Chapter 1 - The Blood on the Wedding Veil
A woman in a white veil stepped toward the altar and whispered: "Arthur... the blood on this veil is not mine."
When Alpha King Arthur Pendleton touched the damaged lace, he discovered a hidden silver thread sewn into the fabric.
Behind it were three tiny drops of dried blood and a name carved into the seam:
"Kora."
Arthur suddenly realized his dead mate had left him a message.
The cathedral became silent the moment Arthur Pendleton stopped breathing.
For months, everyone had prepared for this wedding.
The alliance between the Pendleton and Whitmore families was supposed to end years of conflict between two powerful Lycan bloodlines.
Three hundred guests had traveled from across the continent.
Leaders sat in the first rows.
Advisers watched every movement.
Guards stood beside every entrance.
And at the center of everything stood Arthur.
The Alpha King.
The man everyone believed could control anything.
Except his own memories.
Because five years ago, Arthur had failed to save the only woman who had ever made him feel human.
Kora Hastings.
His mate.
His heart.
His impossible love.
The official story was simple.
Kora had been attacked while traveling near Crescent Valley.
Her blood was found.
Her belongings were recovered.
The doctors said there was no chance she survived.
Arthur had refused to accept it at first.
He searched for months.
He sent warriors into dangerous territories.
He destroyed enemies who were connected to the attack.
But every investigation ended the same way.
Nothing.
No body.
No answers.
Only blood.
Eventually, the elders convinced him that holding onto hope was destroying the pack.
So Arthur did the hardest thing he had ever done.
He stood beside a closed coffin.
He placed his hand on the wooden surface.
And he said goodbye.
At least, he thought he did.
Now, five years later, he stood beside another woman.
Beatrice Whitmore.
A beautiful woman from a powerful family.
A woman everyone believed would become the next Luna.
Arthur respected her.
He trusted her.
But his heart had remained frozen.
Until the veil moved.
A cold breeze passed through the cathedral.
Beatrice's antique lace veil lifted slightly.
Arthur's attention immediately shifted.
Something was wrong.
At first, he thought it was impossible.
Then his wolf reacted.
Not with anger.
Not with fear.
Recognition.
Arthur slowly released Beatrice's hand.
"Arthur?"
Beatrice looked confused.
He did not answer.
His eyes were fixed on the veil.
Three tiny drops of blood stained the ivory lace.
Fresh.
Recent.
Impossible.
The metallic scent reached him.
Blood.
But underneath it was something else.
A scent buried deep inside his memory.
Wildflowers after rain.
Cinnamon.
Pine trees after a storm.
His entire body froze.
Because only one person in the world carried that scent.
"Kora..."
The name escaped his lips.
The guests immediately noticed.
Whispers spread through the cathedral.
Beatrice's expression changed.
She looked nervous.
Not surprised.
Nervous.
Arthur slowly turned toward her.
"You know that name."
It was not a question.
Beatrice looked away.
"Arthur..."
"Answer me."
The power in his voice made the entire room silent.
The guards lowered their eyes.
The advisers stopped whispering.
Everyone knew the Alpha King was no longer standing at his wedding.
He was standing in front of a mystery.
Beatrice took a deep breath.
"The veil was damaged before the ceremony."
Arthur stared at her.
"Damaged by who?"
"A seamstress."
"Who?"
Beatrice hesitated.
That hesitation told him everything.
Arthur stepped closer.
"Describe her."
Beatrice swallowed.
"Dark hair."
Arthur's expression tightened.
"Continue."
"She was quiet."
"Quiet how?"
Beatrice looked at the blood.
"She barely spoke."
Arthur felt his heart tighten.
"Why?"
"Because someone told me she couldn't speak."
The cathedral became colder.
Arthur looked back at the veil.
A seamstress.
A silent woman.
Blood carrying Kora's scent.
Nothing made sense.
Unless the impossible answer was the truth.
Kora was not dead.
Arthur turned toward the nearest guard.
"Find the woman who repaired this veil."
The guard immediately bowed.
"Yes, Alpha."
But before he could move, Beatrice grabbed Arthur's arm.
Everyone gasped.
Nobody touched the Alpha King without permission.
"Arthur, wait."
His eyes moved toward her hand.
Then toward her face.
"What are you hiding?"
Beatrice's eyes filled with fear.
"I was going to tell you after the ceremony."
Arthur removed her hand gently.
"No."
His voice became colder.
"Secrets buried before a wedding never stay buried after it."
Beatrice looked down.
"I didn't know if you would believe me."
"Believe what?"
She looked at the veil.
Then whispered:
"That the woman who repaired it looked exactly like the woman from your old photographs."
Arthur stopped.
The world around him disappeared.
"What did you say?"
Beatrice stepped back.
"I never knew her name."
Arthur's heartbeat became louder.
"But when she saw your portrait in the hallway..."
She paused.
"She started crying."
Arthur stared at her.
The guests watched silently.
The advisers exchanged worried looks.
Because everyone understood one thing.
The wedding was no longer about an alliance.
It was about a ghost.
Arthur reached for the veil.
His fingers touched the blood-stained lace.
His wolf screamed inside him.
Mate.
Alive.
Nearby.
The instinct was overwhelming.
Then he noticed something.
A small silver thread hidden beneath the embroidery.
He pulled it carefully.
A folded piece of paper fell from inside the veil.
The entire cathedral watched as Arthur opened it.
Only five words were written.
His hands trembled.
Because the handwriting belonged to Kora.
"Don't trust the man beside you."
Arthur slowly looked up.
Everyone followed his gaze.
Standing behind him was the person he had trusted more than anyone.
His closest friend.
The man who had helped him survive Kora's death.
The man who had stood beside her grave.
Arthur's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Why is my dead mate warning me about you?"
The man said nothing.
And then Arthur's phone suddenly received a message from an unknown number.
A photo appeared.
It was taken inside the cathedral.
Seconds ago.
Arthur opened it.
His blood turned cold.
Because the image showed the back of his wedding party.
And behind him stood a woman wearing the same white dress Kora had worn the night she disappeared.
The message underneath said:
"She never left."
Arthur looked toward the cathedral doors.
They slowly opened by themselves.
May you like
And standing in the darkness outside was someone who whispered his name...
"Arthur..."
