The outcast.

“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 rejection was bad enough, but the real horror is having to spend the rest of your life alone. No mate. No status. Just a sad, invisible existence where everyone knew you were undesirable.

“What color do you think Prince Mark would love?” Astrid asked the maid, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Then, without waiting for an answer, she hummed in satisfaction. “I think green. It matches my eyes perfectly, so I shall go with green!”

I almost choked on my own laughter.

Oh, if only Astrid knew.

Mark hated green.

And I knew this. I knew everything about him. His favorite foods, what made him laugh, how he liked to relax after a long day, what got under his skin and, most importantly, what colors he absolutely hated.

And green was at the top of the list of colors he hated.

How did I know all of this? Easy. Because Prince Mark was mine.

My secret lover, the man I have loved since forever but we haven’t been able to bring our relationship out to public yet. The man who had whispered sweet promises in the dark. The one who had taken my virginity and held me afterward, swearing he would choose me when the time came. And now? That time had arrived.

I knew I wasn’t the most desirable woman in the pack. I didn’t have Astrid’s perfect golden curls or the charm that made people gravitate toward her. But what I did have was Mark’s love. And that was all that mattered.

“Ugh, stop standing there like a pathetic lost little pup, Wrenna. You are throwing off the mood.”

Astrid’s voice yanked me out of my thoughts. She was still in front of the mirror, adjusting her necklace, tilting her head side to side, admiring herself like she was the goddess of beauty herself.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

“Anyway,” Astrid continued, flicking her hand dismissively. “Father insisted I give you something to wear, so here.”

She snapped her fingers, and one of the maids hurried over, shoving a folded dress into my hands.

I unfolded it. A simple blue gown. Plain fabric. No shimmer, no embroidery, nothing special.

I held it up. Seriously?

“What?” Astrid smirked. “Did you think you would get something elegant? Please. You should be grateful that father is even letting you step foot in the ballroom as his daughter. Well, let's hope that some nobody chooses you so we can finally be free from you in this family.” She paused. “You don’t need fancy clothes because no man with a high class is going to choose you anyway, only the slaves and poor men within the pack. Just know this.”

I clenched my jaw.

“Besides,” Astrid went on, “this dress suits you. Boring. Dull. Just like you.”

I exhaled through my nose. Okay. Deep breaths. Don’t punch her. Not yet.

“Take your pathetic little dress and get out of my sight,” Astrid snapped, her amusement quickly replaced with irritation. “I don’t want to look at you anymore.”

I held the dress tightly, my nails digging into the fabric. Then, without another word, I turned and walked out.

Fine. Let Astrid laugh now. Let her mock.

Because by the end of the night, she would be the one looking stupid when Prince Mark chose me.

As soon as I got to my room, I threw the dull excuse of a dress Astrid had given me on the floor like it was diseased. Then, with a grin, I reached for another dress, the one that actually mattered.

A deep wine colored gown, rich and stunning.

Mark had given the dress to me himself, his voice was soft and sweet when he told me to wear it to the ball. He had told me that it was a symbol of our love and he wanted me to wear it when he proposes.

“Oh, Mark,” I whispered, pressing the fabric against my chest, eyes fluttering shut as I let myself imagine it. Tonight is going to be perfect.

I could already see it, the grand ballroom, the candlelight, the envious stares as Mark pulled me into his arms, spinning me across the floor as we danced. And then, just like in a fairytale, he would stop in the middle of the dance, cup my face, and tell the entire pack I was his.

My father would see it. He would have no choice but to see it. My mother too and most especially Astrid.

No more side glances. No more pity. No more whispers about how I was unwanted, undesired, or destined for nothing.

Mark would prove them all wrong.

A knock on the door shattered the fantasy.

I yelped, scrambling to shove the dress under my blankets before whipping around, heart pounding. Shit. Who was it?

Clearing my throat, I smoothed down my clothes, straightened my back, and called out, “Who is it?”

I twisted the doorknob and opened it to find a young maid.

The young girl looked me up and down, her lips twitching just slightly at the corners, like she was trying so hard not to laugh.

Right. Of course. No one respected me here. Not the guards, not the gardeners, not even the maids. Why would they? When my own family treated me like nothing, why should anyone else act differently?

“The lady of the house, Madam Kaia, has requested your presence,” the maid said, her tone flat. She barely spared me a glance before turning to leave.

I watched her go, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. Well, that can’t be good.

If my mother was requesting my presence, it could only mean one thing, trouble.

Because Madam Kaia, my dear, sweet mother, had made one thing painfully clear all my life.

She hated me.

And the worst part?

I had never understood why.

I started walking to my mother’s room.

With Astrid Kaia was different. She was our mother’s favorite. The golden child. The daughter who could do no wrong.

Meanwhile, me? I was nothing. A ghost in my own home.

It used to bother me. I used to cry, wondering why my own mother hated me so much. But now? Now, I was just tired.

And now, here I was, standing outside my mother’s room, fully aware that walking in meant willingly stepping into the lion’s den.

Still, I knocked.

“Enter,” came the cold voice from inside.

Too late to run now.

I pushed open the door and stepped inside. The room was as perfect as always, no dust, no mess, just polished wood, elegant furniture, and a scent of lavender. And at the corner of the room, dressed in her usual silk robe, was her.

Madam Kaia. My mother.

She didn’t even turn at first. Just continued brushing her long, silver-streaked hair, watching me through the mirror like I was an annoying bug that had just crawled in.

“What took you so long?” she asked flatly.

I forced my shoulders to stay squared. “Apologies, Mother.”

Finally, Kaia turned, her gaze sweeping over my plain dress, wearing a disgusted expression like she had just tasted something bitter. “The ball is tonight,” she said.

I nodded. “Yes, I…”

“You will not make a spectacle of yourself,” Kaia cut me off, stepping closer. “You will not seek attention. You will not embarrass this family.”

My fingers twitched at my sides. I wanted to say something. Anything. But I knew better.

Her mother’s eyes got darker. “Now I wonder, will any man of worth even look at you?” She scoffed, shaking her head. “The only reason you are attending at all is because your father insisted.” She exhaled. “As if that could change anything.”

It wasn’t the first time I was hearing that anyway, but it hurts more coming from my own mother.

I clenched my jaw. I wouldn’t cry. Not in front of her.

Kaia sighed dramatically and turned back to the mirror. “You are dismissed.”

Just like that. Like I was a maid. Like I wasn’t even worth another second of her time.

I gulped, turning toward the door. I could handle this. I always handled this.

But just as I reached the doorway, my mother’s voice rang out again.

“Oh, and Wrenna?”

I paused.

“I expect you to behave. Don’t embarrass the family no matter what happens.”