Chapter 2: Hais Sisters

Selene

As for me and my younger sister, Anna, we felt the weight of every eye in the room. Our skin, bronzed and glowing from hours of sunrise training sessions, stood out against the porcelain complexions of the other noblewomen. Our hair, the color of spun honey, caught the light of the crystal chandeliers as we glided across the polished floor.

We were the princesses of the White Wolf, and while the room was filled with heirs hoping to catch our attention with lingering gazes and careful interest, we kept our eyes forward.

It was common knowledge that a mark and bond from a she-white-wolf could significantly bolster a mate’s own strength, but the stakes were far higher when it came to a princess of the bloodline. To claim a princess was to inherit the ultimate power; status, prestige and ancestral authority that could transform a common Alpha into a king overnight. Every unmated male in the room felt the pull.

I leaned closer to Anna, my voice, a mere whisper barely audible over the swelling orchestra. "Try not to look so bored, little sister. Mother is already giving me the look."

Anna let out a soft, melodic laugh, though she kept her posture perfectly poised. "How can I not be? They are all just pretending like peacocks. Every Alpha in here thinks that if he flexes his shoulders hard enough, one of us will just swoon at his feet."

I glanced toward a group of young wolves whispering near the punch bowl, their gazes lingering a bit too long on our dresses. "Let them stare. It doesn't change the fact that they're all just noise."

"Exactly," Anna whispered back, a playful glint in her eyes. "My heart is waiting for something much more than a loud Alpha in a tailored suit. Besides, the air here is starting to feel far too boring. Don't you think?"

"Agreed," I murmured, feeling the phantom itch of my training gear beneath the layers of silk. "I’d trade this entire ballroom for a run through the forest as mother and father carry us on their backs. At least the wolves out there don't pretend to be something they aren't."

Anna squeezed my hand briefly before dropping it to smooth her skirt. "Stay close, Selene. If I have to dance with one more pompous heir, I think I might just accidentally step on his toes."

I smiled, my gaze drifting to the balcony doors. "Just keep smiling and nodding. We’ll be out of here before the night is over, one way or another."

The music shifted to a slower, more intimate tempo, and the crowd began to swirl around us. A young Alpha, his suit tailored to emphasize his broad, powerful shoulders, stepped into my path with a practiced, charming smile.

"Princess Selene," he began, bowing slightly before extending his hand asking me for a dance his name was Jack or was it Jake "I’ve heard legends of your bloodline, but to see it in person… it’s captivating. Are you truly a White Wolf, just like your mother, Luna Agatha?"

Feeling the heat of his palm against mine as we began to move, but my expression remained cool. "I am," I replied, with my voice steady. "Though it’s often misunderstood by those outside our pack."

He arched a brow, intrigued. "How? If I may ask!."

I explained, keeping my tone light but informative. "The White Wolf power is uniquely tied to the women of our clan. While the men of our pack are formidable warriors, the females carry a different kind of strength—we are faster, more resilient, and carry a raw power that is unmatched. In fact, it is specifically when women sink their teeth into their mates during the marking ceremony that the true depth of our power is unlocked and transferred; an Alpha's strength remains merely physical, but once a princess bites her mate, it becomes divine."

He watched me, his eyes widening as the weight of my words sank in. "I had no idea the bond carried that much weight."

"It does," I said, a slight, enigmatic smile touching my lips. "It is a heavy legacy, but one I am proud to bear."

❦───༺🪶༻───❦

Anna

Across the ballroom, Anna was faring similarly. A persistent heir had managed to corner her near the edge of the dance floor. He was younger, his eyes full of restless curiosity typical of someone looking for a shortcut to power.

"I’ve been waiting all night to speak to you," the boy said, his eyes scanning Anna’s face with intense focus. "I know you’re of the lineage, but have you shifted yet? Have you claimed your White Wolf?"

Anna didn't flinch. She simply tilted her head, maintaining her poise. "The White Wolf is not something one simply 'claims'. It is a powerful, ancient force. It is so strong that it requires slow, careful development."

"So, you haven't shifted?" he pressed, his disappointment barely concealed.

"I am eighteen," Anna replied, her voice firm. "Because our gift is so overwhelming, we are granted abilities in stages. I can extend my claws for defense, as can my sister, but the complete transition—the full, unrestrained power of the White Wolf—does not finalize until our twentieth year. We are dangerous long before we are fully shifted” Anna stepped forward closer to him and whispered, “and I assure you; my claws are more than enough to handle anyone who forgets their place."

The young Alpha blinked, the sudden sharpness in her tone catching him off guard. He took a half-step back, realizing that beneath the honey-colored hair, hazel eyes, beautiful girl she was and elegant silk, he was looking at a predator who was far more lethal than he had dared to imagine.