Freya’s POV

I am Freya Collins, an 18-year-old she-wolf from the Midnight Pack. The pack remained unaware of my wolf existence as I lacked a discernible scent, and I had no intention of revealing this aspect to them. Raised by my adoptive parents, Dad Lucas and Mom Rica, both esteemed pack warriors, I've been showered with love and support. Unbeknownst to the rest of the pack, my adoptive parents have been training me since childhood.

Discovered by my adoptive parents within the pack borders, the circumstances of my arrival remain a mystery. I lack any recollection of events leading up to my awakening in the pack hospital. My adoptive parents informed me that I had suffered severe injuries, possibly contributing to my memory loss. Out of love, I've refrained from delving into the details of my past, trusting in the care and affection they've provided.

My adoptive parents revealed essential details about my identity. I was the daughter of an alpha, a fact they insisted I keep concealed from the pack. Lexi, my biological mother and Luna of the now-extinct Howlers Pack, had saved my adoptive mother, Rica. My Luna mother directed Rica to be at the pack border, the very spot where they discovered me at a specific time, and she made a promise to care for me. Despite the potential risks or dangers, my adoptive parents, childless themselves, agreed.

Upon learning about my biological parents, I queried my mother about the absence of my scent. "I don't know either. Your mom has a cinnamon scent, and I'm certain your father had his own scent, even though I never saw him as he was the alpha," she replied.

"Sweetie, don't dwell on it. It's safer to assume that lacking a scent protects you from potential threats. Being perceived as wolfless shields you from danger," reassured my dad, a sentiment I concurred with.

I freely roamed the pack borders unbeknownst to them, practicing the skills I had acquired. None in the pack could trace my whereabouts, providing me a sense of security. That continued until the arrival of the Lycan convoy.

Four months ago, seven black SUVs rolled onto the pack grounds, sparking a week of frenzied preparations. Alpha Daniel, despite any denial, displayed nervousness and concern about their arrival.

Initially, we believed the visitors were only lycans, unaware that the Lycan prince and future king accompanied them. As he exited the SUV, a captivating scent filled the air. Pi and I were elated, thinking we had found our mate upon my 18th birthday.

Curious to identify him, I looked up, expecting a reciprocal search from him. To my surprise, his gaze did not seek me out. Another SUV revealed a female Lycan walking beside him, acting as his mate. Hurt and in pain, I felt the sting of his apparent disinterest. 'He couldn't smell us. He doesn't know we are his,' Pi lamented. Beside me, a she-wolf urged me to submit before they noticed and accused me of disrespect.

Since then, every encounter led me to walk in the opposite direction. Fortunately, I was confident he remained oblivious, given my lack of scent. During required announcements where he was present, I averted my gaze, fearing his attention.

For the past four months, it felt like a prolonged game of hide and seek with him. Despite the urge to claim him, Pi always restrained me, soothing my pain and reminding me he remained unaware. I endeavored to be patient, hoping he would discover my identity, yet the pain of his perceived betrayal lingered whenever I witnessed his association with the female Lycan, tempting me to reject him for not waiting and searching for me.

"Freya, are you feeling so uninterested in my class that your thoughts are wandering elsewhere? Would you like to share what's on your mind?" My professor, Ms. Lalyn, inquired upon noticing my distracted state. Glancing around, I observed everyone laughing, including Clay and Alec. Although I was a year older than them, they had skipped a grade due to their intelligence, placing us in the same college class.

"I apologize, Ms. Lalyn. I was just..." I attempted to explain, but she interrupted me once more.

"So, you're contemplating our future beta now?" she asked, glancing at the door behind me. I noticed her bow, and it dawned on me that my mate was present as well. Resisting the urge to look around, a compulsion everyone succumbs to, I reluctantly turned my head. However, I kept my gaze lowered, avoiding meeting his eyes. As a sign of respect, everyone in the room stood up.

"Please, take your seats," he instructed, and we complied. I maintained my lowered head, but then that contentious voice spoke again.

"It seems the wolfless was in this class, too," Eunice remarked mockingly.

"Will you ever stop, Eunice?" my mate growled. "What's the commotion about?" he inquired of Professor Lalyn.

"Nothing, Your Highness. It's just that I'm not accustomed to Freya being absent-minded. When I asked her why, she mentioned our future beta's name," Professor Lalyn explained. I wanted to gauge his reaction, but fear of meeting his eyes kept my head down.

"I see, maybe he was her mate," he speculated, leading to teasing remarks from the others. In our class, none dared to bully me, not just because of Clay and Alec's protection, but also due to my intelligence, earning their respect. "Is that true, Clay?" he asked.

"Not exactly, Your Highness. But if it were true, I'd be thrilled. Freya is everything I desire in a mate," Clay responded, winking at me.

"That'll only happen if she's not destined to be my mate, noob," Alec quipped, prompting a roll of Clay's eyes.

"It appears the future beta and gamma have their eyes on a certain she-wolf," he commented, and still, I avoided looking at him.

"Any good wolf would want her as their mate, and I suppose we're no different," Clay replied, earning a nod from Alec.

"What's so good about a wolfless bitch?" Eunice, the female Lycan, interjected, eliciting growls from my mate, Clay, and Alec.

"Remove her from here!" My Lycan prince mate ordered and one of the lycan warriors who were with him approached Eunice and tried to escort her away.

"I apologize. I was just saying..." She attempted to defend herself, but my mate paid no heed and had her dragged away.

"I have an announcement," my mate declared. "Next week, a friendly fight tournament will take place in the pack. Everyone is welcome to participate, and I'd be delighted to see many of you there." With that, he departed, and I sensed his gaze on me before he left our classroom.

After he left, I took a deep breath, and Clay and Alec approached me with concern, asking, "Are you alright?" I responded with a smile,

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be? I've grown accustomed to hearing things like that, so it doesn't bother me if I hear it repeatedly." I continued,

"Alright, pay attention," Ms. Lalyn stated. "As you heard, it was just a friendly fight. If you want to test your strength, participate in the tournament. The Lycan prince will be there, ensuring safety. If anything goes awry, he's there to intervene." She assured me, and everyone voiced their agreement.

Although I was tempted to join, I hesitated, fearing that it might expose me. Consequently, I discarded the idea. I decided to be a spectator, observing and hoping to learn some techniques from the fighters.

Matteo’s POV

"Ensure that you thoroughly investigate every aspect related to the Howlers Pack," urged Dad, the Lycan King. I sat in his office alongside my prospective beta, Calvin.

Concern etched his face as he pondered the fate of the pack. Its sudden obliteration left him perplexed, unable to fathom why it occurred without his knowledge. He questioned whether the pack had submitted any reports of rogue attacks or assaults by rival packs. Typically, the Howlers Pack would promptly inform the palace of such incidents, but in this instance, no information had reached us, preventing any swift response.

"Matteo, are you paying attention?" My father's voice boomed, snapping me out of my contemplation. I comprehended his urgency. My mind had been immersed in deep reflection.

"Yes, Dad, I heard you loud and clear," I replied. The incident had occurred for several years, yet we hadn't found any clues. So, he decided to send me there, urging me to resolve it before assuming his throne. Restless since discovering the issue, and now passing the throne to me, he wanted assurance that such incidents wouldn't recur.

Only Calvin and I, along with our trusted Lycan friends, were privy to this information. While some would stay behind, others would join us for an initial investigation.

We arrived at the Midnight Pack without them knowing the exact reason for our visit and our subsequent stay. They assumed we were there to check on the needs of their pack and the surrounding packs. The moment I stepped out of the car, chaos ensued in my life. I attempted to reach out to Calvin for an explanation, but even he couldn't clarify.

Eunice approached me, prompting me to wear sunglasses and scan the surroundings for something elusive. My eyes fixed on a she-wolf with her head lowered. Attempting to enhance my senses and catch her scent, I found nothing. She had no discernible aroma.

I followed Alpha Daniel as he led us inside, with Eunice by my side. Growling at her to create distance proved futile, so I resigned to her proximity. I was the cause of her odd behavior, and I had to handle it myself.

The Midnight Pack allowed us to use their villa during our stay. I was relieved not to be in the alpha's pack house, not out of disdain, but because I discovered the future alpha was lacking.

Four months passed, and Calvin and I were in a room discussing our arrival and my unease regarding the Lycans. "Maybe your mate was there," Calvin suggested.

"I hope so, but I already mentioned I smelled her back in the palace nine years ago," I reminded him, and he nodded. It was true. On our return from vacation nine years ago, I caught a whiff of my mate's scent as I stepped out of the car. I followed it, only to be disappointed when it ended on the porch. To this day, her identity remains unknown.

I informed my father, who queried the remaining rank officials about any visitors during our absence. Ronaldo, the palace financial adviser and Eunice's father, denied it, leaving me perplexed. If my mate was in the palace, why couldn't I smell her anymore?

Lycans struggle to find their mates, sometimes taking centuries. Approaching 100 in a few months, I pondered why my Lycan was acting strangely. "Then why do you think your Lycan was acting strangely?" Calvin inquired, and I shook my head, genuinely clueless.

"Speaking of mates, if she was indeed here and the reason for your Lycan's disturbance, you have to address the situation with Eunice," he cautioned. I was aware, but uncertainty still lingered, leading me to maintain contact with Eunice, despite our agreement that our relationship was strictly physical. The concern persisted nonetheless.

"Why can't she just show up?" I exclaimed in frustration. I was here for the case and not for my mate, but it seemed I would have to face both. Closing my eyes, I said, "We had better focus on what brought us here. The sooner, the better." We both agreed on that.

Leaving the room, I found Eunice by the door. "Didn't I already express my dislike for your eavesdropping?" I asked, annoyed. She approached me with a seductive smile, her hand landing on my chest, and she kissed me. I really messed up. Unable to resist, I found myself touching her, and without knowing why, I carried her to the next room and took her as I pleased.

In the many decades of our liaison, I had never ejaculated inside her. My mate was the only one with the right to bear my pups and take my seeds, and Eunice would never receive them if that was her intention. I never engaged with her in my room. It was always in hers or in any available room or location whenever the mood struck us.

"Get out," I instructed her after composing myself. Then I heard it again—a painful howl, as if accusing me of infidelity. My eyes widened as my Lycan screamed in my head.

'Mate, she was in pain because of you! She knew we were hers, and your involvement with that ingrate hurts her.'

'Tell me where she is. I want to see her too, but why can't I find her?' I asked him.

'Because you are an idiot! We've been communicating for almost a hundred years, and you still don't know my name!' he replied. It was true. Until now, I didn't know how to address him. I had been asking from the beginning, but I never received a response. Now he blamed me for not knowing what to call him.

"What was that?" Eunice asked, having heard it as well. "There were many pathetic wolves here, so that one was in pain because his or her mate was cheating," she said mockingly.

"Didn't I tell you to leave already?" I asked, hoping she would, as my Lycan wanted to eliminate her. She didn't need much fixing because I only pulled down her pants and had her from behind. She just needed to pull them back up and leave.

Settling into a chair, I pondered. I wanted to go wherever she was, but I knew I wouldn't be able to find her. She had no scent at all. Then my eyes widened as I remembered the she-wolf, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't smell her. I rushed out of the room and went to see and talk to Calvin.

"Let's organize a friendly fight tournament among the Midnight Pack's members," I suggested to him. He eyed me. "I want to find my mate, so I think this will help me locate her." He nodded.

The next day, I informed Alpha Daniel about it, and whether he liked it or not, he would have to agree. I prepared to go to school and announce the tournament to every class, hoping to catch sight of a certain someone.