Chapter 1

Adelaide's POV

The council hall of the Bloodmoon Pack hummed with cedar and damp.

I shrugged off my sweat-drenched silver fox cloak, my fingers absently tracing the Moon Goddess pendant at my throat.

The bronze throne beside me yawned empty—Alpha Ulrik's seat.

Boots echoed on stone steps before the door burst open, snowmelt and pine scent flooding in.

I knocked over the mead jug, rising to greet him, amber liquid pooling over the sheepskin map.

"You're finally back," I managed, my voice catching.

A year ago, we'd pledged ourselves as mates before the pack. Then the Lycan King summoned him north.

He never even marked me.

Now, as I looked at him, my mind was a tangled web.

My wolf let out a faint, rebellious snarl, catching a tangle of scents on Ulrik's trail that made its hackles rise.

Now Ulrik stood armored and alive, his jaw set in that familiar stubborn line.

"Adelaide, the Lycan King's declared Velda will join the Bloodmoon Pack. I'll mark her."

My wolf snarled low in my ribs, scenting the musk of another female on him.

"Lycan Luna swore Velda was a warrior through and through. Will she kneel as a breeder?"

As soon as I finished speaking, Ulrik's cedar scent, laced with his Alpha aura, swept over me like a tidal wave.

He strode past me toward the throne, the tail of his sword scabbard scraping water-soaked stone and scraping up dark red moss.

"I'm marking her as my mate," his voice carried a sharp edge of anger. "She'll be my second Luna, just like you—equal in the Bloodmoon Pack."

The silver chain snapped in my fist. The moonstone pendant clattered toward a rain puddle.

"Two Lunas? The Moon Goddess would rage, and Bloodmoon would weaken..." I ground the shattered gem beneath my heel. The rain pounding outside the Packhouse suddenly roared in my ears. "Last year, on this day, you swore before her statue that my eyes were brighter than midsummer's—"

"Those were pheromones talking!" he roared, slit pupils narrowing as lightning flashed.

His sword hissed free, the tip lifting my damp collar. "Look at your neck. Even the temporary mark's fading."

He sheathed the blade with a metallic sigh. "Velda and I fought side by side in the north. I admired her. I used my campaign merits to petition the Lycan King for her place here. As my mate. Truth is, I didn't need your approval."

I stared at my flushed face reflected in the blade, memories flooding back of the East Wing collapse during the dry season.

Those sweltering nights hauling basalt in the heat—Ulrik's messengers always claimed war made replies impossible.

Turns out, the cornflower seeds in the battle reports were never for me.

I let out a soft laugh, but when I spoke again, my voice was laced with sarcasm. "So you 'admire' her? What about the promises you made before you left for the northern tribes? You said if I fulfilled my duties as Bloodmoon's Luna, you'd use your merits to help save Frostfang Pack."

Ulrik's expression turned awkward.

He looked away, his voice tight. "Let's just forget those words. When we pledged to be mates, I hadn't met Velda yet. You were always suited to be a Luna... and now, I need something real."

I watched him, noting the tenderness in his eyes whenever he spoke of Velda.

Soon, he turned back to me. "She's unlike any she-wolf I've ever met. I love her."

I felt like I'd swallowed a fly—disgusted, but I pushed through the lump in my throat.

"And the elder Alpha and Luna—they agree?"

"Of course. It's the Lycan King's decree. My father, as former Alpha, understands its weight. Besides, they adore Velda."

They actually agreed? How ironic.

After all I'd done for Bloodmoon this past year, this was my reward.

"Is she already here? Why can't I sense her?"

I frowned, my wolf snarling in my mind as its tail lashed against my spine.

"No intruder's scent," it growled back.

Ulrik's gaze flickered, then he snapped, "She'll be my mate soon. I've already given her a temporary mark."

My wolf erupted in a snarl of fury.

Though Ulrik hadn't fully marked me, our vows before the Moon Goddess had forged a mate bond.

Giving another she-wolf a temporary mark was betrayal plain and clear.

Sensing my rage, he sheathed his sword with a metallic screech that startled the starlings nesting outside.

His ironclad armor slammed into me, knocking me back. The bronze candelabra behind me thudded as I collided with it.

"I know you feel wronged," he said, silhouetted against the light, "but it's the Lycan King's command." He paused at the stone door. "You're still the nominal Luna—until the pack grows familiar with Velda."

I forced a smile. "Then have Velda come see me. I have questions for her."

Ulrik refused flatly. "No need. She's not like the simpering she-wolves you know. A warrior through and through, too proud for petty jealousy."

I countered, "What does that make the she-wolves I know? Or what does it make me, in your eyes?"

Chapter 2

Adelaide's POV

"Alpha Ulrik, you seem to forget I'm the daughter of the Frostfang's Alpha. Alpha blood runs through my veins..."

Ulrik cut me off with a snort. "You grew up shielded by your parents and pack. You've never seen war's teeth, never faced a real battle. Velda despises soft wolves like you. I'm sparing you the humiliation of her tongue."

I lifted my chin, voice steady as the north wind. "If she insults me, I'll let it slide. Keeping the bigger picture in mind is Luna's first duty, isn't it? You said yourself I'm perfect for the role."

He raked a hand through his rain-damp hair. "Why court trouble? The Lycan King's orders stand. Even as my Luna, Velda won't interfere with pack management. She disdains everything you value."

"Do I cling so desperately to being Bloodmoon's Luna?" I countered, fingers tightening around the comb in my grip.

Ulrik was a fearless fighter, but managing a pack? It was not his strong suit.

The former Luna's wolf was failing—Digby's potions were the only thing keeping her alive, and they were expensive.

Running the pack cost a fortune—food, medicine, everything.

Bloodmoon's accounts were practically empty.

For the past year, it had been my Frostfang assets keeping them afloat.

And this was the thanks I got?

Ulrik lost his patience. "Forget it. I'm done talking. I just had to inform you—you can agree or not, but it won't change a thing."

I watched him turn and leave without a backward glance. Bitterness flooded me.

I walked back to my cottage through the storm.

The house, a short distance from the Packhouse, felt lonelier now. I used to wonder why Ulrik never invited me into his home.

Now I understood.

Beata, my omega from Frostfang, was waiting inside.

After showering and changing out of my rain-soaked clothes, I sat at the vanity to comb my golden hair.

I filled Beata in on what had happened.

Beata sniffled. "Luna Adelaide, Alpha Ulrik is such a jerk. He's your mate—how could he do this?"

"Knock it off," I snapped, shooting her a glare. "He never marked me. That temporary bite on my neck? Just a scratch. He's not my real mate. Now fetch the Frostfang asset ledger."

"Why the ledger?" Beata wiped her eyes.

I tapped her ear. "Dense much? If Bloodmoon's Alpha treats me like dirt, why stick around as their lackey?"

Beata rubbed her ringing ear. "But the alliance—Luna Airella arranged it. Alpha Bentley wanted pureblood pups from you."

Hearing my mother's name made my fangs pierce my lip.

My dad bonded with my mom for life—they had six sons and one daughter.

My brothers followed our dad into battle for the Lycan King.

All of them died three years ago in the Silvermoon Canyon massacre.

Born into Frostfang, I had brothers—enough that I'd never inherit. Yet Dad, Alpha Bentley, still sent me to train.

In Shadow Peaks, I learned hunting, fighting, strategy—from the shifter elders themselves.

At fifteen, I found my wolf and shifted for the first time.

But when I got back, Frostfang was shattered. Alpha Bentley and my brothers—all gone in that same damn battle.

Mom's wolf withered without her mate.

Clutching me, she whispered, "Find a strong Alpha. Birth strong pups under the full moon. You're my last moonbeam."

My heart felt carved out. No tears—just a howl stuck in my throat.

I trained to be the Luna who watches over the Alpha, the one who cares for every wolf in the pack.

Then my mom chose Ulrik for me—all because he swore to make me his Luna and honor our bond.

But six months ago, Frostfang was hit.

Every wolf—elders with snow-white fur, pups still on blood-milk, even the patrol guards—was torn apart.

My youngest nephew, barely weaned, was nailed to the moonlight altar.

When the Lycan King's guard and shifter enforcers arrived, they caught just a few killers.

Bloodtooth wolves, their bodies marked with their pack's totem.

They didn't care about exposing themselves—their brutality was pure vengeance.

By the time I got back, all I found were my mom and grandmother's bodies.

Now Frostfang's down to me, the only unmarked she-wolf left.

To the hyena-like tribal elders, rebuilding Frostfang's glory was just a joke. To them, an unmated female's just a breathing ornament.

But Velda? She was different. She just tore through a northern tribe's leader, becoming the first female commander to earn the Bloodclaw Medal.

With her backing Ulrik, his path'd be smoother. No wonder the Tenar clan agreed to let her join Bloodmoon as Luna.

Chapter 3

Adelaide's POV

Beata brought the Frostfang asset list. "You've covered six million in Bloodmoon's operating costs this year alone. The mines, houses, estates? untouched. All of Luna Airella's bank accounts and property deeds are locked in the vault."

I stared at the list. Airella had prepared all this to ensure my happiness—how heartbreaking my current situation must be to her memory.

My wolf whined, pain lancing through me.

"Where can we even go, Adelaide?" Beata asked. "Back to Frostfang?"

The memory of Frostfang's plaza, slick with blood, flashed before my eyes.

My heart clenched. "Anywhere's better than here."

"But won't Ulrik be thrilled if we leave?" Beata fumed.

"Let him," I said flatly. "Staying here would mean a lifetime of watching them fawn over each other. Beata, Frostfang's down to me. I need to live well—to honor my parents and brothers. The Moon Goddess will watch over us."

"Adelaide!" Beata sobbed.

I knew her pain—everyone she loved had died in Frostfang's massacre.

"Is there no another way at all?"

"There is," I said, my voice tinged with a wolfish rasp.

I traced the fading moon-mark on my neck. Moonlight from the bronze sconce cast wolf-shaped shadows on the starstone walls. "I'll go to the Lycan King."

I pricked my finger on the temporary mark, silver-blue blood blooming on my shirt. "I'll use my family's merits to ask him to revoke the decree."

Beata paled. "Don't! The Lycan King won't agree—he'll be furious. He has powers beyond shifters. Don't risk it."

"Think I'm that foolish?" I smiled faintly. "If the Lycan King allowed Ulrik and Velda to bond, he can allow me to leave Bloodmoon."

I wouldn't leave as a deserter or exile.

As the last of Frostfang's Alpha bloodline—one of the mightiest packs in the shifter kingdom—I'd leave with my head held high.

A knock sounded at the door. "Luna Adelaide, Luna Rosemary requests your presence," came the voice from outside.

Adelaide suppressed her wolf and rose gracefully. "Let's go," she said.

Sunset bathed the Bloodmoon Pack's plaza, the rain having ceased. Autumn wind swept toward the nearby Packhouse.

Bloodmoon's territory, a gift from the previous Lycan King, once thrived.

Now it faded.

The Tenar family held no sway with the current king, nor seats in the royal council.

Only Alpha Ulrik and his brother Simon fought for the Lycan King.

The former Alpha's brother remained in the pack, refusing to branch out.

With dwindling members, Bloodmoon weakened further.

Beata and I arrived at Luna Rosemary's residence. She looked robust.

She lounged on an obsidian sofa, her claws tapping the armrest in greeting.

Others were present—Simon and his mate Tamara, Ulrik's sister Sabrina, even the elder Alpha's brother.

"May the moonlight bless you, elder kin, loyal companions," I intoned, bowing to expose the healing mark on my neck.

"Come closer," Luna Rosemary beckoned, her silver fur shimmering. "The northern winds have finally returned your mate. Frostfang's blood-debt shall be settled."

I asked calmly, "Have you met Velda today?"

Luna Rosemary's smile faltered, then resumed. "Met her? She's as rough as sandstone, though her looks can't compare to yours."

I held my gaze. "So, you don't approve of her?"

Luna Rosemary forced a smile. "Likes and dislikes come with time. Since the Lycan King has spoken, it's settled. Velda will ride with Ulrik, and you'll manage the pack as Luna. How perfect."

"Perfect indeed," I said, my smile sharp. "A warrior like her reduced to a breeder—what a waste."

Luna Rosemary laughed lightly. "Lycan King's decree makes her a Luna too, just like you."

"Two Lunas? Is that even tradition?"

Luna Rosemary's tone cooled. "You've managed well, Adelaide, but a Luna's duty is to support the Alpha."

"With Velda here, she can easily take over," I retorted.

"But Velda's always at war," Luna Rosemary said. "You're the one here, managing the pack."

I turned to Tamara. "You're a Beta's daughter, trained for this role. You can do it."

Tamara paled. "No, I—I'm not fit. Everyone's happy with how you run things. Let's keep it that way."

My lips curled. Happy because I fund the pack.

But times changed. Once, I genuinely wanted to be Ulrik's perfect mate.

Now? I wouldn't play the fool.

"Enough," I said, rising. "I'll pass on my duties tomorrow. From then on, Bloodmoon's problems are yours."

Chapter 4

Adelaide's POV

I turned to leave, but Luna Rosemary unleashed a wolfish howl behind me.

"Wait!"

I glanced back, no intention of returning.

Rosemary's face darkened.

She roared to me, "Adelaide, how can you be so foolish? Ulrik's an Alpha—he'll have more than one woman. Every pack works this way. You're still his mate—what more do you want?"

Her words made me sneer inwardly.

A year of compliance had made them think me pliable.

They forgot that I was Alpha Bentley's daughter.

"Cool your jets," I said flatly. "Other packs can rot for all I care."

Rosemary spluttered, coughing into her fist.

Normally, I'd comfort her, but this time, I stayed put.

Sabrina barged in, eyes blazing. "Look at Luna Rosemary! You're embarrassing us! Frostfang's already fallen—your family's gone. What makes you think your Alpha blood means squat now? Ulrik can reject you too!"

I looked at Sabrina, dressed in the pale yellow dress I had made for her last fall.

Now she wore it to question and accuse me—how considerate.

"Take it off first," I said coolly, "then have your tantrum."

Sabrina's face flushed. "I didn't beg for this dress! I'll return it!"

"Go ahead," I said. "And those gems on your neck and wrist? Return those too." I swept my gaze over the room—only Rosemary kept her poker face.

"Anything else?" I asked. "No? Then I'm leaving." I strode out, not looking back.

But I didn't leave immediately.

I stood at the door, my wolf snarling in my mind. "You should've let me take over. Let me rip their throats out with my claws."

I rubbed my temples, responding silently, "We're in Bloodmoon territory, near Lycan Erasmus's palace. I don't want to be a werewolf outlaw."

Muffled voices drifted from inside.

My ears twitched, and I mentally silenced my wolf.

Sabrina muttered, "I can't believe Adelaide's being so stubborn. She even ignores you, Luna Rosemary."

Rosemary replied coldly, "She'll bend eventually. She has no choice."

Oh?

A smile tugged at my lips.

To Bloodmoon, I was a lone wolf with nowhere to go.

Many she-wolves, after mating with other packs, could return to their birth pack. But Frostfang's extinct—only its land and ruins remain, museum-piece perfect.

Everyone assumed I was stuck here.

The next morning, Beata and I reached Frostfang's border.

The wards still held.

As I approached, my wolf let out a sharp snarl, then a howl—only Beata heard it, shivering behind me.

Her ears sprouted wolf-tipped fur.

We walked in. The plaza, untended for half a year, was choked with waist-high grass, leaves piled like forgotten memories.

Autumn wind sighed through empty streets.

Stepping back into Frostfang, my heart ached.

Six months ago, I collapsed in tears at the massacre, kneeling beside my grandmother and mother's lifeless, blood-soaked bodies.

Now, the sacred plaza held a stone altar.

Beata and I stood in silent grief, tears falling.

Running my fingers over my family's grave markers, I whispered firmly, "Mom, Dad, forgive the path I've chosen. I won't be a Luna for any pack—not when Ulrik's not the mate the Moon Goddess chose for me. Rest easy. I'll survive."

Beata knelt beside me, weeping.

After paying our respects, we headed to the palace.

For two hours under the autumn sun, we waited outside the gates—unnoticed, unmoving.

By noon, the heat was relentless.

Beata fretted, "Lycan Erasmus might not see you. You haven't eaten since last night. Let me get you something."

"I'm not hungry," I said, my resolve unshaken. My mind was set—get the rejection decree and return to Frostfang.

"Maybe we should just leave?" Beata suggested.

I turned, my voice cold. "Beata, if you ever utter such spineless words again, I'll leave you behind."

Chapter 5

Adelaide's POV

Beata didn't argue further, sensing my resolve.

I wasn't mad. Beata, an Omega raised in Frostfang, still had that innocence—they didn't bully Omegas there.

But I, as Alpha-born, had to stand my ground.

Outside the palace, time stretched endlessly.

Finally, the doors opened. Fabian, Lycan Erasmus's Beta, emerged.

"Adelaide, Lycan Erasmus will see you now."

Relief washed over me. I nodded gratefully and followed him in.

The obsidian tiles carried hints of dragon's breath pheromones—every step felt like walking on ice.

I stared at the patterns under Fabian's crimson cape, blood rising in my throat as my wolf clawed at my consciousness, straining against the invisible aura from the throne.

The cedar scent that once clung to my father's armor now froze my nape with glacial cold.

I knelt before Lycan Erasmus, head bowed.

My gaze fell on the shattered moonstone patterns on the floor.

A bronze candelabra sparked as Erasmus's snow-leopard boots crushed wolf-shaped reliefs beneath him, grinding my shadow's head to dust.

"Speak on your feet." His voice boomed like glaciers colliding, sending dust cascading from the rafters.

I pressed my hands to my throbbing neck veins, bowed properly.

"Lycan Erasmus, I'm sorry to intrude, but I beg your mercy."

The golden-trimmed throne creaked. A surge of white musk hit the air.

My knees slammed the floor, shoulder blades groaning under the pressure.

Through blurred vision, I saw my broken nails digging into my palms.

"Adelaide, I've already declared my orders to all Alphas," Erasmus said, his voice as unyielding as three years ago in Silvermoon Canyon. "I can't take it back."

Straining against the suffocating aura, I lifted my chin.

His dark-gold slit pupils narrowed, aurora-like energy swirling in his eyes—the legendary "Sky's Eye" that once tore apart the Northern Bear Pack.

"I'm not asking you to rescind your decree," I said, every word a fight. "I'm asking for a new one—permission to rejct my mating bond with Alpha Ulrik."

My split canines bit through my lower lip, blood filling my mouth.

"Rejection? You want to reject Ulrik?" Lycan Erasmus's tone was filled with surprise.

I held back tears. "Lycan Erasmus, Alpha Ulrik and Velda used their battle merits to ask for your permission to form a mating bond. Today marks the anniversary of my father and brothers' death. I want to use their merits to ask for your permission to reject Ulrik."

"Do you know what awaits you outside Bloodmoon, Adelaide?" Erasmus's voice held a hint of complexity.

"Do you know what you'll face after this rejection?"

Before Erasmus became Lycan King, he'd visit Frostfang often.

He trained with my father and brought me gifts.

But when I was sent to the elders, he faded from my life.

"I know," I forced a smile. "I won't stand in Ulrik and Velda's way. If their love's true, it's the Moon Goddess's will. I won't break tradition."

"Frostfang's gone , Adelaide. Will you return to ruins? What's next for you?"

At that moment, my mood had already calmed down.

I answered, "I'd visited Frostfang today. The land's abandoned, but the wards still hold. I'll take in any wolf who wants to join and care for lone pups. Even if Frostfang remains small, I'll keep it alive."

The young king rose, his crimson cape sweeping down a row of candles.

In the flickering gloom, he leaned close, the rust of iron and white musk hitting my senses. "Really thought this through? The little wolf who tugged at my sleeve for frosting-topped pastries—look at you now…"

His fingers, armored in black iron, tapped the desk. "Using Frostfang's merits for freedom?"

"I have. I won't choke my life away on a broken bond or a title."

"You said you liked Ulrik when you two mated."

Liked?

Not exactly. I'd always admired shifter warriors, and my mom wanted peace for me. That's why I agreed.

I smiled faintly. "If he can walk away, so can I."

Erasmus's slit pupils blazed sapphire. "I grant it. A new decree will come—freeing you both."

"Adelaide, if anyone crosses you, my door's always open," he added gently.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," I said, feeling lighter already.

Chapter 6

Third Person's POV

After Adelaide left, the temperature in the palace parlor dropped noticeably.

Beta Fabian strode in and respectfully addressed the Lycan King, "Lycan Erasmus, Clarissa sent an Omega to ask if you could see her."

Clarissa, the former Lycan Luna, no longer held the position but still commanded immense respect within the palace.

Erasmus sighed, "This must be about Adelaide. Let's go."

Clarissa lived alone in the East Tower villa with its private garden, where vibrant flowers bloomed.

She sat in a pavilion at the garden's center, wearing a claret robe and holding a moonstone-staff topped with a lunar crescent.

Her face looked haggard.

"Good afternoon, Clarissa," Erasmus greeted with a bow.

Clarissa's claws dug into her seat.

Frost-laced pheromones crystallized the air, forcing Fabian to kneel ten paces away, his Beta ears trembling under her pressure.

"You condone this madness?" she hissed, her slit pupils glowing blood-red. "When Frostfang's Alpha spilled seven lives to pave your throne, did you smell the silvermoon grass in his blood?"

Fabian hung his head, unable to meet her gaze.

"This was my doing," Erasmus said firmly. "Fabian's not to blame."

Clarissa sighed. "You're all dismissed."

Her aura lifted. The Omegas and Fabian hurried out.

"This decree is reckless," Clarissa said gravely. "You dishonor Frostfang's fallen Alpha and his pack. As Lycan, we're role models for all shifters. How can you violate the Moon Goddess's traditions like this?"

Erasmus's iron armor clashed against the ice crystals on the floor. "Ulrik earned his right to bond with Velda through battle."

"Sacrifice Frostfang's last light?" Clarissa rose abruptly, her purple skirt sweeping down a bronze candlestick. Melted wax snaked across the floor like blood tears.

"Wolf Code, Article Three—No second Luna until the first bond is rejected. When you trampled the code, do you remember who shielded you from the rebels' poison arrow with their fangs?"

"Ulrik left the day he bonded with Adelaide, without even marking her properly. Now he plans to bond with another. Did you consider how this might destroy her and her wolf?"

Tears streamed down Clarissa's face. "Frostfang's Alpha and Luna had only one daughter left. How much more can she endure?"

Clarissa's grief stemmed from her lifelong friendship with Adelaide's mother, whom she'd watched grow up.

Seeing his mother's tears, Lycan Erasmus knelt before her, head bowed in guilt.

"This was my oversight," he admitted quietly. "Ulrik returned victorious and made his demand public. I know it's unreasonable, but both he and Velda insisted—this was the only thing they wanted. If I'd refused…"

Clarissa's voice sharpened. "So you'd rather Adelaide sacrifice herself to spare Ulrik embarrassment? Frostfang's suffered enough! Do you have any idea what she's been through this year?"

As Lycan King, Erasmus was well aware of the struggles of major packs.

"Ulrik's heart has turned," he said. "Even without my approval, he'd find a way to bond with Velda. And Adelaide would suffer for it."

He paused. "Adelaide just asked me for a mutual rejection from Ulrik. I agreed."

"What?!" Clarissa's voice shot up. "She wants to reject Ulrik? Where will she go after leaving Bloodmoon? Frostfang's already in ruins."

"She says she'll return to Frostfang and take in any wolf who wishes to join."

Clarissa sighed deeply. "Can Frostfang even be home to her again? She's seen the bodies of her kin—how can she live there without nightmares?"

Her heart ached. "Why didn't she come to me? I could've helped her, taught her to handle Velda. Why choose such a hard path?"

"Adelaide's made up her mind. She won't endure a lifetime of watching Ulrik and Velda despise each other. Keeping their bond intact would hurt her more."

Clarissa winced—this struck too close to home.

The former Lycan King had stayed mated to her despite finding his true mate in an omega.

To preserve the royal pack's stability, he'd kept their bond, but the omega remained.

Clarissa had endured the pain of his betrayal.

"Velda's a decorated general—I once admired her, thought she'd elevate she-wolves' status. Now I'm deeply disappointed," Clarissa said, her face pale.

"I'll address them," Erasmus promised.

Chapter 7

Adelaide's POV

After securing Erasmus's promise, I felt a little lighter.

Back at Bloodmoon, I slept soundly.

The next morning, as I freshened up, Ulrik burst in, his face set and Alpha aura blazing.

The force of his aura hit me like a tidal wave.

My wolf whined in my skull, trapped under the weight of it.

"Adelaide!" he roared, half-wolf fury in his voice.

Beata stepped forward, but the power gap between us drained her, sweat beading on her forehead. She stood frozen, wide-eyed and trembling.

"Alpha Ulrik, what—are you going to do?"

"Beata," I said calmly, "stand down."

She retreated to my side, still watching Ulrik like a hawk. In my mind, I met my wolf's gaze. It rose, shaking off its snow-white fur, and pushed back against Ulrik's aura.

Ulrik's eyes narrowed. "You went to the palace yesterday. Complained to Lycan Erasmus, tried to get his decree revoked." He spat the words, not as a question but a statement, his jaw clenched.

I met his gaze calmly and shook my head. "No."

"No?" He smirked, contempt lacing his words. "Coward much? Is this how the Frostfang Alpha's daughter behaves? Pathetic."

The man before me felt unfamiliar, sending a chill down my spine. Was this even the Ulrik I thought I knew?

Ulrik's eyes reddened with frustration. Fangs bared, he snarled, "Speak! What else did you say to Lycan Erasmus? Did he agree to revoke the decree?"

I looked down. "Lycan Erasmus didn't agree. The bonding ceremony will proceed as planned."

Ulrik exhaled sharply but kept his tone cold. "That bond was earned through battle. If Lycan Erasmus wavers, it'll shame every Alpha warrior. He summoned me to the palace today but refused an audience—probably due to your theatrics. I won't stoop to your level, but know this—I've done my duty."

"Play nice, Adelaide. No more drama. Once Velda and I bond, you'll have pups of your own."

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and left.

Once Ulrik's presence faded, Beata burst into tears.

"What are you crying for?" I asked, puzzled.

"I just feel so wronged. Aren't you upset?" Beata sniffled.

I smiled. "Of course I'm upset, but tears won't change anything. Let's focus on how to make our future better."

"Why do the Bloodmoon wolves treat you like this? You've been so good to them!"

"Because, in their eyes, I no longer matter," I said with a wry smile.

I knew it—I was never important. All that mattered was the Frostfang wealth I brought.

Beata wiped her eyes. "What about the other Frostfang wolves who came with you? Are you taking them with you?"

"If I leave, Velda won't spare them. They'll follow me," I said.

Since joining Bloodmoon, the Frostfang Omegas I brought had taken on key roles. The assets I brought also helped fund Bloodmoon's operations. After all, Luna Rosemary's health was failing, and her herbs were expensive. Ulrik's royal salary couldn't cover it. Luckily, I only used profits from shops, rental income, and some farmland proceeds.

The next day, I visited Luna Rosemary as usual, only to find Shaman Digby there. Luna Rosemary smiled with relief when she saw me.

"Velda will be here soon. You two should meet and learn to get along."

I didn't respond, just waited quietly. Once Digby finished treating her, I said, "Shaman Digby, let me escort you out."

"Actually, I need a word with you too," he replied, leaving without a backward glance at Luna Rosemary.

As we walked through the corridor, Digby said, "Bloodmoon doesn't deserve your kindness. Don't send for me again—I won't come."

"I understand. I won't send for you anymore. I'm planning to reject Ulrik anyway," I said.

Digby chuckled. "That's the Frostfang spirit. I don't need Bloodmoon's money. I only treated her for your sake."

After seeing Digby off, I returned to my cottage. Within the hour, Ulrik arrived with a woman in tow. As they entered the yard, my eyes locked onto their interlocked hands. A new plan began to form in my mind.

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The council hall of the Bloodmoon Pack hummed with cedar and damp.

I shrugged off my sweat-drenched silver fox cloak, my fingers absently tracing the Moon Goddess pendant at my throat. The bronze throne beside me yawned empty—Alpha Ulrik's seat.

Boots echoed on stone steps before the door burst open, snowmelt and pine scent flooding in. I knocked over the mead jug, rising to greet him, amber liquid pooling over the sheepskin map.

"You're finally back," I managed, my voice catching. A year ago, we'd pledged ourselves as mates before the pack. Then the Lycan King summoned him north. He never even marked me.

Now, as I looked at him, my mind was a tangled web. My wolf let out a faint, rebellious snarl, catching a tangle of scents on Ulrik's trail that made its hackles rise.

He stood armored and alive, his jaw set in that familiar stubborn line. "Adelaide, the Lycan King's declared Velda will join the Bloodmoon Pack. I'll mark her."

My wolf snarled low in my ribs, scenting the musk of another female on him. "Lycan Luna swore Velda was a warrior through and through. Will she kneel as a breeder?"

As soon as I finished speaking, Ulrik's cedar scent, laced with his Alpha aura, swept over me like a tidal wave. He strode past me toward the throne, the tail of his sword scabbard scraping water-soaked stone.

"I'm marking her as my mate," his voice carried a sharp edge of anger. "She'll be my second Luna, just like you—equal in the Bloodmoon Pack."

The silver chain snapped in my fist. The moonstone pendant clattered toward a rain puddle. "Two Lunas? The Moon Goddess would rage, and Bloodmoon would weaken..."

He sheathed the blade with a metallic sigh. "Velda and I fought side by side in the north. I admired her. I used my campaign merits to petition the Lycan King for her place here. As my mate. Truth is, I didn't need your approval."

I stared at my flushed face reflected in the blade, memories flooding back of hauling basalt under sweltering skies—Ulrik's messengers always claimed war made replies impossible. Turns out, the cornflower seeds in the battle reports were never for me.

Soon, he turned back to me. "She's unlike any she-wolf I've ever met. I love her."

I felt like I'd swallowed a fly—disgusted, but I pushed through the lump in my throat. "And the elder Alpha and Luna—they agree?"

"Of course. It's the Lycan King's decree. My father, as former Alpha, understands its weight. Besides, they adore Velda."

They actually agreed? How ironic.

After all I'd done for Bloodmoon this past year, this was my reward.

"Is she already here? Why can't I sense her?"

Ulrik's gaze flickered. "She'll be my mate soon. I've already given her a temporary mark."

My wolf erupted in a snarl of fury. Though Ulrik hadn't fully marked me, our vows before the Moon Goddess had forged a mate bond. Giving another she-wolf a temporary mark was betrayal plain and clear.

Sensing my rage, he slammed into me, knocking me back. The bronze candelabra behind me thudded as I collided with it.

"I know you feel wronged," he said, silhouetted against the light, "but it's the Lycan King's command." He paused at the stone door. "You're still the nominal Luna—until the pack grows familiar with Velda."

I forced a smile. "Then have Velda come see me. I have questions for her."

Ulrik refused flatly. "No need. She's not like the simpering she-wolves you know. A warrior through and through, too proud for petty jealousy."

I countered, "What does that make the she-wolves I know? Or what does it make me, in your eyes?"

Now, standing in the wreckage of my dignity, I face a choice: submit and fade into silence—or fight back, not with fang and claw, but with truth, law, and the last embers of my father’s legacy.