Chapter 1: The Crown She Was Supposed to Wear

After graduation, I spent a year working beside my mentor in the neutral lands.

No packs.

No laws.

No Alpha to protect me.

Only healers, wandering werewolves, and enough danger to keep everyone alert.

My brother hated the arrangement.

As the Lycan Chairman who governed werewolf society, he had always been overly protective of me.

He was convinced that one day I would meet some reckless Rogue, fall in love, and form a dangerous mate bond before anyone could stop me.

So he made a decision for me.

An arranged mate.

Falcon Sterling.

The Alpha of the strongest pack in Northmere.

A legendary Alpha.

Powerful.

Cold.

And, according to every woman who had ever spoken about him, devastatingly handsome.

My brother ordered me home immediately.

I was to complete the mating ceremony, accept the Luna crown, and officially unite our families.

I didn't particularly care.

I trusted my brother enough to believe he had chosen someone suitable.

So I returned to Northmere without complaint.

The day before the ceremony, I went to choose my Luna crown.

The jewelry shop was magnificent.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling.

Glass displays filled the walls.

Every piece inside had been designed for the elite packs of Northmere.

I walked past several diamond crowns before one caught my attention.

Pure silver.

Covered in diamonds.

Simple enough to be elegant.

Powerful enough to look like a Luna's crown should.

I reached toward it.

A sharp female voice interrupted me.

"I like that one."

"I'll take it."

Before I could react, the clerk snatched the crown from my hands.

His movement nearly scratched my fingers.

I stared at him.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am," he said nervously.

"Ms. Stone wants the crown."

I slowly turned toward the woman who had spoken.

She was beautiful.

Long blonde hair.

Expensive dress.

A polished smile that didn't reach her eyes.

She looked me over from head to toe.

Then she laughed.

"You wanted this?"

"Yes."

"Interesting."

She crossed her arms.

"This crown costs three hundred thousand dollars."

"Can you afford it, peasant?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"I didn't realize the price came with an insult."

She smiled smugly.

"I'm Julia Stone."

"I grew up with Alpha Falcon Sterling."

"Around here, I make the rules."

I stared at her.

Falcon Sterling.

My arranged mate.

What a coincidence.

I almost laughed.

"That's interesting," I said.

"Why?"

"Nothing."

Julia reached for the crown.

"I'll take this one."

The clerk immediately nodded.

"Of course, Ms. Stone."

My patience finally disappeared.

"Ever heard of first come, first served?"

"I saw it first."

"Is this how you run businesses here?"

Julia slowly turned toward me.

"You don't seem to understand."

"I'm protected by Alpha Falcon."

"If I want something, I get it."

I looked at the silver crown in her hand.

"Then perhaps you should buy another one."

"This one is mine."

Julia laughed loudly.

"You really are clueless."

"Even the servants at Falcon's estate dress better than you."

"Who gave you such confidence?"

I looked down at my clothes.

Simple.

Comfortable.

Expensive, actually.

Just not covered in logos.

"I'm not interested in proving my worth with designer labels."

"That's usually what people with low self-esteem do."

Her smile disappeared.

"Watch your mouth."

"Why?"

"Are you afraid I'll tell Falcon?"

Julia's expression immediately became smug again.

"You know his name?"

"I do."

"Then you should know better than to offend me."

I sighed.

The entire conversation was becoming exhausting.

I reached toward another crown.

It was silver-white and decorated with a simple pattern of moonstones.

"Wrap this one up."

The clerk froze.

"Ma'am..."

"Yes?"

"We prioritize sales to high-ranking pack members."

Julia lifted her chin and tapped the silver badge attached to her dress.

"See this?"

"It means I'm under Alpha Falcon's protection."

"What do you have?"

"Nothing."

"So stop pretending you're better than me."

The customers around us began whispering.

"That's Julia Stone."

"She's always with Alpha Falcon."

"He spoils her."

"No one dares cross her."

"Once, she complained about a stranger looking at her."

"That man was kicked out of the pack the next day."

I listened quietly.

So this was the woman Falcon had grown up with.

His childhood sweetheart.

The woman everyone already treated like the future Luna.

The only problem was...

I was supposed to be the one wearing the Luna crown tomorrow.

Julia stepped closer.

"Surrender to me."

"Then maybe I'll let you leave with some dignity."

"Otherwise, I'll make sure you regret coming to Northmere."

I stared at her.

Normally, I avoided unnecessary conflict.

But she had mistaken patience for weakness.

I crossed my arms.

Then I released my aura.

The power inside me surged outward.

The air in the jewelry shop immediately became heavy.

The temperature dropped.

The lights flickered.

Several customers stumbled backward.

Julia's smug expression vanished.

The clerk dropped his hands to his sides.

My Alpha bloodline filled the entire room.

I looked at Julia calmly.

"How's that?"

"Does that prove I'm a high-ranking werewolf?"

Fear flickered briefly in her eyes.

But she recovered quickly.

"So what?"

"I've never heard of you."

"You're probably still some nobody from a tiny pack."

I smiled.

"That's one way to stay ignorant."

Julia turned toward the clerk.

"You must be new here."

"Let me make something clear."

"We're in Northmere."

"This is Alpha Falcon's territory."

"If you sell that crown to her, this shop won't last until dawn."

The clerk's hand trembled.

"Ma'am, please..."

"I'm only trying to make a living."

"I can't afford to offend Alpha Falcon."

I looked around the shop.

Everyone was watching.

Everyone was afraid.

Not of me.

Of Falcon.

That was enough to tell me everything I needed to know about the kind of power my arranged mate possessed.

I reached for my phone.

Julia smiled.

"Who are you calling?"

"Your Alpha."

Her smile widened.

"Go ahead."

"He won't care."

I pressed the call button.

The phone rang once.

Twice.

Then someone answered.

A cold male voice came through the speaker.

"Who's this?"

I frowned.

Before I could answer, Julia laughed.

"Don't worry. Alpha Falcon doesn't save every stranger who calls him."

I ignored her.

"Falcon?"

Silence.

"Who are you?" he asked.

I stared at Julia.

"Your future mate."

There was another pause.

Then his cold voice returned.

"My future what?"

My temper snapped.

"Your arranged mate."

Julia suddenly laughed louder.

Falcon's voice remained emotionless.

"I don't have your number."

My heart stopped for half a second.

He didn't have my number.

My arranged mate.

The man I was supposed to marry tomorrow.

Didn't even recognize my voice.

Then, before I could say anything else...

The call ended.

I stared at the screen.

Julia covered her mouth, laughing.

"Oh, what a pitiful thing."

"You really thought Alpha Falcon would help you just because you called him?"

She held the silver crown against her chest.

"Looks like you already lost before the ceremony even started."

I looked at the crown.

Then at Julia.

Then at the clerk.

My anger slowly disappeared.

In its place came something much more useful.

Indifference.

"Keep it," I said.

"Keep the crown."

Julia blinked.

"What?"

"You clearly need it more than I do."

I turned toward the door.

"Wait!" Julia called.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I stopped.

Then looked over my shoulder.

"I'm going somewhere your Alpha can't control me."

"And tomorrow..."

"We'll see exactly who the real Luna is."

I walked out of the shop.

I didn't know Falcon yet.

I didn't know Julia.

And I certainly didn't know how deeply the coming ceremony would change Northmere.

But one thing was already certain.

If Julia wanted my crown...

She could have it.

I wouldn't beg for a title.

Because she had no idea what kind of woman she had just insulted.