The packhouse buzzed with activity as I rushed through the hallway, clipboard in hand. Three years of pretending to be wolfless had taught me how to move like a human—keeping my steps measured, my posture slightly hunched to appear weaker than I truly was. The irony wasn't lost on me; a Lycan Princess playing the part of a powerless nobody.

"Camille, the Alpha's chambers still need fresh linens," Elena, our head Omega, called out as I passed the laundry room.

"Already on it," I replied with a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.

She gave me a knowing look. Elena was one of the few who suspected there was more to me than met the eye. "You've been working since dawn. Are you sure you don't want to rest before tonight's welcome feast?"

"I'm fine," I assured her, though my back ached from repairing the packhouse roof earlier that morning.

I slipped into Jonas's office when I knew no one would be looking. The leather-bound ledger lay hidden beneath a stack of trade agreements—my secret ledger, where I carefully tracked every penny of my royal dowry that had been funneled into saving this pack.

"Let's see... roof repairs, fifty thousand. New medical supplies, twenty thousand. Winter storage provisions, thirty thousand." My finger traced down the columns of numbers, each one representing a piece of my freedom bought at exorbitant cost.

Three years ago, I'd severed my mind-link with my brother Axel and fled the Royal Territory, desperate for something real. Something that wasn't dictated by bloodline or obligation. Jonas had promised me that something when he found me during a rogue attack.

"You saved me," he'd whispered that night, rain soaking us both. "I don't care that you don't have a wolf. You're my miracle."

And now, after three years of sacrifice, he was finally coming home from the Southern Summit. Home to me.

"He promised," I whispered to myself, closing the ledger with trembling fingers. "He promised when he returned, we'd announce our official mating."

I tucked the book away just as voices echoed from outside.

"The Alpha's convoy! They're back!"

My heart leapt. Jonas was home.

---

The driveway was already lined with pack members when I arrived, their excited chatter filling the air. I pushed my way through, ignoring the sneers and whispers that followed me.

"There she is—the little human who thinks she's Luna."

"Alpha Jonas won't even look at her once Leilani's in the picture."

I blocked them out, focusing only on the approaching vehicles. The lead SUV door opened, and Jonas stepped out—tall, broad-shouldered, his dark hair longer than when he'd left. My breath caught.

Then a second figure emerged beside him.

Leilani Jenkins was everything I wasn't—tall, voluptuous, with flowing auburn hair and an aura that screamed power. Her hand was intertwined with Jonas's as they approached the crowd.

"River Claw Pack!" Jonas's voice boomed with newfound confidence. "I've returned with great news and a special guest!"

The crowd erupted in cheers as Leilani waved graciously.

"This is Leilani Jenkins," Jonas continued, his arm sliding around her waist. "The woman who secured our new trade alliances with the Southern Packs!"

More cheers. More applause.

I stood frozen, my smile plastered on as Jonas walked right past me without a glance. The scent of Leilani's artificial floral perfume washed over me—too sweet, too strong, almost... fake.

"Camille." Delta Ryan bumped my shoulder as he rushed past. "Didn't you hear? We're having a feast tonight to celebrate!"

I nodded numbly, watching as Jonas and Leilani were swallowed by the crowd.

---

The great hall glittered with decorations I'd spent weeks preparing. Crystal glasses, fresh flowers, candles that cast a warm glow over the long tables. I'd planned everything perfectly for Jonas's return.

I approached the head table, my hand reaching for the chair beside Jonas's empty seat.

"Camille." Jonas's voice cut through the noise. He stood at the entrance with Leilani on his arm, both dressed in formal attire. "What do you think you're doing?"

My fingers tightened on the chair back. "I was just... sitting down."

"Not there." His tone was cold, dismissive. He gestured toward the far end of the hall, near the kitchen doors where the Omegas sat. "You'll sit with the staff tonight."

A hush fell over the room. I felt hundreds of eyes on me.

"But I'm—"

"You're what?" Leilani's voice was honey-sweet with an edge of steel. "Not even a wolf? Why would you think you belong at the Alpha's table?"

Jonas nodded in agreement. "Leilani has been officially appointed Acting Luna by the Council of Alphas. Her wolf is strong, her bloodline pure." His eyes flicked to me with something like disgust. "You'll serve as housekeeper until further notice. It's time you earned your keep."

The room spun around me as I stumbled backward, away from the table that should have been mine.

"Housekeeper?" I whispered, the word tasting like ash.

"Is there a problem?" Jonas raised an eyebrow. "Or did you think saving a few rogues three years ago made you special?"

Leilani's laugh echoed through the hall as she took her seat—my seat—beside him.

I turned and walked toward the Omega table on shaky legs, feeling the weight of every stare burning into my back.

The grandfather clock in the hallway struck midnight as I slipped through the darkened corridors of the packhouse. My footsteps were silent—three years of moving like a human hadn't erased my Lycan grace. The Alpha's office door loomed ahead, cracked open just enough for a sliver of light to escape.

I hesitated, my hand hovering over the polished wood. Snow stirred restlessly within me.

*Go on. You deserve answers.*

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open.

Jonas sat behind his desk, papers spread before him. He didn't look up when I entered.

"I can smell her on you," I said quietly.

His head snapped up, eyes narrowing. "What are you doing here?"

"I said I can smell her on you." I stepped closer, inhaling deeply. "That perfume... it's not natural, Jonas."

"What are you talking about?" He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor.

"Leilani's scent." I moved around the desk, my nose twitching as I detected something beneath the cloying sweetness. "There's a chemical undertone. It's not a real wolf scent."

Jonas's face darkened. "You're just jealous because she's everything you're not."

"Everything I'm not?" The words stung more than they should have.

"A powerful she-wolf. A worthy Luna." He stepped closer, his breath hot against my face. "Not a wolfless nobody who can't even shift."

I flinched as if he'd slapped me. "Jonas, please. Just listen—"

"No, you listen." His voice dropped to a dangerous growl. "Hand over the keys to the master bedroom. Leilani's moving in tomorrow."

The request hit me like a physical blow. "You can't be serious."

"Deadly serious." He held out his hand. "You've had three years to prove yourself useful. Now it's her turn."

I backed away, my fingers curling into fists. "This isn't you."

"This is exactly who I am." His eyes gleamed with a cruelty I'd never seen before. "Now get out."

---

The basement vault was cool and dimly lit, the air heavy with the scent of old paper and metal. I'd come here dozens of times over the years, always careful to cover my tracks. Tonight was different—tonight I was searching for betrayal.

The financial records were kept in a locked cabinet behind the emergency supplies. My fingers trembled as I dialed the combination—Jonas's birthdate, ironically enough.

"No trade deals," I whispered as I flipped through the ledger. "None at all."

The pages showed a very different story than the one Jonas had told the pack. No new alliances. No Southern Pack agreements. Just withdrawals—large, frequent withdrawals from the emergency fund.

My emergency fund.

I traced the numbers with my fingertip, each one representing a piece of my dowry that I'd secretly funneled into saving this pack. Fifty thousand here. Twenty thousand there. All gone.

"The Black Diamond necklace—fifty thousand dollars." My voice cracked as I read the entry. "The ruby earrings—another thirty thousand."

Bonding gifts. For Leilani.

Snow howled in rage within me. *They're stealing from us! From YOU!*

I slammed the ledger shut, my hands shaking with fury and betrayal. Three years of sacrifice reduced to nothing more than a shopping spree for his new mistress.

---

"Scrub harder, human."

Leilani's voice cut through the steam rising from the kitchen floor. I kept my head down, focusing on the stubborn stain I'd been attacking for the past hour.

"I said scrub harder!" She kicked the bucket beside me, sending dirty water splashing across my jeans.

I looked up slowly, meeting her gaze. "I am."

"Pathetic." She leaned against the counter, arms crossed over her chest. "Do you know how amusing it is to watch you? Playing house with a man who could never truly want you."

My scrub brush stilled. "What?"

"Jonas." Her lips curled into a cruel smile. "He's so easy to manipulate. So desperate for validation that he'd believe anything I tell him."

"Like what?"

"Like I secured trade deals." She laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "Like I'm worthy of being Luna while you're just... this." She gestured dismissively at my soaked clothes and red hands.

"You find him pathetic?" I stood slowly, the brush dripping water onto the floor.

"Useful." She stepped closer, her eyes glittering with malice. "But pathetic nonetheless."

Something snapped inside me then—a leash breaking, a cage door swinging open. Snow surged forward, and I felt my eyes burn silver.

"Is that so?" My voice was deeper than usual, laced with a growl that made Leilani step back.

For a split second, fear flashed across her face as she stared into my eyes.

"What are you?" she whispered.

I said nothing, letting the silver glow fade slowly as I resumed my scrubbing.

Leilani retreated, her confidence shaken. "This isn't over," she hissed before fleeing the kitchen.

I watched her go, Snow's satisfaction rumbling through my chest.

*Soon,* I promised her. *Soon we won't have to pretend anymore.*

The morning sun filtered through the windows of the packhouse as I hurried down the corridor with a stack of freshly laundered linens. Three days had passed since the feast, and each one had brought new humiliations. Today was the monthly pack inspection—a chance for Jonas to show off the improvements to visiting dignitaries.

"Camille!" Elena's voice called from behind. "Can you help me with these?"

I turned to see her struggling with an armful of cleaning supplies.

"Of course," I replied, shifting my load to one arm.

As I reached for her supplies, a figure appeared at the top of the grand staircase—Leilani, resplendent in a crimson dress that hugged every curve.

"Perfect timing," she purred, her eyes locking with mine.

Something in her gaze made my skin crawl. Snow stirred restlessly within me.

*Watch her,* Snow warned. *She's planning something.*

I straightened, clutching the linens tighter. "What do you want, Leilani?"

"Me?" She descended one step at a time, like a predator stalking prey. "I just wanted to check on our little... housekeeper."

The sweetness in her voice was venomous. Behind her, I could see Jonas approaching from the main hall, flanked by two visiting Alphas from neighboring packs.

"Ah, there he is," Leilani whispered, her eyes darting to Jonas.

In that moment, I saw it—the calculation, the trap about to spring.

"Camille," she said loudly, "you really should be more careful with those stairs. They can be so... slippery."

Before I could respond, Leilani's foot caught on nothing—a perfectly executed stumble. Her body pitched forward, arms flailing dramatically as she tumbled down the stairs with a shriek that could wake the dead.

"Camille pushed me!" she wailed as she landed in a crumpled heap at the bottom. "She tried to kill me!"

Jonas rushed forward, his face contorted with rage. "What happened?"

"I didn't—" I began, but Leilani's sobs drowned me out.

"She pushed me!" Leilani clutched her ankle, tears streaming down her face. "I felt her hands on my back!"

"I was nowhere near her," I protested, looking to Jonas for reason.

His eyes had turned to ice. "You jealous little—"

"Jonas, please," I whispered. "Think about this."

"KNEEL!"

The Alpha command hit me like a physical blow. The air around me thickened, pressing down on my shoulders with invisible weight.

Every wolf in the vicinity dropped to their knees instantly. Every wolf except me.

For one heartbeat, I remained standing.

Jonas's eyes widened in shock. "What the—"

I felt Snow rising within me, fighting against the command. My Lycan blood rebelled against submitting to an inferior Alpha.

*No,* I told her. *Not yet.*

With tremendous effort, I forced myself to one knee, head bowed in false submission. The pressure eased slightly.

"Better," Jonas growled, unaware of the battle raging inside me.

Leilani's eyes narrowed at my delayed response, suspicion flickering across her face.

"Jonas," she whimpered, "my ankle... I think it's broken."

"Let me see," he murmured, kneeling beside her.

I remained on one knee, my body trembling with the effort of containing Snow's fury.

---

The training grounds buzzed with activity as pack members gathered in a circle. At the center stood Jonas, his arm around Leilani's waist as she leaned on him dramatically.

"Bring her here," Jonas ordered.

Two Deltas seized my arms, dragging me forward until I stood before him.

"Camille Moore," Jonas announced to the assembled pack, "you have shown yourself to be a danger to this pack and its members."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Some faces showed sympathy, others disgust.

"From this moment forward," he continued, "you are stripped of all remaining privileges."

Leilani's lips curved in a triumphant smile.

"You will no longer be permitted to enter the main house without escort," Jonas declared. "You will sleep in the Omega quarters and perform only the most menial tasks."

Each word was a lash against my pride. I kept my eyes downcast, hiding the silver glow I knew was building.

"And to ensure your compliance," Jonas's voice dropped to a dangerous growl, "you will serve as a personal attendant at my Marking Ceremony with Leilani in three days' time."

Gasps echoed around the circle. The Marking Ceremony was sacred—for me to serve at Jonas's ceremony with another woman was the ultimate humiliation.

"Do you understand?" Jonas demanded.

I raised my eyes to meet his, forcing Snow's power to remain hidden. "Yes, Alpha."

"Good." He turned to address the pack. "Let this be a lesson. No one is above pack law—not even those who once held positions of... convenience."

As the crowd dispersed, whispering among themselves, I caught Elena's eye. She gave me a small nod of encouragement before being ushered away.

Leilani hobbled toward me on Jonas's arm, her "injured" ankle somehow supporting her weight when no one else was watching.

"Three days," she whispered. "Three days until you watch me take everything that should have been yours."

I said nothing, but inside, Snow was no longer howling for release.

She was planning.