that, she turned, walking away with her usual swagger, leaving the bitter taste of her words in the air.
I stood there for a moment, fighting the emotions that threatened to consume me. I wanted to scream, to throw something, but instead, I just exhaled sharply, trying to clear my mind. I didn't have time for this. Not now.
I made my way back to my room, each step heavier than the last. Once inside, I collapsed onto my bed, my heart and mind a tangled mess of confusion, anger, and fear. Run. The thought came to me, clear and sharp. But where would I go? Would they follow me? Could I even leave? The ceremony loomed, the promise of an unknown future hanging over me like a dark cloud. I needed answers. I needed clarity.
Suddenly, a thought broke through the fog in my mind. That wolf—the one from the forest. The one who had intervened. Could he be my mate? Did he feel the pull, too? The idea filled me with a strange sense of hope, a fleeting connection to something beyond my reach. Could I find him before the ceremony? Could I even try to leave everything behind?
But before I could process the thought, the door to my room burst open, and the harsh voice of my stepmother, Elena, sliced through the air like a knife.
"You think you're so special, don't you?" Her tone was venomous, her eyes blazing with rage. "You think you're some kind of gifted child, don't you? Well, let me tell you something, Zendaya—your mother's death was no accident. You're a curse. A curse on this pack, on this family."
My blood ran cold. I froze, unable to move as Elena stepped closer, her voice trembling with fury. "It's because of you that she's gone. Your mother died because of you", She spat the words at me, her face contorted in hatred.
My breath caught in my throat. "What do you mean?"
She sneered, her eyes narrowing. "Since Damien is taking you away, maybe I'll finally be rid of your curse. Maybe he'll break whatever bond ties you to this pack." With that, she stormed away, leaving me shaken, her words echoing in my head like a haunting chant.
I stood there, paralyzed, feeling the weight of her accusation sinking deep into my bones. Was I truly a curse? Could it be that I had caused my mother's death?
No. I refused to believe that. But Elena's words cut deeper than I wanted to admit.
And yet, I knew one thing for certain: I couldn't let anyone control my fate—not my father, not Elena, not even Damien. The clock was ticking. The ceremony was in two days.