Chapter 5

Six months later.

Winter had arrived in Bayleaf City.

Snow dusted the rooftops of the city like powdered sugar while cold winds swept between towering buildings. The streets sparkled beneath Christmas lights, couples walked hand in hand, and happiness seemed to exist everywhere except inside the penthouse office of Lucas King.

Because the Alpha King was suffering.

Terribly.

“Still no information?”

Lucas’s voice was quiet.

Too quiet.

Which was infinitely more terrifying.

Every werewolf inside the meeting room lowered their heads instantly.

“No, Your Majesty,” Ethan answered carefully.

Lucas stared out the massive glass windows of King Corporation without expression.

Six months.

Six entire months.

And he still couldn’t find his mate.

No name.

No address.

Nothing.

The only thing he had left was the small handwritten note Danny had abandoned that morning.

Lucas kept it hidden in the drawer beside his desk.

Like a treasure.

Or perhaps a curse.

His wolf had become unbearable during these months.

Restless.

Possessive.

Every sweet scent in the city made him turn instinctively, only to feel crushing disappointment afterward.

And the worst part?

His mate clearly didn’t remember him at all.

Lucas had searched every luxury hotel, every club, every university, every business family in Bayleaf City.

Nothing.

It was like Danny had vanished into thin air.

Ethan placed another file carefully onto the desk.

“We investigated every person who entered Noctis that night.”

Lucas finally turned.

“And?”

“Most guests used fake identities.”

Silence.

Then-

Crack.

The expensive fountain pen in Lucas’s hand shattered instantly.

Everyone flinched.

The Alpha King rarely lost control.

But when it came to his missing mate-

Even centuries of discipline failed him.

Ethan sighed internally.

The mighty Wolf King had become completely lovesick.

Honestly pathetic.

“My king,” Ethan said cautiously, “perhaps your mate simply doesn’t wish to be found.”

The room temperature dropped instantly.

Every werewolf looked ready to run for their lives.

Lucas smiled coldly.

“He left me money, Ethan.”

“…Right.”

“He treated me like a one-night stand.”

“…Yes.”

“And now you’re telling me he doesn’t wish to be found?”

Ethan wisely decided silence was the safest option.

Lucas leaned back in his chair slowly.

His sharp eyes darkened slightly with exhaustion.

For six months he barely slept.

Barely ate.

Every morning began with disappointment.

Every night ended with memories of warm sleepy eyes and soft laughter.

He remembered everything.

Danny whining about being tired.

Danny stealing his coat.

Danny calling him pretty.

Lucas closed his eyes briefly.

His wolf whimpered softly inside him.

Mate.

Miss him.

The office doors suddenly burst open.

A beautiful silver-haired werewolf entered elegantly.

Serene Vale.

Daughter of the northern pack Alpha.

And the woman every werewolf expected Lucas to marry eventually.

Tall.

Graceful.

Deadly beautiful.

She walked directly toward Lucas confidently.

“My king,” she purred softly, “you missed dinner again.”

Lucas barely glanced at her.

“I’m busy.”

Serene’s smile tightened slightly.

For years she had believed she would become Luna beside him.

She was powerful, beautiful, respected.

Perfect.

Then suddenly everything changed six months ago.

Lucas stopped paying attention to every other person completely.

All because of some mysterious mate.

A human, apparently.

Pathetic.

Serene hated him already.

Even without knowing his name.

She moved closer.

“You shouldn’t exhaust yourself over someone unworthy.”

Lucas’s expression turned dangerously cold.

“Careful, Serene.”

The warning made every werewolf tense.

But Serene only forced another smile.

“I only mean that a human could never understand your world.”

Lucas looked at her finally.

And for one brief terrifying moment-

His Alpha aura exploded through the room.

Windows rattled violently.

The wolves present immediately dropped to their knees.

Serene’s face paled.

Lucas’s voice became icy.

“He is worthy of everything.”

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Then Lucas stood slowly.

The pressure vanished instantly.

“I have another meeting.”

Ethan followed behind him quickly while the others struggled to breathe normally again.

Inside the private elevator, Ethan glanced sideways carefully.

“You’re getting worse.”

Lucas said nothing.

Ethan sighed.

“You know what the packs are saying?”

Lucas’s jaw tightened slightly.

“They believe the mate bond is driving you unstable.”

“It is.”

Ethan blinked.

Lucas stared at the descending floor numbers quietly.

“For one hundred years I felt nothing.”

His voice became softer.

“Then I met him for one night.”

A pause.

“And now every day without him feels wrong.”

Ethan looked at his king silently.

The terrifying Alpha who ruled all werewolves looked almost… lonely.

Then suddenly Lucas frowned.

A scent.

Faint.

Sweet.

Vanilla.

His head snapped upward instantly.

Mate.

The elevator doors opened.

Lucas walked out sharply.

Employees immediately bowed as he passed.

The scent was weak.

Very weak.

But unmistakable.

Lucas followed it through the executive floor quickly while Ethan hurried behind him in confusion.

Then-

The scent disappeared near the conference hall.

Lucas stopped.

His heartbeat became uneven.

Mate had been here.

Recently.

Very recently.

Ethan’s eyes widened.

“No way…”

Before Lucas could respond, his secretary rushed toward him nervously.

“Mr. King, the international investors have arrived for today’s hotel partnership meeting.”

Lucas barely listened.

His wolf was restless again.

Mate close.

Find him.

Then the secretary hesitated awkwardly.

“Um… there is one problem.”

Lucas looked at her sharply.

“One of the representatives is thirty minutes late.”

The entire hallway went silent.

Everyone in King Corporation knew one thing.

Lucas King hated lateness.

People had lost careers over less.

The secretary swallowed nervously.

“And apparently… he refused to apologize.”

Ethan almost pitied the poor idiot.

Lucas adjusted his cuffs calmly.

“Who is he?”

She checked her tablet.

“A representative from Reed Group.”

Lucas paused slightly.

Reed Group.

One of the largest companies in Bayleaf City.

Interesting.

Then suddenly-

The conference room doors opened loudly.

And a familiar sleepy voice echoed through the hall.

“Sorry I’m late. The traffic was annoying.”

Lucas froze.

His wolf exploded awake.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

Slowly-

Very slowly-

Lucas turned toward the voice.

And there he was.

Messy dark hair.

Sleepy eyes.

Oversized sweater beneath an expensive coat.

Exactly the same.

His mate stood there yawning softly while holding a cup of iced coffee.

Completely unaware that the most dangerous creature alive was staring at him like a starving man finding heaven again.