Wife To Be

Natalia's Pov 

The day of the choosing ceremony finally arrived.

My maids moved around me, adjusting every detail as they dressed me in a long flowery velvet gown. The fabric clung perfectly to my body. Soft yet elegant. My hair was styled into a neat high bun, and my makeup was kept simple, just the way I liked it.

Nothing too loud. Nothing too soft.

Earlier that morning, I had mind-linked my father and asked him to release Samantha and Shane. I didn’t need whispers spreading through the pack, or worse, Samantha twisting the story in her favour.

I wanted everything clean, and controlled.

And most importantly, I wanted this day to go exactly the way I planned.

Before noon, one of the maids informed me that they had both been released.

A small smile tugged at my lips. 

I already knew what was coming, and I couldn’t wait to see Shane’s face when the priest called out the name of the man I had chosen.

He had always wanted to marry me—not for love, but for power. For control. For everything that came with my name.

And after that? He would kill me… and live happily with the woman he truly loves.

My smile faded slightly on the memory of my past life.

This time, I would be the one watching him break when I reject him and choose another wolf.

***

The throne room was already filled when I arrived.

Alphas from distant packs, elders from neighbouring territories, and powerful figures stood around the massive hall, all gathered to witness the ceremony.

The moment I stepped in, the room went quiet.

Heads turned while soft gasps followed behind me with every slow step I took toward the podium.

At the front, my father, Alpha Russo, sat tall in his seat with pride written all over his face. I gave him a slight bow before lifting my gaze toward the crowd.

The doors suddenly opened, and Shane and Samantha walked in side by side, smiling and waving at the crowd like they already owned the moment. 

But the second Shane’s eyes met mine, his expression darkened, while his hand tightened around Samantha’s.

I didn’t look away. If anything, I felt like walking up to him and slapping that expression off his face.

The nerve he had—touching another woman like that in front of me.

“Why is the priest still delaying?” Shane’s voice cut through the hall, loud and arrogant. “He should proceed already. I'm obviously the one she’ll choose.”

A laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. 

The confidence in his voice was almost impressive.

Murmurs spread across the hall as even the visiting Alphas exchanged glances. Shane was embarrassing himself publicly, yet he stood there like he owned the world.

“What exactly gave you the impression I’ll be choosing you?” I asked calmly, wrapping one arm around myself.

He looked offended by the question.

“Who else would you choose?” he shot back. “Of course it’s me. We’re mates.”

My expression hardened. Without another word, I turned toward the priest and gave a subtle nod.

Before today, I had already informed him of my decision through a private mind-link. The name had been secured hours ago.

The priest stepped forward.

“Honored Alphas, elders, and guests,” he began, his voice echoing through the throne room. “May the Moon Goddess bless this gathering.”

Everyone bowed their heads — except Shane. Of course.

His impatience was visible. He stood confidently, waiting for his name to be called like it's his birthright. 

Pathetic.

When the prayer ended, the priest signalled a servant who stepped forward with a scroll. The priest carefully untied the rope around it before opening it slowly.

My gaze instinctively searched the hall.

Dominic was not there.

A brief flicker of disappointment crossed my chest, until I noticed a figure standing partially hidden behind one of the pillars.

When our eyes met, he gave me a small nod, warmth spread through my chest.

Before I could hold onto that moment, Shane’s voice cut through the hall again, loud and demanding.

“Just announce it already, old wolf,” he snapped impatiently. “Everyone knows it’s me, so stop wasting our time.”

The priest slowly lifted his gaze toward him.

“If you do not wish to incur the wrath of the Moon Goddess upon yourself,” he said calmly, “remain silent.”

Shane scoffed loudly while Samantha stomped her foot angrily as she stared daggers at me. 

I almost laughed.

They truly had no idea what was coming.

The priest stepped forward once more as silence slowly swallowed the hall.

Then the priest announced:

“I declare that Princess Natalia Russo’s chosen husband is… Alpha Dominic Romano.”

I turned just in time to see Shane’s face completely drain of colour.

Even Samantha’s mouth hung open.

Before anyone could react properly, Shane lunged forward and grabbed the priest by the neck, his claws extending dangerously.

“Why the hell would you call my uncle's name? Who paid you for this?” he roared. “Say the correct name right now, old fool, or I swear I’ll snap your neck in two, and feed it to the Vulkrogues.”

Vulkrogues were dangerous creatures that lived deep within the forbidden woods, feeding on corpses and flesh.

Gasps filled the room as shock spread through the crowd.

Even when the priest tried to fight him off, he was no match for Shane. Shane was a younger wolf with a gamma bloodline, while the priest was an older wolf with an omega bloodline.

“Shane, stop this madness this minute!” I shouted, panic flashing through me. But he ignored me completely.

The throne room fell silent, filled only with the shocked expressions of the crowd. But before I knew what was happening, a low, dangerous growl echoed through the throne room, as a massive grey wolf launched through the air and slammed directly into Shane, sending him crashing violently across the hall before his claws could tighten further around the priest’s throat.

Shane didn’t see it coming because he was too busy trying to snap the priest’s neck.

“Get your filthy hands off him this minute, stupid cow!”

My breath caught instantly.

That voice—I knew it. It was Dominic. How the hell did he shift so quickly without me noticing?

I stared at the enormous wolf standing protectively in front of the priest. His red eyes glowed dangerously under the lights of the throne room, fierce and powerful in a way I had never seen before.

Even the visiting Alphas looked stunned.

My father himself had gone completely still.

Shane coughed violently before shifting fully into his wolf form and charged toward his uncle with full rage.

But Dominic moved faster.

He dodged the attack effortlessly before slamming Shane hard across the jaw with enough force to send him flying across the room again.

It did it like as if it's personal.

A loud crash echoed through the hall as Shane slammed into one of the stone pillars before falling heavily to the floor, shifting back into human form from the impact.

Blood spilled from the corner of his lips.

“Uncle, it wasn’t enough that you want my mate—now you shamelessly want to kill me in front of everyone you bastard.” Shane spat, blood dripping from his mouth as he glared dangerously at Dominic.

Sensing that Shane wasn't a threat anymore, Dominic shifted back smoothly, grabbed Shane by the neck, and pinned him against the wall.

“This,” Dominic said coldly, “is only a warning, little boy.”

Power rolled off him instantly, heavy and dominating. I even felt it.

Shane’s wolf submitted immediately under Dominic’s authority, forcing him to bow his head despite the hatred burning in his eyes.

The moment Dominic released him, Samantha rushed toward Shane's side in panic. Sobbing. But instead of accepting her help, he shoved her away harshly.

Her expression twisted instantly with rage before she slapped him hard across the face.

“Useless fool!”

With that, she stormed off angrily, leaving Shane completely pitiful.

A grin slowly spread across my lips. Honestly, I hadn’t expected today to be filled with so much drama, especially at my choosing ceremony. 

I walked slowly toward Shane.

And the second he saw me approaching, he tried grabbing my arm.

But I slapped his filthy hand away immediately.

“What were you expecting?” I asked calmly. “That I would choose you while you secretly fuck my stepsister?”

Gasps echoed around the hall again, as Shane looked genuinely shocked, and embarrassed.

“What are you talking about, Natalia?” he said, blinking countlessly. “We’re mates. I wouldn't do such a thing”

I watched him tell each lie through his teeth, even at this point. Even when the whole pack was listening.

The annoyance boiling inside me finally snapped, and before I could stop myself, my hand struck across his face hard enough for the sound to echo through the throne room. Everyone froze.

“Natalia…” His voice dropped lower now. “Can’t we just talk about this elsewhere? We’re still mates for the gods sake. Stop letting my uncle poison your mind,” He pleaded, dropping to his knees and reaching for the hem of my dress.

But I stepped aside, causing him to stumble forward into a bow.

“Shane,” I said calmly, “from this moment onward, we are no longer mates.” He snapped his head up immediately, as his entire face went pale.

Slowly, I closed my eyes, letting Hazel, my wolf, take over as I placed my right hand over my chest and said—

“I, Natalia Russo, Princess of Moonshine Pack, reject you, Shane Whitmore, as my mate.”

“No—Natalia, don’t!” Shane shouted desperately.

“I sever the bond, the claim, and the connection between us. From today onward, you have no claim over me, and I have none over you.”

At that moment, I felt the mate bond snapped violently inside me, as pain tore through my chest so suddenly it almost forced me to my knees, but just as quickly, relief followed. Like chains finally breaking apart.

Before me, Shane staggered backward while clutching his chest in agony. Blood spilling from his lips, as his wolf fought violently beneath his skin as the rejection destroyed the bond between us.

“Don’t do this!” he screamed hoarsely with an outstretched hand. 

“Natalia!”

But I ignored him and walked toward Dominic, who was already waiting for me with his hand stretched out for me. I took it without hesitation.

“Get me the hell out of here,” I muttered softly.

A slow smile appeared on his lips.

“As you wish…wife to be.”

Before I could even react, the world around me blurred instantly, and the next second—We were standing outside the pack grounds.

My eyes widened slightly as I stared at him.

How the hell did he do that?