Before the Marking Ceremony, Alpha Heir Brought Home a Marked Omega

The day I was shipped off to marry Kane — the Alpha of a minor border pack — I became the gossip of the entire pack.

The same people who had fawned over me for years, back when I was going to be Luna, changed their faces overnight.

"Well, well. The first discarded Luna the North family has ever produced. Come see her off — she looks pathetic."

My cousin, who had never liked me, burst into my room with a face full of complaint.

"Everyone in the realm knows you were rejected. This is your fault. You couldn't hold on to the Heir! Every girl in my circle is laughing at me."

There was an old prophecy about my family. The women of the North line carried the strongest pups. That was why, for generations, every ruler had put his claim on one of us before she was old enough to understand what that meant.

And now I was the first one ever to be thrown out.

Humiliated, on top of it.

I raised my head and looked at her coldly. "This isn't my fault, Lyra. Dignity is something you give yourself. No one else can."

She stormed out, furious.

I wasn't halfway through packing when Lysander's personal guard appeared at the door, already impatient.

"Hurry up. The Alpha Heir has given the order — you and Kane are to complete your ceremony before the end of this month."

"He's waiting for the Moon Goddess to witness his wedding with Lady Evelyn."

My father kept sighing as he watched me. "Sabby... the Alpha King has done our family great kindness. We have no choice but to make you suffer."

My mother stood with her head bowed, holding the wedding gown I'd just taken off. It had been prepared for the Heir's Luna Queen. I couldn't take it with me.

Her voice cracked. "Shadowfen is so dangerous. He didn't even send anyone to fetch you. What is the meaning of this?"

There wasn't time. Kane couldn't come for me himself, and there was no chance to prepare a proper ceremony on his end either.

But my parents were already heartbroken. I couldn't let them see me break too. I had to pull myself together.

I stood up and forced a smile. "Don't worry about me. Life there is hard, but it's free. I'll be alright."

As I was leaving the Royal City, a line of carriages was moving in the opposite direction, loaded down with goods.

"Careful with those! Those are for the Heir's and Lady Evelyn's Marking Ceremony!"

I looked away and kept walking out the gates.

At the gates of the Outer Reach, it was a different scene. A crowd had gathered to see me. When they saw me in my plain clothes, they shook their heads in disdain.

"Not nearly as pretty as the last Luna. They took our beautiful Luna away and replaced her with this Omega."

"Poor Alpha Kane. Bad luck all around."

"Well, Lysander is the Alpha King's heir. What can you do?"

A rumble of hooves and wheels cut through the crowd. Everyone went quiet.

A tall, broad-shouldered man in a dark cloak stepped forward.

"You're Sabrina?"

I took off my hood and looked up at him. I nodded.

Our eyes met. Something flickered in his.

"Has he seen you?" Kane asked suddenly.

I blinked. Lysander?

"No." I shook my head.

Kane looked surprised for a moment. Then his mouth curled with something close to amusement.

He nodded. "Then he's going to regret it."