Chapter 2

After over two decades of living, I finally met someone who dared to act cocky before me. Amused, I tilted my head and asked calmly, "What did you want me to say? I didn't hear you the first time."

"Great. You're deaf, too. Listen carefully, alright? 'I'm a useless bitch!' See? It's not that hard."

I burst into laughter. "Okay. I heard you loud and clear now. Since you're a useless bitch, why don't you just step aside and be where you need to be? You're in my way."

Realizing she had been played, Julia let out a sharp scream and lunged at me with her claws bared.

How adorable. I had been trained as a warrior since I was young in the neutral lands, and she naively thought she could attack me. I didn't even need to strike back. The moment she pounced, I simply stepped aside.

She missed completely, her own momentum sending her sprawling face-first onto the floor. The crowd stared at me in shock, eyes wide with terror.

"Oh my! How could she do that to Ms. Stone?"

"If Alpha Falcon finds out, he's gonna tear her apart!"

"Nobody can save her now. She's doomed."

My heart remained calm as I listened to their gasps and whispers. I never knew the meaning of fear. My brother, Donovan Luneborn—the Lycan Chairman—ruled over every pack in this country. Not a single living creature could fear me.

I pulled out the unlimited credit card he had given me and smacked it down on the counter. "Ring it up!"

The clerk's hands trembled as he wrapped the crown, his terrified eyes darting between me and Julia.

I took the box and turned to leave, but Julia staggered to her feet and stepped in front of me. "You're not going anywhere!"

I glanced at the dust on her clothes and asked, "What's wrong? Want to kiss the floor again?"

She flinched instinctively, and I let out a short laugh. Just as I moved to walk past her, the door burst open with a loud bang.

A tall figure emerged. The entire shop went silent the instant he appeared. A powerful Alpha aura swept through the air, pressing down on everyone.

My gaze followed those polished leather shoes upward, and I couldn't help but think, "Well, damn."

He stood about six feet and three inches, strikingly handsome, power radiating from him like he was born to rule. With a pair of broad shoulders and long legs, every movement of his was sharp and deliberate.

The moment Julia saw him, her entire demeanor changed. She ran to him, sobbing, "Alpha Falcon, she stole the crown I wanted and even attacked me!"

So, that was Falcon in the flesh.

Fine, I admitted I was shallow. His looks were exactly my type. No wonder Donovan thought I would be fine with his choice of arranged mate. He truly did know me well.

Honestly, with a face like that, I could almost excuse just how rude he was on the phone earlier.

I studied him from head to toe, then let a slow, satisfied smile curl my lips. "Nice to meet you. I'm Sloane Luneborn, your arranged mate."

The werewolves around us exclaimed in shock.

"What? She's Alpha Falcon's arranged mate?"

"No wonder she was brave enough to offend Julia. Alpha Falcon has got to defend his arranged mate this time, right?"

"You're so naive. It all depends on who Alpha Falcon cares more about…"

Falcon's gaze landed on me, though it contained nothing but sheer disdain. "Don't get carried away. That ridiculous mating contract was my father's decision, not mine. I never agreed to it."

Instantly, Julia latched onto his arm tightly. "You hear that? Someone like you will never deserve to stand beside an Alpha!"

A few voices chimed in at once.

"That's right! Alpha Falcon's mate should be a noble like Ms. Stone, not some ugly nobody from an obscure pack!"

"Yeah, she's not even fit to be in the same room as Ms. Stone."

I never thought of myself as some breathtaking beauty, but I was hardly ugly. Listening to them, though, one would think my look would scare people away.

Some things never changed—people would always worship the strong and trample the weak.

I shook my head and walked past Falcon. "Do me a favor and tell your father to cancel the arrangement. You're not worthy of me."