Chapter 3

NOVA'S POV The world seemed to stop the moment my lips met his. Alpha Grey. My Alpha. My mate. I couldn't believe I'd just done that. One minute, we were standing face to face in the silent room and the next, I'd given in to an impulse I didn't even know I had. It was a kiss so spontaneous and electrifying. As our lips moved together, my wolf stirred. I could feel her energy awakening in a way it never had before. It was like she'd been sleeping all my life and now she was fully alive. It felt like she was clawing at the walls of my soul to get closer to him. To Grey. I felt her reach out, and I knew—just knew—that his wolf was responding. The energy between us was undeniable, magnetic. It felt like two halves of a puzzle finally fitting together. His lips were warm and sweet. He tasted like honey. I gripped his shirt with my hands as I melted into him. Sparks spread along my skin where his hands gripped my waist, and I realized this was what it meant to feel complete. To feel like every broken piece of yourself had found its match. And the bond. Oh, the bond. If I thought it was strong before, it felt even stronger now. It came to life, pulling us closer. I knew he felt it too. When the kiss finally broke, we stayed close with our foreheads pressed together as we breathed heavily. My chest heaved as I tried to steady myself. My mind was still racing from what had just happened. He didn't pull away. He didn't reject me. Instead, his hands stayed on my waist. "Well," I said "Do you still think you can resist the mate bond?" He smirked "Not a chance," - Everything felt like a dream, like I'd stepped into a fairy tale and couldn't find my way out. The moment I was shown to my room in the palace, my breath caught in my throat. Calling it a room felt like an insult. It was meant for a queen, no doubt about it. The walls were painted a soft cream color with gold sparkles sprinkled all over. There was a massive bed in the center with pink nets draped around it. A huge chandelier sparkled from the ceiling. The balcony overlooked the palace gardens. The view was to die for. I turned slowly, trying to take it all in. My heart pounded in disbelief. How had I ended up here? Me, a nobody, standing in a room fit for royalty? This was all thanks to Alpha Grey. He even told me I could customize the room to my liking later. Later. Which means he wanted me here. With him. In the palace! Before I could think about it all, there was a knock on the door. Three maids entered. Their faces were bright with excitement. "We're here to help you get ready for dinner, miss," one of them said in a cheerful tone. "Dinner?" I repeated, blinking in surprise. The second maid giggled. "With the Alpha. He's asked for you to join him tonight." My stomach did a somersault. Dinner. With Grey. Tonight. My heart raced as they moved around me, pulling out dresses and makeup, chatting away about how special this evening was. I could barely focus on their words as I let them work. They chose a stunning blue gown that hugged my figure in all the right places. The fabric shimmered subtly in the light, and when they handed me a pair of silver heels, I hesitated. "I'm not sure I can walk in these," I admitted and this made them laugh even more. "You'll be fine," the first maid reassured me. "And trust us, the Alpha won't notice anything but how beautiful you look." They curled my hair until it fell down my back in soft waves, framing my face perfectly. When they finished my makeup and led me to the mirror, I barely recognized the woman staring back at me. She looked elegant, poised, and... beautiful. Was that really me? "You look amazing," one of the maids said. "The Alpha won't be able to take his eyes off you." I couldn't help but feel nervous as they escorted me out of the room and through the palace. When we stepped outside, the sight before me made me stop in my tracks. The garden had been transformed into something magical. String lights twinkled in the trees, and a small table for two was set up beneath a canopy of roses. The table had candles and flowers on it. I gasped, my hand flying to my chest. "It's beautiful," I whispered. "Not as beautiful as you," a deep voice replied. I turned to see Grey standing near the table, and the sight of him took my breath away. He'd dressed for the occasion. He was wearing a tailored black suit that emphasized his broad shoulders. His presence was as powerful as ever. His beautiful blue eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, everything else faded away. The bond between us felt stronger than ever, pulling me toward him like a magnet. I bowed my head "Alpha" He stepped closer and raised my chin with the tip of his finger. Staring into his eyes up close made me stop breathing. He was even more gorgeous. "You look stunning, Mia." Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I barely managed to murmur, "Thank you." He moved to pull out a chair for me "Please, sit." I nodded. My heart pounded as I took my seat. He settled across from me, his eyes never leaving mine. For a moment, neither of us spoke. There was a comfortable silence. I was too excited and nervous to talk. Then he smiled. "I'm glad you agreed to join me," he said. "I'm glad you invited me," I replied. The conversation started hesitantly at first, but soon, the words flowed more easily. We talked about everything and nothing, sharing pieces of ourselves. He told me about his childhood, the pressure of leadership he'd carried for so long, and the moments that had shaped him. I found myself opening up too. I told him stories I hadn't told anyone before. His eyes never left from mine, and I could feel the bond between us growing stronger with every word. At one point, he leaned back in his chair "You surprise me, Mia." I tilted my head, curious. "How so?" "You're different from anyone I've ever met," he said, taking a sip of his wine "Strong, genuine, and... captivating." My cheeks flushed again, but I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face. "You're not so bad yourself, Alpha." He chuckled. I felt like the luckiest person in the world. The connection between us was undeniable. It was a force that neither of us could resist. As the evening wore on, I realized that I didn't want to resist it. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly happy. As we sat there under the stars, surrounded by the glow of candlelight, I knew one thing for certain: this was only the beginning of our story.