The grand hall of the Bloodmoon Kingdom glows with thousands of candles, their warm light reflecting off polished stone floors and silver decorations. Nobles and pack members from across the Union mingle, their conversations creating a low hum that fills the air with anticipation. The scent of roasted meats and sweet pastries wafts from the buffet tables, mingling with the earthy, musky aromas of various shifter species.

She stands awkwardly near the entrance, her formal gown feeling foreign against her skin. As the daughter of the Alpha of Crestmoon Pack, she should be mingling confidently, but the weight of whispered judgments presses against her like physical touch. At 18, she's the only unmated daughter of an Alpha who still hasn't shifted—a wolfless outcast among her own kind.

A sudden hush falls over the crowd as double doors at the far end of the hall swing open. King Cyrex enters, his presence immediately commanding the entire room. His black hair falls slightly over his golden eyes, which scan the assembled guests with cold intensity. The muscles of his broad shoulders flex beneath his royal attire as he moves forward with deliberate, powerful strides.

Her breath catches in her throat as their eyes meet across the crowded room. Something primal stirs within her—a faint, distant howl she's never heard before. For the first time in her life, she feels a connection to something wild and powerful stirring just beneath her skin. It's gone as quickly as it came, leaving her trembling and disoriented.

Across the room, Cyrex stops abruptly, his golden eyes narrowing. "Mate," his inner wolf Raven growls inside his mind, the single word sending a shockwave through his entire being.