Chapter 3

"Tonight, we celebrate a glorious victory for the Blackwood Pack!"

Killian stood on the main stage at the Victory Gala, raising a glass of champagne.

Hundreds of warriors below cheered in unison.

I watched from a shadowed corner as they celebrated the victory that should have been mine.

Last month's cross-border war—I planned the strategy, I led the charge, and I personally killed the enemy leader.

But now, I was just a face in the crowd.

"This victory would not have been possible without one person," Killian's voice boomed across the hall. "She brought us this glory with her wisdom and courage."

The warriors' eyes turned to me, filled with anticipation.

Was he finally going to give me my due?

"Let us give the loudest applause for our Luna, Mia!"

The applause was sparse, hesitant.

I saw the warriors exchange confused and angry glances.

Old Marcus, a grizzled veteran, clenched his fists.

My second-in-command, Sarah, bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.

They all knew the truth, but no one dared to speak.

Mia glided onto the stage in a flowing white dress, looking like a pure, innocent angel.

Killian took a gold medal from a velvet box—the pack's highest honor, the Star of the Warrior.

It should have been mine.

"Mia, your presence inspires every warrior here," Killian said, pinning the medal to her chest with great ceremony. "You will be my one and only Luna, and together, we will protect this pack."

Mia lowered her head, tears shining in her eyes as she accepted the medal.

"I will do my best," she whispered. "For all of us."

The hall fell silent.

I looked around at the anger and disbelief in the eyes of the true warriors.

I got up and left.

No one stopped me. No one followed.

My eight years of service had become a joke.

The training grounds were empty.

I changed into my workout gear and started hammering the heavy bag.

My fists slammed into the canvas with dull, heavy thuds.

One punch, two, three...

The bag swayed wildly, sand trickling from a tear in the fabric.

My knuckles split and started to bleed, but I didn't stop.

The pain kept me focused. The rage kept me sane.

"Still here, feeling sorry for yourself?"

A deep voice came from the entrance.

I turned to see a tall, powerful figure standing in the shadows.

Damien.

The Alpha of the Ironfang Pack. The strongest Alpha King in the North.

He strode into the training yard, every step radiating power and authority.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, wiping the blood from my hands.

"I'm here to make you an offer." He held out a gold-embossed invitation. "The Ironfang Pack needs a real warrior."

I took the invitation. The terms stunned me.

Full command authority.

Unlimited resources.

Equal standing with the Alpha.

And one line item made me do a double-take: an annual salary of one billion dollars.

"Why me?"

"Because you're the only one worthy," Damien said, his gaze direct and free of flattery. "Your strategic mind, your business empire, your leadership... Killian didn't build this pack's power. You did."

"Killian doesn't think so."

"Killian is a fool," Damien stated simply. "A true Alpha never throws away his sharpest weapon."

I stared at the invitation, the scales in my mind tipping.

"I need time to think."

"Of course," Damien said, turning to leave. He paused at the door. "But don't take too long. Opportunities don't wait forever."

After he left, my phone pinged.

It was an official notification from the Blackwood Pack:

[PACK DECREE: Effective immediately, all assets, including security contracts and businesses founded by Seraphina Snow-Claw, are hereby transferred to the authority of Luna-to-be Mia.]

An empire of thirty-seven branch offices.

A portfolio worth over five billion dollars in annual revenue.

Overnight, it was all hers.

Everything I had bled and fought for had become her prize.