MATED TO THE RUTHLESS LYCAN KING

~GABRIELLA'S POV~

The party dragged on the whole day, and by evening, I felt like nothing but an empty shell.

Sure, meeting my mate had kept a smile plastered on my face—a real one, the first in years—but that didn’t change the heaviness inside me. My mother noticed, of course. She always noticed.

I sat slumped in one of the chairs in the hall, drained after hours of cleaning up after the guests. That’s when I heard her footsteps behind me.

I jumped up, turning around quickly.

“Mot— I mean, Luna,” I said, bowing slightly.

Without hesitation, she strode up to me. “You should start preparing to leave. The warrior wolves from the Darkmoon pack will be here in two days to collect you,” she said.

“Yes, Luna,” I murmured, feeling the joy I’d carried in my heart just hours ago vanish completely. What was the point of finding my mate if I was being married off to someone else? The glow in my eyes faded, and I caught the curl of a smirk tugging at her lips.

“Finish what you’re doing here and pack your bags. I’ll get you a proper dress and new shoes so you look presentable for the Alpha King,” she added, then left, her steps echoing loudly through the hall.

I stared after her, blank, my fists tightening at my sides though my face betrayed nothing. A sigh escaped me before I whispered to the floor, “I’m going to escape.”

When my chores were finally done, I dragged myself to my quarters. Collapsing onto the bed, I stared at the ceiling, my mind spinning with escape plans.

And then it hit me.

The passage I used to help Steven escape—it was perfect. My way out. I could finally run away with the man of my dreams and never look back. Even if it meant becoming a rogue.

Firstly, I had to write to him. Searching the whole place for him would be a hassle—I just needed a way to tell him to meet me at the end of the tunnel.

I jumped out of bed, grabbed a pen and a scrap of paper, and started writing.

It only took me five minutes. Of course, I had no way of actually delivering it to him, so I decided to leave the letter at the end of the tunnel, praying the moon goddess would return before I left.

That night, I slipped out of my room and hurried to the entrance. Everyone was asleep except the night wolves, so I had to move as silently as possible. When I reached the tunnel, I stripped off my clothes and shifted into my wolf. My eyes cut through the darkness, and I sprinted down the path, reaching the other side in no time. I placed the letter carefully on the ground—mission complete. Now all I could do was wait and hope he returned.

The next morning, my alarm dragged me awake. This time, though, I felt lighter—energized. To my own surprise, I was smiling.

I just knew today would be different.

After dressing, I opened my door and nearly froze. A group of maidens stood waiting, each holding a basket full of clothes.

“What is all this?” I asked, eyebrows shooting up.

“We were sent by Luna to help you pick a dress for your departure the day after tomorrow,” they said in unison.

I couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at my lips. At least Steven would see me in something beautiful instead of the rags I usually wore. With a sigh, I stepped aside. “Come in. Let’s get started.”

It took longer than I expected. They measured, stitched, and mended until finally the dress was ready. It looked like a rose come to life—petals framing my chest, petals flowing all the way down to my feet. Deep red, soft and natural, almost like it breathed. It was stunning, even if, in truth, I would have preferred black.

The dress also came with transparent silk gloves that reached all the way to my upper arms.

“You’re so beautiful,” one of the maidens said, gently placing a rose above my left ear.

I smiled. I hope he likes it too, I thought to myself.

After all the dressing up, we returned to our daily chores. My two trusted friends stayed by my side the entire day as we cleaned and served the family. For some reason, my mother was much kinder to me today—probably because she didn’t want me thinking about running away.

As night fell, I confided in Marian and Lily about my escape, and about my mate. Both of them promised to help me prepare for the night I would finally leave my pack behind.

That night, I slipped into the tunnels again and ran straight to the exit. There, lying on the ground, was the envelope I had dropped. My heart sank.

I picked it up, sadness weighing on me, and turned it over.

To my surprise, a new seal marked the front. I broke it open, pulled out the letter, and to my utmost relief—it wasn’t the same one.

He replied, I thought, pressing the envelope tightly against my chest.

The following night, I prepared for my departure. Marian and Lily stayed with me in my room, helping me into my dress and applying my makeup. They walked with me to the entrance of the tunnel, where I hugged them goodbye.

This time, I couldn’t shift into my wolf; I didn’t want to ruin my dress or makeup. Instead, I walked carefully through the dark tunnel with a flame torch in hand, braving the shadows with nothing but thoughts of a happy future with my mate.

Freedom was waiting at the end of this tunnel. Every dream I’d ever dared to imagine felt so close I could almost touch it.

“You really think you’re smart, don’t you?”

The demonic edge of her voice shattered my hopes into a million pieces.

I turned slowly, my face pale with shock. “L… Luna?” My voice trembled as I spoke.

“Hmm.” My mother’s eyes glowed as she stepped forward. “So, you found your mate. You were planning to run away with him. I knew something was wrong the moment I saw that ridiculous smile after the ceremony.”

“How… how did you know?” I whispered, stepping back.

“I found this,” she snapped, pulling out my letter and throwing it to the ground. “You’re going to marry the Alpha King of the Darkmoon pack, and that’s final.”

“No—no! I’m never going back!” I shouted, fury burning through me as I turned to run. But before I could escape, I slammed straight into my younger brother’s chest. He grabbed me by the arms, gripping tightly, a smug smile spreading across his face.

“Why are you being such a selfish big sister? Do you want the Darkmoon pack to go to war with us?” he said, before shoving me hard to the ground.

“Please,” I whispered, tears filling my eyes, “I just wanted a good life. I’m so tired of this place.”

“Oh, dear,” my mother said, crouching to mock me, “this is your home. Well—at least it was. Soon enough, you’ll belong to the Darkmoon pack.”

She straightened and gave the order. “Take her away.”

Four warrior wolves emerged from the shadows and seized me by the arms. I kicked, I screamed, but they dragged me back. And just like that, the flicker of hope I had clung to was gone. My life was over.

The next morning, I sat in a carrier with all my luggage piled beside me. My face was blank, my eyes hollow. There was nothing left but sorrow.

A Darkmoon warrior drove the carrier, his gaze fixed ahead. Two others sat on either side of me, silent as stone. No one spoke a word the entire journey.

Hours later, we crossed into Darkmoon territory. The land was cloaked in gray fog, wolves watching from the shadows with unseen eyes. Every inch of it reeked of control and danger.

We rolled through the heart of the pack and stopped before the gates of the Alpha’s home. The warriors unloaded my bags and escorted me through the mansion’s gardens.

The air felt wrong here—heavy, suffocating. Darkness lingered in the corners, pressing against my chest until my stomach churned.

I kept my gaze low, staring at the ground as I walked. Then a voice rang out.

“Welcome.”

My head lifted slowly. The sound of it made my heart stutter. My eyes widened, tears pricking the corners.

Our gazes locked.

“Steven,” I breathed.