THREE

Nora’s POV

I managed to drag myself home. By the time I reached my stepfather’s house, the sky had already begun to lighten into a dull gray, and every step toward the front door filled me with dread.

My body ached from everything that had happened the night before, from the beating outside the pack hall to the heartbreak Ethan left me with, and now to the hollow disappointment of waking up alone in a stranger’s hotel room with no mark on my neck and no sign that my mate had wanted me enough to stay. I had spent the walk back trying not to cry again because I genuinely did not think I had any tears left in me.

The moment I pushed open the front door, I knew I was in trouble. My stepfather was already awake and looked angry as usual.

He sat in the living room with a half-empty bottle in his hand, his eyes bloodshot and furious the second they landed on me.

“Well,” he drawled coldly, standing to his feet slowly, “look who finally decided to come home.”

I swallowed hard but said nothing. His gaze dragged over my wrinkled clothes, my messy hair, and then finally settled on my neck and shoulders like he was searching for something. Suddenly, his expression twisted with disgust.

“You filthy little slut.” He snarled. The insult hit me hard even though I should have been used to it by now.

“I’m talking to you!” he shouted, slamming the bottle onto the table hard enough to make my sick mother flinch.

“I came home, didn’t I?” I muttered weakly, already exhausted.

That only made him angrier. He crossed the room in seconds and grabbed my jaw painfully, forcing me to look at him. “You disappear all night and come back smelling like another man, and you think you can talk back to me?” He hissed at me. My stomach dropped.

I immediately tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.

“I can smell him in you and I see that hickey on your neck. I know you spent the night in another man’s bed. You fool! You lost your virginity,” he hissed viciously.

“Pathetic. You couldn’t even keep the only thing that might’ve made you useful.”

I felt so humiliated that my eyes stung.

“Stop,” I whispered.

He laughed harshly. “What? You think I’m wrong? Your mate clearly didn’t even want you enough to mark you.” His eyes scanned my bare neck mockingly. “Not even the Moon Goddess could force someone to keep trash like you.”

The words sliced through me because they were true. He didn’t mark me. He left me, just like everyone else eventually did.

My stepfather shoved me causing me to stumble against the wall. “Do you know what people are going to say when they find out?” he sneered. “An omega girl spreading her legs for a man who walked away from her before sunrise. Even whores get treated better than that.”

I clenched my fists tightly, trying not to break down in front of him. My stepfather suddenly grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the door again. “Come on,” he snapped.

Fear shot through me instantly. “Where are we going?” I asked, frightened,

“To the Alpha,” he said coldly. “If you insist on disgracing this family, then the least you can do is be useful to the pack before everyone realizes how worthless you are.”

The Alpha’s packhouse was intimidating even in daylight. Massive stone walls towered over the rest of the territory, a reminder that people like me would never belong anywhere near power unless we were kneeling beneath it.

My stepfather practically dragged me inside. Pack members stared openly as we passed, their gazes lingering on my bruised face and exhausted appearance. I could already imagine the rumors spreading through the pack by tonight.

The Alpha sat at the far end of the hall speaking quietly with two warriors when we entered, but the second my stepfather shoved me forward, his attention shifted toward me with immediate irritation.

“What is this?” he asked sharply.

My stepfather bowed his head respectfully before speaking. “Alpha, I brought the girl because her behavior has become a stain on the pack.” He said and my heart dropped.

The Alpha’s eyes narrowed at me. “Explain what this nuisance is about right now” he demanded and my stepfather did.

He gave the Alpha every humiliating detail, how I snuck out yesterday, spent the night with a man, and returned unmarked.

Each word felt like another knife digging into my skin while the Alpha looked at me with growing disgust. When he finally spoke, his voice was cold.

“So it’s true. Even her mate discarded her.” He said with his brows raised.

I stared at the floor silently.

The Alpha leaned back in his chair with clear annoyance. “Girls like this are exactly why weaker bloodlines should know their place.” He looked irritated as he spoke.

My throat tightened painfully and I tried not to let it get to me. “She’s become useless here,” my stepfather added quickly. “But perhaps she can still serve the pack somehow.”

The Alpha was quiet for a moment before something unreadable crossed his expression. “Actually… there may be a way to extract some final value from her.” He said and I looked up sharply. I knew whatever he wanted to say wouldn’t be anything good for me.

“The royal family is currently hosting the prince’s Luna Selection,” he said slowly. “They requested additional servants and maids to assist during the event.”

The Alpha’s lips curved slightly. “You will go as one of the serving maids.” He said to me.

I blinked, taken aback by such a simple task. I almost felt relieved because at least it meant escape from this house, but then the Alpha dismissed the other wolves in the room before lowering his voice.

“There is another purpose for you being there.” He continued.

The Alpha stood and walked toward me slowly. “The Alpha King has made enemies over the years, and many believe his death would weaken the Lake Pack significantly.” His eyes hardened. “You will observe everything inside the royal packhouse and report back to us.”

I stared at him in shock. “And if the opportunity presents itself…” He paused meaningfully. “You will kill the Alpha King.”

My blood ran cold after he spoke. What was he saying? Me? Kill the alpha king himself? I stared at him in disbelief. This was literally suicide. “I—I can’t—” I stuttered.

“You can,” he interrupted sharply. “And you will.”

Fear twisted violently inside me.

The Alpha stepped closer, his voice turning dangerous.

“You should be grateful we are giving you purpose at all after the disgrace you’ve brought upon this pack.” He spat at me.

I wanted to refuse and run but people like me didn’t get choices. So instead, I lowered my head slowly and whispered, “Yes, Alpha.”

***

The following day, I stood inside the royal packhouse trying not to look overwhelmed. Everything about the place screamed power. Marble floors, towering chandeliers, guards stationed at nearly every entrance. Even the air felt different here.

The maids had been lined up early that evening while nobles from different packs gathered for the prince’s Luna Selection ceremony. Beautiful Women filled the grand hall in expensive dresses and glittering jewelry, all hoping Prince Rafael would choose one of them.

I tried to stay invisible. Knowing what my true mission was here, the last thing I wanted to do was draw attention to myself. Unfortunately, fate seemed determined to ruin every plan I ever made.

I was carrying a tray of drinks through the crowded hall when the atmosphere suddenly changed. The conversation quieted almost instantly. People started to whisper that Prince Rafael had entered. I had heard stories about him before, of course. Everyone had. The cold-hearted prince. He was the future Alpha King feared across neighboring territories and was deemed ruthless and untouchable.

But none of the stories prepared me for seeing him in person. This man was just breathtaking. He looked too good to actually exist. He was tall with gray piercing eyes that seemed to suck me in the longer I stared. For some reason, I couldn’t help but think that his eyes were so familiar.

Noble daughters straightened immediately, some smiling nervously while others tried too hard to appear confident. Prince Rafael barely acknowledged any of them. His expression remained unreadable as he walked slowly through the hall while the Alpha King watched from his throne-like chair nearby.

The Luna Selection began shortly after. One by one, daughters of powerful bloodlines were presented before him, each more elegant than the last. And one by one, he rejected them all.

Whispers spread through the room quickly from both confusion and embarrassment.

I kept my eyes lowered as I moved quietly between guests, praying not to attract attention.

“Stop.” I heard a deep voice that made me shiver involuntarily. My heart skipped when I realized I was being spoken to and I almost cursed my luck. Why couldn’t I just remain invisible?

Slowly, I turned around. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Prince Rafael staring directly at me. The entire hall went silent as all eyes fell on me.

I looked behind me instinctively, certain he meant someone else. “I wasn’t speaking to the wall,” he said coldly.

My stomach dropped. Me?

He stepped closer slowly, his gray eyes fixed entirely on mine now, and something about the intensity of his gaze made my pulse quicken uneasily. “You,” he said simply. “What is your name?”

Every eye in the room turned toward me. My throat tightened. “Nora,” I answered quietly.

For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, to the complete shock of everyone in the hall, including me, Prince Rafeal announced. “You” he began, staring at me with those eyes I couldn’t possibly look away from. “You’re the one I choose”