Chapter 1

After graduation, I spent a year apprenticing under my mentor in the neutral lands, where there were no packs, no laws, and no one to protect me.

My sister, Evelina Duskbane, the Lycan Chairwoman, nearly lost her mind over it. She was terrified I would fall for some Rogue and recklessly form a mate bond.

So before I could decide anything for myself, she approved an arranged match for me.

Seris Thornhart, the only daughter of Alpha Alaric Thornhart of Frostfang, the strongest pack in Northmere. Beautiful, dangerous, and legendary.

Then Evelina ordered me home for the mating ceremony, leaving me no choice but to visit the finest ceremonial motor house in the city and select a wedding car worthy of the occasion.

The moment I stepped inside, my eyes went straight to a silver wedding car with a black crest worked into the bodywork. Just as I reached for the reservation tag beside it, a lazy male voice cut in.

"I like the one he's chosen. I'll take it. Hand it over."

Before I could react, the clerk snatched the tag from my hand, nearly scraping my skin. I straightened and forced myself to stay calm.

"Ever heard of first come, first served? I saw it first. Is this how you do business here?"

The male wolf turned to me with a mocking look.

"That car costs three hundred thousand dollars. You sure you can afford it, peasant? I grew up with Lady Seris Thornhart. Around here, I make the rules."

I stared at him, almost amused.

What a coincidence.

Seris Thornhart just happened to be the woman chosen for me.

I pulled out my phone and called her.

"Seris, your precious childhood friend just took the wedding car for our mating procession. What do you think I should do about that?"

...

Calling someone a childhood friend might sound harmless at first, but everyone knew it usually meant more than that. If Frostfang's heiress could not explain what happened today, then this mating ceremony might as well be called off.

To my surprise, Seris's cold voice came back with a question instead.

"Who is this? And who are you to say anything about Dorian?"

Before I could remind her who I was, the man chosen for her, the marriage her father had paid dearly to secure, the call ended.

Anger rose in my chest.

Perfect.

My arranged mate did not even have my number saved.

Dorian Wraith let out a loud laugh, looking more pleased with himself by the second.

"How pitiful. I don't know how you got Seris's number, but you didn't seriously think she'd help you just because you called, did you?"

A mocking smile curved his lips as his gaze swept over me.

"Even the lowest guard in Frostfang's estate has more right to stand here than you do. What gave you the right to speak to me like that?"

I had never cared much about appearances. As long as what I wore was clean and comfortable, that was enough. I just had not expected something so trivial to be used against me one day.

"Sorry," I said coldly, "I'm not interested in proving my worth through appearances. That's usually what insecure people care about most. And considering Seris willingly kept you by her side all these years, I'd say she's no better."

After the scene he had caused, I had lost all interest in browsing. I pointed to the ceremonial wedding car I had just selected and turned to the clerk.

"I'll take that one. Prepare the papers."

The clerk froze, clearly uneasy.

"Sorry, sir, we give priority to high-ranking pack members…"

Dorian chuckled and lifted his chin, tapping the polished badge pinned to his chest. It bore the mark of Frostfang's inner circle.

"See this?" he said with a sneer. "Lady Seris stands behind me. You? No name, no standing, no one to answer for you. So stop acting like you're above me."

I was not usually someone who enjoyed arguing, but he had pushed me far enough. I crossed my arms and released my power.

The force in my bloodline surged out in silence, crushing the air inside the motor house. The temperature seemed to drop. The lights overhead flickered, and Dorian's smug smile vanished.

I asked calmly, "How's that? Is that enough to prove I'm not just some nobody?"

He recovered quickly, though the brief fear in his eyes had not escaped me.

"So what?" he snapped. "I've never heard of you. You're probably still some nobody from a small, worthless pack."

Then he turned to the clerk, his tone sharp.

"You must be new, so let me make this clear. This is Northmere, under Alpha Alaric Thornhart's rule. If you dare hand that car to him, this place won't last until dawn."

The clerk's hand trembled around the file as though it had suddenly become too heavy to hold.

He looked at me, voice shaking.

"Sir, I'm just trying to make a living. I can't afford to offend Frostfang. Please… don't make this harder for me."

The customers around us had already begun whispering.

"I've seen Mr. Wraith here before. Lady Seris really spoils him. No one gets what they want if he decides otherwise."

"One time, some werewolf made him uncomfortable just by looking at him too long. Lady Seris had the man thrown out of the pack the very next day."

"Sir, you may have a strong bloodline, but compared to Frostfang's heiress, you're nothing. If you know what's good for you, lower your head and apologize to Mr. Wraith."

Dorian's smile only grew brighter as the fear and submission around him fed his arrogance. He took a few slow steps closer, the heels of his boots striking the floor with crisp, deliberate clicks.

"That's right," he said. "Kneel, lower your head, and admit you had no right to touch what I wanted."

He looked me up and down, eyes full of contempt.

"If you do that, I might consider letting you walk out of here with a little dignity left."