GINA

Stretching my neck forward and backwards did little to soothe the throbbing tension in my neck. I sat, slumped behind my desk, rotating my head slowly from side to side in an attempt to loosen the knots forming after a long, grueling day.

I had no business still being at the hospital because my shift ended hours ago but I had agreed to cover for Eric again.

Luckily for me, Dr. Laser took one look at my pale, drained face and insisted someone else handle the remainder of the shift. Perks of dating the director's son.

I hadn't realized how badly I needed saving until he intervened.

Eric had promised to make it up to me this weekend, with something quiet, romantic, just the two of us. I had been looking forward to it more than I cared to admit. We have been together for two years now. We met back in med school. Him, charming and ambitious; me, top of my class and totally focused on my future.

Somehow, despite our differences, we'd found a rhythm. He even convinced his father, the director of the most prestigious hospital in the country, to give me a position here. With my grades and accolades, it hadn't taken much convincing.

This hospital served both humans and werewolves. Although the supernatural rarely needed medical care thanks to their abilities to heal themselves. The facility remained open to both. Still, it was mostly humans walking through these halls...walking in sick and walking out healed.

I gathered my things with a sigh of relief, grateful to finally head home. But as I approached my apartment, a small frown crept across my face.

Eric's car was parked in front of the building. Strange.

Dr. Laser must have told him I was relieved early. Was he that eager to see me? My heart warmed slightly at the thought.

And Adele's car was there too, I smiled again. My best friend, we have lived together since university. Maybe we'd all hang out tonight, order takeout, watch something trashy on TV, and unwind.

But the second I stepped into the apartment, that warmth began to wither.

Eric's shoes... his shirt... his belt... tossed carelessly in the hallway. Fear gripped me, I wasn't ready to discover any funny play. My chest tightened as I saw Adele's blouse draped over the armrest. Her bra... her underwear... all scattered around the place too.

No, no, it couldn't be, this had to be a misunderstanding.

I walked on numb legs, my breath got shallow. I climbed the stairs like a ghost, dreading what I might find but unable to stop.

And then I opened her bedroom door. There she was, riding him, my boyfriend. My best friend was riding my boyfriend.

They didn't even notice me at first, too caught up in their feral rhythm, moaning and panting like animals in heat. I stood there, rooted in place, watching the man I loved grip my friend's waist like she was his salvation. He had never touched me like that, never moaned like that.

Never looked that unhinged, that hungry.

My hands trembled as I raised my phone and hit record.

I don't know how long I stood there, but eventually I cleared my throat.

They froze, Adele gasped, Eric's eyes met mine. Horror blooming across his face. They scrambled for the sheets, fumbling with and looking at their clothes that were dumped in the hallway as if modesty could erase their betrayal.

"To think..." I began, my voice hoarse, cracking, "you tricked me into covering your shift just so you could come fuck my best friend."

Eric opened his mouth, his voice a mess of stutters and regret. "Baby... I... I didn't plan this. It just happened. I'm sorry, please-"

I let out a bitter laugh, tasting iron at the back of my throat. "You made me believe you had a meeting. I stayed behind, exhausted, covering your damn shift, thinking I was doing it for love.

Meanwhile, you were here... screwing Adele."

Adele couldn't even meet my eyes. The woman I had trusted with every secret, every heartache, now stood before me wrapped in a sheet, her silence louder than any confession.

"How long?" I demanded. "How long have you two been fucking and pretending like I was the clueless idiot in the room?"

She looked down like someone who was guilty. Coward!!

That was answer enough.

"You know what?" I said, shaking my head as tears welled in my eyes. "It's over, I'm done. I hope....no, I pray that whatever pain I'm feeling right now comes back to you both a thousandfold."

Eric reached for me, but I stepped back. "Don't."

I walked out, slamming the door in his face.

Tears blurred my vision as I climbed the stairs to my room. Every part of me shook with rage, heartbreak and disgust. I wanted to scream and wanted to break things.

But most of all I wanted to never see either of their faces again.

I needed to move out, tonight, tomorrow, as soon as possible. Because if I stayed here a minute longer, I might just lose the last piece of myself I had left.

I collapsed beside my suitcase, but I couldn't even see what I was packing.

The tears were relentless and the betrayal was unbearable.

Tyler

I came back from the bathroom to find the werewolf I just slept with still lying on my bed.

"Leave!" I said. My tone made it clear there was no room for argument. She looked displeased but didn't dare defy me. Without a mate to share real intimacy with, I spent my nights with random females, making sure they understand it's nothing more than pleasurable sex.

On her way out, Lena barged into the room without knocking, shooting the woman whose name I couldn't even remember a sharp glare.

Ziti, my wolf, was immediately on edge.

"She's been disrespecting us lately. And that's because you can't keep it in your pants." He growled.

"Shut it and let me handle her, grumpy!" I shot back.

"Your Majesty," Lena said in a sickly sweet voice that stopped working on me a long time ago. "I waited for you downstairs and thought I'd check your room."

Lena and I had a thing once. Not serious. Until she started hinting that if I didn't find my mate in time, I should make her my Luna.

She used to be attractive to me, but her desperation for the title killed any interest I had. My wolf never liked her anyway, so I ended it before she took it too far. That was a hundred years ago, and she still hasn't found her mate.

I don't know if she's cursed too, but even if I remain unmated, I'll never take Lena as mine.

"Don't ever come to my room without my permission. Let this be the last time." I said, my voice low with warning.

"I'm sorry." She replied, though her face didn't match her words.

"Leave!" I commanded.

I headed downstairs to my office and found her already there with Declan.

"I've got trackers on the borders, ready for anyone who tries to step into our territory. Good morning, Alpha." Declan said as I took my seat. He is my friend and Beta, we grew up together. Calling me Your Majesty feels awkward, so he sticks with Alpha.

"We will come back to that," I said.

"I want to know why the elders decided to give me an ultimatum to marry before the year ends." I looked at Lena. Her mother sits on the council, so she'd know.

"It's about the prophecy and breaking the curse." Declan said. "I think we should take them seriously and start looking for your mate."

"For over three hundred years, I've searched for her. My wolf yearns for her.

I have crossed countless borders, scoured different countries. And now the elders think some ridiculous deadline will make me find her in a few months? Their stupidity amazes me."

"Maybe we didn't search hard enough." Lena suggested. "We could try a new strategy."

"Well, good luck finding her on my behalf, because I'm done searching. And as for their threats, I'd love to see them try."

"Maybe a powerful witch or seer could tell us where to start looking, or if she's even alive," she added.

Ziti growled at her last words, refusing to accept the idea of our mate being dead.

"I wish we could find Celeste," Declan said. "She's the only one capable of that kind of spell." Celeste, the South Pack's most powerful witch, vanished years ago and hasn't been seen since.

"Your Majesty, we'll find another witch," Lena said. "But this is a journey you have to take yourself."

I hated the elder's threats, but my responsibility is to keep my people safe. More than that, I need to protect my little sister. She's been under the curse for five years, and I had to get a witch to bind her soul to keep her from going mad.

"I can't leave Bella alone, I need to know she's safe."

"I could call Dr. Chase, have him send his best doctor to care for her," Lena offered.

At least then I could focus on finding my mate. The thought of her stirred my wolf, pushing toward the surface.

"Call him now! Tell him I'll come to the hospital myself to meet this stay-in doctor and have a word." I watched her leave to make the call.

"I'm glad you're finally listening to the elders," Declan said with a smirk. "In the end, you'll be the one to benefit, you'll get the healer and your true mate."

"Wipe that smirk off your face, the next time they think about threatening me, I'll have their graves dug that day."

I stood to check on Bella. She's my only surviving family since our parents died. When the curse hit her, it destroyed her wolf first before madness took over.

Most in her condition are killed, since there's no cure. But I couldn't do it, lose my only family.

So I had a witch trap her soul in her body until we found the healer. No matter how long it takes, even if it takes centuries. I'm willing to wait. I won't lose my sister.

Gina

"I wish I could come there to beat her up for hurting my baby, Do you think you can survive another day in that apartment honey?" My mom asked.

I chuckled, feeling lighter. "There's no need, Mom. I'll be fine. I have started searching for an apartment, and I'm sure I'll get one by this weekend at the latest." I sighed heavily.

I looked around, I really loved this place, closer to work, comfortable for me but I guess life has other plans.

"Honey, if you need to take a break, just come home, I'll be waiting. You know how much I have missed you."

Trust my mom to use a moment like this to her advantage. I couldn't blame her, home was lonely without me.

It had always been just my mom and me. Though adopted, I never met my biological parents, and I never cared to. Celeste Robert was the best mother anyone could wish for, and I wouldn't trade her for anything.

She was both a therapist and a herbalist, I had seen her save countless people with her herbs. Even werewolves sought her help.

I sometimes wished she was more than a herbalist, maybe even a witch, then I would have asked her to cast a spell on Eric and Adele.

"Are you sure you'll be fine, honey?" she asked for the umpteenth time.

I rolled my eyes. "I'll be fine, Mom. You worry too much. I have to go, I'm checking out an apartment later this evening. I hope it's something I like."

"Okay, honey, be safe. I also have this couple coming over soon, I need to prepare an aphrodisiac herb before they arrive. Take care honey. Love you." she said and hung up.

I got out of bed to get ready for the day. I had been scouting apartments since last night, staying in my room the whole time.

I didn't know if Eric was still around. He had banged on my door until the middle of the night, begging to explain himself.

Just as I was about to step out of my room, my phone rang. The medical director. Why was he calling?

My shift didn't start until tonight. I picked up, only to be told to report to work immediately. Perfect way to start my day especially knowing I will probably run into Eric.

I packed my things and left for work. Adele must have already gone, there wasn't a single sign of her around, and her car wasn't parked outside.

When I arrived at the hospital, I headed straight for the director's office. I wasn't in the mood to cross paths with Eric. Inside, he gestured for me to sit. I watched him pull out a file before speaking.

"I'm sorry this came at a short notice, but we didn't have a choice. This is a VVIP client we can't say no to." He sighed. "A client has requested a live-in doctor to care for his sister who is a comatose patient. You'll provide all her medical needs. There's already a nurse on site to assist you. Eric recommended you for this role of attending physician for long-term home care. Given your reputation, I couldn't say no."

That bastard! Was he trying to atone or trying to win me back? This counts as nothing. "I don't know... I..." I stuttered.

"Nothing to worry about, Dr. Gina. You'll be provided with a very good apartment, and the pay is generous, triple the amount of your current salary. I'm sure this will be a boost to your career. Just do your job well."

Even though I hated that Eric had put my name forward, maybe to get rid of me or to atone for his sin, the offer was too juicy to pass up.

I needed accommodation, and this came at the perfect time. I could have asked for more time to think about it, but with everything going on, I needed a break.

"I'll take the job, sir. When do I start?" I asked, eager.

He chuckled. "Hold up, eager much? You have a few days off to pack your things. There are forms to sign and details to go over. The client is the King-King Tyler. His sister is the patient you'll be caring for."

My eyes widened. The Lycan King, the ruler of all werewolves. The most powerful man in the world. He had fought countless wars and never lost. Rumor had it he killed his three mates himself. Alpha of the Central Moon Pack and also Mateless.

I couldn't believe I was about to work for the King of Werewolves, especially given how much I hated their existence for nearly wiping out the human race centuries ago.

If not for the Moon Goddess intervening and cursing them to put them in check, humanity might not exist today. I have no idea how my mom would react if she learned I will be working for the Lycan King. She'd be livid, but I am taking this job.

"I will take it." I said. My voice steady despite the storm inside me. "Thank you for considering me, I promise I won't disappoint. May I review the patient's file in my office?

"Of course," he replied, passing me the folder. "The King has requested to meet you in person. He will be here shortly, once he arrives, I will send for you."

I nodded, offered my thanks again, and slipped out of his office.