Rejected by the Prince, Claimed by the Masked Alpha

“The annual Pack Partner Ball… This is it. The moment Prince Mark realizes I am his perfect match and chooses me as his bride!” Astrid said dreamingly.I barely stopped myself from rolling my eyes so hard they would fall out of my head. Instead, I kept my mouth shut, silently suffering through the sound of my sister’s infuriating voice.I didn’t dare say a word, not while Astrid sat there, getting pampered by a group of maids who powdered her face like she was already royalty. Meanwhile, I was stuck making sure Astrid’s bed was neatly arranged, as if that was somehow part of my grand duties as the lesser sister.The annual Pack Partner Ball was the biggest event of the year. The night all eligible bachelors, especially the Alpha’s son, chose their future brides from the many hopeful women in the pack. It was basically a high-stakes auction, except instead of bidding, men just picked a woman and that was that.And if you weren’t picked? Well. That was a nightmare for all women. Public

“Finally, Astrid! You took forever!” Lena, one of Astrid’s overly dramatic friends, grabbed her arm the second they stepped inside. Her eyes already scanning Astrid’s dress with approval. “You missed so much! Come on! Prince Mark is about to choose his future bride!”Astrid gasped like she had just been told she missed a royal coronation. “Are you serious? Oh, I cannot miss this!”Just like that, the two of them rushed off, leaving me standing alone.Wait.She missed a lot? I suddenly panicked.I didn’t waste another second. Lifting the edges of my gown, I ran inside, going through the crowd like a woman on a mission. I didn’t have time to admire the big castle, the chandeliers, or the way the whole place smelled of expensive perfumes and wealth.I needed to get to the ballroom. Now.By the time I finally reached the big ballroom, my heart was beating so fast I thought I might have a heart attack.And then I saw him.Mark.Standing on the stage, tall, confident, and unfairly handsome.