The Apocalyptic Queen's Werewolf Journey (Thora and Darius) novel Chapter 3

**Shadows Hearts by Joseph King**
**Chapter 3: Fated Mate**

**Darius’s POV:**

The exuberant roar from Lorcan sent a jolt through my body, halting me mid-stride.

As the words he shouted registered in my mind, the simmering anger that had been bubbling within me transformed into a bewildering shock.

Had I truly heard him correctly? Fated mate?

The grand priest had foretold that my destined partner wouldn’t manifest for another millennium. Could it be that the prophecy was flawed?

My heart raced as I pivoted sharply toward the silhouette standing in the middle of the road.

The beam of my headlights illuminated her, revealing a teenage girl clad in a tattered school uniform.

A stick was awkwardly braced against her lower leg, a clear indication of a fracture.

Her face was smeared with mud and blood, yet her eyes shone with an unsettling clarity, reflecting the light back at me like two shining beacons.

I squinted, employing my Alpha senses to scan her thoroughly. My brows knitted together in confusion.

There was no trace of wolf spirit within her; she hadn’t even begun to awaken one.

Beneath the metallic scent of blood, I detected a hint of human blood coursing through her veins.

The flicker of hope that had ignited in my chest extinguished like a snuffed candle.

Through the mind-link, I shot a frustrated thought to Lorcan. “She doesn’t even possess a wolf spirit! She’s part human. Are you absolutely certain she’s our fated mate?!”

In my mind, Lorcan’s molten-gold eyes remained fixated on her, unwavering. “Her scent faded, but I swear I felt it deep within. Let her into the car. She has a way of calming me.”

Perhaps it was a misjudgment on Lorcan’s part, yet the moment I stood before the girl, his wild restlessness stemming from the mating heat began to dissipate. My own anxiety started to settle as well.

“W-why are you standing here?”

I nearly blurted out, “Are you trying to get yourself killed?” but I caught myself just in time. I didn’t want to come off as harsh or unkind.

The girl paused, her expression flat as she replied, “Pulling a scam.”

“What?”

My lips twitched, a smile threatening to break through.

It was a rare occurrence to hear someone speak so boldly, so unapologetically.

“Hahaha! She’s funny! I like her!”

Lorcan’s laughter reverberated in my mind, a delightful surprise as he rolled around in sheer joy.

This was the first time since his awakening that he had shown any interest in a she-wolf.

The elders had paraded countless powerful, well-bred she-wolves before me, and both Lorcan and I had only felt disdain.

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