Mr. Brentford paced anxiously around the room while Ava lay motionless on the bed. Hours had passed, and her body still refused to stir. The shock had been too much—so overwhelming that she'd fainted.
Since taking her to the local physician was too risky and would waste too much time finding a carriage, the guards had helped transport her to one of the castle's physicians. Although the physician was assigned to the maids, it was the least they could do—watching over her in worry. Mr. Brentford's anxiety only grew with each passing second. Panic gnawed at him, his usually composed voice trembling with fear.
But there was something else. Something deeper. The sheer disbelief on his usually blank face as he processed the impossible: his daughter knew the king.
How was that possible? She couldn't speak, and she had never met him.
He had never once taken her to the palace—not even by mistake. In fact, he'd only ever taken Ava there—and even then, rarely. But now it seemed… Araina already knew the king.
That made no sense.
He tried to piece it together, to connect the dots, but nothing fit. His thoughts spun wildly—until the physician finally walked in.
A calm, reassuring smile touched the woman's lips. She wore a soft white coat, and her voice was gentle.
"Your daughter is stable," she said. "She suffered a shock that caused temporary mental blankness, which led to her fainting. She'll be fine soon—the shock was sudden, but not lasting."
"If I may proceed… did something happen? Was there any trigger you noticed before the fall?" she asked gently.
Mr. Brentford shook his head. "I have no idea," he said quietly.
The physician nodded understandingly. "Very well then. There's no need to worry. She'll be back to herself in no time. Especially since her mate is already close by, watching. That will help speed her recovery. She'll need to connect with him before midnight. Though she hasn't found her mate yet, her body will begin to recover with the help of her wolf. You have nothing to worry about."
Mr. Brentford exhaled slowly, a silent prayer of gratitude in his heart. At least, he thought, the Moon Goddess hasn't abandoned us.
Just as the physician finished speaking, Ava stirred.
Her father rushed to her side, gently holding her hand.
"Ava," he whispered.
Her eyes fluttered open slowly, landing on his face. A small, dazed smile formed on her lips before her eyes moved, looking around. She began to shake her head as she stared down at her gown.
"N…no, no. This… c-can't be," she stammered, her throat tightening.
"It's a dream, right, Father?" she said softly. "The ball hasn't started yet… right?"
She shook her head faintly, as if trying to push reality away.
But her father didn't answer right away. His expression was heavy, torn. Then he spoke, his voice quiet and unsure.
"Everything you saw, my daughter… it was real. I'm even more shocked than you are."
Ava began to shake her head in disbelief, her smile fading.
The way she shook her head—a person with low iron would be jealous.
"No… Father, it's a dream. Please, tell me it's a dream. Father, please…"
Her voice cracked. Her body trembled as tears welled up, spilling down her cheeks. But before she could speak again—
A growl echoed softly in her mind.
Her head spun. She winced, clutching her temple.
Your mate is nearby.
The voice was her wolf's—low, urgent.
Your mate is nearby.
Ava's breath hitched. She sat up instantly. He is close. That explained it all. The Alpha—no, the Alpha King—must have found out. He must have come to see her.
This must have been the Moon Goddess's plan.
"Thank you, Moon Goddess," she whispered, tears still glistening in her eyes.
She stood abruptly.
"Ava, don't stand! You're not fully recovered," her father warned, reaching out.
But she shook her head and rose to her feet, barefoot and determined. Her body swayed slightly, but she didn't stop.
She ran. Out of the room. Through the hallway.
The scent was strong now. Near. So near.
Her steps slowed as she reached the entrance.
Then she stopped.
Her eyes widened.
Her lips parted, trembling.
No… it couldn't be.
The man standing before her—the one she had been drawn to, the one her wolf had sensed—was him.
The carriage driver.
The man who had driven them from their home to the castle.
Her mate?
She shook her head in disbelief. "No…" she whispered. "No, this can't be."
She opened her mouth, wanting to question the impossible.
But before she could say anything—
The man stepped forward, eyes locked on hers.
And then, he spoke one word.
"Mate."
Ava's eyes widened in horror, frozen in disbelief as her body refused to move.
What is this?
Was this some kind of cruel illusion? A twisted dream within a dream?
She needed to wake up—now.
Desperation clawed at her as she pinched her arm so hard that her skin flushed red, the sting sharp and real.
But nothing changed.
She was still here. Still staring at him.
Still trapped in a reality she couldn't comprehend.
She looked at the man, her lips trembling more.
There he stood.
His brown hair was slicked back, though poorly—like he'd tried too hard or had quickly used saliva to flatten it. The clothes he wore barely concealed his round belly, and his posture sagged already, as if standing was too much effort.
His cheeks drooped slightly, and thick, bushy eyebrows arched high—surprised, maybe even disappointed, that his mate had reacted the way she did.
Then he spoke, his voice low and breathy.
"The Moon Goddess has answered my prayers," he said. "You're such a beautiful one, I must say."
Ava's stomach twisted. Her body shrank instinctively as she took a small step back, disgust crawling over her skin.
No… this couldn't be. This couldn't be.
But he kept talking, oblivious—or simply indifferent—to her horror.
"Finally, I can show my parents I'm not useless," he said proudly. "We'll get married tomorrow."
Ava froze, heart pounding, blood draining from her face.
Then, as if trying to impress her, he curled his lips into a smirk, licked them slowly, and bit down in a way he must have thought was seductive.
"Oh," he murmured, eyes raking over her, "such a slim beauty. Come to me, my future wife…"
What made it all even worse—unbearably worse—was that the omega she had once mocked, the very one she had spoken lowly of to her sister, was now the one she was mated to.
"Don't be shy," the man said with a smug grin. "After tonight, I'll make you a confident woman."
Ava recoiled, trembling. "F-Father… please wake me up from this nightmare," she whispered, clutching herself tightly, as if squeezing hard enough could somehow jolt her out of this twisted reality.
"Don't call it that," the man said, taking a step closer. "Are you mistaking fate for sweet dreams? Come here… let me feel you, my mate. My soul calls your name..."
Ava turned away in horror—only to see her father standing at a distance, head bowed low, silent.
She ran to him, her voice breaking.
"F-Father… I won't marry him, right? I'll never marry him, right? I can't—I want to marry the king! I WANT THE KING! Araina can't steal him away from me—NEVER!"
She screamed like a madwoman, her hair wild and disheveled, makeup smeared down her cheeks, her eyes red and burning with desperation.
Her father didn't meet her gaze. His voice was hollow when he finally spoke.
"There's nothing I can do, Ava. The Moon Goddess has made her choice."
He paused, and the final words dropped like a dagger.
"Tomorrow, you will marry him. He is your mate."