Chapter 4

Less than half an hour after the call ended, the sound of snapping branches came from the forest behind me.

Alexander had found me.

Gone was the rage he'd shown back at the residence. In its place was a gentle, subdued look laced with apology that I knew all too well.

Alexander stepped up behind me, reaching out to pull me into his arms, but I sidestepped him and avoided it.

"Ivy." His voice was low behind me. "I lost control with the slap earlier. Sophia did speak out of line, but you shouldn't have hit her in front of a pup."

I didn't turn around, finding everything ridiculous.

Alexander hadn't come because he regretted it or because he cared about me. He came because he needed me.

Without the recognition of the White Wolf royalty's bloodline or my appearance as a Luna with royal backing, no successor could ever gain the approval of the Council of Elders or the entire werewolf kingdom.

Alexander thought I was still throwing a tantrum out of jealousy like other she-wolves.

I turned to face him. For once, I didn't argue.

I calmly took out a folded piece of parchment I had prepared earlier and held it out to Alexander. "I know. I won't miss tomorrow."

My voice was devoid of any emotions. "This is the consent form for an advanced combat training program I found for Lucas. He'll be the successor after tomorrow, so I want him to have the best training. As Alpha, you should sign it."

Alexander visibly relaxed. A flicker of satisfaction crossed his eyes, thinking I had given in for the betterment of the pack.

He didn't even look at the parchment, nor did he bother reading the terms written in the old wolf tongue. He bit his finger and pressed his bloody fingerprint onto it.

Alexander had no idea that wasn't any kind of program consent form but a blood-bound unilateral declaration to sever our mate bond.

…

The Greystone pack's successor ceremony was held in full grandeur at the central square at dawn the next day.

Dressed in lavish ceremonial robes, Alexander sat high on the main seat with Lucas beside him. Below them, the Council of Elders and thousands of pack members stood in solemn silence.

They were all waiting for me—the Luna—to appear. More than that, they were waiting for the White Wolf royalty's envoy to witness the ceremony.

Time ticked by, yet my seat remained empty.

Alexander's expression grew increasingly anxious and dark. He kept signaling to his guards, urging them to hurry me along.

Just then, a sharp wolf's howl rang out from the edge of the square. The crowd parted instantly, then dropped to one knee in shock.

The one who had arrived was no mere envoy, but the ruler of the entire werewolf kingdom, the White Wolf Alpha King himself.

Alexander and the elders hurried down from the platform, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty."

"At ease." Father's voice carried across the square, steady and commanding.

Then, he stepped aside, revealing the figure behind him. A collective gasp swept through the crowd.

Alexander's eyes widened as his gaze locked onto me.

I showed up in full ceremonial dress, but what I wore was not the dark-patterned Luna gown of the Greystone pack. Instead, I wore a robe of brilliant silver-white, the attire of a princess of the White Wolf royalty.

I slowly walked up the stone platform, not even sparing Alexander a glance as I stopped.

His expression was tight. "What are you doing, Ivy?"

I looked up, my voice ringing clear across the entire square as I said, "I refuse to recognize Lucas Gowling as the successor of the Graystone pack."