Page 5

The December night air hit his face as they stepped into the castle gardens. Moonlight bathed the ancient topiaries and flowering winter jasmine in silver light. The scent of the sea carried on the breeze, reminding him of the separation between his island kingdom and the mainland.

"Four hundred years," Orion murmured as they approached the fountain. "Why now?"

Bertram's lips curved in a knowing smile. "The stars align when they choose, not when we demand."

The sacred fountain stood in the center of the garden, carved from a single piece of moonstone by the first Starlight alpha two millennia ago. Water bubbled up from an unseen source, spilling over into a basin wide enough for three men to stand in. Runes of protection and clarity were etched into its rim, glowing faintly in the darkness.

"Allow your connection to guide the seeing." Bertram dipped his hands into the crystalline water, gesturing for Orion to do the same.

Orion rolled up the sleeves of his shirt before plunging his hands into the icy water. The cold shocked his system, but he kept his face impassive. Kings didn't flinch.

"Focus on the pull," Bertram instructed. "Let your wolf guide you to her."

Orion closed his gray eyes, feeling his wolf surge forward again. The beast's eagerness was overwhelming, nearly forcing a shift right there in the garden. He controlled it with iron will, channeling the energy down through his arms and into the water.

The fountain began to glow, light emanating from beneath the surface. Ripples spread across the water's face despite the absence of wind.

"Look, My King."

Orion opened his eyes. The water's surface had transformed into a mirror-like vision. Buildings of glass and steel reflected colorful lights. Streets packed with humans. And there—a flash of dark black hair, a woman's profile.

"Miami." His voice sounded foreign to his own ears. "She's in Miami."

Bertram's bushy eyebrows rose in surprise. "A bustling city? Not the forest settlements or the mountain enclaves?"

"Directly across the water from us." Orion stared at the image, his jaw tightening. "In that chaos of concrete and complications."

"Many wolves have adapted to human cities in these modern times," Bertram offered. "Perhaps it's a sign that our pack must evolve as well."

Orion straightened, water dripping from his muscular forearms. The water glistened like liquid silver against his tanned skin, catching the moonlight as it trailed down to his fingertips. The wolf inside him paced impatiently, urging him to take action immediately.

"It doesn't matter where she is," he stated, his voice deep and commanding. "She belongs with me and with her pack."

The elder's weathered face creased with amusement. "The Moon Goddess sure has a sense of humor though." Bertram chuckled, leaning on his gnarled walking stick. "Centuries of waiting, only to discover your mate is from the human world you've avoided."

Orion's jaw clenched as he wiped his hands on his pants, leaving dark streaks across the expensive fabric. He cared nothing for appearances tonight—not with his blood singing with newfound purpose.

"All these wolves are choosing to live among humans these days." He cast his gaze across the water toward the glittering skyline of Miami. "They pretend they are something they're not and conform to human thinking and customs."

His wolf bristled at the mere thought. "I could never do it," he added, raking a hand through his dark gray hair. "Human politics and social hierarchies make no sense—all those unspoken rules, the deception, and the masks they wear."

Bertram arched an eyebrow. "And yet your Luna has been raised in that world."

The thought sent a jolt of electricity down Orion's spine. His. She was his—even if she didn't know it yet.

"As a royal, I've never considered anything but living among my pack." He began to pace, unable to contain the energy surging through his powerful frame. His wolf urged him to shift, to run, and to swim across the channel separating him from his mate. "My duty has always been clear. But I can see how someone not raised with royal responsibilities might not have the same..." He searched for the right word, unwilling to sound judgmental about his mate before he'd even met her. "...the same sense of pack obligation."

The wind shifted, carrying the scent of sea salt and promise. Orion inhaled deeply, wondering if he could detect even a trace of her scent from this distance. Ridiculous, yet he couldn't help himself.

The muscles in Orion's neck and shoulders were tight with anticipation. "I have to find her."

"Eager, after four hundred years of solitude?" Bertram's tone was teasing, but respectful.

"Four centuries was nothing." Orion's voice dropped to a near growl as his eyes flashed with primal intensity. "But now that I know she exists, every minute apart is an eternity."

Orion stalked toward the edge of the castle gardens, his gaze fixed on the distant lights of Miami. The wolf inside him paced restlessly, urging him to move. But the king in him knew better than to act on impulse.

"I'll take my boat at sunrise," he decided, already mapping the journey in his mind. "The Moonchaser is fast enough to get me there in less than an hour."