LOGIN[Sylvia's POV]The military helicopter landed on the reinforced roof of the Royal Palace. Spinning rotors kicked up a massive cloud of dust, whipping my hair across my face.Alaric stepped out onto the tarmac. He reached back, wrapping his large hand around my waist to lift me out of the cabin. We descended the metal stairs into the heart of the werewolf kingdom.The scale of the fortress made my human bones ache. Ancient tapestries lined the endless marble corridors.Royal guards in black armor hit their chests in a unified salute as their King passed."Welcome to your new home," Alaric stated, pushing open a set of gilded double doors. He rested a hand on the small of my back, guiding me into the massive suite. "The door on the left connects to my private quarters."I dropped my travel bag on the plush rug. I walked over to the connecting door and turned the brass handle, finding it unlocked. A large, masculine bed sat visible through the gap, draped in dark furs smelling of ozone a
[Sylvia's POV]"I will pack my things," I whispered, pulling my hand from his grip. The loss of his touch left my skin cold. I turned and headed for the stairs, eager to escape the staring eyes of the crowd.Alaric followed me into the dim hallway outside the main ballroom. The heavy oak doors muffled the noise of the stunned guests.The corridor offered a brief moment of privacy. I stopped near the marble column, catching my breath. The adrenaline from the banquet crashed down on me.I ruined Carl. I exposed his lies. My future belonged to me again.Alaric closed the distance between us. He backed me against the cold marble pillar. He braced his large hands on the stone on either side of my head, trapping me in his scorching heat.His blue eyes burned with a feral, possessive fire. He did not look like a tutor anymore. He did not look like a king. He looked like a starving beast who finally caught his prey."You were magnificent tonight," Alaric rasped. He ducked his head, inhaling t
[Sylvia's POV]"Beta Chris! Thank the Goddess you arrived." Carl sprinted across the ballroom floor, his white tuxedo flapping around his knees. He pointed an accusing finger at Alaric in the shadows. "This mute rogue assaulted me. He brings violence to a peaceful banquet. He wants to destroy the purity of the Alpha bloodlines. Arrest him before he hurts the Alpha's daughter!"Chris did not spare Carl a single glance. The Royal Beta walked past the obnoxious boy. His heavy black armor clanked against the polished marble floor, each footstep echoing like a war drum. He stopped three feet away from the tall man in the dark suit. Chris lowered his head and dropped to one knee."Your Majesty," Chris said, his voice carrying over the silent crowd. "Forgive my delay. The weather delayed the helicopters."A pin drop would echo like a gunshot. The entire ballroom froze. The music remained dead.Carl's arm hung suspended in the empty air. The arrogant sneer melted off his face, replaced by raw
[Sylvia's POV]Patrick slammed his hand on the control board. The grand chandeliers went dark. The massive projector screen behind the stage flickered to life.A high-definition video filled the screen, casting a pale glow over the shocked faces of the crowd. The visual showed the dark shoreline of the lake. The premium sound system blasted the audio across the silent ballroom.Moans, slapping flesh, and tearing clothes echoed off the marble walls."I need the Silver Moon's money, Freya," Carl's voice boomed over the speakers. "Once I claim her publicly, she will fall right into line. She is a pathetic cash cow."Freya's high-pitched giggles filled the room. "You think Alpha Eric will hand her over?""He is a traditional old fool," Carl scoffed on the recording. "And Sylvia is pathetic. She begs for my attention."The visual zoomed in, showing Carl and Freya entangled against the large oak tree. No wolf forms appeared on the screen. The video only displayed two naked humans betraying
[Sylvia's POV]Dead silence engulfed the ballroom. The string quartet stopped playing in the middle of a chord. Hundreds of werewolves held their breath, processing the outrageous claim.A roar of voices shattered the quiet. The crystal chandeliers vibrated from the sheer volume of the crowd.A dream from the Moon Goddess represented the most sacred omen in our world. It dictated unquestioning obedience. The traditional Alphas in the crowd murmured in awe, their eyes shining with religious fervor. They turned their judging gazes toward my father."Alpha Eric, you must accept this divine union," an older, gray-haired Alpha shouted over the noise. "You cannot defy the will of the Goddess!""A fated mate bond ordained by the heavens!" another noble yelled. He raised his champagne flute in the air. "This brings glory to our entire region!"Alpha Triton, Carl's father, stepped out from the front row. He puffed out his chest, a greedy glint flashing in his brown eyes. He wore a tacky gold-t
[Sylvia's POV]Freya paraded through the crowd in a stunning emerald gown. I paid for that dress two weeks ago using my personal allowance. She held a crystal champagne flute, leaning close to a group of high-society Omega women."It is a tragedy," Freya sighed, putting a manicured hand over her chest. "Sylvia hit her head during a motorcycle crash. The pack doctor said she suffered severe brain damage. She is delusional now. She rejected poor Carl, who has been nothing but devoted to her."The women gasped, eating up every toxic word. They glanced at me with pity and disgust."Carl bought her flowers," Freya continued, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. "He tried to comfort her. He offered her his arm tonight. But she is obsessed with that mute vagrant her father brought in from the streets. He cannot speak a single word. He has no pack. She is bringing shame to the Silver Moon Pack. If Alpha Eric lets her run wild, it will end in a disaster for all of us.""She has no shame," Fr
[Sylvia's POV]The red taillights of Carl's cheap sedan disappeared down the dark dirt road. I stood by my bedroom window, my palms pressed flat against the cool glass, my breath fogging the pane.Good riddance.My gaze dropped to the edge of the dense pine forest. Standing perfectly still in the d
[Sylvia's POV]My head throbbed.I dragged a ragged breath into my lungs, expecting to choke on the stench of my own blood and wolfsbane. Instead, my nose twitched.Clean linen. Rubbing alcohol. And...motor oil?"How is she holding up, Doc?""She has a mild concussion. Keep her resting, and she sho
[Alaric's POV]Ten minutes to midnight.Cold mist clung to my skin, soaking into my dark shirt.The twisted, ancient pines of the mountain forest blurred past me.My wolf, Paul, pushed against my mind, his massive paws tearing up the damp earth as we sprinted. Two miles out from the Silver Moon Pac
[Sylvia's POV]I was staring at the mirror, suffocating in a dull, pastel pink dress that made me look like an obedient nun.Little did I know, twenty minutes later, that same modest dress would be soaked entirely in my own black, poisoned blood.Pink was always my future mate Carl's choice. 'Ladi







