Dexmon scanned the area, unsure of his surroundings.
It looked like a forest, but the edges were covered in fog.
Paws struck damp earth, muscle and instinct carrying him forward without thought or question.
He did not know why he was running, only that he had to.
Gold and pink flashed from his peripheral vision, and he skidded to a halt.
The most beautiful woman he'd ever seen stood alone between the trees. And she was crying.
Dex surged forward, closing the distance in seconds. He shifted mid-stride into human form and dropped to his knees in front of her.
She startled, eyes snapping up, wide and wet.
"What is wrong?" he asked, already breaking. His chest ached at the sight of her tears, like something vital had cracked open.
She wiped her eyes.
"I've had a rough day," she replied dryly. It was all she could get out without crying.
"What happened?"
He had the urge to touch her cheek and wipe her tears away.
She looked at him, confused, like she could not quite believe she was about to say it all out loud.
"Well," she began, voice brittle, "the night I was crowned, I walked in on my fated mate having sex with the woman who tried to kill me."
"And when I came back in the morning," she continued, the words tumbling faster now, "she was naked on top of him. And smiled at me. So I broke the matebond."
She gave a sad laugh, shaking her head.
"Then I had to attend a Battle Address where he brought her with him. She was wearing the crown he gave me. I sat next to him for an hour. In front of a thousand officers."
"After that, he made out with her in front of me. Then I attended a War Council Summit because I gave my word I would. Within the first five minutes every blade was on me or Viremont."
She wiped at her eyes, cutting off what was meant to be a steadying breath but came out as a sob.
"Then I started feeling pain and went into the woods to be alone. There's something wrong with my wolf from silver poisoning."
Dex spoke, brows furrowed. "That was… a lot. I was bracing for 'my favorite dress got red wine on it,' not 'surprise, my mate is betraying me.'"
She laughed despite herself.
"The first shift after silver poisoning is known to be difficult. Were you stuck?" Dex asked.
She shook her head. "No shift. But I've never shifted. I wasn't sure if I was doing something to cause it…"
He froze at her never having shifted. Why did it sound familiar?
He blinked a few times, but nothing came to mind.
"You are right. That is a rough day then."
Dex wiped her tears. She let him, but seemed sadder when he did so.
"That guy sounds like an ass."
She looked at him brows furrowing, not understanding.
Dex shook his head once, jaw tight. "Any man who does that to a woman is scum. But to do it to a fated mate, on the day she's crowned?" His mouth curved into something sharp and dangerous.
"I will kick his ass."
He wiped another tear that fell, heart cracking.
"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. And I can tell you are fierce as hell. He is a complete idiot."
She stared at him in pure confusion.
"Dex… do you know who I am?"
"No, but I want to. You know my name. Tell me yours."
She sucked in a breath, eyes widening.
"Serena," she answered, wiping her tears. "And you're the one who d-d-did those things."
"I would never do something like that. Ever." Dex replied firmly. "Especially not to you."
More tears fell.
"You d-d-did, Dex… you m-m-marked me less than a week ago…" she stuttered, face in her hands.
Dex opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, darkness came.
He couldn't feel her anymore.
"Serena!" he roared.
He felt around blindly with his hands, trying to find her. But she was gone.
"I love you!" he screamed, the words escaping him. He knew he did.
"Serena! Where are you?" he yelled in pure panic.
He had to find her.
But she was gone.
"Serena!" he roared.