The contrast between the royal quarters and the King's private sanctum was like stepping out of a sanitized dream and into the heavy, thrumming heart of a mountain. While the rest of the palace dripped with sterile whites and gilded carvings- decor that screamed of a lineage trying too hard to look divine, Axe's room was unapologetically dark. The walls were a deep, matte charcoal that seemed to absorb the light, and the carpet beneath Selene's bare feet was a plush, midnight black that felt like walking on moss after a summer rain.
Accents of crimson, the color of dried blood and old wine, broke the gloom. Everything was sleek, minimalist, and undeniably masculine. But it wasn't the decor that made Selene's head swim; it was the scent. The entire room was saturated with him- the smoky, grounding aroma of a campfire in the dead of winter and the sharp, clean scent of cedar. To her wolf, it didn't smell like a king's chamber; it smelled like home.
Axe leaned against a dark mahogany dresser, watching the way her eyes roamed his space. "You don't have anything to wear, do you?" he asked, his voice losing its jagged edge.
Selene shook her head, her platinum hair catching the low light. "I didn't exactly pack a suitcase for a forced abduction to a gala."
Axe let out a short, huffed laugh and tossed a bundle of fabric toward her. "Here. It's not much, but I'm sure it's more comfortable than your heels and that heavy dress."
Selene caught the clothes- a soft, black cotton t-shirt and a pair of drawstring shorts.
"Oh, I'm not wearing heels," she admitted, a mischievous spark lighting up her blue eyes. She felt strangely at ease with him now that the prying eyes of the court were gone.
"Flats, then?" Axe asked, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
In response, Selene gathered the voluminous skirts of her flower-gown and lifted them just enough to reveal her feet. They were small, elegantly arched, and completely bare, the soles dusted with a bit of the garden soil she had walked through earlier.
The King stood frozen, his lips parting in genuine shock. He looked from her feet to her face and back again. "Wha-? You walked into the Royal Mating Ball... barefoot?"
"I don't own shoes, Axe," she said, her giggle echoing off the dark walls. "But we can talk about my lack of a wardrobe tomorrow. I'm exhausted."
The sound of her laughter seemed to do something to him; his eyes softened, and a genuine, boyish smile broke through his brooding facade. He watched her retreat into the massive en-suite bathroom to change.
When Selene emerged, she felt dwarfed by his clothes. The t-shirt hung halfway down her thighs, the sleeves reaching her elbows, and the scent of him wrapped around her like a physical embrace. She carefully draped her dress over a desk chair, feeling the petals already beginning to wilt now that they were away from her magic.
She turned to the bed and stopped. Axe was already under the covers, propped up against the headboard. He had discarded his shirt, leaving his massive, washboard torso on full display. His skin was a canvas of intricate black ink that shifted with every breath he took. Selene felt a sudden, treacherous heat rise to her cheeks. She bit her lip, trying to shove down the appreciative thoughts her wolf was howling in her ear.
"Come here," he murmured, patting the space beside him.
Nervously fidgeting with the hem of the oversized shirt, Selene climbed onto the mattress. It was wider than her entire cottage. As soon as she settled, Axe reached out and pulled her toward him. He didn't ask; he simply claimed. He tucked her head into the hollow of his shoulder and pulled the heavy silk duvet over them both.
Selene stiffened at first, her heart racing at the sheer proximity of so much heat and muscle. But then, the mating bond flared- a warm, golden tide of tingles that washed away her anxiety.
She felt him bury his nose in her hair, taking a deep, shuddering breath. For a man who hadn't slept in a century, he held onto her as if she were the only thing keeping him anchored to the earth. Within minutes, the rhythm of his heartbeat lulled her into the deepest sleep she had ever known.
When consciousness returned to Selene, it came with the sensation of being trapped in a very warm, very solid cocoon. The morning sun was streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, turning the black room into a cage of light. Axe's arm, heavy and thick with muscle, was draped firmly over her waist, pinning her to his side. His steady breath fanned the back of her neck, sending tiny shivers down her spine.
She tried to wiggle out, her bladder giving her a persistent nudge, but it was like trying to move a fallen oak tree.
"My King," she whispered, poking his tattooed forearm. Poke. Poke. "Wake up. I need to use the bathroom."
Axe didn't move, but a slow, lazy smile spread across his face. He let out a low grumble, his morning voice sounding like gravel being crushed under a velvet wheel.
"First thing, little wolf... don't call me King. I am your mate, after all," he muttered, his eyes cracking open to reveal a vibrant, rested green. He squeezed her once, tight enough to knock the breath out of her, before finally releasing his hold. "And second, of course. Go."
Selene scrambled off the bed, her feet hitting the plush carpet as she bolted for the bathroom. When she returned, freshened up and feeling more like herself, she found Axe standing by the window. He had dressed in a black button-up shirt, the sleeves rolled up to reveal the tattoos on his forearms, and dark dress pants. He looked every bit the powerful sovereign, yet the way he looked at her was entirely soft.
"I realized I don't exactly have a wardrobe for you," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Perhaps we should drive to your home today? You can pack your things and... say goodbye?"
Selene nodded, though a pang of sadness hit her. "I don't have much to pack, but I would like to see my friends one last time. They'll wonder where I went." She paused, looking out at the sprawling castle grounds. "Do you have a garden here? A real one?"
Axe chuckled, taking her hand. His palm was large and calloused, making her feel small and protected. "I do. It hasn't been touched much since the last Queen passed- decades ago. Forgive me if it looks like a disaster area."
He led her through the winding corridors to a secluded courtyard. When the doors opened, Selene's breath caught. It was a disaster, but a beautiful one.
Wisteria had climbed the stone arches until they groaned under the weight; roses had grown wild and thorny, mingling with overgrown ivy and knee-high grass. It was a chaotic, drowning sea of flora.
"Nothing a little love can't fix," Selene murmured, a bright smile breaking across her face.
She stepped into the thicket, her bare feet pressing into the dew-damp grass. Axe followed her, watching in silence as she moved with a strange, humming purpose. She began to pick through the overgrowth, selecting vibrant snapdragons, sturdy ferns, and long, trailing vines of jasmine. As she worked, she piled them into Axe's arms until he was buried up to his chin in wildflowers.
"What exactly are you doing, Selene?" he asked, quirked an eyebrow over a bundle of lilies.
"You'll see," she tutted. "Set them down here."
She plopped down in a clear patch of grass, and he obeyed, piling the botanical bounty before her. Then, Selene closed her eyes. She reached out, her fingers dancing through the air as if plucking invisible strings. A soft, pale light began to emit from her fingertips.
Axe watched, mesmerized, as the flowers began to move. They wove themselves together, stems elongating and interlocking, petals fusing into a soft, silken fabric. Under the guidance of her magic, she "sewed" a crop top of layered white petals and a flowing skirt of deep green leaves and vines. It was a masterpiece of living fashion, created in minutes.
"Wow," Axe gasped, his voice hushed. "I have never seen magic used like that. It's... incredible."
Selene shrugged, standing up to change behind a large topiary. "When you have no money and you're hiding in the woods, you make do with what nature gives you. It's better than rags."
She stepped out, the living clothes hugging her curves perfectly. "So," she started, looking at him.
"So," he mocked gently, leaning against a stone pillar.
"You knew exactly where I was last night," she stated, her sky-blue eyes searching his. "Even when I was invisible. How? No one is that good of a tracker."
Axe stepped toward her, his presence suddenly looming and intimate. He reached out, his hands finding her waist and drawing her flush against him. He leaned down, his lips brushing the shell of her ear as he took in her scent- lavender, rain, and something uniquely Selene.
"For a King, I actually could have done better," he mumble into her neck. "I was off by a few inches on where your eyes were. I had to guess based on the heat of your skin."
Selene shivered, her hands resting on his chest. "Well, you certainly did better than Nik," she giggled. "I felt bad for him. The poor guy was sniffing the air like he'd lost his mind, looking in the completely wrong direction."
Axe's chest rumbled with a dark, satisfied chuckle.
"That's a pathetic display for an Alpha of a pack."
Selene blinked, her head tilting. "Oh... he's an Alpha?"
Axe nodded, his eyes flashing with a brief spark of territorial pride. "The Alpha of the MoonShine Pack. Strong, but clearly... unpracticed in the ways of true Lycan senses." He pulled her closer, his voice dropping to a possessive growl. "But it doesn't matter what he is. You're in the lion's den now, little wolf. And I don't plan on letting you go back to the woods without a fight."
Selene looked up at him, the "Mad King" who fed her pasta and couldn't sleep without her. She realized then that the prophecy hadn't lied- she was going to change this kingdom. She just wasn't sure yet if she was going to save it, or if she was going to start by breaking the heart of the man holding her.