Chapter 3
The grand council chamber of the Silver Moon Pack house felt suffocating as I slipped into the back row, trying to make myself invisible. Alpha Marcus had called an emergency meeting to discuss the Lycan alliance—my arranged mating to Prince Alexander Sterling that would save our weakening pack. I kept my eyes down, feeling the weight of stares from pack members who had witnessed my humiliating rejection ceremony just a week ago.
Madison Taylor sat in the front row, directly beside Marcus Jr., in a position that should have belonged to the future Luna. Her golden hair cascaded down her back as she leaned to whisper something to Noah, who grinned in response. The sight made my stomach twist painfully.
*They look like they've known each other forever*, Hope murmured weakly within me, her voice still drained from the rejection.
"The Lycan Royal family has agreed to formalize our alliance through the arranged mating between Grace Mitchell and Prince Alexander Sterling," Alpha Marcus announced, his voice echoing through the chamber. "This will provide us with the protection we desperately need against the increasing rogue attacks."
Murmurs rippled through the gathered pack members. I felt their eyes on me—some curious, others pitying, a few openly contemptuous.
"When will the ceremony take place?" an elder asked.
"Within the month," Alpha Marcus replied. "We cannot afford to delay."
A question burned in my throat. If I was to be mated to a Lycan Prince—essentially sold off for the pack's protection—shouldn't I at least know something about the arrangement? About him? About my future?
"I would like to ask—" I began, my voice soft but clear.
"The Lycans have requested a formal introduction next week," Marcus Jr. interrupted, speaking over me as if I hadn't made a sound. "We should prepare a proper welcome."
I tried again, raising my hand slightly. "Excuse me, but I was wondering—"
"Oh!" Madison's high, lilting voice cut through mine. "She speaks! I was beginning to think our little rejected wolf had lost her voice along with her dignity."
Laughter erupted around the room, led by Noah's sharp bark of amusement. Ethan smirked, exchanging glances with his older brother. Even Alpha Marcus's lips twitched slightly before he called for order.
My cheeks burned with humiliation as I sank lower in my seat. Hope whimpered within me, curling tighter into herself.
*Don't let them see how much it hurts*, she whispered. *They feed on our pain*.
The meeting continued as if I weren't there—as if the very alliance they were discussing didn't hinge on my cooperation. Plans were made, preparations discussed, all without a single question directed to me about my thoughts or concerns.
When the council finally adjourned, I slipped out quickly, desperate to escape to the solitude of my tiny new room at the end of the hall. But as I hurried across the pack grounds, a strange sensation washed over me—a warm, gentle presence brushing against my consciousness.
*Hello, Grace*.
I froze mid-step, looking around wildly. The voice in my head wasn't Hope's—it was deeper, masculine, and somehow... soothing.
*Don't be alarmed*, the voice continued. *I'm Alexander Sterling. I hope you don't mind the mind-link. I wanted to introduce myself properly before our meeting*.
My heart raced. Mind-links over such distances were rare and typically only possible between pack members or... mates.
"How...?" I whispered aloud, then caught myself and focused inward. *How is this possible? We've never met*.
A warm chuckle resonated through my mind. *The Goddess works in mysterious ways. I felt your distress. Are you alright?*
The simple question—asked with genuine concern—nearly undid me. When was the last time anyone had asked if I was alright?
*I'm... managing*, I replied carefully.
*I look forward to meeting you in person, Grace*, Alexander's voice continued, gentle but strong. *Until then, know that I'm here if you need me*.
The connection faded, leaving me standing alone in the gathering twilight, but somehow feeling less isolated than I had in days.
The next morning, I joined the pack for the dawn run—a tradition I once loved but now dreaded. As wolves, we were supposed to be free, unburdened by human concerns. But even in wolf form, the pack's hierarchy was painfully evident.
Hope emerged reluctantly, her transformation sluggish and painful. Her once-vibrant twilight fur now appeared dull and patchy as we padded after the main pack, struggling to keep pace. Marcus Jr.'s massive black wolf led the charge, with Madison's sleek golden form right beside him. Ethan and Noah flanked them, creating a perfect formation that left no doubt about the pack's new order.
My wolf stumbled on a rocky outcropping, a whimper escaping before I could suppress it. The sound caught Noah's attention. He circled back, shifting suddenly to his human form, naked and smirking as he stood over my struggling wolf.
"Can't keep up, rejected one?" he taunted, his voice carrying to the others who had paused to watch. "Your wolf is as pathetic as you are. Maybe the Lycans will change their minds when they see what a weak mate they're getting."
Hope whined, her head lowering in submission and shame. The pack continued their run, leaving us behind without a backward glance. I shifted back to human form, wrapping my arms around my knees as I sat alone in the forest clearing, the morning dew soaking through my clothes.
*Alexander wouldn't speak to us if we were truly worthless*, Hope whispered, seeking any comfort she could find. *Would he?*
I had no answer. Only the lingering warmth of a voice that had shown more kindness in a single mind-link than my pack had in days.
Perhaps, just perhaps, my arranged mating wouldn't be the sacrifice I had imagined. Perhaps it would be salvation.
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