Ten Million Dollars and a Lycan’s Child

The Luna was dead, and the position of queen stood empty.

I, Elsie Berry, had no desire to rise early, but I found myself drawn into the race for the throne.

The Lycan King, Christian Berry, with whom I had been in a cold war for two years, sent a message through the pack's mind link:

"Ten million dollars."

I gritted my teeth and reluctantly transferred my life savings into the pack's account.

But then, after taking the money, he raised the stakes:

"Give me a child as well."

I stood up, brushing the dust off my jeans.

Early mornings it was, then.

---

I was sixteen when I was forced to participate in the mate selection.

It was the first mate selection since the Lycan King’s ascension, and no one could escape it.

Especially since I was the only daughter in my family.

My father, a respected businessman in the city, patted his chest and assured me:

"Don’t worry, I’ve taken care of everything. Just go through the motions. Your mother and I will be waiting for you outside."

When it came to money, I trusted my father implicitly.

After all, my family was wealthy, one of the richest in the region.

When I entered the selection, I brought nothing but a small backpack.

I walked through the hall, waiting for the results, and was about to leave when a Delta stopped me:

"Miss, where are you going?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I bolted for the door, shouting back at him:

"What did you call me?"

The Delta, startled, ran after me, calling for the guards to close the gates, and replied:

"Miss, you’ve been chosen as a Delta!"

I turned back in horror, and as the gates closed, I heard the sound of my favorite coffee cup shattering on the ground and my parents’ heartbroken cries.

Just like that, I was dragged back, dazed, and officially became Elsie Berry, the Delta.

Before officially joining the pack, I was given two days to say goodbye to my parents.

My mother cried and hit my father:

"You said everything was taken care of! Our daughter has been pampered since birth—how can she survive in a pack like that?"

My father remained silent, sighing deeply as he endured my mother’s blows.

I sighed too and tried to console my mother:

"Mom, what’s done is done. We can’t change it now. It’s not like we can rebel, is it?"

My mother’s crying stopped abruptly, and both of us stared at my father in shock.

He calmly said:

"Rebellion… I’ve considered it."

"?"

"!"

"Not enough money. It wouldn’t work."

My mother started hitting him again, and then, still crying, she took me to see the city one last time.

When I returned to the pack, I brought thirty suitcases with me.

My mother, her eyes red from crying, said:

"Your dowry has already been sent to the pack’s treasury. If you ever face any hardships in the pack, send word