He Chose First Love, I Chose the Alpha King

Chapter 1 Sylvia's POV--The Shadow of the True Mate "Get out of the way! Don't interrupt our Alpha's ceremony!" I was shoved to the ground by a snarling she-wolf, her eyes alight with pride not earned but borrowed. The scent hit me first-a cloying floral note tangled with Zane Thorne's overpowering Alpha musk. When I saw him guide her into the Great Hall for his birth moon celebration, the wolf inside my ch**t let out a whimper of pure defeat. I knew. With the crushing weight of a bond rejected, I had lost. I retreated to the shadows, the raucous howls and guttural laughter of the Pack grating like sandpaper on raw nerves. The glow of my phone screen was harsh. Mother's messages were brutal in their simplicity: "Daughter. He parades his mate before the Pack. The wager is lost." "Three years. Zane Thorne's wolf refused yours. Return now. Your duty as Frostfang Pack heir cannot wait." Duty. Heir. The words felt like iron shackles snapping shut. My gaze cut through the crowd to where Zane stood, his arm locked possessively around a slender figure. Chloe Vale. The whispered legend of his True Mate, the Luna lost and mourned, the gh**t whose shadow I'd worn for three years. This was my first glimpse of the woman who had unknowingly held my future hostage. Chloe looked. breakable. Ethereal. Her submission was a tangible force, a quiet power that made the surrounding wolfs seem brash. So this is what he craved. My tongue traced my teeth, tasting the bitter ash of failure. Four years ago, at a gathering of young Alphas and high-ranking females, a brash she-wolf from the Stoneclaw Pack had stalked up to Zane. She'd offered herself as a mate, a political alliance wrapped in fire. Alpha Zane, leaning against the obsidian hearth, had taken a slow drag from his ci**rette, his usually warm amber eyes turning cold. That lazy, cruel smirk touched his lips. "Sorry, princess," he'd drawled, sm**e coiling. "My wolf prefers 'em. softer. Simpler. Less like a rival Alpha, more like.omega." Hidden in the shadows, I'd felt my own wolf stir with treacherous hope. I'd loved him silently for two years, drawn to his raw power, the magnetism of his bl**dline. But Mother, Astra Frost, the indomitable Alpha of Frostfang, had forbidden it. The enmity between our Packs ran deep, and she viewed the concept of True Mates with icy contempt, a fatal weakness. Hearing his preference, I'd seen a sliver of light. I'd made the wager: If I could make Zane Thorne's wolf choose me, bind him as my mate, she would bless the union. She'd agreed, doubtless certain I'd fail. To win, I'd buried Sylvia Frost. Overnight, the Frostfang pack's heir vanished. In her place stood a meek, ostensibly low-born omega, seemingly adrift, unconnected. I smothered my Alpha-born aura, masked my strength, played the vulnerable, gentle creature Zane claimed to want. I wove myself into the fabric of his territory, a silent, unthreatening shadow. He noticed eventually. One night, after a wild hunt under the gibbous moon, Zane found me waiting. His gaze, blurred with drink, swept over my carefully constructed docility, a spark of lazy interest kindling in his wolf-gold eyes. "Always lurking, little wolf?" His voice was a low rumble that vibrated in my bones. "Got a taste for the real thing?" I'd nodded, keeping my eyes downcast, my posture submissive. A dark chuckle. "Wanna see where that hunger leads? Stick close. Be my.girlfriend." He didn't offer the mate bond. Not then. Not ever truly. But it was a foothold. Three years. Three years of pouring my soul into this charade. I learned human cooking to tend to him, nursed him through wounds ripped open in border skirmishes, endured whispers that I was a love-struck f**l. He'd joked, rough affection colouring his tone, "Gotta look after my little shadow, yeah?" He'd talked of providing, a clear sign an Alpha was claiming responsibility. The lie festered inside me. The wager felt like a betrayal of the sacred trust a true mate bond should be. After months of wrestling with guilt, my wolf howling for honesty and the claiming bite it craved, I'd resolved to tell him everything on his birth. Then Chloe Vale walked back into his life. The energy in the Great Hall shifted the instant she appeared. A hush fell. A Beta male near me, one with a tongue like a serrated kn**e, elbowed his companion, voice dripping with malice. "Well, well. the real Luna returns. Guess someone's spot warming the Alpha's fur just got frosty." He shot me a mocking glance. "All that groveling for a taste of power, and the true mate bond snaps shut. Pathetic." "Hush now," Chloe's voice was soft as falling snow, yet it silenced him. She turned those huge, limpid eyes towards me, swimming in manufactured sorrow. "I'm so terribly sorry. Sylvia, was it? Zane and I. fate tore us apart. I never dreamed his grief, his wolf's loneliness, would drive him to. seek comfort in an echo." Her gaze swept over my deliberately plain attire, lingering. "It was cruel of him to use you as a. substitute. Unworthy of an Alpha. But," she added, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper laced with pity, "you must have gained so much, being near an Alpha like Zane. Surely it wasn't a total waste?" An omega should be grateful for table scraps from an Alpha, even as a stand-in for his True Mate. The insult to my disguise was sharp, but the deeper insult to my bl**d ignited a glacial fury. Zane's attention finally landed on me fully. Tonight, I wore crimson.The wide-eyed innocence was gone. "Omegas should be yielding."His voice, when it came, was the dismissive command of an Alpha ending an inconvenience. "Chloe's back. What we had. served its purpose. It's done." He pulled a thick envelope from his jacket and tossed it onto the low table before me. "For your time. Consider it settled." One hundred thousand dollars. Coin for a favored servant, payment for services rendered, not recompense for three years offered to a potential mate. He dismissed my devotion, my fragile hope, with the casual brutality of swatting a fly. The sheer, icy finality of it, the reduction of us to a transaction, slammed into me. The irony tasted like poison. Three years! Three years he hadn't claimed me, hadn't sealed the bond. He'd kept his distance, saving himself for his True Mate, and I, the deluded f**l, had mistaken his restraint for a slow-burning path to the claiming moon. A laugh, sharp and cold as shattering ice, escaped me. It cut through the murmurs. The fragile dam holding back my true nature shattered. "Keep your bl**d money, Zane Thorne," I said, my voice low, clear, and st**pped of every shred of meekness. "Honestly? I'm bored. Your performance on the b*d was. mediocre. Lacked the endurance one expects from a true Alpha." I picked up the half-full goblet of deep crimson Pack vintage beside me. With a flick of my wrist, the dark li**id flew, hitting Zane square in the face, dripping like gore from his shocked features onto his fine tunic. The silence was absolute,I calmly picked up a linen napkin, wiping my fingers with deliberate slowness. A slow, dangerous smile curved my lips. "That," I declared, the words ringing with icy finality, "was for three years wasted on a wolf too blind to see the storm standing before him." Without a backward glance, ignoring the outraged growls building and the stunned disbelief radiating from the Pack, I turned.I turned and walked out, the heavy doors groaning behind me. I didn't look back. The game was over. The mask was off. Sylvia Frost was going home. Author's POV Behind Sylvia, the silence exploded. "By the Moon's tears! Did she just-?" "Insolent wh**p! She desecrated the Alpha's honor!" "She refused a hundred thousand! What life does that mo**rel think awaits her now?" Zane stood rigid, wiping the w**e from his eyes, fury and humiliation warring on his face. His Alpha aura flared, hot and suffocating, momentarily quelling the outcry but not the undercurrent of scandalized whispers. "Let the omega run," he snarled, the words bitten off. "If it spares Chloe her nuisance, good riddance. She's nothing. Packless. We'll never scent her kind again." He dismissed Sylvia utterly. Where could she possibly go?, his expression seemed to sneer. No Pack, no powerful kin. She'd crawl back or die alone. But Sylvia didn't flinch. His words chased her into the night-but she didn't look back. Zane Thorne thought he'd seen the last of her. He hadn't. Not by a long shot. Chapter 2 Sylvia's POV--The Return of the Alpha I didn't linger in Alderwood Territory. There was no reason to stay. I'd only attended college there to be near Zane, and now that I'd graduated and he'd found his supposed True Mate, the city held nothing for me anymore. I booked the first available flight back to Howling Peaks, the ancestral territory of the Frostfang Pack. My homeland. My birthright. When I stepped off the plane, Morgana Conrad was waiting for me. My best friend since childhood, though we'd barely spoken these past three years due to my... obsession. "So, you're back for good this time?" she asked, searching my face for any signs of the broken-hearted omega I'd pretended to be. I met her gaze steadily, my chin lifted in a way I hadn't allowed myself in years. "For good," I confirmed. In previous years, I'd only visit Howling Peaks briefly between semesters, always rushing back to orbit around Zane like a pathetic moon. My time with Morgana had been limited, our conversations perfunctory. But now the wager was lost. There was nothing pulling me back to that life of pretense anymore. Morgana squeezed my arm as we walked toward her car. "I heard about what happened with Zane," she said, her voice gentle but not pitying. "Let's not talk about that depressing s**t. Tonight's about welcoming you home." I smiled-genuinely-and nodded. The knot in my ch**t loosened slightly. Morgana took me to Eclipse, Howling Peaks' most exclusive werewolf c**b. ' She ordered a bottle of rare bl**d moon wh**key, the kind that burned deliciously going down and hummed in our supernatural veins. "To your homecoming and newfound freedom," she toasted. One drink in, and I could feel my wolf stretching inside me, pleased to shed the meek persona I'd forced upon her for so long. "Thank the Moon Goddess you're done with Zane," Morgana said, refilling our glasses. "The way you transformed yourself for him... I barely recognized you. My wild, fearless Sylvia-suddenly this docile, bookish wallflower who wouldn't touch al**hol or fast cars. It was f**king bizarre." My lips curled into a smile that held the first hint of my former confidence. The Frostfang Pack had always prized courage and strength above all. Before my charade, I'd been known for my love of adrenaline-street racing through mountain passes, bungee jumping from cliffs, even battling rogue wolves along our borders after my first transformation at sixteen. I had been the pack's fiercest female warrior, an extreme sports junkie who sneered at men and Alphas alike. I'd mocked my mother's belief in destined mates and fate. Until Zane. Until I sacrificed everything that made me me to become what he wanted. "I must have lost my f**king mind," I drawled, swirling the amber liquid in my glass. I still couldn't fully understand what had possessed me. Perhaps it was rebellion against my mother, or maybe I needed to prove that mate bonds weren't the ultimate power my mother claimed them to be. I'd been determined to make a wolf I'd chosen fall for me, even if it meant becoming bland, ordinary... even st**id. The bartender nearly spilled a drink as he stared at me, clearly responding to the Alpha pheromones I was no longer suppressing. My wolf preened at the attention. "So," Morgana said, studying me over her glass, "now that you and Zane are over, are you really going back to take your place as the Frostfang heir?" I took a slow sip. "A bet's a bet." My mother, Alpha Astra, stood as the only female Alpha in our region. After my father's death, she'd weathered brutal pack politics and corporate attacks against Frost Industries with unmatched resilience. I'd always admired her strength, even as I chafed under the weight of her expectations and control. My sister Selene had always been too fragile for leadership. And I... I craved freedom too much. My mother had understood that, which is why she'd given me the choice-the wager. Now I'd lost. And while it stung my pride, I wasn't a coward who ran from consequences. Morgana raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't Frostfang tradition require you to have a mate before you can officially take over? Has Aunt Astra lined someone up for you already?" "No," I replied with certainty. I understood my mother better than most. She was dominant by nature, but she wasn't cruel about my choice of mate. Her opposition to Zane had always been more about the generations-old rivalry between our packs than about him personally. "Sylvia," Morgana leaned forward, her voice dropping conspiratorially, "even though you lost the bet, Aunt Astra won't force you into anything. And honestly, there are plenty of wolves who'd k**l to be with you." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "If all else fails, I could always introduce you to my cousin Caesar." Caesar Conrad. The name alone sent an unwelcome shiver down my spine. As the supreme Alpha of all American werewolf packs and leader of the Bl**dmoon Pack, he was the dream mate of countless she-wolves. His power, wealth, and devastating looks were legendary-as was his cold, ruthless nature. In my younger years, I'd been momentarily dazzled by him. A brief, embarrassing crush that I'd quickly buried. Up close to that perfect face, no one's heartbeat remained steady. But I was too proud, too determined to stand on my own. I didn't need some powerful Alpha to run my pack for me-I wanted to choose my own path, my own mate. I'd actively avoided any gatherings where Caesar might appear, and in the years since, we'd only exchanged distant glances at formal pack functions. I rolled my eyes at Morgana's suggestion, pretending it was just a joke between us. The cold li**or slid down my throat, leaving an unexpected bitterness on my tongue. As the night wore on, we both grew pleasantly buzzed-not drunk, as werewolves metabolized al**hol too quickly for that, but comfortably warm and loose-limbed. Morgana suddenly checked her phone, her expression turning strange. "Caesar says he's coming to pick us up." I could hear the confusion in her tone. Though she was technically part of Caesar's pack structure, they weren't particularly close. It was odd that he'd suddenly message her, asking if I was with her, offering to drive us home. "He's probably just being responsible," she murmured, but she didn't sound convinced. A few minutes later, a sleek black Maybach pulled up outside the c**b. The window rolled down, revealing a face that made my breath catch despite my best intentions. Caesar's features were sculpted perfection-aristocratic cheekbones, penetrating eyes, and pale skin that seemed to glow under the moonlight. His presence radiated power, danger, and something primally appealing that made my wolf stir restlessly beneath my skin. "Get in," he commanded, his deep voice sliding over me like dark velvet. His gaze swept over Morgana briefly before landing on me with an intensity that felt almost physical. When our eyes met, my heartbeat stuttered, then raced ahead like I'd just thrown myself off a cliff. My wolf, so long suppressed beneath layers of pretense, suddenly howled to life within me. I recognized the sensation instantly, having felt its echo once before, years ago. But this time, there was no denying what it was. The mate bond. Awakening. Reaching. Demanding recognition. I had been too stubborn to accept-Caesar Conrad was my True Mate. And from the hungry look in his eyes, his wolf had just confirmed what he'd apparently suspected for years. "F**k," I whispered, the word carrying all the weight of my realization, the truth settling over me like a weight I couldn't fight. Chapter 3 Sylvia's POV--Awakening The atmosphere in the luxury Maybach was thick with tension as we drove through the moonlit streets of Howling Peaks. Morgana, normally chatty and bold, sat rigid in her seat, not daring to utter a single word in the presence of her Alpha. Despite being Caesar's pack member, the power difference between them was palpable-she clearly held a healthy dose of reverence for the Alpha king. My attention drifted to Caesar's wrist, where an old, worn wolf-fang bracelet hung incongruously against his otherwise immaculate appearance. Something about it seemed strangely familiar, tugging at the edges of my memory, but the wh**key's pleasant haze made it difficult to place. My mind wandered back to the first time I'd encountered Caesar Conrad years ago. The memory was sharp despite the al**hol-his commanding presence, the way other Alphas deferred to him, how my teenage heart had hammered embarrassingly in my ch**t, a flutter that hadn't faded, only deepened with the sharpened intensity of his presence now. Now, years later, he remained just as devastating, his beauty almost cruel in its perfection. We dropped Morgana off first, her house being closer. She shot me a meaningful glance before hurrying inside, leaving me alone with the most powerful Alpha in America. "Planning to stay in Howling Peaks?" Caesar's deep voice broke the silence, his tone deliberately casual as he pulled away from the curb. Though Howling Peaks was Frostfang territory, it ultimately fell under his jurisdiction as Supreme Alpha. His question about my return was perfectly reasonable. "Yes," I answered simply, my fingers twisting nervously in my lap as I fought not to squirm under the weight of his unspoken questions. I waited for him to press further, to question my intentions or my Alpha mother's plans, but he fell silent again. The powerful air conditioning and the rhythm of the car lulled me into a drowsy state, the silence stretching thick enough to taste, amplifying the erratic thud of my heartbeat, and before I knew it, I had drifted off. "Sylvia, wake up." The low rumble of Caesar's voice pulled me from sleep. I opened my eyes to find him leaning into the car, the door already open. His face was inches from mine, those penetrating eyes studying me intently. The moonlight cast sharp shadows across his aristocratic features, every line of his face searing itself into my addled brain. "...Caesar?" My voice came out husky with sleep and lingering al**hol, my breath catching at the proximity. He had opened my door and was half-leaning into the car, his broad shoulders blocking the exit. The crisp scent of pine needles emanated from him, enveloping me completely. My wolf responded with immediate, overwhelming hunger--a primal reaction I couldn't suppress, even as my rational mind screamed how dangerous this was. The cost of pretending to be an omega for three years had been steep. I'd suppressed my wolf so thoroughly that I'd been incapable of forming a complete bond, a sacrifice that now left me adrift, uncertain if what remained between us could ever be whole. Yet fate had other plans, bringing us together again. But that glance just now-maybe it was just a trick of the light. And would Caesar even truly recognize me, after years of hiding who I really was, of smothering the very part of me that would call to his? "You're beautiful," I murmured, a smile playing on my lips. The wh**key emboldened me, a reckless impulse surging through me to bridge the distance, consequences be da**ed. I reached up and hooked my arm around his neck, pulling him closer. "Want me?" I asked, drawing out the words with deliberate provocation. Caesar seemed momentarily stunned. He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his voice carefully controlled. "You're drunk." "Not that drunk," I countered. I was intoxicated enough to be honest but sober enough to know what I wanted. Memories of the past three years flashed through my mind-pretending to be something I wasn't for Zane, the lost wager that would now bind me to Frostfang Pack leadership, the arranged mating that would surely follow. This might be my last chance at true freedom before duty consumed me. "Caesar," I said, leaning closer until my red hair brushed against his face, "don't you want me?" The tension between us built like an approaching storm. Then, without warning, his cool l*ps pressed against mine. His strong hands gripped my waist as our breaths mingled. "Don't regret this later, Sylvia," he growled against my mouth, the gesture of dominance that sent electricity down my spine. The heat between us intensified rapidly. The car suddenly felt too small, too confining for what we both clearly needed. We barely made it into my ho**l room before Caesar pinned me against the wall, his mouth devouring mine. The bond between us-the True Mate bond I'd never expected to find-flared to life, magnifying every sensation. "I've waited years for this," he growled, his voice rough with de**re as he tore my dress away like tissue paper. "Caesar," I ga**ed. The mate bond amplified everything-every touch, every sensation was magnified tenfold. I was soaked for him, my body recognizing what my mind had denied for so long. "You're mine," he growled possessively. "You've always been mine." We tumbled onto the b*d, a tangle of limbs and desperate need... As we lay ta**led in the sheets afterward, his arms wrapped possessively around me, I realized with startling clarity-I'd spent three years chasing the wrong wolf. My True Mate had been watching, waiting all along. "How long have you known?" I asked, tracing the lines of his ch**t with my fingertips. Caesar's hand st**ked my hair, a possessiveness in his touch that my wolf adored. "Since the first moment I saw you at your father's funeral. You were seventeen, fierce and beautiful, challenging everyone with your eyes." His voice deepened. "But you were too young then. I decided to wait." "And then I went after Zane," I murmured, understanding dawning. His arms tightened around me. "I've never wanted to k**l another Alpha so badly in my life," he admitted, a dangerous edge to his voice. "But I respected your choice. I thought you'd eventually realize he wasn't your mate." I looked up at him, seeing both man and wolf in those predatory eyes. "And if I hadn't?" "I would have waited forever," he said simply. "But now you're mine, Sylvia Frost." His hands slid down my back possessively. "And I don't share what's mine." Chapter 4 Sylvia&Zane's POV--Misdirection The next morning, I woke to an exquisite ache radiating through my entire body. Every muscle felt deliciously sore, a physical reminder of the night's pa**ionate encounter. Memories rushed back as I opened my eyes, causing me to momentarily stiffen beneath the sheets. Had I really sl**t with Caesar Conrad-the Supreme Alpha of all American wolf packs? The thought sent a flutter of conflicting emotions through my ch**t. Even wolves knew better than to hunt too close to their own dens. As my thoughts raced, the sound of running water in the bathroom abruptly stopped. Moments later, Caesar emerged, a hotel towel wrapped low around his hips. The sight of him-tall, lean, powerful-sent an involuntary heat rushing to my face. "You're awake," he observed, his voice as rich and dark as I remembered from the night before. "I'm sorry about last night," I blurted out reflexively. "I had too much to drink." Caesar paused, his penetrating eyes narrowing slightly. His expression cooled noticeably. "And?" The chill in his voice could have frozen fire. I didn't shy away from his gaze as I met those predatory eyes, forcing my lips into a casual smile. "Morgana and I are still friends, so about last night... you don't mind keeping this between us, Alpha Caesar?" I deliberately made my tone languid, dismissive. Perhaps I was being overly sensitive, but I could swear his expression grew even colder after I spoke. He lit a ci**rette, dark eyes lingering on me as sm**e curled between us. Then, with deliberate casualness that didn't match the intensity in his gaze, he asked: "Do you treat all Alphas this way? Like that Zane, perhaps?" His knowledge of Zane caught me off guard. How did he know about my history with the Stoneclaw Alpha? The question flashed through my mind, but outwardly I maintained my nonchalant smile. "No, Alpha Caesar. It's just that... well, you had your fun too. Let's call it even, shall we?" I winked playfully, though internally my wolf was whining with unease. Caesar Conrad was unlike any other Alpha I'd encountered-brilliant, accomplished, and famously untouchable. Like the cold moon hanging distant in the night sky, beautiful but impossible to reach. What a mess I'd created. Caesar tapped his ci**rette, letting ash fall. He neither agreed nor disagreed with my suggestion. I noticed only the dangerous darkening of his eyes, the tightening of his jaw. "Whatever," he replied coldly. I exhaled in relief, quickly dressing myself before leaving the ho**l. Once outside, I caught a taxi back to Frostfang Pack territory. Zane's POV I was halfway into the car when Chloe's fingers suddenly tightened on my sleeve, her knuckles whitening. I glanced down, annoyed-her nervous fidgeting was starting to grate "Zane," she murmured, biting her lip hard enough to redden it, "I think. I think I just saw Ms. Sylvia, over there." My brow shot up. Sylvia? Here? The thought was absurd enough to make me scoff. "Sylvia? What in the h**l would she be doing here?" This five-star hotel wasn't just expensive-it was exclusive. The kind of place where even mid-tier pack members needed an invitation. A rejected omega fresh out of college, with no family name or money to her name? She couldn't even afford the cheapest drink at the b*r, let alone step foot through the lobby doors. Chloe's voice softened."Maybe she still can't let you go. You know how she was-clingy, even after you ended things. Perhaps she heard you were meeting Alpha Caesar and. came to beg?" Clingy. That was putting it mildly. I rolled my eyes, jaw tightening. Sylvia had always been too much-too eager, too hungry for a place in my life that she'd never earned. The scene she'd made at my birthday party still burned in my memory: her tear-streaked face, the way she'd shouted accusations like a common street brawler, embarrassing me in front of the entire pack. Now she was stalking me? Pathetic. "Ignore her," I snapped, yanking my sleeve free. Let her linger in the shadows if she wanted-she'd get the message soon enough. I'd been more than generous with her, anyway. A nobody like Sylvia? She'd never have breathed the same air as me if I hadn't deigned to date her. A year of my time, gifts that cost more than her rent-she should be grateful, not chasing me like a lost puppy. The irritation faded as quickly as it came, replaced by the cold focus Grandfather had drilled into me. I adjusted my tie, smoothing the fabric with precise fingers. "We've got more important things to worry about. The Vertex partnership." Chloe nodded, her expression earnest. "Of course, Zane. You're right." Good. At least someone knew how to prioritize. The Thorn Pack's decline was no secret-two years of shrinking profits, dwindling territory, whispers behind our backs that we were weakening. Without Vertex's backing, we'd be nothing. Less than nothing. And Alpha Caesar Conrad? Securing his favor could pull us from the grave. Grandfather had made that clear: Do whatever it takes. But when we reached the conference floor, my gut twisted. The receptionist's smile was tight, rehearsed. "I'm sorry, Mr. Thorn. Alpha Caesar left ten minutes ago. His Beta is already en route to the airport." Left? Just like that? I ground my teeth, forcing a calm I didn't feel. "No message? No rescheduled meeting?" "Nothing, sir. He seemed. in a hurry." I turned on my heel, fists clenched at my sides. Of course. Of course the most powerful Alpha in the country wouldn't wait around for me. Chloe's hand slipped into mine, her touch soft. "Don't worry, Zane. Vertex is hosting that gala next week, remember? You'll have plenty of time to talk to him there. He'll see how valuable we are." Her faith was almost sweet, if naive. I squeezed her hand, but my mind was already racing-what angle to take, what leverage to use. The gala wouldn't be easy. Every ambitious pack in the region would be there, all vying for Caesar's attention. But I didn't have a choice. I met her gaze, my voice sharp with resolve. "One way or another," I said, "I will get that partnership. Thorn Pack doesn't fall without a fight." And if Sylvia thought she could waltz in here and distract me? She was sorely mistaken. Some people just didn't know when to stay in their lane. Sylvia's POV I had returned to Frostfang Pack territory where both Selene and my mother awaited. Alpha Astra's expression remained impassive as she regarded me. "I warned you from the beginning that Alpha Zane was not to be trusted. The Thorn Pack has always been our adversary." Her voice was cool and matter-of-fact. "According to our agreement, you lost the bet. Tomorrow you'll begin work at Frostline Enterprises. After you're married and familiar with operations, I'll bring you to work directly under me. Your sister's health is fragile, so you'll need to shoulder more responsibility at Frostline." I knew better than to argue with my mother's unwavering decisions. The only time in her life she'd ever compromised was when we made our wager three years ago. I remained silent, but Selene suddenly laughed softly from beside my mother, her tone deliberately provocative. "Mother, Sylvia has just returned home, and Hugo is now my fiancé... who exactly do you plan for her to marry?" Alpha Hugo Gray, the Alpha my mother had originally selected as my husband, had fallen for Selene at first sight and broken our engagement years ago. Selene and I had never gotten along. As my mother's adopted daughter with chronic health issues, she'd always received the tenderness and indulgence that Astra never showed me. Selene's question was clearly intended to embarrass me. Astra glanced at me, her tone dispassionate. "I'll arrange some suitable candidates for you to meet in the next few days." Selene's lips curved upward in satisfaction. My mother had always been calculatingly pragmatic. Any husband she selected for me would primarily serve our pack's interests, with little regard for my own preferences or happiness. Still, I kept my expression neutral. "Mother, you promised that I could choose my own husband, even if the marriage itself wasn't negotiable." My mother's brows furrowed in disapproval. Chapter 5 Sylvia&Zane's POV--Black Card Members I maintained my composure as I faced my mother's penetrating stare. The tension in the room was palpable, but I refused to show weakness. "You needn't worry," I said coolly. "Zane and I are done. But since I'll be taking over Frostfang Pack eventually, I'd prefer a stable marriage with someone I don't actively despise." My mother had never approved of my connection with Alpha Zane. Partly because she saw my feelings for him as a weakness clouding my judgment, but primarily because Thorn Pack and Frostfang Pack were business rivals. Though Thorn Pack wasn't quite at our level, they were still enemies in her eyes. Truth be told,my mother's controlling nature rarely extended to my marriage prospects. Her attention had always been more focused on Selene than on me anyway. My mother's sharp eyes assessed me for a long moment, searching for any hint of deception. "Very well," she finally conceded. "Choose your own mate, but remember you agreed to the terms of our bet, Sylvia. Don't disappoint me." I nodded silently. After My mother disappeared upstairs to attend to other matters, I was left alone with Selene in the living room. Despite being sisters in name, our relationship had always been strained at best. Selene deliberately toyed with the expensive jewelry my mother had purchased for her, a smirk playing on her lips. "Sylvia, you don't actually believe you'll find anyone better than Alpha Hugo, do you?" She laughed mockingly. "Everyone in our circles knows how you debased yourself for Alpha Zane. Who would want to claim you as their Luna now?" Though the Thorn Pack's territory was in Alderwood, rumors of my relationship with Zane had spread throughout Howling Peaks like wildfire, each telling more sa**cious than the last. I merely glanced at Selene, feeling nothing but indifference toward my adoptive sister. In truth, I had felt relief when Hugo broke our engagement, though Selene had always harbored resentment toward me for reasons I couldn't fully comprehend. "Hugo Gray?" I raised an eyebrow, a sardonic smile forming. "Keep him if you want. Though I've heard he plays quite... li**rally on the side. Perhaps regular health screenings would be wise, sis." "You-!" Selene's ch**t heaved with indignation. I knew the difference in how my mother treated us. Astra was harsh with me because her expectations were higher. But why should that bother Selene? Why the endless animosity? As I walked away, I could feel her gaze burning into my back, dark with unspoken resentment. She was Alpha Astra's adopted daughter, yet that never seemed enough for her. At least I hadn't been foolish enough to mask my Alpha scent just to please a man. I had more pressing matters than Selene's jealousy. Word of my newly single status spread quickly, and friends eagerly arranged introductions to potential mates. For three straight days, I met with various suitors, none of whom sparked the slightest interest in my wolf. I was just leaving my latest disappointing meeting when a familiar voice called out. "Sylvia? What a coincidence." Chloe stood nearby, arm linked possessively through Zane's, dressed in expensive designer clothes that screamed new money. Her expression remained as sweetly docile as ever, though her eyes told a different story. Beside her, Zane frowned as he took in my appearance. I knew I looked different-bold red lips, styled hair, confidence radiating from every pore. Nothing like the meek omega I'd pretended to be. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, his voice cold. This restaurant operated on an exclusive membership basis. In his mind, someone of my supposed status shouldn't have access to such places. I quirked my lips into a playful smirk. "Why shouldn't I be here?" "Is Ms. Sylvia here to work?" Chloe's gentle laugh carried a note of false sympathy. "The pay is good, I suppose, but surely a university graduate like yourself could find better than waiting tables." "What's wrong with being a server?" I let my gaze drift lazily over her thousand-dollar outfit. "Money earned through honest work beats relying on a man's wallet any day." Chloe paled slightly, biting her lower lip in that perfectly practiced damsel-in-distress manner that made my wolf want to growl. Zane's face darkened with disgust. "There's nothing wrong with providing for my mate. When we broke up, I offered you a hundred thousand dollars as compensation, which you stubbornly refused. With that attitude, Sylvia, you're hardly qualified to work in an establishment like this." He turned to summon the manager while Chloe watched me with quiet satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. Looking at them together, I suddenly found the situation laughably absurd. If I truly had been a struggling graduate with no pack or resources-the omega I'd pretended to be-Zane's actions would have devastated my life, pushing me further into hardship. And Chloe, who should understand such vulnerability better than anyone, simply stood by watching him try to ruin me. Some "true mate" she was. The manager hurried over, concern etched on his face. "That server's got a real chip on her shoulder-seriously, you let people with that attitude work here?" Zane's tone could've iced over a hot tub. The manager's eyes widened in alarm. "Whoa, hold on-misunderstanding, Mr. Thorne. That's Ms. Sylvia, one of our black card members. Not staff." "Say what?" Zane's eyebrows shot up like he'd just heard a dog recite Shakespeare. His expression soured, nose wrinkling as though he'd caught a foul scent. "Sylvia. Spare me the theatrics. You really think this little show's gonna make me crawl back? Please." I flicked a bored glance his way, my lips twitching with amusement. "Wow. You're du**er than a box of hair." Zane's POV I couldn't believe my eyes. Sylvia-standing there like she owned the place, dripping in confidence I'd never seen before. The manager's words echoed in my ears: black card member. Something wasn't adding up. For three years, she'd been the picture of humility-wearing the same rotation of modest clothes, accepting the cheapest menu items when we dined out, never once hinting at hidden wealth. Now suddenly she was flashing black cards at one of the most exclusive establishments in the city? "Your table is ready, Ms. Sylvia," the manager announced with a deference that made my skin crawl. "The private dining room, as requested." "Thank you," she replied smoothly, her voice carrying an authority that seemed to come from nowhere. Beside me, Chloe shifted uncomfortably. "Zane, darling, perhaps we should go? Our reservation-" But I couldn't move. Something fundamental had shifted, like the ground beneath my feet had suddenly tilted. The Sylvia I knew-the quiet omega who'd worshipped the ground I walked on-was nowhere in this woman's confident posture. Chapter 6 Sylvia&Zane's POV--Marry Me Zane's POV I never thought the night would end like this. One moment I was confidently escorting my true mate through one of the most exclusive restaurants in the territory, and the next, I was being asked to leave like some rogues. "Apologies, Mr. Thorne," the manager said with smooth, rehearsed courtesy. "Your membership has been revoked at the owner's discretion. I'm afraid we must ask you to leave." Revoked? The word slammed into me like a physical blow. This wasn't just a place to eat-it was a symbol. A hub of elite power among the werewolf community. Being a member meant something. Being expelled... meant even more. "May I ask what prompted this decision?" I managed to ask, keeping my voice level despite the rage building inside me. The manager merely extended his hand toward the exit, his expression revealing nothing. And then I saw her. Sylvia. She was seated, relaxed, with that infuriating little smirk curling her lips. The expression of a woman who had just knocked a king off his throne. Chloe's hand trembled in mine. I could feel her unease in the rigid way she clung to me, her scent sour with distress. I turned and led her out, my jaw clenched so hard my temples throbbed.The sting of humiliation was sharp-and made worse by Sylvia's calm, knowing gaze. Once outside, Chloe's eyes welled with tears, her soft voice breaking the tense silence between us. Outside, Chloe's voice broke the silence, soft and uncertain. "Zane. do you think Sylvia had something to do with this?" I responded too fast, too sharp. "Impossible." My wolf howled in disagreement, but I buried it. "She doesn't have that kind of pull." Chloe leaned in closer, whispering, "But the owner is supposed to be powerful, right? What if she's. offering herself to him? She's changed. Maybe she's doing this out of spite." "Let her dream." My voice came out cold, clipped. "Men like that wouldn't waste time on someone like her. She's not worth it." Sylvia's POV The date had ended hours ago-another disappointing meeting with a potential mate who couldn't stir even the slightest interest in my wolf. Three years of suppressing my true Alpha nature had dulled my senses, making it nearly impossible to feel that spark everyone talked about. After my satisfying encounter with Zane and his so-called True Mate, I lingered in the restaurant, sipping w**e and basking in the quiet aftermath of poetic justice. Just as I stood to leave, a familiar figure emerged from across the room... ...... What happens next? Available chapters here are limited, click the button below to install the App and enjoy more exciting chapters (Automatically jump to this novel when you open the app) &2&