Chapter 3

Grayson picked up immediately, turning toward Alpha Tristan like he'd been waiting for that opening. "See? Ella gets it. She knows when to step aside.

"Father, are you saying I can't even marry the she-wolf I actually love? If I can't even choose my own mate, then what's the point of being the Alpha's heir?"

He looked back at me, and for once, his expression eased a little. "Ella, once Raven becomes my mate, you can stay by my side as my mistress. If you want, you can even have a pup or two. That should be enough, right?"

He looked as if he was doing me a favor. "Everyone in the Northwind pack knows how obsessed you've been with me all these years. Let's be honest, no one else is going to want you anyway."

The moment those words fell, the entire room went dead silent.

Then Mom let out a cold laugh and rose to her feet. Her face was tight with anger as she stepped forward.

"Thank you for thinking so highly of her, Grayson," she said. "But Ella isn't cut out to be someone's mistress. She's far too delicate for that. After all, she's nothing like Raven, who's so lively and charming.

"I was going to bring this up to Alpha Tristan during the Winter Hunt. But since you've already made your choice, this works out perfectly."

Mom lowered her head as she continued, "My daughter and Grayson were never meant to be. Please allow him to be with Raven, Alpha Tristan."

I snapped out of my daze and followed her lead. "Please, Alpha Tristan."

Alpha Tristan let out a long sigh, closed his eyes, and waved his hand. "Fine, I'll allow it."

…

When we returned home, Dad was livid.

"If Alpha Tristan hadn't insisted that Ella would become the future Luna, Ella wouldn't still be unmated by now. Do they have any idea how many wolves would line up for her?

"Grayson sure has some nerve. He gave me his word that he would cherish her. And now? The Blacks haven't even been here for long, and he's already tangled up with another she-wolf! Good thing Ella never became his mate. He doesn't deserve her."

A few days later, word spread that Grayson had marked Raven, and they were now officially mates.

For a while, the Blacks became the center of attention. Their home was constantly filled with guests as everyone scrambled to stay in their good graces.

On Alpha Tristan's birthday, he hosted another party at his residence.

I went with Mom.

I didn't feel like staying inside with her and the other she-wolves, so I followed a few young she-wolves out into the garden to get some fresh air.

"Ella, are you okay? Is there someone you like? If there is, we could even have our bonding ceremonies together."

A voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see Raven.

She was dressed in a pale, moonlit gown, her hair adorned with moonstones that caught the light with every movement. A white deer cloak draped over her shoulders, and around her neck hung a striking necklace.

It was the one I had returned to Alpha Tristan.

I met her gaze, my voice laced with sarcasm. "The Moon Goddess shall decide my mate. You don't need to worry about me."

Her face flushed with anger as she stepped forward, her voice rising sharply. "What did you just say? Are you mocking me?"

Then, her expression shifted, and a smug smile spread across her face. "You're jealous, aren't you? I wanted Grayson, so I went after him. You liked him too, but you kept acting nonchalant. In the end, I'm the one who got him, and it's eating you alive.

"I can't stand she-wolves like you. You're vain and greedy, but you act as if you're above it all. It's pathetic."

One of the she-wolves beside me couldn't hold back. "Not everyone is as shameless as you, stealing another she-wolf's mate and then bragging about it."

Raven glared at her. "How dare you speak to me that way? I'm the future Luna! Jack, strike her!"

I stepped forward to stop her. "Raven, you're not the Luna yet. Watch your tone. This is Alpha Tristan's home. If anyone is to be disciplined here, it'll be by his hand, not yours."

Raven was livid. She had always had a short fuse, and before I could react, she raised her hand and slapped me across the face.

The sharp sound echoed through the garden, and my cheek burned instantly.

The other she-wolves gasped in shock.

"What's going on here?"

Grayson's voice boomed as he hurried toward us.

Raven immediately threw herself into his arms. "Grayson, Ella's jealous of me. She said a lot of awful things, and I couldn't take it anymore. I hit her, but I honestly didn't mean to…

"I know I'm new to the Northwind pack, and I'm not close to anyone yet, but how could they treat me like this? Ella may be a Slater, but that doesn't mean she can bully me and act like she owns the pack!"

Her blatant lies left the other she-wolves stunned.

Meanwhile, her tears continued streaming down her face.

Grayson frowned at me. "Ella, apologize to Raven. What's gotten into you? Is this what the Slaters have stooped to? Bullying people with these pathetic little tricks? You're an embarrassment to the entire pack!"

I closed the distance between us, one step at a time. "You think I'm the one at fault? And you want me to apologize?"

Raven straightened, lifting her chin as a smug glint flashed in her eyes. With her back to Grayson, she mouthed silently to me, "You lost."

I let out a cold laugh.

Then, without hesitation, I raised my hand and slapped her across the face.