The night before the mark ceremony, I learned that Nathaniel Parker had taken a chosen mate—a beautiful Omega named Skyler Barnes—and they had a son together.

The boy was already seven years old.

For seven years, there hadn’t been a single whisper of this in the territory.

But now, on the eve of my ceremony, Skyler’s caretaker, Madelynn Baker, collapsed at my doorstep with the child in her arms.

---

I stood inside the doorway, watching as the boy lay unconscious outside. I called for a healer to examine him.

Madelynn, his caretaker, began to wail, her voice shrill and accusatory.

"This is the Alpha’s son! If anything happens to him, you’ll regret it!"

Everyone in the territory knew I was to become the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack. Her words were deliberate, meant to provoke.

I remained calm, letting her rant without interruption. When she realized I wouldn’t rise to her bait, she resorted to theatrics, hoping to goad me into calling the authorities.

If she succeeded, the boy’s parentage would become public knowledge, tarnishing both the Blue Moon Pack’s reputation and my family’s standing. My father, a respected scholar, would undoubtedly demand the ceremony be called off.

All of this would serve Skyler’s purpose. Without lifting a finger, she’d have me out of the picture. If Nathaniel confronted her, she’d simply cry and claim I was the one who escalated things, leaving her blameless.

It was a clever scheme. A less composed female might have reacted impulsively, only to realize too late that her reputation and future were already ruined, leaving her with no option but to live out her days in obscurity.

I wasn’t so easily manipulated.

"Guards," I commanded sharply, "seize this woman and take her to the Alpha’s estate. She dares to spread falsehoods about the Alpha having an illegitimate child. Let’s see if the Lycan Queen tolerates such slander!"

Nathaniel’s mother, Lucy Hernandez, had once been the favored Luna of the Lycan King. After her mate’s death, she became the Lycan Queen. There was no one more respected in the territory.

I instructed the guards to take both Madelynn and the boy to the estate. This mess was Nathaniel’s doing, and it was his responsibility to clean it up. I wanted no part of it.

Madelynn screamed and thrashed, but the guards silenced her and dragged her away.

At the estate, the guard delivered my message exactly as I’d instructed.

"Your Majesty," he said, addressing Lucy, "our future Luna sends her regards. She believed it was essential to protect the pack’s honor and trusts your wisdom to handle this matter."

Lucy, who had seen every kind of manipulation during her time as the Lycan Queen, understood the situation perfectly. She rewarded the guard with silver and sent me a golden pendant in return, a token of her gratitude for safeguarding the pack’s reputation.

Later, word reached me: "A body was carried out of the estate—Madelynn, beaten beyond recognition. The boy was unharmed, though unconscious."

I held the pendant in my hand, its cold weight a stark reminder of Lucy’s priorities. She cared about the child.

By sending both Madelynn and the boy to the estate, I’d accomplished two things. First, I’d used Lucy’s authority to put Skyler in her place. Second, I’d learned how Lucy felt about the boy.

Now that I knew, I could plan accordingly.

I arrived at the Lycan Princess's mansion to attend a performance, but what I encountered was far more intriguing than any scripted drama. From the moment I took my seat, a peculiar woman caught my attention. Her gaze lingered on me, unblinking, as though she were dissecting every inch of my presence. She was strikingly beautiful, her allure undeniable, yet there was something about her that set her apart from the noblewomen surrounding her. Her demeanor carried a hint of mischief, her hair styled in the manner of a mated woman—a subtle detail that didn’t escape my notice.

She sauntered over to my side, exchanging a few words with the lady seated next to me before smoothly taking her place. Midway through the performance, she reached for the pendant hanging at her waist and placed it on the small table between us. With a deliberate movement, she slid it toward me.

“You recognize this, don’t you, Avery?” Her voice was laced with a smug confidence.

I glanced at the pendant. It was unmistakable—a symbol of Nathaniel Parker’s lineage. Nathaniel, the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, had inherited his father’s title after the elder Parker’s tragic death during a rogue uprising. He was the youngest Alpha in the region, commanding both respect and fear.

“What’s your name?” I asked, my tone even.

“Call me Skyler,” she replied, her smile coy.

I glanced at the Lycan Princess, who seemed to be avoiding my gaze, then turned back to Skyler. “Since you’ve gone through the trouble of arranging this little meeting, I assume you have something to say. Go ahead.”

She leaned back, her posture relaxed, as though she were the rightful Luna of the Blue Moon Pack. “I thought it would be nice to meet you before we inevitably cross paths at the pack house. Nathaniel has spoken of you, but I must say, you’re not as dull as he made you out to be.”

I smiled faintly, her attempt at provocation almost amusing in its transparency. I chose to ignore her and instead focused on the performance. The Lycan Princess’s troupe was renowned, their artistry unmatched. I couldn’t help but wonder if the Blue Moon Pack’s performances would surpass this.

Skyler’s gaze remained fixed on me, her frustration growing when I didn’t rise to her bait. She took a sip of her tea and said, “This play is rather dull. I have a story that’s far more interesting. Care to listen?”

I didn’t respond, but she pressed on. “My father was a respected scholar, a man of great influence. The Barnes family was once revered in this territory.” She paused, her eyes narrowing.

I picked up a handful of nuts from the table and nodded. “Ah, the Barnes family. Weren’t they exiled for treason? Your father was accused of aiding rogues, wasn’t he? Costing the lives of many warriors. A fitting punishment, I’d say.”

Her face turned ashen, and I tilted my head, feigning innocence. “Did I get something wrong?”

She laughed bitterly, her composure cracking. “Nathaniel and I were childhood sweethearts. We were supposed to be mates. But after my family’s downfall, the arrangement fell apart. His heart has always been mine, though. He never took a mate until you came along.”

“You’re only in this position because you saved his life. A lesser pack’s daughter like you could never have climbed this high otherwise. He feels indebted to you, nothing more.”

“You stole my future.”

Her words were petty, almost laughable. I set the nuts back on the plate, one accidentally bouncing off and hitting her cheek. She glared at me, indignant. “You’ve taken my place, and now you dare to insult me?”

I sighed, my tone calm but firm. “Skyler, even the smallest pack holds more honor than your tainted bloodline. Even if I weren’t the Luna, do you honestly think you’d be fit for the role? Be grateful you’ve been allowed to stay in the pack house. If you behave, you might still have a comfortable life.”

She clenched her fists, her eyes welling with tears. “Marrying a man who doesn’t love you—what gives you the right to act so superior?”

I shook my head. “I’m not here to be his mate out of love. I’m here to be his Luna, his equal. Respect is all I need from him.”

Her lips trembled, and she finally fell silent. She knew the truth—Nathaniel did respect me. He’d hunted the ceremonial stag for our marking ceremony himself, a gesture of honor. He’d always treated my parents with deference, never flaunting his Alpha status.

Mates weren’t always about passion. Mutual respect was more than enough.

Skyler wiped her tears, her voice trembling with anger. “Avery Parker, I won’t forgive you. If it weren’t for you, my servant wouldn’t have died. Whether you admit it or not, you owe me a life.”

I watched her storm away, her pride wounded. Pity flickered in my chest, but it was quickly overshadowed by the knowledge that her own choices had led her here.

As I left the mansion, the Lycan Princess accompanied me, her discomfort evident. I took her hand and smiled gently. “Nathaniel is your cousin. When I become his mate, I’ll be your sister-in-law. Our son will be your nephew. He’ll inherit the Alpha title and will honor you as his aunt. Unlike some, his lineage is untarnished.”

Her face paled, and she quickly apologized. “I was thoughtless today. I’ll make it up to you.”

The next day, Skyler returned to the Lycan Princess’s mansion, only to be turned away by the guards. Her enraged outburst caught Nathaniel’s attention, and he reprimanded her harshly.

I couldn’t help but feel a sense of quiet satisfaction. The pack’s hierarchy was clear, and Skyler’s place in it was not one of power.