~ Elric ~
The music of the celebration had long faded, but the words, 'I've finally found you, my queen,' echoed endlessly in my mind, like an eternal reverberation, crashing and roaring without respite. The solid and flawless world I painstakingly built with Selene over five years, brick by brick, was shattered by those simple words, leaving a bottomless crack.
I don't know how I maintained the demeanor of a prince's mate in front of all those eyes, how I announced the conclusion of the celebration, or how I escorted Selene back to the royal chamber. Every step forward felt like treading on blades; every breath carried searing pain. I could feel countless gazes behind me—shocked, curious, sympathetic, and gloating. Me, Elric, the most respected prince's mate of the Silver Moon Wolf Pack, had, on this one night, become a complete joke.
The doors of the royal chamber closed behind us, shutting out the outside world. I looked at Selene. She stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, her back to me, bathed in a cold silver edge of moonlight. She said nothing, but her taut shoulders betrayed the turbulence in her heart.
That terrifying destined resonance—I could still feel its lingering traces even now, like an invisible wall standing between her and me. Though I was her closest mate, in that moment, I was mercilessly excluded. That feeling terrified me more than any wound from blades or swords could.
I took a deep breath, forcing down the surge of jealousy and fear churning within me. I was her strategist, her advisor—I couldn't allow myself to be overcome by emotions. I needed to resolve this crisis for her and for myself.
"Selene," I began, my voice huskier than expected, "we need to talk."
She turned around slowly, her green eyes appearing particularly profound under the moonlight, filled with a confusion and hesitance even she seemed unaware of. "What do you want to talk about, Elric? A destined person who appeared out of nowhere? A ridiculous joke that arrived five years too late?"
"This isn't a joke." I stepped closer to her, holding her cold hands in mine, trying to transfer my warmth to her. "The power of that resonance is real. Whether we want to admit it or not, he—Cairo, that man—shares the most primal bond of Alphas with you. That is the most dangerous part."
"Dangerous?" She frowned, the sharpness of a queen returning to her gaze.
"Yes, dangerous!" I emphasized, unable to completely control my emotions for the first time in front of her. "Selene, you know better than I do what this means. A Destined Mate's pull on an Alpha is catastrophic; it erodes reason and shakes resolve. And moreover, he's also an Alpha! His mere presence is a potential challenge to your authority! We cannot allow such an unstable piece to remain in the palace."
I fixed my eyes on hers, pouring all my pleading into them. "For the sake of our five years together, for the stability of the kingdom, Selene, send him away. Find an excuse—politely, of course—but make sure he leaves. Now. Immediately."
This was the most direct and effective solution I could think of, to nip the threat in the bud.
Yet Selene remained silent for a moment before gently withdrawing her hands from mine. That small gesture made my heart plummet to the depths.
"I can't do that, Elric," she said, shaking her head, her voice regaining the queen's calmness and decisiveness. "I can't. At a grand celebration, in front of all the emissaries from the subordinate tribes, an Alpha declared me as his destiny. And I, as the queen of the Silver Moon Wolf Pack, banish him the next day for personal reasons? What would that make me look like? A cowardly ruler overcome by jealousy, afraid to face the decree of the Moon Goddess? Such an action would shake my foundation of rule far more than his presence ever could."
Her analysis was calm, rational, and flawless. Every word she spoke was correct.
And it was precisely this damned correctness that sent a chill to my very core. Because I realized that, for the first time, our perspectives stood fundamentally opposed. I cared about our relationship—about us. She cared about her throne—about herself.
"So, you intend to keep him here?" I asked in disbelief.
"I will place him under control," she answered, her eyes glinting with the confidence of a ruler. "I will make him understand that the queen of the Silver Moon Wolf Pack follows only her own will, not the whims of some abstract destiny. Rest assured, Elric, no one can threaten you, nor can anyone threaten us."
She stepped forward, taking my hands again in an attempt to console me. But all I felt was a chilling coldness. In our first confrontation, I had lost. I had lost to her queenly path.
That night, I did not sleep a wink.
The next morning, I opened the door to our chamber, ready to persuade Selene again at all costs, even if it meant setting aside my pride to plead. But what greeted me was my closest friend, Chief Advisor Barnaby, waiting anxiously outside.
"Your Highness," he approached me the moment he saw me, his face dark with worry.
"What's happened?" My heart tightened.
"It's Cairo," Barnaby lowered his voice. "Since the celebration ended last night, he's been kneeling outside the council hall. He hasn't eaten, hasn't drunk, hasn't spoken a word. The entire palace knows by now."
I froze. This man played his hand masterfully!
"He said he's offended both the queen and the prince consort, that he deserves to die a thousand deaths. But he begs the queen to grant him the humblest position, even as a stable hand, just so he may remain in her territory to protect his destiny with his life." Barnaby's tone was filled with helplessness. "Now, Grand Elder Augustus has been moved by his actions. He openly praised Cairo's devotion just moments ago, in front of everyone, and declared that the Moon Goddess's messenger must not be treated with such disrespect."
I immediately made my way to the council hall, Barnaby following closely behind. From afar, I could see the infuriating scene. Cairo knelt in the cold stone courtyard, his back straight as a rod, his face etched with loyalty and regret. Around him, led by Augustus, gathered several conservative elders, all singing his praises.
Fury burned within me. I could no longer tolerate this passive position.
"Guards!" I commanded with the authority of the prince's mate, my tone icy. "This is the palace, a sacred ground, not a place where anyone can linger as they please. Escort this man to the guest house to rest."
Two guards immediately stepped forward, intending to lift Cairo.
"Stop!" Augustus, leaning on his staff, stepped in front of the guards. His cloudy eyes met mine fearlessly. "Your Highness, this man is the queen's destined, the messenger of the Moon Goddess. Until he commits a crime, you have no right to treat him so harshly!"
"I have no right?" I laughed in rage. "Grand Elder, are you questioning my authority as the prince's mate?"
"I only abide by the Moon Goddess's decree and the queen's orders," Augustus retorted unwaveringly.
This was blatant defiance. Cairo's act of devotion had won him the most steadfast shield of the conservatives. My authority had, for the first time, faced a public and disgraceful defeat.
As the standoff with Augustus dragged on, Barnaby leaned close to me, his voice low yet filled with urgency.
"Your Highness, the situation is dire. Word has spread throughout the palace that Cairo knelt outside the council hall all night. Now, half the palace is saying that it's your jealousy obstructing the queen from accepting the Moon Goddess's blessing."
I clenched my fists tightly, my nails digging deep into my palms without feeling a shred of pain. My gaze bypassed Augustus and locked onto Cairo, who was kneeling on the ground.
He raised his head, his amber eyes brimming with innocence and pity, as if lamenting my unseemly behavior.
But I clearly saw it—in the depths of those humble, drooping lids, a fleeting smile of triumph,
as sly and venomous as a snake, revealed itself.
In that moment, I understood. In one night, I had fallen from the respected prince to the despised villain of palace rumors. And this was only the beginning.