Snatched Mark: The Alpha's False Mate

"An explanation? What explanation do I need to give you?"

Leo Wagner's indifferent attitude instantly ignited my fury.

"Leo, this marking ceremony is crucial to the entire Alliance. You're letting a secretary take my place. Aren't you worried…"

Leo cut me off with a contemptuous laugh. "The Alliance cares because I'm the Alpha of the Moon pack! What does it have to do with you, a werewolf from some remote pack? Don't flatter yourself."

Before I could respond, the mind-link was brutally severed.

Seeing my stunned silence, Aria Thornwell's face broke into a smug smile. She stepped forward and shoved me hard, her tone dripping with arrogance. "Move! Don't delay me from attending the ceremony."

She reached for the crown in my hands, trying to wrench it away.

I stepped back, avoiding her grasp. "This is my crown. I will never give it to you, and I suggest you stop provoking me. Otherwise, I'll throw you out."

She covered her mouth and laughed. "Did I hear that right? You're going to throw me out?"

She curled her lips with contempt. "This is the Moon pack. Alpha Leo's territory! This was his decision! The fact that I haven't thrown you out for your insolence is mercy enough!"

Aria lifted her chin arrogantly. "Now, give me the crown!"

When I didn't move, she let out a shrill scream. "What? The marking ceremony hasn't even happened yet, and you're already fantasizing about being our pack's Luna?

"Let me tell you—if I don't attend the ceremony, you'll never set foot in our pack! If you don't hand over the crown right now, I won't go!"

Her words were full of threats, yet I merely let out a cold laugh.

I had become Alpha Cole Grayson's most outstanding assistant through exceptional skill and dedication. My work protecting the Werewolf Council Chairman and safeguarding my own pack required absolute secrecy.

Over the years, even without revealing my true position, every Alpha I'd worked with treated me with tremendous respect. And now, a mere secretary dared to threaten me?

I looked Aria up and down with a cold smile. "You're nothing but a secretary. What makes you think you can talk to me like this?"

Before Aria could respond, mocking laughter echoed through the room. Several staff members from the Moon pack's banquet hall had arrived. They ignored me completely and walked straight to Aria's side. When they spotted the crown in my hands, they gasped dramatically.

"How dare you take Aria's crown! If Aria gets angry and refuses to attend the marking ceremony, you can forget about ever entering the Moon pack!"

Aria looked triumphant as she pointed at the crown. "Did you hear that? Hurry up and give it to me!

"A wolf from some backwater pack like you should be grateful you even get to live in the Moon pack! Just let the ceremony happen, and we'll find you some quiet little position in the pack. But stop reaching for things that don't belong to you!"

I glanced at the crown with indifference. "If you want the Luna position, fine. But the crown is mine, and I won't give it to you."

My words sent Aria into a fury. The staff members around her shifted into aggressive stances, clearly ready for a fight.

Their threatening postures were laughable. What they considered intimidating looked like nothing more than amateur posturing to me.

As they rushed forward, I dodged their clumsy attacks with ease. Aria used the distraction to launch a sneak attack.

The next second, the door suddenly burst open. An authoritative voice cut through the chaos.

"Everyone, stop!"