Chapter 3

Anna’s POV

Mother cried, “Those rogue would tear us apart. Anna has only just turned eighteen. Please…”

Father kicked her aside.

As if that wasn’t enough, he looked down at her with disgust.

“Don’t touch me, you filthy Omega. I allowed you to remain by my side because I believed you were at least obedient. I never expected you to become a proper Luna, but look at what you taught Anna. Today, she dared to challenge my son—the future Alpha. Tomorrow, she may challenge me.”

Mother whimpered on the floor.

Father had put so much force into the kick that she couldn’t get back up.

I desperately tried to reach her, but Father’s Alpha command still held me in place.

All I could do was watch.

A furious roar grew louder inside my head.

I hated this wolf who called himself my father.

He wasn’t worthy of that title. He had done nothing but stand by and allow his precious son to torment Mother and me.

If only I weren’t a half Alpha. If only I were stronger—strong enough to fight back.

Vaxy howled inside my mind. “Let me out, Anna. I’ll tear out every one of their throats—especially Eric’s. I can smell his wolf, and he is nothing compared to me!”

“Guards!” Father shouted.

Five armed wolves immediately entered the room.

“Take these two filthy wolves and throw them into rogue territory.”

“Yes, Alpha,” they answered in unison.

Two of them marched toward me and grabbed my arms, pulling me toward the door.

“Please, Alpha!” Mother begged even harder.

She lowered her head and struck her forehead against the floor. “Please…for the sake of all the years we’ve spent together. I would never dare ask you to see me as your former Luna, but Anna is your blood too. Please, Alpha…”

The guards ignored her desperate pleas. They tightened their grip and tried to drag her from the floor.

“Mother!”

Eric suddenly laughed, “I warned you not to mess with me. You and your mother are nothing but disposable trash. How dare you call yourself Father’s blood? I am his blood—his one and only heir!”

The room fell into chaos.

Two guards grabbed my nearly unconscious mother and dragged her across the floor.

I fought against the wolves holding me, but Father’s Alpha aura still locked my body in place. I could do nothing except glare at Eric as he watched us with a mocking smile.

Just before the guards dragged me completely out of the room, Aunt Mary spoke. “Brother, have you forgotten about tomorrow’s ceremony?”

Father frowned. “Damn it.”

Mary continued calmly, “The Lycan King will arrive tomorrow to select the strongest young wolves from every pack he visits. We already submitted the names of every wolf who recently turned eighteen, including Anna. If we banish Anna and her mother, Venna, now, the Lycan King might…”

She left the rest unsaid.

But the change in Father’s expression told me everything.

The Lycan King would not be pleased to discover that the information Father had submitted was false, and Father couldn’t afford to take responsibility for that.

Mary gestured for the guards to release us. “Why not deal with them after the ceremony? That way, no one can hold it against you, Brother.”

Father fell silent.

Eric immediately protested. “Father! But she—”

“Do as Mary said.” Father turned toward me, his eyes narrowing. “We will settle this after the selection. Until then, keep a close watch on these two wolves.”

…

Aunt Mary offered to escort Mother and me back to our chamber.

Mother barely had enough strength to walk, yet she still tried to kneel before her. “Thank you for saving Anna and me. If it weren’t for you…”

Then she turned to me. “Anna, hurry. Thank your Aunt Mary.”

“Aunt Mary…”

Mary glanced at me. “Don’t thank me yet. This isn’t over.”

There was something strange in her eyes—something I couldn’t quite understand.

It almost seemed as though she was studying me while also being afraid of me. “Tomorrow’s selection is the most important event of the year. Did you know about it, Anna?”

I thought back over everything I had heard before finally nodding. “Yes.”

Mary frowned slightly. “I assumed Master Ethan had trained you properly for this.”

My confusion only deepened. Master Ethan had warned me not to tell anyone about our training, yet Aunt Mary spoke as if she already knew everything.

Was this why Master Ethan had been training me all along? For the Royal Selection?

When I didn’t respond, Mary continued, “Then I assume he taught you what you need to know. Don’t be afraid, Anna. Use everything you’ve learned and fight with all your strength during the selection. Do you understand?”

I nodded once, still silent.

Mary placed a hand on my shoulder. “Remember this. If you are fortunate enough to be chosen by the Lycan King, your position—and your mother’s—will change completely.”

Her fingers tightened slightly. “Otherwise…”

She left the rest unsaid before turning and walking away.

I spent the entire night thinking about her words. Whatever waited for me tomorrow, I had to do my best.

I had a mother to protect and a life of my own to save.

Vaxy was restless too. But unlike me, she wasn’t anxious.

She was excited.

It felt as though she could hardly wait to show everyone what she was capable of.

“Anna?” Mother called softly.

She pulled me gently into her arms and caressed my cheek. “I’m sorry, Anna. I shouldn’t have—”

“I know,” I interrupted.

“If I hadn’t stopped you, he might have done something far worse.” Mother held me tighter. “Maybe leaving the pack wouldn’t be so bad. It would be just you and me, right? We could find another pack. I’ll work harder.”

“Mother…” I buried my face against her shoulder, hiding my red-rimmed eyes. She already had enough to worry about. “It’s all my fault. If only I were stronger…”

“Nonsense, Anna,” Mother whispered. “You are the bravest, strongest, and smartest wolf I have ever known. If someone else had been your mother—”

“Then I wouldn’t be me.” I clung to her more tightly. “I love you. I don’t want anyone else to be my mother.”

Mother let out a quiet sigh. “Maybe it’s time…”

“Time for what?”

“Forget it. I was only rambling.” She hushed me, but her gaze slipped away from mine.

She was clearly hiding something.

Lately, I had begun to feel as though my life had never truly been what I believed it was. There were still so many secrets waiting for me to uncover.

Mother was a she-wolf with a past. I was certain of it. She might act timid like the other Omegas in the pack, but I could feel it in both her and her wolf.

She was more than she appeared to be.

If tomorrow’s selection hadn’t been so close, I might have pushed her for answers. But for now, I needed to get as much rest as I could.

With that thought, I slowly drifted to sleep in the warmth of Mother’s arms.