Chapter 1

Sabrina’s coming of age was coming up fast. She knew her Silver Stars pack’s tradition for her Alpha bloodline being the first Alpha female born in three generations, males everywhere had been trying to get her attention. One problem as the heir, it came with a burden that she didn’t want; she didn’t just have to choose a mate, the rest would end up in a male Harem.

Her official mate, her main, would rise to Alpha as she assumed her place as Luna. The remaining males, whether Alpha Heir, Beta Heir, Delta Heir, Gamma Heir, or common males of age, would each come forward to vie for her hand in marriage. Those she chose would enter her Harem, becoming her mates as well, but beneath her authority. Her word was law.

However, once in the Harem, their birth rank won’t help them; it will be up to them to behave. Power games were known to happen from accidents, mishaps, and framing, and ran rampant after all; each male in the Harem wanted as much chance as the main to have a pup with their ‘mate’, as her main.

Even then, this was rare unless she went into heat while her main was away, and, depending on how long her heat lasted, it affected their chances.

After she chose her main, she would choose her second, he would be the head of the Harem, after her, a third and a fourth. These would be the top males and most likely to father a pup after the main. In most cases, there would be up to twenty males in the Harem beyond the main. This is where the power games came in: some would spike others’ drinks. The one who spiked the drink would get maids to sleep with the competition, as cheating was a serious offence and meant a death sentence. Willing or not, it didn’t matter; they were meant to stay pure for their lady of the Harem.

Sabrina had read over the history of what she was being pushed into. Choosing these males for the Harem meant, in most cases, death was waiting to collect.

The official mate Sabrina took was what her pack called the mate of heart and soul; the Harem was divine choice mates, granted by the Goddess.

Sabrina’s stomach twisted as she stared at the ancient texts spread across her bedroom floor. The history of the Silver Stars pack was written in blood and tradition, traditions that now threatened to consume her.

She ran her fingers over the yellowed pages, feeling the weight of centuries pressing down on her shoulders. The Harem had been established as a sacred institution, a way to honour the Goddess’s divine choice. But to Sabrina, it seemed like nothing more than a glorified breeding program disguised as spiritual devotion.

Her father had tried to explain it to her last night, his voice carrying that particular tone he used when discussing matters of pack politics.

“It’s an honour, Sabrina. The Goddess has blessed you with this responsibility.”

Honour. The word tasted bitter on her tongue. What honour was there in sentencing dozens of men to a life of competition and potential death?

A knock at her door pulled her from her thoughts.

“Enter.”

Her Beta Heir, Riley, and a good friend of hers came in.

“Hey,” Riley said, his voice soft with concern. He stood in the doorway, his tall frame silhouetted against the hallway light. “Your father sent me to check on you.”

Sabrina didn’t look up from the ancient texts. “I’m fine.”

Riley closed the door behind him and crossed the room, lowering himself to sit beside her. His pine scent washed over her, comforting in its familiarity.

“You’re not fine,” he said, gesturing at the scattered books. “You’ve been held up in here for days.”

Sabrina’s throat tightened. Of all people, Riley understood the weight of tradition. As Beta Heir, he would be expected to vie for a place in her Harem if she chose someone else as her main.

“I can’t do this,” she whispered, finally meeting his gaze. His hazel eyes held a depth of understanding that made her want to both cry and confess everything.

Riley’s expression softened. “You don’t have a choice.”

“That’s what everyone keeps saying.” She slammed the book closed, sending a cloud of dust into the air. “But I’m supposed to be Luna. Shouldn’t I have some say in this?”

Riley hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “The pack needs stability. Your Harem ensures that.”

“By pitting men against each other? By creating a system where the strongest survive?” Sabrina stood, pacing the length of her room. “I’ve read about the deaths, Riley. The ‘accidents’ that happen when competition gets too fierce.”

He stood too, his hands raised in a placating gesture. “That’s why you need to choose carefully. Pick men who respect you, who respect each other.”

“Like you?” The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Riley’s face went still. “If that’s what you want.”

The implication hung heavy between them. If she chose Riley as her main, he would become Alpha. The power dynamics would shift completely.

“I don’t know what I want,” Sabrina admitted, her voice small. “Except that I don’t want this responsibility. I don’t want to be responsible for men’s lives.”

Riley stepped closer, his voice dropping. “You’re stronger than you think. The Goddess wouldn’t have chosen you if you weren’t.”

Sabrina laughed bitterly. “The Goddess. Right. Because the Goddess definitely wants me to sentence men to a life of competition and jealousy.”

Riley’s hand found hers, warm and steady. “The Harem isn’t just about breeding, Sabrina. It’s about balance. About creating a council of men who will support you, protect you.”

“By killing each other?”

“By finding their place in your life.” He squeezed her hand. “Not everyone sees it as a death sentence.”

Sabrina looked at their joined hands. Riley had been her friend since childhood. He’d always been there through her mother’s death, through her first shift, through every challenge of growing up as the future Luna.

“What if I choose you?” she asked, her heart hammering in her chest.