I’m an aging Lycan Princess, and on my sixtieth birthday, I took a sixteen-year-old mate.

I’m not sure if this still counts as a May-December romance—more like a May-December catastrophe.

I want sweetness and passion, but all he offers is filial piety.

No matter.

I’m aging in reverse.

Give me thirty more years, and I’ll be the most radiant woman by his side.

==============================

I’m an aging Lycan Princess. On the day of my sixtieth birthday, I took a sixteen-year-old mate.

His name is Azariah Morgan, this year’s most celebrated young Beta, brilliant and prodigious, a rising star in the Lycan Kingdom. The Lycan King, Alistair James, was so impressed by him that he decided to arrange a mate bond with one of the royal princesses.

For a young Beta to be granted a mate bond with a Lycan Princess is an opportunity most would kill for. It’s a chance at power, wealth, and status that could last for generations.

But Azariah doesn’t seem thrilled.

On the night of our marking ceremony, he lifted my veil, and the moment he saw my face, he took a half-step back. I could see the effort it took for him to mask his despair.

My face, though carefully powdered, couldn’t hide the deep wrinkles etched into my skin. My eyes, once bright, now held a dull, yellowish hue, and no amount of longing in my gaze could compare to the allure of a young woman’s sparkling eyes.

He sat down beside me on the ceremonial bed, stiff and awkward, avoiding my gaze.

His head was bowed, resignation written all over his face. The Lycan King’s command was absolute. Even if he’d been ordered to bond with a rogue, he’d have no choice but to obey.

And I’m not a rogue. I’m Princess Amaris Riley, the Lycan King’s most beloved daughter.

We sat in silence for what felt like an eternity, my old bones aching from the strain. Finally, I broke the silence. “Azariah, what should we do next?”

He frowned, his voice hesitant. “I… I don’t know. I’ve spent my life focused on pack affairs. I’ve never… been close to a woman before.”

I smiled softly. “I’ve spent my life focused on the kingdom’s matters too. I’ve never been close to a man.”

He looked at me, startled. “Your Highness… you’ve never bonded before?”

“No. I’m… untouched.” The words made my cheeks burn. Goddess, I hadn’t blushed in decades.

His expression was unreadable. I could almost hear his thoughts: *Why didn’t she bond when she was young? Why now, when she’s… like this?*

I tried to reassure him. “Azariah, perhaps this is fate. Trust me, things will get better. You’ll see.”

He gave me a bitter smile. “Is that so? The Lycan King said the same. But I’m still young. I don’t understand.”

I chuckled. “I’m young too. We’ll grow together.”

He turned to stare at my heavily made-up face, the wrinkles I couldn’t hide, and after a long pause, he simply said, “Ah.”

The silence returned, heavy and suffocating. Eventually, exhaustion got the better of me. At my age, I couldn’t keep up with this kind of emotional strain. “Since neither of us knows what to do, why don’t you go sleep in another room? You don’t have to stay here with me.”

He looked relieved, rising to his feet, but then he hesitated.

“Leaving my mate alone on the first night would bring shame upon you, Your Highness. I’ll stay here.”

His tone was resolute, almost heroic, as if he were sacrificing himself for some noble cause.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Turning to the mirror, I saw my reflection—a face full of wrinkles, like a withered flower. And there he was, young and beautiful, a vibrant sapling in full bloom.

The bed was large enough—I slept on the inner side, while he took the outer side. The space between us could easily fit two more people.

If we had pups in the future—a son and a daughter—they could sleep right between us…

Lost in the thought of our future happiness, I fell asleep quickly.

It wasn’t until much later that Azariah told me he hadn’t slept a wink that night. My snoring, he said, was unbearable. He lay there, thinking about the fact that he was bound to spend the rest of his life with a woman whose age could rival his grandmother’s. The idea of listening to her aging snores every night made him feel a little disheartened.

But when I kicked off the blankets, he still carefully pulled them back over me. At the time, he didn’t know about my chronic leg pain, which made me especially vulnerable to the cold.

The next day, I brought my new mate to the pack house to meet the Lycan King.

King Alistair, at the prime of his life, exuded an aura of calm authority and rarely smiled. But when he saw Azariah stepping out of the car, holding my hand, his face lit up with joy.

He showered Azariah with praise and immediately appointed him as a high-ranking Beta, a position of great importance. Azariah’s family was also elevated—his brothers were given higher ranks, and his mother was granted the title of Luna’s Honor.

Azariah knelt down, declining the honors.

But King Alistair personally helped him up. “Azariah,” he said warmly, “these are rewards you’ve earned. I entrust Amaris to you now. Take good care of her. The rest of your lives together will only grow happier.”

Azariah responded with a calm, “Thank you, King Alistair.”

I guessed what he was really thinking: *What kind of future can there be with a woman whose body is aging before her time?*

The King dismissed Azariah, wanting to speak to me privately.

Once Azariah was gone, King Alistair took my hand, his tone affectionate. “Amaris, how do you like the mate I’ve chosen for you?”

“I like him,” I replied, lowering my head shyly, like a young she-wolf experiencing her first crush.

“Your ages are perfectly matched. Take your time, and things will only get better.”

“I know,” I said softly.

“Ah, by the way…” The King’s smile turned sly. “Last night, your first night as mates… how did it go?”

“We just slept,” I admitted.

“Nothing else? Didn’t Kannon teach you anything?”

“Oh, come on. With my aging body, how could I handle that? And besides, Azariah…”

“Alright, alright. There’s no rush. In time, he’ll come to love you, my dear Amaris.” The King wrapped an arm around my shoulders, his touch filled with tenderness.

No one understood why I, a Lycan Princess from a bygone era, was so cherished by the current King. Rumors swirled—some claimed he was my secret pup, while others whispered that I was a powerful wolf who had enchanted him.

Neither of us paid attention to the gossip. We were each other’s closest confidants, and that was all that mattered.

On the ride back to my estate, Azariah had changed into a deep purple suit, the highest rank a Beta could wear. The color symbolized power and prestige, something many wolves dreamed of achieving.

But I could tell he wasn’t happy.

I tried to make conversation, but his eyes avoided mine.

Having grown up in the pack house, I had little experience with young wolves. I didn’t understand their thoughts, but I could sense that my mate didn’t like me. He thought I was too old.

But what was wrong with being old? It wasn’t my fault.

I grew a little angry and stopped speaking to him. The atmosphere in the car turned icy, like the depths of winter.

When we arrived at the estate, I was desperate to escape the cold tension. I hurried to jump out of the car, forgetting that my aging body wasn’t as agile as it used to be.

Suddenly, Azariah reached out and grabbed me from behind. “Princess, be careful!”

I turned to see my wrinkled, frail hand clasped tightly in his young, strong one.

“Let me carry you,” he said.

Before I could react, he lifted me effortlessly and carried me out of the car.

A true Alpha carry!

He didn’t set me down even after we were out of the car. Instead, he carried me all the way into the estate, under the envious gazes of the staff.

I nestled in his arms, feeling like a true Luna.

“Princess,” he said softly, “you’re so thin, even thinner than my grandmother. She’s been bedridden for years, and I used to carry her outside to enjoy the sun.”

Ah, so it was just his sense of duty, treating me like his grandmother.

I had almost mistaken it for affection.

“If you ever become bedridden, I’ll carry you wherever you want to go,” he added.

The words were kind, but they felt… off.

“Actually,” I said, “I’m quite healthy. I was bedridden for a few years, but I’ve recovered enough to walk on my own now.”

“That’s good. Take care of yourself, and live a long life. Since we’re pack now, I’ll do my best to care for you until the end.”

Again, the words were kind, but they still felt… off.

I looked up at his face—his clear, steady gaze, the firm line of his jaw, and the gentle strength in his expression.

I hoped he would be my true mate.

After becoming the Beta, Azariah’s schedule grew overwhelmingly busy. His days began with the pack’s morning council, followed by meetings and endless paperwork, often returning home long after the sun had set.

No matter how late it was, he would always come to see me. Though, it felt less like a visit and more like a formality—like a subordinate paying respects to a superior. It was almost as if he saw me as an elder rather than his mate.

At least it showed he had good manners.

Lately, I noticed he seemed troubled, his usual composed demeanor replaced with a brooding silence. When I asked him what was wrong, he sighed and said, “The pack’s affairs are more complicated than I anticipated. I lack experience, and I’m unsure how to handle many of the issues that arise.”

His eyes met mine, earnest and searching. “Princess, you’ve been involved in pack leadership for years. You must have wisdom to share. I’d like to learn from you.”

I hesitated, my mind racing. He didn’t understand my situation. To him, I appeared seasoned, but the truth was, I was far from it. My father, the Lycan King, had always shielded me from the complexities of pack politics, saying I was too young to take on such responsibilities.

But I didn’t want to disappoint him. “Write down your questions,” I said, forcing a confident smile. “I’ll give you my thoughts tomorrow evening.”

He nodded and immediately sat at the desk, his pen scratching against the paper as he began to write. I watched him, his focus unwavering, and felt a hollow ache in my chest.

I wanted sweetness, but he treated me with deference. I wanted to be his princess, but he saw me as something distant, untouchable.

I took a deep breath. It didn’t matter. I could wait. Time would bring us closer—when we were older, when things settled.

The next day, I took Azariah’s questions to my mentor, Kannon Holmes. Kannon, a Gamma in his late thirties, was a man of striking intelligence and authority. He had been my teacher for years, guiding me from the basics of reading to the intricacies of leadership.

Lately, though, he’d been in a sour mood. Ever since I bonded with Azariah, Kannon had been distant, almost resentful. It wasn’t until my nanny, an elderly Omega, mentioned it that I understood why.

“Princess,” she had said, “Gamma Kannon has feelings for you. He even approached the King about marking you, but the King refused, citing the age difference.”

I thought my father had made the right decision. Kannon was too old, too set in his ways to be a suitable mate for me.

When I brought Azariah’s questions to Kannon, he gave me a sharp look. “Oh, so the Princess is doting on her little Beta now? Seems like the boy’s doing a fine job keeping you entertained.”

I stifled a laugh. If only he knew Azariah treated me like a grandmother.

I pouted and batted my eyes, clinging to his arm until his stern expression softened. Finally, he answered Azariah’s questions in detail, even promising to support him in the pack’s affairs to help him establish his footing.

Grateful, I threw my arms around Kannon’s neck and planted a kiss on his cheek. He sighed, pinching my cheek gently. “Princess, you’re marked now. You can’t act like a child anymore.”

I grinned. “To you, I’ll always be your little princess.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Yes, you’ll always be my little princess.”