Chapter 1

I walked into the grand ballroom where my coming-of-age ceremony was being held, and the first person I saw was Kieran Dante of the Redclaw Pack.

His pack friends surrounded him near the champagne fountain and when they spotted me, they immediately started laughing.

"Well, if it isn't Elisa, Kieran's personal shadow for the past decade," one of them called out loudly. "Even at your own ceremony, you can't stop following him around."

Another one chimed in with a smirk. “I heard she keeps a photo of him on her desk at the pack house and that she once challenged three she-wolves to fights just because they danced with him at the Winter Solstice celebration.”

The group erupted in laughter while Kieran looked at me with pure contempt in his dark eyes.

"You've been chasing after me since we were fifteen years old, embarrassing both our packs repeatedly with your obsession. Even at your own ceremony, you're still hovering around me. What exactly do you want from me this time?"

"I’m not following you around," I replied calmly. "My father is announcing the alliance with the Redclaw Pack tonight, and I'm simply fulfilling my duties as his daughter."

The silence that followed was deafening as everyone within earshot turned to stare at us.

Kieran’s beta spoke first, “An alliance between the Whitehaven Pack and the Redclaw Pack? That hasn’t been announced yet.”

His reaction made perfect sense because the alliance was supposed to remain confidential until my father made the official announcement during tonight’s ceremony.

My father was the Alpha of the most powerful pack in the region, and according to ancient pack law, I had the right to choose my mate from among the heirs of the allied packs during my coming-of-age ceremony.

Whoever I chose would receive not only my hand in marriage but also control over the vast trade routes that connected all the Northern Territories.

Everyone knew I'd been chasing after Kieran since we were fifteen, so the announcement of an alliance with the Redclaw Pack basically confirmed he would inherit one of the most coveted positions in the werewolf world.

Kieran’s friends immediately started congratulating him.

“Congratulations, Kieran! Looks like you’re about to become one of the most powerful Alphas in the entire region!”

Kieran’s expression showed some satisfaction, but when he looked at me, his eyes still held nothing but disgust.

He walked toward me and when he got close enough, he leaned in and whispered so only I could hear, “I’m not going to make the same mistakes. If you want me as your mate, you need to understand something very clearly right now.”

My breath caught in my throat and I stared at him in complete shock.

He’d been reborn too.

Just like me.

“You can have the title of my mate and the Luna position, but my heart will always belong to Sera. She’s the only one I’ll ever truly love, and if you can’t accept that, then you can forget about this alliance entirely.”

I was still processing this revelation when a soft, fragile voice called out.

“Elisa.”

I turned to see Sera Walsh standing near the ballroom's side entrance, her face pale and her body swaying slightly like she might collapse at any moment.

Kieran’s entire mood changed the instant he saw her, and he rushed to her side without a second thought,“Sera, what happened? Why are you here alone?”

She leaned heavily against him. “I’m sorry, Kieran. I know today is important for Elisa's ceremony, but I felt dizzy and I think I might have twisted my ankle on the stairs outside.”

Her words were carefully chosen to make it sound like I’d abandoned her when she needed help.

And just as I expected, his eyes turned fierce when he looked back at me.

“She’s your best friend and practically your sister, yet you let her come here by herself when she’s barely recovered? How can you be so selfish and heartless toward someone who’s always been there for you?”

Before I could respond, Sera's knees gave way.

She collapsed against Kieran's chest with a soft gasp.

"Kieran, I'm sorry, I think I pushed myself too hard," she whispered, her entire body going limp in his arms.

Kieran caught her immediately and scooped her up.

"Someone get the pack doctor now!" he shouted at his friends. "And prepare a car — we need to get her to the healer immediately!"

One of his friends pulled out his phone. Another rushed toward the exit.

Kieran didn't spare me another glance as he carried Sera toward the entrance, his entire focus on the woman in his arms.

“Hold on, Sera, you’re going to be fine. I’ve got you, I promise I won’t let anything happen to you,” he murmured to her.

As he walked past me, he stopped just long enough to deliver one final cold warning.

“You’d better think carefully about what I said earlier, Elisa. Because if you can’t accept the terms, then this alliance can go straight to hell and you can forget about ever becoming my mate.”

Then he was gone, disappearing into the mansion with Sera cradled protectively against his chest.

I stood there alone on the ballroom entrance, watching them leave while Kieran’s friends whispered among themselves about what a heartless bitch I was.

In my previous life, I would have been devastated by this scene, probably crying and chasing after them to explain myself.

But this time was different.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the folded paper my father had given me weeks ago—the list of eligible heirs from allied packs who could fulfill the marriage arrangement.

According to ancient pack law, any heir with Alpha bloodline from our allied packs had to be included, regardless of their reputation.

Five names were written in neat handwriting.

I picked up the ceremonial pen and without hesitation, drew a firm line through Kieran’s name.

Then I moved my hand down the list and paused at the name everyone feared, Damon Thorne—before placing a checkmark next to it.