Chapter 2

I, a pureblood princess, chose a half-breed Alpha and became the disgrace of my pack.

Meanwhile, Lyla reaped the rewards of her Mating with Lukas.

"Kristina, look!"

Lyla's sickly-sweet voice echoed from the garden.

It had been two days since the Blood-Pact Ceremony.

I was in the study organizing pack affairs when she burst in, uninvited.

A dozen servants followed her, carrying chests overflowing with jewels and silks.

"Lukas's betrothal gifts to me." She twirled, her white skirt flaring out. "The lands of Greenwater Valley, and a hundred of his best warriors."

Greenwater Valley.

The most fertile farmland in the North, producing enough grain to feed three citadels.

"Congratulations," I said without looking up from the ledger.

"Aren't you the least bit curious?" She leaned over my desk, a malicious glint in her eyes.

I closed the ledger and met her gaze. "He's all yours now."

Her smile faltered for a second.

"Aren't you jealous? Don't you regret it?" Lyla lowered her voice. "You could have had all this. But you chose that filthy half-breed."

"Filthy?" I shot to my feet. "Did you just call my mate filthy?"

"I... I didn't..." Her eyes instantly reddened, her voice trembling. "Kristina, why are you so cruel to me? I just wanted to share my happiness..."

A perfect performance.

Just as she was about to cry, heavy footsteps echoed in the hall.

Lukas strode into the study, his face a thundercloud.

"What's going on?" He saw Lyla's tears and immediately pulled her behind him. "Kristina, are you bullying her again?"

"I was just reminding her to watch her words," I said coldly.

"Enough!" Lukas roared. "Have you sunk so low?"

Before I could answer, the frantic sound of hooves clattered outside.

A warrior, covered in blood, rushed in and dropped to one knee.

"My Lord! Trouble in Greenwater Valley!"

Lukas's face hardened. "What is it?"

"When we went to claim the lands, we found the entire valley dusted with silver powder!" the warrior gasped for air. "And wolfsbane, it's everywhere! The warriors grew weak as soon as they got close. They're all paralyzed!"

Silver powder?

Wolfsbane?

Poisons that only humans used against werewolves.

Lukas whirled on me, his eyes blazing with fury. "It was you!"

"What?"

"Only humans use such vile tricks!" He pointed to the black iron armlet on my arm. "You learned this from that filthy half-breed you call a mate, didn't you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Still denying it!" Lukas stalked toward me, the oppressive weight of a pureblood Alpha filling the air.

"Who else but your half-breed mate dabbles in human alchemy?"

"Lukas, calm down." Lyla pulled on his arm, playing the perfect mediator. "Maybe Kristina really didn't know..."

"Didn't know?" Lukas sneered. "She's allied with the ruler of the Shadowmire now. That place is filled with freaks and monsters. It's no surprise she's learned some of their low-life tricks."

I clenched my fists.

My past life screamed that this was a trap.

"I can swear I had nothing to do with this."

"If oaths were enough, what would be the point of power?" Lukas scoffed. "Since you chose that path, don't blame others for using the same methods against you."

He turned to leave, then paused.

"But I'll give you one chance," his voice dripped with scorn. "Use your powers from the Moon Goddess to cleanse that land, and I might consider letting the Silvermoon Pack become a vassal to Redfang."

"What did you say?!"

My father's roar came from the doorway.

He strode into the study, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"A vassal? What do you take the Silvermoon Pack for?"

"A pack that allies with a half-breed." Lukas didn't flinch. "Alpha, your daughter has spit on the honor of all purebloods and now resorts to human witchcraft. How do you think the other Lords will see you?"

"Get out!" Father drew his sword, its blade gleaming in the sun. "Get out of my citadel, now!"

Lukas glanced at the blade, then at me, a cold smirk on his lips.

"In three days, I will officially take Lyla as my mate."

He took Lyla's hand. "And the entire North will see what happens to a pack that sides with a half-breed!"