HARLYN'S POV
"Dad." I grabbed my father's bony and wrinkled hand with tears in my eyes; the sharp scent of his medication, antiseptic, and treatment hung heavily in the dark room due to drawn curtains and closed windows.
A fight with those fucking vampires gave them a chance to inject my father with high doses of special liquid silver and wolfsbane—that shot into his bloodstream and poisoned his heart—which we don't have an antidote for yet.
If it weren't for my father's strong will to see me grow well and hand me over to my good mate, the doctor feared that my father might have died a long time ago.
"Princess." Dad stretched out a trembling, bony hand to my face, and I bent slightly toward him so he could stroke my face with his big, calloused hand, his earth-and-pine scent drifting into my nose.
Being closer gave me the chance to see his golden eyes, now dimmed, his sunken and wrinkled face, and the dark circles caused by nights of unrest. His skin sagged, his frail body, and his black hair had now turned white due to the trauma.
He said in a raspy voice, "You'll be eighteen tomorrow, which means you'll find your mate and be in charge of the whole pack…"
I bit my lips, my other hand clutching my clothes tight, and shook my head.
No. I didn't want to take charge. I was not ready to lead the pack. I just wanted Dad to be in control. Just like it had always been.
"But Dad, I'm an omega, I can't do this… I'm not meant for this. Only you can, Dad, so please hold on for me. Don't leave me," I cried out.
I buried my head in Dad's chest and sobbed in his arms because I had a feeling that Dad was telling me goodbye this time.
That he wouldn't be there to oversee my life anymore. After all, I'd be eighteen tomorrow.
My dad chuckled and used his hand to poke my head; he didn't seem to notice the depressing atmosphere. "What's wrong with being omega? You're my princess and will forever be stronger than an Alpha in my eyes. Your late mom was also an omega, and she was a warrior on the battleground where we first met. Princess, you were raised for this, and you've been controlling the pack perfectly ever since I fell sick, so you'll do it well even if I leave…"
My hand grabbed his tightly, and I shook my head fiercely. I implored, "Dad, don't leave me."
The only reason I had the strength to control the pack was because he was here for me. What would I do when he's gone? I felt like I'd lose control over myself and make mistakes.
What if… what if I ruined the pack and ran it into the ground? What if the vampires took control?
My dad's eyes softened, and he stared at me, his hand stroking mine. "You know I'll do anything to hold on for you, princess. Still, we need to find your mate urgently."
My dad's eyes squinted slightly, his brows furrowed, and he finalized, "I hope he's someone strong who'll be able to take charge of the pack with you."
Suddenly, he changed the topic and asked, "How's the birthday celebration going?"
Birthday party? I bit my lower lip and forced a smile so Dad wouldn't notice anything strange. "Fine, Dad."
Since Dad was sick and the doctor had said that there shouldn't be any form of noise around him, I didn't plan a birthday party.
Besides, the pack was at a stage where we were trying to manage our resources and strengthen our fort. I wouldn't want to give those fucking vampires a chance to get in.
Still, I smiled and continued to weave a lie. "I organized it according to the princess theme we've been planning for years."
My stomach dropped, and a knot tightened in my gut. I didn't lie to Dad—never. But I tried to reassure myself… Dad wouldn't go out, so he wouldn't know.
Also, I wasn't doing this because I wanted to. The situation called for it. The vampires had been attacking randomly these days. I couldn't give them a chance.
My dad's mood lifted, and he stroked my hand. "Good. Good."
To hide my discomfort, I sprang up from the chair and took a deep breath. I took a step back and said, "Uhm, Dad. I have something to do. I'll be back."
My dad flashed me a grin, his eyebrows raising mischievously. He asked, "Is it about Jayden?"
My face grew hot, and I bit my lower lip. Jayden and I have been best friends since we were born, only a few hours apart.
Jayden's father was my dad's beta, and Jayden would take over as my beta once he came of age.
I didn't know when it started, but I had held a torch for Jayden for a long time, and Jayden seemed to feel the same.
Today was Jayden's eighteenth birthday, and he'd find his mate; we both hoped it would be each other.
My bad mood vanished, and my lips formed a wide grin. That way we'd be a legendary couple.
"You can leave." Dad quickly waved his hand as if he was afraid I'd spread my lovestruck emotions through the room.
I nodded and hurried out of the palace, wanting to find Jayden to ask if he had smelled a scent yet.
"Harlyn, did you hear?" Yvette, my childhood best friend, ran toward me with a strange and anxious expression on her face.
I glanced at the path toward Jayden's place and paused, curious about what I hadn't heard. Jayden could wait.
For Yvette to look like this, things must be serious. "What?" I grabbed her hands and looked into her eyes.
Yvette took a deep breath and pressed her lips into a comforting yet serious smile. "Calm down, alright? Just know that the moon goddess only has what's best in mind for us, and she knows best." She consoled.
My face contorted, and I let go of her hand, a bad premonition rising in me.
Suddenly, a deep sense of anxiety gnawed at me. Even though Yvette hadn't said a word, somehow, I knew I wouldn't like what came next. I had an instinct it was about me. "What are you talking about?"
A sad smile appeared on Yvette's face, and she sighed softly before revealing, "Jayden already found his mate. It's not you—it's that bitch, Devina."
The beautiful mood that overwhelmed me vanished in an instant.
At that moment, shards of glass seemed to stab into my heart, and my chest caved in, air drawn out of my lungs. The world began to spin as if it wanted to swallow me whole.
Tears pooled in my eyes, blurring my surroundings. My lips parted, yet I couldn't form a word. No. No. It couldn't be.
Jayden found his mate, and it wasn't me? How could it be?
I had been so confident, so sure we'd be a legendary couple. I thought that no matter how hard taking control of the pack would be, as long as I had Jayden, it would never be hard.
But hearing this, I didn't know how to react. I never expected it.
I wanted to feel Jayden against me, kissing me with his sweet lips, holding me with his strong hands—
But it turns out he was mated with Devina. Devina!
Just like Jayden and I, Devina's mom and my dad had grown up together, but she fell in love with my dad and wished to be his mate.
Unfortunately, my dad's mate turned out to be my mother. Because of this, Devina's mom always went against my mom when she was alive, and after her death, she transferred that hate to me.
Perhaps this was her reward. Devina's mom lost the love of her life to my mom. Now I was losing mine to her daughter.
My wolf whimpered and curled up; we had both expected our mate to be Jayden. "I…"
"Harlyn!" Running toward me was Jayden, his jaw tense, brows pinched, and beads of sweat shimmering on his forehead. I had never seen him this anxious before; he always carried a bad-boy look or a smirk. His pine scent mixed with rain drifted into my nose, calming me like it always had.
Jayden grabbed my hand, and his touch was ordinary, just as it always was. We both felt no special tingles or flutter, and my heart dropped further.
Jayden looked at me with firm determination, as if he had already made up his mind. "Harlyn, listen to me. I only want to be with you. I didn't accept Devina—can we be together now?" His calm voice wavered, almost a whisper.
I stood rooted and stared at Jayden, several emotions coursing through me—shock, anxiety, and confusion.
If Jayden liked me so much and wanted to be with me… then what about his mate?
Although my heart was heavy and aching, the truth was I knew the moon goddess knew better.
The moon goddess must have her reason for not making Jayden and me mates, despite how perfect we thought we'd be.
I was about to speak when Devina came jogging toward us. She reached out to grab Jayden's hand, her eyes clouded with tears, her face red.
Without hesitation, he threw her hand away, but even in that slight second, I saw the hesitation and battle in his eyes.
Even though Jayden never saw eye to eye with Devina in the past, Jayden and his wolf now loved her.
Jayden looked at Devina with a scowl and growled, "Remember what I said. I don't like you, and I don't want to have anything to do with you."
Devina's face paled completely, and before any of us could blink, she had fled, sobbing.
Immediately, Jayden turned to me with expectant eyes.
I shook my head and tried my best to form an accepting and comforting smile. "Jayden, don't. You don't have to. She's your mate—the person the moon goddess chose for you." Even though saying this hurt so much and made my heart ache, I knew it was the truth. We weren't destined to be together.
Jayden looked at me, his brows knitted. He argued, "But…"
I grabbed his hand, cutting him off. "I'll be fine. I'll try to." I turned my back before I could break down in his presence.
Jayden's hand extended toward me, but I bit my lower lip and uttered, "Run. Go after her before it's too late." I urged in the firmest tone I could muster, my eyes shut tightly to stop the tears from spilling in front of him.
Jayden let out a heavy sigh. After a few seconds, I heard him say, "I'm sorry." Then he ran back in the direction he had come from to search for his mate.
My legs gave way under me, and I collapsed to the floor, unable to hold back the tears and the flood of emotions.
Yvette sighed and bent down to my level. She reached out toward me. "Harlyn…"
I sprang up from the floor and shook my head. "Leave me alone for the moment. Don't search for me; I'll be back." After saying this, I phased and ran into the woods.
Jayden was one of the strongest and most capable men in the pack. We had built a rapport that only we understood over the years. Who was I going to get mated with if not him…
A scent suddenly drifted into my nose, making my eyes flash with anger. Fucking vampires—they were here.
Good. I had a lot of emotions to let out anyway.
I continued at a slow pace, my shoulders drooped and my eyes fixed on the floor, pretending I hadn't noticed their presence while using my mind link to call for backup.
I tried to deduce their number and noticed there were ten of them.
Ten vampires? How did they slip past the guards? What were they doing in my pack forest?
As soon as I called backup, I raised my head and let out a powerful growl at the vampires.
Surprisingly, instead of coming out to face me, they all turned and fled from the forest.
I stared at their retreating backs and blinked, not expecting their reaction. What did they plan to do, and why were they here in the first place?
"Princess." Jayden and Devina were walking side by side when they arrived at the forest with Yvette and the warriors.
My mood dropped and my stomach twisted, yet I forced myself to ignore them. Since I supported their union, I'd have to get used to it.
"Ten vampires appeared here a few minutes ago, but they fled when I tried to challenge them. Find out what they're here for. I'll retire to my room first." With this, I left the forest in my wolf form.