CHAPTER 126: THE MATE HUNTING

"They’re busy trying to do anything they can to find out who sent those two outsiders here," Raye told me when I asked where the Alpha and his two betas had gone.

Night had already fallen. In my chambers, the glow from the lantern stones was soft, casting faint glimmers against the silver pins and flowers Raye was weaving into my hair.

It was the last night of the Moon Festival, and Raye had insisted on helping me get ready. She brushed my dark hair then slid in glittering blossoms that caught the light like tiny stars.

"They said the ladies must look extra beautiful tonight," Raye teased, giving one final pat to my head. "After all, it’s the Mate Hunting."

I stood, smoothing the folds of my gown, and as we walked through the castle corridors together, I glanced sideways at her.

"Do you have plans to participate?" I asked.

Raye let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "No. I have no plans of taking a mate anytime soon."

Her eyes slid to me then, narrowing like she was studying me too closely. "How about you? You’ve been staying in the Undercity for a month now. Surely you’ve noticed all the talented and handsome men running about."

I rolled my eyes. "Sure, there are plenty. But I don’t want to treat finding a mate like a festival game. I’d rather get to know the person first."

"What if you get a fated mate?" she pressed, tilting her head, her voice softer now. "Someone you’ve never met before?"

The question caught me off guard. My steps slowed, my throat tightening as I thought about it. The truth was, I didn’t know. Would I feel it instantly? Would I even recognize it? And if I did... what then?

I said nothing, only gave a small shrug, because there was no way to answer unless I was faced with it.

We left the castle behind and walked the familiar streets of the Undercity.

The entire city was alive, humming with vibrancy.

When we reached the city square, I finally understood why Raye had insisted on glittering flowers in my hair.

The place was overflowing with women dressed in their finest gowns, their hair gleaming with jewels and ribbons.

Every one of them looked radiant, standing tall, smiling sweetly as if tonight might change their fate forever.

"They look... ready," I murmured, glancing around the square.

"Of course they do," Raye said with a grin. "For some of them, this night could mean everything—their marriage, their future."

I arched a brow at her. "That sounds more like pressure than romance."

"Romance isn’t exactly the priority here," she admitted with a laugh. "But some people do find it. Or at least, they convince themselves they have."

Her words made me smile faintly, though unease prickled in the back of my mind.

We found a spot near the edge of the square, where the glowing stones lit the raised platform at the center.

The hum of voices was constant, excitement swirling through the crowd as more people gathered.

The Elder’s booming voice echoed across the square, announcing the beginning of the Mate Hunting.

One by one, the male participants were presented—tall warriors with proud shoulders and sharp gazes, businessmen who carried the scent of coin and influence, and even a handful of men I recognized as council aides, their status gleaming in the way they stood apart from the others.

The crowd roared its approval. The women around me nearly vibrated with anticipation, clutching at one another’s hands, whispering excitedly about which man they might end up paired with.

Their laughter was high and bright.

I stayed near the sidelines, content to simply watch. Raye had been called aside by two councilmen, leaving me on my own.

The Elder raised his staff, his voice carrying like a clap of thunder.

"Ladies of the Undercity, the square is now open!"

Cheers erupted at once, and like water bursting from a dam, the women poured forward. Silks shimmered, jewels glinted, perfume and excitement swirled into the air as they crossed the threshold into the square.

I watched, smiling faintly despite myself, when suddenly—

Shove!

A sharp push came from behind. My breath caught as my balance tipped, my slipper sliding against the stones. Before I could right myself, my body stumbled forward—past the boundary lines meant only for participants.

The square.

The crowd cheered louder, oblivious to my horror.

"And here’s our last participant!" the Elder declared, his staff pointing directly at me.

My stomach plunged.

"No—!"

But my protest was swallowed whole as the Elder’s voice thundered again.

"Now, we begin the Masked Dance!"

Music exploded across the square, deep drums, flutes, strings, all weaving into a rhythm that felt like it could shake the bones from your body.

My words, my refusal, were useless in the roar of celebration.

Hands grabbed mine—other girls, giggling and spinning, pulling me deeper into the throng before I could escape.

And then, the masks.

They came drifting through the air like falling leaves, cloth and beads glimmering with faint threads of silver light. One landed against my hands.

"No, I can’t—" I tried again, but as soon as the mask touched my skin, the magic it carried awakened.

It clung to my face, fitting perfectly from nose to chin, beaded strands brushing my throat. The moment it sealed, my voice gone.

I gasped silently, pressing my fingers to the cloth. Not even a whisper escaped.

All around me, the same thing happened—the other women laughing and twirling as if losing their voices was simply part of the thrill. Their eyes sparkled above their masks, their silence only feeding the mystery.

The Elder’s voice carried over the music.

"In honor of the Moon Goddess, who once danced among us in silence, we begin! May fate guide your steps, and may your hearts find what they seek!"

I recalled a very popular story, one of the myths widely known. How the Goddess had come to the lands long ago, veiled in magic, hiding her voice so no one might know her secret. How she had danced with a masked stranger until dawn, never revealing her name, never speaking a single word.

That was the part of this night honored.

And I, dragged into it accidentally, was now part of it.