Werewolves are the creation of the moon goddess, part human, and part wolf. They are strong, powerful shapeshifters with supernatural abilities. But they have a unique blessing bestowed upon them by their goddess, one which no other creature in the supernatural realm has,

mates.

The beauty of the mate bond is unmatchable. They are souls made just for you, physically and mentally.

Overtime, werewolves started tampering with the mate bond. They used magic to forcefully create or break the bond and mated with other creatures for connection and power. Combined with evolution, the mate bond slowly faded from a blessing to a myth.

Now, the mate bond is nothing but a fairytale, told to young children. It's beauty, connection and power still lives on pages of books taught to children in schools, hoping that one day, it might relive again.

**

"STOP" a deep voice roars, loud and dominant. The ground beneath me shakes at its sheer force, successfully knocking out the stool supporting my weight.

The noose completely tightens around my neck, choking me to death. I claw at the noose, trying to loosen it, to breathe. The noose burns my skin, stealing every last breath left in me. Black spots litter my vision, the lack of oxygen messing up my brain. I feel myself slowly lose conciseness. Suddenly, the pressure of the noose on my neck was gone, and I am falling. I feel someone catch me before I hit the ground. Too lost in the darkness to come back, I let myself fall deeper into it.

~

I wake up to the sound of a pair of feet shuffling back and forth. I stir, groaning at the extreme soreness in my throat. "Water" I mumble, my voice coarse. "Yes...yes" I hear someone say.

I feel a glass being placed at my lips and drink quickly, my eyes still close.

"Thankyou" I mumble leaning back into the bed. I slowly open my eyes to meet pale blue ones.

"How are you feeling?" Ansel asks, slightly concerned.

"Fine" I look at him, slightly disappointed at the lack of someone else's presence. "What happened?" I question.

"I-I'm not sure, the king suddenly ordered the execution to be stopped, but it was too late, the noose tightened, you lost consciousness and then he flipped..ahhh..it was a mess!"

"Why did he stop the execution?" I ask, wanting to confirm my suspicion. "I honestly have no idea" he answers looking confused.

Is it really what I think it is? But mates are a myth! Everyone knows no such thing exists anymore, there hasn't been a report on mate bond in the last hundred years or so!

But the scent.... According to the books, the scent is one of the biggest signs.

"He wants to meet you when you are ready," Ansel says, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Really? Where?" I ask, butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Wtf was that?

"Outside in the castle grounds" I nod, slowly shuffling out of the bed. "Follow me then".

We walk quietly side by side, both of us deep in our own thoughts, my mind trying to come up with a hundred different theories on what this all could mean.

"We are here" Ansel didn't have to say. His scent hit me before he even came to my vision.

That intoxicating scent that I can't get enough off. I take a deep breath, trying to take as much of him in, to engrave it into my memory permanently.

He was leaning on to the door frame with his back to me. He was dressed casually, compared to his earlier formal attire. He turns around, sensing me.

My eyes meet his forest green ones for the second time. I slowly let my eyes take him in, his curious eyes, soft chocolate brown hair, broad shoulders ripped with muscles, and tall...tall frame. A shiver runs up my spine at the sight in front of me, paralyzing me. He is easily the most handsome man I have ever laid my eyes on.

Goddess, you really took your time creating him, huh.

He slowly walks forward, his eyes taking me in, just as I did him.

"Would you like to go for a walk?" he asks, his voice deep and husky. I nod, not having the ability to open my mouth. He spreads his arm towards the open door, "After you".

I pick up my pace and walk outside. He follows me, his steps easily catching up to mine.

"Sorry about earlier, are you alright?" he asks eyeing my bruising neck. "About what? Almost executing me?" I question firmly, finding my voice. "Right. About that...we need to talk" he says, almost hesitantly.

"We are mates, aren't we?" I ask facing him, getting straight to the point. His eyes look uncertain, doubt clouding them. He doesn't believe it.

"What made you think we are mates?" he questions slowly. I stare at him incredulously. Does this guy even hear himself! "The scent!" I say my voice rising "The scent is one of the biggest signs of mate bond. I know you sensed it too, otherwise, I wouldn't be standing here"

"Yes, I sensed it. But like you said, the scent is one of the sign" he says, carefully choosing his words, almost like he is waiting for me to catch up to something.

"And?" I ask, still confused. He signs, running his hands through his brown locks.

"Would you like to go for a run? You have been locked in for so long. I think your wolf would appreciate a run"

What he says clicks a chord in me, my wolf....wolf..?

"I...I don't have a wolf" I say confused, my voice panicking What's going on? Why don't I have a wolf?

I look at him and realize that he was calm, like he was waiting for me to understand something. He already knew.

"Every werewolf is born part human and part wolf. The wolf side of us is who recognizes our mates- if it even exists" he says slowly, letting me take it all in. "But I don't have a wolf, how am I supposed to know?"

"Exactly, you came into the conclusion just by the scent. But only your wolf can tell you if someone is your mate or not, and you don't have one to tell you" he explains, making me even more confused. "But you have a wolf, don't you? wouldn't he recognize?" I ask hopefully.

"That's the thing," he says sadly, "Your scent, goddess that scent drives me wild. I can barely contain my wolf around you. But at the same time, he...he doesn't recognize you...more like accept you as his mate"

My throat constraints hearing that. "Why?" I choke out. He sighs again, finding it hard to explain "Let's take a seat, this is going to be hard" I nod slowly, agreeing.

He walks over to a wooden bench and takes a seat. I follow him and sit down, making sure to keep a large distance between us. He notices it but doesn't make a comment.

"My kingdom, the kingdom of Eistas was found over two hundred years ago. It is one of the largest kingdoms to ever exist, and we, its people, take great pride in that. Around a hundred years ago, when the mate bond ceased to exist, the kingdom faced great peril. Especially the royal family. Many werewolves started leaving the kingdom and other creatures started attacking us when we were at our weakest. Mate bond was a blessing that made us wolves stronger, more powerful, and without it, we were lost. So the royal family made a vow, only to mate with werewolves. Pure-blooded werewolves. And every royal since then has kept their word" he pauses, taking a break.

"This helped strengthen the kingdom, and werewolf race again. You don't have a wolf because your only half werewolf. This is also why my wolf doesn't accept you as his mate because you are not as strong as his mate should be, a queen should be. Then there is also the thing about your trial and execution. You have to understand why we cannot be. My people will never accept a traitor for their queen" he stops talking and look at me, for a reaction.

I release the breath I have been holding in since he started speaking. All of this is a lot to take in. "I hope you understand. As a royal, my life doesn't just belong to me and every action I take has its consequence"

As I look at him, I realize that I believe him, completely. And even if it breaks my heart, I understand his reasons for doing what he does. He is a royal, a king, one who must protect his people and he cannot have someone like me as his queen, someone barely a werewolf. I nod slowly, my chest tightening at what I am about to say " I understand, your right. We cannot be, this does not make sense. Thank you for being honest with me, for explaining to me," I cross my arms around myself, trying not to shake. "So what happens to me now?" I ask softly.

"I am sorry, but I cannot completely let you off your charges. What you have committed is high treason, it cannot be left unpunished" my heart drops to my stomach hearing his words, and I freeze

"So, will I be executed tomorrow?" I ask, dreading the answer.

"No, I cannot do that to you, my wolf won't let me. But, you cannot go unpunished either" he says standing up.

"And?" I ask mimicking his action.

"You will be punished with manual labor. Means you will work here at the castle as a servant for however long deemed necessary "

***

Does manual labor seem like a fair punishment to you?