Smell me!

His steps quickened as he made his way back to where his parents waited, the royal couple of the lycan kingdom. The towering figures of King Alaric and Queen Seraphina stood out, even among the bustling crowd. Seraphina's radiant smile lit up the moment she spotted him, her golden hair catching the sunlight like a crown of its own.

"My baby!" she squealed, rushing toward him with open arms. Before Kael could react, he was enveloped in a warm, almost suffocating hug. "I'm so proud of you! Congratulations! Now you can finally find your mate!"

Kael managed a sheepish grin, patting his mother's back awkwardly as she squeezed him like he was still a pup.

"Well done, son!" his father, Alaric, boomed, his deep voice filled with pride. "I knew you'd pass the Rite of Awakening on your first try. It was a breeze for you—"

"Was it now?" Seraphina interrupted, her sharp glare slicing through Alaric's bravado like a blade.

The king froze mid-sentence, his confident grin faltering. He coughed nervously, but it was too late.

"A breeze, you say?" Seraphina repeated, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "Have you forgotten how many times you had to undergo your own Rite of Awakening before you finally passed? I was starting to wonder if I'd need to take up knitting to pass the time while waiting for you to find me. Even your father said—"

"That's enough, honey!" Alaric cut in, his voice suddenly higher-pitched as he avoided her gaze. "We should head back to the palace. Everyone's waiting for us."

Without waiting for a response, he spun on his heel and strode off, though it looked suspiciously like he was fleeing.

Kael chuckled under his breath, shaking his head as his mother huffed beside him. "You see what I have to deal with?" she muttered before linking her arm with his and leading him toward the palace.

---

The palace courtyard was alive with energy when they arrived. Members of the royal family and prominent alphas from across the kingdom had gathered, their families in tow. The air buzzed with excitement and the faint hum of conversation.

As Kael entered, all eyes turned to him. For a brief moment, he felt the weight of their gazes, but it was quickly replaced by a chorus of cheers and applause.

"Kael, you did it!" called out his uncle, Magnus, a burly lycan with a booming laugh that could probably be heard in the next kingdom. He strode forward, clapping Kael on the shoulder with enough force to nearly knock him over. "First try, huh? Show-off!"

"Magnus, don't scare the boy!" chided Aunt Helena, a slender woman with piercing eyes and a no-nonsense demeanour. "Honestly, Kael, you've made us all proud. But passing on your first try? I can't say I'm not surprised. It runs in the family, after all."

"Does it?" Seraphina murmured under her breath, earning a chuckle from Kael.

Next came his cousins, a rowdy group of siblings led by Jared, who had a mischievous grin permanently etched on his face. "You're making the rest of us look bad, you know," Jared teased. "Now Dad's going to give us the 'Kael did it on his first try' speech for the next decade."

"Don't listen to him," chimed in Lyra, Jared's younger sister. "We're all thrilled for you, Kael. Truly."

From the other side of the courtyard, Alpha Ragnar, one of the most respected leaders in the kingdom, approached with his family. His towering presence commanded attention, but it was his youngest daughter, Freya, who spoke first.

"Congratulations, Kael!" she said with a bright smile. "I heard the Rite of Awakening is grueling. You must have worked really hard."

"Or he's just naturally gifted," Ragnar added with a grin. "It's not every day someone passes on their first try. You've set a high bar, young prince."

The praise continued as more alphas and their families came forward, each offering their congratulations. Some were genuinely impressed, while others wore expressions of thinly veiled disbelief.

"First try?" one muttered to another. "Are we sure he didn't have help?"

"Shush," the other hissed. "His mother's right there. Do you want to get on her bad side?"

Kael couldn't help but laugh as he overheard snippets of their whispers. Despite the formalities, the atmosphere was warm and celebratory, a testament to the bond shared by the lycan community.

As the crowd settled, Seraphina stepped forward, her voice ringing clear. "Thank you all for joining us today to celebrate Kael's success. As his mother, I couldn't be prouder. But let's not forget—this is only the beginning. The journey to finding one's mate is a sacred one, and I have no doubt Kael will face it with the same determination he's shown today."

Kael's cheeks flushed as the crowd erupted into cheers once more. His father leaned over, whispering, "Enjoy the spotlight, son. It doesn't last long before the real work begins."

Kael nodded, a mixture of pride and anticipation swirling within him. As the celebration continued, his mind fell back to Theron. The silly gnome had yet to call him, till now! Did he forget? Is he fine? Has he been eating well?

As the celebration carried on, with laughter and chatter filling the grand hall, Kael found himself momentarily catching his breath near one of the refreshment tables. He was in the middle of snagging a second slice of honey-glazed roast when he noticed a figure approaching him with purpose.

She moved with the grace of a queen and the determination of a predator closing in on its prey. Her emerald-green gown sparkled under the chandeliers, and her auburn hair cascaded in perfect waves down her back. Her name was Vivienne, daughter of Alpha Cedric of the Northern Clans. She was undeniably beautiful, with piercing hazel eyes that seemed to glimmer with a mixture of mischief and intensity.

Kael groaned internally. He knew that look. Oh, he knew it all too well.

Vivienne had been a constant presence in his life ever since they first met three years ago at a summit for the lycan alphas. She had taken one look at him, declared him "perfect," and proceeded to build an entire future for them in her head. Kael hadn't even had the chance to say more than "Hello" before she'd begun dropping hints about their "inevitable" destiny.

She was convinced—absolutely convinced—that they were mates.

Kael, on the other hand, was... less convinced.

"Kael," Vivienne said dramatically as she stopped before him, her hands clasped in front of her chest like she was about to recite poetry.

Kael blinked, a piece of roast halfway to his mouth. "Uh, Vivienne. Hi. What's up?"

She didn't answer. Instead, she just stood there, staring at him with wide, expectant eyes, as though waiting for him to... do something? Say something? Propose? He honestly had no idea.

After a long, awkward silence, Kael cleared his throat. "So, uh... what are you doing?"

Vivienne let out a long, theatrical sigh, like she was a tragic heroine in a play. "Kael," she said, her voice dripping with emotion. "This is the moment."

Kael frowned. "What moment?"

"The moment of truth!" she declared, throwing her arms wide. Several guests turned to look, but Vivienne paid them no mind. Her entire world was Kael, and she was laser-focused.

"Vivienne, I—"

"Smell me!" she interrupted, leaning forward slightly, her voice taking on a commanding tone.

Kael blinked. Then blinked again. "Uh... what?"

"Smell me!" she repeated, her voice louder now. "You've passed the Rite of Awakening, Kael. You can sense your mate now. And I know—I know—that it's me. So, smell me and confirm it!"

Kael stared at her, utterly baffled. "Vivienne, that's... not how it works."

But she was undeterred. "Of course it is! You just have to focus. I've always known we were destined to be together, Kael. Ever since I first laid eyes on you, it's been obvious. You and I are soulmates. Fated. Written in the stars. Smell me, and you'll see!"

Kael ran a hand through his hair, trying to figure out how to extract himself from this situation without causing a scene. "Vivienne, look, I appreciate your... enthusiasm. But I'm pretty sure I can't just sniff my mate out like a bloodhound."

Vivienne gasped, clutching her chest as though he'd wounded her. "Are you saying you don't think I'm your mate?"

Kael opened his mouth, then closed it again. This felt like a trap. A very sparkly, very determined trap.

Before he could respond, Vivienne continued, her voice rising in dramatic fervor. "Kael, I've been preparing for this day for years! I've thought about our wedding, our pups, the names of our future children—"

Kael's eyes widened. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Children?"

"Yes!" Vivienne exclaimed. "I've even picked out matching outfits for our first family portrait! Don't you see, Kael? It's fate!"

Kael rubbed the back of his neck, glancing around for an escape route. He spotted his mother across the room, watching the scene unfold with a barely suppressed grin. She waved at him, clearly enjoying his predicament.

"Vivienne," Kael said carefully, holding up his hands. "You're a wonderful person. Truly. But maybe we should just... take a step back and—"

"No!" she cried, grabbing his arm. "No more stepping back, Kael! This is it! Smell me, and you'll know I'm right!"

At that moment, Magnus walked by, a mug of ale in hand. He paused, took one look at the scene, and burst out laughing. "Oh, Kael, this is priceless," he said, clapping the prince on the back. "You've got yourself a live one here!"

Kael shot him a glare. "Not helping, Uncle Magnus."

Vivienne ignored the interruption, standing her ground with unwavering determination. "Go ahead, Kael. Smell me!"

Kael sighed, resigned to his fate. He leaned in slightly, sniffed the air around her, then straightened up. "Yep, I smell... perfume. Lavender, I think?"

Vivienne looked like she might faint. "It's rosewood and vanilla!" she corrected, her voice a mix of excitement and frustration.

"Right. Rosewood and vanilla. Lovely," Kael said, taking a step back. "But I'm still not sure—"

"Ugh!" Vivienne groaned, throwing her hands up. "Men! Always so oblivious!"

As she stormed off in a dramatic huff, Kael let out a long breath of relief. He turned to Magnus, who was still laughing.

"Why is it always me?" Kael muttered.

"Because you're the prince," Magnus said with a grin. "And because the universe has a sense of humor."

Kael shook his head, muttering under his breath as he headed toward the main hall to call Lirien. Surely, the rest of the evening couldn't get any more chaotic.