This honor, it seems, was never meant for me.

After a lifetime of diligence, Aunt Lin, worn down by years of overwork, followed my mother to the grave five years later. Fortunately, Uncle Lu, true to Aunt Lin’s wishes, never annulled the betrothal between me and Omar Taylor.

But Omar had other plans.

Ever since my mother passed, Father elevated Zhang to the position of Luna, and her daughter, Mikayla, became the pack’s legitimate heir. Zhang spared no effort to ensure Mikayla married into a prominent family. She groomed Mikayla to be stunningly beautiful, even teaching her the art of charming and pleasing a mate. Zhang also made sure Mikayla attended every high-profile pack gathering, showcasing her daughter like a prized jewel.

Over time, Mikayla’s beauty and virtues became the talk of the city among the young werewolves. Meanwhile, I, who rarely showed my face and remained hidden in the shadows of the pack house, was rumored to be ugly and jealous, a poor match for any mate.

Mikayla’s suitors were countless, but most were deemed unworthy by Zhang—either their lineage wasn’t noble enough, or their rank wasn’t high enough. After much deliberation, the only suitable candidate turned out to be Omar, who was already betrothed to me.

Uncle Lu, the Alpha of the Taylor pack, was often too busy with pack affairs to pay attention to his sons. Omar, the younger son, grew up pampered in his grandmother’s care, becoming spoiled and reckless. After Aunt Lin’s death, he grew even more unruly.

When he heard rumors of my supposed ugliness, he immediately moved to reject the mate bond. On the day he came to break the bond, he “accidentally” crossed paths with Mikayla at the Oliver pack house. Captivated by her scent—a mix of lavender and vanilla—he decided to pursue her instead.

When Uncle Lu returned from pack business and learned of this, he grabbed a nearby glass and hurled it at Omar, leaving him bleeding from the head.

“Desiring your mate’s sister? What kind of beast does that make you?” Uncle Lu roared in his Alpha tone, his aura flaring with dominance.

Omar, clutching his wound, retorted, “Iliana is no mate of mine! We’re not mated, and we never will be. That bond means nothing!”

Uncle Lu, furious, threatened harsher punishment, but Omar’s grandmother, Davina, intervened, unwilling to see her grandson suffer. “He’s right,” she said. “If you force him to mate with Iliana, he might do something drastic. And if anything happens to him, I won’t live to see it!”

Unable to withstand his mother’s hysterics, Uncle Lu reluctantly agreed.

Overjoyed, Omar took the twenty-eight boxes of gifts originally prepared for me by Aunt Lin and moved them to Mikayla’s quarters.

Thinking of this, I calmly replied, “Mikayla’s beauty deserves such attention. I can only envy her good fortune.”

The old maid, hoping to see me jealous or upset, was disappointed by my composure and left in a huff.

Suddenly, a servant from the front courtyard came running, calling out, “Miss Iliana, Miss Iliana, Alpha Ryker Taylor has come with the betrothal gifts!”

The maid, startled, widened her eyes. “What did you say?”

The servant, catching his breath, presented the gift list with both hands. “Madam, Alpha Lu and Alpha Ryker have arrived, saying the betrothal between the Taylor pack and Miss Iliana must stand. Since Omar won’t mate her, Ryker will.”

The maid, incredulous, asked, “How many boxes of gifts?”

She seemed convinced that my gifts would pale in comparison to Mikayla’s, hoping to salvage some dignity.

“Forty-eight boxes!” the servant announced.

Forty-eight boxes—nearly double what Mikayla had received.

The matchmaker, her face flushed with frustration, still refused to back down.

"How could this be? Does the Alpha truly have his eyes set on the eldest daughter?" she scoffed, her voice laced with disbelief.

The attendant stepped aside, turning to me with a respectful bow.

"Alpha Ryker has instructed me to convey his message to you, Miss Iliana. He acknowledges his physical frailty and worries he may not fulfill his duties as a mate to the fullest. Therefore, he has prepared additional gifts to ensure you are not slighted in any way."

He paused, his tone careful yet firm. "Should you find his condition unsuitable and wish to pursue another, he will not stand in your way. Instead, he will prepare another lavish gift and, in the name of the Taylor pack, send you off with the utmost honor."

The room fell silent, the matchmaker's face twisting as if she'd swallowed something bitter. She had no retort left.

"Miss Iliana," the attendant continued, "Alpha Ryker and his father are waiting in the hall for your response."

Ryker Taylor, the Alpha of the Taylor pack, had been raised under the care of my late aunt. If not for his fragile health, I would have been his mate from the start. Now, fate had circled us back to one another.

In this world, a female werewolf’s life is often dictated by the mate she chooses. The greatest measure of success lies in securing a considerate, ambitious mate and raising a family that thrives. From the way the Taylor pack had stepped forward to defend me today, it seemed my mother’s gamble had paid off.

If I refused now, my father, swayed by his chosen mate’s venomous words, would likely cast me out to live as a rogue, dooming me to a life of misery.

The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I retreated to my room to change into something more presentable, preparing to face Ryker.

As I entered the hall, the shrill voice of my stepmother, Davina Diaz, filled the air. She was relentless in her attempts to undermine me.

"Alpha Desmond," she said, her tone sweet but laced with poison, "Iliana is stubborn and difficult to manage. How could she possibly serve as the Luna of the Taylor pack?"

Alpha Desmond, Ryker’s father, calmly sipped his tea, ignoring her entirely. Davina, realizing her words had fallen on deaf ears, turned to my father, her eyes pleading.

My father, always quick to side with Davina, chimed in. "Indeed, my daughter is not fit for such a role. Perhaps, Alpha Desmond, you should consider another..."

I stepped forward, cutting him off.

"Father," I said, my voice steady despite the weight of the moment, "I am willing to accept Alpha Ryker as my mate."

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to me as I stood behind the screen. My voice carried clearly as I continued.

"The bond between the Oliver and Taylor packs was the wish of my mother and Alpha Desmond’s late Luna. If I become the Luna of the Taylor pack, I believe they would rejoice in the afterlife."

Davina’s face turned ashen, her fingers tightening around her handkerchief until her knuckles turned white.

Not long ago, she had been smug about her own daughter’s engagement to Ryker’s younger brother, Omar. But now, the disparity in our dowries was glaring—while Mikayla had received only twenty-eight boxes, I was offered forty-eight. And to make matters worse, Alpha Desmond and Ryker had personally come to deliver the gifts.

This was a public declaration that the Taylor pack valued me, the eldest daughter, far more than my stepsister. Davina, who thrived on appearances, was now being humiliated in front of everyone.

The satisfaction of her defeat was fleeting, however, as the weight of my decision settled over me. I was stepping into a role that would demand more than I had ever given, and the future stretched before me like an uncharted forest.

Though Madam Zhang and my father had caused some complications, luckily my mother had secured a mate bond for me before she passed.

By both reason and custom, they couldn’t reject it without consequences.

Two months later, on the chosen date, both my stepsister and I entered the Taylor Pack territory as mates.

On the marking night, when I removed the veil covering my face, even someone as composed as Ryker was momentarily stunned.

“The rumors about you, it seems, were all lies.”

Yes.

I wasn’t unattractive at all; those rumors had been entirely fabricated by Madam Zhang.

And Ryker’s appearance was equally shocking—handsome to the point of being otherworldly, breathtakingly beautiful.

With a mate as stunning as him, and the rumors of his aloof and indifferent nature, it was hard not to feel a stirring of mischief.

That night, Ryker didn’t seem inclined to complete the marking, simply tucking me in and telling me to rest.

According to tradition, the new Luna had to rise early the next morning to present herself to the former Luna, Davina Diaz.

But with him so close, the scent of his wolf—cool and intoxicating—made my heart itch like a cat’s claws, and sleep was impossible.

“Why is my mate so restless?”

Ryker noticed my unease, his arm wrapping around my waist as he pulled me into his chest, his voice soothing as if comforting a pup.

To me, it felt like deliberate temptation.

I stammered softly, “Ryker, maybe… maybe we should try?”

His smile was gentle, teasing, “Try what?”

That expression—he knew exactly what I meant!

My lips brushed against his, a quiet answer.

His eyes darkened with desire, his voice husky, “I hope you won’t regret this.”

Regret?

How could I regret a night with someone like him?

An hour later, I lay breathless against his chest, my body drenched in sweat, weakly murmuring, “The rumors about you… they weren’t true either.”

What nonsense about Ryker being physically weak, indifferent, and incapable—who on earth had spread such lies?

“My mate, shall we go again?”

Ryker played with a strand of my hair, his tone playful.

After that round, my body felt like it had been taken apart, and I quickly buried myself under the covers.

“No, no.”

…

The next morning, I endured the soreness and arrived on time to present myself to Davina Diaz.

Davina, Ryker’s grandmother, was in her sixties but still sharp and alert.

However, she clearly didn’t favor Ryker, and by extension, she wasn’t particularly warm toward me either. Her expression was stoic, her gaze fixed on the door, clearly waiting for Omar and Mikayla.

But the couple was late, likely too caught up in their own passion the night before.

Nearly half an hour later, after I’d refilled my tea cup several times, they finally arrived.

Mikayla’s beauty seemed even more radiant than before.

Omar entered, greeting Davina first, but then his gaze lingered on me as I stood to the side, serving.

Noticing his distraction, Ryker’s aura flared subtly, his voice soft but firm, “Omar, come and greet your Luna.”