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.”

Hearing the word "sister-in-law," Omar's eyes flickered slightly.

There was confusion, anger.

But in the end, it all turned into resentment, and he could only bow respectfully and say,

"Sister-in-law, blessings to you."

I accepted his greeting, praising him like an elder:

"I’ve long heard of Omar’s extraordinary aura. Seeing you today, it’s clear the rumors are true."

On the surface, it was a compliment, but in truth, it was a jab at him for believing the rumors so easily, for rejecting me and leaving me in disgrace.

It was obvious Omar understood my meaning, his face turning ashen.

"Sister-in-law, please have some tea."

Mikayla quickly interrupted, trying to ease the tension.

We were both sisters and sisters-in-law now.

Since her tea was offered, I couldn’t refuse it in front of everyone.

After drinking the tea, I needed to assert my role as the elder sister-in-law, to offer a few words of guidance.

But Davina, the former Luna, snorted from the side,

"Mikayla seems far more capable than Iliana. From now on, she’ll manage the pack’s affairs."

"As for Iliana, focus on serving your mate. He’s always been frail and needs constant care."

Davina’s words were sharp, stirring trouble with just a few sentences.

Traditionally, the elder brother’s mate held authority over the pack’s affairs.

But now, she wanted to elevate the younger brother’s mate, handing the responsibilities to Mikayla and sidelining me.

Mikayla’s face lit up with joy, and she replied sweetly,

"Thank you, Grandmother."

As a newly mated Luna, I couldn’t defy an elder so openly. I could only nod reluctantly, swallowing the words of guidance I’d prepared for Mikayla back down into my chest.