A MATE FOR A CURSED LYCAN

Draven's POV

I sat alone in my throne room, staring at the calendar across the room. One week. One week until the full moon, and another night of misery.

Every month, as the full moon approached, the same dread settled over me. It was the price of a choice I had made years ago, one that had given me power, strength, and immortality while taking something from me that could never be returned.

I was feared by every supernatural species. My name alone was enough to make even the strongest tremble. Yet none of them knew the weight I carried inside my chest. The throne room doors suddenly opened.

Mark, my Beta, stepped inside. Worry written all over his face. I let out a low hiss and turned my gaze away. He had failed again. For years, every full moon had brought me the same disappointing news.

“I tried. I discreetly checked every woman for the mark, both young and old,” he said quietly, staring at his feet. I had given my Beta a description of the woman I was searching for, and since I couldn’t see her myself, he was the only one I could rely on to find her.

“That’s what you say every fucking time!” I roared. My fist slammed against my thigh. The sound echoed through the throne room, but Mark didn’t flinch. He had grown used to my anger.

“It seems being my Beta has become too much for you.” I leaned forward, my voice turning cold. “You can’t even carry out a simple task properly anymore.”

“My lord.” Mark immediately dropped to one knee, his head bowed.

“Yes, I didn’t support your reason for doing this from the beginning,” he said carefully. “But I am bound by your orders. I’m trying my best to get this done.” His words were calm. I looked away, my jaw tightening.

Mark had always been good with words. His father had been the same, as had the generations before him. I had watched his family grow old and die, only for their sons to take their fathers’ place beside my throne. Yet I remained unchanged.

“Try harder,” I ordered coldly. “Or I might lose my patience and forget the promise I made to your father.” I glanced at him, letting my voice drop to a dangerous whisper. “And slit your throat.” Mark knew I wasn't joking. “Enough of that. Let’s go hunting.” I smiled faintly. “I’m craving blood.” The best way to clear this mood was to hunt, watch my prey frightened for their lives and die by my hands. He bowed, a smile appearing on his face. Mark had long since grown used to my unpredictable moods.

I rose from my throne and walked toward the doors, with Mark following close behind.

The moment I stepped into the corridor, everyone around us dropped to their knees, their heads bowing as I passed.

“My lord, may I speak freely?” Mark asked as we walked inside the woods. I gave him a small nod.

“When you find her, how will you know she’s the one?” I frowned.

“You see the world in black and white,” he said carefully. “You don't even have a heart beat, so how will you know when it skips at the sight of her? You’ve lost your sense of smell, so how will you recognize her scent? And if two women happen to fit the description you gave me, how will you know which one is your mate?” A smile slowly spread across my face.

“I don’t know how,” I said with a shrug. “But I believe whoever placed this curse on me must have a plan.” I laughed, and Mark joined me. But his question had stirred something inside me. “I just need to find her and make sure she does what she is meant to do.”

Mark’s smile disappeared. He knew exactly what I meant. He had never liked it, but he also knew we both had no power to change it. Suddenly, a faint sound came from the trees. I stopped.

“Do you hear that?” I whispered. Mark tilted his head and listened. A moment later, he nodded.

“I smell a wolf, my lord.” Excitement sparked in his eyes. A grin slowly spread across my face.

“What perfect timing.” I turned toward the direction of the sound. “Let’s teach that intruder a lesson.” I started walking toward the noise, anticipation quickening my steps.

Mark and I split up, moving in opposite directions to make sure the wolf had nowhere to escape.

Then I saw her.

A slow, sinister smile spread across my face. She was small, alone, and clearly terrified.

Prey.

She had no idea what had found her.

She must have sensed me because she suddenly turned in my direction.

I ducked behind a tree before she could see me.

I peeked around the trunk.

She was standing now, her entire body trembling. Her eyes darted from one side to another, repeatedly returning to the spot where I was hiding.

Then she ran. I watched her for a moment, confused. Why hadn't she shifted? Was she even a wolf? Could she be human?

Wolf or human, it didn’t matter. She had crossed into my territory, and trespassers didn’t leave alive. I stepped out from behind the tree and chased after her.

She ran as fast as she could, but fear made her movements clumsy. Suddenly, her foot caught on something, and she crashed to the ground. I was on her before she could recover. I pinned her beneath me, ready to finish the hunt.

Then I heard it, and my entire body went still.

A heartbeat echoed beneath me, followed by another, steady and unmistakable. My breath caught. For years, I had heard nothing but silence where a mate’s presence should have stirred something inside me. Yet now, one sound was enough to awaken something I thought had died long ago.

I stared down at the woman beneath me, disbelief slowly giving way to realization.

She was here.

The woman I had spent years searching for.

My mate.

“Mate!”