Chapter 25

The werewolf kingdom had a serious problem.

Their terrifying Alpha King was no longer terrifying.

At least not when Daniel Reed was involved.

Three days after the “money incident,” the entire mansion descended into beautiful chaos because Danny had discovered something very important.

Mate Ball season existed.

And apparently every year the werewolf kingdom hosted a grand celebration where mated pairs attended together beneath the winter moon.

The moment Danny heard the words fancy clothes, decorations, and dramatic ballroom, he decided this was now his personal project.

Mostly because-

He didn’t actually have to work physically.

He only had to order people around.

Which Danny considered the perfect profession.

–

The grand ballroom looked like a battlefield.

Flowers everywhere.

Fabric samples spread across tables.

Servants running around nervously while Danny lay dramatically across a velvet couch in the center of the room like a lazy emperor.

Lucas stood nearby silently watching.

Hopelessly in love.

Danny pointed lazily toward a chandelier.

“No. That one feels emotionally ugly.”

Five workers immediately rushed to change it.

Another servant approached nervously holding ribbon samples.

“My queen, which color would you prefer?”

Danny blinked thoughtfully while chewing on a macaron.

“Hm.”

Lucas watched the way the wolves naturally deferred to Danny now.

No fear.

No hesitation.

Just affection and trust.

It felt strangely right.

Danny pointed suddenly.

“Silver.”

The servant bowed instantly.

“Excellent choice.”

Danny looked smug.

“I know.”

Lucas almost smiled.

His mate had somehow turned royal event planning into lounging professionally.

And the terrifying thing?

He was genuinely good at it.

Danny noticed details others missed.

Atmosphere.

Comfort.

Emotion.

He wanted the ballroom warm instead of intimidating.

Beautiful instead of cold.

Lucas leaned quietly against a pillar watching him command the entire room while half lying down beneath blankets.

Beautiful.

His beautiful lazy mate.

Danny suddenly gasped dramatically.

“Wait.”

Everyone froze instantly.

Danny pointed toward the flower arrangements.

“Those flowers look sad.”

A poor servant looked terrified.

“…Sad?”

“They lack romance.”

Silence.

Lucas pressed his fist lightly against his mouth hiding another smile.

Danny continued seriously.

“This is a mate ball. People need to look at the flowers and think wow I should kiss someone dramatically tonight.”

The entire room stayed silent.

Then Ethan muttered quietly beside Lucas-

“…Oddly enough, he makes sense.”

Lucas’s wolf looked smug.

Mate perfect.

Danny shifted comfortably deeper into the couch.

“This is why I should rule.”

Lucas finally walked closer.

“You’ve been saying that a lot lately.”

Danny looked up lazily.

“Because I’d be amazing.”

Lucas sat beside him naturally.

Danny immediately leaned against his shoulder without thinking.

Routine now.

Dangerously domestic routine.

Lucas gently brushed frosting from the corner of Danny’s lips.

The nearby servants immediately looked away pretending not to witness their king being devastatingly soft again.

Danny grabbed another macaron happily.

“I like this kind of work.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow.

“Ordering people while laying down?”

“Exactly.”

Lucas laughed quietly.

Danny pointed proudly.

“I’m helping.”

“You are.”

And somehow-

He truly was.

For centuries the Mate Ball had been formal.

Elegant.

Cold.

More political than romantic.

But Danny transformed it into something alive.

Soft golden lights.

Music chosen carefully.

Comfortable seating areas for younger wolves.

Warm desserts.

Even small gifts prepared for mated couples.

Lucas watched him all afternoon.

The way Danny smiled proudly whenever people praised the decorations.

The way servants relaxed around him naturally.

The way the ballroom slowly filled with warmth simply because Danny existed inside it.

And Lucas-

Lucas fell harder all over again.

It happened constantly now.

Tiny moments destroying him quietly.

Danny complaining sleepily in the mornings.

Danny stealing kisses randomly.

Danny sitting on the throne eating strawberries.

Danny organizing an entire royal ball while wrapped in blankets like an exhausted prince.

Lucas suddenly reached over and pulled Danny fully into his lap.

Danny blinked.

“What?”

Lucas buried his face briefly against Danny’s neck.

His mate smelled comforting.

Home.

Danny laughed softly.

“You’re clingy lately.”

Lucas looked up quietly.

“Can you blame me?”

Danny’s cheeks became slightly pink.

Cute.

Always cute.

Across the ballroom, several workers watched silently in disbelief.

One whispered carefully-

“Is that really our king?”

Another stared at Lucas gently fixing Danny’s blanket around his legs.

“…I think he got domesticated.”

Honestly?

Correct.

Danny poked Lucas’s cheek thoughtfully.

“You know your scary reputation is completely ruined now.”

Lucas hummed softly against his shoulder.

“Because of you.”

“Mhm.”

Danny looked very pleased with himself.

“I fixed you.”

Lucas’s eyes softened unbearably.

No.

Danny saved him.

There was a difference.

Before Danny, the mansion felt cold.

His life felt endless.

Power without warmth.

Then suddenly this lazy human crashed into his existence demanding cuddles, muffins, and emotional support.

And somehow Lucas became happier than he remembered possible.

Danny suddenly pointed across the ballroom dramatically.

“More candles.”

Immediately five wolves rushed to obey.

Lucas laughed quietly again.

Then kissed Danny’s temple softly.

And the wolves of the kingdom watched in amazement as their once terrifying immortal king looked at his human mate like the center of the universe.