Yanna sighed as she adjusted the strap of her worn-out backpack, shifting the weight of the books inside. She hadn't planned on staying at the mall for long—just a quick trip to buy some school supplies. But, as always, she found herself lingering in the bookstore.
Her fingers traced the glossy cover of a novel on the shelf, its title gleaming under the fluorescent lights. Another Alpha-werewolf romance. Cliché, yes, but she couldn't help being drawn to it.
"Should I buy it or just read the sample pages again?" she muttered to herself.
She already knew the answer—she didn't have the money to spare. Being a broke teenager meant prioritizing needs over wants, and a new book definitely wasn't a necessity. Still, she hesitated, flipping it open to skim through a few pages.
And then—she felt it.
A strange, overwhelming sensation washed over her, making her shiver. It wasn't fear, exactly. More like an eerie awareness.
Someone was watching her.
Slowly, she turned her head, scanning the store. A mother and her child stood near the cashier, oblivious to her presence. But then—she saw him.
A man stood just outside the bookstore near the escalator, his presence impossible to ignore. Tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in all black, he looked like he had stepped out of a high-end fashion magazine—yet there was something undeniably dangerous about him.
His dark eyes locked onto her, piercing and unrelenting. His expression was unreadable, but the intensity of his gaze sent shivers down her spine.
Yanna's fingers tightened around the book in her hands. Who is he? And why is he staring at me like that?
Daven clenched his jaw, his entire body tensing as he watched her. He had caught her scent the moment he entered the mall, a mix of vanilla and old paper—soft yet unmistakable.
His mate.
His wolf stirred restlessly inside him, demanding he go to her, claim her. But this—this wasn't how things were supposed to be. He had long accepted that he would never have a mate. And if he did, she was supposed to be strong, powerful—a Queen worthy of ruling by his side.
Not… human.
He fought against the instincts raging inside him. The rational part of him knew he should walk away, ignore the bond, and pretend she didn't exist.
But he couldn't.
Yanna swallowed hard, forcing herself to break eye contact. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she had no idea why.
Okay, this is getting weird. Should I leave?
She quickly placed the book back on the shelf and turned toward the exit. She wasn't about to stick around and deal with whatever strange tension had formed between her and this stranger.
But before she could take another step, a deep voice—low, cold, and commanding—froze her in place.
"Don't run.
Her breath hitched.
She turned back, eyes wide with confusion and a hint of fear. And to her horror, the stranger who had been standing several feet away was now right in front of her.
Up close, he was even more overwhelming. His sharp features, strong jawline, and the way his dark hair slightly tousled over his forehead made him look effortlessly intimidating.
But it was his eyes that held her in place.
They were dark. Possessive. Like he had already decided she was his.
Yanna took a shaky step back. "W-Who are you?"
Daven didn't answer. He simply stared at her, as if waiting for her to recognize him, to understand what she meant to him.
But of course, she didn't.
She had no idea that the Alpha King of a ruthless pack had just found his fated mate in a clueless, broke human girl.