Chapter 3

"Kneel."

Damon's command cracked like a whip in the air.

The hall fell silent. Every werewolf stopped talking, their gazes fixed on us.

"What did you say?" I looked up at him.

"I said, kneel," he repeated. "Apologize to Lyla, admit to the pathetic creature you've become, and we might consider giving you a kennel to sleep in."

Lyla tugged on his sleeve pathetically. "Damon, let it go, she's my sister…"

"No." Damon shook her off, a twisted pleasure burning in his eyes. "Some people have to learn the hard way. Since Selena still thinks she's someone important, it's time she learned the truth."

He shot a look at a few other Alphas. "You all heard me. The Blood Moon Pack has cut ties with this… thing. She's a homeless rogue. What right does a stray like her have to put on airs here?"

"He's right," Marcus agreed. "The Great Pilgrimage is a sacred event, not a place for any stray mutt to wander in."

"If her own pack doesn't want her, why is she still here?"

I scanned the room.

They were all enjoying the show, their eyes glinting with smugness and scorn.

These idiots thought I was the same helpless she-wolf they could trample on five years ago.

"I'll say it one last time." Damon stepped closer, his presence menacing. "Kneel, apologize, and then get out."

I backed away a few steps, pretending to be intimidated by him.

I retreated until I was next to the altar where the packs had laid their tributes for the Alpha King.

Lyla's tribute was an exquisite silver chalice, filled with holy water from the Blood Moon Pack.

"It seems you want to do this the hard way," Damon's patience ran out. "In that case—"

I suddenly spun around, my arm "accidentally" sweeping across the altar.

CRASH!

The silver chalice hit the floor with a piercing clang. The holy water spilled everywhere.

The hall was dead silent.

"You—" Lyla gasped. "What have you done?"

Damon's eyes flashed crimson. "You desecrated a tribute to the Alpha King!"

His voice was trembling, not with fear, but with exhilaration. "You tried to curse the King! That's a death sentence!"

Perfect.

I knew he would say that.

He used the exact same trick to frame me in our past life.

"Selena, are you crazy?" someone shrieked.

"Is she trying to get herself killed?"

"Now the Alpha King himself will be furious!"

Damon waved his hand, and several Blood Moon guards immediately surrounded me.

"For the crime of desecrating a royal tribute and attempted witchcraft," he announced, "I will carry out the sentence here and now!"

The guards' eyes glowed red as they began to shift. Claws slid from their fingertips, glinting in the light.

"Wait," I said.

"It's too late to beg for mercy!" Damon roared.

I slowly straightened up, looking at the guards who had me surrounded.

Then, I smiled.

"Beg for mercy?" I repeated the words. "You've all made a terrible mistake."

My voice was quiet, but in the silent hall, it was terrifyingly clear.

"I am Alpha King Kael's fated mate."

I looked around at their shocked faces.

"Who dares to touch me?"

The hall exploded.

"What?"

"She's lost her mind!"

"That's impossible!"

Damon froze for a second, then let out a harsh laugh.

"Hahahaha! Selena, you really are insane!" He laughed so hard tears came to his eyes. "The Alpha King's mate? You think a lie like that can save you?"

The other Alphas joined in.

"That's hilarious!"

"A banished outcast claims to be the King's mate!"

"The frost in the North must have finally frozen her brain!"

Lyla covered her mouth, her eyes full of spite. "Selena, it's wrong to lie like this. Everyone knows the King's mate is a woman of unparalleled nobility. Someone like you could never hope to be with him."

Damon's laughter died. "If you're going to tell a lie, you might as well die for it," his expression turned vicious. "Your crime is even greater now—blasphemy on top of deceit!"

He gestured to the guards.

"Take her! Her punishment is doubled!"

The guards began to fully transform. Silver fur sprouted from their skin, their muscles bulged, and their claws grew longer and sharper.

They lunged at me from all sides, their claws carving deadly arcs through the air.