Chapter 26
The night of the Mate Ball arrived like something from a fairytale.
Snow covered the kingdom in silver while thousands of lights illuminated the royal mansion beneath the winter sky.
Music floated softly through grand halls.
Crystal chandeliers sparkled like stars.
Every wolf in the kingdom gathered tonight beneath the full moon to celebrate bonds, destiny, and love.
And at the center of it all-
Danny was panicking.
“I look too expensive.”
Lucas looked up from adjusting his cufflinks.
Danny stood before the massive mirror wearing deep midnight-blue silk embroidered with silver thread.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Dangerously beautiful.
Lucas forgot how to breathe for several seconds.
Danny frowned at his reflection.
“This outfit probably costs more than my old apartment.”
Lucas walked toward him slowly.
“You look perfect.”
Danny glanced sideways.
“You say that every time.”
“Because it’s true every time.”
Danny’s heartbeat betrayed him again.
Stupid handsome werewolf king.
Lucas stopped behind him before gently adjusting the silver clasp around Danny’s throat.
His fingers brushed warm skin lightly.
The intimacy made Danny’s face warm.
“You’re nervous,” Lucas murmured softly.
Danny sighed dramatically.
“Too many people.”
Lucas’s eyes softened instantly.
Then he pressed a kiss against Danny’s shoulder.
“I’ll stay beside you all night.”
The promise settled warmly inside Danny’s chest.
Safe.
Lucas always made him feel safe.
Danny suddenly turned around and pointed seriously.
“And if anyone annoying talks to me, you’ll rescue me.”
Lucas smiled faintly.
“Immediately.”
Danny nodded proudly.
“Good husband.”
Lucas’s wolf nearly purred itself unconscious hearing that.
–
Downstairs, the ballroom glowed beneath golden candlelight.
Music echoed softly while beautifully dressed wolves danced beneath silver banners.
The moment Lucas entered with Danny beside him-
The entire ballroom fell silent.
Because their king looked breathtaking tonight.
But the human beside him?
Dangerous.
Beautiful enough to steal attention from the moon itself.
Danny blinked slowly at the staring crowd.
“…Why are they looking at me like that?”
Lucas leaned slightly closer.
“Because you’re beautiful.”
Danny nearly walked directly into a pillar.
Meanwhile across the ballroom-
Serene watched everything with quiet hatred burning inside her chest.
The way Lucas stayed close to Danny.
The way his eyes softened only for him.
The way the wolves already accepted Danny naturally as their queen.
Unacceptable.
A human didn’t deserve that place.
Didn’t deserve Lucas.
Serene’s nails dug sharply into her palm.
Tonight would fix everything.
–
The ball itself felt strangely magical.
Danny danced with Lucas despite stepping on his feet twice.
Lucas didn’t complain once.
Older wolves greeted Danny warmly.
Young wolves practically adored him after he snuck extra desserts onto their plates.
At one point Danny even ended up half asleep against Lucas’s shoulder while Lucas attended formal conversations around him.
The Alpha King looked entirely content carrying his sleepy mate through the ballroom.
People whispered about them everywhere.
“They’re perfect together.”
“The king hasn’t looked this alive in centuries.”
“Our queen is adorable.”
And every whispered word made Serene angrier.
Near midnight, Danny finally escaped onto one of the snowy balconies needing fresh air.
The ballroom had become overwhelming.
Too much noise.
Too many people.
He leaned against the railing quietly watching snow fall beneath the moonlight.
Beautiful.
Then suddenly-
“You truly fooled everyone.”
Danny turned slowly.
Serene stood near the balcony doorway.
Her silver gown shimmered coldly beneath the moon.
Danny sighed internally.
Annoying woman again.
“What do you want?”
Serene stepped closer slowly.
“You think you belong here?”
Danny blinked lazily.
“I kinda do.”
Serene’s eyes darkened sharply.
“You’re human.”
Danny crossed his arms.
“And?”
“You’ll die long before him.”
The words landed colder than winter.
Danny froze slightly.
Serene stepped closer.
“Did you think about that?”
Silence.
Because honestly-
No.
He hadn’t.
Serene smiled faintly seeing his hesitation.
“You’re temporary.”
Something uncomfortable twisted painfully inside Danny’s chest.
Then suddenly-
A servant rushed onto the balcony.
“My queen! The king requests your presence immediately.”
Danny immediately relaxed.
Saved.
He turned toward the servant with relief.
“Thank god.”
Serene stepped aside silently while Danny followed the servant down quieter corridors away from the ballroom.
But slowly-
Danny frowned.
“…This isn’t the ballroom way.”
The servant kept walking.
Too fast now.
Danny stopped moving.
“Hey.”
Silence.
Then the servant turned slowly.
And Danny’s stomach dropped.
Not a servant.
A stranger.
Wolf eyes glowing gold beneath the dim hallway lights.
Danny stepped backward instantly.
“What the hell-“
A sharp scent suddenly filled the air.
Sweet.
Strange.
Danny’s vision blurred almost immediately.
Oh no.
The wolf caught him before he hit the floor.
“Forgive us, Your Majesty.”
Danny tried fighting.
But everything felt heavy.
Distant.
The last thing he saw before darkness swallowed him-
Was Serene watching silently from the shadows.
–
Back inside the ballroom, Lucas suddenly froze mid-conversation.
Silence.
His wolf roared violently inside him.
Mate gone.
The bond-
Gone.
Lucas’s eyes flashed glowing silver instantly.
The entire ballroom fell silent in terror.
Because the terrifying Alpha King had returned.
“Danny?” Lucas called sharply.
No answer.
Fear unlike anything he’d felt in centuries ripped through his chest.
Then suddenly-
Danny’s scent vanished completely.
*****
A/N: If you’re enjoying the story please vote. Only few chapters are left of this story
