Sybil's POV

The doors to the Great Hall opened.

Light flooded in, moonlight filtered through towering stained-glass windows with the silhouette of wolves, crowns, and ancient sigils. The sound hits me next. Thousands of voices fell into silence all at once as the traditional wedding march that they adopted after cross-breeding with the humans started playing.

So many eyes were looking at me. Judging eyes just because a lot of them don't know me.

I straightened instinctively, spine stiff as a blade, even though my body very much disagrees with this wedding.

I walked down the aisle between my parents like some obedient, porcelain bride. Parents whom I've known all my life but just met a week ago, after I impulsively decided I wanted revenge against the person who broke my trust and heart.

My wedding gown was white and ivory with touches of silver and rhinestones. A corset top fitted tight enough to remind me of every breath I take. A princess neckline that bares my neck and shoulders to the world, an A-line skirt flowing like a lie. 

The light caught in the silver thread and rhinestones woven through the fabric, making me glow and sparkle. But I don't feel radiant. I feel like bait.

After the Great War, they decided white was appropriate, because after this country had been cursed, all the shewolf that time became barren, which also extended to the neighboring countries, thousands of miles from its area of effect.

Men had no choice but to take in human brides just to have offspring, who took some of their traditions with them. 

Some Alphas were lucky enough to either convince or buy shewolves from other unaffected areas of the region to marry them.

"Walk properly, dear," my mother, Queen Gisella von Rosen, whispered through a perfect smile. "People are watching."

I kept my smile, too. Barely.

"I could," I murmured back, teeth clenched, "if you had done your motherly duty and informed me that my attendants needed to... how shall I put this politely... invade every last shred of dignity of my behind before I walk down the aisle."

Her fingers tightened around my arm for half a second.

"But you didn't," I continued sweetly. "So kindly deal with my not-so-elegant, very traumatized walk, after the fingers of my attendants diligently made sure I was thoroughly clean back there."

She nodded to a row of elders, smiling unwaveringly.

"Lower your voice, and watch your mouth," she said calmly. "You are a Lycan princess, not some cheap girl in the red light district. It was necessary."

"Oh? Right..." I hissed. "Funny, because tonight I'm apparently marrying four men I've never even seen, so forgive me if I don't feel particularly royal right now. I feel like a whore being sold to shoot a gangbang movie."

I added, I can't help it, I agreed to getting married, but I was not informed that I needed to marry four men. "I mean, who does that? Who in their right mind marries four men at the same time?"

Her jaw tightened, and her smile became stiff. "You might have grown up with humans, but you're a Lycan. You're not like them; don't lower yourself to their level. This is a blessing from the Goddess of the Moon. Accept it with open arms."

"And why..." I added, bitterness bubbling up, " Why am I the only one being offered up like this? You're a Lycan. Sofia is a Lycan. Why am I the only sacrificial lamb?"

Her answer came without hesitation. "You know very well the goddess blessed you with four mates," she said. "I was not."

"How convenient," I said and rolled my eyes.

"As for your sister," she continued softly, "her future is uncertain. She is weak and always sick. She may not even live long enough to meet her fated mate."

That one landed hard. A little bit of guilt crawled up within me.

I swallowed. "So you're saying that I should be grateful?"

"Not all werewolves even find their mate in their lifetime. But you, you not only have one, but four. You are the future Queen of this kingdom, and they are the future Kings who will rule over our land. You are very lucky, and that luck will be extended to our people after you fulfill your duties. After you give birth to the future heir who will finally break the curse that we have been suffering from for hundreds of years. I'm saying it is destiny, it is your fate."

I snorted under my breath. "Or politics. Or a very well-dressed lie."

She didn't look at me. "Mind your thoughts."

"This is very sketchy. My wolf is caged," I whispered. "I can't even feel if that mate pull is real. These Alphas, my so-called fated mates, could be lying, you know. Who knows? They could be fooling you because they wanted to be Kings. They wanted to rule. The elders. The priests. Everyone. I heard from the servants that no one alive today witnessed something like this before: a lycan with multiple fated mates. What if the history books were fake or wrong?"

Before she could answer, my father's grip tightened on my other arm.

"Enough," my father, King Alfred von Rosen, muttered sharply, smile fixed, eyes forward. "Silence. Both of you."

He leaned in just enough for me to hear.

"Most of these guests may be hybrids," he said, "but some of them still have very sharp ears. And your conversation is bordering on vulgar."

I rolled my eyes but closed my mouth.

So does my mother.

We walked on. The aisle felt longer than it should. Red carpet beneath my feet. Ancient stone beneath that. 

The Great Hall stretches endlessly, banners hanging from vaulted ceilings, each bearing the crest of a pack.

I forced my steps to steady, even as my body protested.

Damn it! I can still feel what those women did to me.

Every step was a reminder; it was worse than a colonoscopy.

So humiliating!

I focus straight ahead, refusing to let my expression crack.

At the far end of the hall stands the altar, an ancient slab of moonstone carved with runes older than the kingdom itself. Behind it, the High Elder waits, staff in hand, eyes glowing faintly with power.

But something is missing.

I scanned the space beside the altar.

Empty.

No grooms.

My pulse stuttered.

So they won't even let me see them before it's done? This is really infuriating...

As we reached the end of the aisle, the music faded. The murmurs rose again.

I can feel them measuring me.

The Lycan heir. The shewolf who dodged the curse and death... 

My parents released my arms.

I stood alone.

The High Elder raised his staff, the runes flaring to life.

"On this night," he intones, "under the full moon, we gather to witness the binding of ancient blood and future rule-"

The doors slammed open behind me as I faced the altar.

The sound echoes through the hall like thunder.

Every head turns.

Including mine.

Four silhouettes stood framed in moonlight by the entrance.

Tall. Broad. Unmistakably male. Unmistakably powerful. All were wearing ceremonial robes made of fur and gold threads.

My breath hitched, not in desire, but in instinctive recognition of danger.

So, I thought grimly, heart pounding. These are the men I'm supposed to marry?

They were wearing hoodies on their head but their face was visible, only that, it was covered in tribal paint with the same color that symbolizes their pack. But even with a painted face, I could still say that they are not average. 

Not bad... At least I'll marry some good-looking men and not like those hairy, scary-looking, royal guards...

And suddenly, I understood one thing with terrifying clarity.

Whatever was supposed to happen tonight... It will surely not going to be gentle.

Sybil's POV

The wedding ends without ever truly beginning. No vows. No rings. No kiss.

Just ancient words in a dead language and four men standing far enough behind me that they may as well have been shadows.

Transactional. Ceremonial. Political.

Romantic? Not even a little.

I barely saw their faces.

Every time I tried to glance back, one of the elders would clear their throat like I was breaking some sacred rule by being curious about the men I was apparently destined to share a life and a kingdom with.

Before I can even process that the ceremony is over, I'm being escorted away, not toward the grand reception hall glowing with music and laughter, but out the side entrance of the castle. 

And parked at the bottom of the steps is- "...A minivan?" I muttered. Not a royal carriage that I was expecting, since I thought I was going out to greet the people, my subjects.

A very modern, very tinted, very suspicious minivan that looked like it belonged to a celebrity avoiding paparazzi.

"Wait," I say, digging my heels in. "Where are we going? I thought I was going to greet the crowd outside before going upstairs to change clothes for the reception."

"No, Your Highness," the Mistress of the Robes says smoothly as she opens the door. "Please get in. I will explain inside. It seems Her Majesty did not explain this part either."

Of course, she didn't. Why is my mother doing this to me?!

I climbed in. The Mistress follows, along with two attendants. The door slides shut, sealing me in.

The second we start moving, they're on me.

Cold cream wipes across my cheeks as the Mistress begins removing my makeup with efficient swipes. Another woman carefully unpins the jeweled combs from my hair. The third unclasps necklaces, bracelets, earrings, each piece disappearing into velvet pouches like I'm being dismantled.

"You said you'd explain," I said, not bothering to hide my irritation. "So what are you waiting for? Explain."

The Mistress nods, still working. "After the offering to the Moon Goddess and the wedding ceremony, the final rite is the mating ritual."

"It will take place in a secluded villa not far from the castle," she continued. "Guards will be stationed outside the perimeter. Servants will remain in a separate house beyond the walls. They are not allowed to enter unless summoned."

"Summoned how?" I asked.

"There is an intercom system inside the villa. You may call for food, fresh linens, baths, tidying the place... anything you require."

My frown deepened. "How long am I staying there?"

"A minimum of seven days."

"Seven days?!" My voice jumped an octave. "Why?"

"You will not be alone, if that's what you're worried about," she added gently. "Your husbands will join you after the celebration ends. During those seven days, none of you may leave the villa grounds."

I blinked at her. "You're locking us in? What the heck!"

"It is tradition."

"That's not an explanation, that's a prison sentence."

She ignored that. "The time may extend... if all parties wish it."

Oh Goddess. Why is this happening to me?

"How come they get to party while I get isolated?" I grumbled. "I'd like to eat and drink too, you know."

"There will be a feast prepared at the villa," she assured me. "Everything served at the reception-and more."

"Great," I muttered. "Romantic captivity with catering."

That made the attendants giggle.

I narrowed my eyes. "And why exactly is it seven days? What are we supposed to do in there, stare at each other?"

That was a mistake that I instantly regretted because the two younger women dissolved into the kind of laughter usually reserved for gossip about secret crushes.

"What else, Princess?" one of them chirped. "You'll be making heirs!"

Even the driver and the guard who sat in front snorted.

I sank back into the seat. Wonderful! I am officially the laughing stock of the whole kingdom for sure...

Then the attendant added, "Once the full moon reaches its peak tonight, the grooms will have insatiable hunger for their bride, and that could last for five to seven days. They will be possessive and might hurt or even kill anyone who goes near their bride. Thus, the seven days."

The Mistress shot them a warning look. "Enough. You'll frighten Her Highness."

"I'm already frightened," I informed her flatly.

She softened her tone slightly. "For unions like this, sometimes the bond is not completed on the first night. Some couples wait until the next full moon and use the time simply to grow familiar with one another."

That sounds... manageable.

Maybe we'll talk. Share tragic backstories. Establish boundaries like civilized people.

The driver chuckled again.

All four of us looked toward the front.

"May I speak, Your Highness?" he asked.

I sighed. "Go ahead. I want to know everything."

"It's not my place to worry you," he said, before looking at the Mistress of the Robes in the rearview mirror, "but Carmen... you're forgetting something."

The Mistress stiffened. "What is it, now?"

"Those grooms you're comparing them to," he said, "were hybrids. These four are pureblood and Alphas. It's a full moon tonight. They may have stood calmly during the ceremony, but I guarantee you that they took every ounce of control they had."

"When I met my fated mate," he continued, voice going distant with memory, "her scent alone nearly drove me mad, and I'm not pureblood. I couldn't think. Couldn't breathe. All I wanted was to claim her, to make sure the whole world knew she was mine."

I glanced at the attendants, and they looked... dreamy. And then at the Mistress, she tried to look stern and failed. 

"So imagine," the driver added, "what four unmated pureblood Alphas must be feeling right now... sitting through speeches and wine when their bride is waiting somewhere else."

"But since they are purebloods, then perhaps, they might have stronger control," I uttered weakly.

He shrugged. "Control doesn't make the hunger and desire smaller. It just makes the wait worse, and I am sure it will accumulate."

I stared down at my hands in my lap, stripped of rings, stripped of jewels, stripped of everything.

Four powerful Alphas, who are nonetheless strangers. A locked villa. Seven days.

No escape without causing a political incident.

The women around me are practically vibrating with excitement, like this is some grand fairy tale.

I feel like I'm being delivered to four very patient predators.

I sighed, hard and heavy. "I didn't even get a good look at them earlier. It turns out four Alphas claimed that I was their mate, without even seeing me."

"The Queen informed us of your situation. But that is okay, because fated mates can smell each other. In your case, they smelled you, even if you can't smell them, and that's enough. They have proven themselves to the King and to the elders before you've arrived here; that's all you need. No need to worry."

"What do they look like?" I asked quietly. 

The attendants perked up instantly. "Oh, Your Highness," one sighed. "You are blessed. They are all good-looking and smart."

"Terrifyingly strong. They are the guardians of the four gates of the kingdom," the first insisted.

"Each from a different dominant pureblood bloodline," Carmen corrected, though she was smiling. "Strength. Strategy. Ferocity. Leadership. Looked like the Goddess of the Moon favored you, and she chose carefully. You really are our savior."

So they're not just husbands. They're weapons. Future kings for me to use to fulfill my goals.

And tonight, I'm being handed to them wrapped in silk and expectation.

But they are in for a surprise tonight, something they won't expect.

The van slowed. Through the tinted window, I saw tall stone walls, wrought iron gates, and beyond them, a sprawling villa lit by warm golden lights against the dark forest backdrop.

The place was huge! It was not a villa, it was a mansion inside a walled mini forest. Isolated. Quiet. Waiting for me.

My heart started pounding again.

Just what on earth did I get myself into?! 

Oh Goddess of the Moon, please have mercy on me!

Sybil's POV

The villa was already alive when we arrived.

Servants and guards moved in a graceful blur beyond the villa's main doors. The moment our minivan rolled to a stop, everyone straightened as if pulled by invisible strings.

A line formed.

Heads bowed.

"Welcome, Your Highness."

The voice was warm, feminine, and confident. I looked up to find a beautiful woman with dark hair, probably about my age, standing at the center of them all. She wore no maid's uniform, just a sleek, long-sleeved dress that marked her as someone important.

"My name is Noelle," she said with a soft smile. "I am your head lady-in-waiting. You must be exhausted from all the rituals today. Would you like something to eat?"

Oh, thank goodness!

My stomach growled loud enough that I was sure half the guards heard it. I beamed at her, nearly launching myself into her arms. "Yes. Please. I am starving. The last thing I ate was breakfast. I swear the people at the castle were trying to starve me to death!"

I was already moving toward the entrance when Carmen cleared her throat behind me.

I turned, my excitement dimming just a little.

"Princess," she said gently, "we'll leave you in Noelle's care now. We'll return in seven days."

Seven days.

A full week.

Alone. In this villa. With four powerful Alphas I barely knew...

I was nervous again, but I hid it with a grin and nod.

Carmen gave me a knowing look before climbing back into the minivan with the others. I didn't wait to see them drive away. If I stood there too long, the reality of everything might actually catch up to me.

Instead, I stepped inside.

And immediately followed my nose.

The scent of roasted meat, herbs, warm bread, butter, and wine wrapped around me like an embrace. My wolf might be caged, but my senses were still sharp-sharper than any human's. Hunger pulled me forward like a leash.

I didn't need directions. I felt the dining room before I saw it.

The moment I entered, my mouth watered. A long table shimmered under golden light, covered in dishes that looked like they belonged in a royal feast painting. I dropped into the nearest chair and started piling food onto my plate before anyone could stop me.

"Your Highness, please, allow me," Noelle said gently, taking over with practiced grace.

I didn't even argue, and I let her pick up any dish she wanted to.

The first bite of a prosciutto roll melted on my tongue, salty and rich and perfect. My eyes widened. "Oh my God. Who made this? This is divine. I can eat this all day."

Noelle laughed softly as she poured me a glass of deep red wine. "Your personal chef, Your Highness. Her Majesty hired one especially for you-so all your cravings will be satisfied when you get pregnant."

I choked. Literally choked.

I coughed so hard I thought I might die right there, honeymoon ended before it even began. Noelle rushed to rub my back while someone shoved a glass of water into my hand.

"Babies?!" I wheezed once I could breathe again, face burning. "Who said anything about babies happening soon?"

Noelle's smile didn't falter, which somehow made it worse.

"I-I'm fine," I muttered, dabbing at my mouth. But my appetite had shrunk into a tight little knot in my stomach. Pregnant. So soon. Like it was already scheduled.

"Perhaps some soup first?" she offered gently. "To warm your stomach?"

"Maybe I just need to get out of this corset," I said, tugging at the tight fabric around my waist. "I can't even take a proper breath."

"Of course. Let me show you to your room."

We moved upstairs. Noelle gestured down the hallway as we walked.

"This is Alpha Viggo's room," she said, pointing right. "Across is Alpha River's. Next to his is Alpha Ezra's. Opposite that is Alpha Hunter's."

My steps slowed.

Four doors.

Four men.

Four fated mates I couldn't even recognize because my wolf, my other half, was locked away inside me. It's been years since I last talked to her. I am technically wolfless now.

"And the door at the end," Noelle said, stopping before a set of double doors, "is yours."

"Oh," I breathed. "So... we each get one?"

"Yes. For now. The King thought you might prefer your own space at first."

I exhaled in relief. "Thank God someone in that castle has common sense. Unlike my mother, who apparently expects me to be pregnant by tomorrow."

A few of the servants choked back giggles.

Noelle's lips twitched. "There is... another reason for the arrangement. But perhaps the Alphas should explain that to you themselves."

Oh, that did not sound innocent.

I turned to press her, but she opened the doors, and every thought flew straight out of my head.

My jaw dropped.

The room was massive, modern, and elegant, like a luxury seaside villa from a dream. Soft neutral tones, warm lighting, and glass walls leading to a balcony that overlooked the garden.

I walked toward it as if pulled by magic.

Outside, a pool shimmered under moonlight, framed by palms and low lanterns. "I didn't expect this," I murmured. "It feels like Bali... or Malibu."

"This villa was built just six months ago," Noelle said.

Six months...

The exact time my father found me... and started sending men to drag me back into this life. I'd fought them all. Hard. But somehow, I still ended up here.

I turned back inside, taking in the rest. A huge bed to the right, far too big for just one person. A plush sitting area and a large screen to the left.

"Where are my clothes?" I asked. "You can help me with the corset, then you can all go."

Noelle gestured toward a side door. "Walk-in closet and ensuite. We'll assist you, then leave you after we dress you."

"Just the corset," I insisted. "I can handle the rest. And Carmen said no one stays in the villa except us, right?"

That did the trick.

Soon it was just me.

Alone.

In a silent, moonlit room on my mating night.

I slipped out of my dress and headed into the walk-in closet... only to find it empty. Cabinet after cabinet. Nothing.

A strange chill crept up my spine.

"What is going on...?"

I moved into the ensuite. Steam curled through the air from a bath already drawn. My gaze skimmed the marble counters, then landed on something folded neatly on the vanity.

Fabric.

Small. Delicate.

I picked it up.

My eyes widened. My jaw nearly hit the floor.

"What the fuck?! They expect me to wear this?!"