CHAPTER 1: OATHS AND FUR

MONTHS EARLIER

KATARINA

My aunt informed me it was time just as I finished staring at my reflection for the third time, and my hand flew to my chest as though it could calm my raging heart.

Standing before the tall mirror, I barely recognized the woman staring back at me.

I had been eighteen for three weeks, but it wasn't until I was dressed for my wedding that I truly felt like a woman. The dress was not silk or lace; no Luna of the Blackspear Pack would wear something so simple.

It was made of heavy, warm white bear fur that was skillfully molded to my body. The bear had been hunted and killed by Greyson on the night he claimed his wolf--a white wolf said to be rare, merciless, and destined for dominance.

The bear hunt was a rite of passage. And its fur had been saved for this occasion, waiting for his Luna. It was our custom.

At my throat was a crescent of carved bone, said to shield the Luna from the worst of her Alpha's rage. And I wasn't sure whether that was hope or mockery.

My aunt's voice reached my ears once more, and I took a soft inhale. "It's time, Katarina," she said, and the feeling I'd been suppressing surged even stronger, causing my heart to race.

Underneath all the fur and glam, I was terrified. My sister was Greyson's first choice, but she died just two weeks before they could exchange vows, so I had to take her place. But, unlike her, I received no flowers or promises.

Greyson hadn't even shown up the day I found out I'd be taking my sister's place; his father did. And I'd been asking myself questions ever since, wondering if he was forced to take me and if he despised me.

I also hadn't forgotten what I was... an omega—a low blood girl whose worth ended at scrubbing the packhouse floors and keeping her head down. Girls like me did not become Luna. We didn't stand in the center of ceremonies or wear victory fur. We served and survived, and that was it.

And yet here I was, about to become the first omega to marry an alpha and future leader. Fear tightened every bone in my body. What if he was forced to take me? What if I were just an obligation for him that he couldn't avoid? My thoughts turned traitorous, returning to my sister.

She had been an omega, just like me. Yet Greyson had touched her gently, spoken to her softly, and looked at her as if she meant something to him.

I'd seen it with my own eyes. Perhaps he loved her. After all, they were introduced at twelve and had plenty of time to fall in love, unlike our pair.

I was a last-minute replacement bride, means to save the day. My aunt's hands landed on my shoulders just then, familiar but without the desired effect.

She gently turned me to face her, forcing my gaze to meet hers. “It'll be okay," she said softly. She knew my fears. “If he didn't want to marry you, he wouldn't," she added. “He would have chosen another bride."

The words were meant to be comforting, but doubt flared instead. Had he honestly had that choice? Had my aunt forgotten how this union came about?

Sighing, I reached for my spear, which leaned against the wall, and followed my aunt through the open doors. The grand hall stretched before me, packed to the brim, and the ranks parted to reveal a long aisle of white and silver. Eyes followed me, some curious, and others sharp with judgment.

Greyson waited at the far end, standing tall as if carved by the gods themselves. The bear skull rested on his head, while a massive and heavy mantle of white bear fur draped across his shoulders, identifying him as conqueror and heir.

He was breathtaking, and terrifying, all at once, and every woman's dream.

He did not smile as I approached, his presence so intense it stole the air from my lungs. But I proceeded forward regardless until I closed the gap between us, my heart pounding against my ribs.

I had no idea if I could survive him. But I believed in the gods, and they would not have brought me here otherwise. So I lifted my chin and faced the man who would either make me Luna or break me trying.

My aunt was right: I wouldn't be here if he didn't want me. After all, who would dare to force their will on such a man?

Coming to a halt in front of Greyson, I felt the heat radiating off him, causing a light tremor in my hands. Our eyes locked, and a shudder threatened to betray me. But I held his gaze.

The ceremony unfolded around us, but the words slipped past me like a breeze through trees. All I could feel, all I could see was the man standing before me.

To his right stood Alexander, his second and brother, and to my left stood Cyra, the chief warrior's daughter who had been appointed as my right hand, my blade, and confidant. She was also of Alpha blood, her eyes sharp as they flickered over me, as if measuring how useful I'd be.

The elder's voice rose, cutting through the haze. "Alpha, you may claim your bride."

Greyson raised his spear, and I mirrored him, raising mine as the elder instructed. At his signal, we crossed our weapons, not in competition, but in solidarity. I turned my spear and pressed its butt against the stone beneath my feet, giving up my right to stand alone, and Greyson did the same.

Reaching for my wrist, he drew a shallow line across my palm with the edge of his blade, and I didn't flinch. I repeated the action, keeping my hand steady despite the pounding of my heart. Our blood touched as he closed his hand around mine, sealing the bond in front of the pack and the gods.

Then his lips claimed mine in my first kiss, and I shuddered. They were firm, claiming rather than asking, but not harsh. And the ground swayed beneath my feet as the sensation rushed through me like a storm. A moan echoed through me despite not meaning to as the bond came to life, heat blooming low in my spine.

Wrapping his arm around me before I could gather my thoughts, Greyson lifted me into his arms. Tradition required him to carry his Luna from the ceremony to our suite, demonstrating strength, possession, and protection in one act.

The pack howled as he turned away, leading me to the special room reserved for our special night. And my heart began racing again as the doors closed behind us, sealing us off from the rest of the world.

The suite, like everything else in this place, screamed luxury, and Greyson wasted no time in reaching for the fastenings of my gown with the same unreadable intensity he had worn all night.

But his hands were mechanical, as if this were another ritual to be performed rather than a moment to be felt.

The white bear fur slid down my shoulders, and the rest of the gown followed, pooling at my feet with a soft hitch of breath.

He lifted a hand to cup my cheek, and the touch sent a shiver down my spine as I stood bare before him. My lashes fluttered shut, and I braced myself, waiting for his mouth to claim mine again as he tilted my face.

But the kiss never came. Instead, the touch disappeared, leaving me confused. My eyes fluttered open, and a scream tore through my chest.

Shamelessly naked before me stood not my husband but Alexander, his brother.