Chapter Five

Alpha Roman’s POV

Malia knelt before me, her eyes wide, filled with that same desperation that I’d seen in every woman who came through those doors. Jenny had left a few days ago to answer her father's call. I needed a distraction from her, and to focus on the mate trials. My plans were coming to a close, the endgame was near. Malia pressed her lips to me with such eagerness, a pathetic display of the neediness I’d long grown tired of. When she’d first arrived, I’d brushed her off like I did everyone who thought they could have me without a price. But she’d worked hard, spent the better part of the trials proving her loyalty, crawling until her spirit had cracked. Finally, she’d become mine. A pet trained well.

“Pathetic,” I muttered, tightening my grip on her hair, guiding her as she moved in rhythmic, messy attempts. She moaned, her back arched as if she’d actually accomplish something, but it wasn’t enough—not even close. My mind, instead, wandered back to last night, to the girl in the cat mask. A phantom in my thoughts, impossible to ignore. My blood roared just thinking about her, even as Malia did her best to keep my attention.

She sensed my distraction and doubled her efforts, lips pressing, tongue working. Still, it wasn’t the same. The girl in the mask—there was no comparison. It was as if everything else I’d ever touched paled beside her. A taste of something unfamiliar, forbidden. And as Malia’s desperation built, I felt only annoyance.

I shoved her off me. She stumbled, the satisfaction on her face dropping into shock as she looked up. Her lips trembled.

"Get out,” I snapped, rolling my eyes as she began to tear up. “Oh great, now she’s crying. That’s what I needed."

“But… Alpha… I—”

“Now.”

She stammered, barely able to meet my gaze, then scurried out of the room like the pet she was. The silence she left was a welcome relief, yet the irritation remained. They were all the same. Women, wolves, always so willing, so eager to prove their worth. They threw themselves at me like offerings to a god, always ready to bend or break if I willed it. I had never known what weakness felt like. As a Lycan, power was bred into me, each fiber of my being superior to those lesser wolves that bowed at my feet.

Since childhood, I’d been aware of the difference. The Lycan gene was rare, handed down like a royal secret in my family. It made us stronger, faster, more ruthless. Our wolves were primal beasts, holding most of the power over our senses and strength. Empathy, compassion—those were human luxuries, ones my beast had no use for. Over the years, the monster in me had grown stronger, hungrier. It would consume me if I didn’t find a mate soon, something even I couldn’t ignore anymore.

The mate trials had been my family’s solution to this problem for centuries. A way to force the bond when none of us could find a suitable match naturally. Each sacrifice they made, each drop of blood spilled in my name, brought the goddess closer to granting me a mate bond. And every woman who killed in my honor became more obsessed, more controlled, each of them a puppet ready to follow my lead.

The irony was delicious. They’d fight to the death if I asked them to—all because I needed to find a mate, to prevent the beast from taking full control. My family hadn’t explained to the contenders what their kills meant, but if they knew… I smirked, knowing they would do it anyway.

A knock sounded on the door.

“Enter,” I called, straightening, letting the remnants of irritation slip away. My Beta, Jason Bell, walked in, eyes steady, as usual. Unlike the others, Jason understood that serving me meant loyalty, not desperation. I could respect that.

“News, Alpha,” he began, inclining his head. “She took the bait.”

My brow lifted. “Eloise’s sister?”

He nodded. “Signed up for the trials this morning. She’s on her way here now.”

“Good.” A hint of satisfaction curled through me. A weapon like her, one that carried her ancestor’s blood, was far too dangerous to leave unchecked. And now she was right where I wanted her—under my roof, close enough to keep my eye on.

Eloise had come dangerously close to discovering her bloodline’s truth. She’d nearly found the answers to secrets that would shake the kingdom, secrets that were better left buried. So, I buried her. Permanently. And now, her sister was here, blindly stepping into the same trap.

I walked to the balcony, Jason dismissed from my mind, and stared out over the mate trial grounds. It wasn’t difficult to spot her; she was already standing in the clearing with a sword, training alone. I couldn’t deny there was something about her presence that grated at me, as if her very existence was an insult. She carried her sister’s arrogance, her audacity to meddle in things that didn’t concern her.

I hated her more than I had Eloise. If she ever uncovered her ancestry, the loyalty she’d demand, the claims she’d make—it would ruin everything. I tightened my jaw. When her purpose in this trial ended, so would she, another loose end tied up, another obstacle removed.

But then, unbidden, came the image of the masked girl. I could still feel the warmth of her body against mine from last night, the raw magnetism between us. How she’d drawn me in, each second a challenge, yet something more profound. She hadn’t just been a distraction; she’d been a spark in the otherwise dull routine of the night.

The pull I’d felt was unmistakable, powerful enough that my wolf had stirred for the first time in years. A primal reaction, one I couldn’t ignore. I suspected—no, I was certain—she was my mate. But without proof, I couldn’t know for sure. Lycans found their mates by scent, by recognition of the soul, and last night she’d been cloaked. Only a full moon would reveal her true nature.

I clenched my hands, determination flaring. There was no alternative. I’d have to lure her out, draw her to me. Perhaps another masquerade, one where her mask wouldn’t hide the bond between us. A mate bond could fix everything. Reign in my beast, steady my grip. I wouldn’t be reduced to the same fate as those who lost control to their wolves.

This girl wasn't just some sex toy. She was more. As cliche as it sounded, one night with her taught me that. I'd have felt it without needing to touch her either. She made me giddy inside. She made me want to do stupid wholesome things like plan picnics and take her on horse rides. I was smitten. All for the girl in the mask.

While on my balcony, I looked down below and my face fell. The Mate trials happened in an open field visible from the palace. It was surrounded by thick forest and electric wires. I watched Eloise’s sister swing her sword, her movements precise, focused. A perfect actress, playing the part of a warrior. But I knew what she really was—a threat. And just as I’d handled her sister, I would deal with her.

My wolf clawed to the surface at the thought, eager, savage. She was here, close enough to destroy, but not yet. I had time. Time to savor her downfall. This was my revenge for what she had done years ago. More than a century had passed since she stole my joy. Now she was back, yet again, reborn in a new person. I would take her for everything she was worth. I'd make her suffer. But not so quickly, I had to press, to make it hurt.

For now, I turned away, a smirk tugging at my lips as the plan formed in my mind. Let her play her part in the trials, let her think she could survive. Soon, I would have everything I needed—her surrender, her silence, and the only bond that could keep me from becoming the very beast I commanded.

And when her purpose was served, she would face the same fate as her sister.