Chapter 1

ELIZABETH’S POV

“Choose your fiancé from one of the triplets, Elizabeth, and you will be engaged within the next summer.”

I stare blankly at the photos my father placed before me, portraits of the famous and formidable Ashford triplets—Alexander, Kai, and Ronan Ashford.

I’m well aware of who they are, though I've never actually met them before. They are Alpha heirs of the Shadowfang Pack, which is second in power to none other than the Royal Pack, led by our Alpha King—my father.

But…engagement? With one of them?

“My daughter,” he begins. “Any one of them would make a perfectly suitable match. Not only are they the most powerful Alpha heirs in the kingdom, they're also the top elite students at Moonhaven Royal Academy, rivaled by none. You can't achieve better than them.”

I clench my jaw. “Father, I already have a boyfriend whom I love. Gideon promised to propose when he returns from the army. How can l just marry someone else?”

“Gideon is a Gamma,” he says with a sharp tut, waving a dismissive hand. “Any union with him won’t possibly last.”

My face felt hot. “Status doesn't matter to me. I refuse to be trapped in an arranged marriage. All I want is to be with someone I love, and who loves me as I am. Please, father—it’s my life!”

I don’t know Alexander, Kai, or Ronan Ashford, but I know all they want is the power to further their own selfish gains. And what better way to achieve that than to marry the daughter of the Alpha King?

“That boy is not fit to marry my daughter,” he says, frowning at me. “as the Princess of this kingdom, you will marry whom I say, whether you like it or not.”

My fists tremble with outrage and fury. “Even if it means sentencing me to an unhappy life with a self-interested Alpha?”

His jaw tenses. “You’ll learn to love each other. I can assure you that.”

I breathe shakily. There’s no way l can marry one of them. There's got to be a way to expose the truth to father, that the Ashford triplets are nothing but shallow, power-hungry—

And then it hits me.

“If you think they’re capable of loving me,” I lift my gaze to meet father’s, “then let them prove it themselves.”

His brow furrows. “Go ahead.”

“Let me attend Moonhaven,” I propose. “I’ll live among the Ashford triplets while observing them from afar, so I can determine who is worthy of marrying me. But—” I pause, “they won’t know who I am. If they can fall in love with me without knowing who I am, then you get what you want.”

father’s expression turns careful. “And if they don’t?”

“The marriage is cancelled, and you cannot interfere in any of the decisions I make for the rest of my life.”

A heavy silence hangs between us. I nervously wait for his answer, and the seconds that tick by feel like an eternity, before—

“Fine.”

My heart soars. “A deal, then?” I ask, holding my hand out.

“Alpha to Alpha. I expect you to uphold your end of the bargain,” father shakes my hand.

I swallow, but nod. Marriage can’t—won’t happen. I intend to expose their cold, selfish hearts.

Today is my first day for school. The day my mission to destroy this arranged marriage begins.

Moonhaven Royal Academy nestled within the heart of the capital, which is the most prestigious academy in the kingdom. Only the most capable Alphas and Betas are recruited, though some talented Omegas will occasionally be selected for enrollment to reflect fairness.

To avoid potential discrimination and bullying, Moonhaven pays close attention to the students’ hierarchical privacy, enforcing a strict ‘Don’t Ask’ policy… which is perfect for me.

If I refuse to disclose my background, then my secrets stay mine.

To ensure I'm not detected, I dressed in a plain, black long-sleeved shirt and a modest khaki skirt, my ginger hair dangling loosely around my shoulders, styled simply. I also procured a special perfume to mask my Alpha Aura and tame my wolf, Liora.

I'm determined to remain hidden while I'm here.

The moment I set foot in the entrance hall, I spot three tall, distinct figures with similar dark hair and piercing ice-blue eyes in full command of the room among the crowd.

My body stiffens.

I found the Ashford triplets sooner than expected.

Alexander Ashford, the eldest heir, stands in the center of the entrance hall, calmly directing students to a table filled with merchandise. His sharp features reflect his strong and ruthless personality, befitting the heir to the powerful Shadowfang Pack. Even from across the room, he exudes pure confidence—like he knows he’s capable of greatness.

Surrounded by a gaggle of excited students is Kai Ashford, the second heir. Rumors call him a playboy, and judging by the way he flirts with all of the girls, I assume it’s true. father constantly praises his business intellect, saying someone like him could expand our economy tremendously.

The third heir, Ronan Ashford, sits at the table with his legs propped up. The blatant scar across his eyebrow and rippling biceps make him recognizable. Despite being the youngest, he’s known for his impeccable fighting skills.

In person, they’re… certainly easy on the eyes, and their charm is undeniable.

But that’s not enough to stop me from breaking this engagement.

“That’s right. You’re welcome to an exclusive cultural shirt, as long as you leave your name for us.”

My ears perk at that. Cultural shirts?

Ah, it must be for Orientation Week. It is almost over, and I'm the only one who missed it all because of temporary enrollment. That alone is bound to make me stand out.

Before the triplets catch any whiff of my presence, I should sneak away and find my room.

I swiftly turn away to head further into the hall, when—

“You there. Hold on a moment.”

I bite back a curse, and reluctantly turn around to face him, and my breath hitches.

To my shock and dismay, it’s none other than the eldest heir of the Shadowfang Pack, and one of my potential suitors: Alexander Ashford.

My damn luck.

I swallow thickly, tearing my gaze away. “Do you need something from me?”

“You’re new, right? What are you doing here? ” His statement is observant, with the intent of studying me.

“... Yes, I am,” I answer slowly, unsure how to take this sudden interest. “I just wanted to find my room.”

“Well, I’m afraid I can’t let you go unless you accept one of Moonhaven’s cultural shirts,” he says with a gesture towards the busy table, a charismatic smile spreading on his face. “What do you say? Care to show some school pride?”

I hesitate. I shouldn’t stay longer than I need to, especially around him, but my wolf is practically bursting at the seams, as if she wants me to stay here.

What's wrong with you? l ask in my mind, puzzled.

She doesn't respond. Somehow I get the feeling that if I don’t accept, she'll expose me before I can begin my mission.

I relent, smiling softly. “That sounds fun. Thank you.”

I approach the table, which has now been vacated by most of the crowd of students, and scribble down my fake name.

From the moment I pick up the pen to when I finish writing down the last letter, I feel three pairs of ice-blue eyes pierce through me. Like hunters stalking their prey.

“Lizzie, huh? Why did I never see you in the Orientation Week?”

I glance up, meeting the watchful gaze of the youngest brother: Ronan Ashford. Instinct tells me that, while I should be careful around him, I cannot avoid answering his questions.

I sigh, feigning exasperation. “There was an issue with my enrollment. Some paperwork was misplaced, so I had to resubmit them.”

It’s a lie, part of my cover-up, in case anyone was to ask me.

“I’ve never heard of that happening before.”

“Yeah, it was a real pain,” I say. “I can’t believe I had to miss out on my first week because of it.”

Alexander speaks up this time. “Strange that it happened so close to the start of the semester,” he remarks, leaning casually against the table. “Were you on some sort of waitlist or something?”

They’re trying to get a feel for me… but why?

A thought creeps into the back of my mind, unease prickling at my skin.

Could it be that they already know who I am…?

No, that’s not possible. This is my first time in Moonhaven. No one but father and Landon know that I’m here.

I huff a short, awkward laugh. “You sure have a lot of questions. There’s really not that much to know about me.”

Alexander’s eyes narrow. The sheer power behind his icy gaze is daunting… even mesmerizing in a way that appeals to the Alpha blood coursing through my veins, and it almost compels me to submit.

But I hold strong, steeling myself before him.

“Oh, really?” A warm, masculine voice teases, which I immediately deduce to be Kai Ashford, the second Ashford heir.

His hot breath brushes against my face, tickling me, though I remain still. “Why I think you’re lying, Princess Elizabeth?”