Chapter 1

"Ronan, this is the tenth and final time. If you pick Bianca today, I am done with you for good."

Standing before the giant Moonstone, I looked the Alpha dead in the eye.

He didn’t know I had begged my father for these ten chances.

And he definitely didn't know the Alliance's deepest secret.

He thought his brute strength alone guaranteed him the King's throne. He was wrong.

The ultimate throne must be sanctified by a pureblood white wolf.

Only my family carries the Goddess’s white wolf bloodline.

Whoever I choose as my fated mate, becomes the Alliance King.

Maybe it was the arrogance of being Alpha King in his past life, but Ronan was completely confident. He thought I would never leave him.

He frowned. A flash of impatience crossed his eyes.

"I won’t change my mind, Lyra. If you really want to pick someone else, be my guest."

He suddenly reached out. His large hand cupped my cheek.

His rough thumb rubbed heavily over my lips. It was full of an Alpha’s possessiveness and dominance.

"But stop throwing a fit, Lyra," he looked down at me. "You know you can’t live without me."

I stared into his arrogant eyes. I was about to tell him I really wasn’t going to wait anymore.

But he had already turned around.

When an Alpha touches the Moonstone, the Goddess speaks to his soul. Only he can see the inner wolf of his true mate. He must then declare the Goddess's choice to the pack.

Ronan pressed his hand against the Moonstone. He closed his eyes.

I knew what he saw in his mind. He saw my magnificent white wolf. He felt our undeniable bond.

Ronan opened his eyes. He looked at me, then walked right past me. He stepped toward Bianca.

"The Goddess chooses Bianca," he lied flawlessly in front of the whole pack.

He grabbed the Luna’s crown. He placed it on Bianca’s head himself.

I went totally cold. An icy chill seeped deep into my bones.

"Our family’s patience has run out," my father stood behind me. His low voice was thick with fury. "Ten times is already an exception. There will absolutely not be another!"

I closed my eyes. I swallowed the taste of blood in my throat.

"I know, Father." My voice was soft, but there was zero hesitation. "Whoever chooses me this time, I’ll go with him."

My father let out a long breath of relief.

The crowd parted in fear. Silas, the ruthless Alpha of the Frostfang Pack, walked steadily toward me. He had always been Ronan's deadliest rival for the King's throne.

He gave me a deep look. He handed me an obsidian stone carved with a frost wolf crest.

It was a family token. It represented the highest level of a mating bond.

I raised my hand and took the stone firmly.

The ceremony ended. Everyone moved to the Pack House of the Alliance to assign suites.

As a high-ranking noble, I was supposed to get the "Moonlight Suite" built over natural hot springs.

"Give the suite to Bianca," Ronan ordered.

His voice echoed in the Pack House. He left no room for argument.

The Pack Steward dropped to his knees. He hit the hard floor.

"Alpha Ronan, you cannot! Lady Lyra is heavily wounded. Silver still curses her bones. Cold nights cause her agonizing pain! She desperately needs the hot springs to soothe her damaged inner wolf! Elder Crestwood specifically prepared this suite for her!"

Bianca’s eyes instantly welled up. A perfect tear slipped down her cheek.

"Ronan, let it go," she grabbed his sleeve, crying softly. "I don’t mind where I sleep. I can sleep in the lowest rank’s barracks. Don’t make my sister mad."

"Shut up. You deserve the best." Ronan squeezed her hand.

His overwhelming Alpha aura exploded. It slammed heavily into the Steward.

The Steward groaned. Blood dripped from his mouth. He was pinned to the floor, completely unable to move.

"I am the future Alpha King!" Ronan sneered down at him. "How dare a low-rank wolf cross me?"

He turned to me. His eyes were full of righteous blame.

"Bianca is an adopted orphan. She suffered so much. She is pitiful enough. You are a pureblood. Can’t you let her win just once?"

Looking at his self-righteous face, I suddenly remembered our past life.

After Bianca died, he turned her ashes into a ring. He wore it day and night.

When I got jealous and fought with him, he looked at me with pure disgust.

"Lyra, why are you arguing with a dead person?"

After his second chance, he told me he owed Bianca his life. He wanted her to beat me this time.

Now, his aggressive attitude meant he was sure I would cry. He thought I would beg my father to restart the ceremony tonight. He thought I would still end up mating with him.

I suddenly felt so tired.

"Forget it," I looked away. "Give her the suite."

A satisfied smirk appeared on Ronan’s lips. His eyes fell on the carriage behind me.

"Since you gave it up, have your family bring the handmade starlight tapestry and the solid obsidian ceremonial set into the suite too," he ordered casually. "Bianca’s room is too plain. It needs decorations."

My head snapped up.

Those were my mother’s relics.

"No." I narrowed my eyes, rejecting him flat out.

Bianca shrank back. She hid behind Ronan like a scared rabbit.

Ronan’s face went pitch black.

"Guards! Move everything to Bianca’s room!" he snapped, walking right past me.

He stepped into my personal space. He pointed a hard finger at the open doors. His eyes were cold and decisive.

"Lyra, you better stop testing my limits! If you won’t accept my arrangements, get out right now! Tomorrow, I’ll complete the final mating with Bianca!"

In the past, I would have cried hysterically. I would have begged him to stay.

But now, I said nothing.

Looking at his twisted face, I just felt how ridiculously pointless this all was.