Chapter 3

3

KILLIAN

T he second the doors open, I know what's been driving my wolf wild.

She 's here.

Liquid heat burns in my veins, and it physically hurts to stay by Zoe's side while keeping the stiff, mild-mannered smile plastered on my face. The only reason my wolf hasn't shoved Zoe's hand away is that we're related by blood. Any other female would have lost her fingers.

With more restraint than I knew I possessed I scour the room, searching for the woman who's already turned my life upside down.

Find her.

A tiny movement catches my eye, and I zone in on her immediately as she steps back, shocked, one hand raised to her chest. The world melts away as our gazes lock, and I stare into her startled green eyes.

My mate.

As the sparks dance across the room, she slowly pulls her index finger from between her pink pillowy lips. It's a move so sensual, I smother a groan. Her cheeks flush, ever so slightly, as she stares back, and it does something to me. Every possessive instinct in me rushes forward, and I want to take her away from the madness to somewhere it's just us.

Like my room.

My attention is pulled away from my mate briefly when Zoe tugs my arm. In front of us, an elderly statesman of an alpha and his luna wait for my response to something they've said, and I get the impression they were hoping for more than the rude groan I've just let past my lips.

They kindly ignore my odd behaviour, but it just makes me remember why I hate these kinds of events so much. I'm notoriously bad at small talk, and I have no idea what the question was.

"Prince Killian was just saying to Blake that he really wants to learn more about the impressive packs in this region, including yours, Alpha. However, there are lots of pressing issues with the council that the prince needs to attend to, first. I'm sure you can understand that those duties will take up most of his time in the immediate future."

The alpha gives a polite nod to Zoe. She moves us past him quickly, before his luna gets to ask the question that's on the tip of her tongue. Zoe is a pro at navigating these conversations, and I'm eternally grateful Blake has lent her to me for this part of the evening.

"Thank you," I mutter distractedly.

My gaze darts back to my mate, only to find that the spot where she stood just seconds before is empty. Fuck. Where is she?

My wolf surges up inside me, frantic that we're going to lose her.

Relax, I tell him. I can still scent her. And I can still feel the pull toward her, so she's still here.

She hasn't left the building. Perhaps she's as uncomfortable as I am with meeting face to face, in such a public setting. She's probably leading me somewhere quieter.

Follow her scent.

Despite Zoe's attempts to steer me toward the relative safety of a table filled with the Grey Ridge pack leadership and my cousins, I stubbornly refuse to be diverted. Buoyed by the thought that my mate wants me all to herself, I lengthen my stride, keen to hunt her down.

Zoe grits her teeth and nods politely at everyone that tries to engage us in conversation as I make a beeline to my mate's last known location.

If she wants a chase, I'll give her one.

Coming to an abrupt stop where her fading scent is strongest, it's only when I'm glancing around, trying to figure out which direction she has gone, that I realise one of the council members is right in front of me.

With a charming smile painted on her face now instead of a sneer, Cressida bows politely.

"Prince Killian," she says demurely, in a complete attitude shift. "Please, let me introduce Elodie, my youngest daughter. As I'm sure you know, our families were close. I would have been intended for you, if you were born here, and maybe a decade or two earlier."

She laughs, passing her odd comment off as a joke, but my wolf snarls. When she touches my forearm, I fight the urge to recoil while there are eyes on us. Is she flirting with me?

My wolf reacts violently to her touch, and I swallow hard to keep my aggression in check. I remind myself that she doesn't know my mate is here. So as much as I find her unpleasant, she doesn't know that we have found our fated mate.

But she is insulting the sanctity of the mate bond after she's been claimed by another. If she were mine, I would not be happy.

When I say nothing, the councilwoman backtracks. "But of course, I'm happily mated now. Although through Elodie, I hope our families can remain closely connected."

Dear lord. Is this hideous woman trying to force her daughter on me? To her credit, even Elodie looks mortified by her mother's lack of tact, though she hides it well.

"Elodie is the custodian of the royal palace and has been ensuring the remaining sections didn't fall into ruin. She'll assist you in any way you need. I think you'll find her a valuable asset."

I get it. She's at my disposal.

Giving Elodie a small, sympathetic smile, I can't deny that she's beautiful. Any other man would gladly take her up on her offer, but not me. I can't help but wonder how complicit she is with her mother's scheming.

Cressida is clearly keeping her friends close, and her enemies closer.

With my mate's scent rapidly being drowned out in the busy room, I need to find her quickly. This conversation is taking far too long.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Elodie," I say tersely, my wolf eager to continue searching. Every sense of mine is on high alert, scanning around us for our mate, but if anything, I feel her less and less. "I saw another woman here a moment ago, who looked a little like you. A relative?"

I try to sound uninterested, like this is merely polite conversation, while I wait with bated breath for the answer. If claiming her publicly as mine would have no ramifications for either of us, I'd tell them exactly why I'm so interested in her whereabouts. But I can't announce her as my mate, not when I have no intention of sticking around.

"Oh, em, yes." Elodie glances nervously toward her mother. "That's my sister, Charlotte. I'm not sure where she's run off to."

My question was unexpected, and for some reason, has caught Elodie off guard.

"Charlotte's a bit of a free spirit. Please forgive her manners." Cressida's smile is tight, not reaching her eyes, as she considers me but says nothing further about where she might have gone.

"Ah yes, I could see a resemblance. Not to worry, I'm sure I'll meet her again." With a chivalrous nod to both ladies, I attempt to move on. "I appreciate your help in keeping my family home standing. Enjoy your evening."

Elodie beams, and her mother smiles smugly, knowing she's positioned her daughter perfectly to get acquainted with any royalty that's resurfaced.

I have to admire the forethought. Ordinarily, I'd be pissed off at the blatant social climbing, but not tonight, if it means I have a greater chance of finding her sister.

Go. My wolf demands I stop delaying. He's growing anxious as the tenuous connection between us stretches thinner and thinner.

"Wait. Where are you going?" Zoe hisses as I slip from her grasp to track my mate's scent through the room. She follows me, almost at a jog to keep up with my long strides, which is impressive in her strappy high heels.

Relentlessly following her scent, I duck and dive, following a nonsensical path through the party.

I'm sure everyone watching is wondering about my sanity as I turn back on myself, following with gritted teeth, another red herring my mate's laid for me.

If I didn't know she was doing this to avoid me, I'd be impressed. But right now, I find it annoying as hell.

"Killian," Zoe whisper-shouts, as I march toward a table of gentlemen in the corner, seemingly enjoying themselves far more than anyone else here.

Sniffing the air, I zone in on one, who narrows his eyes as I approach.

"I see you've met Cressida and Elodie," he comments, his wolf shining briefly in his eyes, and his fingers tightening around the glass of whiskey in his hand. He's the first person, apart from my family, who hasn't been sickeningly polite.

I like him already.

"And I believe you have another daughter that I've yet to meet. Is she still here?" It's a ridiculous question. People are still arriving, and we haven't even eaten yet. There's no reason for anyone to have left, but somehow, I know she has.

"I think she may have slipped out." His eyes slide to the open balcony doors, the corner of his mouth tipping up in an amused smile.

I don't even pretend not to care, knowing this man has me well sussed already.

Stepping outside, I suck in a deep breath of fresh air and move to the railing. Leaning over, I can see where she landed, noting the broken twigs and leaves scattered on the grass.

That probably hurt. She really wanted to get away.

I should be offended, yet I'm intrigued.

In the distance, I see a blur, disappearing at incredible speed into the dark forest beyond. My wolf wants to chase her, his strong predatory instincts spark by her running.

But I can't. Not tonight, at least.

Growling, I look over my shoulder at the party inside, and the duties that need to be attended to before all else. The dinner bell rings, calling everyone to their seats, and I ball my hands into fists.

I have to go back inside. I have to let her go.

Charlotte's father stands in the doorway, a wry smile on his face.

"Even if you go after her, you won't catch her. She's got too big a head start. Go and enjoy your meal. Your paths will cross again."

Nodding, I push away from the balcony and fix my messy hair.

"And in the meantime…" He taps the side of his nose. "Your secret is safe with me."

Swallowing hard to bite back the question on my lips, I turn away, swiping the glass off the table as I pass.