Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Zane
When I thought the silver thread pointed to Leah, I was satisfied.
She wore that mask—the same silver one from the Howling Ceremony—and I could almost hear my heart pounding in my chest.
Was it her? The woman who'd set my blood on fire in the ballroom, who now sang words that resonated in my soul—I'd finally found you.
I approached and asked if she'd written the song. Her nod was so natural, so sweet, I could already picture our next Howling Ceremony standing side by side, the beloved couple of the kingdom.
Then the witch spoke.
"Your Majesty, the silver thread doesn't point to this young lady."
"What?"
The witch's finger moved past Leah, pointing to a girl standing quietly in the corner. The one in that plain gray dress, hair carelessly pulled back, looking like a servant. She was frantically curtsying to me, then lifted her head—
Those eyes.
The eyes I couldn't look away from that night under the moonlight at the Howling Ceremony. Above the silver mask, filled with starlight.
It was her. She was the one I'd danced with.
But my gaze immediately dropped to her pressed lips, to her frantic hand gestures. Leah said softly beside me, "Your Majesty, she's mute. She can't speak."
Mute.
The word hit me like ice water.
My fated mate. The fated mate I'd waited six years for. The other half Moon Goddess herself had chosen for me—was a mute who couldn't even howl.
I stared at her. She stared back. Her eyes held nervousness, unease, and a hint of... hope?
Hope for what? That I'd welcome her with open arms?
I couldn't.
I turned and walked away.
For three days, I didn't see her once. I left her in a guest room on the west side of the palace while I holed up in my study, checking over and over.
The witch performed the ritual three times, the priest searched every ancient text, and I sent people to investigate her background.
Every time, the same result. Mia Turner, orphan, mute—my fated mate.
I'd thought a fated mate would be my salvation, but now she'd become my greatest crisis.
How could a mute Luna stand beside me at the Howling Ceremony?
How could she stay up all night talking through the pain I couldn't share with anyone else?
Yesterday morning, Elder Alden brought up the Howling Ceremony again in the council chamber.
"Your Majesty, six years, and you still haven't completed the mate resonance on the full moon." He stroked his goatee, speaking slowly. "The Elder Council is deeply concerned."
Whispers spread among the nobles.
I knew what they called me behind my back—"The Silent King." Because without a fated mate, I couldn't complete the dual-wolf resonance howl. Every lunar celebration was missing that piece, and people were growing restless.
And now, if I told them my fated mate was mute—a woman who couldn't produce a single wolf howl—what would they think? They'd say Moon Goddess had abandoned me. They'd say this kingdom was failing, that this king wasn't recognized by Moon Goddess.
Every time I thought about it, I felt rage and despair.
My wolf paced restlessly inside me. It wasn't as resistant as I was.
In fact, every time I passed the west corridor, it perked up, desperately trying to lunge in that direction.
I had to forcibly hold it back, telling myself this didn't mean anything.
It was just instinct. I needed a mate who could stand beside me. A perfect mate.
I'd imagined her countless times—she should be powerful, able to help me suppress those old foxes in the council, able to howl with me on full moon nights, using doubled resonance power to intimidate the border wolf clans.
She'd help me break free from Elder Council control, let me truly become a king whose word was law.
But now? Moon Goddess gave me a mute. A mate who couldn't even complete the most basic howl. Forget helping me suppress the elders—she'd become their new target for attacking me.
"Perfect mate." I laughed bitterly, swallowing those words whole.
On the third night, Elder Alden came to see me.
He walked into my study with his cane, goatee bobbing with each step. He was the eldest of the elders, advising the royal family since my father's time, never mincing words.
"Your Majesty, the neighboring kingdom's envoy arrives in two days." Straight to the point. "Do you plan to let them see a mute Luna?"
I leaned back in my chair, fingers drumming the armrest. "What do you suggest?"
"Let Miss Taylor temporarily take Luna's position." He said it matter-of-factly, like it was already decided. "As for that mute girl, keep her in the palace. Let her fulfill her duties as fated mate. That's enough."
Duties.
That word made my teeth grind. This was how the elders bound me—with "duties."
I slammed my hand on the desk and shot to my feet.
My voice was ice-cold. "Say that again."
Alden wasn't intimidated by my outburst. He leaned on his cane, speaking slowly. "Your Majesty, this is the most reasonable solution. That mute girl isn't suitable for public appearances."
"She's my fated mate." I enunciated each word like they were being dragged through my teeth. "Picked by Moon Goddess. What right do you have to say she's not suitable?"
"I'm not questioning Moon Goddess's will.
" Alden's tone stayed calm, but those murky old eyes gleamed shrewdly.
"I'm just stating facts. Your Majesty, this isn't just about you.
The whole kingdom is watching. A mute Luna will make us a laughingstock.
The border wolves will take advantage, and our authority will crumble.
Do you want our entire pack to bear this? "
My fists clenched so hard they crackled. My wolf roared inside, wanting to tear this old bastard apart. But I couldn't. He was an elder, one of the most respected in the pack. If I laid a hand on him, I'd be declaring war on the entire council.
"She's my fated mate." I repeated, voice lowering but the fury still burning. "Insulting her is a challenge to my dignity."
"Your Majesty, you're being too willful.
" He shook his head like he was looking at a stubborn child.
I hated that look. "Do you really think a mute can handle Luna's responsibilities?
Can she converse at diplomatic banquets?
Can she lead hymns at worship ceremonies?
Can she rally troops with her howl on the battlefield? "
Each sentence was a nail driven into my heart.
"She can't." Alden answered for me. "She can't do any of it. And you need someone capable standing beside you."
I fell silent.
For the entire pack. I was king. My decisions never just affected me—they affected the whole kingdom, all my people. I could never decide for myself alone. I hated that thought.
But I couldn't find a counterargument.
Then Alden told me the envoy was arriving soon. I didn't have much time to waver. He proposed again letting Leah take Mia's place.
I couldn't find another reason to refuse.
"Do it," I said.
When those words left my mouth, something twisted in my stomach. But I pushed it down. I was king. Kings didn't need consciences.
Then Mia burst in. I didn't know how long she'd been standing at the door.
But from her expression, she'd probably heard some of it.
Those eyes—the ones I couldn't look away from that night at the Howling Ceremony—now stared at me, red-rimmed, like something inside her had shattered.
I looked away, walking to my desk and picking up some documents.
"The bonding ceremony is today." I said, tone cold as if handling business.
She didn't move.
I looked up to see her standing there, mouth slightly open, like she wanted to ask something. But she couldn't ask anything, could she? She could only stand there, watching me with those damned eyes.
"What are you waiting for?" I said impatiently. "Take her to get ready."
A servant led her away. She looked back at me once as she left, that look tightening my throat.
But I didn't let myself dwell on it.
The ceremony ended hastily an hour later. I thought I'd hate Moon Goddess's arrangement even more, but that kiss...
I'd only meant to go through the motions. A brush of lips, then leave. Complete the task. But the moment my lips touched hers, everything spiraled out of control.
A current passed from her body into mine, shooting through my spine, making my knees weak.
I could feel her lips trembling beneath mine, warm breath brushing my face, carrying a faint sweetness.
My mind went blank, my wolf roared in my chest, desperately trying to break free—it prostrated itself before her, exposing its belly.
My wolf was submitting.
That realization made me gasp, but I didn't pull away.
Instead, my hands tightened, pulling her closer, lips lingering too long on hers.
Her body stiffened for a second, then softened.
Her lips parted slightly, responding to me.
That kiss shifted from perfunctory to something deeper, more dangerous.
When we separated, we were both breathing hard.
I gasped for air, chest heaving violently, mind in chaos. So was she—cheeks flushed, lips swollen, eyes dazed, like she'd just been pulled from water.
No. This can't happen.
Damn fate. I was submitting to my instincts.
I forced myself to look away, keeping my expression hard. "Done."
Then I turned to leave.
She rushed forward and grabbed my sleeve.
I turned back, frowning at her. She gestured frantically at me, fingers flying through the air, expression urgent and anxious. What was she saying? What was she trying to express? I stared at her hands. Those gestures meant nothing to me.
"What are you saying?" I asked, tone more impatient than I'd intended.
Just then, footsteps approached.
Leah appeared at the hall entrance, gliding over with a gentle smile. She glanced at Mia's frantic gestures, then said softly, "Your Majesty, Mia means... she wants some jewels and gold coins as compensation."
I froze.
Jewels and gold coins?
I looked at Mia. Her expression froze in that instant, eyes wide, staring at Leah in disbelief. Then she turned to me, frantically shaking her head, gesturing again with those incomprehensible signs.
But I didn't need to understand.
I just felt cold water dumped on my heart.
So you're the same.
I'd thought maybe Mia was different. Because I couldn't help remembering that connection from the Howling Ceremony night, yet I desperately craved the soul resonance in Leah's lyrics.
Forget it.
"Ha," I laughed coldly, looking down at her. "Of course."
Her expression completely froze in that moment. Her eyes reddened, lips trembled, her whole body like a small tree battered by a storm.
But I didn't stop.
"The gold will be sent to you." I said, voice dripping with ice. "Don't bother me unless it's important."
Then I turned to leave.
But before I could take a second step, a thud came from behind me, followed by Leah's scream.
I whipped around.
Mia stood in front of Leah, one hand still clenched in a fist—she'd just hit Leah. One punch. Square in the face.
Now she was tearing at Leah's hair, looking ready to devour her.
"What are you doing?" I roared, striding over and grabbing her wrist, yanking her back.
She struggled, trying to break free, her other hand still swinging toward Leah. Her face was full of rage, those eyes—just filled with tears moments ago—now burning with fury.
"Enough!" I shoved her backward. She stumbled several steps and crashed into the wall with a thud.
She stopped, looking at me, gasping for breath.
I looked back at her.
Three steps separated us. Her chest heaved violently, hair disheveled, tear tracks still on her cheeks.
But she wasn't crying aloud—she couldn't, could she?
She could only stand there, looking at me with those burning eyes, questioning me, like a misunderstood child, aggrieved, unwilling, yet stubbornly refusing to yield.
I opened my mouth.
Maybe... maybe I should hear her out. Maybe Leah hadn't told the whole story. Maybe she had another reason for lashing out.
But just then—
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
Leah covered her struck face, tears streaming down. She looked at Mia, voice choking, looking fragile as glass. "Mia, I didn't mean to... I really didn't mean to compete for the Luna position... If you really mind, I can disappear... I can leave..."
She finished speaking, covered her face, and ran off crying.
I turned to look at Mia.
Her expression had shifted from anger to something more complex—shock? The pain of betrayal? She watched Leah's retreating figure, lips parted slightly, as if wanting to call her back, but she couldn't call out.
She could only stand there, like an abandoned puppet.
"You'd better know your place," I said, voice colder than I'd intended. "She can stand beside me as Luna of this nation, while you, you're—"
I stopped.
What are you?
Are you my fated mate? Are you the burden I'm forced to accept?
I couldn't finish the sentence.
But I looked at her. Watched her stand there stubbornly, chin slightly raised, eyes brimming with tears yet refusing to let a single one fall. That stubbornness—that damned, unyielding stubbornness—made something inside me stir.
Maybe... maybe she wasn't who I thought she was.
Maybe I'd trusted Leah's words too readily.
"Take her back to her room." I suppressed the irritation in my chest, speaking to the guard. "Also, find a servant who knows sign language and send her to attend to her."
She froze, looking up at me, surprise flashing in her eyes.
"Don't misunderstand," I said coldly. "I just don't want to guess what you're gesturing every time. But remember—don't cause trouble again. Don't disturb me."
The guards led her away. She didn't look back as she left, spine straight, like a warrior refusing to bow.
I watched her figure disappear down the corridor, an inexplicable restlessness rising in my chest.
I realized I wasn't prepared at all.
Not prepared to face the truth. The fated mate I'd anticipated was mute, and I might never be able to communicate with her.
Even more terrifying: even though she was mute, that kiss still made me lose control.