Marissa POV
The servant hallway buzzed with quiet energy that morning. Maids moved back and forth carrying folded linens, baskets of laundry, and trays meant for the kitchens. Normally the noise blended together into a dull background hum.
Today, however, a group of maids stood near the end of the hall whispering more excitedly than usual.
"Did you hear what the Alpha said?" one of them whispered.
"I heard part of it," another replied quickly. "But I thought I misunderstood."
"You didn't," the first maid said. "He actually said it in front of everyone."
A third maid shook her head in disbelief.
"I never thought I'd see the day."
They leaned closer together, lowering their voices.
"But Marissa—"
"Don't say her name so loud," someone hissed nervously.
"What if she finds out?"
"She will find out eventually."
Their whispers turned into anxious giggles, half excited and half nervous.
"I still can't believe it," one of them added softly. "Katie… the Lycan King's mate?"
None of them noticed the footsteps approaching from behind.
Marissa walked down the hallway with her usual confident stride, her head held high as if she owned the entire pack house. She wasn't paying much attention at first.
But then she noticed something strange.
The moment the maids saw her, they froze.
Their conversation stopped instantly.
The laughter vanished.
Silence fell so suddenly it was almost suspicious.
Marissa slowed to a stop.
Her sharp gaze moved slowly across their faces.
"Why," she said coolly, "did everyone suddenly stop talking?"
The maids shifted uncomfortably.
One looked down at the floor.
Another pretended to adjust the stack of towels in her arms.
Marissa's eyes narrowed.
She hated being ignored.
"I asked a question," she said again, her tone sharper this time.
Still no one answered.
The tension in the hallway thickened.
Finally, one maid swallowed nervously and spoke.
"We were just talking about the Alpha meeting."
Marissa crossed her arms.
"And what about it?"
The maids exchanged uneasy glances.
None of them wanted to say it out loud.
But the silence only made Marissa more suspicious.
Her patience snapped quickly.
"Well?" she demanded.
Another maid shifted on her feet.
"King Liam… made an announcement."
Marissa lifted one eyebrow.
"What kind of announcement?"
The maid hesitated.
Then the words slipped out before she could stop herself.
"He said Katie is his fated mate."
For a moment, everything went completely still.
Marissa stared at them.
Then she laughed.
The sound was sharp and cold.
"That's not funny."
No one laughed with her.
The maids looked terrified instead.
One of them quietly said, "It's true."
Marissa's smile slowly faded.
Her nails dug into the palms of her hands.
"No," she muttered under her breath.
Her wolf stirred angrily beneath the surface.
"That's impossible."
But the maids remained silent.
And that silence told her everything she needed to know.
A sudden wave of rage surged through her chest.
She shoved a nearby chair aside, the legs scraping loudly across the floor.
The maids flinched.
"How could it be her.... of all people.... why her!!?" Marissa snapped.
Her breathing grew heavier with every second.
"That pathetic little nobody?"
The maids backed away slightly.
Everyone in the pack knew Marissa's temper.
And right now it was clear she was losing control.
Marissa began pacing the hallway.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Her thoughts spiraled faster and faster.
Katie.
That stupid girl had appeared out of nowhere and suddenly everything in Marissa's life was changing.
First Ashton had started paying attention to her.
Then he defended her.
And now—
Now the king had claimed her as his mate in front of the entire pack council.
It felt impossible.
It felt unfair.
Her hands clenched tightly into fists.
"Where is she?" Marissa demanded suddenly.
No one answered.
Her head snapped toward the maids.
"WHERE IS SHE!!!?" she shouted.
The maids jumped in fright.
One of them quickly whispered, "Outside…... she was near the forest earlier."
Marissa's eyes darkened.
Without another word she turned and stormed down the hallway.
Her anger burned hotter with every step.
One thought repeated again and again inside her mind.
Katie had taken something that should have been hers.
And Marissa was not the type of person who simply accepted losing.
Not now.
Not ever.
....
Katie POV
Katie sat on a fallen log near the edge of the forest, her legs swinging slightly as she smiled to herself.
Everything felt different now.
In the best way possible.
The cool breeze carried dozens of scents she had never noticed before. Pine, damp soil, distant water, even the faint smell of flowers somewhere nearby.
Her senses felt sharper than they had ever been.
Ashton leaned casually against a nearby tree, watching her with an amused expression.
"You've been smiling like that for at least ten minutes," he said.
Katie laughed softly.
"I can't help it."
Inside her mind, Rachel's voice chimed in proudly.
Of course you can't help it. Having a wolf is amazing.
Katie rolled her eyes playfully.
"Ashton says you're overconfident."
Ashton snorted.
"I didn't say that."
Rachel responded immediately.
He's jealous.
She laughs, Rach said, "You're just jealous."
"I've had my wolf my whole life there's no need for me to be jealous," Ashton said, shaking his head.
Katie hopped off the log and stretched.
Her body felt lighter, stronger somehow.
She could hear leaves rustling far away and the faint movement of small animals in the brush.
"It's incredible," she said softly.
Rachel hummed with satisfaction.
See? I told you we'd make a good team.
Katie smiled.
For so long she had felt incomplete without knowing why.
Now she finally understood.
Rachel wasn't just a wolf.
She felt like a missing piece that had finally fallen into place.
"I just feel… complete," Katie said quietly.
Ashton studied her for a moment before nodding.
"Well, that's a good thing."
Katie took a few steps toward the trees, enjoying the cool air brushing against her skin.
Rachel suddenly went silent.
The playful energy inside Katie's mind disappeared.
Then Rachel's voice returned, sharp and alert.
Katie.
Katie frowned slightly.
"What is it?"
Rachel's tone had completely changed.
Someone's coming.
Katie turned toward the forest.
At first she heard nothing.
Then....
Branches shifted.
Leaves rustled.
And suddenly a furious voice echoed through the trees.
"KATIE!"
KATIE!!! YOU BITCH I KNOW YOU'RE HERE!!
Katie's heart dropped.
Marissa stepped out from the shadows, her eyes blazing with rage.
"Ashton…" Katie whispered nervously.
Marissa paused, ....Ashton? She said hurt.
Marissa's glare locked onto her like a predator spotting its target.
"You think you can steal everything from me?" she shouted.
Ashton immediately stepped in front of Katie.
"Marissa," he said firmly. "Calm down."
But Marissa wasn't listening.
Her anger had completely taken control.
In seconds, she shifted.
Her wolf lunged forward.
"Ashton!" Katie gasped.
He pushed her backward urgently.
"Run!" he shouted.
Katie hesitated for a split second.
"GO!" Ashton yelled again.
Katie turned and ran.
Her feet pounded against the forest floor as branches whipped past her.
Her heart raced wildly in her chest.
Behind her she could hear movement crashing through the trees.
Marissa was chasing her.
Faster, Rachel urged.
Katie pushed herself harder.
Her lungs burned but she didn't stop.
She could hear Marissa gaining ground.
Suddenly....
Marissa slammed into her from behind, bitingher leg as she went down.
Katie tumbled forward onto the forest floor screaming hurt, leaves and dirt scattering around her.
She scrambled to sit up while healing, breathing heavily.
Marissa stood a few feet away in wolf form, watching her.
For a moment neither of them moved.
Then Rachel surged forward inside Katie, her presence strong and protective.
Marissa froze.
Her eyes widened.
"You…" she said slowly.
"You have a wolf?"
Katie slowly pushed herself to her feet.
Rachel's energy pulsed through her like a quiet strength, quickly healing the wound.
Marissa's shock quickly twisted into something darker.
"How?" she demanded.
Her voice trembled with anger.
"Why is everything suddenly going right for you?"
Katie didn't answer.
She simply stared back at her.
Marissa's frustration only grew stronger.
"You don't deserve any of this!" she shouted.
"You don't deserve the lycan king..... you don't deserve Ashton and you sure as hell don't deserve wolf!"
Rachel growled, while standing her ground but Katie feared Rachel getting hurt.
Marissa moved forward again.
At that exact moment, miles away, Liam suddenly stopped walking.
A sharp wave of fear shot through the mate bond.
Katie.
His wolf reacted instantly.
She's in danger.
Without hesitation, Liam shifted and took off toward the forest.
Back in the woods, Marissa prepared to attack again.
But suddenly...
A powerful roar echoed through the trees.
The sound shook the air.
Marissa froze.
Katie's heart leapt with recognition.
Because she knew exactly who that roar belonged to.
Liam.