The elevator ride felt endless, the smooth hum of its movement almost mocking me. I glanced down at my reflection in the golden walls, my fiery curls a wild halo around my face. Malachi—or Kai, as he'd told me to call him—stood beside me, exuding an infuriating calmness.
The hotel was luxurious enough to make my head spin, but when the elevator doors opened, and I stepped into the presidential suite, my breath hitched.
It was massive, larger than any home I'd ever set foot in. The walls were floor-to-ceiling glass, giving a panoramic view of the city skyline. The furniture was sleek, modern, and absurdly expensive-looking. A chandelier sparkled overhead like something out of a fairy tale, and there was even a grand piano in the corner of the living room.
"Is this..." I trailed off, unable to find the words.
Kai smirked as he tossed his jacket onto a pristine white couch. "Your temporary residence for the night."
I turned to him, crossing my arms. "Do all Alphas live like royalty, or is this just you?"
"Just me," he said casually, his lips twitching into a faint smile.
Something about his tone made me suspicious. "What aren't you telling me?"
Kai leaned against the back of the couch, his intense gray-blue eyes locking onto mine. "Decker, I think you already know who I am."
There was one Malachi who would have access to the top Suite at Saint Hotel. My brows furrowed. "You're Malachi Saint Von Jhering. Alpha of Blood Moon pack."
"And?"
I hesitated, the weight of realization creeping in. I had heard stories of the Alpha King—the most powerful wolf in existence, feared and revered by all. Surely, it couldn't be...
My voice dropped to a whisper. "You're the Alpha King?"
His smile widened, though there was no arrogance in it. "And you're my mate." The fact that I was his mate was the most amazing thing to him with the way he looked at me like I was the only thing worth looking at.
The room tilted slightly, my stomach twisting into knots. The idea of Malachi—Kai—being my mate was overwhelming enough. But the Alpha King? The most powerful wolf in the world?
I staggered back a step. "No. No, this can't be happening."
Kai straightened, his expression softening. "Decker, breathe. I'm not here to force anything on you."
"I don't believe you," I shot back, my voice trembling. "You're the Alpha King. You could have anyone you want. Why me?"
"Because you're my mate," he said simply as if it explained everything.
I shook my head, panic bubbling to the surface. "I don't trust you. I can't. Not after what Shawn—"
After everything, my parents did to me. I couldn't believe this.
Kai's expression darkened at the mention of Shawn. He stepped closer, his towering frame exuding quiet power. "I'm not him, Decker. I won't hurt you. And I'm willing to wait as long as it takes for you to trust me."
My laugh was bitter. "You're only saying that because of the bond."
He tilted his head, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Maybe. Or maybe I just see something in you that's worth waiting for."
"That's not fair," I muttered, looking away.
Kai didn't argue. Instead, he took a step back, giving me space. "I'll make you a deal. I'll invest in your father's company. No strings attached. You don't owe me anything."
His words threw me off balance. "Why would you do that?"
"Because I want to see you succeed," he said, his voice soft but firm. "And because I trust you, even if you don't trust me yet."
His sincerity disarmed me, leaving me with nothing to say.
We lapsed into a moment of silence before Kai broke it with a sly grin. "But just so you know, I'm not giving up, Princess."
I blinked at him. "Princess?"
He shrugged, looking almost sheepish. "Habit."
"Don't call me that," I muttered, though my cheeks flushed at the endearment.
"Noted," he said with a wink, his grin turning devilish.
Despite myself, I felt a reluctant smile tugging at my lips. But I wasn't ready to let my guard down just yet.
"How long have you known that I was your mate?" I asked. The mate bond kicked in when you were sixteen and if you didn't find your mate before twenty-one, you had to be mated or your wolf would die of immense loneliness at some point then you would follow.
The pain, I heard was unbearable and soul-crushing. I thought I would experience it but the engagement with Shawn gave me some kind of hope but now I was finding out that Kai was my mate?
"Yes, he is, Decker." Cassie, purred feeling happier since the day she emerged to me. I rolled my eyes.
"Princess, I want to know everything about you but when you're ready. On your time. I know it's hard and this is a lot but I won't rush you, darling." he added, "I've known about our bond for a while to answer your question."
The night passed uneventfully, and I found myself alone in the enormous suite. It didn't feel right to return home, not when I was fighting for my independence. As I crawled into the plush bed, exhaustion finally claimed me.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee woke me the next morning. Groggily, I sat up to find a tray on the bedside table, piled high with pancakes, fruit, and a steaming cup of coffee.
A note lay next to the tray in neat handwriting:
"Good morning, Princess. I hope breakfast brightens your day. I'll always be here for you if you need me.
-Kai"
My chest tightened at the unexpected gesture. For a moment, I allowed myself to appreciate his thoughtfulness.
After breakfast, I showered, only to find a neatly folded outfit waiting for me on the counter. A simple blouse and slacks, but they were my exact size.
"How does he know my size?" I muttered, shaking my head. I checked the full-length mirror and nodded.
My fiery red hair was layered with each layer having bouncy curls with half of the hair resting on my shoulder. My eyes, Golden were covered with black contact lenses.
Grateful nonetheless, I got dressed and headed to work.
The moment I stepped out of my car at Pack High School, I saw Shawn striding toward me. My heart sank.
"We need to talk," he said, his tone clipped.
I let out an exasperated sigh. "We have nothing to talk about. Go talk to your mistress, Nesta."
His jaw tightened, and for a second, I thought he might actually look guilty. But that was wishful thinking.
"You're going to marry me, Decker," he said as if it were a foregone conclusion.
I glared at him. "I'm not marrying a cheat."
"You're meant to be the Luna," he snapped. "So stop acting like a child and accept it."
I folded my arms. "If you're my mate, then I reject you. A thousand times over. I'd rather die than be with you."
His nostrils flared, but he didn't argue. He simply muttered, "You'll regret this."
I thought of Kai—his kindness, his patience, and how he was nothing like this fool in front of me.
Turning to leave, I said coldly, "I'm going to be late for my class. Kindly fuck off, Alpha."
The word dripped with hatred, and it clearly struck a nerve.
Before I could walk away, Shawn grabbed my arm roughly.
"Let me go," I hissed. "It doesn't look good for the future Alpha to be assaulting pack members."
"You're not worth it, Decker," he spat. "Astra was worth a thousand of you. She was better than you in every way. You killed my mate, and I wish you had died that day instead of her."
His words cut deep, but I refused to let him see the pain. I smiled bitterly. "You and me both, Shawn. But too bad. Look where we are now. So go make Nesta your mate and leave me the fuck alone. I'm doing you a favor if you think about it."
Shawn growled, his grip tightening for a moment before he let go.
"Well," he said with a smirk, "you might want to tell that to my parents. They want to see you."
My breath hitched. The Alpha and Luna of the Half Moon pack wanted to see me.
Panic surged through me. I hadn't considered how they would react to me breaking off the marriage. I was doomed. Why they chose me was always a wonder but I knew for Lucas to swallow his enormous pride, then something was up.
Fuck. What the fuck have I gotten into?