Aysel's POV I had asked Magnus yesterday what kind of role he wanted me to play at the Shadowbane family gathering tonight. His answer had been simple - "Arrogant. Wildly arrogant." That was all I needed to know. It wasn't a royal court, just a family feast among Alphas and their heirs, but appearances mattered in the world of packs. For the day, I needed to look like the kind of she-wolf who knew she was favored by her mate - proud, untouchable, a little venom wrapped in velvet. But the night would be my battlefield. And battles weren't won by being too dazzling. So I'd be the opposite then - soft, fragile, a trembling doe among beasts. Two masks, two faces of survival. Lisa, my stylist was thrilled by the idea. "Got it. I'll make you unforgettable, Aysel." Her claws were sharp, her instincts keener still. By the time she was done, I had two looks chosen and sealed by her expert eyes. For the noon gathering, a scarlet off-shoulder dress - short, elegant, a kiss between youth and danger. When I stepped out wearing it, Lisa actually froze. "Moon's mercy... you were born for red," she breathed. The evening gown, though, was her masterpiece. A gown of silver-white silk, flowing like captured moonlight. Tiny diamonds dusted the hem and chest, glimmering with every breath I took. When I turned, the reflections danced like frost on water. Lisa circled me in awe. "Perfect. Absolutely perfect. You look like a goddess." If she didn't know who I truly was - the disgraced daughter of the Moonvale Pack - she might have offered me to her designer friends in the human cities beyond the border. The pack house buzzed with activity all morning. Magnus ignored the chaos completely, standing in the kitchen in his black shirt sleeves, calmly pan-frying dumplings. Even that - especially that - made people stare. The Alpha of Shadowbane, the most feared wolf in the continent, cooking breakfast himself. A few of the male staff tried not to look, but when I came out in a new dress, their gazes lingered too long. The moment Magnus noticed, a low ripple of Alpha dominance rolled through the room - cold and absolute. The next second, no one dared lift their head. He didn't need to say a word. Shadowbane wolves didn't bark - they ruled. By the time I was seated, Magnus placed a plate in front of me and wordlessly fed me a dumpling. I didn't refuse. He knew I hadn't eaten yet; he'd been awake since dawn, attending pack business and leading a war meeting through the PackLink network. I ate quietly, then pointed with a fork. "Fruit. And yogurt." He obeyed with a ghost of a smile. The stylists around us were too stunned to speak. A few probably thought they'd wandered into a fever dream - no one would believe them if they told this story outside. After hours of preparation, everything was ready. When the black car finally stopped in front of the Shadowbane estate, the guards straightened at once. Magnus stepped out first, tall and impossibly calm, before circling around to offer me his hand. The gesture - that simple, protective motion - made the butler blanch. He knew what it meant for an Alpha of Shadowbane to bring a woman in that way. "Ready?" Magnus asked, his voice a deep rumble. "Of course," I replied, lips curving into a smile. "Didn't you say you'd have my back?" Tonight, I would. Whatever came, I would walk into it unbowed. We entered together. The scent of dominance, ambition, and too many wolves in one hall hit like a wave. Every head turned. Nearly the entire Sanchez bloodline was there - the ruling branches of Shadowbane, each with their own agendas. The only ones missing were Derek Sanchez, still overseas, and Conor Sanchez and his son, both confined to the healer's ward after losing favor. And the girls - so many of them - young, jeweled, and hopeful. The "selection," then. So that's what this feast was: not a family gathering, but a choosing of mates. Magnus had brought me here on purpose.The old Alpha, Bastien Sanchez, sat at the head. His silver fur showed at the temples, but his eyes were knives - sharp, cold, ancient. He didn't bother to hide his disdain when he saw me. "Magnus," he said, voice gravel and authority, "you arrive late, and with company. The elders have been waiting." Magnus dropped into a seat, still holding my hand. "My mate took her time dressing. I'm sure the elders can forgive beauty." The room froze. A murmur ran through the younger wolves, shock and disapproval mingling in their scents. Bastien's eyes narrowed. "You brought a woman, and you don't even care to introduce her?" Magnus' smirk was pure challenge. "Of course. This is Aysel Vale of the Moonvale Pack. Future Luna of the Shadowbane." The words detonated in the air. Not guest. Not companion. Not even lover. Luna. A title that belonged only to the mate of the pack's ruling Alpha. Every head turned toward me. Some with curiosity, most with hostility. I smiled sweetly - the way wolves do before they bite. Magnus went on, introducing me to each member of the bloodline. We stopped last before his father, Ulric Sanchez, and his stepmother, Ivy. "This is my father," Magnus said coolly. "And my stepmother." The word dripped with disdain. Ivy's face darkened immediately, her claws twitching beneath her silks. Magnus's father glared at him. "Watch your tongue. She's your Luna mother." Magnus met his gaze with the calm of a predator who knew he ruled the food chain. "Not mine." And just like that - the storm began.