Until that one time when I was caught eavesdropping on Patrick Cook’s training session, I was beaten half to death by the guards.

It was Vera Fernandez who saved me, giving me medicine to heal my wounds.

A life-saving favor is as significant as the sky itself, and I knew I had to repay it.

Now, with the pack’s territory in the north under attack, the Alpha of the northern pack, Kaizen Phillips, had once been a hostage here, enduring unimaginable suffering.

He was known for his brutality and ferocity, having barely survived his time here before escaping back to his pack. There, he killed his own father and took the Alpha position, leading his warriors to attack our lands.

He had already claimed fifty-eight territories in the north and was now marching toward the central pack, declaring that he didn’t want the throne—only the Lycan King’s daughter.

Almost everyone assumed it would be Vera, the most dazzling of the Lycan King’s daughters, who would be sent to him.

Bristol Larson, the Lycan Queen, told me Vera had been unable to eat or sleep, falling ill from the stress.

The Lycan King, Robert Jacobs, called a meeting of the pack’s leaders, but after three days of deliberation, no one dared to volunteer to face Kaizen’s forces. The warriors were either injured or dead, leaving the pack with no choice but to send Vera.

Bristol Larson, desperate, came to me with a box of pastries, begging me to take Vera’s place in the mate pairing.

I asked her if being a mate meant there would be good food.

She paused for a moment, then said there would not only be good food but also beautiful clothes and jewelry.

That sounded more than worth it!

I brightened up, wiping the crumbs from my mouth and patting my chest with confidence.

"Don’t worry, Your Majesty. If Vera doesn’t want to go, I’ll do it for her!"

But what if the Lycan King decided to pair me with Patrick instead?

I quickly waved my hands.

"No, no, I don’t want to be paired with Beta Patrick. I want to be paired with Kaizen Phillips, the Alpha of the northern pack!"

I glanced at the pack’s historian for confirmation, and he whispered, "Kaizen Phillips."

Grateful, I repeated it loudly, "I want to be paired with Kaizen Phillips!"

Perhaps my voice was too loud, because the room fell silent, everyone staring at me in shock.

"Impossible!"

Patrick Cook suddenly spoke up, kneeling on the ground with a formal bow. When he looked up, his face was pale.

"Princess Samantha is still young and doesn’t understand the significance of a mate pairing. Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

The Lycan King, Robert Jacobs, twirled the ring on his finger, his gaze fixed on Patrick as he smiled.

"Beta Patrick, our little Samantha may be young, but she’s sharp as a wolf’s fang. I like this child, and I intend to grant her wish."

With a wave of his hand, he issued the decree.

"By the command of the Lycan King, Princess Samantha Jacobs is hereby granted the title of Solaris, with the privileges of a Lycan Princess. She shall be paired with Kaizen Phillips, Alpha of the northern pack, to strengthen the alliance between our packs."

Not only that, the Lycan King also announced that Patrick Cook would be paired with Vera Fernandez next month.

Patrick’s face turned ashen, but he had no choice but to accept the decree and thank the King in front of everyone.

As for me, I was too busy thinking about the new wing of the pack house I’d been given, eager to go and explore it.

I found myself walking through the new wing, the scent of fresh wood and paint filling the air. My wolf stirred within me, her name, Luna, whispering in my mind.

"This is ours now," Luna said, her voice filled with excitement.

I nodded, feeling the weight of my new title and the responsibility it carried. But more than anything, I was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, with Kaizen Phillips by my side.

As I explored the new wing, I couldn’t help but think about the mark ceremony that awaited me. The thought of Kaizen’s mark on my neck sent a shiver down my spine.

"Luna," I whispered, "are you ready for this?"

"We’ve been ready," she replied, her voice steady and confident.

And with that, I knew I was ready to embrace my new life as the mate of Kaizen Phillips, the Alpha of the northern pack.

Being chosen for the mate pairing was the best thing that could have happened!

After leaving the Alpha King’s study, I clutched the decree in my hands, grinning like a fool as I walked. My steps were light, my heart soaring. For once, fate seemed to be on my side.

But then I saw him. Patrick Cook stood in the distance, his expression as cold and unyielding as ever. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and a shiver ran down my spine. I hesitated, then turned to run, but he was faster. In an instant, he closed the gap between us, his claws gripping my wrist like a vise.

"Do you even understand what a mate pairing entails?" he snapped, his voice low and sharp. "No one remembered you existed until now. Why would you volunteer for this? Do you think this is some kind of game?"

He started pulling me back toward the Alpha King’s study, his grip unrelenting. "Come with me. We’ll tell the King you’ve changed your mind."

"No!" I yanked my arm free, glaring at him. "I want this! I don’t want to stay here. I hate it here! I hate you!"

My voice broke, and tears spilled down my cheeks. "You’re going to be mated to Vera Fernandez. Why do you even care what happens to me? No one here cares about Samantha Jacobs. I’m leaving, and I’m never coming back!"

Patrick froze, his jaw tightening. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to say something, but no words came out. Seizing the opportunity, I wrenched my wrist free and bolted, not stopping until I reached the new quarters assigned to me.

The room was nothing like the drafty, neglected space I’d been forced to call home for so long. There were no mice scurrying in the corners, no snakes slithering across the floor. Instead, there was a soft bed, a sturdy desk, and even a plate of freshly baked pastries waiting for me.

I collapsed onto the bed, letting out a sigh of relief. "Being chosen for the mate pairing is the best thing that’s ever happened to me," I whispered to myself, a smile creeping back onto my face. For the first time in years, I felt like I had a chance—a real chance—to escape the life I’d been trapped in. And I wasn’t going to let anyone take that away from me.

My mark ceremony was scheduled earlier than Vera’s, though the preparations were carried out simultaneously.

Rumors spread that Vera had thrown a fit, and King Robert had confined her to her chambers, only to be released on the day of the ceremony. Patrick hadn’t set foot in the central territory since, not even for the pack meetings.

I stayed out of the drama, spending my days lounging in my new quarters, indulging in lavish meals until I’d gained a noticeable roundness.

On the day of the ceremony, I was roused at dawn to be dressed and groomed. Once the ceremonial robe was draped over me and the veil secured, I was ushered into the car adorned with red ribbons.

“Won’t the King and Queen see me off?” I asked.

Wasn’t it customary for parents to bid farewell before a mark ceremony? Had they overslept?

I lifted the veil, peering out into the early morning mist. A light drizzle fell, and the surroundings were eerily empty, not a soul in sight.

“Queen Bristol said she’d come to see me off too. Where is she?”

The matron escorting me yanked the veil back down, chuckling.

“Time is tight, and we can’t delay. The King is occupied with pack affairs, so we must depart now.”

Ah, of course. The ceremony had to be timed perfectly for the Moon Goddess’s blessing. We couldn’t afford to be late.

“The King is busy, and the Queen and Queen Bristol are busy too. I understand, Matron.”

I sat upright, adjusting the veil, my voice now tinged with a hint of a sniffle. “It’s alright. I’ll be good, Matron. Let’s go.”

I had wanted to ask King Robert if he could give me a proper name, something other than just “Hannah,” but it seemed there was no time.

Hidden beneath the veil, my cheeks flushed, and my eyes brimmed with tears.

“I’ll be good, Hannah. I won’t miss home, and I won’t miss my mother.”

I wiped my tears with the edge of the veil, then forced a smile.

Mother, I’m getting marked today, to the most powerful Alpha in the north. I’ve heard he’s incredibly wealthy. Once I’m his Luna, I’ll honor your memory with the finest offerings, so you can rest in peace, and even the Moon Goddess herself will look upon you with favor.