ISABEL

The peace treaty was signed, and I was the bargaining chip Rivercrest used to end a war that had dragged on for decades. Still, on the morning of my twentieth birthday, I kept holding on to one foolish hope. Maybe the Moon Goddess would finally awaken my wolf and change everything.

I sat on the edge of my bed and closed my eyes. Just once. That was all I wanted. Just once, I wanted to hear my wolf, to feel something, anything. I reached inward the way I always did, but there was nothing, not even a flicker, only the same empty silence that had followed me since I was a child.

A sharp knock pulled me from my thoughts. Before I could answer, the door swung open and my mother walked in carrying a simple blue dress over one arm.

"Good morning, Mother."

She didn't answer. She walked past me as though I hadn't spoken and laid the dress on my bed. Only then did she look at me, her eyes slowly sweeping over me, searching for something that wasn't there.

"Has your wolf awakened?"

I lowered my head. "No."

A quiet laugh escaped her. "I don't know why I expected anything different." She pushed the dress toward me. "Put it on."

My eyes settled on it. It wasn't expensive, and the fabric looked ordinary, with no embroidery or jewels. Still... my heart lifted. Was it for me? Mother and Father hadn't given me a birthday gift in years—not since Vivian awakened her wolf. Every birthday after that became hers. Maybe... maybe this year was different. Maybe they hadn't forgotten.

I picked up the dress carefully, unable to stop the small smile that crept onto my face. "What is it for?"

"The treaty is official," Mother replied. "Your father has made his choice."

The smile slowly disappeared. "What choice?"

"You're leaving for the Fireclaw Pack."

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. I looked from the dress to my mother. "...Today?"

She nodded once. The hope I'd been holding onto vanished as quickly as it had come.

"So... this isn't..." I couldn't finish the sentence.

Mother didn't ask what I meant. She either didn't notice... or she simply didn't care.

I placed the dress back on the bed. "What am I going to Fireclaw for?"

"I don't know."  I stared at her. "Father didn't tell you?"

She shrugged. "Perhaps you'll clean their halls. Perhaps you'll spend the rest of your life serving them."

My fingers tightened at my sides. "Mother..."

"What?"

"I don't understand."

"You don't need to." She turned to leave.

I hurried after her. "If they need servants..." I swallowed. "Why don't they take one of ours?"

She stopped walking. For a moment, she said nothing. Then she looked at me over her shoulder. "Our servants are useful. They work. They fight. They have wolves. They're valuable to this pack." Her gaze settled on me. "You aren't."

My throat tightened. "I've tried," I whispered.

She stared at me without an answer,  without any sympathy.

"I've prayed every birthday. I've waited. I've done everything I can."

"And yet..." Her eyes didn't leave mine. "You're still wolfless."

I looked away.

She took a step closer. "Do you know what everyone says behind your back? They wonder how the Alpha's daughter reached twenty without awakening a wolf." Heat rushed to my face. "They pity your father."

Every word felt like another weight pressing against my chest. Mother folded her arms. "This treaty has finally given you a purpose. You should be grateful."

She turned and walked away, and the door clicked shut behind her. I remained where I was, unable to move. The blue dress still rested on my bed. Only now... it no longer looked like a birthday gift. It looked like a goodbye.

I stood there for a long time before I finally reached for the dress. It fit perfectly, not because it had been made for me, but because it was one of the many plain dresses I already owned. I looked at my reflection. There was nothing about me that suggested I was the Alpha's daughter. No expensive jewelry. No elegant gown. No wolf.

I took a slow breath before leaving my room. The moment I stepped outside, voices drifted through the courtyard. Young wolves chased one another between the guests while their parents laughed and called after them. Flowers decorated every corner of the pack grounds, and colorful banners fluttered in the breeze. For a moment, I forgot everything Mother had said. Maybe... maybe they hadn't forgotten my birthday after all.

I quickened my pace, but the hope disappeared the moment I reached the courtyard. The celebration wasn't for me; it was for my twin sister, Vivian. She stood in the middle of the crowd wearing a beautiful lavender dress, smiling as pack members surrounded her with gifts while my father stood proudly beside her.

"You've grown into such a remarkable young woman," one elder said as he handed Vivian a beautifully wrapped box. "Happy birthday, Lady Vivian. Our future Luna."

One by one, they stepped forward to congratulate her. My mother smiled as she placed a silver necklace around Vivian's neck. "Happy birthday, sweetheart."

Vivian threw her arms around her. "Thank you, Mother."

Father rested a hand on Vivian's shoulder. "We're all proud of you."

My chest tightened. We were born on the same day, yet no one remembered it was my birthday too. No one had a gift for me. No one wished me well. It was as if I didn't exist.

I lowered my eyes. Maybe Mother was right. Maybe I really had no place here anymore. I turned to leave before anyone noticed I'd been standing there.

"Mother." Vivian's voice stopped me.

"What is it, dear?" Mother asked gently.

Vivian looked toward me. "I don't think this is fair."

Mother frowned. "What isn't?"

"Sending Isabel to Fireclaw."

The conversations around us gradually faded until everyone was listening.

"It's what's best for the pack," Mother replied. "Someone has to make the sacrifice."

Vivian looked at me again before lowering her gaze. "I just feel sorry for her."

Several wolves nodded. "Lady Vivian is too kind."

Lady Vivian has such a kind heart. Anyone else would've been relieved to see her go. Our future Luna truly cares about everyone.”

 If they only knew. Vivian wasn't defending me, she was enjoying every moment of it. She had always been good at pretending.

The conversations slowly resumed, and I was invisible once again. Then the heavy iron gates creaked open. Every voice in the courtyard fell silent, and even the young wolves stopped running. All eyes turned toward the entrance.

The Fireclaw Pack had arrived. Elite warriors entered first. Behind them rode Alpha Rowan and his Luna, and beside them were two young men. One of them immediately caught my attention: tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair and warm brown eyes that gave away nothing. He looked only a few years older than me, yet he carried himself with the quiet confidence of someone born to lead.

For a brief second, our eyes met. Then Alpha Rowan drew my attention. His gaze settled on me, lingering on the plain blue dress I wore before he turned to my father.

"Is this," he asked, "the future Luna of Fireclaw?"