"Mate."

The word made the entire banquet hall fall silent. Conversations stopped. Champagne glasses hung halfway to lips. Every single person turned to stare at them.

Jonas's brown eyes went wide with shock and a flicker of disappointment. His mouth opened, but no sound came out.

The mysterious Alpha stared down at Freya, his ice-blue eyes burning with a hunger so scorching it made her skin flush.

"Rise," he commanded.

Freya's legs shook as she tried to stand, but her body felt like jelly. Before she could fall again, his large hand clamped around her wrist and hauled her up.

The moment their skin touched, a jolt of pure electricity shot through her entire body. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Within her, Vicki went absolutely feral, howling, "Mate! Mate!"

"Niklaus!" A sharp female voice cut through the tension.

The stunning brunette in an elegant champagne dress rushed over, clutching Niklaus's other arm. Diamond rings glittered on her fingers.

"What is this crazy girl saying?" Rebekah's voice cracked with panic. "She's lying, right? Tell me she's lying!"

Freya could see the desperation in the woman's eyes. She shrank back, ducking her head as hot shame flooded her cheeks. This powerful Alpha already had someone--someone polished and perfect, not a broken, debt-ridden Omega in a tattered, muddy dress.

Niklaus said nothing. His silence was answer enough.

"No!" Rebekah let out a piercing scream. "Niklaus! How could you do this to me? We're engaged!"

"Rebekah..." Niklaus's voice was thick with a jagged edge of guilt. He reached toward her.

"I hate you!" Tears blurred her vision. "I hate all of you!"

Rebekah turned and bolted toward the exit. The banquet hall doors slammed shut behind her.

Niklaus watched her go, pain crossing his face. Through the mate bond, Freya could feel his desperate urge to chase after Rebekah, torn within him.

Bitterness filled her heart. Her fated mate loved someone else. And Jonas, the man who was supposed to be her savior, was now miles out of reach.

Niklaus pulled himself together in an instant. When his gaze snapped back to Freya, his eyes were burning with that primal hunger again.

"What's your name?"

"Freya... Freya Gilbert."

"Freya. You're coming with me. Now."

Not a request. A command.

"I... I can't..." The mate bond pulled at her, making it impossible to think straight. The soul-consuming need made her want to follow him anywhere, but she needed to speak with Jonas about her problem.

"This shouldn't be happening," Niklaus suddenly hissed, clenching his fists as he fought the wolf inside him. His eyes instantly shifted from blue to a pale gold. "But since it has..."

Niklaus didn't want to cause any more of a scene. Ignoring Freya's protests, he clamped his hand around her arm and began pulling her toward the exit.

"Wait!" Jonas finally spoke up, stepping forward. "You can't just take her!"

Niklaus stiffened, a low growl vibrating in his chest. His eyes flashed, the blue vanishing entirely as a brilliant, terrifying gold took over.

Niklaus snapped his head toward him. "You want to stop me, Alpha Jonas?"

Then he let out a loud growl that made everyone's hearts quiver.

Many lower-ranking pack members began to fall to their knees. They could not withstand the Alpha's growl. Their strength wasn't enough to resist Niklaus's dominance. Even Jonas took a step back. It was clear that Niklaus overpowered every Alpha in the room.

"She's a member of our pack..." Jonas held his ground against Niklaus's overwhelming aura, realizing that Niklaus was now completely controlled by his wolf. The stronger the Alpha, the more vicious the beast.Once controlled by the wolf, it took tremendous effort for an Alpha to regain control.

"She's my mate. Which makes her mine." Niklaus snarled in a condescending tone.

Niklaus tightened his iron grip and shouldered past Jonas, striding toward the exit.

Freya felt powerless. She had no idea what to do. She twisted her head to look back at Jonas as Niklaus continued hauling her away.

Behind them, the crowd exploded into gossip.

"Oh my Goddess, did that really just happen?"

"Alpha Niklaus of the most powerful Whitecrown Pack is mated to that? To the Colors Freak?"

"Yeah, I heard she's a total lost cause. Couldn't tell a scent from a form during training. Her brain is fried. She was so weak they had to demote her to the bottom."

Freya ignored it all, though the cruel nickname cut like a knife. Niklaus's grip was so tight her hand went numb. She could tell he was seething--as if he didn't want her as his mate. They were practically strangers. Worse still, he had been in a relationship with a woman he'd planned to marry.

Niklaus shoved her into an elevator and slammed the button for the top floor.

"I need to go back," Freya managed to choke out. "You don't understand. I came here tonight because--"

Her words were stifled as Niklaus suddenly lunged forward, caging her against the wall. The heat of his body made it impossible to think.

Niklaus's breath hitched as he stared into Freya's striking green eyes. His throat constricted, his mouth going dry.

"I can't wait any longer," he rasped.

Then, his lips crashed onto hers.

She'd never been kissed like this. His scent exploded in her head, painting patterns of blue and gold, making her dizzy with pure, unadulterated want.

Niklaus's burning fingers traced her skin, pinching her earlobe before sliding down her neck to her collarbone. The touch ignited sparks that made her shudder uncontrollably.

Freya pushed against his chest, but a hungry, ache deep within her body pulled her closer instead. The mate bond tugged at her, demanding surrender.

"The elevator..." she panted, her voice trembling as her hands rested uselessly against his chest.

Niklaus paused, his body going still except for the hand splayed across her lower back. In the dim elevator light, his eyes glowed with an unnatural redness, wild and hungry.

"Do you want me to stop?" he rasped.

The elevator chimed as it reached the top floor. Without waiting for her answer, Niklaus draped his jacket over her shivering shoulders. He swept her into his arms and strode down the hallway to his suite.

The door clicked shut, and he pinned her against it. His mouth crushed onto hers. The kiss was deeper now, more desperate, as if he needed to devour her.

His kisses trailed from her mouth to her neck; each one was hotter than the last. Their clothes were stripped away, scattered across the floor.

They stood naked together. Freya gazed at his strong arms and sculpted abs; her eyes darting away immediately. She was nervous; she had never been with a man before..

"Is this your first time?" Niklaus asked, noticing her innocence.

Freya couldn't look up; she just gave a shaky nod.

Niklaus gave a small smile. His movements were still urgent, but they weren't frantic anymore; he became more careful with her.

He swept her up and carried her to the bed, lowering her onto the soft sheets before kneeling between her legs. Freya's eyes widened in shock as she realized his intentions.

"Niklaus... wait," she whispered, trying to close her legs, but his strong hands gently held them apart.

"Let me taste you," he growled, almost animalistic.

Before she could protest again, he buried his face between her legs. The first touch of his tongue sent a jolt of heat through her entire body. Freya cried out; her back arched off the bed as her fingers tangled in his thick hair. She couldn't decide whether to pull him closer or push him away.

He was relentless; his tongue kept circling and stroking her until she was writhing beneath him. She had never felt anything like this before; the feeling was too much, far more intense than she ever imagined. Every lick and suck pushed her higher, building a heavy pressure deep in her core.

"Oh Goddess," she moaned, her hips bucked against his mouth as she fought for air. "Niklaus, please, I can't take any more."

He licked her even more urgently now, his tongue moving faster as he pushed her closer to the edge. His hands gripped her thighs, holding her in place as he devoured her. When he sucked on her clit while sliding a finger deep inside her, Freya shattered.

The climax washed over her, and her body jerked as she screamed his name. Her vision went dark; she couldn't think, she could only feel the blinding heat rushing through her veins. She shook uncontrollably while he kept teasing her, pulling every last bit of pleasure from her body.

When the heat finally started to fade, Freya felt him move up her body. His hard cock pressed against her opening; she opened her eyes, dazed and breathless. She waited for him to take her completely.

But suddenly, he stopped.

Freya blinked, her mind still foggy. Niklaus hovered above her, his chest heaving with heavy breaths. The red glow in his eyes faded; the sharp, icy blue was coming back. He looked stunned, as if he couldn't believe what he was doing.

He stared at her, finally conscious of where they were. The wolf had retreated, leaving the man in control again. He looked torn; it was clear he still wanted her, but he was trying to hold himself back.

Freya felt empty and incomplete. The bond was like a physical ache, demanding more. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her.

She pressed her lips against his. Niklaus froze; his muscles tensed under her touch. Then, slowly, he began to kiss her back.

This kiss felt different. It wasn't a wild mess of hunger anymore; it was slow and focused. Niklaus licked her bottom lip before sliding his tongue into her mouth, teasing her with every stroke. This was Niklaus who knew exactly how to drive a woman crazy.

As he kissed her, his hand moved up to cup her breast. He squeezed the soft flesh, his thumb rubbing over her hard nipple until she gasped. Freya, wanting to feel him too, hesitantly reached down between them; her fingers finally brushed against his thick, throbbing cock.

Her inexperience showed. She didn't know how to move, so she just held him, her hand trembling as she waited for him to lead the way.

Niklaus groaned into her mouth, his breath turning ragged instantly. He broke the kiss and pressed his forehead against hers; his blue eyes locked onto her green ones. Then, he covered her hand with his own. He began to move her hand, showing her how to stroke him. He guided her palm up and down his length, showing her exactly how much pressure he liked.

He grew even harder under her touch so that she could feel his pulse thumping against her fingers. He started to pant, making soft groans in his throat. Freya felt a rush of power; she loved knowing that she was the one making this powerful Alpha lose his control.

After a few minutes, he pulled her hand away and hovered above her again. He didn't push inside her yet; his muscles were shaking as he fought to hold himself back. He looked down at her; his eyes were a dark, stormy blue.

"Freya," he whispered her name, his voice thick with desire. "Tell me what you want."

Freya looked at the man above her. He was her fated mate, and it felt right to give her first time to him. She wanted to belong to him completely.

She blushed as she arched her back, opening her legs as wide as they would go. Her voice was small, but she was sure about this.

"I want you," she whispered. "I want you inside me."

Something in Niklaus's eyes snapped at her words. The last bit of his restraint vanished. He didn't wait another second. He positioned himself and pushed forward, entering her slowly but steadily.

The sharp sting of him breaking her maidenhead made Freya gasp; she dug her nails into his shoulders. He stopped instantly, letting her body get used to his size.

He kissed the tears from her eyes and whispered sweet, quiet things against her skin. "My brave girl. You're doing so well."

Her grip on his shoulders relaxed a little. The pain soon faded, replaced by an incredible feeling of being full. The mate bond hummed, making her feel like they finally belonged together. Once she relaxed, he started to move. He was slow at first, then he picked up the pace, hitting her deeper with every thrust.

"You're mine," Niklaus growled softly, his breath hot against her ear. "My mate."

The words sent a thrill through Freya's body. "Yes," she whispered back, clinging to him. "Only yours."

He groaned and pounded into her even harder. Every stroke made the pleasure climb; the bond between them was screaming with joy. Freya wrapped her legs around his waist, drawing him deeper. She was new to this, but she tried her best to match his rhythm.

The room was filled with their moans and the sound of their bodies hitting together. Freya could only focus on him--the weight of him, and the way his eyes never left her face.

"Come for me again," he commanded. He reached down to rub her clit while he kept thrusting into her. "I want to feel you squeeze me."

His fingers and his heavy thrusts were too much. Freya broke again. This orgasm was even stronger than the first one; it felt like her whole body was on fire. She screamed his name as she clamped down around him, her muscles twitching in a long, hard release.

Her climax pushed him over the edge. Niklaus let out a deep, rough groan and pounded into her one last time; he buried his cock as deep as it would go while his whole body shook. Freya felt him pulse hot and heavy inside her; he was filling her.

He collapsed beside her afterward and pulled her to his chest. They stayed like that for a while; their breathing slowed down as the room went quiet. Niklaus ran his fingers down her back; he messed with her hair and stroked her skin while she lay against him.

Freya was exhausted. Niklaus carried her to the bathroom and gently cleaned her up. Then he brought her back to bed, pulling the covers over them both and wrapping his arms around her.

She felt herself falling asleep in his arms. Then she heard him whisper.

"What have you done to me, my little mate?"

Freya found herself surrounded by sneering packmates. Their faces showed clear contempt as they moved closer.

"The demoted omega," someone said mockingly.

"Pathetic little runt," another voice added.

She attempted to escape, but hands pushed her back to the center. Her breathing became rapid as panic seized her.

Jonas appeared through the crowd with worried brown eyes and extended his hand. "Freya, come with me."

Before she could reach for him, everything changed. She stood outside her family home alone. Court officials were posting foreclosure notices on the door. Papers listing debts covered the ground.

"You won't be homeless. I'll give you a home," a cold voice stated behind her.

She turned to see icy blue eyes staring at her. They were nothing like Jonas's warm ones. These eyes belonged to someone powerful and dangerous.

Freya woke with a sharp gasp. Her heart pounded violently. The surroundings confused her momentarily. Then she heard water running, and last night's memories returned.

The party. The mate bond. Alpha Niklaus bringing her to his suite.

She held the sheets against her chest. Her body felt pleasantly sore. Heat rose to her face as she recalled his touch and how his body had felt.

After they made love, he was gentle. He cleaned her up, held her close, and whispered soft words. Before her father's scandal, she never imagined catching an Alpha's attention like Niklaus. He wasn't Jonas, her expected mate, but perhaps the Moon Goddess knew better.

"Vicki, what should I say to him?" she whispered to her wolf.

"Be strong. Don't show fear, "Vicki responded.

The bathroom door opened. Steam poured out as Niklaus stepped out with a towel wrapped around his waist. Water still clung to his muscled chest. His wet hair was pushed back, emphasizing his sharp features.

His expression made her stomach sink. Last night's passion had faded completely. His blue eyes were cold, his jaw rigid.

Freya pulled the sheet higher, feeling suddenly vulnerable.

"Good morning," she said carefully.

He ignored the greeting. Instead, he walked to a chair and sat down. Even wearing only a towel, he radiated authority.

"Let's be direct," he said without emotion. "Name your price."

"What do you mean?" Freya asked, confused.

"I'm going to reject you," he stated plainly. "Last night was an error. My wolf, Flex, lost control when he sensed our bond. I brought you here to talk, but things went too far."

This wasn't the whole truth. Niklaus had planned to reject the mate bond quietly when he first felt it. Flex had reacted violently to that idea. But everything afterward, every touch and kiss, had been his decision. He had wanted her, even while telling himself he shouldn't.

"I'm willing to be generous," he continued in a matter-of-fact tone. "Name your price for accepting my rejection. We can both move forward."

Freya felt as if he had struck her. She thought after last night, he would accept her as his mate. But he still wanted to reject her. His sudden change caught her off guard, leaving bitterness in her heart. Her family had abandoned her, and now her fated mate was rejecting her. Once, she might have accepted the rejection quietly, grateful for any money he offered.

But not anymore.

Her current situation couldn't be solved with money. Her house faced repossession. After last night's scene, rumors were spreading through the pack. If she accepted Niklaus's rejection, she would become the center of a scandal. She had already disrupted Jonas's welcome ceremony. The pack would never forgive that. They would banish her, making her packless. No werewolf survived well as a rogue.

"No," she said quietly.

Niklaus looked surprised. "No?"

"I won't accept your rejection." Her voice grew stronger. "I can't."

He leaned forward, his eyes becoming dangerous. "What do you mean, you can't? "

"I want to be your Luna, in name only." she said, raising her chin.

Niklaus laughed harshly. The sound was mocking. "You want to be my Luna? You're just another gold digger."

"That's not true."

"Absolutely not," he interrupted, standing quickly. "Do you understand how ridiculous that sounds? I already have a chosen mate. She's accomplished, well bred, perfect for Luna. Last night was a mistake. My wolf responding to the mate bond. Nothing more."

Freya winced but remained firm. "I understand you don't want me, but I need this," she admitted. She hated sounding desperate. "My father left me with only debts. I'm losing everything."

"That's not my problem," he said coldly.

"What if we made a deal?" she asked, finding her courage.

Niklaus raised an eyebrow. "What kind of deal?"

"A contract marriage," she suggested. "Three years. I'll be your Luna in name only. I'll handle pack affairs and play the role publicly. You can find your chosen mate after the contract ends. I'll accept your rejection then without questions."

"Why would I agree to this charade?"

"Because rejecting a fated mate is scandalous, even for an Alpha," she explained. "The pack will gossip. Your reputation will suffer. This way, you get time to prepare and control the story however you want."

Niklaus raised an eyebrow. This woman was indeed clever. She was actually convincing him. But he didn't like keeping women around when her affections lay elsewhere.

Niklaus opened his mouth to refuse when a his mother sent a mind-link.

"Niklaus! Is it true?" His mother's voice filled his head.

He grimaced and turned away from Freya.

"Mother, this isn't a good time," he replied.

"So you did find your mate! I've been hearing rumors all morning. The Frostwood Pack's Beta daughter? Why haven't you brought her home yet?"

Niklaus rubbed his damp hair in frustration. "It's complicated. What about Rebekah?"

"Rebekah left for Europe last night," Margaret informed him. "She packed her bags and took the first flight out. Honestly, son, you never had real feelings for her anyway. She was the Council's choice, not yours."

His mother spoke the truth. As the Alpha of the Whitecrown Pack, finding a Luna was his duty. At 26, the pressure had grown stronger. The Council had presented Rebekah as the perfect candidate. She was beautiful, accomplished, from good bloodlines. He had agreed more from obligation than desire.

"A fated mate is a blessing from the Moon Goddess herself," his mother continued. "You'd be foolish to reject such a gift. Bring her home, Niklaus. I want to meet her."

Before he could respond, his mother ended the mind-link.

Niklaus turned back to Freya, who sat waiting on the bed. Despite her vulnerable position, her green eyes showed determination. Flex moved restlessly inside him, growling at the thought of rejection.

"She's OURS," Flex snarled.

Niklaus told his wolf to be quiet, but the pull toward her was undeniable. He studied her more carefully. The delicate curve of her neck. The soft golden hair falling over her shoulders. Those full lips that had moaned his name hours ago.

Maybe a temporary arrangement wouldn't be terrible. It would satisfy the Council, calm his wolf for now, and give him time to find a permanent solution.

"Three years," he finally said. "No more. After that, we divorce, and you accept my rejection. No drama, no demands."

Freya's eyes widened slightly, as if she hadn't expected his agreement. "Yes."

"And during those three years, you'll act as my Luna completely. Handle pack affairs, attend functions, maintain appearances."

She nodded.

"One more thing," he added, his voice becoming harder. "This stays between us. No one else knows about this arrangement. As far as everyone knows, we're a regular mated pair."

"I understand," she whispered.

Niklaus walked to the closet and pulled out fresh clothes. "Get dressed. We're going to my pack house today. My mother is expecting us."

As he turned his back to her, he wondered if he had just made the biggest mistake of his life.