Chapter 239: Kneel Before Her

“Does that mean you have a wolf, Nicole?” Alpha Rhydian asked.

Nicole turned to him and nodded calmly. “Yes, Alpha. I do.”

Surprise crossed his face before he gave an approving nod. “Good.”

Then he turned toward Alicia, who stood beside Nicole with a pale face.

“Since both of you have your wolves, transform and complete the celebration.”

Alicia immediately stiffened.

“I-I can’t.”

Alpha Rhydian narrowed his eyes. “You can’t?”

“I’m very sick, Alpha. Today has drained me, and I’m not feeling well enough to transform.”

Nicole watched her for a moment before giving her a small, innocent smile.

“You don’t have to force yourself, Alicia. I’ll transform today, and you can do yours tomorrow.”

Alicia’s eyes widened.

“N-no!”

But Nicole had already closed her eyes.

“Zirah.”

Warmth rushed through her body as white mist appeared around her feet. It quickly rose around her, glowing brighter beneath the moonlight as her bones shifted and her body began to change.

Gasps spread through the courtyard.

The pain lasted only a moment before strength replaced it.

When Nicole opened her eyes again, she was standing on four legs.

Pure white fur covered her body, shining beneath the moonlight like frost. The white mist slowly disappeared around her, revealing Zirah completely.

For several seconds, no one seemed able to believe what they were seeing.

Then the shocked voices began.

“Oh my gods... Is that a white wolf?”

“That’s the White Wolf!”

“Nicole has the White Wolf!”

The entire courtyard fell silent again.

Even Zandro’s usually controlled expression disappeared. His green eyes widened as he stared at Zirah.

Zirah slowly lifted her head and looked over the crowd. A deep growl came from her throat before one commanding word left her mouth.

“Kneel.”

She didn’t need to shout.

The command carried a power that no one in the courtyard could ignore.

One after another, everyone dropped to their knees.

Nicole’s father and stepmother bowed. Her brothers followed, along with Adiran. Even Alpha Rhydian lowered his head before her.

It was the law.

The first awakening of the White Wolf was protected by divine decree. No one was allowed to stand before the chosen child of the Moon Goddess during her awakening, not even royalty.

But Zirah wasn’t looking at any of them.

Her icy blue eyes were fixed on Alicia.

Alicia stood frozen, her whole body shaking.

Zirah slowly walked toward her.

Alicia backed away with every step until her legs finally gave out and she fell onto the marble ground.

Zirah stopped in front of her.

“Kneel.”

Alicia remained frozen.

“K-kneel, Alicia!” her mother cried.

Alicia’s lips trembled. She looked around as if hoping someone would save her, but everyone else already had their heads lowered.

There was nowhere left to hide.

Slowly, Alicia bowed until her forehead touched the ground.

Zirah stared down at her before looking over the courtyard once more.

Her voice entered Nicole’s mind.

Nicole, I won’t let anyone bully us this time. I’ll make them all kneel before us.

Emotion filled Nicole’s chest.

Thank you, Zirah.

But the strength that had filled her moments ago suddenly disappeared.

Exhaustion crashed over Nicole as the edges of her vision turned dark. The transformation had taken more from her body than she expected.

Before everything went black, Nicole saw the people who had mocked and looked down on her.

Every one of them was kneeling.

By the time Zandro raised his head, Nicole had already returned to her human form.

She lay unconscious on the cold stone floor, her dark hair spread around her as she breathed softly.

For one stunned moment, Zandro could only stare.

Then he noticed the other people looking at her.

His expression immediately darkened.

Nudity after shifting was normal among wolves. He had seen it countless times and had never cared before.

But this was different.

Nicole was his mate.

His gaze swept across the men in the courtyard, and they quickly looked away.

Only then did Zandro look back at her.

Her words from earlier returned to him.

I want to reject Prince Zandro.

His jaw tightened.

He still couldn’t understand her.

Until today, Nicole had barely caught his attention. She had always been Alicia’s quiet sister, someone who stayed in the background.

Then everything had changed.

She had publicly asked to reject him.

She had revealed herself as the true White Wolf.

And now, seeing another man even look at her made his wolf restless with a possessiveness Zandro could barely control.

Nicole’s maid hurried toward her.

“Quick, Silas. Cover her and help me take her to her room.”

Silas immediately knelt beside Nicole and reached for her.

“Don’t touch her.”

Zandro’s cold voice stopped him.

Silas froze.

Zandro removed the heavy fur cloak from his shoulders and walked toward Nicole. He knelt beside her and carefully covered her before anyone could see more than they already had.

Nicole stirred slightly but didn’t wake.

As Zandro adjusted the cloak around her, his fingers brushed against her arm.

Her scent immediately surrounded him.

The mate bond burned beneath his skin, stronger than before, and his wolf reacted at once.

Zandro clenched his jaw.

Damn it.

He slipped one arm beneath Nicole’s knees and the other behind her back before lifting her into his arms. When the cloak shifted, he immediately adjusted it to keep her covered.

“W-wait, Prince Zandro!”

Alicia rushed toward him and grabbed his wrist.

Zandro stopped.

“Please wait. I can transform too,” Alicia said desperately. “I have the White Wolf too. Just give me a chance to show you. I could be even more powerful than her. Please, Zandro, just look at me.”

His eyes dropped to the hand around his wrist.

“Touch me again, and I’ll cut off your fingers.”

Alicia’s breath caught.

She immediately released him and stepped back, her face pale.

Zandro didn’t spare her another glance.

He turned toward his father. “I’ll take Nicole to her room.”

Alpha Rhydian studied his son for a moment before nodding.

“Alright.”

Zandro carried Nicole out of the courtyard without waiting any longer.

The whispers behind him meant nothing. Neither did the unfinished celebration.

Nicole’s head rested against his chest as he walked through the corridor. Her breathing was steady, and her scent surrounded him with every step.

He looked down at her.

This woman had spent years wanting him.

Now that she finally had his full attention, she wanted nothing to do with him.

It made no sense.

“Prince Zandro.”

A familiar voice stopped him.

“What a surprise. Who would’ve thought you were her mate?”

Zandro’s expression hardened.

He already knew that voice.

He turned slightly while keeping Nicole securely in his arms.

A man stood casually against the wall beneath the torchlight, his golden eyes shining with amusement.

Alpha Tristain.

Their gazes met.

For reasons Zandro couldn’t yet explain, his wolf immediately snarled inside him.