Inside her, her wolf stirred again. It did not settle. It scratched at the inside of her chest like an animal trying to get out of a cage. It pushed against her control.

Serene pressed her lips together, trying to hold herself in place. Her chest rose and fell quickly as she tried to steady her breathing. Her wolf urged her to follow him.

She shook her head slightly. "No," she whispered to herself.

But the feeling didn’t stop. It grew stronger. Her wolf kept pushing, refusing to be ignored.

"Serene, we should—"

Serene took a step forward. Then another. And then she broke into a run.

"Serene!" Seraphina called from behind her.

Serene didn’t stop. Her legs moved before her mind could catch up. Her focus was fixed ahead, following the path Astrid had taken.

Seraphina made a move to go after her, but Evander caught her arm.

"Let her go," he said.

Seraphina looked at him. "What if—"

"She needs to talk to him." Evander interrupted.

Seraphina hesitated, then slowly stopped struggling.

Evander released her. "We should head back," he added.

Seraphina glanced in the direction Serene had gone one more time before nodding. They turned and walked back toward the picnic area.

Serene kept running. Her chest burned, not from running but from the scent. It was still there, weaker than before but clear enough to follow.

The path led towards the southern wings of the palace grounds, where the guest quarters were. She had never been inside this part before, because she had never had a reason to.

Then she saw him ahead. Astrid was feet ahead, walking fast. Her legs moved, heading towards the last building in the row.

Serene pushed herself harder to close the distance between them. Her breathing grew heavier, but she didn’t slow down.

By the time she reached him, they were in the corridor that led to the guest rooms. Astrid stopped at the third door, his hand reached for the handle.

"Astrid!" she called.

He stopped. His hand stayed on the door handle, but he didn’t turn around.

Serene slowed to a stop a few steps away from him. She tried to steady her breathing, placing one hand lightly against her chest. She placed the other hand on her waist to steady herself.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

"I recognized your scent," Serene said.

Then Astrid’s hand dropped from the handle, and he moved away from the door. He turned his back on her. Serene walked around him and stood in front of him. His face was blank. No anger. No sadness. Just emptiness, like he had drained all expression out of himself on purpose.

"You know what that means, right?" She asked, her voice was steadier now.

Astrid avoided her gaze and stared at the ground.

"It means you are my mate." She added.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about, my lady," he said.

Serene frowned. "What? You don’t know what I am talking about?"

Astrid lowered his head slightly. "I think you’re mistaken," he said.

Serene stared at him. Confusion spread across her face.

"Mistaken?" she repeated.

He didn’t answer. Instead, Astrid took a few steps back and bowed to her. He tried to reach for the door again, but Serene blocked his path.

"I’m not mistaken. I am sure of what I felt. Every wolf knows their mate’s scent." She held his gaze, even though he avoided hers.

He didn’t say anything.

Serene continued. "So I will ask you once. Why did you run?"

Astrid looked at her for the first time. He felt the connection between their wolves. His eyes moved over her face quickly, then dropped back to the ground.

"I’m sorry, my lady. I have to head somewhere. I forgot to do a task assigned to me."

"You are lying."

Astrid bowed again. "Please excuse me, my lady." He turned to walk away the same way she had passed.

This time, Serene did not block him.

"Coward!" She yelled.

Astrid stopped. His body went still at her words.

Serene’s hands clenched at her sides. "Do you always run from every situation that does not suit you? Is that how you survived? By running?"

Astrid turned his head to the side. Not enough to look at her. Enough to show he was listening.

Serene continued. "I have heard about you—the only survivor from Emberspire. So I know you are lying when you say you don’t know what I am talking about. You know exactly what this is. Every wolf knows. So how can you stand there and shamelessly deny it?"

Astrid balled his fists. His shoulders tensed.

"How can you pretend it’s not real?" She stepped closer. "Is it me? Am I not worthy to be your mate?"

That made him turn. His face was different now. The blankness was gone, replaced by pain, shame, and a kind of exhaustion that went deeper than lack of sleep.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Serene held his gaze, waiting.

"I am sorry, my lady." He said. His voice was so quiet she almost did not hear it.

Serene covered the gap left between them. "Why are you sorry? You haven’t done anything wrong to me."

Astrid stepped back. "You are more than worthy to be my mate. But I do not deserve you."

Serene stared at him. "What does that even mean? My wolf wants you. She finds you deserving." She asked.

Astrid looked at her for a long moment. Then he shook his head. "I can’t do this."

Then he stepped past her to the door.

"Astrid—"

Before she could turn to face him, he opened the door and stepped inside.

Serene stood in the corridor. She unclenched her fists that were now shaking. Her mind tried to make sense of what had just happened. Her eyes stung slightly, but she didn’t cry.

She walked to the door. Her heightened sense heard nothing from the other side. She raised her hand to knock. But then she lowered it.

Serene turned back toward the garden. Her wolf was no longer pacing. It was restless. Confused. Lying down inside her, quiet and defeated just like her.

By the time she reached the garden again, Evander and Seraphina were pacing. They both stopped as she approached.

"Did you get to talk to him? What did he say?" Seraphina asked.

Serene stopped a few steps away. Then she burst into tears. "He denied it."

"What? That bastard! I’m going to kill him!" Seraphina growled.

Evander walked closer to Serene and pulled her into his arms.

"He said he...doesn’t deserve me." She cried.

"Don’t overthink it. I’m sure Astrid probably thinks he’ll bring trouble to anyone close to him; that’s why he said these words to you." Evander rubbed her neck gently.

Seraphina crossed her arms. "That doesn’t mean he gets to deny her like that. That’s more like a rejection!" She spat.

"Calm down, Seraphina. Don’t scare her with your words." Evander scolded.

"Rejection?" Serene pulled back to look at her brother. "Is he going to reject me?" She wailed.

"No, he’s not going to reject you. I’ll make sure of it." Evander replied.

Seraphina crossed her arms. "You should let me beat some sense into his brains."

"Shut up, Seraphina!" Evander snarled. "You’re not helping matters."

Serene stepped away from him. She wiped her face with the back of her hand. "I won’t cry anymore. If my mate thinks he can walk away from this, then he’s wrong."

Evander let out a small smile. "That’s more like it," he said.

Seraphina didn’t say anything.