Chapter 3

The word “mate” hung between them, charged with new meaning. Sabrina’s heart quickened. She’d never allowed herself to consider Riley that way, not truly. He was her confidant, her protector, her friend. But as she looked at him now, standing in her bedroom with the weight of tradition pressing down on them both, she saw him differently.

“You don’t have to answer that now,” Riley said, misinterpreting her silence. He stepped back, creating distance between them. “I shouldn’t have—“

“No,” Sabrina interrupted, surprising herself with her boldness. “I need to know. If I choose you as my main, would you support these changes? Even if it means standing against your father, against the Elders?”

Riley’s jaw tightened. His father was the current Beta, a staunch traditionalist who had already begun grooming potential candidates for Sabrina’s Harem.

“My loyalty is to you,” he said simply. “To our pack’s future. Not to outdated traditions that cost lives.”

Relief flooded through Sabrina. She hadn’t realised how much she needed to hear those words.

“There’s more,” she said, moving to her desk and pulling out a leather-bound notebook. “I’ve been documenting the deaths in Harems over the last century.”

Riley joined her, his shoulder brushing against hers as he looked at the pages filled with her neat handwriting.

“Seventeen deaths in the last twenty years alone,” Sabrina continued, her finger tracing the columns of names. “All officially recorded as ‘accidents’ or ‘duels of honour.’”

“Some were probably legitimate duels,” Riley said, though his tone lacked conviction.

Sabrina turned to a marked page. “And these? The ones who were found with maids in their beds? All of them were top contenders for a position in the Harem.”

“Convenient,” Riley muttered, his eyes darkening.

“Exactly.” Sabrina closed the notebook with a snap. “The system encourages this kind of sabotage. It rewards cruelty.”

Riley’s hand found hers on the desk, his touch warm and steady. “So what’s your plan? Beyond the sperm bank?”

Sabrina took a deep breath. “I want to establish clear rules. No more ‘accidental’ deaths. Anyone caught sabotaging another member of the Harem will be exiled, not just executed.”

“Exile is a harsh punishment for our kind,” Riley observed.

“But it’s better than death.” Sabrina squeezed his hand. “And I want to give the men in the Harem purpose beyond just breeding. They should have roles in the pack, responsibilities that matter.”

Riley’s expression shifted, something like hope lighting his eyes. “You’re talking about transforming the Harem from a prison into a council.”

“Yes.” The word came out as a whisper. “Is that possible?”

Instead of answering, Riley pulled her into his arms, holding her close. His pine scent enveloped her, familiar and comforting. For a moment, Sabrina allowed herself to melt into his embrace. She had always felt safe with Riley; he made the most sense to her as the main. But who would take Beta, her Delta, and her Gamma posts? The boys in those heir posts would enter the Harem and lose their official titles. Their younger brothers could take them, but they were all 16 and not of age.

She worried that although she had twenty-six males to work with now, it didn’t stop Alphas, Betas, Deltas, and Gammas from other packs trying to send their second sons of age to try and join her Harem. Thankfully, the Main had to be of the heart and soul, which meant they would come from within the pack. Her heart's choice scroll would rise on its own, and that would be who the next Alpha of the pack would be when she took her place as Luna.

Sabrina pulled back from Riley’s embrace, her mind racing with possibilities. “I need to see my father. Tonight.”

Riley’s brow furrowed. “Are you sure? He’s meeting with the Elders about the ceremony preparations.”

“All the better.” Sabrina straightened her shoulders, feeling a new resolve settle into her bones. “I want them all to hear what I have to say.”

She gathered her notebook and the most relevant ancient texts, tucking them under her arm. Riley watched her with a mixture of admiration and concern.

“You know they’ll resist,” he said quietly. “Some of the Elders have been planning for this ceremony their entire lives.”

“Let them resist.” Sabrina’s voice came out stronger than she expected. “I’m not just the heir anymore, Riley. I’m the future Luna.”

The walk to the council chamber felt longer than usual. Sabrina’s heart hammered against her ribs as she approached the heavy oak doors. Through them, she could hear the low rumble of her father’s voice, followed by the higher tones of Elder Marcus, the most traditional of them all.

Riley placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. “Remember, they respect strength. Show them yours.”

Sabrina nodded, taking a deep breath before pushing the doors open.

The conversation inside died immediately. Her father sat at the head of the massive table, the Elders arranged around him like sentinels. Their faces ranged from curious to openly disapproving.

“Sabrina.” Her father’s voice carried a warning note. “We’re in the middle of a council meeting.”

“I know.” She stepped into the room, acutely aware of her youth compared to the weathered faces before her. “That’s why I’m here.”

Elder Marcus’s thin lips pressed into a disapproving line. “The council chamber is no place for a child, regardless of her bloodline.”

“I’m not a child.” Sabrina moved to the table, placing her notebook and the ancient texts before her. “I’m the future Luna, and I have concerns about the Harem tradition.”

A ripple of murmurs passed through the Elders. Her father’s expression darkened.

“This isn’t the time—“

“It’s exactly the time.” Sabrina opened her notebook to the marked page. “In the last twenty years, seventeen men have died in Harem systems across our allied packs. All officially recorded as accidents or honourable duels.”

Elder Marcus scoffed. “The Harem is a sacred institution. Death is part of its purification.”

“Is it?” Sabrina turned to face him directly. “Or is death the result of a system that encourages cruelty and competition?”