Chapter 3

The hall went dead silent.

The elders exchanged glances, shocked.

They had never seen anyone so openly defy the Alpha heir.

Larry's face turned livid, his eyes burning with fury. "Tainted? What are you talking about?"

"You heard me," I said calmly.

"Then tell me, Reina," Larry sneered, "And who else would you choose? That worthless cripple, Derek? The failure who can't even hold his wolf form?"

His voice dripped with mockery. "A failure in a wheelchair who couldn't even awaken his Alpha blood?"

Just then, a side door to the hall opened quietly.

Derek entered, propelling his wheelchair forward.

He wore a simple black shirt. His face was pale, but his eyes were clear.

A flash of hurt crossed his face when he heard Larry's words, but he quickly masked it.

"Sorry to interrupt," Derek said, nodding politely. "Father, you were looking for me?"

The old Alpha cleared his throat. "Derek, perfect timing. Come, sit."

Seeing Derek, Larry's mocking smile widened. "Look, the cripple himself has arrived."

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to lash out.

But the old Alpha's earlier request echoed in my mind: Please keep your choice a secret until the formal ceremony.

I had to remain silent.

Derek noticed my expression, and the light in his eyes dimmed.

He must have thought I was disgusted with him, too.

"Derek, you're just in time," Larry said loudly, intentionally. "We were just discussing Reina's standards for a mate. It seems she's not quite satisfied with me."

Derek glanced at me, his voice soft. "Everyone has the right to choose."

"Choose?" Larry laughed out loud. "What choice does she have? In the entire continent, which Alpha besides me is worthy of the Silver Moon princess?"

Derek didn't answer, just sat there quietly.

The dinner ended in a tense, awkward atmosphere.

On the ride back to my quarters, Chloe insisted on sharing a car with me.

"Reina, your performance tonight was... impressive," she said, sitting across from me, fiddling with the crest.

The silver wolf head glinted in the passing lights.

"Larry was so generous, giving me something this precious," she said, all feigned innocence. "But I think he was just trying to get a rise out of you."

I stared out the window at the night, saying nothing.

"You know," Chloe continued, "he came to see me this afternoon. He told me all about his plans for your future."

Her voice turned syrupy sweet. "He said you were too proud. That you needed to be broken. He fancies himself an expert at taming arrogant she-wolves."

The car stopped. As I got out, I heard Chloe laugh softly behind me.

"Stop pretending you don't care, Reina. I know you're furious."

Three days later, on the night of the full moon.

I arrived at the entrance to the pack's sacred grounds as arranged.

It was the place for important ceremonies, surrounded by ancient totem poles.

"We meet again."

Chloe stepped out of the shadows, her face looking unusually pale in the moonlight.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"The same as you. Attending the ceremony," she said, walking closer. "Larry invited me to watch. He said it was important for me."

She held up the crest, its silver light flickering.

"He came to me last night and told me so many things," Chloe's smile turned strange. "About your past life, your future, and... about the role I play in it."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, Reina, it's all fated. What do you think you're fighting against?" Her voice suddenly became shrill. "Larry told me. No matter how much you fight it, you'll always come crawling back. Because you two are—"

She stopped, her face twisting as she stumbled backward.

"You... your aura..." Chloe's face went white, as if she was being crushed by some immense force.

Her legs gave out and she collapsed onto the ground, the crest clattering on the stone path.

"Help!" she shrieked. "She's attacking me!"

"Reina, what are you doing!"

Larry's roar came from the entrance of the sacred grounds.

He stormed over, his eyes landing on the fallen Chloe.

The crushing power of the Alpha heir's aura slammed into me.