Two

Except the gown had other ideas.

The stiff fabric snagged halfway down, trapping her arms above her head like she was a criminal being arrested by a particularly sparkly curtain.

“…Seriously?” Seren’s muffled voice echoed inside the folds. She wrestled with the thing, thrashing until she stumbled into the nightstand with a loud thunk. The medicine cup rattled, barely saving itself from spilling.

[Tip: Grace is attractive to Alphas.]

“Oh, shut up,” Seren hissed, finally popping her head through the neckline, hair sticking up like she’d been electrocuted. She yanked the sleeves down with a grunt. “You’d think the Moon Goddess would give her cannon fodder better tailoring.”

[Reminder: Cannon fodder should not complain.]

Seren glared at the glowing blue text hovering smugly in the air. “Then upgrade me to background extra. I’ll happily stand in a corner and eat hors d’oeuvres.”

The System blinked. [Invalid request.]

“Figures.” Seren sighed and glanced toward the vanity on the far side of the room. The surface gleamed with an array of sparkling trinkets: necklaces that looked like they belonged to a cheap jewelry stall, a few hairpins, a tiara that was three rhinestones away from gaudy.

“Well, desperate times.” She plopped into the chair and started fastening things onto herself with no plan whatsoever. A necklace tangled with another, a hairpin clattered to the floor, and the tiara sat crookedly on her head.

[Note: Jewelry coordination increases attraction rate.]

“Coordination?” Seren tugged at the crooked tiara, which wobbled like a drunk crown. “Listen, System, I am not entering a mating pageant. If the Alpha wants a mate, he can pick the one glowing with divine approval. I’ll be the girl in the background looking like a bedazzled chandelier explosion.”

[Attraction rate: -2.]

“Ha! Good. Keep lowering it. Maybe he won’t look at me at all.”

When she finally pushed herself up, the mirror reflected her back. She barely recognized the pale-faced, fever-bright eyes staring back at her. The gown shimmered, the rhinestones winked, but underneath… she still looked like herself. Seren Han. Not Seren Nightwind. Not the rival.

Her chest tightened for half a breath before she forced herself to smirk. “All right. Let’s go ruin someone else’s happily ever after.”

---

The manor’s narrow halls creaked under her slippers as she made her way toward the front. No maids scurried about to fuss over her hair or hem — there weren’t any. The Nightwinds were a family in name only: low-ranking wolves clinging to scraps of dignity.

And waiting in the living room was Lord Nightwind.

Her father turned when she entered, eyes scanning her from head to toe. To Seren’s irritation, his lips curled in approval. “Better. Much better. You almost look like you belong there.”

“Almost?” Seren muttered.

He ignored the bite in her tone, smoothing down his formal jacket — black with a thin silver trim, just ostentatious enough to scream, Notice me, I’m important too! His graying hair had been slicked back, his sharp features gleaming with ambition.

“You must keep your posture straight, Seren,” he instructed, circling her like a hawk. “Do not look nervous. Do not falter. Tonight is your chance. If Alpha Kael spares even a glance in your direction, our family name will rise.”

Seren bit back a laugh. “And if he doesn’t?”

“Then you make him,” her father snapped, grabbing her chin between his fingers and tilting her face up. His gaze was harsh, but his smile was all calculation. “You are beautiful enough. Play your part.”

Beautiful enough to be a mistress. Beautiful enough to be cannon fodder. Seren’s pulse throbbed in her ears, but she schooled her face into a blank mask.

[Quest Timer: 02:14:09 until Ceremony.]

The System’s clock glowed in the corner of her vision. Two hours. Two hours until she had to stand in front of the entire pack and laugh at Nova’s rejection.

Her father released her, satisfied. “You’ll do. Now—” he straightened his cuffs, pride swelling in his chest— “tonight, Seren Nightwind will prove her worth.”

Seren smiled thinly. Yeah. Just maybe not the way you think.

Lord Nightwind checked the silver watch clipped at his waist and gave a brisk nod. “The car is waiting. Do not slouch, Seren. Every pair of eyes tonight will be watching.”

Great. Nothing like a live audience for my public execution, Seren thought, following him out of the living room.

---

The manor’s front doors groaned open to reveal a battered black carriage — not the sleek kind the noble families would arrive in, but the rattling, outdated sort that looked like it belonged to the clearance section of history. The horses pawed at the dirt impatiently, their tack worn but polished within an inch of its life.

Her father climbed in first, gesturing for her to follow. Seren gathered her skirts awkwardly and hauled herself up, nearly tripping over the hem in the process.

[Coordination: -1]

“Oh, you’re a riot,” she muttered at the System, swatting the blue text away like an annoying fly.

The carriage jolted forward, wheels crunching along the gravel path. Seren leaned back against the cracked leather seat, peering out the window as the Nightwind estate fell behind them. Their land was meager: a scattering of fields, a few thin woods, nothing compared to the sprawling territories of the higher houses.

Soon, the narrow road spilled into the heart of the pack’s domain. Lanterns strung between trees bathed the path in golden light. Wolves and nobles alike were already gathering, their fine gowns and sharp suits gleaming beneath the full-bellied moon. Seren could hear the faint beat of ceremonial drums carrying on the night air, each thump echoing in her chest like a countdown.

Her father sat stiffly across from her, straightening his jacket every few seconds. He radiated nerves disguised as dignity, his knee bouncing with restrained energy.

“You must remember,” he said, voice tight, “tonight is not only about the mate ceremony. It is about alliances. Appearances. This is our chance to show that the Nightwinds are still worth notice.”

“Mm.” Seren hummed, eyes on the glowing lanterns swaying outside.

“Do not ‘mm’ me,” he snapped, catching her lack of enthusiasm. “You will not squander this.”

Seren turned from the window and met his sharp gaze. “Don’t worry, Father. I’ll make sure everyone notices me.”

Something in her tone made him frown, suspicion flickering in his eyes, but before he could press, the carriage lurched to a halt.

---

The ceremony grounds spread before them like a scene ripped straight from a painting. A wide clearing encircled by ancient pines, their branches heavy with ribbons and lights. Bonfires blazed at the corners, sparks swirling into the night sky. Wolves in both human and beast form prowled the edges, the air thrumming with anticipation and the weight of old tradition.

In the center stood a stone dais carved with crescent moons, the stage where the Moon Goddess’s will would be revealed.

Seren’s stomach sank as she stepped down from the carriage, her jeweled shoes crunching against the packed earth. The crowd’s eyes slid over her, some curious, some dismissive — most not bothering to linger at all. After all, everyone already knew who the heroine of the night would be.

[Quest: Laugh at the heroine when she is rejected.]

[Time Remaining: 01:42:56]

Seren squared her shoulders, lifted her chin, and let out a quiet breath.

“Showtime.”