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.”

Azariah Morgan had his answer, and the look in his eyes shifted—there was a flicker of respect, a recognition of something he hadn’t seen before. It stirred something in me, a sense of responsibility I hadn’t fully acknowledged until now. I wasn’t young anymore, and I couldn’t rely on the Lycan King’s protection forever. He would age, he would step down, and I needed to be ready.

The time to build my own strength, my own influence, was now. I couldn’t afford to remain in the shadow of the Lycan King. Azariah and I were bound together, not by choice, but by circumstance. His success was my success, and mine was his. It was a strange symbiosis, but it was the reality we lived in. At sixteen, he was young, without a pack or connections to lean on. In the cutthroat world of Lycan politics, I was his only ally, his only shield. So, I had to fight for him.

I straightened my posture, though my body felt heavy, aged beyond its years. Every day, Azariah was busy, but I was busier. I moved from one meeting to the next, attending gatherings, forging connections. In the mornings, I visited high-ranking pack members; in the afternoons, I attended pack councils; in the evenings, I mingled with the pack’s elite. I hated it—the small talk, the politics, the constant need to prove myself. I was too young, too inexperienced, and yet, I had to play the part.

But they respected me. Respect for the hierarchy was a cornerstone of our pack, and I was the Lycan King’s favored princess. Except for one.

Elaina Peters.

She was the King’s daughter, sixteen and radiant, with a personality as bold as her scent—sharp and commanding. When rumors of a mate bond between Azariah and me began to circulate, everyone—including Elaina—assumed the King would bond her with Azariah. She was the obvious choice, the golden child. But the King surprised them all by choosing me.

Elaina didn’t take it well. She confronted her father, demanding Azariah for herself. The King scolded her, calling her selfish and unworthy of the bond. From that moment on, Elaina saw me as her rival.

At a pack gathering, Elaina, fueled by too much wine, let her bitterness spill over. She cried, lamenting her mother’s Omega status and how the King had never truly favored her. She claimed he cared more about me, an outsider, than his own daughter. Then, in front of everyone, she turned to me and spat, “Azariah is only sixteen! How can you, at your age, take him for yourself and ruin his life?”

My hands trembled as I held my glass, but I kept my expression calm. I could have lashed out, but I didn’t. Anything I said would only humiliate Azariah further. Our bond was already a source of mockery, and I refused to add to it.

Then, Elaina’s voice cut off abruptly. I followed her gaze to the doorway, where Azariah stood. I didn’t know how long he’d been there, how much he’d heard. My carefully maintained composure shattered.

I cried.

Yes, a princess, a Lycan of my standing, reduced to tears in front of the pack. But my tears weren’t seen as vulnerability—they were pitiful, the tears of an aging wolf. I wanted to disappear, to sink into the ground. This wasn’t even the most humiliating moment of my life. Once, during the King’s marking anniversary, I’d lost control of my wolf form in front of everyone. Aging had stripped me of dignity, and I’d avoided large gatherings since then. But for Azariah, I’d forced myself back into the spotlight.

Through my tears, I saw Azariah stride toward me. He knelt on one knee, extending his hand, his voice steady and kind. “It’s late, Princess. Let me take you home.”

He was calm, unfazed by Elaina’s words or my breakdown. I took his hand, and he helped me to my feet, guiding me through the crowd with a quiet strength that silenced the room. If we didn’t show our discomfort, then the discomfort belonged to them.

In the car ride back, I asked him directly, “Do you regret marking me?”

He shook his head. “No. I’m from a small pack, with nothing to my name. The King gave me a chance, and you’ve supported me in ways I can’t repay. I’m grateful.”

I pressed further. “You earned your place through your own merit, yet people say you marked me to climb the ranks. Doesn’t that bother you?”

“I earned my position. I’ve never sought to use you for my gain. I have no regrets.”

Then, he looked at me, his eyes softening. “But you, Princess… you’ve shouldered so much for me. At your age, you should be at peace, not fighting battles for my sake.”

I turned away, my face burning with embarrassment. “Azariah, just remember this: marking me will bring you happiness. They may mock you now, but one day, they’ll envy you. They’ll look up to you.”

He nodded. “I’ll remember, Princess.”