Chapter 2

Mira’s POV

I woke up to pale gray dawn light. My body still ached in that sweet way. I stretched and winced at the soreness between my thighs.

He came. Tonight everyone will know.

I pressed my fingers to my lips. Kael. The Alpha’s son. My fated mate.

I caught my reflection in the small cracked mirror by the bed.

I've come a long way from the girl I used to be. No longer the pampered princess of her father the beta.

Now just a wolfless girl who used to be the Beta's daughter, reduced to scrubbing floors and stealing moments with a man who promised her the world.

Three years of stolen nights.

I ran my fingers through my tangled hair, tying it back in a messy knot. No time for vanity. The pack house wouldn't clean itself.

As I stepped out of my tiny room and into the narrow hallway of the servants' quarters, making my way to the common room, where a handful of servants were already gathered around the fireplace, nursing cups of bitter tea and bracing for the day ahead.

Mara was there, as always, leaning against the counter with a steaming mug in her hand. Her sharp eyes found me immediately.

Well, well," she said, a knowing smirk curling her lips. "Look who finally decided to join the living. You sleep okay? You look... rested."

I felt my cheeks warm. "Fine. Slept fine."

"Uh-huh." She took a long sip of her tea, her eyes never leaving mine. "You know, you've been sleeping 'fine' a lot lately. Almost every night, actually. Strange, considering you used to complain about the lumpy mattress constantly."

I busied myself with pouring my own tea, avoiding her gaze. "I got used to it."

"Sure you did." She didn't push, but I knew she suspected something.

Finn shuffled in a moment later, still yawning, his dark hair sticking up in every direction.

He grabbed a piece of stale bread from the basket and flopped onto the bench across from us.

"Morning," he mumbled through a mouthful. "Anyone else hear that ruckus last night? Sounded like someone was banging a bedframe against the wall."

I nearly choked on my tea.

Mara's eyebrows shot up. "Really? I didn't hear anything." She glanced at me and I could see the amusement in her eyes. "Did you, sleeping beauty?"

I shrug trying hard to hide to give nothing away but I know my face must be bright red"I was asleep. Didn't hear a thing."

Finn snorted. "Liar. You're blushing." He leaned forward, suddenly more awake. "Wait. Was it you? Do you have a secret lover hidden somewhere in these quarters? Who is it? Is it Corbin? Oh my goddess, is it Corbin? I knew that grumpy bastard had a soft side—"

“It's not Corbin”

Mara burst out laughing. “Finn, leave her alone. If she’s got a secret, she’ll tell us when she’s ready. Won’t you?”

I nodded, grateful for her intervention knowing Finn he won't drop it until he fishes the information out of me "Eventually. Maybe. If there's anything to tell."

Finn pouted but let it drop, launching instead into a dramatic retelling of the latest gossip he'd overheard in the stables. I let his voice wash over me, grateful for the distraction.

But my mind kept drifting back to Kael. To his hands on my skin, his voice in my ear. Tomorrow, I won't have to leave before dawn.

Tonight, everyone will know.

The morning passed in a blur of chores. I scrubbed the kitchen floors, hauled water from the well and helped Elara, the healer's assistant, sort through a shipment of dried herbs in the infirmary.

"You're distracted today," Elara observed softly, her gentle eyes studying me as she tied bundles of lavender with twine. "Everything alright?"

I forced a smile. "Just tired. Didn't sleep well."

She hummed knowingly. "You have that look. The same one I get when I've been up all night worrying about something." She paused, tying off another bundle. "Or someone."

“It's not like that Elara….” She waves me off before I could finish.

“Oh child you don't have to tell me but just make sure he's worth the sleepless nights ok?”.

“Okay” I say in a small voice and we continued with our duties.

Later Mara stormed into the infirmary all excited and giddy “There you two are! You won’t believe what I just heard. The Alpha’s making a big announcement tonight. Huge ceremony. The whole pack is gathering. Something about a major alliance. They’re decorating the grand hall like I’ve never seen—flowers, banners, food everywhere. And Kael—he’s been in meetings all week with important visitors.”

My heart skipped. “Do you know what the announcement is about?”

Mara shrugged. “No details yet. But the whole pack’s invited. Even servants get to watch from the back.”

Elara clapped her hands. “How wonderful! A celebration always brings such joy.”

He kept his promise, I thought, He's actually going to do it.

Later that afternoon

I carried a heavy basket of fresh linens toward the main hall, my steps lighter than they'd been in years.

The pack house buzzed with activity—servants rushing everywhere, laughter echoing from the kitchen, the scent of roasted meat drifting through the air.

Tonight. Everything changes tonight.

I rounded a corner near the main entrance, still smiling to myself, when I collided with someone.

The basket flew from my hands, linens spilling across the floor. I stumbled backward, barely catching myself before I fell to the ground.

"I'm so sorry—" I started, looking up.

And froze.

The woman standing in front of me was stunning.

Tall and elegant, with sleek black hair and the most piercing silver eyes I've ever seen. Behind her stood two guards, their hands on their swords.

The woman looked down at me and her silver eyes narrowed with disgust.

"Watch where you're going," she said, her voice like ice. "You almost ruined my dress."

I scrambled to my knees, grabbing the fallen linens. "I'm so sorry, my lady. I didn't see you. Please forgive me—"

Before I could finish, her hand shot out and connected with my cheek.

The slap echoed through the hallway.

I gasped, my head snapping to the side. My cheek burned, a sharp sting spreading across my skin.

I pressed my fingers to the spot, staring up at her in shock.

She looked down at me with cold disdain. "Know your place, servant. Next time, watch where you're going." She turned to her guards with a dismissive wave. "Come. I have better things to do”

They swept past me, leaving me kneeling on the cold stone floor, my cheek throbbing.

I wanted to fight back. I wanted to scream, to scratch her perfect face, to tell her exactly who I was. But I couldn't. Who was I? A wolfless nobody. If I caused trouble, I'd be thrown out—or worse

The entire pack gathered in the grand hall.

I stood in the back, near the kitchen entrance, still in my gray servant's tunic. My cheek was still red from the slap, but I'd done my best to hide it. I didn't want anyone to ask questions. Not tonight.

The hall was packed. Wolves of every rank filled the space—warriors, elders, families, children.

The Alpha stood at the front, tall and imposing, his silver hair gleaming in the candlelight. Beside him stood Kael, looking devastatingly handsome in his formal black ceremonial robes.

My heart swelled at the sight of him. Soon, I thought. Soon everyone will know.

Then I saw her—the woman who had slapped me —standing on Kael’s other side in an even fancier gown.

The woman beside me, a laundry girl named Ottie I barely spoke to, grabbed my arm without looking at me. "Isn't she beautiful?" she said, her eyes shining with admiration. "I heard her father brought three chests of silver as a dowry. Can you imagine? Three chests! And she's got the bloodline of the Silverfang Pack—pure alpha lineage for generations. They say her wolf is the size of a horse."

Another servant on my other side chimed in, "She's perfect for him. Strong. Beautiful. Noble. A real Luna."

"Shadowclaw will be unstoppable with this alliance," Ottie continued, practically bouncing with excitement. "I heard the Silverfang warriors are the fiercest in the region. Our borders will be secure for a century."

I stared at the woman Selene and my mind went blank.

No. This can't be right.

The Alpha raised his hands for silence and the crowd hushed. My heart pounded so hard I could barely hear anything else.

"My pack!" his voice boomed. "Tonight, we gather to celebrate a historic moment. For months, we have been working to forge an alliance that will strengthen our borders, secure our future, and bring glory to the Shadowclaw Pack!"

The crowd cheered. I stood frozen, my hands trembling at my sides.

It's a mistake. He's talking about something else. This isn't what Kael promised. This is some other alliance, some trade agreement, some political thing. Kael wouldn't do this to me. He promised.

I am his mate chosen by the moon goddess that has to mean something.

The Alpha continued, "I am proud to announce that my son, Kael, has chosen his mate—a woman of strength, beauty, and noble blood. A woman who will stand beside him as Luna and lead this pack into a new era!"

The crowd erupted in applause. I heard Ottie squeal beside me. But I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

This isn't real. This is some kind of test. Kael is going to stop this any second now.

He's going to laugh and say it's a joke and then look at me and tell everyone the truth. He promised. He loves me. He wouldn't—

The Alpha gestured to the woman beside Kael. "I give you…Selene of the Silverfang Pack! My son's chosen mate and our pack's future Luna!"

The world stopped.

Ottie gasped in delight. "Oh, she's glowing! Look at her! They're so perfect together!"

The applause roared around me, a deafening wave of celebration and joy.

But I heard nothing. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move. I stared at Kael, my heart screaming, waiting for him to correct his father, to say it was a mistake, to look at me and tell everyone the truth.

He's going to stop this any second. He promised. He's going to—

But he didn't.

He reached for Selene's hand and lifted it high. A smile was on his face he stood there, the perfect future Alpha with his perfect chosen mate.

Selene beamed at the crowd, basking in the attention. She was radiant. Powerful. Everything I wasn't.

"She's so lucky," Ottie whispered reverently. "To be mated to him. He's the most handsome wolf in the pack. And she's so beautiful. They'll have the most perfect pups."

I felt something crack inside me.

This is real. This is happening. He chose her.

Kael's eyes finally found mine in the crowd. For one brief moment, our gazes locked.

His expression flickered guilt, pain, desperation before he looked away.

He looked away.

My vision blurred. My legs felt weak. I stumbled backward, pressing my hand to my mouth to stifle the sob that wanted to tear out of me.

Three years. Three years of secrets, of promises, of love. And this is what I get.

The Alpha raised his glass. "To the happy couple! To Shadowclaw Pack! To a future of strength and unity!"

The crowd cheered again. Glasses clinked. Music started playing. People began to dance and laugh and celebrate.

I stood in the shadows, completely broken, watching the man I loved celebrate his engagement to another woman.

Ottie was still chattering beside me, but I couldn't hear her anymore. I couldn't hear anything except the sound of my own heart shattering into a thousand pieces.

He promised. He promised.

I turned and fled.