She is my mate.

Sebastián 

I stormed toward the council hall, fury building with every step. As if I wasn't already enraged, they had the audacity to add fuel to the fire. Earlier, I received word that the northern diplomats were leaving, but instead of departing peacefully, they made a demand. The Shadow Dance.

They must be out of their minds if they think I'd ever allow that.

The Shadow Dance was sacred to our pack—a ritual intertwined with our history and identity. It wasn't something to be traded or shared. My father had told me the tale countless times when I was a boy. Long ago, witches and wolves were bitter enemies. Every supernatural being with power—whether shifting forms or wielding magic—viewed the others as a threat.

That hatred only ended when desperation forced a change. The queen of a northern coven fell gravely ill, and her daughter sought to save her. Their coven needed to cross Crescent Pack territory to gather the rare herbs required for her recovery. At first, they tried to sneak through without permission, resulting in a bloody massacre.

Desperate, the queen's daughter approached my father directly, pleading for passage. Newly mated to my mother and freshly ascended as alpha, my father made a decision that went against centuries of animosity: he let them through.

The witches didn't forget. To honor my father's compassion, they created the Shadow Dance. It wasn't just a dance; it was a sacred rite. Only a chosen female, fully accepted by her mate and the pack, could perform it. The White Pure Witches—renowned for their mastery of moon magic—prepared her, teaching her the intricate steps under the crescent moon's light.

The ceremony was held on the night of a full moon, witnessed by the pack and her mate. If she and her partner were true mates, a mystical blue light would envelop their wolves, marking them as divinely bonded. The ritual didn't just strengthen their bond—it fortified the entire pack, infusing us with the Moon Goddess's blessings.

But that was only possible if the pair were true mates, chosen by the Moon Goddess herself. For those who chose each other—as humans often do—the dance remained a powerful symbol but lacked the divine magic.

The Shadow Dance wasn't something we shared lightly. It was ours—a gift and a legacy—and I'd die before letting outsiders take it.

"Good morning, Beta," one of the guards at the council hall greeted me as I approached.

I gave a curt nod, patting his shoulder briefly before pushing the door open.

The room fell silent.

"Ah, Beta. Welcome," Andrew, my least favorite uncle, greeted with a tight smile. He was a relic of an older time—strict, insufferable, and always pushing for compromises that made my skin crawl. "We were just discussing you."

"Uncle," I acknowledged tersely.

"What's the meaning of this?" I demanded, skipping the pleasantries.

"Sebastian, come sit," Kai, my brother and alpha, instructed firmly.

I obeyed, taking the seat beside him.

"Good," one of the northern diplomats—a wiry older man with a smug smile—spoke up. "Beta Sebastian, we've been discussing a matter of great importance. As part of this alliance, we believe it would only be fair to witness your most sacred tradition—the Shadow Dance. It would demonstrate your acceptance of our princess."

I narrowed my eyes. "And you are?"

"George," he replied, smiling wider.

"Right, George. Let me get this straight. You arrived ahead of schedule, without warning. We let you in, gave you food, security, and hospitality. And now you want more?" My tone was biting.

George's smile didn't falter. "That was simply your pack showing courtesy, Beta. We've apologized for the inconvenience of our early arrival."

"Oh, don't act like you'd have done the same if we'd behaved that way in the North," I muttered under my breath.

"Of course, we would," George replied smoothly, as if he hadn't heard the venom in my words. "In fact, you'd die from what we have to offer in terms of hospitality."

The room tensed. Low growls rumbled from the warriors flanking the walls, but Kai's command over the pack link was firm. Stay put.

George continued, oblivious or indifferent to the charged atmosphere. "So? Do we have a deal? Naturally, we'd need to witness the ceremony ourselves to believe in its power."

I slammed my hand on the table, claws threatening to emerge. "Absolutely not. Outsiders have never been permitted to witness the Shadow Dance."

Before I could say more, Andrew intervened. "That's correct. It is a sacred tradition. Allowing outsiders would desecrate it."

"But we're not outsiders anymore, are we?" George countered, his tone icy. "This alliance unites us, does it not? Or have you forgotten, Alpha Kai?"

I tensed, my claws itching to extend, but Kai stopped me with a firm grip under the table.

Kai's voice was calm but firm. "Trust must be earned, George. Even allies must respect boundaries."

George chuckled, clearly unfazed. "Then perhaps a compromise. The princess's personal guard could serve as our witness. After all, he's part of your pack now, isn't he?"

I growled low, but Kai spoke before I could. "We'll consider it."

"Excellent," George said smoothly, as if he'd already won. "How about a week from now? That should give everyone enough time to prepare."

I stood abruptly. 

" What's the matter beta?" George asked smiling. I was seething, I wanted to wipe off that smile, I actually saw myself doing it, jumping across these tables and clawing his disgusting face. Should I do it? While contemplating, Kai took action.

" It's nothing. Sit down Sebastián." Kai responded for me and I sat.

Then Kai's voice entered my mind through the link. The Shadow Dance cannot be easily replicated, Sebastian. Don't worry.

This isn't about replication, I replied. If she performs the dance, everyone will know she's my mate. And I can't let that happen. Not yet.

Kai froze, but I pressed on. I don't believe she is my mate. Lucian must have used dark magic to manipulate the bond. This demand for the Shadow Dance only proves my suspicions. They want to see if their plan worked.

You're being ridiculous. No one can tamper with a mate bond—not even Lucian, Kai insisted.

Give me time, I begged. I'll prove it.

Kai didn't respond, but his expression was troubled as he faced George.

" Well? A week? do you agree?" George said once more.

Kai shook his head. "We'll decide on the date. It wouldn't be appropriate to hold a ceremony while our southern neighbors are grappling with the curse. Such an event should be a celebration, not a distraction."

George's smile faltered but quickly recovered. "Very well. We'll leave it to you, but the ceremony must take place within six months."

I barely held back a snarl. Six months? That was far too soon. But it would be enough time to prove my suspicions: Lucian and his daughter were meddling with the mate bond.