Chapter 1

Reya

"Stand straighter, Reya. You look like a hunchback standing next to your sister," my mother, Eleanor, hissed the words directly into my ear.

She did not actually look at my face while she spoke. Her eyes were completely glued to my younger sister, Bernice, who was currently preening in front of a massive mirror.

I sighed and adjusted my posture by a fraction of an inch. "I am standing perfectly straight, Mother. Perhaps it is just the weight of your ridiculous expectations bending my spine."

Eleanor sharply inhaled, her face turning a light shade of pink. "Do not use that tone with me, young lady. Tonight is the most important night of our lives. Your sister is a pure white wolf. She represents the future of the Oakwood pack. You are just here to make sure she looks flawless."

I kept my mouth shut because arguing with my mother was like trying to talk to a brick wall. It was a complete waste of my breath. I turned my head and looked at my own reflection in the long glass panels near the door. My parents had forced me into a simple, dark forest green dress. The fabric was cheap, and the cut was completely basic. It was designed to make me blend into the curtains so that all the attention would stay on Bernice. At twenty-one years old, I was already the official backup plan of this family.

Bernice, on the other hand, looked like a walking pile of cash. She was nineteen, her golden hair fell in perfect curls down her back, and she wore an expensive white silk gown that cost more than the pack’s entire winter food budget. She was the family prize because she had shifted into a pure white wolf.

Bernice turned around from the mirror, a nasty little smirk on her face. "Oh, look, Reya. The Southern Valley delegation just arrived at the main gates. Alpha Skylar Raver is here. He is incredibly wealthy, handsome, and completely out of your league. Do not even bother looking in his direction tonight."

I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms. "Don't worry, Bernice. I wouldn't want to strain my eyes looking at a guy who clearly spends more time grooming his hair than managing his borders. He looks like a massive narcissist."

"You are just an envious little loser," Bernice snapped, her blue eyes narrowing. "You are jealous because I am the one getting all the attention while you are just the quiet helper who manages our ledgers."

"Girls, stop bickering right now," our father, Alpha Thomas, commanded as he walked into the dressing room. He adjusted his heavy gold cuffs and checked his watch. "The ballroom doors are opening. We need to go down right now. Remember, the Fated Solstice is not a game. The Moon Goddess watches us tonight."

We followed him down the grand stone staircase and entered the main ballroom. The room was packed with hundreds of high-ranking wolves from different territories. The air was incredibly thick with the mixed scents of expensive perfumes, alcohol, and dominant alpha auras.

I hated crowds, but more than that, I hated the hidden pressure building up inside my own chest. I had a massive secret that my family knew absolutely nothing about. When I turned eighteen, I did not just shift into a normal wolf. I discovered that I had a rare, ancient magic sleeping inside my bones. I could control shadows, and even worse, I could instinctively suppress the dominant, suffocating auras of other Alphas. I kept this power locked down tight. If my greedy parents ever found out I could neutralize an Alpha, they would sell me to the highest bidder as a political weapon.

"Look at him," Bernice whispered, nudging my shoulder aggressively. "That is Skylar. He is so hot."

I looked toward the main entrance. A golden aura, bright and completely loud, erupted into the room. Alpha Skylar Raver walked in. He had short blonde hair, cold hazel eyes, and he wore polished leather armor that practically screamed old money. He carried himself with an annoying amount of pride.

Suddenly, a strange spark ignited in the dead center of my chest. It was not my usual cold shadow magic. It was a burning, violently sweet pull that tore right through my soul. My heart slammed against my ribs so hard it actually hurt.

I gasped out loud, stumbling back a step.

At that exact same moment, Skylar completely froze in the middle of the room. His hazel eyes swept across the crowd, completely ignoring the high-ranking alpha daughters who were trying to get his attention. He did not even look at Bernice, who was waving at him. His eyes locked directly onto me.

Mate. The word popped into my brain like a loud alarm. It was the divine decree from the Moon Goddess.

The entire ballroom went completely dead silent. Nobody moved. Skylar pushed past his own guards and marched straight across the polished floor. His chest was heaving, and his eyes were wide with total shock. The wealthy, highly successful ruler of the Southern Valley was walking right toward the invisible sister.

My mother gripped my arm tightly. "Reya, get out of the way. He is coming to talk to Bernice. Move back."

I couldn't move. My feet felt like they were glued to the floor.

Skylar stopped right in front of me. A slow, captivated smile spread across his handsome face. He completely ignored my mother, and he did not even glance at Bernice, who had a horrified expression on her face. Skylar bowed deeply, holding his hand out to me.

"I believe the goddess has saved the most exquisite secret for me," Skylar murmured, his voice smooth and clear. "Will you do me the honor of this dance, my beautiful mate?"

I stared at his open palm. For a second, looking at the stunned, pale faces of my parents and my sister, I thought I had finally won my freedom from their cruelty. I reached out and placed my hand in his, the sparks of the fated bond exploding across my skin.