His True Mate

His True Mate
The courtyard was alive with music, laughter, and conversation as noblewomen gathered around Nicole’s stepmother, Jessica. Each woman seemed determined to outshine the others with her praise, while Jessica stood proudly at the center of their attention.
“Congratulations, Lady Jessica,” one woman said with admiration. “Alicia will have a full white wolf. What a blessing. It’s truly something worth celebrating.”
Jessica chuckled, clearly pleased despite her attempt to appear humble.
“Thank you. I’m so happy for my stepdaughter. She has always been talented and beautiful, and I can’t wait to see her white wolf.”
Another woman leaned closer. “You’re so kind to her. I’ve never seen anyone so devoted to their stepchildren. It’s almost as though you gave birth to Alicia yourself.”
Jessica placed a hand over her chest and laughed modestly. “Alicia has always been a good girl. Of course I love her as my own.”
Not far away, Nicole’s father was speaking with several noblemen.
“I can’t wait to see the white wolf,” he said proudly. “I know Alicia will make our family proud.”
Vander stood with another group of men, wearing his usual smug expression.
“If any of you idiots think you can touch Alicia after she gets her wolf, I’ll kill you.”
Javier did not bother joining their excitement. He simply drank quietly and watched everything around him.
Nicole heard every word from where she stood near the edge of the forest.
Everyone believed Alicia would be the one blessed by the Moon Goddess, and Nicole had no intention of correcting them yet. She wanted them to believe it until the truth was impossible to ignore.
She had already finished what needed to be done, so she waited beneath the great oak tree until the sound of a snapping branch came from behind her.
Nicole turned slightly.
Alicia stumbled out from between the trees, and she looked nothing like the elegant young woman everyone was waiting to celebrate. Her dress was torn and stained with dirt and blood. Scratches covered her arms and neck, while leaves and twigs were tangled in her once-perfect white hair.
Nicole almost smiled.
The sight had certainly been worth waiting for.
She pushed away from the tree, accidentally breaking a branch beneath her heel.
Alicia gasped and spun around. Her pale face was filled with panic as she raised a long stick like a weapon.
“Who’s there? Don’t hurt me! I’ll kill you!”
She swung the branch wildly, but Nicole caught it before it could touch her.
“Hurt you?” Nicole scoffed. “Why would I do that?”
Alicia froze.
Her frightened eyes slowly lifted to Nicole’s face.
“Nicole?”
She stared at her for several seconds before asking the question that was clearly terrifying her.
“W-what color is your wolf?”
Nicole’s lips curved into a knowing smile.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Impossible...” Alicia whispered.
Nicole released the branch and turned toward the courtyard. “Come on. Everyone must be waiting.”
Before she could walk away, Alicia grabbed her sleeve.
“Nicole, please. Don’t.”
Nicole pulled her sleeve free. “Don’t what?”
Alicia bit her lip before finally forcing the words out.
“Don’t show them your wolf. If you have the white wolf, please don’t let anyone know. Not tonight.”
Nicole stared at her.
“Father and everyone else are expecting so much from me,” Alicia continued quickly. “If I disappoint them, they’ll be furious.”
Nicole could hardly believe the shamelessness of the request.
Zirah’s voice immediately entered her mind.
Shameless.
Tell me about it.
I can get rid of her if you want. I should have my revenge for everything she put me through.
For a moment, Nicole was tempted to agree, but Alicia dying now would be far too easy.
Not yet. A quick death would be mercy. But I promise you, one day she’ll pay for what she did. When that day comes, you can be the one to take her life.
Zirah did not answer, but Nicole felt her agreement.
Nicole looked at Alicia again. “So you want me to hide my wolf because you’re afraid of what Father and everyone else will think? You want all their praise and expectations for yourself?”
Alicia swallowed. “You don’t understand.”
“Then explain it.”
“I’ve always been the one making them proud. I carry their expectations so they don’t put them on you.” Alicia stepped closer, trying to sound sincere. “You should be thanking me, Nicole. You’ve always been free because nobody expects anything from you.”
Nicole almost laughed.
Alicia continued, apparently believing her own argument was working.
“Everything I’ve done has been for you. If you show everyone your wolf, you’ll lose that freedom. They’ll start expecting things from you too, and you won’t be able to do whatever you want anymore.”
The words might have fooled Nicole once.
In fact, they had fooled her before.
In her previous lives, Nicole had believed Alicia’s sweet smiles and gentle words. She had mistaken manipulation for sisterly concern and genuinely thought Alicia wanted to protect her from unwanted attention.
So Nicole had hidden her wolf.
She had stood before the entire pack and claimed she was wolfless, believing she was protecting herself.
Instead, rumors had quickly spread that Nicole had used dark magic, stolen Alicia’s wolf, or hidden her own wolf to escape suspicion. Before long, people were calling her holy white wolf tainted and impure.
Back then, Nicole had never understood how everything had gone so terribly wrong.
Now she did.
Alicia had been guiding her toward that outcome from the beginning.
Nicole looked at her sister and smiled.
“Okay.”
Relief immediately crossed Alicia’s face.
Then Nicole heard the thought Alicia never intended to say aloud.
Thank the gods. She’s still dumb. I just need to find a way to make her white wolf seem worthless.
Nicole's smile deepened.
Alicia still believed she was dealing with the same foolish Nicole from before.
“Thank you, Nicole.” Alicia reached for her hand. “You know I’m only doing this for you, right?”
“Of course,” Nicole replied innocently.
“Good. Let’s go back. Everyone is waiting for us.”
They walked into the courtyard together, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
Nicole's father, stepmother, brothers, and the gathered nobles all turned toward them.
Jessica was the first to speak.
“Alicia! How is it? Do you have the white wolf?”
Alicia lowered her gaze and bit her lip, pretending to be shy.
“I...”
“Mate.”
The deep voice carried across the courtyard.
Everything stopped.
Every head turned toward Prince Zandro.
He remained seated, but his green eyes were fixed on one person.
The Alpha stared at him in surprise. “Mate? Your mate is really one of them?”
Jessica gasped and covered her mouth as tears of happiness filled her eyes.
“Oh, my Goddess! Finally!” She rushed toward Alicia. “I knew it! I knew Alicia was the Prince’s mate!”
Excited voices immediately filled the courtyard.
The nobles crowded around Alicia, congratulating her while she stood frozen in disbelief before happiness slowly spread across her face.
Everyone had reached the same conclusion.
Everyone except Nicole.
Because while they celebrated Alicia, Zandro wasn't looking at her.
His gaze had never left Nicole.
Nicole clenched her fists as the mate bond pulled painfully beneath her skin. It was a feeling she knew far too well and desperately wished she could ignore.
Normally, Zirah would have howled mate the instant she felt their bond.
This time, she remained completely silent.
Zirah had already given up on Zandro and his wolf.
The celebration around Alicia grew louder until Zandro suddenly rose from his chair.
He moved before anyone could understand what was happening.
One moment, he was across the courtyard.
The next, he stood directly in front of Nicole.
Silence swept through the crowd.
Nicole stiffened as Zandro lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. His other arm wrapped firmly around her waist and pulled her against him.
Then, in front of Alicia, their family, and every noble who had been celebrating the wrong woman, Zandro spoke with absolute certainty.
“My mate.”